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by Engeltje on March 29th, 2007

Engeltje

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Is Buddhism a religion or not? Please explain, I'm interested.

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Answers. 9 helpful answers below.

  • by Takei-Shihan on April 23rd, 2007

    Takei-Shihan

    Buddha said he was just a sign post pointing the way, and told us to 'look not at the finger but rather to the road the finger points to' ... a way to become closer to 'the Great Maker' ... and after his full enlightenment, he said he had become one with Him ... and so it is a religion ... yet many of the branches of Buddhism erroneously pray to Buddha, treating him like a God ... if the true God is indeed everywhere and forever, then Buddhism shows us how to find the part of God that lives within us all.

    Yet at the same time, Buddhism teachings are purely philosophical, moral, ethical, to walk a path of righteousness ... and consist of a lot of 'do this but don't do that, eat this but don't eat that' type of teachings ... and so, with the individual person at the center of the teachings it may be considered a philosophy rather than a religion.

    But just as there are many different versions of Christianity, from Catholic to Mormon to Penticostal to Evangelical etc. etc. ... there are many different versions of Buddhism ... some teach only the 'how tos' of meditation and finding yourself while others pray to Buddha as if he were God.

    This has led to much of the confusion in Buddhism ... There is confusion in most religeons, even in Christianity there is confusion, the Catholics often pray to Mary with their 'Hail Mary', yet the Bible's 10 commandments clearly say they are to have only one God and to pray only to him, yet they offer their prayers to Mary asking her to speak with God on their behalf and not to God himself ... in the same way, many Buddhists get lost and end up praying to Buddha rather than the 'Great Maker' his teachings lead to.

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  • by nevets - badgicide on March 29th, 2007

    nevets - badgicide

    It really depends upon how one defines religion. If it is thought of as a belief in a supreme being to whom one prays for redemption, security, favors or relief from suffering, then, no, Buddhism is not a religion.
    # http://www.buddhistinformation.com/is_buddhism_a_religion1.htm

    Explore:
    # http://www.buddhanet.net/nutshell03.htm
    # http://www.drepung.org/resources/kbase/faq/2.cfm
    # http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/

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  • by Metaphiz on April 24th, 2007

    Metaphiz

    From what I have seen in my personal studies of Buddha and his teachings, Buddha did not desire to found a religion. However, he did intend to point people in the direction of right, honest, and fullfilling religious form.

    His teachings show us how to view life through the lense of truth, and that, by doing so, one discovers one's own, unique, path to enlightenment. It is a phylosophy that teaches us to view life as children, without preconcieved notions, nor judgement. To see life, every moment of our existance, as seeing it for the first time.

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  • by Anonymous on January 21st, 2008

    Anonymous

    Erased by user.

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  • by My Favourite Life on January 17th, 2008

    My Favourite Life

    You can consider it a philosophical framework. Buddhism is not one thing, and the different denominations teach different things, just like Christianity has these. generally speaking in Samsara, there are gods "above" humans, but beyond that is Nirvana (Nibbana). Gods are subject to Samsara as are humans. There is no God or gods running Samsara. There is no need for a Creator in Buddhism. Everything is an illusion.

    Finally, a religion is close in meaning to ritual. Buddhism has rituals, so you can consider it a religion if you choose to. I don't think people use religion to mean ritualistic these days, so in that case it is not the religious.

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  • by Phil_Osipher on April 12th, 2007

    Phil_Osipher

    It is both a religion and a philosophy.

    One should be aware of one's own feeling towards such beliefs and feelings - if you wish to view it as a religion then so be it; if one wishes to live it as a philosophy, then so be it. It is what you want it to be. Be sure to understand, that it is not a blind belief that leads you, but one that shows you the door - you have to want to walk through it.

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  • by LadyLuck on July 20th, 2007

    LadyLuck

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism

    Yes.

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  • by gh_veda on December 19th, 2007

    gh_veda

    In the ultimate analysis, Buddhism does not accept that there is a Supreme Being or God, thus in the real meaning of the word religion (which would be accepted by all major religionist)viz., to worship God, one can safely conclude that it is type of philosophical practice and not a religion.
    For a serious, detailed and complete understanding of religion, Buddha, and the Supreme Being or God, I suggest reading the Srimad Bhagavatam, translated (from sanskrit) by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. http://www.krishna.com

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  • by Anonymous on December 23rd, 2009

    Anonymous

    It's a tool.
    Will you use it, or just talk about how it looks next to the armoire?

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