Atheist buhddism

[Eldon]

You think it's possible? Discuss amongst your self, I will reply with my reasoning once I gather it and finish reading plato's the republic

[Lyn Aven]

Buddhism IS an atheistic religion. It doesn't revere any ruling deities -- reincarnation gives ANYONE the opportunity to spend a lifetime as an asura or a deva. If there is God, God is the universe and everything in it working in harmony.

[Eldon]

even beyond that, the budda ridiculed the belief in gods, devas, and reincarnation. I dont have the direct proof, which is no exuse, but a former buddhist monk removed anything that could not be artributed to the budda, ie all the things that probably crossed over from the current indian relgions, and the things that were definetly said by him support this. plus the current rage of what is best called anti-theism is not what should be thought of when athiesm is said, not that you did, just puttin that out there

[Lyn Aven]

Sure, just saying, of course it's possible to be atheist and Buddhist because Buddhism isn't a theistic religion.

[Jicragg]

Actually Buddhism is a non-theist relgion not atheist. That is that it doesn't teach the non-existance of gods but it also doesn't teach the existance of them either.

Which part of Buddhism are you looking at?

Plus it should also be stated that some people take some things literally when perhaps they were only meant to be taken as figuratively. Pure Land certainly believes in higher form who is in control of us... perhaps why I'll never view it as part of Buddhism. The point of Buddhism is to take the matter of life into your own hands, not pray to somebody else to do it for you, Pure Land does just that. You pray for somebody to take you to the Pure Lands and then you gain enlightenment from there. Whereas in Theravada and all the other sects that actually pay attention to the Buddha's teachings: you've got to do this yourself.


You can be a Christian Atheist. There's no limit to what "religion" you can be.

[Lyn Aven]

a- means non-. The two terms are synonymous. The only reason you would want to avoid using "atheist" to describe Buddhism is to avoid the false association with anti-theists.

[SkyEglinton]

yes, it is. I was one once. There are no gods in Buddhism. Buddha isn't a deity and Buddhism isn't an organized religion, but more of a philosophy.

[Eldon]

Actually, tibetian bhudism teaches the existence of gods, djinns, Vedas, and other theistic things. Also I know that one, not sure which one though, teaches that buyers became a god when he trancended, but that may have been a missinterpitation. In fact, Tibetan bhuddism is very strict on it's theistic parts, at least that's one former monk said in his book