List of converts to Buddhism from Christianity

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This is a list of notable converts to Buddhism from Christianity.

NameFormer denominationNationalityNotesRefs.
Nyanatiloka Mahathera (Anton Walther Florus Gueth) Catholic Church Germanone of the earliest western Buddhist monks and founder of Island Hermitage [1]
Anthony Lee Baptist Americanactor and activist [2]
Ananda Metteya (Charles Henry Allan Bennett) Catholic Church Britishone of the earliest western Buddhist monk and established the first Buddhist Mission in the United Kingdom [3]
Chris Evans Catholic Church Americanactor and producer [4] [5]
Thomas William Rhys Davids Congregationalism Britishscholar of the Pāli language and founder of Pali Text Society [6]
Colonel Henry Steel Olcott Presbyterianism Americanmilitary officer, lawyer and first well-known American to make a formal conversion to Buddhism [7]
Lokanatha (Salvatore Cioffi) Catholic Church ItalianTheravadin Buddhist missionary monk [8]
Roberto Baggio Catholic Church Italianfootballer [9] [10]
Kotahene Soma Maha Thera Catholic Church Sri LankanTheravadin Buddhist monk, translator and missionary [11]
Aliana Lohan Catholic Church Americanactress, singer and fashion model [12] [13] [14] [15] [16]
Alanis Morissette Catholic Church Americansinger, songwriter and musician [17]
Solomon Bandaranaike Anglicanism Sri Lankanformer Prime Minister of Sri Lanka and founder of Sri Lanka Freedom Party [18]
Dewi Lestari Catholic Church Indonesianwriter, singer, and songwriter [19]
Prince Esper Esperovich Ukhtomsky Russian Orthodox Church Russianpoet, publisher and Oriental enthusiast [20]
Helena Blavatsky Russian Orthodox Church Russianphilosopher, occultist, founder of the Theosophical Society [21]
Richard Tiffany Gere Methodism AmericanFamous actor and producer, co-founder of Tibet House US [22]
Jimmy Barnes Protestantism AustralianSinger and rapper [23]
Orlando Bloom Church of England EnglishFamous actor and leading man in Hollywood films [24] [25]
Ajahn Sumedho (Robert Karr Jackman) Episcopal Church (United States) Americanthe one who introduced Thai Forest Tradition to the West and most senior western disciple of Ajahn Chah [26]
Ajahn Viradhammo (Vitauts Akers) Lutheranism Canadiansenior western disciple of Ajahn Chah, founder & abbot of Tisarana Buddhist Monastery [27]
Ajahn Brahm Not specificEnglishsenior western disciple of Ajahn Chah and abbot of Bodhinyana Monastery [28]
Ajahn Candasiri Not specificScottish Theravada Buddhist nun of Thai Forest Tradition and one of the senior monastics in western Buddhist circle [29] [30]
Ayya Nirodha (Elizabeth Gorski) Catholic Church Austrian, later Australian Theravada Buddhist nun of Thai Forest Tradition, former Abbess of Santi Forest Monastery [31]
Tara Brach Unitarianism Americanpsychologist and founder of the Insight Meditation Community of Washington, D.C. (IMCW) [32]
Belinda Carlisle Southern Baptist Convention Americansinger (the Go-Go's), songwriter [33] [34]
Houn Jiyu-Kennett Church of England EnglishSoto Zen rōshi and founder of Shasta Abbey [35]
John Daido Loori Catholic Church AmericanZen Buddhist rōshi, abbot of Zen Mountain Monastery [36]
Ananda Claude Dalenberg Dutch Reformed Church AmericanZen priest ordained by Shunryū Suzuki [37]
Michael D. ("Mugaku") Zimmerman Episcopal Church (United States) Americanprominent attorney and former justice of the Utah Supreme Court [38]
William Oliver Stone Episcopal Church (United States) Americanfilm director, producer, and screenwriter [39]
Pema Chödrön Catholic Church American Tibetan Buddhist nun [40]
Fabian Fucan Catholic Church (Society of Jesus)Japanesewriter of tracts, at first supporting Christianity and then criticizing it [41]
Ko Ye Lwin Not specificBurmeseprominent musician, guitarist and peace activist [42]
Alfred Bloom Evangelicalism Americanprofessor and dean of the Institute of Buddhist Studies [43]
Seungsahn Haengwon Presbyterianism Korean Seon master and the founder of Kwan Um School of Zen [44]
Junius Richard Jayewardene Not specificSri Lankanfirst President of Sri Lanka and former Prime minister [45]
Steve Jobs Lutheranism Americanco-founder of Apple Computer, Inc. [46] [47]
Charles R. Johnson African Methodist Episcopal Church Americanpolitical cartoonist, novelist and Buddhist writer [48]
Dewi Lestari Pentecostalism Indonesiansinger and writer [49] [50]
Tsai Chih Chung Catholic Church Taiwanesefamous cartoonist, well-known in both Taiwan and mainland China [51]
Leung Man-tao Catholic Church Chinesewriter, critic and host [52]
Christine Rankin Catholic Church New Zealanderpolitician and former civil servant who served as head of the Ministry of Social Development [53]
Seta Manoukian Armenian Apostolic Church ArmenianArmenian painter [54]
Tina Turner Baptist Swisssinger and actress [55]
Herman Vetterling Swedenborgianism Americanmystic but he retained elements of Swedenborg thought after his conversion [56] [57]
Michael Imperioli Catholicism Americanactor, writer, director, and musician. [58] [59]
Sam Lao Church of the East ChineseRishi, Dalit Buddhist and New Age Scientist. [60] [61]

See also

Related Research Articles

Buddhism in the West broadly encompasses the knowledge and practice of Buddhism outside of Asia in the Western world. Occasional intersections between Western civilization and the Buddhist world have been occurring for thousands of years. The first Westerners to become Buddhists were Greeks who settled in Bactria and India during the Hellenistic period. They became influential figures during the reigns of the Indo-Greek kings, whose patronage of Buddhism led to the emergence of Greco-Buddhism and Greco-Buddhist art. There was little contact between the Western and Buddhist cultures during most of the Middle Ages but the early modern rise of global trade and mercantilism, improved navigation technology and the European colonization of Asian Buddhist countries led to increased knowledge of Buddhism among Westerners. This increased contact led to various responses from Buddhists and Westerners throughout the modern era. These include religious proselytism, religious polemics and debates, Buddhist modernism, Western convert Buddhists and the rise of Buddhist studies in Western academia. During the 20th century, there was a growth in Western Buddhism due to various factors such as immigration, globalization, the decline of Christianity and increased interest among Westerners. The various schools of Buddhism are now established in all major Western countries making up a small minority in the United States, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Engaged Buddhism, also known as socially engaged Buddhism, refers to a Buddhist social movement that emerged in Asia in the 20th century. It is composed of Buddhists who seek to apply Buddhist ethics, insights acquired from meditation practice, and the teachings of the Buddhist dharma to contemporary situations of social, political, environmental, and economic suffering, and injustice.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buddhism in Singapore</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fuang Jotiko</span> Thai Buddhist monk, 1915–1986

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References

  1. ↑ Bhikkhu Nyanatusita and Hellmuth Hecker (2008). The Life of Nyanatiloka: The Biography of a Western Buddhist Pioneer. Buddhist Publication Society. p. 17. ISBN   9789552402906.
  2. ↑ "Archives". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2022-02-19.
  3. ↑ "Bennett, (Charles Henry) Allan (1872-1923)". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  4. ↑ Sachs, Adam (May 2012). "The Avengers' Chris Evans: Just Your Average Beer-Swilling, Babe-Loving Buddhist". Details . Archived from the original on April 12, 2013. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
  5. ↑ Eels, Josh (May 4, 2016). "'Captain America: Civil War': Why Chris Evans Is the Anxious Avenger". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on August 22, 2020. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Buddhist India, by T.W. Rhys Davids". Fsnow.com. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
  7. ↑ Janet Kerschner, The Olcott Family Archived 2008-12-18 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ↑ "From Catholic to Chemist to Buddhist Missionary". tricycle.org. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Planet Sport: Roberto Baggio returns ponytail for Italian federation". The Guardian. August 8, 2010.
  10. ↑ "Buddisti Soka Gakkai. Una Sabina vi convertirà" (in Italian). Chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
  11. ↑ The Path Of Freedom (Vimuttimagga) of Arahant Upatissa Translated from the Chinese by Rev. N. R. M. Ehara, Soma Thera, Kheminda Thera. Buddhist Publication Society. Kandy, Ceylon, page IX
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  13. ↑ "Lindsay Lohan Is Reportedly Converting to Islam". Complex.com. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
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  15. ↑ "Lindsay Lohan confirms she's studying Islam after being seen with a Koran". The Washington Times . Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  16. ↑ "Ali Lohan". TV Guide . Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Alanis Morissette". InsideNoVA. September 16, 2021. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021. Retrieved December 26, 2021. 'Ironic' singer Alanis Morissette has been practicing Buddhism many years.
  18. ↑ Melkonian, Neery. "Lebanon in the Armenian Imaginary: So Close with a Distance". Seismopolite: Journal of Art and Politics. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
  19. ↑ CINEMA 21. "CINEMA 21 - We Are The Largest Cinema Chain In Indonesia". CINEMA 21. Retrieved 2024-04-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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  23. ↑ McCarthy, Danielle. "Why Jimmy Barnes abandoned son David Campbell as a baby OverSixty". Oversixty.com.au. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  24. ↑ Orlando Bloom 'converts to Buddhism'
  25. ↑ Interview with Orlando Bloom Archived March 22, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  26. ↑ "Buddha, by Ajahn Sumedho". Buddhism Now. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  27. ↑ Mauro Peressini (2016). Choosing Buddhism: The Life Stories of Eight Canadians. Ottawa University Press; 1st edition. pp. 69–101. ISBN   9780776623337.
  28. ↑ "I Kidnapped a Monk!". Buddhistdoor International. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
  29. ↑ BBC
  30. ↑ Ajahn Candasiri's website Archived July 5, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
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  32. ↑ ""Allow life to be as it is"" (PDF). Retrieved 2020-10-31.
  33. ↑ "Allez-allez - a Go-Go decides to turn French". The Sydney Morning Herald. March 5, 2007.
  34. ↑ Carlisle, Belinda (2011). Lips Unsealed: A Memoir. Crown Publishing Group. p. 222. ISBN   978-0-307-46350-0.
  35. ↑ Kay, David N. (2007). Tibetan and Zen Buddhism in Britain: Transplantation, Development and Adaptation. Routledge. pp. 120–121.
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  37. ↑ "Ananda Claude Dalenberg Biographical Notes". Cuke.com. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  38. ↑ Jarvik, Elaine (December 16, 2006). "Utah justice now Zen teacher". Deseret News. Archived from the original on October 10, 2012.
  39. ↑ "The religion of director Oliver Stone". Adherents.com. Archived from the original on December 2, 2010. Retrieved January 25, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
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  42. ↑ Zon Pann Pwint (20 July 2018). "Ko Ye Lwin: a great musician and a late Buddhist samaritan". The Myanmar Times . Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  43. ↑ Gee, Pat (2017-08-29). "Former UH professor shared compassion of Shin Buddhism". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Retrieved 2020-11-25.
  44. ↑ Ford, James Ishmael (2006). Zen Master Who?. Wisdom Publications. pp.  99, 100, 101. ISBN   0-86171-509-8.
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  46. ↑ What do Steve Jobs’s final words mean?
  47. ↑ The spiritual side of Steve Jobs
  48. ↑ Charles R. Johnson interview at Monsters&Critics Archived 2007-11-08 at the Wayback Machine : "Buddhism has been my refuge (as it was intended to be for practitioners) since I was 14-years-old, and first sat in formal meditation."
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  51. ↑ "漫畫大師蔡志忠 少林寺落髮出家". cna.com.tw. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  52. ↑ 凤凰网：梁文道在佛教中寻找人生方向 (in Chinese)
  53. ↑ Claire Harvey (2005-12-31). "Free-range soul searching replacing organised religion in NZ". New Zealand Herald.
  54. ↑ New York Times
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  56. ↑ The Dharma of Emanuel Swedenborg: A Buddhist Perspective
  57. ↑ Imagining Tibet : Perceptions, Projections, and Fantasies by Thierry Dodin
  58. ↑ "Buddhist Channel | Personality".
  59. ↑ "Inside the Zen Mind of Michael Imperioli". 3 September 2020.
  60. ↑ The Dharma of Emanuel Swedenborg: A Buddhist Perspective
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