What is a Religion and how it all started
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Religion is defined as the praying or worshipping of god or the system of beliefs in a divine being.
From the above definition, Buddhism is not a religion. So, you might ask what is Buddhism if it is not a religion
Religion is started by mankind because of fear of the unknown and a supernatural being higher than mankind. Early homo sapiens hunt for their food and slept in caves and mountains. They do not understand natural disasters like volcanic eruption, earthquakes, tsunamis and the like and thought that a divine being higher than them punish them. So they sought refuge and pray to the imaginery divine being known as god in the hope that the god protect and do not punish them. This is how god concept and religion came about in the early civilisation of mankind.
It is out of ignorance and fear that religion was born. -
isn't buddhism the same as atheism? since there's no faith in God for buddhism?
hmm... -
if buddhism is not a religion, then why the ID cards singaporeans have, at the back, religion they put buddhism???
then you all should clarify with the ministries mah.
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hahaha. in the technical sense of the term, Buddhism is not a religion.Originally posted by nightzip:if buddhism is not a religion, then why the ID cards singaporeans have, at the back, religion they put buddhism???
then you all should clarify with the ministries mah.
But in everyday life, religion is the universal term to use whether it is a religion or otherwise. -
because..... of classification, differentiating, stereotyping for convenience or habits. its not easy to clarify with just abc n few pieces of papers. afterall buddhism when spelt out it is just a word on the id. its the spirituality of it tat matters cos true buddhist who practice the buddha dharma knows deep down in their mind & heart the true meaning of buddhism.Originally posted by nightzip:if buddhism is not a religion, then why the ID cards singaporeans have, at the back, religion they put buddhism???
then you all should clarify with the ministries mah. -
You can also say it is agnostic.Originally posted by The Emperor:isn't buddhism the same as atheism? since there's no faith in God for buddhism? hmm...
Basically,
"Malunkhyaputta Sutta stresses that whether the universe was created or uncreated, finite or infinite, is irrelevant to our main spiritual concerns: the cause and cessation of suffering:
"Therefore Malunkhyaputta, bear the undeclared as undeclared. Malunkhyaputta, what are the not declared? The world is eternal, is not declared by me. The world is not eternal, is not declared by me. They are not essential for the principles of the holy life, they do not lead to turning away, to detachment, to cessation, to appeasement, to realisation, to enlightenment and to extinction. Malunkhyaputta, what are the declared by me? This, is unpleasant, is declared. This, is its arising, is delcared. This, is its cessation is declared. This is the path to its cessation, is declared. Malunkhyaputta, why are these declared by me? These are the essentials for the principles of the holy life, they lead to turning away, to detachment, to cessation, to appeasement, to realisation, to enlightenment and to extinction. Malunkhyaputta, I declare them." MN 64" -
If the definition of "religion" is the unquestionable belief and worship in a supreme entity, with the obligation to carry out rites and rituals, then Buddhism is definitely not a religion. It is beyond all conventional definitions of religion - for Buddhism encourages intelligent doubting and believes in the potential supremacy of the individual. Rites and rituals are seen as ceremonies that help guide and inspire us. They are important in that sense, but they do not give us Wisdom and True Happiness. Buddhism is thus called a religion only out of convention.
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Atheists religiously...(snigger) pursue a no god life, thoughts and behaviours.
But so far, you must know that Buddhists are not perplexed or bothered abt the existence or absence of a supernatural omnipotent entity.
Atheism, then is an innacurate description of Buddhism. -
[quote]Originally posted by laurence82:
Atheists religiously...(snigger) pursue a no god life, thoughts and behaviours.
But so far, you must know that Buddhists are not perplexed or bothered abt the existence or absence of a supernatural omnipotent entity.
Atheism, then is an innacurate description of Buddhism. [/quot
There is divine being, which is a realm higher than human realm, but still under samsara, or saha world.