What criticisms do you have of Buddhism?

Question

Someone said that Atheists only pick on Christians. While I disagree with the premise, let's take a moment to focus on the beliefs of Buddhism.

What criticisms do you have of the Buddhist religion or philosophy?

(While I call myself a Buddhist, I do not believe in deities or reincarnation. Some would find the latter problematic in a Buddhist.)

Answer 1

I am going to tell you the truth, nothing but the truth. Buddhism is a man made religion or man make God. You can never reach the God through Buddha. Religion could be categorized into two, namely man-made and God's religion. Your conscience would be able to tell you what is wrong or right. God created us not Buddha, he is just a human like you and me. If a person can be declared as a God after death, you and I and the rest of the people in the world will Gods and Goddesses.

Answer 2

Are you thinking that an atheist would also pick on a Buddhist? Criticisms of Buddhism...it provides nebulous rules for morality. Seeking compassion and nirvana. What sort of definitive morality comes out of that? It's wishy washy. At least with Christianity, the gospels and Ten Commandments lay out some rather clear moral principles. Even other moral theories that are non-Christian and non-Buddhist are better. Kant's moral theory, for example. Different sects of Buddhism vary on theistic idea, so some believe Buddha is a god and others' don't. I don't know if that matters. Atheists should be willing to criticize all incarnations of theism not just Christianity--which adopts the Judeo Christian concept of God. Any kind of pantheistic religion, or deistic, etc. could potentially be the subject of attack for the atheist.

Does that answer your question?

Answer 3

There are no deities in Buddhism. As for reincarnation, that is a form of the Heaven and Hell principle. As a Buddhist you are welcome to not believe in reincarnation, but it kind of defeats the purpose of being a Buddhist, I would know as I am a Buddhist myself. As for criticisms of Buddhism, there is hardly anything that can be said about it in a negative light.

Answer 4

There are some criticism on the inspiration of divisions of Buddhism is for romance for all mankind and residing beings, there's a considerable component of Buddhists who're meat eaters. (A small proportion who're in comparison view are vegetarilans) 2. Sanyasins custom does not bar from accepting rituals in favour of sanyasins. Ceremonies are carried out interior the buddhist properties with serveral alternatives to the Bikshus. 3. situations exist while sanysin's have wield weapons for killing for political motives. in any different case, the preachings of Buddhism are stable for all mankind, nevertheless it says there is not any author. yet buddha himself is respected as God via the followers, which suits against Buddhism. the biggest subject of love and wide-spread brotherhood is somewhat a element to be favourite of Buddhism. VR

Answer 5

I think the peace/passivity of the Buddhist faith is closer to what Christianity SHOULD BE but has failed miserably at.
I support anyone's quest to know God-but I reject religions exclusivity and profiteering on the quest to know God

"The greatest achievement is selflessness.
The greatest worth is self-mastery.
The greatest quality is seeking to serve others.
The greatest precept is continual awareness.
The greatest medicine is the emptiness of everything.
The greatest action is not conforming with the worlds ways.
The greatest magic is transmuting the passions.
The greatest generosity is non-attachment.
The greatest goodness is a peaceful mind.
The greatest patience is humility.
The greatest effort is not concerned with results.
The greatest meditation is a mind that lets go.
The greatest wisdom is seeing through appearances." Atisha
http://www.religioustolerance.org/buddhism.htm

Answer 6

I didn't approve of Buddhists setting themselves on fire in protest to
Viet Nam but for the most part I appreciate the Buddhist philosophy. It really seems to coincide with my personal beliefs from even before I was introduced to it; although now I disbelieve in deities unlike before.

Answer 7

None, to be honest. I'm not a Buddhist, but the followers of Buddhism keep to themselves and don't try to convert the whole world, so I can't really bring myself to criticize them.

Answer 8

I saw that earlier comment. And I responded that I had a problem with all religions. However, to me Buddhism is the most peaceful and normal of the lot. If I had to belong to one religion, that would be it. Therefore I don't have any criticisims of it. I don't find it sexist, racist, homophobic, hypocritical, nor does it incite wars. Maybe I wouldn't like having to have a shaved head? That's the only thing I'm not too fond of, oh and the outfits.

Answer 9

I don't like that you have to respect all forms of life. it seems kind of ludicrous because in a sense you would never be able to do anything if you wanted to stay strictly to the rules.

I'm always stepping on ants and other bugs I find in my house, just cause they're the biting kind.

But if it works for them, thats great. I like Buddhists, very nice people!

Answer 10

I believe it is most likely that Buddha was a prophet of God. I have read his teachings and as a Muslim, see them as very Islamic. Things like the Middle course, good deeds and bad deeds dealt with, a peace or turbulent afterlife, and enlightenment through search and meditation are directly the same messages that that other prophets of God received. Muslims believe that prophets were sent to all nations and to me it seems that the Asian population of old received messengers that were more spiritual and didn't define God as a "He", but more of as a place of enlightenment. I don't find a problem with that since we can't define God because he is not like anything in his creation, including humans.