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Criticism of Buddhism

2008-03-25T12:49:34Z

193.175.73.204: ooops...fixed links

{{buddhism}}

Although Buddhism is generally seen as benign and peaceful in the West, there is some criticism of it, from the [[anti-religion|anti-religious]] as well as from other religions.

[[Adnan_Oktar|Harun Yahya]], a [[Muslim]], has criticized Buddhism for being idolatrous.<ref>[http://www.harunyahya.com/buddhism02.php Islam and Buddhism – Harun Yahyah]</ref>

Many anti-religious people see Buddhism as just as (or almost as) superstitious and damaging as any other religion, even though many of its forms are [[nontheism|nontheistic]] or even [[atheism|atheistic]].<ref>[http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/beliefs/atheism.htm Is Buddhism Atheistic?]</ref><ref>[http://www.vexen.co.uk/religion/buddhism_atheism.html Buddhism is Atheist]</ref><ref>[http://atheism.about.com/b/2005/11/28/buddhism-and-atheism.htm Buddhism and Atheism]</ref> [[Christopher Hitchens]] is a vocal critic of Buddhism and the Dalai Lama.<ref>”There is No Eastern Solution", god Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything, Christopher Hitchens</ref><ref>[http://www.salon.com/news/1998/07/13news His Material Highness] by Christopher Hitchens</ref>

However, Richard Dawkins stated in the God Delusion that he regards Buddhism and Confucianism as ethical systems and philosophies rather than religions<ref>The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins</ref>, whereas Sam Harris practices Buddhist meditation, but alledges that the [[kamikaze]] attacks of WWII were inspired by Buddhism<ref>”Ch. 7: Experiments in Consciousness”, The End of Faith, Sam Harris</ref>, even though the [[Kamikaze#Cultural_background|roots of kamikaze]] lie within the [[Bushido|bushido]] code and is closer related to [[Shintoism]], the [[State religion|State Religion]] of [[Japan]] at the time. Harris believes that the term “Buddhism” should be removed entirely and that Buddhist meditation should leave the realm of religion and enter the realm of science.<ref>[http://www.samharris.org/media/killing_the_buddha.pdf Killing the Buddha] by Sam Harris</ref> These three are considered three of the "[[Four Horsemen]]" of the "[[atheism|New Atheism]]".<ref>[http://richarddawkins.net/article,2025,THE-FOUR-HORSEMEN,Discussions-With-Richard-Dawkins-Episode-1-RDFRS]</ref><ref>[http://daviddent.net/blog/2007/06/17/the-four-horsemen-of-the-new-atheism/]</ref>

Buddhist nations are sometimes criticized for theocratic and feudal elements, such as pre-Chinese Tibet<ref>http://www.michaelparenti.org/Tibet.html</ref> and Bhutan.<ref>http://www.geocities.com/articlesonbhutan/revivalism_pages/revivalistdrukpa.htm</ref>

Theravada is sometimes criticized for superfluous - and sometimes damaging - ritual and tradition,<ref>http://www.buddhistische-gesellschaft-berlin.de/downloads/brokenbuddhanew.pdf</ref> while some forms of Mahayana, such as Pure Land<ref>http://ccbs.ntu.edu.tw/FULLTEXT/JR-PHIL/hideo.htm see p.220 section</ref> are said to be theistic, and this form of Buddhism is [[Atheism#Rationale|criticized by atheists]].

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

{{Criticism of religion}}

[[Category:Buddhism]]
[[Category:Criticism of religion]]
[[Category:Anti-Buddhism]]

Criticism of Buddhism

2008-03-25T12:47:31Z

193.175.73.204: Clarified sources

{{buddhism}}

Although Buddhism is generally seen as benign and peaceful in the West, there is some criticism of it, from the [[anti-religion|anti-religious]] as well as from other religions.

[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adnan_Oktar|Harun Yahya]], a [[Muslim]], has criticized Buddhism for being idolatrous.<ref>[http://www.harunyahya.com/buddhism02.php Islam and Buddhism – Harun Yahyah]</ref>

Many anti-religious people see Buddhism as just as (or almost as) superstitious and damaging as any other religion, even though many of its forms are [[nontheism|nontheistic]] or even [[atheism|atheistic]].<ref>[http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/beliefs/atheism.htm Is Buddhism Atheistic?]</ref><ref>[http://www.vexen.co.uk/religion/buddhism_atheism.html Buddhism is Atheist]</ref><ref>[http://atheism.about.com/b/2005/11/28/buddhism-and-atheism.htm Buddhism and Atheism]</ref> [[Christopher Hitchens]] is a vocal critic of Buddhism and the Dalai Lama.<ref>”There is No Eastern Solution", god Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything, Christopher Hitchens</ref><ref>[http://www.salon.com/news/1998/07/13news His Material Highness] by Christopher Hitchens</ref>

However, Richard Dawkins stated in the God Delusion that he regards Buddhism and Confucianism as ethical systems and philosophies rather than religions<ref>The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins</ref>, whereas Sam Harris practices Buddhist meditation, but alledges that the [[kamikaze]] attacks of WWII were inspired by Buddhism<ref>”Ch. 7: Experiments in Consciousness”, The End of Faith, Sam Harris</ref>, even though the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamikaze#Cultural_background|roots of kamikaze]] lie within the [[Bushido|bushido]] code and is closer related to [[Shintoism]], the [[State Religion]] of [[Japan]] at the time. Harris believes that the term “Buddhism” should be removed entirely and that Buddhist meditation should leave the realm of religion and enter the realm of science.<ref>[http://www.samharris.org/media/killing_the_buddha.pdf Killing the Buddha] by Sam Harris</ref> These three are considered three of the "[[Four Horsemen]]" of the "[[atheism|New Atheism]]".<ref>[http://richarddawkins.net/article,2025,THE-FOUR-HORSEMEN,Discussions-With-Richard-Dawkins-Episode-1-RDFRS]</ref><ref>[http://daviddent.net/blog/2007/06/17/the-four-horsemen-of-the-new-atheism/]</ref>

Buddhist nations are sometimes criticized for theocratic and feudal elements, such as pre-Chinese Tibet<ref>http://www.michaelparenti.org/Tibet.html</ref> and Bhutan.<ref>http://www.geocities.com/articlesonbhutan/revivalism_pages/revivalistdrukpa.htm</ref>

Theravada is sometimes criticized for superfluous - and sometimes damaging - ritual and tradition,<ref>http://www.buddhistische-gesellschaft-berlin.de/downloads/brokenbuddhanew.pdf</ref> while some forms of Mahayana, such as Pure Land<ref>http://ccbs.ntu.edu.tw/FULLTEXT/JR-PHIL/hideo.htm see p.220 section</ref> are said to be theistic, and this form of Buddhism is [[Atheism#Rationale|criticized by atheists]].

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

{{Criticism of religion}}

[[Category:Buddhism]]
[[Category:Criticism of religion]]
[[Category:Anti-Buddhism]]