My understanding of Buddhist history and culture shows that both are very God-laden, buddhists believe in the traditional Hindu Gods, and believe that with good karma one can be reborn as a God. Am I wrong in thinking this? Buddhists, please back me up or knock me down, thanks.
Cordially,
The Convictionist
2007-03-31 13:35:25 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I should however point out that this does not mean it is like other religions, where Gods are the Supreme manifestation of righteousnes. The dharma takes that role in Buddhism, administered by the Buddha.
2007-03-31 13:39:55 · update #1
EDIT: 'Jett' stated that Buddhists do not believe in the Hindu Gods. My bad. I think they call the Gods 'the twenty/thirty-three'. At least, that's what I've read in Buddhist Scripture. But I could be wrong, this is from memory. So perhaps I should just stop playing scolar and just shut up now.
2007-03-31 13:43:31 · update #2
ChesireCat expatiated on the fact that Buddhists do believe in Brahman, although I wouldn't quite put Brahman in with all the other Gods, it's a bit different of a concept. Thanks CC for the update.
2007-03-31 13:45:02 · update #3
Stonechics info was very extensive, I suggest reading what she's written.
2007-03-31 13:46:21 · update #4
Not a Buddhist, an agnostic, but I lean towards Mahayana out of anything. Someone who is closer to Buddhism than I could give you a better explanation, but nonetheless:
It depends on what strand of Buddhism you're looking at. There are three schools - Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana (the last a subset of Mahayana.) Put short, Theravadan is atheistic and inward-directed. Mahayana is agnostic and outward-directed. Vajrayana is mystical and probably more inward-directed (Vajrayana has produced most of the tantric texts.)
When you look at Mahayana, you will see more representations of Buddha as a figure that looks like a deity, and more "worship" of Buddha as a deity. Mahayana borrows more heavily and is more syncretic with local folk beliefs than Theravada, and so what seems to you like Buddhism may be something brought in from folk beliefs. Mahayana also accepts the validity of Sutras which Theravada does not; Theravada believes mainly/only in Pali Canon. Mahayana also believes that more Buddhas have been in the world - and will be in the world - whereas Theravada sees Gautama Buddha ("The" Buddha, if you will) and a few others as the only valid historical Buddhas.
Various sects such as Pure Land with its focus on Amitabha Buddha will be even more faith-oriented.
No school of Buddhism requires - or denies - faith in any given deity, however, and it is very much an adaptive belief, so what you see may be more adapted than another school. That's why it is possible (from the Buddhist perspective) to be a Christian Buddhist, an atheist Buddhist, a Muslim Buddhist, a Jewish Buddhist, or a Hindu Buddhist.
As far as eternal existence, Buddhism doesn't necessarily disbelieve in it, but questions what eternity and existence both are. Can we be eternal if we don't know what that is? Can we exist if we all disagree on what existence is? Buddhism seeks answers like that and, generally recognizing things like that are impossible to define, asks next whether they're relevant to life or not. Different sects of Buddhism reach different conclusions on the relevancy, and places different emphases where they choose. That's why you have one atheistic school and one school that chooses to incorporate many different theologies, and why both can coexist with other religions.
From my understanding of Hinduism too, the gods are all manifestations of one greater deity, so it's not even as varied in Hinduism as you're seeing.
Someone else can clarify for me if I'm mistaken on any points, but this is a hopefully decent explanation.
2007-03-31 13:50:09 · answer #1 · answered by Kate S 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
probably because it's not one of the big 3 (judais, islam, christianity). Buddhism is a completely different view on life than those religions. It's much more free. It's about respecting the soul and spirit. buddhists are free to enjoy life as long as they do not harm it in any way.
They're not really portrayed in the media as often either, so many people don't know about buddhists. This scares some because Buddhism appears 'different', or to some even 'backward' or something.
In general, if you don't feed sheeple (i.e. make more movies, sitcoms, televison cartoons that incorporate this religion and show everyone that it has it's own unique foundation) they will just think that it's 'that thing that people out east do that requires you to meditate a lot'.
2007-03-31 13:53:12 · answer #2 · answered by tanlines85 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
although I am not a Buddhist, I studied a bit about Buddha and those who followed his teachings in a comparative religion class in college.
People who are unfamiliar with the concepts of monotheism and polytheism are often incorrect in assigning various religions to the atheist slot.
Atheist differ from Buddhists in that Buddhists believe in a variety of different deities and minor deities who guide them through whatever level of incarnation they are living.
The concepts of Kharma and Dharma play prevelantly in the behaviors of those who follow the teachings of Buddha and who subscribe to the beliefs of many gods for various purpose.
Atheists do not believe in any form of God. Some people I have known who declare themselves to be atheists denied any form of supreme being and were more in the line of secular humanists who believed all of the life we will get is between the day we are born and the day we die and that there is nothing before or afterward.
Buddhists tend toward more incarnations of life until you 'get it right' and reach nirvana.
Hope I remember all of that correctly, it has been more than a few years since college! :-)
2007-03-31 13:44:59 · answer #3 · answered by stonechic 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Buddhists do not believe in Hindu Gods, with the exception of Brahman, or the Everything. Buddhists and Hindus alike believe with a balance of karma, one can achieve nirvana (Buddhism) or moksha (Hinduism).
2007-03-31 13:42:47 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are no gods in Buddhism in the way that you mean. Some of the responders are thinking of Hinduism.
No life after death in the sense of heaven or hell
Just perfection of the soul and complete harmony with one's world, which is Nirvana, and was only completely acheived by the Buddha.
2007-03-31 13:46:25 · answer #5 · answered by commandercody70 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm a Christian.
Honesty forces me to admit that I don't know enough about Buddhism to answer your question.
Personally, it never occurred to me to associate Buddhism with atheism, but I do remember reading somewher that the Buddha was a human being who attained spiritual enlightenment, and that they don't believe in an eternal existence for anyone.
I intend to watch your question, maybe I will learn something I don't know.
2007-03-31 13:47:33 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most forms of Buddhism are nontheistic aka Atheistic. Many Buddhists are Atheists as well. The only difference is that they claim a religion but they don't believe in any deities just like an Atheist. I suggest you re brush up on your Buddhism.
2007-03-31 13:43:57 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
No, we do not believe in the Hindu Gods. Yes, Buddhism does teach karma, but it is significantly different than the Hindu karma teachings, which teach we have an immortal soul.
2007-03-31 13:40:21 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Actually, the confounded Christians think that the world is divided into Christians, Muslims, Jews and atheists. They leave us pagans out a lot.
2007-03-31 13:39:36 · answer #9 · answered by Momofthreeboys 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is very God Laden. I have no idea how they could associate it with Atheism. Just ignorant I guess.
2007-03-31 13:38:38 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋