There are certain brands of religion which are really just very rich institutions of superstition, fearmongering, and guilt and self-deception. I am, of course, referring to fundamentalist/evangelical Christianity, or the vociferous minority of Christians that drown out the majority of reasonable and placid voices within the nation. The Venerable Sharvasti Dhammika is particularly good at rooting out at the ad hominem, poorly researched, and often outright false and misinforming works of writers like Steve Cioccolanti and calling them for what they really are: “confused, dishonest and hardly worth the paper it is printed on.”
Link here. Indeed, much of the charges levelled against Buddhism, I have never even heard of (as I hail from the Chinese Mahayana tradition, not the Thai Theravada tradition. But it’s quite typical of Ciocollanti not to know the difference).
To my shame, Cioccolanti is based in Australia. There is religion… and then there is mere superstitions and lies, backwater heresies that should have died out long ago. But human delusion is still around, hence there will always be lies.
Just passing by.Btw, you website have great content!
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Making Money $150 An Hour
Just happen to come across your blog, check this out:
http://buddhabook.org/bookblog/
Arise, are you promoting your boss’ corrupted view of Buddhism?
Mr. Steve Cioccolanti interpreted karma as sin and nirvana as heaven, that Buddha prophesied Jesus, etc. Please show us the evidence.
I’m sure he knew the difference but he’s lying through his teeth for his wicked agenda. In Islam there’s a word for this, it is “taqiyya”. This is normal for Evangelicals because they have been doing this in different ways, like ‘fake healing’.
He started this slandering and lying about Buddhism and now he feel offended by the review from a Venerable Sharvasti Dhammika. For exposing his evil deeds, he devoted a few web pages at his web site for personal attacking Venerable Sharvasti Dhammika.
Why use ‘buddhabook’ as the web address name? It’s use to waylaid unsuspecting Dharma seekers, isn’t it? He may be saved from the Christian hell but he has unwittingly step into the Buddhist hell for slandering Buddha.
Raymond, nice blog, will bookmark it. Here is a review from Bhikkhu Aggacitto.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/13099022/Review-From-Buddha-To-Jesus-by-Steve-Cioccolanti
I personally came into contact with Ven. Dhammika as I am fortunate to be living in Singapore where he teaches the Dharma, I found him to be very knowledgeable, very mice and very humble. Nothing of the sort that Mr. Steve Cioccolanti said in his blog.
Ven. Dhammika blog can be found at http://sdhammika.blogspot.com/.
While I am upset that Mr. Steve Cioccolanti book uses and passes information that is not well research. but he no doubt gave me the chance to practice my patience toward such “attack” to my belief.
I will follow the Buddha example and to face such unfounded lies with clam method and point out the weakness in their argument.
Lastly, if Mr. Steve Cioccolanti really welcome feedback, it is kindof strange that feedback will be moderated. Guess he only wants the good stuff and nothing that will points to weakness to his argument.
Want feedback then have the balls to not moderate lah.
Thanks for your link. A lot of what Cioccolanti is dishonest and frankly quite venomous. He thinks such venom is justified in order to win converts to Christ, but he’s actually violating the Gospel and distorting its true message of rebirth into submission through intimidation and lies. I bet if you put a valid post on his website with a case against Christianity, he’d shut it down. ;)