Battersea Peace Pagoda

Walking through London’s Battersea Park, one passes a rather incongruous Japanese Buddhist pagoda. It was given to the people of London by the Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist Order as part of the former Greater London Council's 1984 Peace Year.

Nipponzan Myohoji is connected to the Nichiren sect of Japanese Buddhism. It has been constructing ‘Peace Pagodas’ as spiritual foci around the world since 1947. Sadly, we Christians know that the Buddha and his teachings cannot bring peace between humans and God, and neither, therefore, between ourselves. Whatever mindfulness, relaxation, piety and spirituality it bestows, the awful anticipation of a tribunal before the Great Judge of all the earth remains a certain and terrifying prospect. If you want a symbol of that peace, and the offer of peace, go and look for a cross.

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1