Comments on: Buddhism and Atheism http://students.washington.edu/secular/2009/04/17/buddhism-and-atheism/ University of Washington's home for students of all flavors. Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:32:09 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Thick Black Theory http://students.washington.edu/secular/2009/04/17/buddhism-and-atheism/comment-page-1/#comment-643 Thick Black Theory Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:48:07 +0000 http://students.washington.edu/secular/?p=249#comment-643 <strong>Thick Black Theory...</strong> An interesting post over at . . .... Thick Black Theory…

An interesting post over at . . ….

]]> By: Karin http://students.washington.edu/secular/2009/04/17/buddhism-and-atheism/comment-page-1/#comment-626 Karin Sun, 03 May 2009 02:56:23 +0000 http://students.washington.edu/secular/?p=249#comment-626 "Condemning certain religious techniques (and in this case philosophies) simply because their religious is just as silly as condemning lightening because it is associated with the dark side of the force in Star Wars." I don't believe this is what I was doing at all. I wasn't criticizing Buddhism; I was criticizing people who claim to be rejecting poor philosophical theories like theism but who then seemingly unthinkingly agree with much of Buddhist philosophy. There is a reason you can only study Buddhist philosophy at the UW in the religion department; because it is really, really bad philosophy. Meditation is certainly great, although historically it is hardly an exclusively Buddhist practice; nearly every religious tradition in the world has a history of meditation, although historically that aspect of the tradition has been much more central to Buddhism than to, say, Christianity. I never condemned Buddhist techniques, and I certainly never condemned them because they are associated with the Buddhist religions. I am simply suggesting that it is highly hypocritical or unthinking of people who claim to reject religion because of reason to then accept an entirely different system of poor philosophy. Excluding the few strange metaphysical aspects of original Buddhism as espoused by the Buddha (although this is somewhat kind, as I have seen many atheists accept these), you are essentially left with a system of ethics, one that no sane modern day philosopher holds anything close to. Even the most basic precept of Buddhism, human teleology ought to be eliminating duka, is simply wrong. Although I really would rather not go into a lengthy philosophical/ethical/metaethical debate. If, however, you believe in meditation as a good practice because of your own personal experience with it and because of the numerous studies showing its vast benefits, that's not being a Buddhist, that's being a completely rational modern-day humanist. “Condemning certain religious techniques (and in this case philosophies) simply because their religious is just as silly as condemning lightening because it is associated with the dark side of the force in Star Wars.”

I don’t believe this is what I was doing at all. I wasn’t criticizing Buddhism; I was criticizing people who claim to be rejecting poor philosophical theories like theism but who then seemingly unthinkingly agree with much of Buddhist philosophy. There is a reason you can only study Buddhist philosophy at the UW in the religion department; because it is really, really bad philosophy.

Meditation is certainly great, although historically it is hardly an exclusively Buddhist practice; nearly every religious tradition in the world has a history of meditation, although historically that aspect of the tradition has been much more central to Buddhism than to, say, Christianity.

I never condemned Buddhist techniques, and I certainly never condemned them because they are associated with the Buddhist religions. I am simply suggesting that it is highly hypocritical or unthinking of people who claim to reject religion because of reason to then accept an entirely different system of poor philosophy. Excluding the few strange metaphysical aspects of original Buddhism as espoused by the Buddha (although this is somewhat kind, as I have seen many atheists accept these), you are essentially left with a system of ethics, one that no sane modern day philosopher holds anything close to. Even the most basic precept of Buddhism, human teleology ought to be eliminating duka, is simply wrong. Although I really would rather not go into a lengthy philosophical/ethical/metaethical debate.

If, however, you believe in meditation as a good practice because of your own personal experience with it and because of the numerous studies showing its vast benefits, that’s not being a Buddhist, that’s being a completely rational modern-day humanist.

]]> By: Parris http://students.washington.edu/secular/2009/04/17/buddhism-and-atheism/comment-page-1/#comment-621 Parris Wed, 29 Apr 2009 23:15:16 +0000 http://students.washington.edu/secular/?p=249#comment-621 Well first I just want to add that Buddhism has in fact been behind some fairly nasty religious wars in the past.But that's besides the point,while Buddhism is a religion, it like all eastern religions is more of a philosophy than an actual belief system. Granted I agree that it is just as superstitious as other religions, and exists for similar reasons, but a lot of Buddhist techniques such as meditation can be help full in everyday life. I see no reason why certain things from religions can't be taken and adapted to less religious uses. Condemning certain religious techniques (and in this case philosophies) simply because their religious is just as silly as condemning lightening because it is associated with the dark side of the force in Star Wars. Also, religions have done enough harm in this world, why not harness as much good from them to give back as we can? Well first I just want to add that Buddhism has in fact been behind some fairly nasty religious wars in the past.But that’s besides the point,while Buddhism is a religion, it like all eastern religions is more of a philosophy than an actual belief system. Granted I agree that it is just as superstitious as other religions, and exists for similar reasons, but a lot of Buddhist techniques such as meditation can be help full in everyday life. I see no reason why certain things from religions can’t be taken and adapted to less religious uses. Condemning certain religious techniques (and in this case philosophies) simply because their religious is just as silly as condemning lightening because it is associated with the dark side of the force in Star Wars. Also, religions have done enough harm in this world, why not harness as much good from them to give back as we can?

]]> By: Tiberias http://students.washington.edu/secular/2009/04/17/buddhism-and-atheism/comment-page-1/#comment-540 Tiberias Sat, 18 Apr 2009 07:22:24 +0000 http://students.washington.edu/secular/?p=249#comment-540 I think one of the reasons many atheists scorn Christianity, yet embrace other spiritual or 'religious' alternatives is that they're used to large amounts of antagonism from the obsessed in our country. Buddhism, while leaving aside its actual qualifications as a religion, is very much less in-your-face. I personally have never heard of any wars being fought over Buddhism. Part of that must certainly be that religion is thought of differently in Asia, than in the West. As an atheist myself, I entertained Buddhist leanings around the 11-12 age mark, but gave it up pretty quickly. It should also be noted that not all people are atheists due to any desire to rid themselves of irrational superstition, but as an emotional response to the outright barbarism of some well-known religious leaders. I think one of the reasons many atheists scorn Christianity, yet embrace other spiritual or ‘religious’ alternatives is that they’re used to large amounts of antagonism from the obsessed in our country.
Buddhism, while leaving aside its actual qualifications as a religion, is very much less in-your-face. I personally have never heard of any wars being fought over Buddhism. Part of that must certainly be that religion is thought of differently in Asia, than in the West.

As an atheist myself, I entertained Buddhist leanings around the 11-12 age mark, but gave it up pretty quickly. It should also be noted that not all people are atheists due to any desire to rid themselves of irrational superstition, but as an emotional response to the outright barbarism of some well-known religious leaders.

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