By religious spectrum I mean monotheistic, polytheistic, pantheistic, atheistic, etc. I just started to get to know about Buddhism and so I want to know the very basics of where Buddhism stands. I know there are a lot of different schools in Buddhism and some have integrated with local culture and so different schools fit into different spectrums. Eg. with Chinese folk religion. But where does the most original (at least in theory) school of thought in buddhism, that is, the one that Gautama Buddha taught to his disciples fit into the religious spectrum? I know there are two major schools in Buddhism, Theravada and Mahayana. Do they fit into the same spectrum but just differ in rituals, customs, etc, or are they totally different? I have no idea abut Theravada but I know a very tiny bit about Mahayana because my family has more tendancy on it and I find it hard to position Mahayana Buddhism. Is it Atheism or Polytheism? There are many Buddhas but once we also become a Buddha they are just our "colleague" or "classmates" in the "western world". And there are no so called "creator" because this materialistic world we live in is actually created by ourselves and the teachings in Buddhism is to train our mind to escape this material world because the material world is the root for stress and unhappiness. Then would at least this school of thought be considered as Atheism? But often nowadays when we talk about Atheism we often relate our minds to Secularism and Buddhism imho does not relate to Secularism. Yet indeed I think Buddhism is very appealing to secularists nowadays.
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What "religious spectrum" is Buddhism in?
- Thread starter Cleffa
- Start date
Engyo is correct. I once believed that Theravada and Mahayana could be distinguished by their stance on Theism, but it has since become clear to me that in both vehicles one would be hard pressed to find any stance on Theism.
Far as I can see, Buddhist practice simply doesn't much use the concept of God except as a figure of language. It is very compatible with Atheism, but doesn't make much of an issue of it either.
Quite frankly, in that respect Buddhism is more correct than most other religions. God is not a very useful concept.
Far as I can see, Buddhist practice simply doesn't much use the concept of God except as a figure of language. It is very compatible with Atheism, but doesn't make much of an issue of it either.
Quite frankly, in that respect Buddhism is more correct than most other religions. God is not a very useful concept.
I like the atheist flavor of Buddhism. I wouldn't bring disgrace upon
them by actually joining, but I see much which is useful & thoughtful.
them by actually joining, but I see much which is useful & thoughtful.
I have categorized myself as a non-theist when the question of the existence of God comes up. But I would also see myself as a non-unicornist or a non-fairyist.
I see them as constructs, and can be very useful constructs, but constructs nonetheless.
I see them as constructs, and can be very useful constructs, but constructs nonetheless.
You deny fairies & unicorns because you hate them.
Rainbow Mage
Lib Democrat/Agnostic/Epicurean-ish/Buddhist-ish
I would say that Buddhism is non-theistic. What I mean by that, is that Buddhism doesn't address either theism or atheism, it leaves both open to the individual practitioner. Traditionally in many countries Buddhism has been theistic, but that doesn't mean it must be. Truly the Buddha really didn't say very much about the devas, except that he described them as limited beings bound by attachments and karma like we are.
I think that Buddhism and Abrahamic theism are incompatiable, because the idea of an all-knowing, all-powerful god is incompatiable with Buddha's teaching.
I think that Buddhism and Abrahamic theism are incompatiable, because the idea of an all-knowing, all-powerful god is incompatiable with Buddha's teaching.
Tathagata
Freethinker
False. The Buddha has addressed it.
"Let us, then, surrender the HERESIES of worshiping God and praying to him."
-- the Buddha [Culla Vagga 6:2]
And yet you say he leaves it up to the individual practicioner? No, he doesn't. Take it to the Scriptural Debates section if you think you're correct.
This is true. But if you believe this, why are you a polytheist who worships such limited beings?
.
AfterGlow
Invisible Puffle
Buddhism is a Shramanic religion, one of three along with Jainism and one that is now extinct. In ancient India people were either Shramanic or Vedic. The Vedic religion evolved into what we now call Hinduism.
The Shramanic religions are notable for their focus on the nature of the self, and realisations about the nature of reality that culminate in some form of liberation from samsara (rebirth in suffering).
The Shramanic religions are notable for their focus on the nature of the self, and realisations about the nature of reality that culminate in some form of liberation from samsara (rebirth in suffering).
Mind_Zenith
Broadcasting Live!
I like the term "Transtheistic" to define Buddhism:
1. We are not Theists, because we do not have a God that we worship.
2. We are not Atheists, because we have a (even in most basic forms) a supernatural concept.
We are transcendent of Theism and Atheism, as our religion has different aims altogether than belief and absence-of-belief.
If we decide to strip Buddhism of it's supernatural doctrines (which is what some Western Buddhists do, and if this is there belief then so it is), I would still be inclined to say we are "Transtheists", as Nirvana is still a "lofty goal" that (at least Nihilistic) Atheists would deny.
1. We are not Theists, because we do not have a God that we worship.
2. We are not Atheists, because we have a (even in most basic forms) a supernatural concept.
We are transcendent of Theism and Atheism, as our religion has different aims altogether than belief and absence-of-belief.
If we decide to strip Buddhism of it's supernatural doctrines (which is what some Western Buddhists do, and if this is there belief then so it is), I would still be inclined to say we are "Transtheists", as Nirvana is still a "lofty goal" that (at least Nihilistic) Atheists would deny.
Do we? I don't think so.
This I agree with. In fact, I expect most religions to do the same.
Twilight Hue
Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
There is no spectrum in Buddhism to speak of whether it is of a religious nature or otherwise. The position or point of view one takes in regards to atheism or theism, one must first then be aware as to where such views like atheism and theism arises from, of which Buddhism addresses. To mention Buddhism as being "one or the other" or even a "mix" is erroneous simply by the use of such definitions.
dharmic if you must qualify it somehow.
Mind_Zenith
Broadcasting Live!
Reincarnation disallows us from taking a totally atheist stance.
AfterGlow
Invisible Puffle
Tibetan Buddhism could be argued to embrace both reincarnation (as with the likes of the Dalai Lama) and rebirth.Then I guess it is a good thing that Buddhism is not reincarnationist, eh?
I guess it could. But it is not representative of Buddhism in that sense. It is very much the exception.
Besides, it is not even representative of the belief in reincarnation either, what with only a handful of people being "elegible" and all that.
AfterGlow
Invisible Puffle
I think if you asked most Buddhists to explain rebirth, they'd describe reincarnation to you. Only because most Buddhists are born Buddhist and don't really study it, plus the concept of rebirth is quite hard to grasp whereas the concept of reincarnation is easy. So I would bet that reincarnation is more representative of what most (lay) buddhists actually believe in, than rebirth is.
Engyo
Prince of Dorkness!
I'm curious here; are you referring to "most (lay) buddhists" as being most of those you or I are likely to meet, or most in total around the world?