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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.
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.


==Devotional practices==
==Critical Buddhism==
Most forms of Buddhism are [[nontheism|nontheistic]] or [[atheism|atheistic]].<ref> <!-- So? How does that qualify as a criticism rather than a simple description? -->[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>
[[Critical Buddhism]] is a branch of Japanese Buddhist scholarship which aims to reform Buddhism through critical examination of its practices and philosophy.
 
Australian Buddhist monastic [[Shravasti Dhammika]] has criticized [[Theravada]] for being superfluous - and sometimes damaging - in 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 Buddhism]]<ref>[http://ccbs.ntu.edu.tw/FULLTEXT/JR-PHIL/hideo.htm Mahayana Buddhism and Japanese Thought] see p.220 section</ref> are theistic, and this form of Buddhism is [[Atheism#Rationale|criticized by atheists]]{{who?}}.


Conversely, "[[Antitheism#The_New_Atheism |New Atheism]]" proponent [[Richard Dawkins]] stated in his book ''[[The God Delusion]]'' that there is a case to be made for seeing Buddhism and [[Confucianism]] as ethical systems and philosophies rather than religions
==Buddhist "just war theory" and use in war==
<ref>{{cite book
  | last = Dawkins
  | first = Richard
  | authorlink = Richard Dawkins
  | title = [[The God Delusion]]
  | publisher = [[Bantam Books]]
  | location =
  | date = 2006
  | pages =  
  | doi =  
  | isbn = 0-618-68000-4}}
</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>


[[Adnan_Oktar|Harun Yahya]], an [[Islamic creationism|Islamic creationist]] has criticized Buddhism for being idolatrous, through producing films on Buddhism.<ref>[http://www.harunyahya.com/buddhism02.php Islam and Buddhism – Harun Yahyah]</ref>
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>


==Buddhist nations==
==Sociology of Tibetan Buddhism ==
 
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>.


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>.
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>.
==Contemporary leaders==


Regarding the [[Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama|Dalai Lama]], [[Christopher Hitchens]] has been a vocal critic.<ref>{{cite book
Regarding the [[Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama|Dalai Lama]], [[Christopher Hitchens]] has been a vocal critic.<ref>{{cite book
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==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
{{Criticism of religion}}


[[Category:Criticism of religion|Buddhism]]
[[Category:Criticism of religion|Buddhism]]
[[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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