Why do many atheists like to claim that Buddhism is the same as atheism?

Question

This is one of the things that annoys me about the nonsensities (or dishonesty) of many atheists. Yes, it is true that Buddhism does not particularly concern itself with the question of "God". Neither do I. But to equate it with atheism is very misleading. Atheism tends to be anti-God. Not so with Buddhism. Atheists tend to be materialistic. Not so with Buddhists. A Buddhist himself put it best when he said:

"It began as a non-theistic religion, but it most certainly teaches the existence of a transcendant truth valid for all people at all times in all places and one that is not accessible empirically.

Atheism begins with the view that there is no transcendant truth available to man relative to human affairs because there is no transcendant being and that the only certain truth available to man is what he can reduce to mathematical symbol or reducible to countable matter."

Answer 1

They have nothing to believe in, and they are looking for something. Buddhism looks so good to them. They can claim they believe in something, and at the same time, don't. That is why.

Answer 2

Not to contradict your assumption, AGAIN, but there are a few points you need to consider.
Your statement: "Atheism tends to be anti-God. Not so with Buddhism."

Buddha taught that there is no supreme being that created everything and rules over all beings. The belief that a supreme being rules over us and directs out happiness or our suffering is one of the wrong views. (Issaranimmanahetuvada) A god, in the western sense of the word, is NOT a part of Buddhist teachings in any major school of Buddhism. Does Buddhism argue this point? No! Since attachment to the idea of no god is just as detrimental as the attachment to the idea of a god. Buddhism is a non-theistic religion.

Atheists are non-theistic individual.

Many atheists that look far enough into Buddhism become Buddhists and eventually shed their materialistic views.

Antitheists are against any god or transcendent religion that advocates the un-provable and/or the supernatural.

Buddha taught that all teaching, including his should be questioned. As such, atheists and antitheists see Buddhism as an ancient form of atheism. And in a way, it is, after all, it did denounce all of the ruling gods of Hinduism.

Your statement about a transcendent truth that is valid for all people and is not accessible empirically is not entirely accurate. From a Zen perspective, the only way to achieve enlightenment is through practice. The practice teaches you to experience the moment and reach enlightenment. To reside in Nirvana. Nirvana is not a place one goes over death, but rather a state of being. The Buddha resided in Nirvana before his death. If he resided in Nirvana then he experienced it and therefore it IS empirical. Zen teachings state that only by removing all of the clutter and improper views from our mind can we experience enlightenment. This experience is what we all practice to attain.

As for atheists being materialistic, so are most theists. This is the state of most people. So trying to turn Buddhism in to a theistic religion is no better then turning it into a non-theistic religion.

In my opinion, your attachment to the 'evils' or 'nonsensities' (to borrow you term) of other peoples points of view, needs to be released. The truth is that everyone, you and I included, who have not reached enlightenment have incorrect views of Buddhism. So why waste your effort arguing when you could be practicing. For that matter, why am I posting this? To try and help I guess. ;-)

I hope this helps.

Answer 3

* atheists have a tendency to be anti-god * atheists have a tendency to be materialistic those 2 statements are anecdotal and not unavoidably subsidized up with any study so I thoroughly brush aside them out of hand. of direction once you get right down to brass tacks there are various variations between atheism and buddhism. Any metaphor simile or allegory, while examined adequate, breaks down. it quite is inevitable and not unavoidably enlightening. That doesn;t propose that usually, many present day american buddhists don;t undertaking themselves with the religious aspects of buddhism yet rather the philsophical suggestions. in certainty the 4 Noble Truths, from what I remember, make no point out in any respect of an afterlife or a deity of any variety. Sounds tremendously close to to my existence philo, i might desire to declare. learn that to the 5 pillars or the ten commandments.

Answer 4

I know a few atheists and I never heard any of them say Buddhism is the same as atheism. Also many atheist believe in transcendent truths they just don't link those truths to a supernatural being.

I'm sure there are atheists that are anti-God (I mean beyond the authors of a few inflammatory books) but it seems to me most are not. They don't see God as an issue unless someone is trying brow beat them into something they don't believe. Most atheists only want the same freedom of conscience that religious people have and not be indoctrinated or prejudiced against. Otherwise the vast majority of atheist I've met are extremely moral, live and live people.

I think you get out more and widen your horizons.

Answer 5

Most people don't equate buddhism with atheism. They are two different things (and aren't comparable), like christianity and theism.

You have a dishonest view of atheism. Certain atheists may have the traits you describe, but the sole defining characteristic of an atheist is being without a belief in god. Not all atheists are anti-god. Not all atheists are materialistic.

Since most Buddhists do not believe in god, 'atheist' is a perfectly valid term for them, although they may not identify themselves as such.

Answer 6

I think it fairly presumptuous for the writer to begin by implying many atheists are dishonest. The writer then goes on to erroneously define atheism. "Atheism" is simply non belief in a deity; "theism" is the belief in a god or gods therefore "atheism" is absence of theistic belief. The prefix "a" means without. And that is about all you can truly say about atheists as a group. Now if the writer or a Buddhist do not believe in a god or gods then they can share in the definition of atheism regardless of any other precepts they may hold dear.
Getting back to the opening salvo from this writer, that there is dishonesty in many atheists; I posit the dishonesty lies squarely on theists who posit a positive proposition by stating there is a god and then, though the onus is clearly upon them to do so, fail to prove their proposition. And yet theists insist we all believe their proposition based on faith. Show me clear and concise evidence using the only known criteria available, that which is used in the sciences, and I will of course change my conclusions, opinions and viewpoint.

Answer 7

First - your portrayal of Atheism is a wee bit off. But i'm sure there are others who will rectify that matter. Let me address your concerns about Atheism, Buddhism, etc.

To the direct matter of your question - Atheists rightly identify Buddhism as Atheistic, its just that they don't care to make a differentiation that only certain forms of Buddhism are atheistic in character. Others are not.

Why? Well - its complicated. Part of the problem is the manner in which people have portrayed Buddhism (and Daoism for that matter) in this country. More often than not, its without reference to the actual practices of the people in the country of origin.

Other times, translators with their own spin on things like to state they are recovering the "true wisdom of Buddha" distorted by years of cultural accumulation in Asia. That style of argument is a bit, Orientalist perhaps? Its similar to the whole "White Man's Burden," we must save these ancient cultures from themselves.

This happened before in the 17th-18th centuries when Continental intellectuals praised Confucius and Confucianism as some enlightened system of govenance until they got a closer look as to what was going on in the 19th century.

There's a tendency to mysticize the East, (is mysticize even the right word?) and due to the distance and translation barriers people tend to interpret systems of thought in perhaps unrealistic terms.

It should be emphasized that the average Buddhist is not bothered by this - why should we be?

If there's anything that does become bothersome its when:

1.) Christians/Muslims start denouncing us totally and saying we're going to fry in eternal hell. We tend to be shocked by this, especially because many Buddhist sects acknowledge Jesus of Nazareth as an enlightened master.

[Why no Jews? Simply because you don't really see Jews denouncing Buddhists.]

2.) Atheists try to use Buddhism as a moral disciplinary rod against Christianity. The angrier ones tend to use us as an example/battering ram - "Why aren't you Christians as _____ as the Buddhists? Buddhists are always peaceful, why aren't you?"

How do i say this......we don't really concern ourselves with people in that manner. Quite frankly, the Buddha was against such moralistic theatrics.

After all - if the point is the cessation of suffering (one of the goals of Buddhism), how does moral denounciation even achieve that? "Listen to me because i'm right and your stupid" is hardly conducive to changing people's minds, let alone to letting people hear you out.

Answer 8

You are the one being dishonest here.

I don't see anyone 'Equating" Atheism with Buddhism.

Atheism does NOT begin with the view that their is no transendent truth. Atheists merely lack god belief.

Answer 9

An atheist is not the same as buddhism because buddhism is an actual religon, which does have beliefs. But atheism is completely anti-god.. i should know, im in a r.e lesson!

Answer 10

?????

Buddhism is not the same as atheism and I can't imagine many atheists claiming it is. However, Buddhism does not have a deity and it is more a way of life than a religion.

Atheism is not anti-God, if he doesn't exist (as atheists believe) how can you be against him.

Atheists tend to be materialistic? No doubt you can prove this statement about ALL atheists?

I could claim all believers are anti-atheist, but this is untrue as many believers are of the opinion "Live and let live" and believe faith (or lack of faith) should be a private matter.