Is Buddhism a type of atheism?

Question

I am not asking if it is a type of religion, please read the question and understand before answering. Buddha isn't god, and he isn't supposed to be worshipped like god, buddhist are to use his teachings as an example. So is it a type of Atheism?

Answer 1

It's really more like "agnostic". Buddhists aren't really concerned with a god one way or the other.

Answer 2

None of the responses so far have addressed some of the fundamental problems with the question at hand. You should first understand that Buddhism is a blanket term that covers a wide variety of different sects, and that each of these sects holds different beliefs at the core of their practice.

If you are asking if there are sects of Buddhism that believe in a form of the Buddha that is transcendent and resides in an ethereal heaven, then the answer is yes.

But there are also sects that do not believe in a supernatural realm, and hold only to beliefs regarding that which is immediate.

And there are also sects that believe in something in between. They believe that the Buddha was a man, and officially claim that he is not a god, but still endow him with certain supernatural powers and make ritual offerings to him.

Any short answer you get to this question is bound to be inaccurate, so I would recommend that you do a little research into the varieties of Buddhism that are practiced in India, Tibet, China, Japan, and Southeast Asia. You will find that they are all quite different!
It is a complicated question, but certainly one worth researching.

Answer 3

There are about five types of buddhism, kind of like there are catholics and baptists and lutherans but they are all christians. Atheists are people who say there is no god. To say that Buddhists are atheists would be incorrect. But it would also be incorrect to say that all buddhists believe in god. A lot of people say that buddhism is more of a philosophy than a religion. It is often very cerebral, and a lot of the ideas recorded in the history of buddhism could discourage a less intellectual believer from another religion from understanding what the buddhists are all about. If anything, I would say that buddhists have a more mature understanding of the concept "God" as it is familiar to most Christians, and that through this understanding, they do not "believe in" "God" in the fashion most Christians are familiar with. Yet, they do believe in what is.

Answer 4

No. Atheism really doesn't have types. It's just a term for describing someone who does not believe in God. However, many Buddhists have a spiritual leader, as Buddhism allows its followers to practice other religions under the scope of Buddhism.

Answer 5

No Buddhism is a predominantly eastern religion there are many different gods and prayers. Buddhism is a wonderful religion and you should look into it more. Atheism is a lack of belief in any type of god or higher being.

Answer 6

uh. no. Buddhists actually believe in God. Gautama Buddha himself believed in God.

if you're really interested, books abound on this topic.

two you might want to check out first:

awakening the buddha within
and
the teachings of the compassionate buddha

Answer 7

No. Buddhism is the belief in the search or enlightenment. Athiest is the belief of science and nothing else.

Buddhist don't believe in a God or creator, but they follow the teachings of Buddha (who was a mortal man)

Answer 8

I think breauxbridge answered it very well.

If you think of theism, as those who believe
in god that created the universe/world, then
buddhists don't believe in it. However,
out of the 6 realms (or 10 realms), "god" realm
is one of them. In that sense they do believe in
gods. The other realms being, demi-gods, human,
hungry ghosts, animals and hell. Of these, the gods,
and demi-gods are so busy enjoying their world,
and dwellers of hungry ghost, animal and hell realm
so busy suffering or trying meet their needs, that they
are unable to devote themselves towards freeing
themselves (attaining nirvana, enlightenment). The
humans are the only ones who are in a position to do so,
which is why the human realm (human birth) is considered
very precious.

As breauxbridge mentioned, there are sects of Buddhism
which pray to Buddhas and higher-beings (boddhisatvas). As an
example, in Tibetan Buddhism, there are ritual offerings
to Chenrezig (Sanskrit - Avalokiteswara), and in
Chinese Buddhism people pray to Kuan Yin. (Kuna
Yin is the same as Chenrezig and Avalokiteswara. The
Japanese call it Kannon.)

Answer 9

Absolutely not. Buddhism is a way to approach the art of living, more philosophy than religion but quite spiritual.

Answer 10

No, it is a religion based on the teachings of Guatama Buddha.