Atheists identified as America’s most distrusted minority

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by Elok
Huh. All I know is, everything Buddhist I've read ("Buddhist Texts through the Ages," "The Teachings of the Compassionate Buddha," etc.) has been decidedly agnostic, as in the famous parable of the poisoned arrow.

I think the purpose of that parable is to teach that the follower of Buddhism shouldn't ponder such a question. Christianity teaches the same thing to it's followers. I don't see that as being agnostic.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by DaShi
Most of the gods of Buddhism were introduced in China in order to make it better fit Chinese customs and beliefs.

You are sadly mistaken in both points.

[Last Conformist]

Further evidence antipsychotics should be put in America's water supply.

[Drake Tungsten]

How do you get to Nirvana. How is the world saved and all that?

Why do you think Nirvana is a place that you can "get to"? Why do you think the world being saved has anything to do with Buddhism? And who the **** is Martin Gardner!?

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten

How do you get to Nirvana. How is the world saved and all that?

Why do you think Nirvana is a place that you can "get to"? Why do you think the world being saved has anything to do with Buddhism? And who the **** is Martin Gardner!?

What do you think Buddhism is, just a way to live life? What's the purpose?

[Arcite]

Originally posted by Last Conformist
Further evidence antipsychotics should be put in America's water supply.

[DaShi]

Originally posted by Urban Ranger


You are sadly mistaken in both points.

http://www.ship.edu/~cgboeree/buddhahist.html

The first example historically is Pure Land Buddhism (Ching-T'u, J: Jodo). The peasants and working people of China were used to gods and goddesses, praying for rain and health, worrying about heaven and hell, and so on. It wasn't a great leap to find in Buddhism's cosmology and theology the bases for a religious tradition that catered to these needs and habits, while still providing a sophisticated philosophical foundation.

The idea of this period of time as a fallen or inferior time -- traditional in China -- led to the idea that we are no longer able to reach enlightenment on our own power, but must rely on the intercession of higher beings. The transcendent Buddha Amitabha, and his western paradise ("pure land"), introduced in the Sukhavati-vyuha Sutra, was a perfect fit.

http://www.dragon-gate.com/resources/articles/display.asp?id=76&pg=1

Another very important factor which helped to spread and popularized Mahayana Buddhism was its non-rejection of the peoples’ ethnic faiths so that their gods and spirits were absorbed into its vast pantheon. There was no real harm in worshipping such deities so long as it was recognized that enlightenment could be won only following the way of the Buddha and not gained through godly worship.

The Chinese could thus continue to turn to their gods for worldly boons such as success in love affairs, business, gaining wealth, recovering of illness and even requesting for extension of life.

This may seem a superstitious practice but do not people of other faiths also pray to their gods for such help? Chinese Buddhism has therefore, its own unique flavour and beauty since it has, to a certain extent, been influenced by Taoist thoughts.

Thus the Chinese Pantheon came into being.

http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/history/chin_deities.htm

http://web-japan.org/factsheet/art/buddhism.html

Although, I will admit that it was a bit forward to say that most Buddhist dieties originated from China, but many did, primarily to fit in with Chinese thought at the time. You should learn more about it, Chinese Buddhism is fascinating and riddled with interesting superstitions.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Sikander
Atheism seems weak logically and is plagued by the large number of its often most visible adherents who use it like members of previous generations used communism - to stick it to their old man.

Most people who live in relatively free societies realize in their early adult years that the need to rebel against authority is pretty silly once you are an adult. I wouldn't want my daughter to marry someone who seems immature in this way, it seems to pointlessly promote conflict.

When I talk with believers, my atheism is just seen as yet another kind of spiritual belief (though an alien one). It's just as tolerated as someone who has another religion.

[Elok]

Well, WRT Buddhism, the point varies by the branch, the two major ones being Theravada and Mahayana. Both aim for Nirvana, the state in which one ceases to cling to passions and at the illusion of selfhood.

In Theravada, this is typically seen as the end of a long cycle of reincarnation...or something. They're not too clear, but basically you cease existence as a single entity and, uh, something.

In Mahayana, they generally see Nirvana as being still immersed in the cycle of Samsara but not bound and limited by one's own individuality. Suffering still exists, but the enlightened one is able to embrace suffering, both his/her own and all of humanity's.

Neither one has a supernatural being behind the process (though they do have varying concepts of Bodhisattvas, enlightened people who help others reach that same state), as the process is merely the abandonment of illusions about the nature of reality, combined with the cessation of passions and cravings.