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#redirect [[Criticism of religion]]
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.
 
[[Muslims]] often criticize 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> while Sam Harris practices Buddhist meditation, but does acknowledge that the [[kamikaze attacks]] of WWII were inspired by Buddhism<ref>”Ch. 7: Experiments in Consciousness”, The End of Faith, Sam Harris</ref> and 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]].

Revision as of 09:14, 5 February 2008

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

Muslims often criticize Buddhism for being idolatrous.[1]

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 nontheistic or even atheistic.[2][3][4] Christopher Hitchens is a vocal critic of Buddhism and the Dalai Lama.[5][6]

However Richard Dawkins stated in the God Delusion that he regards Buddhism and Confucianism as ethical systems and philosophies rather than religions[7] while Sam Harris practices Buddhist meditation, but does acknowledge that the kamikaze attacks of WWII were inspired by Buddhism[8] and 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.[9] These three are considered three of the "Four Horsemen" of the "New Atheism".[10][11]

Buddhist nations are sometimes criticized for theocratic and feudal elements, such as pre-Chinese Tibet[12] and Bhutan.[13]

Theravada is sometimes criticized for superfluous - and sometimes damaging - ritual and tradition,[14] while some forms of Mahayana, such as Pure Land[15] are said to be theistic, and this form of Buddhism is criticized by atheists.

  1. ↑ Islam and Buddhism – Harun Yahyah
  2. ↑ Is Buddhism Atheistic?
  3. ↑ Buddhism is Atheist
  4. ↑ Buddhism and Atheism
  5. ↑ ”There is No Eastern Solution", god Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything, Christopher Hitchens
  6. ↑ His Material Highness by Christopher Hitchens
  7. ↑ The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins
  8. ↑ ”Ch. 7: Experiments in Consciousness”, The End of Faith, Sam Harris
  9. ↑ Killing the Buddha by Sam Harris
  10. ↑ [1]
  11. ↑ [2]
  12. ↑ http://www.michaelparenti.org/Tibet.html
  13. ↑ http://www.geocities.com/articlesonbhutan/revivalism_pages/revivalistdrukpa.htm
  14. ↑ http://www.buddhistische-gesellschaft-berlin.de/downloads/brokenbuddhanew.pdf
  15. ↑ http://ccbs.ntu.edu.tw/FULLTEXT/JR-PHIL/hideo.htm see p.220 section
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