Because they don't believe in God.
But they do believe in soul. If your action is good and without any desire--that will lead you to complete annihilation and that inexistence
implies pure peace. If you action is good but involves desire you will be reborn after spending the intermediate time in some kind of heavens. If your action is bad you will be reborn as an inferior being
after spending a finite time in hell. They also do believe in some beings(gods not God in the sense other theists believe,demons
and buddhas). But those beings are just assisting or not assisting a person to annihilation to zero.
2006-08-07 10:21:17 · 8 answers · asked by whynotaskthemoron 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Not necessarily. Like any belief system you have sub-sects that differ in their world outlooks. More importantly, Buddhism is also a philosophy -- a way of thinking and living that need not necessarily include a belief in a Divine being. Nonetheless, my sense in talking to Buddhists is that most believe in some form of God.
2006-08-07 10:26:35 · answer #1 · answered by Loresinger99 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No they're not atheists in general. Some Buddhists believe Buddha to be a god, though he did not want them to. Buddhism generally teaches God is everywhere, and everything and we are all part of God, the enlightenment Buddha said he had was to know this and know how to BE part of the Whole God. But there are sects of Buddhism that dont believe in a God or gods but in life and nature. But what seems to be in agreement among the different sects is that life is valuable no matter how small and learning to live peacefull with everyone and everything.
2006-08-07 10:28:22 · answer #2 · answered by impossble_dream 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
in the traditional sense yes Buddhists don't believe in a god. Theravada Buddhism believes in one Buddha and everyone who follows him becomes an Arhat i believe. Mahayana believes that people can become Buddhas and exist in a spiritual realm to assist other people trying to become Buddhas. I don't entirely remember about Zen Buddhism. It believes the Dalai Lama is the reincarnated Buddha I think. But as far as a creator God and all that no.
2006-08-07 10:30:11 · answer #3 · answered by Jake S 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not quite but close. they believe in a generative force that is part of "the way" even though that is more of a Taoist thing shared with the Stoics. It does not give itself to simple translation. Atheism carries the blunt belief that there is no god, or by implication life after death. Buddhists believe in a life forces and in life after death including reincarnation.
2006-08-07 10:36:33 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not atheists per se but no, they do not believe in a personified God. They do believe in a Divine state of existence.
2006-08-07 10:38:50 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Buddhism is NOT a religion it is a philosophy of life that is mistaken by the Western folks as a religion. PEACE!
2006-08-07 10:26:47 · answer #6 · answered by thebigm57 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes they are Athiests because they don't believe in God.
2006-08-07 10:35:15 · answer #7 · answered by jrealitytv 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Buddhist who do not have deities are atheists. Some forms of Bddhism include deities, which would not be atheistic.
2006-08-07 10:25:39 · answer #8 · answered by lenny 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋