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{{buddhism}}
Buddhist denominations, nations and leaders have been criticized by the [[anti-religion|anti-religious]], by proponents of other religions and by practitioners of Buddhism itself.


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.
==Critical Buddhism==
[[Critical Buddhism]] is a branch of Japanese Buddhist scholarship which aims to reform Buddhism through critical examination of its practices and philosophy.


==Devotional practices==
==Buddhist "just war theory" and use in war==
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>


[[Theravada]] is sometimes criticized for superfluous - and sometimes damaging - ritual and tradition,<ref>[http://www.buddhistische-gesellschaft-berlin.de/downloads/brokenbuddhanew.pdf Broken Buddha]</ref> while some forms of [[Mahayana]], such as Pure Land<ref>[http://ccbs.ntu.edu.tw/FULLTEXT/JR-PHIL/hideo.htm Mahayana Buddhism and Japanese Thought] see p.220 section</ref> are said to be theistic, and this form of Buddhism is [[Atheism#Rationale|criticized by atheists]].
Sam Harris argues that the [[kamikaze]] attacks of WWII were inspired by Buddhism<ref>Harris, Sam (2004).  ''[[The End of Faith]]'', ch. 7, "Experiments in Consciousness."</ref>.  In the book ''[[God is not great]]'', Christopher Hitchens argues that both the [[Showa period]] in Japan and the anti-Tamil governments in Sri Lanka were inspired by Buddhism.<ref>See the chapter "There is no Eastern Solution" in ''God is not great'', Atlantic, New York, 2006</ref> Hitchens believes that there is a problem with Buddhists' desire to "put their reason to sleep, and to discard their minds along with their sandals".<ref>Page 204 in ''God is not great'', Atlantic, New York, 2006</ref>


Conversely, "New Atheism" proponet [[Richard Dawkins]] stated in the ''God Delusion'' that he there is a case to be made for seeing  Buddhism and Confucianism as ethical systems and philosophies rather than religions<ref>The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins</ref>, whereas [[Sam Harris (author)|Sam Harris]], another prominent proponent of New Atheism,<ref>Dawkins, Harris, Hitchens and [[Daniel Dennett]] have been described as the "Four Horsemen" of the "[[atheism|New Atheism]]".  See [http://richarddawkins.net/article,2025,THE-FOUR-HORSEMEN,Discussions-With-Richard-Dawkins-Episode-1-RDFRS 'THE FOUR HORSEMEN,' Discussions with Richard Dawkins: Episode 1, RDFRS - RichardDawkins.net<!-- Bot generated & editor modified title -->] and [http://daviddent.net/blog/2007/06/17/the-four-horsemen-of-the-new-atheism/ » Blog Archive » The Four Horsemen of the New Atheism<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> practices Buddhist meditation. 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>
==Sociology of Tibetan Buddhism ==


[[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>
The writer [[Michael Parenti]] has also criticized pre-Chinese [[Tibet]] for having theocratic and feudal elements <ref>[http://www.michaelparenti.org/Tibet.html Friendly Feudalism - The Tibet Myth<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>.


==Buddhist nations==
Regarding the [[Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama|Dalai Lama]], [[Christopher Hitchens]] has been a vocal critic.<ref>{{cite book
 
Sam Harris argues that the [[kamikaze]] attacks of WWII were inspired by Buddhism.<ref>”Ch. 7: Experiments in Consciousness”, The End of Faith, Sam Harris</ref>
 
Buddhist nations are sometimes criticized for theocratic and feudal elements, such as pre-Chinese Tibet<ref>[http://www.michaelparenti.org/Tibet.html Friendly Fuedalism - The Tibet Myth<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> and Bhutan.<ref>[http://www.geocities.com/articlesonbhutan/revivalism_pages/revivalistdrukpa.htm Revivalist Drukpas and fundamentalism<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
 
==Contemporary writers==
 
[[Christopher Hitchens]] is a vocal critic of Buddhism and the [[Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama|Dalai Lama]].<ref>
{{cite book
   | last = Hitchens
   | last = Hitchens
   | first = Christopher  
   | first = Christopher  
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   | isbn = 978-0-446-57980-3}}</ref>
   | isbn = 978-0-446-57980-3}}</ref>


 
==References==
 
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


{{Criticism of religion}}
[[Category:Criticism of religion|Buddhism]]
 
[[Category:Buddhism]]
[[Category:Criticism of religion]]
[[Category:Anti-Buddhism]]
[[Category:Anti-Buddhism]]

Latest revision as of 17:41, 20 November 2010

Buddhist denominations, nations and leaders have been criticized by the anti-religious, by proponents of other religions and by practitioners of Buddhism itself.

Critical Buddhism

Critical Buddhism is a branch of Japanese Buddhist scholarship which aims to reform Buddhism through critical examination of its practices and philosophy.

Buddhist "just war theory" and use in war

Sam Harris argues that the kamikaze attacks of WWII were inspired by Buddhism[1]. In the book God is not great, Christopher Hitchens argues that both the Showa period in Japan and the anti-Tamil governments in Sri Lanka were inspired by Buddhism.[2] Hitchens believes that there is a problem with Buddhists' desire to "put their reason to sleep, and to discard their minds along with their sandals".[3]

Sociology of Tibetan Buddhism

The writer Michael Parenti has also criticized pre-Chinese Tibet for having theocratic and feudal elements [4].

Regarding the Dalai Lama, Christopher Hitchens has been a vocal critic.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Harris, Sam (2004). The End of Faith, ch. 7, "Experiments in Consciousness."
  2. ↑ See the chapter "There is no Eastern Solution" in God is not great, Atlantic, New York, 2006
  3. ↑ Page 204 in God is not great, Atlantic, New York, 2006
  4. ↑ Friendly Feudalism - The Tibet Myth
  5. ↑ Hitchens, Christopher (2007). God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything. Twelve Books, Hachette Book Group. pp. Chapter Fourteen: There Is No "Eastern" Solution. ISBN 978-0-446-57980-3. 
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