AH Challenge: Zen Christianity

Wolfpaw

Banned
With a POD at any time, have a belief system that combines both Zen and Christian teachings become mainstream in the Western World.
 
POD in 2243. Jaquolin Perrez of Southern Texas, a longtime admirer of Mahayana Buddhism (though raised Catholic) leads a 'neo-zen' movement combined with elements of traditional Catholicism after most in the west begin to lose faith after an extinction level asteroid lands the the Southwestern Pacific, leading the death of 7/10 of the world's population. The movement gains traction, especially in areas along the Atlantic coasts (where most of the survivors are) and within 65 years is the dominant theological belief, followed by agnosticism, catholicism and islam. In 2330 a particularly virulent strain of this 'Zen Christianity' takes hold in West Africa, where a large Empire forms based on the 'Lessons of Christ', the new bible containing Mahayana teachings alongside (and liberally edited) Gospel. The new empire flourishes and its artisans and poets become world renowned for their beautiful works based in both faith and deep introspection through meditation. This empire sends missionaries to every corner of the earth, and through teachings of 'transcending nationalism' eventually forms the United Disciples of Christ, a worldwide religious organization with more clout and power than any individual national government. :D:D:D


Seriously though, wasn't the first time any Buddhist teachings got to the west through Alexander's conquest? So maybe a Roman decides to go all 'Alex the Great' on some Persian ass?
 
Well, not exactly zen, as it developed in China or Japan, but it's Indian predecessor "dhyan/jhan" Buddhism can be transmitted to the hellenistic world, if early Buddhist prosleytizers have more success than OTL.

When Christianity comes around, the Early Christian can adopt Buddhist teachings as long as the contradict Christ's message.
 
Is there any way Zen, or at least Chan Buddhism, could be transmitted to Eastern Europe through the Mongol Empire? Or is the life of that Empire too short?
 
Greco-Bactrians expand buddhism through persia, and it is seen as a hellenistic religion. it becomes fashionable to become buddhist in the greek world (sorta like christianity in japan before they cut contact and started isolationism). then, when christianity comes around, it is greatly influenced by buddhist philosophy, much in the same way it was OTL influenced by plato, aristotle, and socrates
 
Zen simply wasn't big enough in the era it could be transmitted to see any chance of a syncretism developing with Christianity. Beyond that, I don't see how Zen will really find anything for common ground with Christianity. If you pick one of the more popular and, well, "religious" brands of Buddhism it could happen. But Zen isn't right for it.
 
Heh.
The Raptor of Spain #371 said:
Diverging from other Buddhists they called this not simply enlightenment, but God--a monotheistic entity that was also a perfect union of all those who became enlightened....

Everyone is the One God, but they do not yet know it
--Wahamarga Text c. 1029
The chief Duty of all the Wahamargapa was clear: fan the existence of the one God inside each person into a flame.
Thus the first steps of my attempt to fuse Syrian Christianity with Buddhism into a militant monotheistic Buddhism with some Sikh elements. I'll detail it more thoroughly in the future. Maybe Extra #7?
 
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