The 3 Most Influential People in Human History w/ Dr. Peter Kreeft

📺 Full Episode: • Matt Speaks to His 6th...
Peter Kreeft talks about going to Japan early in his academic career to study buddhism. He tells Matt Fradd what he learned, and how it relates to Christianity!
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[@MeaningToMatter]

Kreeft, a glass of wine, and a baby on my lap. Happy birthday to me 🍷

[@lewkbauer]

Happy birthday!

[@valuedCustomer2929]

Happy Birthday!

[@joshrichards9121]

Happy Birthday!

[@CatchCraftInc]

Happy birthday!

[@epriedane]

Happy birthday 🎈 💐🎂🍷🍾💃💃💃

[@tandrew7175]

My path to Catholicism began with Buddhism.

[@Wingedmagician]

other way around for me

[@KyrieEleison7]

Same

[@redeemedwelshman]

God bless you, me too! I was a Zen Buddhist for a number of years until one day when I was sitting in zazen, I had finally managed to let go of all thought and stimuli around me - total calm in mind and body - and something almost imperceptible filled the empty space. This happened regularly from that point onwards and I eventually realised it was Christ revealing Himself to me. It was a short path from there to my local Jesuit church, and I've never gone back. Thanks be to God.

[@09bamasky]

Me too! 10 or 12 years of studying eastern philosophy and Buddhism while practicing psychotherapy led me right back to my Catholic roots . . .

[@rh3marketing51]

Me too. Wow.

[@davideskridge9242]

As a Buddhist, I find this conversation absolutely fascinating. Thank you for posting it!

[@GuadalupePicasso]

Do you find it to be a fair representation of Buddhism?

[@DoctorDewgong]

Careful! Listen to Kreeft enough and you might end up at Mass on Sunday

[@davideskridge9242]

@@GuadalupePicasso Yes! Very Fair. There are some things that I would have explained differently, but his points were essentially spot on. Very impressive for a non-Buddhist.

[@greggcal4583]

Christ had a vanguard of evidence with him, from his birth through to his death and then the Resurrection. Socrates and Sidartha Gautama were men, born lived and died, scratching at the truth. Jesus is the Truth.

[@erinholmes790]

"...both men...scratching at the truth- *Jesus is the truth* ." Holy Moses friend. You nailed it. 🙏🫶🥹

[@CanesCath]

"God cannot inspire unrealizable desires. I can, inspite of my littleness, aspire to holiness" -St Therese

[@DavidRodriguez-cm2qg]

What a holy quote.

[@AMDGBananaBen]

I could just listen to Dr Kreeft talk about anything for hours! Such a humble, wise man =)

[@aquine3130]

Thank you to the channel for introducing me to Dr Kreeft. As someone new to the faith, this is exactly the kind of person I need to know about and learn from 🙏

[@DavidRodriguez-cm2qg]

Socratic Logic, Handbook of Christian Apologetics, Prayer The Great Conversation, Jesus Shock, The Philosophy of Jesus, these are all gold.

[@brotherdamien1804]

As I aged I lamented the loss of my youthful physical prowess and in prayer received the same message that Matt shared at the end--if you had it, what then? What true good would come of it? I was stumped. All I could think was, well, I could dunk a basketball again, which I immediately saw as frivolous. One good question and my whole attitude changed.

[@alisterrebelo9013]

I've been asking myself the same question. I have a different response. If I had the vigour of my late teens and twenties, I'd be using it to study Catholicism as much as possible. My ability to stay up late to read and study is falling off, both mentally and physically.

[@pop6997]

Dr. Kreeft's understanding & simple enough for me to understand way of explaining simple truths is wonderful & a real gift to anybody who has the opportunity to listen to him. Some folk just think deep, talk simple & speak wisdom 😊

[@bilbaogonzalo]

I am a Thomist. I studied Philosophy and Theology at a Pontifical Catholic university very faithful to the Church and the thought of Saint Thomas Aquinas. From that perspective, this video, as a Catholic and Thomist, seems very strange to me. Because Buddhism is the annulment of the person into nothingness. And this is not humility, this is depersonalization. The Holy Trinity is fullness. And is ("I am the one who IS", the Being itself) three Persons with one nature: Divine. God has thought of each one of us from eternity and has counted each of our hairs. God loves us Person to person, not as a nothingness in which we dissolve our personal being and our self. Jesus is Person. And Jesus has given his life for each one of us, with first and last name, to free each one of us from sin, and to give each one eternal life. Jesus calls each of us by our name and, if one of us is left behind, He comes back to look for us, one by one. Christ is the center of Christianity and he does not ask us to dissolve into nothingness but to be other Christs. The fullness of our being, created and participated from the God's Being. To be a Christian is to be profoundly unique, because each one is a unique and ineffable creation, a warm reflection of God's infinite love. Not a nothing.

[@lastsupperapologetics5710]

Amen Amen Amen

[@davidrojas6457]

What does that have to do with this video? You lost me. Are you accusing the video of somehow championing "reduction to nothingness" as a valid concept?

[@Houndfromhell76]

Your definition of nothingness doesn't fit the way buddhism sees nothingness. Your definition is typically the way the West understands nothingness.

[@Si_Mondo]

That's the most succinct way of explaining why Christianity is superior to Buddhism. The best I can muster is, "muh, sPiRiTuAL cOmMuNiSm" 😅

[@LL-bl8hd]

Christ asks to die to self, to crucify the self we currently are. So in that sense we also kill the ego, like the Buddhists. From that we can be born to a new glorified self, which is not our own but is fully united with the will of God, as Jesus was.

[@rudymatheson1415]

I live in a Buddhist country. My dearest friends are Buddhists of the Vajrayana tradition. I often try to approach my evangelism towards them from the angle of Jesus embodying all that is good in Buddhist teaching. Love, compassion humility and service, for example. May God convert all pagan nations.

[@josephb.4640]

Amen! May God bless your efforts. Maybe you should try relating and explaining Christianity's differences with Buddhism according to some of the things discussed in this video, like how Buddhism is about becoming nothing while Christianity is about becoming like Christ, or how Buddhism is about eliminating desire whole Christianity is about redeeming desire.

[@wensen4167]

This helps me to understand why Kreeft at times offers clear explanations and at times seems to shoot from the hip, leaving you to guess the aim and the path there: he’s offering his own Koans. Also, don’t know if it was intentional (since Aristotle was discussed), but he listed Jesus, Buddha, and Socrates as the three most influential figures in history, but you have a bust of Aristotle in your triptych where it would seem Socrates should go.

[@SKA1996]

I was raised as a Buddhist but now I am a Catholic. I might say, for me, Buddhism answers 50% of the question. It's like for Buddhism you need to make your glass empty, but in Christianity it's you need to make your cup empty and fill the Grace of the Lord inside. Buddhism says that everyone can be holy, Christian faith is only God is holy and we need His grace. Even if it is 50% right, it's still the wrong answer if the Christian faith is the truth. And if that is the case, Buddhism leads people into hell; the nothingness without God. It's just the garden of Eden all over again. The book of Ecclesiastes is basically the summary of these nothingness teaching. But we can't blame the people who teach it in that time, it is the world before the Lord came into this world anyway. But since now we have Him in this world, we should do better than that. People needs God, human needs God. That's the truth.

[@vincentius_nguien]

Welcome! My girlfriend converted from Buddhism too. When other Buddhist relatives ask her, she usually explains that she has found the truth in Catholicism

[@SKA1996]

@@vincentius_nguien Thank youuuu. May the Lord bless you and your girlfriend! We have found the truth indeed. 😊🤍

[@acetaminophetus]

In 2019, I was at my lowest spiritually. Buddhism proved to me the existence of the spirit, as strange as that may sound to some. I would recommend it to any materialist.

[@reellifeoutdoors2905]

I am a Christ believer, God fearing man, student of the lord. I have read i Ching, Tao Te Ching, Baghava Gita, alot of buddhist works. Buddhidm has a lot of great bamount to lesrn from but Christ is King

[@user-je5ib5nv8u]

I would not recommend it as it is Demonic. Meditating in the manner that is mimics that of false gods. Recommend them to Christ and his church.

[@patri1689]

Go higher. The fulfillment of all authentic spirituality is Christ, the Perfect Imago Dei. But you don't have to go up, Christ can send His Spirit if you do Mathew 7:7.

[@jeffreysharp8526]

Thanks for posting this video. Dr Kreeft is a profound (& greatly under appreciated) modern day thinker. Pax

[@margokupelian344]

That’s bc he’s a Christian and he doesn’t try to sell himself. I just love listening to him. Thank you Mr. Kreeft and thank you Matt.

[@agbook2007]

This was an interesting clip. Thanks, Matt.

[@aleksandrablaszczyk5971]

Amazing. Now I understand perfectly. Thank you ❤️🙏

[@kylekuramoto9248]

Dr. Kreeft is a great speaker and storyteller.

[@michellekomadina9878]

Love these bites with Dr Kreeft. 🙏

[@michaelanthony4750]

Great job summarizing Dr. Kreeft!

[@lisam731]

This is wonderful. Always insightful. Thank you and God bless!

[@annemcgoff8495]

Thank you 🙏

[@moniquevamado]

Such a great conversation and explanation from Peter Kreeft. I thought Buddhism claims that suffering is an illusion. I've always thought, "Try telling that to a torture victim." Transformation through suffering is the only thing that's ever made sense to me, as exemplified in Christ, and the many who truly follow Him who have suffered profoundly, yet maintained their devotion to God. And wow to that quote, "You don't bash your head up against the wall; you bash your will up against the wall."

[@kylekloostra5659]

Try sitting still, being alone, and then simply observe your inner mental states. Do not react to the stimulus, only observe. The rest will follow.

[@nesicus]

Not in the least. The first of the Four Noble Truths is the dukkha -- "life is suffering." It's very real. Maybe you're thinking about Hinduism with the Veil of Maya? Buddhism acknowledges the reality of suffering but diagnoses the cause as bodily desire, and the cure then is renunciation (this is similar in Hinduism generally, as per e. g. the Bhagavad Gita,) or dissociation in a sense -- not identifying with the suffering. The illusion in this case is the self, not the suffering experienced thereof. The gist of most of Eastern philosophy consists in some manner of cosmic non-dualism, or "oneness."

[@EverymanPondering]

This. Is. Fascinating!

[@carlosux]

this is a master at work

[@user-hn5rw3or1v]

This was wonderful and I know that I will listen to it more times. This time it helped me to understand my uncle who is Buddhist and who is planning to end his suffering with his condition by stopping to eat. He lives in a right to die state. His belief system has more to do with this decision than I realized.

[@valwhelan3533]

Pure Land buddhism is not a "modern or westernized form of Buddhism". It was introduced to Japan from China, through Korea. Earliest patriarch was Tan Luan (who lived from 476-542) and was followed by a string of Pure Land masters such as the famous Shandao. It was introduced into Japan by Honen, a tendai monk. Pure Land buddhism is based on the Buddhas Pure Land sutras.

[@johnbirman5840]

A Joke told to my wife well over 40 yrs ago by the Cardinal Primate Of Hungary: What are the 3 things that God doesn’t know? 1) How many orders of Nuns there are? 2) What do Bishops pray for? 3) and...What the heck do the Jesuits want? He was a Jesuit. One could also add a 4th. How many books has Peter Kreeft written?

[@williambillycraig1057]

The first few times I read Kreeft, I did not get him. I thought he was too aloof for his own good and not worth reading. After some effort, I now see that he may be one of the greatest Christian thinkers of our day. He has an incredible mind. Now, all he needs to do is become a Baptist, and he will be perfect. 🙂

[@philosophercabin2941]

Your thumbnail shows Aristotle but Dr. Kreeft said Socrates 😁

[@mathiasagrelo6374]

It is maybe the 10th time I am seeing this... Amazing

[@Nicolas-uc8ni]

I have to push back on the notion that Buddhism is a kind of atheism. There is absolutely a belief in the supernatural, higher and lower realms, spirits/dieties of those realms that are benevolent and evil. What Christians call angels and demons. I have no idea how that's atheism, and if you ask most Buddhists IRL if they believe in a higher power they would say yes.

[@lukiso5734]

True, reincarnation is supernatural

[@hugofernandes8545]

Do they believe in a god? If not... that's atheism

[@Nicolas-uc8ni]

@@hugofernandes8545 what do you think dieties means?

[@hugofernandes8545]

@@Nicolas-uc8ni as far as I know tradicional buddhism doesn't believe in a god.

[@Nicolas-uc8ni]

@@hugofernandes8545 respectfully that's completely false. You can easily look at photos online of Buddhist temples and their statues of dieties. This isn't the minority of the religion, it's the norm. It may not be the Christian conception of God, that doesn't make it atheistic. Buddhism as it's practiced and understood in Asia, where it comes from, has entire cosmologies. Gods, demons, ghosts, etc. Maybe pagan or polytheistic. Not atheistic. It's absolutely a religion and it's practiced as such. Zen Buddhism doesn't represent all of Buddhism just like quakers don't represent all of Christianity. Most Buddhists claim their lineage is the real tradition much like Christians do, so "traditional" is a really general term but actually no, traditional Buddhism is very supernatural.

[@LL-bl8hd]

Fascinating conversation!

[@christinacanto3740]

A lot of people recognized Christ as Lord without witnessing a miracle, just by encountering Him. Because when you meet Him, it’s obvious. Imo 😂

[@billbadson7598]

He didn’t give the most famous (in the West) example of a koan: “What is the sound of one hand clapping?”

[@elijahwalker7]

Does anyone know where Matt’s St. Thomas Aquinas Reliquary went?

[@Veritas1234]

I click play on Kreeft videos and then say to myself "10 seconds until mind blown... 10, 9, 8, 7..."

[@CAVEDATA]

The way he summed up buhdism strikes me as exactly the correct way yo consider God. Utterly unknowable until one is transformed. Which happens to be the explicit teaching of Christ. How to develop so we may know God and become like him.

[@markreed2563]

I think an important part of Christianity is accepting that you aren't perfect and never will be and need grace through faith in Jesus. Trying to become holy or obtain spiritual perfection means that you aren't accepting that compared to God you will never be perfect.

[@gordo13371]

I got a question.. at 14:50, since we cant do it all perfectly and we put all our hope in him and He does it...dont we still have to cooperate? Does that mean we do it too or no?

[@mjlalla]

Eating the wisdom provided by the 'rock lobster'. M lovin' it

[@IosuamacaMhadaidh]

14:50 👍

[@francescaderimini2931]

As a practicing Roman Catholic I majored in Islamic Studies. I came across Sufism which reminded me of St. Francis of Assisi! Apparently the Sultan of Jerusalem thought St. Francis a Sufie as well! Brother Sun Sister Moon, fellow Rock!

[@Mike_and_Ike-xb3io]

For what purpose, as a “practicing Roman Catholic”, would you study Islam?

[@sikobaya9298]

​@@Mike_and_Ike-xb3io know thy enemy

[@benedict7156]

I'm pretty sure the thumbnail is Aristotle, not Socrates

[@Jake67533]

Rassulallah peace be upon him ❤

[@rickazar9261]

In the interest of encouraging more of this Buddhism and Christianity dialogue, esp. being centered in Christ while doing this, and all the while honoring greatly the spiritual fruit of Buddhist practice, may I mention that if one were to consult DT Suzuki, he would maintain that Zen Buddhism, which considers itself a return to authentic Buddhist roots, would not consider atheism as a position but merely has pledged to neither affirm nor deny he existence of God. The reason being that such a discussion about God only leads to confusion and disagreements and all that discord. So… Buddhists, I bet, look at it that way.

[@Chrisjani11]

Matt, you scared me when you said "I love Buddha".

[@briandowdell358]

Are there any openly available courses with Dr. Kreeft much like Dr. Jordan Peterson has?

[@2CPropertiesTeams]

You look like you just got schooled. I did to, great video.

[@christophereschbacher424]

Buddha and confuses both seem to me like great philosophers who, over time, became a religion. While I do not follow that religion, I do believe they greatly improved the mortality of our species, and their works should be taught and respected like Aristale, Socrates or any other great philosopher or species.

[@miketacos9034]

Wow, the connection between koans and what God asks of us is stunning!

[@RandomThoughts77777]

Christ alone brings true peace. It is verifiable for anyone who has had a deep conversion. Buddhism is man without grace clutching at some kind of straw to find release from the vanity of life.

[@kylekloostra5659]

I would hesitate to dictate to someone, or even claim to know, for that matter, what their first-person experience of the world is

[@droddick2006]

The desire of Buddhists for an end to desire drives them to change their whole lives. They closer they get to achieving this desire, the further away they are. #UltimateKoan

[@eitantal726]

Buddhism: The art of "Giving up"

[@ThepareeLi]

As a person raised in a Buddhist country, it is the opposite of Christianity in many ways. Don’t be deceived by some of the wise words of Buddha-it’s completely different from the Gospel, and ironically it puts the individual (which they claim doesn’t exist) at the center of its own salvation. Buddhism is difficult to pin down because of the protean forms it takes, many of which are contradictory … The forms of Buddhism being preached in the west as “rational” just isn’t. It philosophically depends on the cycle of rebirth, which isn’t rational. If you’re a rationalist, just stick to stoicism. But it is a religion that will lure many in the modern world who *desire* to be free from suffering (which is supposed to be the goal of Buddhism). Also, there are many similar Indic religions with equally insightful and good ethical teachings-and the Buddha is just one of many. See Jainism, or the many Hindu branches, for example.

[@SeaJay_Oceans]

1. Your Mom. 2. Your Dad. 3. whomever made all your nappy diapers ! :-)

[@GraniteQuarrier]

If you are here, then likely you prefer the entertainment of analytical discussion over the calm, aware, and faithful mind, a preference Buddhism suggests is faulty.

[@kylekloostra5659]

well said.

[@lomaszaza7142]

Representation is crucial. So the picture presented, is it according influence or something else?? Shouldn't Christ be in he middle as One who actualize the Middle Way between two extremes.

[@promking4575]

Matt: He walked on water, he raised people from the dead. Dr. Kreeft: Well that helps. 😂😂😂

[@zacka9438]

For me Muhammad is the most influential figure in human history. For he is the only person in history to establish a nation ,religion and empire.

[@davidwestwood2457]

Mohammad is awful

[@zacka9438]

@@davidwestwood2457 This isn't about morality its about influence and accomplishment.

[@miguelantonioacostadomingu9376]

What about Moses?

[@zacka9438]

@@miguelantonioacostadomingu9376 That is a good shout but he didn't establish an empire nor a nation. And a lot of historians actually believe he didn't exist.

[@jennyredbeans]

WOW

[@Alfonzridesagain]

Socrates more than Alexander, Genghis Khan or Mohammed?

[@Houndfromhell76]

Kreeft doesn't tell the whole deal on buddhism. Yes, there is no talk about God(s) in buddhism. The focus in Buddhism is on your development towards (possible) enlightenment. That's something practical and possible. God or Gods (hinduism) is not really something you can work on, and worshipping them or he, can possibly bring suffering (the hate between different religions for example). That's why buddha left all that aside, and focused on self development towards enlightenment. Not bad, but not good enough for someone who wants to physically worship God(s).

[@deanguyer]

16:09 …so first of all we as humans are set apart from animals. And also this conclusion seems like a fallacy. Just because animals don’t excel beyond us in happiness nor misery doesn’t mean those states aren’t bodily goods for humans.

[@brianwalsh7352]

I worry about the tootsie that good men like Dr. Kreeft play with these eastern false religions

[@ullupdrost4740]

No Prophet Muhammad?

[@bobg.7976]

This is hogwash - he went to Japan for 2 months and now he's an expert on all Buddhism? That would be like a Japanese Buddhist going to Rome for 2 months and then claiming to be an expert on all of Christianity.

[@valwhelan3533]

True - in fact if you wanted to learn about "basic" Buddhism (4 noble truths, etc), Japanese buddhism would not be my starting point. I would go to Thailand, Malaysia or other Theravada countries.

[@maik4946]

I'm sorry I studied world faiths and Buddhism was the least favorite most depressing. The cause of suffering is life....the dead do not suffer. Suffering is part of existence. How is Buddha who preaches the middle way ( not the fat or the skinny cow preach such an extreme....the cause of suffering is desire) Sorry Buddhist I do not understand.

[@johnmichaeltau]

I hate when Christ is listed along with anyone else, especially by a Catholic. Neither Bhudda nor Socrates are comparable to Christ.

[@chaplainhyena1523]

Perhaps if the question leads them to Christ, it is a valid question? A sincere search for THE TRUTH might prompt such a comparison? Knock...seek. regards a Catolic Deacon❤

[@johnmichaeltau]

@@chaplainhyena1523 In that context, I agree. Thanks

[@justice_defender]

Sorry, we do not have high regards for Soofies, but for the Prophet (PBUH) and for his right followers. There is No soofisim in Islam. It is obvious that most of you know very little of Islam, hence I suggest you go and learn. No offence..

[@Nick-ij5nt]

There are so many flaws with the Buddhist paradigm, lmao.

[@EasternOrthodox101]

☦️What?? Really, have you know shame putting our Lord, the Son of God on the same putting with 2 pagans, one an idol one an idol worshipper?? Shame!!

[@nickkara468]

Jesus wasnt just trustable,he rose from the dead and theres proof,eye witnesses and written accounts..

[@Giorginho]

Buddhism sounds silly

[@AluminiumT6]

Scandalous thumbnail.

[@nicolamustard7232]

Why?

[@sniperpronerfmods9811]

Literal nonsense

[@Prepping-for-Heaven]

I love listening to Peter Kreeft. He makes so much more sense than most people I've ever listened to. Thanks for sharing him with us!

[@boxofturtles761]

Atheist here but this was very profound and interesting

[@Dhavroch]

I’d put Muhammad in that gang, credit where it’s due and whether you like him or not.

[@geoffreydawson5430]

Or pure consciousness before reactionary thought. Freedom of speech.

[@sherryelysiak4798]

Great video

[@CaryChilton]

concerns me Kreeft seems so interested in Buddhism..... offshoot of Hindi....

[@vaskaventi6840]

Having read his books, I doubt many people are as convinced of Catholicism than Kreeft is. For the spiritually mature, interest in other worldviews is probably quite healthy, it allows one to reach and understand others

[@Tathagata-eo5tz]

Buddhism is very different (I am saying this in a neutral way) from Hinduism (native: Sanatana Dharma). The only thing that is common (apart from few common beliefs of ancient India) is that Siddharta Gautama (NOT the Buddha) was born in a Hindu family in what would be present day Nepal. The Buddha (born under a peepal tree in India) rejected the Vedas (Hindu scriptures), creator god (although he never denied existence of supernatural beings), priesthood by birth and even the self.

[@Houndfromhell76]

Offshoot of hindi...so...christianity is an offshoot of judaism. So?

[@BrodyAleksander-YOB]

Hindi is a language only

[@kylekloostra5659]

Try sitting still, being alone, and then simply observe your inner mental states. Do not react to the stimulus, only observe. The rest will follow.