Questions

• TheGoodEarth

  22 Jul 07, 07:09

  All 'religions' today are different from its origination. All have 'suffered' deviations, corrosions, dilutions, assimilations, legendised and even corruptions.
  
  Religion (by definition) is a belief system. As a system, it has components or parts or elements. These are:
  1) supernatural being called GOD or similar (spiritualism)
  2) founder and original thoughts (teachings, scriptures, suttas, etc.)
  3) customs, rites and rituals pertaining to worship, veneration, etc.
  
  Buddhism is not a religion since the first element (1) is missing. But somehow Buddhists go to temples to 'worship' Buddha or Boddhisatvas. In all manner of worship or veneration, objects, icons, idols are present, even in Islam where the object is the ka'aba (in Mecca).
  
  For those who believe in 'God', there is a need to 'communiate' with God thru prayers or mediums. This need is very real. So if Buddha is not god, it would be difficult to find followers. So a lot of Buddhists are more of a worshipper than a follower, especially the illiterates and the old folks who think they are Buddhists simply by worshipping Buddha notwithstanding that they may not have heard of the Dhamma.
  
  If a person is open-minded and willing to explore, then I think Buddhism is more appealing. If one has been brought up as a Christian or Muslim where other 'Gods' are not permitted or where apostasy is sacrilege, the chances of them accepting Buddhism is small. On the other hand, nominal Buddhists rather than those who knows Buddhism in depth are likely to embrace Christianity. Yet, others convert to another faith for some reason like getting married! Also, evangelism is rife in Christianity and Islam. Buddhism does not have all these.
  
  I was a Christian, studied the Bible and have gone to all denominations. Then, I gave up to become a free-thinker. I find greater affinity in Buddhism and its philosophy gels with my own thoughts.
  
  
• AndrewPKYap

  22 Jul 07, 07:13

  Originally posted by TheGoodEarth:

  Religion (by definition) is a belief system. As a system, it has components or parts or elements. These are:
  1) supernatural being called GOD or similar (spiritualism)
  2) founder and original thoughts (teachings, scriptures, suttas, etc.)
  3) customs, rites and rituals pertaining to worship, veneration, etc.
  
  Buddhism is not a religion since the first element (1) is missing.

  Just because the first element is missing does not make it "not a religion"...
  
  As long as there are elements of beliefs in Buddhism (not based on REALITY) then it must be considered a religion.
• TheGoodEarth

  23 Jul 07, 02:11

  Originally posted by AndrewPKYap:

  Just because the first element is missing does not make it "not a religion"...
  
  As long as there are elements of beliefs in Buddhism (not based on REALITY) then it must be considered a religion.

  I would say that the definition of religion is not definite! If you go by the elements I described, then Buddhism would fall outside. But if you go by any beliefs (whether based on reality or not), then it is a religion because Buddhism certainly has elements of belief like rebirth, etc. Is rebirth a REALITY ?