I've read that it is a "non-theistic" religion....And if so, does this mean that Atheists are the fifth largest religion?
2006-11-27 10:20:24 · 11 answers · asked by Eleventy 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
An atheist can be spiritual, no?
2006-11-27 10:23:48 · update #1
I'm an atheistic student of Buddhism. Simply put, Buddhism requires no reference to God. And while many Buddhists are theistic, many are also atheistic. Buddha spoke of gods as benefiting from enlightenment equally as much mortal humans.
And many atheists are, in a broad sense of the word, spiritual. In this context, "spiritual" refers to the recognition that connections between persons and with the environment have meaning, that one can develop deep bonds with other human beings and with the planet that can lend great joy and comfort.
For further information, I can recommend Stephen Batchelor's short but poignant book, "Buddhism without Belief."
2006-11-27 10:34:41 · answer #1 · answered by NHBaritone 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Well technically Buddhism is considered a philosophy, but down through the years it has become a religion because some of it's followers treat it as such, praying to Buddha was not supposed to happen. Yes you are correct in that Buddhist do not believe in a personal God or heaven or hell or anything like that. They do how ever believe in life after death, it's concept is just so foreign to most Christians. It's a cultural thing, but I do not think they could be considered true Atheist, because in the Buddhist philosophy they still make some assumption that can not be proven.
2006-11-27 10:24:34 · answer #2 · answered by LONGINUS 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Buddhists are definitely not atheists. They actually fall under pantheism which is the philosophy that god is innate and is everything in existence, (even you and me and the computer I'm typing on). This is the concept which quantum theory suggests, that all matter/energy, or "things", in reality are connected and the same. Buddhists reach enlightenment when they see reality as one being without the illusions of time and separateness. See you don't naturally feel connected to anything that is not part of your physical body. Buddhists say this is an illusion and the true nature of reality is that all is one thing, i.e. god. Pantheism also includes Hinduism, new age, and other ancient eastern philosophies.
2006-11-27 10:33:19 · answer #3 · answered by Blaine Parker 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Atheism is not a religion, so no. But the vast majority of Buddhists are non-theistic. Some, however, worship Buddha as a god, which is against his explicit wishes.
http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/beliefs/atheism.htm
2006-11-27 10:25:14 · answer #4 · answered by Aspurtaime Dog Sneeze 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
In many Buddhist cultures God is a non-entity. God is not a part of their culture. So no, they are not atheists. By definition, all people have a spirit. Hence they can be spiritual.
2006-11-27 10:45:13 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
There are Buddhist Atheists, and Buddhist Christians, but proably more Buddhist Agnostics. i.e. What matters is the elimination of suffering and our responsibility to seek it, not if there is a diety or not.
2006-11-27 10:29:57 · answer #6 · answered by Terri 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
No no no no no...
Atheism creates just as much attachment as Theism. We are agnostic. We neither believe nor do we disbelieve in a higher power.
2006-11-27 10:32:17 · answer #7 · answered by Shinkirou Hasukage 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Some are and no atheism isn't a religion.
2006-11-27 10:23:18 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
no
and..
i dont think spirituality is same as religion
so in my opinion
atheists can be spiritual
2006-11-27 10:35:28 · answer #9 · answered by uhohspaghettiohohs 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Most people do not consider Buddhists to be atheists because they do hold beliefs that an atheist would not.
You should read up on it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism
2006-11-27 10:22:50 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 6⤋