Buddhism

marasinghe

(1,253 posts)

11. to paraphrase Bill Clinton - who now visits Buddhist temples in NYC, fairly regularly ....

Mon Dec 3, 2012, 01:00 AM

Dec 2012

it depends on one's the definitions of religion & philosophy.

if one means religion in the sense of one's fate being governed by the whims & fancies of supernatural beings, who have the power of ordering one's destiny -- then, it is not religion.

on the other hand, if one means religion in the sense of a practical way to live one's life, guiding one's own destiny towards a stated end, then it is religion.

to use an analogy: Buddhism is a combination of both the Science of Physics, and the application of that science -- as Engineering.

at least, that's my take; i may be mistaken.

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Do you view Buddhism as a religion or a philosophy? [View all] white_wolf Dec 2012 OP

Philosophy Of Life - Not Religion cantbeserious Dec 2012 #1

Buddhism is accepted and practiced as both throughout the world randr Dec 2012 #2

depends on the sect mzteris Dec 2012 #3

I don't know of any that worship Buddha white_wolf Dec 2012 #4

but the "worship" mzteris Dec 2012 #7

Religion. bananas Dec 2012 #5

Don't forget the monks, monasteries, temples, rituals, etc bananas Dec 2012 #6

i am really facinated at the really serious misconceptions about Buddhism. rabid_byter Feb 2013 #21

Is there a difference between the two? ellisonz Dec 2012 #8

I think so. white_wolf Dec 2012 #9

Many would argue that this is a distinction without a difference... ellisonz Dec 2012 #10

Many Buddhists are atheists obamanut2012 Dec 2012 #18

to paraphrase Bill Clinton - who now visits Buddhist temples in NYC, fairly regularly .... marasinghe Dec 2012 #11

Buddhism is both a religion and a philosophy! WanderingYogini Dec 2012 #12

Welcome to DU and I hope you enjoy the site. hrmjustin Dec 2012 #13

On a tangent, sort of, I view religion as distinct from spirituality in that religion is organized byeya Dec 2012 #14

There are variants depending on tradition. Some seems like religion mmonk Dec 2012 #15

I think... SoapBox Dec 2012 #16

Ethical path obamanut2012 Dec 2012 #17

For me it's all in how one responds to doctrine. GliderGuider Dec 2012 #19

actually Buddhism is a 'Psychology'. rabid_byter Feb 2013 #20

I never thought about it from the angle of Psychology, but it makes sense. white_wolf Feb 2013 #22

I view it as spiritual, value-based psychology JudyM Mar 2013 #31

I think the Buddha would say that it is a path leftyladyfrommo Mar 2013 #23

You said it well libodem Mar 2013 #24

It is so flexible Newest Reality Mar 2013 #25

I believe Buddhism is a religion for several reasons. ZombieHorde Mar 2013 #26

I think the Dalai Lama called himself a Compassionate Agnostic. leftyladyfrommo Mar 2013 #27

Sure, but none of that means Buddhism is not a religion. nt ZombieHorde Mar 2013 #28

Depends on your definition of religion. leftyladyfrommo Mar 2013 #29

I think of religion as supernatural answers to life's "big" philosophical questions. ZombieHorde Mar 2013 #30

I've been reading the Delai Lama book on Anger leftyladyfrommo Mar 2013 #32

Although reincarnation is not worshipped, belief in reincarnation is belief in the supernatural. Pterodactyl Apr 2013 #35

I guess I don't spend a lot of time thinking about what it is. liberal_at_heart Mar 2013 #33

In my view, it is a religion. Pterodactyl Apr 2013 #34

I think most people refer to it as a religion. leftyladyfrommo Apr 2013 #36

Yes. grantcart Apr 2013 #37

Philosophy Of Life just like AsahinaKimi Jun 2013 #38

Religion, at least in Asia. M.G. Oct 2013 #39

either, both, and more. MasonDreams Oct 2015 #40

Philosophy and psychology vlyons Oct 2015 #41