|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2006 3:38 pm
I dont know which ones are worse...Christian Fundementals or Atheists. There was a youtube video of this atheist guy making fun of and belitteling and critizing the religious practices of others (including Buddhists)...I realize that not all atheists are like this though.
Any tips?
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2006 3:46 am
O.o I've never heard/seen an athiest slander Buddhism- but there is a first time for everything, I suppose.
Really, don't worry about it. He doesn't concern you- if he wants to actually know about other religions, he'll ask, but until then, leave him alone and disregard him. He's too close minded to deal with now, and anything anyone else says will bounce right off him and his enlarged ego.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2006 1:03 pm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 11:29 am
Hello. I'm not a member of this guild, but an Atheist myself. I havn't heard many other atheists slag off Buddhism that much at all, to be honest. Buddhism doesn't believe in a personal/omnioptant god, right? That's something in common with us atheists, then. Actually, even though I am an Atheist I'm studying Buddhism pretty in-depth for my philosophy + religion A-level, and find some of the teachings really relevant to my life (especially on the nature of Dukkha). I've tried meditation a few times, too 3nodding
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2006 12:44 pm
Muaethia Hello. I'm not a member of this guild, but an Atheist myself. I havn't heard many other atheists slag off Buddhism that much at all, to be honest. Buddhism doesn't believe in a personal/omnioptant god, right? That's something in common with us atheists, then. Actually, even though I am an Atheist I'm studying Buddhism pretty in-depth for my philosophy + religion A-level, and find some of the teachings really relevant to my life (especially on the nature of Dukkha). I've tried meditation a few times, too 3nodding Heh...I guess I really should stop being silly >_<" I mean there were vidoes on youtube that were slandering every "religion" under the sun...but still I guess just because of those people does not mean all are the same.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2006 1:43 am
why deal with them at all?
my friends and coworkers all know that two things are strictly off limits.
politics and religion.
there is no need to force anything on anyone or to deal with anyone.
let them slander you, forget to think of it.
enlightenment is a quest for the one.
many religions focus not on the one but the conversion of the many and loose the one in the process.
each will come to buddhism in his or her own way and time, if not this cycle then the next and so on.
its simple math. if each person is the reincarnation of another, and the people who dont reincarnate reach nervana then eventually with time all souls will reach nirvana.
that is my way,
Raven
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2006 11:52 am
薬師瑠璃光如来I take Refuge in the Tripple JewelEven atheism is a belief. It's a belief that there is no god, and it can be taken further to say that there is nothing supernatural, or mystical. That requires belief and, like all beliefs, it relies on personal experience and real observations.
For an atheist to rant about how all religions are wrong, how all beliefs are indicative of mental weakness, is really a self-description. It demonstrates a desperate need to divorce one's self from an old belief system, in order to integrate into a new belief system. This is quite common - for someone who is converting to a new way of thinking, or a new religion, or political affiliation to get rid of things from their old paradigm, perhaps even to denounce or defile its symbols. tayata
om
baykanze
bhaykandze
maha bhaykandze
radza
samudgate
soha地蔵菩薩
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 9:40 am
I suppose I find this awkward since I would consider myself an atheist in the non-God sense.
But I think dogma can appear in any form, whether it's fundamentalist religions, political ideology, etc. While it can be helpful to constructing social order, dogma is just a set of beliefs like any other. I suspect those more secure with their own mind are better able to recognize it in this way, and from this understanding we find tolerance.
I've found when talking to atheists, particularly political ones like Marxists, that their distrust of religion comes from the recognition that beliefs can be used to exploit people. Perhaps we can agree that exploiting other people's minds is wrong when the aim is purposely deception and self-interest gain. So there's a common ground to start with them. (Remember this goes for all ideology, not just religion.)
They're often from religious backgrounds themselves, and at some point realized that what their church was teaching wasn't consistent throughout history or conflicted with scientific evidence. And that many of the personal beliefs the individual had just didn't fit with church doctrine.... so they go to the other extreme and reject all doctrine entirely.
Be patient with them. They're distrustful and afraid, and patience is what they need most. Also remember that the symbols of the faiths are just symbols.... and while it may feel hurtful for people to disrespect them... know that it's out of ignorance. This is excellent chance to practice and maybe teach tolerance yourself! 3nodding
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2006 4:03 am
Shokai I dont know which ones are worse...Christian Fundementals or Atheists. There was a youtube video of this atheist guy making fun of and belitteling and critizing the religious practices of others (including Buddhists)...I realize that not all atheists are like this though. Any tips? There's a very good article off Buddha Net you should check out, I am more the wiser after read this: A Buddhist Critique of Fundamental Christianity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2006 11:39 am
There are ignorant little poseurs and fluffies in every religion. Just smile at their stupidity and be thankful that you're smart enough to know better.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 2:44 pm
From the Buddha's Sermon on Abuse
"And the Blessed One observed the ways of society and
noticed ho wmuch misery came from malignity and foolish
offenses done only to gratify vanity and self-seeking pride.
And the Buddha said: 'If a man foolishly does me wrong, I
will return to him the protection of my ungrudging love; the
more evil comes from him, the more good shall go from me;
the fragrence of goodness always comes to me, and the
harmful air of evil goes to him.'
A foolish man learning that the Buddha observed the
principle of great love which commends the return of good for
evil, came and abused him. the Buddha was silent, pitying his
folly.
When the man had finished his abuse, the Buddha asked
him, saying: 'Son, if a man declined to accept a present made
to him, to whom would it belong?' And he answered: 'In that
case it would belong to the man who offered it.'
'My son,' said the Buddha, 'thou has railed at me, but I
decline to accept thy abuse, and request thee to keep it
thyself. Will it not be a source of misery to thee? As the echo
belongs to the sound, and the shadow to the substance, so
misery will overtake the evil-doer without fail.'
The abuser made no reply, and the Buddha continued:
'A wicked man who reproaches a virtuous one is like one
who looks up and spits at heaven; the spittle soils not the
heaven, but comes back and defiles his own person.
'The slanderer is like one who flings dust at another when
the wind is contrary; the dust does but return on him who
threw it. The virtuous man cannot be hurt and the misery that
the other would inflict comes back on himself.'
The abuser went away ashamed, but he came back again and took
refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Nov 04, 2006 2:17 pm
I have read a number of pro atheist books over the years and frankly most have nothing bad to say about buddhist. Heck, Sam Harris who is a rather vocal voice for atheism in the US spends like the whole second half of his best selling book "End of Faith" telling everyone how wonderful buddha is.
Personaly I would consider myself buddhist and atheist. Both of us lack belife in all powerful super gods who created the universe. Hell even those gods which many buddhist belive in are not really the kind of gods which atheist have a problem with. Richard Dawkings (another famous atheist) talked once about the issue of super advance aliens or other life forms which have abilities or science so beyond what we know as to appear like magic. Such creatures would appear like gods to us. Yet an atheist would not have issue with such beings actualy exsisting cuase their not really gods in the christian sence which they are opposed to. Buddhist dieties are much the same in that while they may be more powerful, heavenly and such, they are all natural beings which live and die.
Being buddhist and atheist to me means Im buddhist but I don't accept dogma. My buddhist belifes must not be founded upon faith but rather built on stones of reason logic skepticism. In this way buddhist and atheist rather then having different intrests might actualy be one and the same.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2006 12:52 pm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2006 9:40 pm
Chrono_Tata Thought someone might be interested in this. Sam Harris and "spirituality". http://www.slumdance.com/blogs/brian_flemming/archives/001324.html Thanks, I hadnt read that before. I first heard of Sam Harris from Mindful Politics. Its a book on buddhist political theory which consists of different sections written by a bunch of different budhhist teachers. His essay really impressed me. He argued that budhhist practice and ideas had to be taken out of a buddhist religious setting and broth into modern secual society in order to have the greatest good.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 2:48 am
Eye_seE Chrono_Tata Thought someone might be interested in this. Sam Harris and "spirituality". http://www.slumdance.com/blogs/brian_flemming/archives/001324.html Thanks, I hadnt read that before. I first heard of Sam Harris from Mindful Politics. Its a book on buddhist political theory which consists of different sections written by a bunch of different budhhist teachers. His essay really impressed me. He argued that budhhist practice and ideas had to be taken out of a buddhist religious setting and broth into modern secual society in order to have the greatest good. You're welcome. I agree with him on that idea. Seeing most "Buddhist" religious settings are dominated by animism and bhramanism, the Buddha teachings should be applied in a secular society for it to truly florish.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
![[M]arquis de LaFayette's avatar](https://a1cdn.gaiaonline.com/dress-up/avatar/ava/57/ab/2188efe921ab57_flip.png?t=1212787527_6.00_01)
