Buddism: Religion or Philosophy?

[Spec]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_philosophy

http://www.buddha101.com/

Some have asserted that Buddhism as a whole is a practical philosophy rather than a religion. It is "practical" in that it has specific methods of application of various sets of philosophical principles. Proponents of such a view may argue that (a) Buddhism is non-theistic (i.e., it has no special use for the existence or non-existence of a god or gods (see non-theism) or atheistic and (b) religions necessarily involve some form of theism. Others might contest either part of such an argument. Other arguments for Buddhism "as" philosophy may claim that Buddhism does not have doctrines in the same sense as other religions.

The word philosophy comes from two words 'philo' which means 'love' and 'sophia' which means 'wisdom'. So philosophy is the love of wisdom or love and wisdom, both meanings describe Buddhism perfectly. Buddhism teaches that we should try to develop our intellectual capacity to the fullest so that we can understand clearly. It also teaches us to develop love and kindness so that we can be like a true friend to all beings. So Buddhism is a philosophy but not just a philosophy. It is the supreme philosophy.

I have always beleived since I am 15 that buddism is not a religion, but a philosophy. This is based on a couple of books I have read because of a Phillipino co-worker I had. I also have asian friends that are buddists and are insulted when buddism is called a religion because it doesn't have all the negativity that religion brought to the world. Lets face it, religion since the start of time has caused more bad than good, not buddism.

What do you think?

Tto continue from another thread, I said that christianity was a religion and that Buddism was a philosophy.

The answer I got was: You're an idiot, with no explination whatsoever. But what more can you expect from Kuci...

Anyhow, what do you guys think?

[SlowwHand]

A philosophy.

[LordShiva]

WTF is Buddism?

Sorry! Teh administrator has specified that users can only post one message every 30 seconds.

[Ben Kenobi]

Some have asserted that Buddhism as a whole is a practical philosophy rather than a religion.



There are certain assertions to this statement.

1. That Buddhism has real world consequences rather then 'mystical properties'.

I don't really see this myself. Yes, Buddhism has spiritual properties alongside specific instructions, but so does Christianity. Christianity asserts that their way of life will be best for people and there is overlap between the two.

Proponents of such a view may argue that (a) Buddhism is non-theistic (i.e., it has no special use for the existence or non-existence of a god or gods (see non-theism)

Depends on the branch. There are considerable variations in Buddhism.

Other arguments for Buddhism "as" philosophy may claim that Buddhism does not have doctrines in the same sense as other religions.

Another word for 'way' of life is the path or the Tao. So long as there is some form of instruction or wisdom, then yes you have doctrines.

Buddhism teaches that we should try to develop our intellectual capacity to the fullest so that we can understand clearly.

That right there is a doctrine.

It also teaches us to develop love and kindness so that we can be like a true friend to all beings.

And again, you have a doctrine.

Essentially, this form of buddhism is assuming that intellectual development correlates with spiritual and moral development, which is not always the case. Why should people who spend more time on book learning be expected to be more moral then anyone else? Intellectual capacity doesn't necessary make someone more inclined to do good things, many times we see precisely the opposite, that the less 'worldly' someone is, the more likely they are to help others.

And tell me why christians think Buddists are wrong on some points...And what points would they be?

There are plenty. Buddhists don't believe in a 'personal' God, but they do believe in an impersonal force that influences the universe. They see the afterlife as becoming one with this natural force. They see reincarnation as the means to which one develops morally towards this final goal.

Christians on the other hand believe that God is a person, and that we are created in his own image. We believe that he sent his son here to earth and that he died for our sins on the cross, and that he rose again after being dead for three days and is now in heaven with his father.

Christians don't believe in reincarnation, we believe that our life here on earth is the only chance we have to influence our eternal destiny. Once you die here, that's it. You don't get a second chance in another life, but you also retain your soul through everything. Souls are never destroyed, they are eternal, and we believe that our eternal life will also give us physical bodies that do not decay, and that we will be healed of our infirmities.

Buddhism doesn't believe the world was created, that it has and always will exist. Christianity believes that God created the world, and that there will come a time of final judgement, where the world and everything in it will pass away.

In short this is just touching on the many differences between the two.

[snoopy369]

I vote both. Some people treat buddhism as a philosohy, some as a religion - it varies widely, and suffices for both.

Buddhism has most definitely caused bad in the past... its lack of causing 'bad' is largely due to it no longer being the state religion of any major state, I'd suggest. There certainly were wars and political intrigue based on buddhist religion in the past....

[LordShiva]

Much of teh conflict in Sri Lanka right now is because of teh obstinacy of teh far-right Buddhist religious parties there, and their refusal to allow a peaceful solution

[Aeson]

Philigion or Relosophy?

[CrONoS]

Christians don't believe in reincarnation, we believe that our life here on earth is the only chance we have to influence our eternal destiny. Once you die here, that's it. You don't get a second chance in another life, but you also retain your soul through everything. Souls are never destroyed, they are eternal, and we believe that our eternal life will also give us physical bodies that do not decay, and that we will be healed of our infirmities.

At the same time; transmigration of souls was believed by christian and jewish sects during the first day of the church.

I think about two moment in the gospel that can lead us to believe that some jews were believing this doctrine (When they ask Jesus if John The Baptist is Isaiha(I don't know what is his name in english) and when a the disciple of the Christ met a blind from birth; they ask him, if his blindness come from his own fault(which should have been done in a previous life), from the fault of his parents, etc...

[Lorizael]

Originally posted by snoopy369
I vote both. Some people treat buddhism as a philosohy, some as a religion - it varies widely, and suffices for both.

Buddhism has most definitely caused bad in the past... its lack of causing 'bad' is largely due to it no longer being the state religion of any major state, I'd suggest. There certainly were wars and political intrigue based on buddhist religion in the past....

I usually disagree with you on religious issues, but not now: QFT

[BeBMan]

Re: Buddism: Religion or Philosophy?

So Buddhism is a philosophy but not just a philosophy. It is the supreme philosophy.

Basically it's fascism.

[snoopy369]

Originally posted by CrONoS


At the same time; transmigration of souls was believed by christian and jewish sects during the first day of the church.

I think about two moment in the gospel that can lead us to believe that some jews were believing this doctrine (When they ask Jesus if John The Baptist is Isaiha(I don't know what is his name in english) and when a the disciple of the Christ met a blind from birth; they ask him, if his blindness come from his own fault(which should have been done in a previous life), from the fault of his parents, etc...

Original sin is not the same as reincarnation... and Isaiah was believed to be reincarnated in the future similarly to the Messiah (i'm not sure if he was different in fact). As a whole, christianity does not believe in reincarnation; you can find sects that believe anything, but that is also true of buddhists

[Ben Kenobi]

At the same time; transmigration of souls was believed by christian and jewish sects during the first day of the church.

I think about two moment in the gospel that can lead us to believe that jews were believing in the idea of the transmigration of the souls. (When they ask Jesus if John The Baptist is Isaiha(I don't know what is his name in english) and when a the disciple of the Christ met a blind from birth; they ask him, if his blindness come from his own fault(which should have been done in a previous life), from the fault of his parents, etc...

Ugh, no.

This was a rejection of that concept!

John 9:1-7

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"

"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. "Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

Jesus explicitly rejects the concept that because the parents of the man sinned that this man was born blind. He also rejects that blindness was the punishment for sin.

Look at where he says, "It was done so that the work of God might be displayed in his life."

What does that say to you?

[Nostromo]

Blake in 4, 3, 2, 1...

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

You need a third option- "Metaphysical smugness".

[CrONoS]

Originally posted by snoopy369
As a whole, christianity does not believe in reincarnation; you can find sects that believe anything,

I know that Catholics doesn't believe in transmigration; I just wanted to point out that when Jesus was living in Palestine, there was many jewish sects; who believed in the idea of the transmigration of souls. Which is reflected in the gospel at two location.