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

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 2

* atheists tend to be anti-god
* atheists tend to be materialistic

These 2 statements are anecdotal and not necessarily backed up with any investigation so I completely dismiss them out of hand.

Of course when you get down to brass tacks there are MANY differences between atheism and buddhism. Any metaphor simile or allegory, when examined enough, breaks down. This is inevitable and not necessarily enlightening.

That doesn;t mean that in general, many modern american buddhists don;t concern themselves with the religious aspects of buddhism but rather the philsophical concepts.

In fact the 4 Noble Truths, from what I remember, make no mention AT ALL of an afterlife or a deity of any kind. Sounds pretty close to my life philo, I must say.

Compare that to the 5 pillars or the 10 commandments.

Answer 3

Buddhism, from what you have presented here, certainly does seem to be a form of atheism. It is not something I have thought about before, but what you say about it being "non-theistic" and "teaches the existence of a transcendant truth valid for all people at all times in all places" seems to be in line with what most atheists believe. You do make some assumptions that atheism is empirical and materialistic and you may be correct that a particular atheism of this type may not be compatible with buddhism. Although even here you are making a lot of assumptions. The Dalai Lama has recently said that buddhism would be willing to revise some of its beliefs if scientific evidence comes to contradict them. In "The Universe in a Single Atom" he writes "My confidence in venturing into science lies in my basic belief that as in science so in Buddhism, understanding the nature of reality is pursued by means of critical investigation: if scientific analysis were conclusively to demonstrate certain claims in Buddhism to be false, then we must accept the findings of science and abandon those claims." This is an empirical stance and precisely in line with the empirical atheism you say buddhism is so different from.

Atheism is simply a disbelief in the existence of deities. This would make buddhism, as you present it here, a form of atheism (and you imply this yourself when you quote the buddhist as saying it is a "non-theistic" religion.) But you seem to have a particular form of atheism in mind, one which is staunchly empirical. But atheism is just as compatible with rationalism, with meditation, with idealism.

You also assume that "Atheism begins with the view that there is no transcendant truth available to man relative to human affairs" but this assumption is unjustifiable as well. Many atheists believe in transcendent truths. The philosophy of Kant relies very strongly on the idea of transcendent truths, and this is entirely compatible with atheism since reason is what enables our knowledge and truths and morals to be transcendent.

Your question is filled to the brim with unjustified assumptions about what atheism is. There may very well be a lot of atheists who believe these things, but that does not make them an essential part of atheism. The best case you can make is that buddhism is a form of atheism, albeit not the empirical form held by the "modern" person. But even here you do not have an airtight case. The Dalai Lama's quote greatly undermines your view of the separation of buddhist atheism and empirical atheism.

Answer 4

There is no Pope of atheism. You can't turn to the leader and say, "Define this for me." Just like a religion, atheism is a label that means many things to many people. Many people who believe in nothing but science have given up the simplicity that comes with being able to define themselves with one word in favor of phrases or explanations that take longer to explain. The famous writer, Douglas Adams, called himself a rabid atheist because otherwise people would still try to convert him. To simply not believe in God is to leave open a universe of speculation, which means that it is not wise to use the word, "atheism," to describe anything other than disbelief in God. In the strictest sense, Buddhism does fit that criteria.

Answer 5

To say that Buddhism is the same thing with atheism is a regrettable mistake and it shows the ignorance of the person who belive that.The word 'atheism' cames from two greek words:'a' that signifies 'against'(it is not the most fortunate expression but it is the best that I found in this moment) and 'theos' that means 'God'.So,atheist is a person that belives in no supernatural existenceso thei do not pray or have spiritual rituals.The Buddhists,however,prays to Buddha who is a sort of profet,they have rituals and thai belive in the transcendence of the soul.

Answer 6

Atheists stereotypicly tend to attack many different religions, and not many people outside of the Buddhist world or the far east really understand Buddhism.

I agree that its an ignorant contradiction though.

Answer 7

The answer to that, quite simply, is that the people who say that have no clue what they're saying.

Answer 8

I think it's right.