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

[Whateverist]

Guess you know there are many Buddhist sects, even if fewer than Christianity. Some of the them are more theist in nature, some are more philosophical. Zen Buddhism is iconoclastic and dogma free in theory whether or not it is practiced that way.

[dyresand]

Guess you know there are many Buddhist sects, even if fewer than Christianity. Some of the them are more theist in nature, some are more philosophical. Zen Buddhism is iconoclastic and dogma free in theory whether or not it is practiced that way.

They share the same basic concepts laid out. even christianity stole from Buddhism. Truthfully Buddhism helped out the early christianity belief a bit. jesus being one thing christianity wanted i.e. a savior based it on Buddha. But though there is different sects of Buddha they share the same basic concepts.

[psychoslice]

Its kind of funny watching atheists defending a privileged freeloader's right to "teach" woo.

Buddhism is a faith which teaches the credulous to believe nonsense without evidence, if that's atheism then fine. But I call it bullshit.

Buddhist don't believe in a god, atheist who say they don't believe in a god, may have any other belief, and you may not agree with them, but their still atheist, where is the rule book or commandments for atheism ?..

[Whateverist]

Guess you know there are many Buddhist sects, even if fewer than Christianity. Some of the them are more theist in nature, some are more philosophical. Zen Buddhism is iconoclastic and dogma free in theory whether or not it is practiced that way.

They share the same basic concepts laid out. even christianity stole from Buddhism. Truthfully Buddhism helped out the early christianity belief a bit. jesus being one thing christianity wanted i.e. a savior based it on Buddha. But though there is different sects of Buddha they share the same basic concepts.

Zen Buddhism teaches that all human beings have the Buddha-nature, or the potential to attain enlightenment, within them, but the Buddha-nature has been clouded by ignorance. To overcome this ignorance, Zen rejects the study of scriptures, religious rites, devotional practices, and good works in favor of meditation leading to a sudden breakthrough of insight and awareness of ultimate reality.

- See more at: http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/se...LydyM.dpuf

Not sure if this site would count as authoritative but it does reinforce my memory of it. It is deliberately less religious in nature. So I'm not really sure why it is still classified with buddhism. I certainly can't think of any Christian sect which was akin to zen practice.

[For the record, it isn't my thing but I think it has some value and much more so than any of the sects which still teach the dogma.]

[Mudhammam]

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.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Its kind of funny watching atheists defending a privileged freeloader's right to "teach" woo.

Buddhism is a faith which teaches the credulous to believe nonsense without evidence, if that's atheism then fine. But I call it bullshit.

It just goes to show that atheists aren't necessarily reasonable.

[The Grand Nudger]

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 view that situation in an entirely different light. I think that people here who gravitate towards eastern religions do so for the same reasons as people gravitate toward the "native fare". After all, theyre the same people. I also notice that this "practical benefits" horseshit is the same as crooning about some magical fruit: we hear -that- from their christard brethren as well. Taken up for the same reasons, justified with the same style, by the same people. Meh.

[Whateverist]

..eastern religions

Taken up for the same reasons, justified with the same style, by the same people.

You mean like this guy?

http://youtu.be/1kDso5ElFRg

[The Grand Nudger]

LOL....!

"That's good...I feel this one in my spirit."

[Whateverist]

My intuition told me you would get it.