ANSWERS: 3
  • Buddhism in it most pure form will not require a belief in God. Belief in the goodness in the nature of human beings will suffice to be a true Buddhist. Telling more will take several pages. Not that I mind. You will be bored. But I have told you the essentials.
  • Buddhism sees belief in a supreme being as being delusional and is a religion/way focussed on seeing and experiencing reality directly through a practical way of life that has worked for many thousands of men and women from the Buddha's time until now. For a more accurate view of what Buddhism is (and is not) What the Buddha Taught by Ven Walpola Rahula is a classic and is available online here: http://www.quangduc.com/English/basic/68whatbuddhataught.html
  • As I understand it Buddhism has several sects, some of which acknowledge an essence beyond us, many of which just do not comment on the concept of God. Some followers obviously (from above) interprete this to mean in "pure" Buddhism that there is no God. For those that accept some sort of essence beyond, it is likely tolerant and accepting, rather than controlling; more focused on enabling life in the moment than pushing it in a specific direction. Perhaps the word GOD is too confining for some followers. It is really only a word often defined by culture/religion and as such limiting. The Buddhist religion is probably more agnostic than atheistic, as atheist would be primarily defined as denying the existence of any God or essence beyond us.

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