I have posted twice the same thing, and yet none of you have argued or ripped it appart. Why not?
So I will prompt you;
Do Buddhists believe in god?
No, we do not. There are several reasons for this. The Buddha, like modern sociologists and psychologists, believed that religious ideas and especially the god idea have their origin in fear.
The Buddha says:
"Gripped by fear men go to the sacred mountains,
sacred groves, sacred trees and shrines".
Primitive man found himself in a dangerous and hostile world. The fear of wild animals; of not being able to find enough food; of injury or disease, and of natural phenomena like thunder, lightning and volcanoes was constantly with him. Finding no security, he created the idea of gods in order to give him comfort in good times, courage in times of danger and consolation when things went wrong.
To this day, you will notice that people become more religious at times of crises, and you will hear them say that the belief in a god or gods gives them the strength they need to deal with life. You will hear them explain that they believe in a particular god because they prayed in time of need and their prayer was answered. All this seems to support the Buddha’s teaching that the god-idea is a response to fear and frustration.
The Buddha taught us to try to understand our fears, to lessen our desires and to calmly and courageously accept the things we cannot change. He replaced fear, not with irrational belief but with rational understanding.
The second reason the Buddha did not believe in a god is because there does not seem to be any evidence to support this idea. There are numerous religions, all claiming that they alone have god’s words preserved in their holy book, that they alone understand god’s nature and that their god exists and that the gods of other religions do not.
Some claim that god is masculine, some that she is feminine and others that it is neuter.
They are all satisfied that there is ample evidence to prove the existence of their god but they laugh in disbelief at the evidence other religions use to prove the existence of another god.
It is not surprising that with so many different religions, spending so many centuries trying to prove the existence of their gods, that still no real, concrete, substantial or irrefutable evidence has been found. Buddhists suspend judgement until such evidence is forthcoming.
The third reason the Buddha did not believe in a god is that the belief is not necessary. Some claim that the belief in a god is necessary in order to explain the origin on the universe. But Buddhists believe this is not so.
Science has very convincingly explained how the universe came into, being without having to introduce the god-idea. Some claim that belief in god is necessary to have a happy, meaningful life.
Again we can see that this is not so. There are millions of atheists and free-thinkers, not to mention many Buddhists, who live useful, happy and meaningful lives without belief in a god.
Some claim that belief in god’s power is necessary because humans, being weak, do not have the strength to help themselves. Once again, the evidence indicates the opposite. One often hears of people who have overcome great disabilities and handicaps, enormous odds and difficulties, through their own inner resources, through their own efforts and without belief in a god.
Some claim that god is necessary in order to give man salvation. But this argument only holds good if you accept the theological concept of salvation and Buddhists do not accept such a concept.
Based on his own experience, the Buddha saw that each human being had the capacity to purify the mind, develop infinite love and compassion and perfect understanding. He shifted attention from the heavens to the heart, and He encouraged us to find solutions to our problems through self-understanding.
Tell me how your belief in nothing you can touch can purify you? We can touch oursleves and clean our own minds! You like to argue about your God forgives you, no matter what you do. Is that what your God would appreciate? Did the Apostles argue? If they did, then, their adventure was fundamentally flawed in the first place!
-m.
Originally posted by mikelomYou want to be argued or ripped apart?
I have posted twice the same thing, and yet none of you have argued or ripped it appart. Why not?
So I will prompt you;
Do Buddhists believe in god?
No, we do not. There are several reasons for this. The Buddha, like modern sociologists and psychologists, believed that religious ideas and especially the god idea have their origin in fear.
The ...[text shortened]... argue? If they did, then, their adventure was fundamentally flawed in the first place!
-m.
Kelly
Originally posted by mikelomMostel was dead on, Sir Mike... funny things do indeed still happen on the way to the forums.
I have posted twice the same thing, and yet none of you have argued or ripped it appart. Why not?
So I will prompt you;
Do Buddhists believe in god?
No, we do not. There are several reasons for this. The Buddha, like modern sociologists and psychologists, believed that religious ideas and especially the god idea have their origin in fear.
The ...[text shortened]... argue? If they did, then, their adventure was fundamentally flawed in the first place!
-m.
Originally posted by mikelomNicely put.
I have posted twice the same thing, and yet none of you have argued or ripped it appart. Why not?
So I will prompt you;
Do Buddhists believe in god?
No, we do not. There are several reasons for this. The Buddha, like modern sociologists and psychologists, believed that religious ideas and especially the god idea have their origin in fear.
The ...[text shortened]... argue? If they did, then, their adventure was fundamentally flawed in the first place!
-m.
Originally posted by mikelomCare to rephrase that in the form of a question?
I have posted twice the same thing, and yet none of you have argued or ripped it appart. Why not?
So I will prompt you;
Do Buddhists believe in god?
No, we do not. There are several reasons for this. The Buddha, like modern sociologists and psychologists, believed that religious ideas and especially the god idea have their origin in fear.
The ...[text shortened]... argue? If they did, then, their adventure was fundamentally flawed in the first place!
-m.
Originally posted by FreakyKBHOf course.
Care to rephrase that in the form of a question?
Do you discertain the truths contained in the words that I write about Buddhist beliefs?
Do you maintain, based upon the notion that Buddhists do not believe in a god until he/she/it is proven, that you have evidence of your god's existence, when given a different view point that a god isn't rejected as a notion, until proven?
Originally posted by mikelomYou seem to know an lot about the Buddha......so tell me this, Why did Buddha come to this earth planet?
I have posted twice the same thing, and yet none of you have argued or ripped it appart. Why not?
So I will prompt you;
Do Buddhists believe in god?
No, we do not. There are several reasons for this. The Buddha, like modern sociologists and psychologists, believed that religious ideas and especially the god idea have their origin in fear.
The ...[text shortened]... argue? If they did, then, their adventure was fundamentally flawed in the first place!
-m.
Originally posted by vishvahetuSame reason you and me are here, we were born. He didn't come as a mighty expectant, as such. He just was. He was a man who had the fortunes that many didn't have, and simply questioned why. He chose to investigate, bravely. He chose to give up his promised riches, to experience """"normal"""" life. Life within a deity of the poor, very poor. He found a new way of thinking, and 'dealing' with what people consider to be a bad deal they have been dealt. He focused on a new way to think positively, and won that battle within being a human being.
You seem to know an lot about the Buddha......so tell me this, Why did Buddha come to this earth planet?
He wasn't a 'god's son' or such tripe.
Why wouldn't I know a lot about Buddha? I am Buddhist. Maybe you need a little Dhamma? 😉🙂
Originally posted by mikelomWondering, Mike, if there was another belief prior
Same reason you and me are here, we were born. He didn't come as a mighty expectant, as such. He just was. He was a man who had the fortunes that many didn't have, and simply questioned why. He chose to investigate, bravely. He chose to give up his promised riches, to experience """"normal"""" life. Life within a deity of the poor, very poor. He found a ne ...[text shortened]... I know a lot about Buddha? I am Buddhist. Maybe you need a little Dhamma? 😉🙂
from which you transitioned to become Buddhist.
Originally posted by mikelomThe teachings of the Buddha were passed down orally for 2000 years before they were put in writting, so the real purpose of the Buddha incarnating has been clouded.
Same reason you and me are here, we were born. He didn't come as a mighty expectant, as such. He just was. He was a man who had the fortunes that many didn't have, and simply questioned why. He chose to investigate, bravely. He chose to give up his promised riches, to experience """"normal"""" life. Life within a deity of the poor, very poor. He found a new ...[text shortened]... I know a lot about Buddha? I am Buddhist. Maybe you need a little Dhamma? 😉🙂
Lord Buddha is an incarnation of Lord Visnu, and the real purpose for the Buddha to incarnate was to stop animal slaughter and meat eating.
He did this buy introducing his atheistic doctrine, and taking people away from the Vedic teachings, because they were mis-using the Vedic teachings to to slaughter animals.
I a person is a meat eater, they definately are not a Buddhist.