Criticism of Buddhism: Difference between revisions
wikademia>YrPolishUncle rv unreferenced assertion: please supply references per WP:OR |
wikademia>YrPolishUncle Re-wrote for NPOV and removing WP:Weasel, removed allegation against Bhutan referenced only by authorless excerpt, added links |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{buddhism}} | {{buddhism}} | ||
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. | Although Buddhism is generally seen as benign and peaceful in the West{{fact|date=June 2008}}, there is some criticism of it, from the [[anti-religion|anti-religious]] as well as from proponents of other religions. | ||
==Devotional practices== | ==Devotional practices== | ||
Many forms of Buddhism 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> | |||
Many | |||
[[Theravada]] | [[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<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, "New Atheism" | 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 | ||
<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]], a [[Muslim]], has criticized Buddhism for being idolatrous.<ref>[http://www.harunyahya.com/buddhism02.php Islam and Buddhism – Harun Yahyah]</ref> | [[Adnan_Oktar|Harun Yahya]], a [[Muslim]], has criticized Buddhism for being idolatrous.<ref>[http://www.harunyahya.com/buddhism02.php Islam and Buddhism – Harun Yahyah]</ref> | ||
| Line 17: | Line 28: | ||
Sam Harris argues that the [[kamikaze]] attacks of WWII were inspired by Buddhism.<ref>”Ch. 7: Experiments in Consciousness”, The End of Faith, Sam Harris</ref> | Sam Harris argues that the [[kamikaze]] attacks of WWII were inspired by Buddhism.<ref>”Ch. 7: Experiments in Consciousness”, The End of Faith, Sam Harris</ref> | ||
The writer [[Michael Parenti]] has criticized pre-Chinese [[Tibet]] for theocratic and feudal elements <ref>[http://www.michaelparenti.org/Tibet.html Friendly Feudalism - The Tibet Myth<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. | |||
==Contemporary writers== | ==Contemporary writers== | ||
| Line 34: | Line 45: | ||
| isbn = 978-0-446-57980-3}}</ref> | | isbn = 978-0-446-57980-3}}</ref> | ||
==References== | |||
== | |||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
Revision as of 01:11, 4 June 2008
Although Buddhism is generally seen as benign and peaceful in the West[citation needed], there is some criticism of it, from the anti-religious as well as from proponents of other religions.
Devotional practices
Many forms of Buddhism are nontheistic or even atheistic.[1][2][3]
Shravasti Dhammika has criticized Theravada for being superfluous - and sometimes damaging - in ritual and tradition,[4] while some forms of Mahayana, such as Pure Land[5] are theistic, and this form of Buddhism is criticized by atheistsTemplate:Who?.
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 [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]
The writer Michael Parenti has criticized pre-Chinese Tibet for theocratic and feudal elements [11].
Contemporary writers
Christopher Hitchens is a vocal critic of Buddhism and the Dalai Lama.[12]
References
- ↑ Is Buddhism Atheistic?
- ↑ Buddhism is Atheist
- ↑ Buddhism and Atheism
- ↑ Broken Buddha
- ↑ Mahayana Buddhism and Japanese Thought see p.220 section
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Islam and Buddhism – Harun Yahyah
- ↑ ”Ch. 7: Experiments in Consciousness”, The End of Faith, Sam Harris
- ↑ 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.