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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>
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 'THE FOUR HORSEMEN - Available Now on DVD!' by Discussions With Richard Dawkins: Episode 1, RDFRS - RichardDawkins.net<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[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>
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 alleges 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 'THE FOUR HORSEMEN - Available Now on DVD!' by Discussions With Richard Dawkins: Episode 1, RDFRS - RichardDawkins.net<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[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>


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>
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>

Revision as of 13:08, 4 May 2008

Template:Buddhism

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.

Harun Yahya, a Muslim, has criticized 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], whereas Sam Harris practices Buddhist meditation, but alleges that the kamikaze attacks of WWII were inspired by Buddhism[8], even though the roots of kamikaze lie within the 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.[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.

Notes

  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. ↑ 'THE FOUR HORSEMEN - Available Now on DVD!' by Discussions With Richard Dawkins: Episode 1, RDFRS - RichardDawkins.net
  11. ↑ » Blog Archive » The Four Horsemen of the New Atheism
  12. ↑ Friendly Fuedalism - The Tibet Myth
  13. ↑ Revivalist Drukpas and fundamentalism
  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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