Criticism of Buddhism: Difference between revisions
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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. | ||
== | ==Critical Buddhism== | ||
{{mainarticle|Critical Buddhism}} | |||
[[Critical Buddhism]] is a branch of Japanese Buddhist scholarship which aims to reform Buddhism through critical examination of its practices and philosophy. | |||
==Criticism of identifying Buddhism as religion== | |||
Most forms of Buddhism are [[nontheism|nontheistic]] or [[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> | Most forms of Buddhism are [[nontheism|nontheistic]] or [[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> | ||
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</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> | </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> | ||
==Buddhist "just war theory" and use in war== | |||
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> | 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> | ||
== Tibetan Buddhism == | ==Sociology of Tibetan Buddhism == | ||
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>. | ||
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| isbn = 978-0-446-57980-3}}</ref> | | isbn = 978-0-446-57980-3}}</ref> | ||
==Criticism from other religious viewpoints== | |||
[[Adnan Oktar|Harun Yahya]], an [[Islamic creationism|Islamic creationist]] has judged Buddhism as idolatry, while producing films on Buddhism.<ref>[http://www.harunyahya.com/buddhism02.php Islam and Buddhism – Harun Yahyah]</ref> Christians sometimes cite this claim as well. | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 02:59, 2 February 2009
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
Template:Mainarticle Critical Buddhism is a branch of Japanese Buddhist scholarship which aims to reform Buddhism through critical examination of its practices and philosophy.
Criticism of identifying Buddhism as religion
Most forms of Buddhism are nontheistic or atheistic.[1][2][3]
Conversely, "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 [4], whereas Sam Harris, another prominent proponent of New Atheism,[5] 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.[6]
Buddhist "just war theory" and use in war
Sam Harris argues that the kamikaze attacks of WWII were inspired by Buddhism[7]. 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.[8] 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".[9]
Sociology of Tibetan Buddhism
The writer Michael Parenti has also criticized pre-Chinese Tibet for having theocratic and feudal elements [10].
Regarding the Dalai Lama, Christopher Hitchens has been a vocal critic.[11]
Criticism from other religious viewpoints
Harun Yahya, an Islamic creationist has judged Buddhism as idolatry, while producing films on Buddhism.[12] Christians sometimes cite this claim as well.
References
- ↑ Is Buddhism Atheistic?
- ↑ Buddhism is Atheist
- ↑ Buddhism and Atheism
- ↑ Dawkins, Richard (2006). The God Delusion. Bantam Books. ISBN 0-618-68000-4.
- ↑ Dawkins, Harris, Hitchens and Daniel Dennett have been described as the "Four Horsemen" of the "New Atheism". See 'THE FOUR HORSEMEN,' Discussions with Richard Dawkins: Episode 1, RDFRS - RichardDawkins.net and » Blog Archive » The Four Horsemen of the New Atheism
- ↑ Killing the Buddha by Sam Harris
- ↑ Harris, Sam (2004). The End of Faith, ch. 7, "Experiments in Consciousness."
- ↑ See the chapter "There is no Eastern Solution" in God is not great, Atlantic, New York, 2006
- ↑ Page 204 in God is not great, Atlantic, New York, 2006
- ↑ Friendly Feudalism - The Tibet Myth
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Islam and Buddhism – Harun Yahyah