What is Digg?179 Comments
- PabloMac, on 07/14/2008, -3/+67Buddhism won't die; it will just reincarnate.
- MakiNavaja, on 07/14/2008, -48/+108As a foreigner living in Japan, I've found the prevalence of secularism, coupled with the lack of the type of religious fanatics found elsewhere to be refreshing and uplifting.
Buddhism may be, on some level, "better" (or less bad) than other religions, but it's still a religion - and religions at this point in human development do nothing to better the world. With all the pain and destruction religions have wrought, we should not mourn their demise. Removing them furthers humans away from childishness towards a more enlightened future. - sk11, on 07/14/2008, -9/+54What's surprising about this? Wealthy societies move towards secularity. What IS surprising is when a wealthy nation is infected with religious fervour...
- applesandgrits, on 07/14/2008, -13/+50I feel there is still the need for religion, but definitely not the fanaticism that you mentioned is lacking in Japan. Religion, I feel, has a place in communities and in many ways as a moral springboard for those left behind by the mainstream social structure.
I had much of the same view on religion as you did, but after working at one of the few soup kitchens in my area I realized that often, religious organizations pickup where community and government help programs leave off. - inactive, on 07/14/2008, -5/+40Buddhism has no god. Buddha was a man who (allegedly) discovered a method for achieving happiness in this existence, and passed along that knowledge, which has gone on and spread out into various different forms. Buddhists, if they actually understand the philosophy to which they belong, don't 'worship' Buddha, they honor him, but really Buddhism is a method of living and becoming an improved human being, so in that sense, Buddhism is not a religion.
- Elranzer, on 07/14/2008, -10/+37Buddhism... the one religion that isn't making life difficult for other people.
- inactive, on 07/14/2008, -0/+24I've been to many Buddhist centers, and have a Buddhist practitioner in my family. :) There are many forms of Buddhism, and monks I have spoken to openly admit that much of the ritual involved in the religion is for the laity, and there is much misinterpretation. There are also deep divides between different branches, such as Pure Land Buddhism and hard core Therevada. But if you actually read the sutras, you find that Buddha was inherently practical about the whole issue, denied divinity, repeatedly exhorted his followers to use critical thinking, and basically said that if there are gods or supernatural beings, it has no bearing on our human existance.
Buddhism holds beliefs such as reincarnation, but for the most part, everything I've read by learned Buddhist teachers stresses evidence for this belief, such as kids with memories of past lives, etc, rather than asking people to accept it on faith. Buddhism is big on evidence for the ideas it professes. But you don't have to accept such beliefs to be a Buddhist. I find it difficult to believe, myself, but at the end of the day, reincarnation is a logical belief if you think that consciousness exists outside of the physical body in some other form. It is interesting to me that some Quantum Physicists theorise that consciousness is 'non-local' and exists in some form of quantum wave-state rather than at a localized point in your skull.
The Buddhists appear to stress practical means to address every day problems, rather than becoming gods (in fact I've never read anything like that in any of the literature I've been exposed to, so I'd be interested in seeing where you get that). Many forms of meditation exist to achieve alterations in the way the mind works, and the focus of the meditation is merely a symbolic process, a means to an end, rather than a literal goal. - TheNeoskeptic, on 07/14/2008, -15/+38Buddhism is less a religion than it is a philosophy of life. If Japan needs less of it at this point in history, that is fine. The west, and America especially, could definitely use a little Buddhism IMHO.
Christ was a Buddha. And there's scholarly evidence that Jesus traveled to the east and studied with the scholars and philosophers and prophets and gurus of those same eastern philosophies that provided the foundation for Buddhism.
we need a new philosophical/religious/cultural worldwide revolution. - wm2010russ, on 07/14/2008, -4/+25I think to claim that something, such as religion, has no benefit to humanity whatsoever is a little closed minded. certainly, religious fanatics can be devastating to society, however, those who practice the philosophies of certain religions, such as Christianity and Buddhism, I feel, would certainly experience some benefit in their lives, and maybe even add some of this benefit to the lives of others.
Now you may claim that this isn't religion at all, and is just picking and choosing what you will from ancient texts. however I disagree, as I have found that the majority of Buddhists and Christians that I have met are genuinely nice people. Maybe not fun to have around on a Friday night when you want to go out, but definitely people who I would want to have as neighbors. - Shiftgood, on 07/14/2008, -3/+23in my opinion, real Buddhists dont care about the word Buddhism. All that other stuff is just fluff to keep tourists happy and a source of financial support.
- Frost9999, on 07/14/2008, -5/+22Ramen.
- zakatov, on 07/14/2008, -2/+17Google "define religion": "a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny".
Secularism is no more a religion than an empty glass is a drink. - jefuchs, on 07/14/2008, -2/+16The problem with Buddhism is that it was a wonderful philosophy that evolved into a religion. What I read about Buddhist beliefs (as taught by Buddha himself) vary greatly from what is practiced. I had a conversation with a Vietnamese woman about her religion, and she talked about praying to the dead, and other practices that have evolved over the eons. When I asked about meditation, she said that few Buddhists do it anymore.
I feel that pure Buddhism would be of great value in these times. We don't need gods or prayers. We need to learn to chill! - nevetssav, on 07/14/2008, -12/+25Atheists act in self interest, since there's no higher power to appease. Flat out, religion motivates people - sometimes through bribery, sometimes through fear, but human beings rarely act for others "just because." Not never, just rarely.
- krisscofield, on 07/14/2008, -0/+12"Make me one with everything."
- PabloMac, on 07/14/2008, -7/+19Religions haven't wrought pain and destruction on the world, but misinterpretations (intentional and otherwise) by religious fanatics sure has.
- Frost9999, on 07/14/2008, -0/+11I just looked up 'religion' and it is not defined as a system for categorising worldviews and belief systems. Religion is a system of beliefs usually involving a supernatural being or beings.
- Zippo, on 07/14/2008, -3/+13Buddhism as a strictly followed religion is more-or-less already well on its way out... but the Japanese people are both superstitious and highly traditional. Even long after the religion is gone, the traditions will last for years and years.
- Namakemono, on 07/14/2008, -2/+12Most people in Japan are indifferent to religion. Some still do the "praying" at the temples but it is mostly for cultural reasons, not because they really believe that their prayers will make a difference.
- davidlitts, on 07/14/2008, -7/+17you know, I really love and respect Buddhism, and I wouldn't say that about any other religion. It makes me sad to see it be turned into basically a funeral business and for profit soul namer. Its a good faith for people, constantly is flows with science, its ok with gays, and many other liberal issues. Its actually sorta sad to see one of the few religions that may have an argument that its actually done more good that harm for society start to decline and be warped so much.
- wm2010russ, on 07/14/2008, -0/+9even the buddha foresaw a day when buddhism would become so warped from its original meaning that the true value of the religion would become lost. its happened an infinite times before, and will continue to happen after the lifetimes of all the future buddhas. all i can say to you is to continue believing in the Truths, and continue to practice as you see fit, and in your mind buddhism will survive, and thats all that should really matter.
- inactive, on 07/14/2008, -3/+11“If Japanese Buddhism doesn’t act now, it will die out,” he said. “We can’t afford to wait. We have to do something.”
I'm sorry, buddhism says nothing is permanent and there's no point holding on to things that serve no purpose. Live and let die.
Start bothering people with it and they'll hate it instead of just abandoning it. See Jehovah's witnesses. - apetrie, on 07/14/2008, -2/+10nevetssav: Acting "good" because you believe a higher power will reward or punish you IS acting in self-interest.
Atheists and Agnostics often subscribe to Humanism, and are no more likely to be materialistic or shallow because of their lack of belief in a higher power. You are oversimplifying at best, and ignorant at worst. Either way, you're wrong. - wm2010russ, on 07/14/2008, -7/+15if you had actually ever been to a buddhist center, i think you would change your mind.
certainly, buddhism has at its roots the 8-fold path for eliminating dukkha, which in turn leads to attaining nirvana; however, most buddhists see the act of attaining enlightenment as a selfish end, and practice techniques that i am certain someone like you would call "religious," if you ever saw it. (ie chanting and praying to chenrezig and mahakala, envisioning yourself as a bodhisattva - basically "gods" in a western sense of the term- etc.) - krebcycle, on 07/14/2008, -1/+9How about religious fanatics crashing planes into the world trade center?
But let's get back to the crusades. You agree, it was a war based on biblical history about land ownership.
If you took the religion out of it, they would NOT have wanted that particular piece of ***** land surrounded by desert. It was a war which was defined as a "holy" war. The name itself comes from Crucifixion, and it was invented and decreed by the pope, and afterwards, many other popes, the head of the church, the voice of God. If this doesn't work as an example of religion causing evil to you, then you're in complete denial. Saving the holy land from the infidel is death and destruction in the name of evil religious bigotry. - krebcycle, on 07/14/2008, -1/+9He's not saying religious folks have better morals, he's saying organized religions can be helpful in certain circumstances, such as the organization and staffing of soup kitchens. Most of those in the USA are run by churches. If you're homeless and you want free food, Jesus is the one with the soup kitchens/missions. Of course, if you want a bed for the night often you have to be willing to listen to a bunch of bs and not be drunk, but hell, nobody else is providing that in most places.
In Seattle there is finally housing for homeless people that doesn't require them to be dry, but that's unique as far as I know. - TheNeoskeptic, on 07/14/2008, -1/+9kamikazes weren't Buddhist, they were Shinto.
- screamingjoker, on 07/14/2008, -0/+8Buddhist Leaders do not instruct their female members to use their womb's as a means to propagate their faith. The Warren Jeff's Compound in TX is basically a Christian Livestock Breeding Facility. Maybe, they should employ this tatic, if they already do not? Listen to the Buddha though, there are many good concepts for understanding of the human condition and the human animal.
- WiretapStudios, on 07/14/2008, -2/+9I practice Buddhism, and don't consider myself religious. In fact, I am an atheist.
- inactive, on 07/14/2008, -0/+7The Kamikazes were ultranationalist fanatics who died for the Emperor, not for Buddhism. The central tenets of Buddhism STRICTLY FORBID any form of harm against any living thing, including the self. So, even those monks that self immolated in Vietnam were ultimately going against their own belief. If any Kamikazes ever claimed to be Buddhists, which I doubt, they weren't in reality, because to be a Buddhist, you have to practice the precepts.
- TheNeoskeptic, on 07/14/2008, -0/+7what does that massacre have to do with japanese buddhism? the wikipedia article doesn't mention buddhism once. it was an atrocity perpetuated by the Army. please, tell us what your point is, and who do you think lives in a "simplistic little world?"
being an advocate for buddhism doesn't mean ignoring or pretending things like this don't happen, FYI. if that's what you're suggesting, that's insulting. - davidlitts, on 07/14/2008, -0/+7They where kamikaze pilots because of their service to their country, not because they where Buddhist, in fact they knew full well that what they where doing would probably affect their karmic state for many life times.
- kprasad, on 07/14/2008, -1/+8hmmm....the world's second largest economy isn't wealthy? I'm not so sure...
Dubai may have wealth, but most people there do not. - inactive, on 07/14/2008, -2/+9They weren't Buddhists. They were Shinto, if they were anything at all. Oh, and you're an imbecile.
- kelly, on 07/14/2008, -5/+12"Ever heard of the Crusades?"
The Crusades had the goal of recapturing Jerusalem and the Holy Land from Muslim rule. It was a war over land based on Biblical history of land ownership. That does not make it a religious issue so much as it was a war like any other war over land. Regardless, how does this translate to today? I can come up with 10 examples of religious people being persecuted by those with a lack of religious background for every single conflict you come up with ... so your point is beyond moot.
"history is replete with examples that stretch over centuries."
History is replete with examples of Christians being persecuted for their faith by non religious people. Again, your point is moot.
"The ultimate harm that early dogmatic Christianity caused were the Dark Ages"
That was an example of people fighting change because of ignorance.
I was looking for modern examples of why religion is bad. Not only were your historical examples lacking but as I expected, you couldn't provide any reasons to reflect today's society. - Sairynn, on 07/14/2008, -2/+8The values you hinted at can exist without religion, and without God as well. The problem with your "true religion" idea is that it's impossible to determine which one is "true" (if any of them are) without obvious and measurable divine intervention.
- TheNeoskeptic, on 07/14/2008, -0/+6If you want to cite any religion as being a "cause" for fanatics justifying violence, we could be here all day.
point is, the true teachings of Buddhism DO NOT encourage, support, or encite violent acts such as those of the kamikaze pilots of WWII. - Asianwaste, on 07/14/2008, -1/+7Yea sometimes. When I was stationed there I had a buddy who committed suicide because he lost his job on the base. This is not rare. Many male heads of families would rather die than to tell their family that they have no job. There have been plenty who would pretend to work and sit in a park for hours rather than go through the shame of telling their family that they are unemployed.
Remember that Akihabara massacre? That was the result of the guy thinking he was going to be fired, so he "cutloose". When it comes to holding a job, the Japanese do not ***** around no matter how menial or low that task is, they take that ***** seriously. - rodrigo74, on 07/14/2008, -1/+7For something to be categorized as religion, it must have all or most of these features:
- Dogma
- Rituals
- Belief in a supernatural reality
- Sacred book(s)
- Revelations, "revealed truths"
Secularism does not have any of these, so I wouldn't call a religion.
The same goes for science, btw; I've seen lots of people calling science a religion as well. - TheNeoskeptic, on 07/14/2008, -0/+6ding ding! 20 karma points for krisscofield!
- rockstarhour, on 07/14/2008, -0/+6It is bothersome to me that neither the article nor many of these comments pay any tribute to what Buddhism is actually about.
"With all the pain and destruction religions have wrought, we should not mourn their demise." Yes, in a sense you are right. But Buddhism is about the pain and destruction involved in worldly living. The Dalai Lama has written that in order to break the cycle of death and rebirth and everything in between, one must spiritually reflect and dismiss the 10 nonvirtues.
The I Ching also says that in everything beautiful there is ugliness, and the Dalai Lama expanded on this in his books by taking many examples of things that can initially bring pleasure, but with the wrong motivation, the pleasure is replaced, many times in the short term, by a greater pain or emptiness.
This article is most disturbing to me because I want to believe that something like Buddhism could survive, and is its spiritual teachings can be incorporated into a secular life, one which can include money and work, but still help make things more meaningful. For the priests to say they are losing hope, they are denying their faith and perpetuating negative energy when they need to be positive the most. - HiddenCanuck, on 07/14/2008, -2/+8I got a sun burn last weekend. My grandfather has skin cancer.
With all the pain and destruction the sun has wrought, let's do away with it. - edwartica, on 07/14/2008, -0/+5During my undergrad years, I took a class with a bunch of Japanese students on a study abroad program. They all pretty much said religion played almost no part in there lives, or the lives of their families.
- inactive, on 07/14/2008, -1/+6There was a very strong trade link between ancient Judea and India/Tibet. The Spikenard with which Jesus was said to have been anointed, comes from the Himalayan foothills. Given that there was this strong trade route link, it is not out of the realms of possibility that Yeshua (if he existed) travelled to India and studied there, after all, there is a big gap in his life about which nothing is known, and certainly much of his philosophy appears more similar to Buddhist ideas than it is to Judaism of the time.
- Asianwaste, on 07/14/2008, -0/+5Yea Japan has always been kinda casual when it comes to religion. I remember reading that a very low percentage know whether or not their family's roots are Buddhist or Shinto and only seek to find out when they have to prepare a funeral.
Nevertheless, which religion they follow, they'll celebrate Christmas. Really though, I wouldn't have Christmas celebrated any other way. - iamtenninjas, on 07/14/2008, -0/+5My sentiments upon reading, exactly.
The one religion that sticks to its guns on being pacifist (in most cases) and it's the one that is on the outs.
Guess it's easier to believe in something when it's being jammed down your throat, or killing to spread its name, rather than, you know, actually trying to become better people. - krebcycle, on 07/14/2008, -0/+5Tao of Physics is a fine book when you're on shrooms, but it doesn't make quantum physicists into neuroscientists, nor does it make reincarnation logical.
- applesandgrits, on 07/14/2008, -3/+8I don't really feel that someone who is religiously-inclined is any better off than those who aren't, but I feel that most religions provide a philosophy-lite for many who don't have access to deeper materials.
Now that many industrious nations now have access to information on an incredible level, religion is (for the most part) on the decline. But is undeniable that many of the greatest philosophers are, on some level, constantly wrestling with the notion of religion and our need for it.
Regarding soup kitchens, it's obvious that it's both give and take. The religious types want to spread whatever their word is to what is historically their target audience (the downtrodden) and the patrons of said soup kitchen just want food. Though it's wrong on a certain level, I believe both parties make out with what they want. - Terr01, on 07/14/2008, -1/+6"History is replete with examples of Christians being persecuted for their faith by non religious people. Again, your point is moot."
Don't you actually mean, "differently-religious" people? - mrbradg, on 07/14/2008, -2/+7It's not on it's way out in my view. It's spreading more today in the West than maybe Japan. This is one reporter and one article that is trying to talk for an ancient religion that was around before most of our family lines got started.
-
Show 51 - 100 of 179 discussions
Check out the new & improved 
© Digg Inc. 2009
— Content created and posted by Digg users is