Criticism of Buddhism: Difference between revisions
wikademia>Saimdusan →Devotional practices: Put in what Dawkins actually said (I was the one who originally misquoted him in this article, just checked that part of the God Delusion) |
wikademia>Saimdusan →See also: Buddhist devotion is irrelevant, "kamikaze" and "Dalai Lama" are already linked in the article. |
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Revision as of 02:56, 3 June 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.
Devotional practices
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.[1][2][3]
Theravada is sometimes criticized for superfluous - and sometimes damaging - ritual and tradition,[4] while some forms of Mahayana, such as Pure Land[5] are said to be theistic, and this form of Buddhism is criticized by atheists.
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[6], whereas Sam Harris, another prominent proponent of New Atheism,[7] 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.[8]
Harun Yahya, a Muslim, has criticized Buddhism for being idolatrous.[9]
Buddhist nations
Sam Harris argues that the kamikaze attacks of WWII were inspired by Buddhism.[10]
Buddhist nations are sometimes criticized for theocratic and feudal elements, such as pre-Chinese Tibet[11] and Bhutan.[12]
Contemporary writers
Christopher Hitchens is a vocal critic of Buddhism and the Dalai Lama.[13]
Notes
- ↑ Is Buddhism Atheistic?
- ↑ Buddhism is Atheist
- ↑ Buddhism and Atheism
- ↑ Broken Buddha
- ↑ Mahayana Buddhism and Japanese Thought see p.220 section
- ↑ The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Islam and Buddhism – Harun Yahyah
- ↑ ”Ch. 7: Experiments in Consciousness”, The End of Faith, Sam Harris
- ↑ Friendly Fuedalism - The Tibet Myth
- ↑ Revivalist Drukpas and fundamentalism
- ↑ 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.