Criticism of Buddhism: Difference between revisions
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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> | |||
Australian Buddhist monastic [[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 Buddhism]]<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?}}. | Australian Buddhist monastic [[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 Buddhism]]<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?}}. | ||
Revision as of 03:25, 14 August 2008
Buddhist denominations, nations and leaders have been criticized by the anti-religious as well as by proponents of other religions and by practitioners of Buddhism itself.
Devotional practices
Most forms of Buddhism are nontheistic or atheistic.[1][2][3]
Australian Buddhist monastic 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 Buddhism[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 has regards Buddhism as being idolatrous, which he crticises, through producing films on Buddhism.[9]
Buddhist nations
Sam Harris argues that the kamikaze attacks of WWII were inspired by Buddhism[10] despite the fact that Shinto was the state religion in Japan at the time and certain restrictions were actually placed on Buddhism.
The writer Michael Parenti has also criticized pre-Chinese Tibet for having theocratic and feudal elements [11].
Contemporary leaders
Regarding the Dalai Lama, Christopher Hitchens has been a vocal critic.[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
- ↑ Harris, Sam (2004). The End of Faith, ch. 7, "Experiments in Consciousness."
- ↑ 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.