Buddhism is NOT a philosophy?

Question

Its a religion.

Answer 1

How can you be so sure? There are many branches of Buddhism some with very little 'religion' (doctrine and ceremony) and some with a great deal.

Buddhism doesn't have the same idea of 'God' as a sentient being like Christianity or Islam, nor does it embrace a pantheon of manifestations of God like Hinduism, though you can find shared ideas on spiritualism that flow easily between all of those.

Personally I like the Buddhist saying (paraphrase):

"When there are no writen rules then the doctrine is sound."

Answer 2

Well, the point is moot, since all religions also have a totalizing world and life view. Buddhism is a religion and it has a philosophical view of life. Likewise, it is not possible to have any view of life, nor any philosophy without making religious choices.

Answer 3

I am sure that such a scholarly position was arrived at with much investigation. You obviously spent a great deal of time thinking about this and have made a very astute observation. I am certain that you have conducted a thorough analysis of all the doctrine that has been recorded for two thousand years and reduced it all in that megacomputer of yours to this concise (false) statement.

Answer 4

It depends on how you take it. I personally reject all "religious" aspects of it but found the philo underpinning the 4 noble truths (or at least the 1st 3) to be VERY helpful when i was in college and shortly after.

There is no reincarnation or karma or any of that, but the idea that life is suffering caused by desires rang quite true.

Answer 5

Why does it matter if it is a philosophy or a religion?

Answer 6

its also a lie =c)