Sometimes I fear I'm incorporating to much of my Buddhist beliefs in my answers. I try to keep it in the philosophical realm, but sometimes a quote or sutra lesson will pop out. Do you have a problem like that or is it really a problem?

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• I think you're only talking about 'intellectual buddhism', the form that has become fancy for westeners that want to find 'something new'. I don't know much about Buddhism, yet I'm pretty sure that the form of Buddhism that's actualy widely practised in Asian countries is definately a belief system -it's a religion. It involves supernatural claims such as rebirth and some godly essence in everything with which one can connect (nirvana). I might be wrong, so please correct me if this is the case.

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  by 773491 on October 29th, 2009

• You're right for that kind of Buddhism. But I would say you're mistaken with this bit about "intellectual Buddhism that has become fancy for westerners". Westerners are not interested in the mythological cruft which has gotten attached to Buddhism over the centuries... and none of that stuff is part of the Buddha's teachings (or Bodhidharma's teachings, or Nagarjuna's teachings, etc.) I would consider those forms to be "degenerate" Buddhism, and doubt the Buddha would even recognize them.
   
  There's plenty of support for this position in the Buddhist world, which is far from exclusively western.

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  by HasntBeen on October 29th, 2009

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• That's what I was thinking about, I loathe to single out enthusiastic Christians, or I should say fanatical. I was just looking up some stats on religious killings, some from anti abortionist. I makes me scared, and others too, 'cause I don't know when any religious, aparent zealot, Is going to decide that I'm so much a sinner, after telling me I'm going to burn, is going to take matters into his own hands.

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  by A Rock In Woolfs Clothing on October 26th, 2009

• Why do you speak of fanatical atheists? The overwhealming majority of atheists on this site would instantly change their view if evidence for God appeared. Why do you still consider them fanatical?

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  by 773491 on October 29th, 2009

• I don't understand 77349, communication error, I think your rebutting my mention of Christians, but can't make it out, please try again, I love the Christian community but like any other family/organization they have the instigator. I suppose the impression comes from evangelicals, most people think that they can take care of themselves and it's unsulting to have a stranger come up to you and say you need saving, and I'm the one to do it. please restate.

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  by A Rock In Woolfs Clothing on October 29th, 2009

• My comment was addressed to the answer (Brian 1) sorry I didn't make it clear.

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  by 773491 on October 29th, 2009

• 773491, The fanaticism is demonstrated by the zeal with which some people incessantly attack and belittle beliefs different to their own. Of course not all atheists are fanatical, just as not all Christians are fanatical, but there are as many fanatical atheists on this site as there are fanatical Christians.

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  by Brian I on October 29th, 2009

• I know this site and trust me there ain't. I guess you define atheism differently than me. To me, fanaticism is the view that no matter what others say and no matter the evidence, one never changes the view one has. Concerning what you think are 'fanatic atheist', please read my answer to the following question:
  http://www.answerbag.com/a_view/8127076

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  by 773491 on October 29th, 2009

• There is no point in any discussion if the people involved use their own definitions of words that are already defined.
   
  There is only one definition of atheism - a belief that God or gods do not exist.
   
  Fanatic - a person filled with excessive zeal, especially for an extreme political or religious cause (Oxford English Dictionary)
  Fanatic - a person whose strong admiration for something is considered to be extreme or unreasonable (Cambridge Dictionary)
   
  I stand by what I said in my answer because in the almost three years I've been coming to this site I have seen numerous examples of that fanaicism.

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  by Brian I on October 29th, 2009

• Okay fair enough. Yet 'extreme or unreasonable' is exactly what I mean by close-minded and not open for other points of view. 95% of atheists I've read answers & comments of on this site would change their mind as soon as there is evidence for any religion being true. On the other side, there are many Christians here who deny evolution. Most atheists are therefore not fanatic. The position 'there is no god' requires as much faith as saying 'there is no tooth fairy'. Does that make anyone fanatic? And if atheists 'overemphasize' their views against religion, then maybe that's because religions cause some pretty bad stuff, such as the fact that 41% of Americans flat out refuse to accept evolution.

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  by 773491 on October 29th, 2009

• Please read my answer - it's very short - and note that I said SOME Christians and SOME atheists are fanatical.

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  by Brian I on October 29th, 2009

• Okay good point. Yet while there might be only a couple of fanatic atheists (I remember reading answers/questions of only 3 atheists that I'd consider fanatic), there are at least 100 creationists on this site. Atheism really doesn't lead to fanaticism, yet of course one can be fanatic about everything. Religion on the other side encourages it.

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  by 773491 on October 29th, 2009

• You guys do this, my attention span is comparable to a gnat. I think just atheism is confronted w/ proof of God, still wouldn't accept the doctrine. Speaking for them, religion is just not an element of thier fiber. Life is hard enough w/ out having to bow down to anything, ego trip maybe. Now an agnostic will maybe have a different reaction. Anyways from what I understand a deathbed repentence will be accepted as any other.

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  by A Rock In Woolfs Clothing on October 29th, 2009

• I disagree with everything you said.

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  by 773491 on October 29th, 2009

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• oh yeah Tom, i remember you from a while back. that's the only problem with Yahoo ? can't get back accurate feedback and clarify.

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  by A Rock In Woolfs Clothing on October 29th, 2009

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