Buddhism a pointless religion?

[Bruce]

I had to show some pics about Thai temples to a group the other day and it got me thinking about Buddhism. I'm no expert but I've read a bit and consulted others.
I've decided Buddhism is a pointless religion which encourages withdrawl from the real world, passivity, political inaction and acceptance of fate, and discourages people from trying to make the world a better place. If all the world was Buddhist, most of the population would still be slaves or poor rural peasants, ruled by a rich elite, I think.
I realise these are big conclusions, and I'm probably not qualified to make these calls, so I wonder what you think? Am I right or wrong?

[dirtydog]

Your wrong, Buddhism isn't a religion.

[WujouMao]

If all the world was Buddhist, most of the population would still be slaves or poor rural peasants, ruled by a rich elite,

that would be North Korea then, but the North are agnostic

[Bruce]

Your wrong, Buddhism isn't a religion.

I know why you say that, but try telling that theory to all the people going to temples.

[BobR]

Aren't all religions used by governments as a tool of control? Look at the Catholic Churches role in Mexico and South America keeping the masses poor and ignorant while the elite in Government steal their wealth. Then there are the Christian religious schizophrenics in America and the damage they've cause trying to force their silly beliefs on everyone else. I won't even bother to talk about the nonsense the Muslims do. Buddhism is the only religion or belief system that encourages people to better themselves and is beautiful in the manner in which it emphasizes tolerance.

[celtic]

On the other hand, wars are not started and no one has been killed or tortured in the name of Buddha.

[chassamui]

If all the world was Buddhist, most of the population would still be slaves or poor rural peasants, ruled by a rich elite, I think.

You could say that about almost any religious, or even political group. The solution is to educate people into thinking for themselves.

[crippen]

Buddhist's are the only ones ,I believe,that give you another go if you get it wrong,and let you come back and try again. Very practical.

[Rural Surin]

If all the world was Buddhist, most of the population would still be slaves or poor rural peasants, ruled by a rich elite, I think.

You could say that about almost any religious, or even political group. The solution is to educate people into thinking for themselves.

Perhaps people are thinking for themselves.

[taxexile]

religious/philosophical beliefs are fine in themselves, if you are unable to think for yourself then you obviously need something to cling on to, even if it is something as absurd, naive and unprovable as the carrot and the stick of rebirth , what ruins religions is the corrupting and controlling nature of those who run them.

from the moneygrabbing freeloading men in orange, begging for baht from the poor so they can expand their disneyland temples, through the sadistic perverted empire building nuns and priests of catholicism, all the way to the mad bombers and whippers of islam, they are all corrupt, offering you heavenly rewards that nobody has ever seen in return for your soul..... and a few baht/dollars/etc. to glitz up their bling.

these religions are not for the pure of heart, they are for the lazy, for the backsliders,for those who seek rewards at the end of their lives by buying favours during that life.

interestingly enough, judaism offers no such rewards, those who practise judaism do so purely in order to be pure during their lives. there is no payday at the end. no carrot and stick.

[BugginOut]

^^See principle 11.


13 Principles of Faith:

1. I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, Blessed be His Name, is the Creator and Guide of everything that has been created; He alone has made, does make, and will make all things.
2. I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, Blessed be His Name, is One, and that there is no unity in any manner like His, and that He alone is our God, who was, and is, and will be.
3. I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, Blessed be His Name, has no body, and that He is free from all the properties of matter, and that there can be no (physical) comparison to Him whatsoever.
4. I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, Blessed be His Name, is the first and the last.
5. I believe with perfect faith that to the Creator, Blessed be His Name, and to Him alone, it is right to pray, and that it is not right to pray to any being besides Him.
6. I believe with perfect faith that all the words of the prophets are true.
7. I believe with perfect faith that the prophecy of Moses our teacher, peace be upon him, was true, and that he was the chief of the prophets, both those who preceded him and those who followed him.
8. I believe with perfect faith that the entire Torah that is now in our possession is the same that was given to Moses our teacher, peace be upon him.
9. I believe with perfect faith that this Torah will not be exchanged, and that there will never be any other Torah from the Creator, Blessed be His Name.
10. I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, Blessed be His Name, knows all the deeds of human beings and all their thoughts, as it is written, "Who fashioned the hearts of them all, Who comprehends all their actions" (Psalms 33:15).
11. I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, Blessed be His Name, rewards those who keep His commandments and punishes those that transgress them.
12. I believe with perfect faith in the coming of the Messiah; and even though he may tarry, nonetheless, I wait every day for his coming.
13. I believe with perfect faith that there will be a revival of the dead at the time when it shall please the Creator, Blessed be His name, and His mention shall be exalted for ever and ever.

—-Maimonides

[blackgang]

that would be North Korea then, but the North are agnostic

Buddhists are actually agnostic,, there is no god in Buddhism,, Buda once said I am a man I am not a god, I was born and I will die, I am a man.

On the other hand, wars are not started and no one has been killed or tortured in the name of Buddha.

Buddhism is not a religion and has no God, and is not practiced as was originally founded and taught, there was no blessing of a house or car or animal by a monk for a fee, because there was no Deity to honor such a blessing,, it was a form of mental self satisfaction and mental peace thru meditation, and no amulets for sale,, this has came by trying to change Buddhism into a religion for someones greed for money and worldly possessions.
This is basically a stupid statement,, seems like stupid people keep using it tho.
People are killed by other religious people because of greed and because they believe in doing things a different way at different times but mostly over greed,, same as gang killing, fights and take overs because of money, territory or believing in the wrong guy for a leader.
The crusades were brought on by Greedy priests and crusaders killed thousands of people of all religions and even the same religion as themselves all for control of land, territory and money.
You can put any name on wars and killings that you want, but get down to fact and it is personal GREED.

[setaputra]

I had to show some pics about Thai temples to a group the other day and it got me thinking about Buddhism. I'm no expert but I've read a bit and consulted others.
I've decided Buddhism is a pointless religion which encourages withdrawl from the real world, passivity, political inaction and acceptance of fate, and discourages people from trying to make the world a better place. If all the world was Buddhist, most of the population would still be slaves or poor rural peasants, ruled by a rich elite, I think.
I realise these are big conclusions, and I'm probably not qualified to make these calls, so I wonder what you think? Am I right or wrong?

I think it does discourage trying to make the world a better place. But that is also a Thai trait. Inbred attitude of Maebhenrai, maintenance of the class structure and subserviance.

Example, I'm buying some land and the chanote does not agree with the physical marker posts. The land office have "re-planted " the markers but are still wrong as I checked the area using geometry. But the owner has said that you can not challenge their findings although he has checked my maths. They are the "state" !!

So it's not merely buddhism.

[blackgang]

I think it does discourage trying to make the world a better place. But that is also a Thai trait. Inbred attitude of Maebhenrai, maintenance of the class structure and subserviance.

So it's not merely buddhism.

That is correct, it is a way to bullshit yourself into believing that it is cool and you are doing what is right and so you are happy with the Status Quo.
And if you are stupid enough then you believe it.

[wefearourdespot]

If all the world was Buddhist, most of the population would still be slaves or poor rural peasants, ruled by a rich elite, I think.

If all the world was Buddhist, I guess I could have had 15$ whores back in my country without having to move to Thailand.

[wefearourdespot]

If all the world was Buddhist, most of the population would still be slaves or poor rural peasants, ruled by a rich elite,

that would be North Korea then, but the North are agnostic

come on, he wrote "a rich elite" , not "a rich one great leader"

[barbaro]

I had to show some pics about Thai temples to a group the other day and it got me thinking about Buddhism. I'm no expert but I've read a bit and consulted others.
I've decided Buddhism is a pointless religion which encourages withdrawl from the real world, passivity, political inaction and acceptance of fate, and discourages people from trying to make the world a better place. If all the world was Buddhist, most of the population would still be slaves or poor rural peasants, ruled by a rich elite, I think.
I realise these are big conclusions, and I'm probably not qualified to make these calls, so I wonder what you think? Am I right or wrong?

As DD posted, many people who study Bhuddism consider it to be a way of life and not a religion.

Some of the tenets (or beliefs) of Bhuddism I like and try to follow.

I respect Bhuddism.

(the other so-called religions, I don't respect.)

[hillbilly]

Your wrong, Buddhism isn't a religion.

Correct. It is a philosophy. Big difference.

[nidhogg]

I realise these are big conclusions, and I'm probably not qualified to make these calls, so I wonder what you think? Am I right or wrong?

You are right. You are not qualified to make this call. Or any other apparently.

[Marmite the Dog]

Correct. It is a philosophy. Big difference.

Take the God bit out of any religion and they're philosophies too.

At the end of the day, they all say pretty much the same thing. Be a good boy.

[Smug Farang Bore]

^....and give us your money...

[billy the kid]

religious/philosophical beliefs are fine in themselves, if you are unable to think for yourself then you obviously need something to cling on to, even if it is something as absurd, naive and unprovable as the carrot and the stick of rebirth , what ruins religions is the corrupting and controlling nature of those who run them.

from the moneygrabbing freeloading men in orange, begging for baht from the poor so they can expand their disneyland temples, through the sadistic perverted empire building nuns and priests of catholicism, all the way to the mad bombers and whippers of islam, they are all corrupt, offering you heavenly rewards that nobody has ever seen in return for your soul..... and a few baht/dollars/etc. to glitz up their bling.

these religions are not for the pure of heart, they are for the lazy, for the backsliders,for those who seek rewards at the end of their lives by buying favours during that life.

interestingly enough, judaism offers no such rewards, those who practise judaism do so purely in order to be pure during their lives. there is no payday at the end. no carrot and stick.

so people who think about nothing but money and how to get it 24 hrs. a day are PURE !!!.

[billy the kid]

Was shown a book about buddhism that was taught in schools. I was asked to use the same book in some of my classes . I gave it the once over and made up my mind that i would never use that on any child. Horrible book. Kiss ass all the way to the ............. Disgusting.

[graym]

interestingly enough, judaism offers no such rewards, those who practise judaism do so purely in order to be pure during their lives. there is no payday at the end. no carrot and stick

No, they'll be after the earthly rewards...

[graym]

interestingly enough, judaism offers no such rewards, those who practise judaism do so purely in order to be pure during their lives. there is no payday at the end. no carrot and stick

No, they'll be after the earthly rewards...

I assume after a comment like that and a handle like taxexile you're not a Red Sea Pedestrian yourself?!?!?!