Criticism of Buddhism
Buddhist denominations, nations and leaders have been criticized by the anti-religious, by proponents of other religions and by practitioners of Buddhism itself.
Devotional practices
Most forms of Buddhism are nontheistic or atheistic.[1][2][3] Regardless, many anti-religious people (who are mostly and often confused with atheists) have made critiques of elements of Buddhism unrelated to theism.
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]
Harun Yahya, an Islamic creationist has criticized Buddhism for being idolatrous, through producing films on Buddhism.[7]
Sam Harris argues that the kamikaze attacks of WWII were inspired by Buddhism.[8]
Tibetan Buddhism
The writer Michael Parenti has also criticized pre-Chinese Tibet for having theocratic and feudal elements [9].
Regarding the Dalai Lama, Christopher Hitchens has been a vocal critic.[10]
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
- ↑ 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.