Buddhism and God?

My answer below will not be a popular one, but it is according to the scriptures.

Eightfold Noble path teaches Correct View as the very first teaching. If you study into Buddhism (all sects) scriptures, believing in God is not a Correct View.

2007-11-27 11:07:54 · answer #1 · answered by Prajna 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋

You can't really be "fully" Christian and Buddhist. Many people that believe in a god take useful aspects of Buddhism, but generally you cannot combine another religion with Buddhism.

Buddhism teaches a letting go of sensual desires. Those desires are for illusions and lead to suffering. Religions like Christianity use concepts like fear of hell, and desire for heavenly rewards - both are very anti-Buddhist.

Now if you want to generalize, then sure, you can be Buddhist and have a god.

2007-11-27 08:05:29 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋

I haven't heard of a buddhist denomination that believes in a deity. Except the tibetan ones that claim there are countless gods and goddesses.
You can, however, follow the buddhist philosophy and believe in a deity from a religion. Though you wouldn't be a traditional buddhist technically.

2007-11-27 08:06:14 · answer #3 · answered by Clint 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋

Good answer above. Though not a practicing Buddhist, I believe in Buddhist based teachings and God. Also there are some Buddhist-Christian organizations around. Only having one spiritual tool in your spiritual toolbox isn't as effective as having a variety of tools, for everyone.

2007-11-27 08:09:39 · answer #4 · answered by An Independent 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋

Yes, there are Buddhists who believe in God. It is just not an essential part of Buddhist belief that you must believe in a deity.

2007-11-27 08:04:41 · answer #5 · answered by Zen Pirate 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋

Yes. Buddha himself did not believe in God (he considered himself an atheist); but that doesn't mean you couldn't. The central point of Buddhism is not a relationship with a deity.

2007-11-27 08:05:54 · answer #6 · answered by The Doctor 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋

One can believe in anything they choose and practice Buddhism. If one is serious enough, and one learns the falicy of identity views, then one will realize on their own what is and is not to be believed. Buddha never made any claims to believe or not believe, only that he came upon a truth that lead one to liberation from greed, ill-will and delusion, that lead to Truth, the outcome of which is Nibbana (Nirvana).

2007-11-28 02:29:57 · answer #7 · answered by bhikkhu.pannadharo 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋

Of course. Buddhism is a path to the direct realization of the Almighty God.

But the emphasis is on direct experience, not just mere belief.

2007-11-27 08:06:03 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋

Yes. Most certainly, in fact many of the Buddhists in my sangha DO believe in God.

Gassho.

2007-11-27 08:05:39 · answer #9 · answered by Skalite 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋

Buddist, Islamic,Hindu ,Mormon or whatever, the bible which is the word of God says "neither is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given to man whereby you must be saved" only through faith in Christ can one be accepted by God. Jesus said "I am the Way the Truth and the Life, no man comes to the Father except by me". So unless you have accepted God's gift His Son you cannot pray to God(has to be through Christ) and you cannot have eternal life. We all do live forever but we do not all have eternal life. "This life is in His Son, he who has the Son has life, he who has not the Son of God has not life and this life is in His Son". I encourage you to search out truth and to do so by reading the book of John in the New Testament, that is if you want to have eternal life in heaven and not hell. Shalom

2007-11-27 08:12:22 · answer #10 · answered by Steiner 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋

13 answers