Buddhism

Daisuke64 · Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 3:38 am Post subject: Buddhism

So what do you atheists out there think of Buddhism?
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Abraxus · Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 4:04 am Post subject: Re: Buddhism

Daisuke64 · Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 4:50 am Post subject:

I'd fit under the " atheists who are looking for spiritual fulliment that is reasonably distant from the god concept"
category.
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SvZurich · Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 7:32 am Post subject:

Welcome Daisuke! Very Happy

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Kelreth · Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 7:37 am Post subject:

I like Zen Buddhism if only because the kohans are interesting to ponder over and offer something akin to spirituality in there lessons.

though i may fall under the "spiritual" atheist, if only because i look into my self of answers
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Moloth · Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 7:53 am Post subject:

I have a large number of Zen koans all over my desk here at work.

Buddhism seems to me to be the most enlightened of all religions i've heard of.

The Dalai Lama insists on the veracity of science and admits that he will change even his most core beliefs if they contradict scientific fact.
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rickyroma · Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 9:34 am Post subject:

Agh! - chimp is the man for Buddhism refutation. There was a fantastic thread where he described his prior prolonged involvement in Eastern religions. He followed this by pointing out that like Western monotheism it's all about turning in yourself (the 'spiritual') rather than embracing the real, material world. I'm doing him zero justice here but the thread is in the inaccessible archives.
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Abraxus · Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 8:30 pm Post subject:

Daisuke64 · Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 9:32 pm Post subject:

Thank you, SvZurich. To respone to Abraxus on his previous quote, while science is mostly concerned with observing nature and the material world and developing theories on how the universe really works, buddhism is mostly concerned with human suffering and the way to eradicate such suffering, to become truly happy. That is what I believe is the utlity of buddhism for this world.
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The mark of an educated mind is to be able to entertain an idea without accepting it. -- Aristotle

Live as if it were your only life. - Me

Philosophos · Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 10:19 pm Post subject:

Out of all of the religions I've taken a look at, I must admit that Buddhism seems to provide the greatest insight into the human condition. I would probably venture to say that Buddhism is the most "spiritually mature" of any religion I've encountered.

The problem is that it really does carry along with it a lot of excess metaphysical baggage. Some Westerner authors on the topic seem to try to seperate the metaphysics from the rest of it. But if one is to take the religion as... well, the religion itself, then it's really hard to do this. Both the Pali canon and many later writings concern themselves with devas, heavens, reincarnation, and the like. The Buddha seems to have clearly laid out the purpose of his practices to be not only to reduce or end suffering in this life, but also to lead to fortunate future rebirth and ultimately to end samsara. After reading some of the original Buddhist literature, I find it very difficult to take the Buddha's words as metaphor for the impermanence of ourselves, as I've heard some claim.

It's true that the Buddha did not expect everyone to buy into the entire Buddhist metaphysic at once. But it is equally clear that it is expected that once one uses the techniques and teachings outlined by Buddhism, one should ultimately come to the realization that the teachings do extend to future lives.

So, ultimately, I don't think I could ever be a Buddhist. While the texts are interesting, and at times downright insightful, there is simply too much metaphysical baggage that is carried along for the ride.
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Abraxus · Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 11:27 pm Post subject:

zxcvcxz · Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 2:34 am Post subject:

zxcvcxz · Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 2:39 am Post subject:

Aridiris · Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 6:12 am Post subject:

I think a lot of the appeal Buddhism has in the West is that it is seen as exotic and rebellious to Western Judeo-Christian order. No atheists here think it's all that exceptional, myself included. Some view it with animosity.

pr126 · Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 6:22 am Post subject:

Ah, Buddhism. Nice.

Anything to escape reality, to numb the mind. Meditation. A natural Prozac to get those endorphins flowing.
And, to my knowledge, it does not asks for human or animal sacrifice.

According to the Encyclopedia Galactica, Mostly harmless.
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