I'm an atheist but I quite like Buddism...

[Thumpalumpacus]

It seems to me that atheists who tend to gravitate towards Eastern religions do so much less because of the metaphysical "solutions" they offer and instead because of the practical benefits entailed in certain ascetic lifestyles, such as the emphasis placed on knowing one's nature through quiet contemplation, following a strict discipline requiring the restraint of certain urges, etc. So, I don't really see what the problem is to that extent.

I agree. I've found that for myself advance comes in a pattern of periods of stasis punctuated by sharp breakthroughs. I've also found that asceticism and inner discipline are very useful helping me cope with the vicissitudes of life, both good and bad.

[roaster]

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That's very nice blanket statement.
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I don't know, I don't think I am trying to 'cover all the bases' with one comment. I just think that there are some common aspects that present themselves when you investigate meditation practices (Or as CapnObvious would say...look them up on Wikipedia...LOL) that transcend any religious or cultural references. In a bad analogy its like writing. You can write with a pencil on paper in a number of different languages about an infinite number of things. Maybe from ancient Egypt the writing stylus has changed and maybe the paper has changed but the actual practice of putting characters on something to record an idea or memory is the same. I look at meditation the same way.

[CapnAwesome]

Something being ancient doesn't make it good. Most of our ancient traditions we have discovered are not useful at all.

[psychoslice]

Buddhism is a beautiful way of life, we don't have to be a bulldog atheist, who lives a dry unpoetic life.

[One Above All]

Buddhism is a beautiful way of life, we don't have to be a bulldog atheist, who lives a dry unpoetic life.

What the fuck is a "poetic life" in the first place? Do I have to turn into Edgar Allan Poe or something?

[psychoslice]

Buddhism is a beautiful way of life, we don't have to be a bulldog atheist, who lives a dry unpoetic life.

What the fuck is a "poetic life" in the first place? Do I have to turn into Edgar Allan Poe or something?

Well it looks like your no one, so don't worry, live your dry meaningless life.

[One Above All]

What the fuck is a "poetic life" in the first place? Do I have to turn into Edgar Allan Poe or something?

Well it looks like your no one, so don't worry, live your dry meaningless life.

Oh no. Your comment made me see how meaningless my life is. Please tell me my life is meaningful, because I value your opinion of me above my own.
(That was sarcasm, in case you couldn't tell)

[CapnAwesome]

Buddhism is a beautiful way of life, we don't have to be a bulldog atheist, who lives a dry unpoetic life.

Being a monk in a Buddhist monastery is about as dry as it gets.

[Whateverist]

Maybe prolonged naval gazing only looks desirable when we're too busy to do much of it.

[thesummerqueen]

I don't know shit all about Buddhism, but I do know about one of your earlier points:

Just because some atheists somewhere shit on something doesn't invalidate something you enjoy personally. If you like Buddhism, then do the research and do what you want. You're always going to piss someone off. If they can make a coherent argument as to why there's some sort of harm in it, then fine, give them the time of day. If it's because they can't say more than "it's a religion" like many numbnutted assholes do, then fuck 'em.

Those same anti-social fucktards say the same thing about atheist meet ups too, just because church people happen to meet up on regular days at regular times.