I thought Buddhism was a peaceful religion? Amid the growing violence in Sri Lanka Buddhist extremist?

Question

The violence of buddhist extremists its being compared to the killing fields of Cambodia. In Sri Lanka religion has become mixed with politics and nationalism - creating a toxic brew of hatred and fear. They're acting like the Islamist extremists forcibally trying to convert people to Buddhism and forced to kneel down to declare Buddah is our god! read about it http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=79&artid=20555

The world has gone mad! Buddhist are persecuting people of other religions. This is so crazy ! What do you think is wrong with these religious groups around the world attacking other religious groups?

Answer 1

Like you said, religion and politics are a toxic brew. No religion is immune from the ultimate corruption that comes from the illusion of power over others.

I think devout pacifist Buddhists should descend upon these extremists. Maybe they will be able to teach them how wrong their thinking has been.

NOTE: The asker does not believe Buddha is a deity. He is saying that these extremists are treating him as such. Stop attacking him. He is not the proponent of their thoughts or actions.

Answer 2

Probably because when someone tries to achieve peace without Christ, the devil can overpower them and get them to do his evil work. ___________ May 1, 2006 Church Attacks Escalate in Sri Lanka Christian persecution has increased in recent days, in Sri Lanka, as a new law that would ban "forcible" conversions is being considered by the Parliament in Sri Lanka. This time the persecution is not coming from Islamic militants, but instead Buddhist demostrators. The Buddhist aggression against Christians has escalated and on Sunday, April 23rd, a Methodist church in Piliyandala, Sri Lanka was interrupted. Buddhist demonstrators rallied a local mob of 100 by yelling anti-Christian slogans from the loudspeakers mounted on their vehicle, disrupting the church service. The perpetrators also incited the crowd’s anger by calling the 20 Christians inside “Anti Buddhist.” Two monks and another demonstrator slipped by three stationed police officers into the building and ordered the service to stop immediately. The police intervened but urged the pastors to conclude the service early, which they did. One of the church leaders was struck in the leg with a flagpole bearing the Buddhist flag, and another was hit in the face. A female evangelist was also physically attacked. When believers returned to their vehicles outside the church, they discovered the mob had flattened tires, siphoned gas and smashed windshields. Protesters also toppled motorcycles and removed their helmets. One evangelist present was summoned to appear in court on April 25th, regarding the incident. The Christians have not retaliated after this event but have remained at peace. Please remember these persecuted Christians in your prayers, and also the Buddist persecutors. Ask the Lord to open the eyes of those who are not following Him so that they may come to salvation in Christ. Posted by: Stacy L. Harp in: Christian Persecution

Answer 3

Your correct....the world is going mad......madder than ever. Secondly, Buddhism is not a religion, it is a practiced philosopy of life. Now then, you must remember that no matter the religious affiliation or philosophy that man follows, men fall from grace and can turn into animals in a moments notice. The Spanish Inquisition and the witch hunts being examples. I like to tell people that the Earth has passed through a cosmic cloud, currently undetected by scientists, an invisible virus cloud that has infected the minds of men with insanity.

Answer 4

Ok...i have read your source and i have some issues with it.!
its a very bad one to choose as its full of Christian fruit loop twinkle -ding -dong-isms. This Article is all about poor Christians suffering and how "miss guided" Buddhist monks are coming to say sorry for their hatefull actions!!! WHAT A LOT OF RUBBISH!! it is Total Horse poo. I'm so sorry you choose to use it. if you want accurate information there are sources on defence web sites and info available from the UN , Indian Govt and publications such as janes.

I have studied the Tamil insurgency, its a power struggle of a minority nationalist band of bandits against the administration ... the Tamils are NOT BUDDHISTS... they are a bunch of hillbillies with Ak47's who fund their little war with hostage ransom and extortion. Christians are such a small minority out in india and its sub continent that on a political and strategic level their involvment is of no consequence.

Buddists have no god, they seek enlightenment rather then god and have no diety... you cant convert to buddism lad! its not a faith in any way..its a philosophy and a quest for wisdom in the hope of acheiving oneness with creation.

What i think about inter- faith wars around the world is mostly unprintable, but my heart tells me faith has very little to do with them at all.. its about control and who weilds power on earth rather then heaven. THINK ABOUT THIS:

We all belong to communities that stand together, take any small town in america, most are 20% catholic, 20% anglican,20% baptist and 20% atheist with the remainder a mix. If the town needs a mayor most folks will vote for man they know (prob from their church).. the man will have his factions support and a few others will back him from outside.The vote is taken, he wins and becomes mayor...end of story.

In a society without the same law and order and expectation of due process it fails to work... say its africa, the town has a majority muslim population but the nation is christian.. vote taken and the "gov." vote counters proclaim a christian victory.. muslims scream out that its a fix... gov. police kills 20 protesters and a war between the faiths breaks out... it works the other way around with christians vs muslims.

Its all about power and bugger all to do with faith... Trust me, these wars do not start with a rabi and a vicar and a iman bumping into each other and beating the sh%t out of each other.

PS The world is has never been anything other then mad, where have you been living for the last 18 thousand years?

Answer 5

you're using TAMILNET as a reliable source?!!!!

tamilnet is the official website of the TERRORIST GROUP in sri lanka! they are tamils AND SO AM I(btw,tamils are not Buddhists,we're hindus) .....but THIS DOESN'T MEAN THAT ALL THE TAMILS ARE FOR THIS!

most of the things you will see on tamilnet is complete ****! like "being tolerent.....we don't recruit child soldiers any more"

1)they come in the middle of the night and abduct children to train in their military.
2)force people to fund.if people refuse,they KILL them.some of my own family members have been killed
3)they put up a LOT of lies on that stupid website of theirs!
4)a LARGE NUMBER of tamils have LEFT the country because of this!but even there they're not safe.....haven't you read those accounts of it being revealed that some UK tamil businessmen were being threatened to pay up! that is jut ONE example!


****Buddhists tying to convert people???!!!! you must be CRAZY! it's CHRISTIAN MISSIONARIES AND THE LOCAL CHURCHES who come and forcefeed CHRISTIANITY on our sri lankan hindus and buddhists!the bill was proposed to make such UNETHICAL conversions to CHRISTIANITY ,criminal!


http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AoiqYlj4gMrbXPsJ.YoBEHbty6IX?qid=20070524050314AAPPmKh&show=7#profile-info-LUjtk9mcaa
read the second answer of this question.

Answer 6

A bunch of unreliable nonsense...

It won't be of much use to argue facts and figures with you over here but I can say that Christian groups will claim what you have just stated here towards Buddhists and Buddhists have claimed the same towards Christians for the ongoing murder and killings.

Perhaps BOTH of them are forgetting the most important principle/rule of living together:-
Loving thy neighbors...

I don't blame some Buddhists who over react themselves. They are, after all, ignorant beings and still caught up with their state of delusion and cravings. Its a human nature, rather than being Buddhists themselves. This phenomena exists in all different cultures regardless of names they call themselves and religious ideals they profess.

Another reason why I wouldn't bother arguing here is that you've gotten your facts wrong and totally irrelevant/contradictory to Buddhist doctrines and we (Buddhists) knows that it is pointless to go on with this discussion.

Answer 7

I think, honestly, that humanity is in war-mode right now. I think all this violence over religious ideas is symptomatic of the fact that mankind is ready to take the Next Step, and the Old Guard is in its death-throes. It's the final Reaction against progress.

A lot of religious lunatics believe that we're in the "End Times" - maybe that's because these ARE the End Times for them.

P.S. - Buddha is not a god.

Answer 8

It's been happening since the beginning of religion, unfortunately. In every faith, you'll always get people who take things to the extreme. And sometimes that means violence towards people they perceive as being 'different' or 'the enemy'. .

Answer 9

I have often contemplated this contradiction. The Sith are based upon Buddhist principals, but are encouraged to focus anger to make them stronger.

ANY extreme is dangerous - fanaticism of any kind blinds you to wisdom.

I'm not being flippant - it is like the Sith - taking the philosophy of zen detachment and peace and twisting it to use the Buddhist path for domination and subjugation.

VIS TECUM

PS -

People who are slamming the questioner on points of philosophy or interpretation - are you embracing the way of the Buddha?

Answer 10

The magic word extremist