Is Buddhism a religion? (Jesus, salvation, reincarnation, Christianity, God)

[lilithu]

Originally Posted by MidnightBlue

I guess if we want to determine whether Buddhism is a religion, we first have to figure out what the defining characteristics of religion are.

To me, it's more accurate to say that Buddhism encompasses religion, or includes it, than to say that Buddhism is a religion.

I'd say religion encompasses Buddhism. In my view, religion is the thing that's complex. Some people say, "Buddhism isn't a religion; it's a way of life." I say religion is a way of life. It isn't just the dogma. It isn't just the ritual. If your religion is not a way of life for you, if it doesn't encompass every aspect of your living (much like the 8-fold path), then imo you don't really "have" religion.

[ben d]

Since the word religion is derived from the Latin 're' (in the matter of) and 'ligio' (link or bind),..then yes, Bhuddism is a religion.
But really,.. for all practitioners of whatever religion they belong to, it will always be an inner 'journey' to the 'what' and 'who' of their original nature.

[vandervalley]

Since the word religion is derived from the Latin 're' (in the matter of) and 'ligio' (link or bind),..then yes, Bhuddism is a religion.

according to your logic; wouldn't political parties be considered "religions" (in the latin sense) as well?

Since members of a political party are "binded" together by the policies of the party as well.

[koan]

I don't class Buddhism as a religion myself. However, I have been to Temples in Australia and Korea, where devotional services(very similar to Christian) are held.
Personally, I class Buddhism as a methodology.

[MidnightBlue]

Here are two answers from Buddhanet:

Questions:
What is Buddhism?

Answer:
The name Buddhism comes from the word 'budhi' which means 'to wake up' and thus Buddhism is the philosophy of awakening. This philosophy has its origins in the experience of the man Siddhata Gotama, known as the Buddha, who was himself awakened at the age of 35. Buddhism is now 2,500 years old and has about 300 million followers world-wide. Until a hundred years ago, Buddhism was mainly an Asian philosophy but increasingly it is gaining adherents in Europe and America.

Question:
So Buddhism is just a philosophy?

Answer:
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 describing 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. Thus Buddhism is a philosophy but not just a philosophy. It is the supreme philosophy.

And the other:

In Buddhism there is not, as in most other religions, an Almighty God to be obeyed and feared. The Buddha does not believe in a cosmic potentate, omniscient and omnipresent. In Buddhism there are no divine revelations or divine messengers. A Buddhist is, therefore, not subservient to any higher supernatural power which controls his destinies and which arbitrarily rewards and punishes. Since Buddhists do not believe in revelations of a divine being Buddhism does not claim the monopoly of truth and does not condemn any other religion. But Buddhism recognizes the infinite latent possibilities of man and teaches that man can gain deliverance from suffering by his own efforts independent of divine help or mediating priests.

Buddhism cannot, therefore, strictly be called a religion because it is neither a system of faith and worship, nor "the outward act or form by which men indicate their recognition of the existence of a God or gods having power over their own destiny to whom obedience, service, and honor are due."

If, by religion, is meant "a teaching which takes a view of life that is more than superficial, a teaching which looks into life and not merely at it, a teaching which furnishes men with a guide to conduct that is in accord with this its in-look, a teaching which enables those who give it heed to face life with fortitude and death with serenity," or a system to get rid of the ills of life, then it is certainly a religion of religions.

(See here for complete answer.)

[lilithu]

Originally Posted by vandervalley

according to your logic; wouldn't political parties be considered "religions" (in the latin sense) as well?

Since members of a political party are "binded" together by the policies of the party as well.

The way I interpret religare (to bind) is that religion binds every part of your life. Beliefs, practice, identity, everything. It is a way of life.

[ben d]

Originally Posted by vandervalley

according to your logic; wouldn't political parties be considered "religions" (in the latin sense) as well?

Since members of a political party are "binded" together by the policies of the party as well.

It is not logic,.. it is the definition of the word 'religion' that implies the existence of a reality beyond that which mortal man is directly aware of. In other words religion is about rebinding with our own true eternal nature, regardless of the various marketing labels, i.e. Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, etc..
Context is everything when using language to exchange understanding.

[ben d]

Originally Posted by koan

I don't class Buddhism as a religion myself. However, I have been to Temples in Australia and Korea, where devotional services(very similar to Christian) are held.
Personally, I class Buddhism as a methodology.

Buddhism is indeed a methodology,.. but to what purpose? The goal as I understand it is to attain enlightenment,..to be fully awake and free from the ignorance of mere mortal perceived reality, and to me that is the highest religious purpose for a mortal being.
I would equally say for Christianity, to be 'resurrected' into eternal life is the highest religious purpose for a mortal being.
Is there really any difference in the ultimate purpose?
Religion is merely a word, a symbol if you like that stands for something real,..but the word is not that reality,..never mistake the symbol of a thing for the real thing. The religious methodology of Christianity is different from the religious methodology of Buddhism, as is the religious methodologies of all creeds, but the underlying aspiration for all beings is the same ...call it whatever you your present religious understanding resonates with..., Allah, God, etc.,..or have no name at all as in Buddhism and the more mystical traditions.
Buddhism and mystical traditions are wise in avoiding the use of a name/symbol since it is inevitable that sooner or later unenlightened mortals will come to see the symbol as synonymous with deity and off to sleep they will go and the real Truth will be obscured.

[Scarlett Wampus]

Buddhism is definitely a religion. Occasionally it is a path to liberation also.