|
Post by Dragon Zachski on Nov 16, 2011 19:02:20 GMT -5
The thing about Buddhism is that it tends to absorb large aspects of the local religion. That is why in Buddhists countries like Cambodia and Laos, you still see shrines to local deities. In Cambodia and Thailand, there is still many aspects of Hinduism that thrives in Buddhism. In China, it gets intwined with Taoism (many of the gods in the Journey to the West are Taoist deities). In Korea, Mudang is practice in Buddhist temples, while Buddhists begin to adopt Protestant Christian style of evangelism. I wonder how that works in America, considering that the "local gods" are more the Native American gods, but yet the country is supposed to encourage a more melting pot style of cultures, where there aren't technically local gods to worship, you bring your own to this country. (In reality, that isn't the case, but eh) In either case, I'm still kind of an atheist, so I'll approach Buddhism from that mindset. Now, here's an odd thing to request. I want to know more than the good side of Buddhism, I want to know about the bad things that have come from Buddhism, its followers, and if possible, the reason why. I do not want to approach this philosophy/religion with ignorance, like I was born into Christianity with.
|
|
|
Post by Vypernight on Nov 16, 2011 19:15:55 GMT -5
The choice of a higher power (or not following/believing in any at all) is left up to each individual. The Buddha just didn't think it was too important to dwell on.
As for the bad, well you're going to run into pricks no what what religion/belief/philosophy you enocunter. Hell, I've even met a few atheists who I wanted to punch. Being a Buddhist doesn't free you from running into those idiots any more than atheism/Christianity/Pastafarianism. An asshole is an asshole; as long as you remember that, it's pretty much the only bad part you have to worry about.
For the good, it depends on the individual. Personally, I liked how the precepts were about not causing suffering around me and made more sense than, "Follow these rules or you'll burn forever in a lake of fire."
|
|
|
Post by Dragon Zachski on Nov 16, 2011 19:28:59 GMT -5
The choice of a higher power (or not following/believing in any at all) is left up to each individual. The Buddha just didn't think it was too important to dwell on. Then my choice is my choice :-) Well that's good. I've noticed that on buddhist videos, there tends to be someone spamming "Sinhalese Buddhists are the protectors of true buddhism!" very obnoxiously. This is between the Muslims going "Only the Koran promises to never be corrupted until the end of time!" and the Christians going "Buddha is dead, yet Jesus lives!" and the Lay-Buddhists going "SHUT. THE FUCK. UP!" to all three parties. Indeed. Doing good for the sake of doing good is much more noble than doing good because it gets you out of punishment.
|
|
|
Post by Vypernight on Nov 16, 2011 20:04:47 GMT -5
Here's a Buddhist site that I got banned from a little over a year ago. Apparently, I wasn't the only one: esanghalert.wordpress.com/
|
|
|
Post by gyeonghwa on Nov 16, 2011 20:20:30 GMT -5
Buddhism is why abortion is still illegal in Thailand. As a result, thousand of women seek dangerous back street abortions. Also Buddhist and Hindu wars in Sri Lanka.
|
|
|
Post by lexikon on Nov 16, 2011 23:59:58 GMT -5
Most idealogies can become dangerous when left in the wrong hands.
|
|
|
Post by Dragon Zachski on Nov 17, 2011 0:00:56 GMT -5
Buddhism is why abortion is still illegal in Thailand. As a result, thousand of women seek dangerous back street abortions. Also Buddhist and Hindu wars in Sri Lanka. Agh. That is not stopping suffering What's the situation with the wars in Sri Lanka?
|
|
|
Post by gyeonghwa on Nov 17, 2011 1:41:38 GMT -5
Buddhism is why abortion is still illegal in Thailand. As a result, thousand of women seek dangerous back street abortions. Also Buddhist and Hindu wars in Sri Lanka. Agh. That is not stopping suffering What's the situation with the wars in Sri Lanka? It's over now (I think) but it was a very long civil war. The result is the Hindu Tamils were displaced and living on the edge. It seems to be getting better. Remember, that for some of these people, they are cherry pickers. Good things include environmental protection and helping kids orphaned by drug crimes in Thailand. Bad things include the refusal to ordain women in some countries because apparantly can't do it since the tradition was lost and so now has the power to ordain new nuns. In Korea, there has been recent waves of discrimination by Evangelical Christians. The former president even condone a prayer calling for the physical collapse of Buddhist temple there (with people inside the temples). But in the process, Buddhists became even closer to the Catholic church in Korea. Something interesting, but some (not all) Theravada Buddhist in Thailand believe homosexuality to be a form of bad karma inherited from a previous life. So they admit it's innate but it's kinda demeaning because it makes it look like a curse or something. Buddha was silent on the subject altogether.
|
|
|
Post by Admiral Lithp on Nov 17, 2011 23:04:05 GMT -5
Not sure, but I think there was some Buddhistic themes used in Japanese WW2 propaganda. Also, apparently there was some crazy-ass sect there that was murderin' people, attacking the government, & just generally being a bunch of cocks in the 17th century or so.
Also, 3 ways it usually works in American Culture:
1. Religion means God which means Buddha is a False God which means Buddhism is evil. 2. Buddhism has no God, so I can incorporate ideas into my Christianity. 3. I am a non-Christian subculture, so I don't really have to reject Buddhism.
By the time it got here, the Native American civilizations had pretty much long since declined.
|
|
|
Post by entertainer13 on Nov 19, 2011 16:59:20 GMT -5
I know I'm two-days old here, but I've been lightly exploring Buddhism for a number of years now. What I've found, mainly, is what everyone here has said - it's been manipulated and abused as all things are in human hands, but it's core are very easy to approach ideals based on humanistic concepts, not the fear of punishment.
|
|
|
Post by priestling on Nov 20, 2011 2:16:25 GMT -5
@zach: If you'd like, I could put you in contact with a friend of mine in Singapore. Buddhist born and raised. He gave me some fascinating info over the course of four hours, and we only had to cut the conversation short because he had to sleep on his end. Interested?
|
|
|
Post by lexikon on Nov 20, 2011 2:26:37 GMT -5
Love your new siggy Dragon. Did you draw it?
|
|
|
Post by Dragon Zachski on Nov 20, 2011 2:35:09 GMT -5
Love your new siggy Dragon. Did you draw it? Nope. It's character art from the video game "Dungeon and Fighter", or as it's known in the United States, "Dungeon Fighter Online" The character in question is an Exorcist, a class that has the potential to go with either a two-handed fighting style, or a magic-based nuking and control style. He happens to look like Jesus, due to the base class, Priest, being based on Roman Catholic priests. Despite being closer to a Taoist, I prefer to call him Buddhist Jesus because it's funnier than Taoist Jesus. priestling: I'll think about it. I'm still deciding whether or not I want to explore Buddhism further, and whether I want to do it now or later.
|
|
|
Post by priestling on Nov 20, 2011 2:37:08 GMT -5
Zach, no problem. Lemme know if you come to a decision and you'd like his input.
|
|
|
Post by lexikon on Nov 20, 2011 2:44:55 GMT -5
Love your new siggy Dragon. Did you draw it? Nope. It's character art from the video game "Dungeon and Fighter", or as it's known in the United States, "Dungeon Fighter Online" The character in question is an Exorcist, a class that has the potential to go with either a two-handed fighting style, or a magic-based nuking and control style. He happens to look like Jesus, due to the base class, Priest, being based on Roman Catholic priests. Despite being closer to a Taoist, I prefer to call him Buddhist Jesus because it's funnier than Taoist Jesus. That reminds me of the film "The Man from Earth" where Jesus was this tens thousand year old immortal guy who was friends with Buddha, and taught his lessons as Jesus. Although in this case, it was more "Caveman Jesus"
|
|