Question: “Given the chance, how would you change the world?”
“It’s a big question. Getting rid of religion would be a good start, wouldn’t it? It seems to be causing a lot of havoc.”
“I’ve got my own religion, Iceland sets a world-record. The United Nations asked people from all over the world a series of questions. Iceland stuck out on one thing. When we were asked what do we believe, 90% said, ‘ourselves’. I think I’m in that group. If I get into trouble, there’s no God or Allah to sort me out. I have to do it myself.”
“I’ve been reading about reincarnation, and the Buddhists say we come back as animals and they refer to them as lesser beings. Well, animals aren’t lesser beings, they’re just like us. So I say fuck the Buddhists.”
And by the way Chris, I’ve nominated you for Liebster Blog Award. Whether you are interested in such awards DOES NOT MATTER! At the very least I hope you will check out my post mentioning you and your site. Thank you Chris…
Oh my, thanks for the nomination and the lovely words. You have been a wonderful supporter and it has been nice exchanging thoughts with you.
I shall try my best to get on this Liebster Blog Award train as soon as possible.
Once again, thank you for the kind words and encouragement.
Nice post. But i would disagree with what you have said concerning Buddhism, which can be full compatible with atheism is some senses….
And is some ways Buddhism is crudely reffered to as pimped up atheism (Richard Dawkins). In fact many do not consider it a religion, Zen itself not considered a religion.
Unless i have had it all wrong upto now.
I do see some of the points of Buddhism, and I personally do like the principles of zen.
However, as far as believing in reincarnation and karma goes, my rationality can’t grasp the supernatural concepts. I reject the idea of god, or any controlling force vehemently, and to endorse reincarnation or karma would be to say that there is some sort of supernatural being making decisions. Plus, all the comic book mumbo-jumbo of the rebirths and realms is too out there for me.
But I do agree that certain elements of it, after being washed clean of religion such as yoga and meditation, is a positive practice. Meditation for example have been scientifically proven to improve physical and mental health. But without relying on any religious assumptions whatsoever, by aligning the frequency of the brain and the chanting (body), we do create a positive state for our body and mind.
To call it pimped-up atheism is far fetched, especially as an anti-theist.
From the surface your right but i think you are not taking into consideration that Buddhism is eastern philosophy and its interpretation is different from Western philosophy. Your summary of it is way to simplistic. You have to realise those texts were written thousands of years ago, so legends and fantastic tales handed down by word of mouth are bound to be found in plenty how else would you teach illiterate people.
Points you should note.
Buddhism has in it no idea of there being a moral law laid down by some kind of cosmic lawgiver.
Quote by alan watts (master of zen)
Ideas the Buddha spread….
Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it(at this point he is even telling his followers to doubt him and find the truth for themselves, Skepticism)
Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many
Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books
Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders
Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. (in one way he is saying doubt reincarnation its simply just an idea by man nothing more)
But after observation and analysis when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all then accept it and live up to it.
The Buddha realized metaphysical speculation was almost inevitable but he himself shyed away from such topics.
metaphysical speculation is as pointless as trying to chew your teeth
Quote by Alan Watts
Things like Karma are very deep ideas showing very many aspects of life, it shows the Einsteins laws of motion, it also shows that both good and bad things are bound to happen to you when alive. But at the end of the day its just an idea to meditate upon and interpret allegorically.
You do not have to believe in reincarnation to be a Buddhist because they do not adhere like Christians to their texts you find your own truth thats the whole point.
“Zen does not confuse spirituality with thinking about God while one is peeling potatoes. Zen spirituality is just to peel the potatoes.”
Alan Watts quotes
And finally that quote sums up. I reckon your view on Buddhism is not that well informed i may be wrong but thats what am getting its too on the surface. Am purely an atheist but i do not see any problem with Buddhism especially Zen and Theravada.
Hope i have made sense.
….well done.
Thank you. Expect a few more post on sexy female atheists. Have to balance out all the testosterone of Brad Pitt and Hugh Laurie.
I really like her line…’If I get into trouble, there’s no God or Allah to sort me out.’. I think it a common misconception among religious folks that atheists, when faced with great difficulty or peril, will revert to calling on some supernatural being for guidance or protection. This is complete nonsense. Its the equivalent to ringing the fire station when one’s house catches fire knowing there are no firemen there. Delusion has never solved difficulties, it only creates them, and in the case of religion it forces one to accept them.
Bjork just rocks more and more.
She kicks ass. And as an atheist myself, it has never been easy to kick Buddhist ass, because you know, they are so blardy zen all the time with their chanting and fat happy man.