Hugh Jackman’s latest installment of the X-Men saga may not be wowing critics, but fans are still showing his trademark character, Wolverine some love at the box office for “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.” Maybe that’s because in real life, Jackman is a peacemaker and just wants everyone to get along.
At least that’s what I gather from a recent Parade Magazine interview in which Jackman talked extensively about his religious studies , specifically how he has devoted himself to learning the principles taught by the School of Practical Philosophy, which focuses on meditation and finding unity in everything in daily life. But following the school’s spiritual practices doesn’t exactly create harmony with one member of Jackman’s family–his father.
In the interview, Jackman describes his father as a born-again Christian “who takes his religion very seriously” and once took Jackman several times to Billy Graham crusades hoping the actor would convert to Christianity. Despite his father’s attempts to influence his son’s beliefs, Jackman says that that he sees evangelical Christianity as too limiting and that he chose to follow the School of Practical Philosophy because it was “nonconfrontational” and that the basic philosophy is “that if the Buddha and Krishna and Jesus were all at a dinner table together, they wouldn’t be arguing.”
Maybe not. But I think they would certainly respectfully disagree with each other if they valued the respective tenets of their faith at all, otherwise their faith wouldn’t be worth much in my opinion. And I guess that is what is always a little bit disappointing when I read about some celebrities discussing religion. There still seems to be the prevailing notion that all confrontation is bad, and that the only worthwhile religion is one that doesn’t offend.
posted May 20, 2009 at 4:39 pm
Point well made.
A philosophy which decides to fudge all our differences ultimately doesn’t really respect our differences (ie. diversity) and becomes impractical, for all its high-flown rhetoric.
Some degree of confrontation is inevitable and even healthy, so long as none of the parties demonizes the other, or refuses to see their own imperfections.
posted May 21, 2009 at 3:40 am
He’s right. If Jesus, Buddha, and Krishna were at a table, they wouldn’t be arguing. They would be eating, drinking, laughing. Arguing over different theological beliefs is for the disciples.
posted May 21, 2009 at 10:34 am
Of course, Buddha and Krishna might have a problem with Jesus’ claim to being The way, The truth, and THE life, and the only true way to the father… or, His claim to be equal with God.
Like C.S. Lewis has said: what do you do with Jesus’ claims? Either He’s a liar, a lunatic, or He is who He says He is.
posted May 21, 2009 at 11:14 am
If Buddha, Krishna and Jesus were at the table…
1) Jesus would give thanks to the Father for the meal and pass the bread and it’d be enough to feed 5,000
2) Buddha and Krishna would say grace, and Jesus would say, “You’re welcome!”
3) Buddha and Krishna would talk about brotherhood while Jesus excuses Himself to wash His disciples’ feet.
posted May 22, 2009 at 1:36 am
It has never made any difference what ‘School” one goes to.
There have always been ‘schools’ and there will always be ‘schools.”
What does make a difference is what a person says and does in this
earthly existence, and that is the only yardstick by which others can
measure. Avoiding confrontation is an inherent sign of weakness,
especially in the face of evil words and evil deeds. There is no
religion or ‘philosophy’ worth its salt that does not deal with the
necessity for confrontation. If Mr. Jackman is an X-man – on film that is – maybe that is who he really wants to be – since he cannot
confront REAL people off camera. So much for appearances.
Jesus said, “By their fruits,(verbal and active) you will know them”
posted May 22, 2009 at 2:05 am
This phrase:
Jesus said, “By their fruits,(verbal and active) you will know them”
By the verbal you mean being put down for your own beliefs, active by being forced to convert to that persons’ belief. When someone wants you to convert to thier belief then they should let that person decide. If that person does not want to convert then let it be. The person must want to convert with the heart,mind and the full soul.
You should not put one down because they choose another path. This country is based on freedom of religion, speech, and the persue happiness. Then let those principles stand as that.
posted May 22, 2009 at 7:52 am
The basics of the faiths do not differ unless you want to confuse the container for the nourishment within it. The packaging is different, but religions are all the same – spoken in different cultural languages.
posted May 22, 2009 at 10:25 am
I don’t know about Krishna, but my understanding is that Buddha never tried to “sell” his view -not sure if he would have calle it a religion. He said people should not believe what to other people said, not even he, but try buddhism and see if it beared fruit for them. And to the best of my knowledge Jesus did not confront anybody of a different religion different from his own, that is judaism. He’s never quoted saying anything agaisnt Zeus or Ra or Mitras, nor calling them false gods or anything alike.
So I don’t understand why should anybody be dissapointed at another person’s non confrontentional way. What is there to prove? That one is right and the other wrong? Has such actitude brought anything else but pain and hated? Jesus blessed the peace seekers, yet many of his follower would happily get into a good argument,a heated discussion or a bloody crusade just to show how “right” they are.
And to all the Christians that keep repeating “The Way” thing, it may be interesting for them to know that other religions, previous to Chrisitanism, have also spoken about it, such is the case of Tao (which literally translates into The Way) and it did not refer to Jesus, but to manners to connect with the divine. So to many people that “Jesus is the Way” makes little if any sense.
posted October 29, 2009 at 9:40 am
I also believe that it would help very little to confront or try to force people to your point of view. Hugh Jackman and his father is an apt example. What Hugh says is quite sensible. Each of the three mentioned chose a peaceful way of life. Jesus did however get very angry when the house of His Father was desecrated, so I guess that confrontation is sometimes necessary. So called “Christians” (others like Muslims too – off topic) will wage war and kill for their “faith”. Is that what God meant when he said “Love thy neighbor”? I think not. Many people get confused because of the behavior of people, automatically linking it to their religion, but this is NOT what the Bible teaches. If you seek answers you need to go about it carefully in our corrupted world. Firstly, use your brain, your senses, your emotions, don’t just blindly believe anything. Read about the history and authenticity of the teachings. Try it on and see if it “fits”, if that void in your soul gets filled and stays filled. Personally I chose Christ. Not only did he set the ultimate example and teach us to love one another, but made the ultimate sacrifice for ALL OF US. Not for fame, not for fortune, but for OUR salvation, should we CHOOSE it.
posted November 11, 2009 at 8:30 pm
We are to love one another just He loved us. Hmmmmmmmm….sounds a lot like Hugh Jackman’s beliefs. Isn’t that what this post was about in the first place???
posted November 16, 2009 at 6:39 pm
k u could not be more wrong.. jesus and his deciples including paul confronted many other religions with false idols like zues..hello Rome..dagon..and many others you should read your bible more..i dont personally push religion on anyone but the bible says the path is narrow and few there be that walk therein the other path however is wide and smooth everyone wants the easy way no confortation no persecution go with the flow…well i think it will be a sad day on judgement all these religions spur from christianity All of them in some way or form borrow from it…when tragedy comes u call on your God ill call on mine we will see who answers….
posted January 24, 2011 at 6:00 pm
The truth is what krishna said and buddha is practicly the same only Krishna said it in words wich was understandable in his time (which is more then 1000 years earlier then buddha) and buddha said it in the way the people understand it in that time. Also Christ came after the buddha so if anyone borrowed from other religion/philosohies its the christians and not the other way.
Truth is they all spoke the same thing, maybe in different words but only the ignorant look at that and not the smililarity. What Hugh said is an inspiration which i hope the world would one day understand.