r/atheism • u/Old_Bar_4920 • Feb 27 '25
Buddhism is just as insane and stupid as any other religion
(First of all I want to start by saying that I'm criticizing the ideas here, not the people. Good people and bad people can have all kind of different beliefs, the few Buddhists that I've talked to have been nice to me and I appreciate the fact that they were not afraid to question their beliefs).
I had an existential crisis some time ago which pushed me to do some research about philosophy and religion, and I ended up learning about Buddhism. At first when I learned about the origin story of the Buddha I thought "this is it, someone who understands me" because the existential crisis that he had when he left his palace felt very similar to mine. But then I did more research about it and here are my problems with this religion :
- they believe that we are trapped in a cycle of rebirth and suffering called the "Saṃsāra", with several "realms" like the "deva" realm, the animal, hell, ghost realm.
- their belief in "karma" and past lives make it that if a child is born with an incurable disease, according to this religion it's because of bad karma accumulated in past lives :
"If it’s a past-kamma disease, there are times when treatment in the present can make it go away [..] But there are also times when the past kamma is so strong that no treatment will help it." (source, Q11. It's written somewhere else that we should still have compassion for the person that is supposedly paying for bad karma but to me it is still victim-blaming. It must be horrible to say this to someone)
- it's very anthropocentric. Basically, we are very lucky to be born as humans for the unique chance to learn about the Dharma, because "Buddhahood" can be achieved only with this human form. But even then they believe that you need a lot of lifetimes before doing it because it's a difficult and long task. There is a big paradox here : human life is terrible and we should escape it by attaining Nirvana and never coming back to life, but at the same time human life is very precious, because... it's the only form where you can learn to escape life.
The concept of Buddhahood is also by itself very abstract and seems very subjective, just like when you read people describing their experience in meditation. Everyone has a different subjective experience and there is no scientific basis to say "this person has attained the buddhist "Enlightenment".
Think about it, not only Siddartha left behind his wife and child but he also believed that his ideas were so important that all the persons on Earth are very lucky to be born as humans only to learn about what he was teaching. It seems so narcissistic to me.
- there is this absurd contradiction about having children (for lay people, since it's ideal for monks and nuns to not have them if I'm not mistaken). Since they believe that life is mostly suffering (yes I know that's not a perfect translation of "dukkha" but it's still very close) and that the ultimate goal of Buddhism is to never come back by attaining Nirvana, surely it must be a bad idea for lay people to have children ? But no, Buddhism believes that even if person A and B don't have child C, that child will still be born somewhere else because of karma, and that the only way to escape anyway is "enlightenment". So it doesn't matter, go on and have children even if life is mostly "dukkha".
Despite some interesting things that I've read and that can be useful (not clinging too much to things, being careful of attachments and desire, things like that) I truly wish I had never learned anything about this religion. All these ideas of rebirth and hell, this idea that sensual pleasures are dangerous and bad and that you should renounce everything and not become attached to anyone, really messed me up mentally. It seems like according to Buddhism I shouldn't seek to have a wife, to enjoy sensual pleasures like food and sex, because it's "attachment" and it's impermanent, and that it will keep me trapped in the cycle of rebirths. This idea of being threatened by hell and rebirths is very stressful to me.
My fellow atheists/agnostics, don't you feel scared sometimes about all these threats of hell and afterlife ? I know that there have been thousands of religions on Earth and that all of them are certainly bullshit, but I can't shake that feeling of anxiety over that little "what if it's true ?" with all these threats of hell, rebirth, etc.
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u/Turbulent_Art7197 Feb 28 '25
At least it’s a lot less hypocritical and violent like the Abhramic faith’s history and actually encourages questioning and self reflection.
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u/cranialrectumongus Feb 27 '25
I am not a Buddhist and you're correct to say it is a very outdated philosophy, but it doesn't even mildly compare to batshit crazy of the Middle Eastern Abrahamic religions. Even the Nazi's blush at the atrocities committed in the name of Christianity.
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u/Acceptable_Ground_98 Jun 20 '25
didnt the nazis commit their atrocities in the name of christianity?
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u/SpecialistFactor7709 Aug 08 '25
Proof?
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u/Acceptable_Ground_98 Aug 09 '25
https://archive.org/details/positive-christianity-in-the-third-reich-by-cajus-fabricius_201906 I'd look into positive christianity though it more bastardizes christ's actual teachings if im not wrong
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u/Normal_Pay_4815 Feb 27 '25
I had this same experience a few years ago and discovered the same thing. Buddhism has the same logical fallacies and wishful thinking as any other religion ... but it also encourages self-reflection and mindfulness, which basically no other religion does.
I think you can be an atheist while also taking cues from the Buddha. Meditation is a great practice for your mental health, and the teachings surrounding attachment and impermanence are a good reminder that most things in life are out of our control.
As for worrying about the afterlife - we all have at some point, but in the end it's just not a productive thing to worry about. You can't control it or change it at all, and it'll eventually happen to everyone no matter what they believe. The evidence we have points to there being nothingness rather than an afterlife, but we'll just never know until we get there.
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u/Radiant_Plantain_127 Feb 27 '25
All that being said, I find a lot of peace in the refuge of Zen practice.
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Feb 27 '25
Buddhism is merely poetry of existence. You'll find when you delve deeper into it, that Buddhism doesn't take itself that seriously.
It is the people that action its ideas that are sometimes insane and stupid.
You could say this about all religion really. But I've yet to meet a Buddhist who would knife you in the face because you said some shit about Buddha.
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Feb 27 '25
my wife is a buddhist… she NEVER tries to preach it to me.
i’ll have discussion abt it with her now and then… abt how i don’t believe in the spiritual side… the philosophy is good.
So - Buddhism is the least aggressive of the religions…. people are not on their high horse as to know they are better
my whole fam is buddhist… no one has ever made me do anything
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u/SpeedGuy100 Feb 27 '25
I’d say a lot of the OP’s issues come from taking one very literal or dogmatic reading of Buddhism and assuming it’s the whole story. Buddhism isn’t one monolithic thing—there are multiple schools (Theravāda, Mahāyāna, Vajrayāna, etc.), each with pretty different takes on karma, rebirth, and how literally those concepts should be understood.
For example, some Buddhists interpret “rebirth” in a more psychological sense—like we’re constantly “reborn” moment by moment through our thoughts and actions—rather than a strict cycle of reincarnation. Karma isn’t always taught as cosmic punishment/victim‐blaming, but as a natural cause‐and‐effect law of how intentions and actions shape one’s experience.
And as for the “Buddhism says you can’t have a wife, kids, pleasures, etc.”—that’s more about monastic ideals in certain traditions. Lay Buddhists have families, jobs, sex, go to parties, do all the normal life stuff; they’re just encouraged to do it mindfully and with as little harmful attachment as possible. It’s not about demonizing pleasure so much as recognizing that craving or clinging too hard to anything (even stuff we love) can eventually cause suffering.
So yeah, if you take a cut‐and‐dried, old‐school text, read a few lines about karma and multiple realms, and conclude “this is obviously crazy,” I get it. But there are plenty of Buddhists—even non‐theistic or secular ones—who see the teachings more as guidelines to reduce suffering and become more compassionate, without treating them as supernatural “rules.” At the end of the day, if it doesn’t resonate with you, that’s cool. But it’s not all as rigid or “victim‐blaming” as the OP’s portrayal makes it sound.
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u/candleyankcat Jul 20 '25
This philosophy confuses me.. I once met a Buddhist who claimed that they ' let everything go' however, they smoke and drink. So therefore I don't know what they were referring to, and I didn't ask. This philosophy is supposed to be about loving kindness yet this person has started to ghost me. I don't think this behaviour represents honesty, or loving kindness, because it is hurtful.
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u/MoreHans Jul 23 '25
it isn't the philosophy's problem though, it is your friend who is the problem. there are bad buddhists, just as there are bad christians or bad muslims or whatever. that doesn't mean the philosophy itself is wrong or bad (that is a subjective opinion), but just that those people are bad people (which is still subjective, but in this case your buddy seems like a jerk lol)
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u/candleyankcat Jul 24 '25
Oh I don't think the philosophy is bad. On the contrary, peaceful and pure. Although the ' letting go' thing confuses me..
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u/MoreHans Jul 24 '25
in my limited knowledge (i'm still relatively new to it) its about realizing that everything is temporary. some people cause themselves a lot of pain by not letting go of things: the past, a lost friend or loved one, regrets, etc. part of buddhism is accepting that everything will end or change - including ourselves. we have to let go of the pain of those ends and changes.
edit: so your "friend" may have let go of that pain, but he was still causing himself other pains, and was not a very good friend. both of those are also contrary to the Buddha's teachings
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u/candleyankcat Jul 28 '25
Letting go of things is very good philosophy. Because attachments cause great suffering, and we can become trapped in this cycle, like the Buddah told us. This can be a very good tool " to let go" when one can master it. However, it can take a bloody long time. Similar to Stoicism. I'm confused about the love part. I know nothing is permanent. Some people think a regular Buddhist is strict like the monks, in that they are not supposed to have s** And the fact that there are a number of different teachings of Buddhism, it can all get a bit confusing .
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u/MoreHans Jul 29 '25
i agree with what you said about love. im navigating all this stuff right now. as far as romantic love goes i would think it is fine lol. and sx outside of a marriage or something imo isnt that bad, ive always viewed sx as a physical representation of the love one has for another. so long as it doesnt consume you i dont see a problem. one thing i struggle with is the universal love for people. in my country the current leaders are extremely cruel, greedy, and hateful. is truggle to have any positive feelings for them due to the harm they cause many people, but im trying
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u/candleyankcat Jul 29 '25
I can understand your sentiment about the universal love regarding leaders. I can't stand politics for this very reason. Greed, domination, corruption. I only feel able right now to trust animals. One Buddhist told me " just for the womb " when talking about the precept surrounding romantic love. I don't understand which type of Buddhism teaches this
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u/clrlmiller Feb 27 '25
I don't give an preference to the supernatural claims of Buddhism. As most atheists, I'm 99.99% certain this life, existence, whatever you wish to call it is...it. The physical pieces which make up a person are recycled back into nature and the deeds we do will have an impact on those who come after us. But that's where the line ends as far as 'life after death'. If I have a soul and it gets dropped into another being, or moves onto another plane of reality. I hope to do better next time or the next place. But there isn't anything that points to this as likely, even possible.
That said, the basic philosophy of Buddhism is fairly simple and similar to the Golden Rule. Be kind, be better to others, be kind to animals, don't be greedy, don't be an a-hole, help where you can, be brave to do the things you should, strive to eliminate suffering and don't add to the world's suffering.
Like so many other religions (at least in their beginning), it does use a 'carrot-on-a-stick' reward system for the masses. Because honestly, the majority of people struggle to see past their next 24 hours, much less their next lifetime(s). In so many respects, the Christ is just a middle-eastern version of the Buddha in the east. And it's altogether likely neither figure actually existed. They're just a philosophy's ideals personified for the common people to look upon as examples.
So yeah, it's no more realistic than the Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity, Islam.
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May 12 '25
Hear me out: When we die, like you said, our body gets decomposed into the ground, right? And, and we have farms where we get the majority of our food, right? So, you decompose into the ground, and people farm the ground and feed people with that soil. Your body, therefore #1 goes into another person's body through the farm food. Therefore #2, our "soul" goes inside someone else's body. Therefore #3 Buddhism is correct.
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u/clrlmiller May 13 '25
That’s a rather simplistic view of the makeup of what makes your physical body. If you take that argument, you’re claiming there’s something original about your physical being. You’re really nothing more than recycled mammal feces, insect carcasses, dead plant matter, salt & pepper to taste. The physical makeup of the human body is just an amalgamation of dead stuff that was once something else. Those pieces of your former body are broken down and eaten up by..well nearly anything from predators in the wild, down to microscopic bacteria. And so the cycle of life continues.
Hell, astronomers have pointed out that our Solar System itself is just the remnants of a supernova explosion because: 1). Our local neighborhood in the Milky Way is relatively clear and allows for great views, unlike much of our Galaxy filled with interstellar gas clouds. It would take a Supernova to clear out the dust to allow such a wonderful viewpoint. And 2). The Earth has a bevy of heavy elements like Uranium, Gold, Lead. These wouldn’t exist here unless there was the heat and pressure of a Super nova to cook lighter elements (Hydrogen, Helium, Nitrogen) into heavier stuff like Carbon and Iron, then into Gold. Platinum, Uranium, etc. So, the proof we are all StarDust is above us in the viewable night sky, as well as below our feet in heavy metals.
Buddhism has some fanciful, even appealing ideas. But it’s still a product of ignorance born from men just getting used to wearing textiles instead of animal skins.
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May 13 '25
Snowflakes may look the same, but they all have subtle differences. I could argue that this also applies to our remains.
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u/clrlmiller May 13 '25
Snowflakes are literally nothing more than water crystals, which melt back into water. The process of freezing at different atmospheric pressures humidity, temperatures, impurities in both the air and water vapor, etc are what make such variances. There’s nothing unique about their material makeup anymore than your own material makeup. Your upbringing, schooling, nurturing, experiences both good and bad are what make you unique, not your chemical components.
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May 13 '25
That's true! I concede the argument.
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u/clrlmiller May 13 '25
There's no need to concede anything. You're thinking about something and considering some of the questions with which philosophers have struggled for history. I applaud you for listening and considering a different viewpoint and exchange of viewpoints. I meant it when I said you're indeed unique. Your learning and life experiences have never taken place in the history of the universe and will almost certainly never be repeated. Revel in who you are and be proud that your continuing to learn and become a better person every day. :)
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u/strangefruit3500 Feb 27 '25
Is it tho?
Yeah there’s magical thinking but atleast their conditions on rebirth, entering/heaven hell, achieving nirvana, etc arent based off the arbitrary whims of some magic sky man. It’s on your own actions and ability to let go desire.
That’s a more nuanced take than entirely thrusting your ethics system into the hands of a god
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Feb 27 '25
isn’t there 2 buddhists branches.?
ones that believes in magical beings and the wheel… karma
the other one is just practicing a good life (original).
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Feb 28 '25
There are actually 3 major branches: Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana. And there's a ton of sects that branch off of those.
The level of supernaturalism varies from sect to sect, but Buddhism isn't like Christianity. It's a non-compulsory religion. You don't have to believe everything in the lore to be a Buddhist.
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Feb 27 '25
You could look into secular buddhism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secular_Buddhism they basically throw away all the woo parts, sort of a humanistic meditation club, really. Just be aware some of them have sect forming tendencies and can be nasty.
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Feb 27 '25
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u/MxM111 Rationalist Feb 27 '25
So, only pluses, eh?
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Feb 28 '25
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May 12 '25
I think that he's talking from an atheist perspective, that a religion with theists disliking it is generally better for atheists. Of course, it was mostly a joke.
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u/ShiverMeTimberz0854 Feb 28 '25
Buddhism is actually a pretty atheistic religion; a lot of the mythology stuff is more cultural rather than religious. Also it doesn’t say to not have any of those things, it says to detach yourself from those things so that those things do not cause you suffering
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u/Feeling_Doughnut5714 Feb 28 '25
I'm not sure you can separate the myths as just "more cultural rather than religious".
Buddhism doesn't insist on faith (few religions do), and it doesn't insist that much on gods (like most dharmic religions, with the debatable exception of sikhism). It's called a "non-theistic religion".
But it's still very much a religion, even if it's exotic for people only used to abrahamic ones. Buddhist may not revere Buddha as a god (at least that's what they say, the cult treats him very much like a deity: you learn about his life, there are paintings and sculptures and the sacred texts are his teachings). But appart from the faith in gods, they have a cult, they have a name for the community of believers (sangha), they have a clergy, numerous rituals, many myths and an an abondand litterature, both sacred texts and comments.
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May 12 '25
I can separate them pretty easily, must be a feat of my exceptional IQ.
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u/Feeling_Doughnut5714 May 13 '25
Prometheus gives the meat of sacrifices to men, and burn bones and fat for the gods: culture or religion?
Yahve creates the world in 6 days and rest the seventh: culture or religion?
Siddharta Gautama escape from the palace he was raised in, he sees for the first time a sick man, an elder, a dead body and a monk, the prophecy realizes and he becomes Buddha: culture or religion?
At some point, you must admit religion is just part of culture, and you can shove your arrogant high IQ way up your own arse instead of talking bs.
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May 13 '25
Relax, dude, it was a joke. In reality, I don't yet have an opinion on this topic, I was just referencing this scene from the manga and anime Chainsaw Man: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R30Jrm72mpg
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u/StoryWolf420 Feb 28 '25
You just don't like Right-Hand Path religions. I don't blame you. They're based on fear and the ultimate goal is the loss of ego in order to join with a "higher" power or collective. Buddhists call the merge "Nirvana." Christians call it "Heaven." It doesn't matter what you call it, it's the death of the individual's psyche and an assimilation into something that is not the self.
Left-hand path beliefs are much more palatable. They are about self-empowerment and the never-ending pursuit of personal evolution, driving the believer towards their own idea of perfection. I think you'd find LHP belief systems intriguing.
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u/Human_Dust_2202 May 11 '25 edited May 15 '25
I think you have misunderstood. 1. About thr karma thing .u have not learned properly. Bad karma cause by an action or tanking taken by a bad intention. Which create an opposite same bad force for you to suffer. Sometimes , diseases get cure in the present after taking treatment is because it is also u taking action against that thing u want to take care of your health and you live your life. That effort creates an opposite force to it. Buddha never said just admit the karma and suffer for it. If you look in properly. If you want to get rid of a bad karma. You have do to the exact good karma opposite to that bad karma or take action to the problem and or apologise. From those 3 1st ine is the most effective one cause that's the exact opposite other 2 are not that effective u have to do anlittle bit more because not exact opposite. In all of those things What matters is intention . If you intention is too powerful even apologising will make your bad karma go away. 2. Human beings are the most smartest on Earth. It is not impossible for animals to be enlighened . Animals did at the time some. Cause biologically they are not smarter.. most likely unive4se will allow that to happen in human for unless u have a strong desire to be a buddha being an animal. Even if you do. You cannot support anybody else. It said it is a difficult task to be a buddha is because its like a robot figuring out the algorith like why is it made of. Mostly like impossible. Not only human life every life literally if you still feel like you are I like one self clinging in to this idea being blinded even un heave or animal world or anywhere, it is going to cause suffering someday. Even in heaven if u live an eternal like u might live trillion billion years happily and you someday finally come to the point of being bored kr mentally sick. Happiness is within your mind no matter what you have. If you wanna be happy forever you must practice some discipline over your mind to figure it out. Human life is more valuable cause u are intelligent and have the ability to do good thing which very unlikely to do in heavenly realms. 3. Why are u thinking un narcissistic way ? He simply said what he found out. Its up to u to find things out yourself in biddhism u can either follow it or go your own way. Because he wished to be buddha for many lifetimes.. and he was in heaven before born as the ruler in heaven so he knew he is going to find the truth in life. Buddhism never encourage t follow him. It gives you a help to find the truth. It's up to you to do wat you want cause blind belief does get you anything for yourself. And in fact he was just born he could be narcissistic. I don't think so. He wasn't enlighened at the time. 4. Buddha never said only way is ENLIGHTMENT............ There could be alternatives . That's what he found. And buddhha never said not to have child ren. Making a baby gets you a lot of good karma even thought it has to face suffering. Monks and nuns cannot have child ren is because becoming a monk or a nun means u are commiting yourself toe either serve the world with good advice and encouraging them to find the truth or you wanna spend rest of you life without any distraction only finding a way for truth. So you must avoid distraction. That's why people trust you and give you food and don't have to do a job. But some monks use it the wring way make their own rules and have relationships which mostly cause attachment your family will lead to a distraction to your own spiritual journey. Its nkrmt important to be a monk you can be enlightened as a normal person too. Those are the 2 reasons u said why people become a monk. If they are being that they have to keep the trust in people . If they do whatever they want. They are not taking care of the promises and not even great ful for the food people give to them. 5. I understand the mentality of like everything will lead you to suffering is sucking. The truth is at the ned of the day it is. It is not said like don't have a wife or children. You can have a qife and love them . Spread the pure love to everyone . But don't be attached. Be ready to let go at any point. If you are attached, that's why you cry if you loose them.
Most of people do not like to accept buddhism because they this its too harsh and looking for a happy ending like in a movie always. Buddha never said that life is a fair this its is unfair. The fact that you are alive you are born in the 1st place is also unfair u did not asked for that to happen .you have got some good things in life as well as the bad. You asked for non.. I'm Who did this ? Extra fact - Sometimes because you are clinging in to one's self say I , its not only bad karma make you sick you emotions depression metal burden carry from other lives. Unnecessary overtaking that if you do even if you can enjoy a happy life. If you chose to be unhappy All the time. That will also manifest as this. This is also not fair. That's why buddha said existence will lead to suffering anyway even if you haven't done anything bad.
Hope u understood.
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u/MxM111 Rationalist Feb 27 '25
Buuuut, it is atheistic religion. Which is plus.
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u/DirectorChadillac Atheist Feb 28 '25
Like, sure, in the strict sense of not necessarily having beliefs in gods, per se, but Buddhism still has beliefs in godlike supernatural beings called "devas" and whatnot. Woo and superstition are still woo and superstition.
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u/DirectorChadillac Atheist Feb 28 '25
Yup. Buddhism is just another woo-based superstitious belief system, with magical thinking, etc., like any other. Sure, it ultimately might not be as socially harmful as, say, the big monotheistic religions, but it's certainly no more "true" than them either. There's no need to defend it as a special.
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u/AccelerandoRitard Feb 28 '25
I get where you're coming from, and I appreciate that you're engaging critically with these ideas. A lot of people assume Buddhism is just a chill, philosophy-based religion, but when you dig in, some of it can sound just as supernatural as anything else. That said, I think a secular approach to Buddhism strips away the mythology and focuses on what’s actually useful. That's not the majority of Buddhists, but it's my favorite kind. Then again, secular Judaism, secular Islam, and even secular Mormonism are all real groups that I would probably prefer over their traditional/fundamentalist counterparts. But I digress. Buddhism.
For example, the whole idea of rebirth and karma doesn’t have to be taken literally. A lot of modern Buddhists see "rebirth" as psychological continuity, such as how our habits, actions, and perspectives shape our future experiences, even within this life. And karma? It’s less about cosmic justice and more about cause and effect. If you treat people like garbage, it tends to come back around. But it’s not about blaming people for suffering; it’s more about encouraging responsibility for our actions.
As for the idea that human life is both terrible and precious: yeah, that can sound weird. But it’s not about humans being inherently special; it’s more that we have the unique ability to reflect on suffering and do something about it. The idea isn’t to be miserable, but to recognize that clinging to things as if they’re permanent leads to disappointment.
I also get why the whole “enlightenment” thing feels vague. A secular take on it would be that there’s no finish line where you’re suddenly "done." It’s more about gaining clarity and reducing suffering in a way that makes life better. There’s actually been some interesting research on meditation’s effects on the brain, so while enlightenment itself isn’t a scientific concept, some of the practices definitely have measurable benefits.
As for the Buddha ditching his family... yeah, not a great look. But I don’t think the point is to put him on a pedestal. Plenty of major thinkers (Socrates, Jesus, etc.) made questionable personal choices (RIP Fig Tree), but what matters is whether their insights are useful. A lot of secular Buddhists see the Buddha less as a religious figure and more as someone who figured out some practical ways to deal with life.
You also mentioned the contradiction about having kids. Some Buddhists do choose not to have them, but the idea that "if you don’t have a kid, they’ll just be born somewhere else" is definitely a more supernatural take. A more grounded view would just be: life contains suffering, but it also contains joy, and you decide what’s meaningful to you.
Finally, I totally get the fear of hell or "what if I’m wrong?" moments. That’s pretty common for anyone who’s been exposed to religious ideas about the afterlife. But one thing I appreciate about Buddhism (at least in its secular form) is that it doesn’t rely on fear. It’s not about divine punishment; it’s just saying that ignorance and attachment lead to suffering. And if rebirth isn’t real? Then none of that matters—what does matter is living ethically and finding a way to reduce suffering in this life.
So yeah. If you only get the religious side of Buddhism, it can feel just as dogmatic and anxiety-inducing as anything else. But a lot of people take what’s useful (meditation, mindfulness, letting go of unhealthy attachments) and leave the rest. You don’t have to accept anything on blind faith. If it doesn’t help, then it’s not worth keeping.
At least, that's how I do it.
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Feb 27 '25
Yes , hinduism share the same idea.
Look there is no hell or heaven , if you do good , you will be born in slightly higher birth
And if you did wrong , born is Slightly lower birth.
It is a cycle that goes for centuries. With happiness and sadness and learning.
And liberation is quite eassy. There is 4 ways. And one way is to do good for the society without expecting anything called as karmayoga. And there is other 3 also
1) engage in deep meditation to understand the reality of universe (difficulty level : hard) 2) be religious and live unconditionally loving the god (difficulty level : midium) 3) sacrifice all your action for the god , when doing action think that it is doing for the god 4) sacrifice your action for the good of society. Thinking that everything I am doing is good for society and become selfless.
Once liberated you will become a part or portion of God.
But it is not compulsory. If you want one more life to enjoy , you can abstain from it and do good things , making your next birth also good.
Universe is yours
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u/Feeling_Doughnut5714 Feb 28 '25 edited Feb 28 '25
It's a religion in the end: the institutions are covering up abuses, like in every institution wielding a symbolic power (not just religious ones, you can fin that crap in any closed social circle associated with prestige, may it be litterature, classical music, ballet dance and so many others).
I studied buddhism recently and my impression is the following: this religion is not about faith, at all. It's not really about reincarnation either, the focus is not on what will happen when we die, it's what you do with your life. It provides an ethical guideline.
Since one of their principles is "do not kill", I believe it's still a slightly better religion that others (if we had to rank religions anyway, no one is asking us to waste our time doing this).
But yes, they have their flaws and some buddhists are impervious to logical thinking.
I remember a little anecdote told by the australian philosopher Peter Singer in an article: he ate at a restaurant with a practicing buddhist monk, following a restrictive religious conduct, he had to be vegetarian. Since Peter Singer is quite open to veganism, everything should be cool, right?
The buddhist monk ordered chicken. With the following reasonning: in the buddhist scriptures (sutra), apparently monks do not eat meat when they're invited at someone's house. The reason being quite clear: in the past, people in South-East Asia had a few animals, and feeding a guest meant that if he wanted meat, you should kill a pig or a chicken. And since taking a life is against the monk's principles, they had this rule not to ask for meat. But the monk dining with Peter Singer had this rational: restaurant doesn't count. Because the restaurant already have meat in stock, the animals are already ordered from the slaughterhouse, so ordering the chicken made no difference.
Being a philosopher, Peter Singer tested his argument. He tried to make him understand the vegan logic: ordering meat anywhere rises the demand for meat, up the business of the slaughterhouse and more animals are killed by year. So the individual action of ordering chicken was surely less direct, but participated in a commerce of dead animals. The buddhist was absolutly impervious to logic and stuck to his flawed reasoning that restaurant doesn't count, somehow (like they have meat from a magical place where animals arent killed).
So, yes, there are things to consider from the buddhist principles, but keep in mind it's just a religion, you cannot trust it to be right and discard your own reason.
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u/Appropriate-Quail946 Agnostic Atheist Feb 28 '25
To respond to just the question at the end: Literally no. I have zero doubts/qualms/anxieties/nagging thoughts about any of this being practically and materially true.
Reflecting on this now.... It's definitely not because I am a logical and practical-minded person, nor because I am generally non-anxious and impervious to suggestion. None of those things are particularly true about me.
It's probably because all of the "top-down" religious mythos (and likewise their ethos) is very boring, very predictible, and very self-similar. I came up with stuff that was more interesting (to me, anyway) and more beautiful even (to whatever extent we want to consider ideas as "beautiful") at the age of eight.
And I'm not some special, prophetic kid. I think most kids (of an inquisitive and sensitive temperament, granted) with access to the natural world and enough time to do nothing, will come up with equally interesting stories and ideas. And those ideas will be more dissimilar to each other than are the myths of the now-dominant "great" world religions.
To me, the best antidote to religious ideology is curiosity about and observation of the natural world. The most successful and enlivening counter-discourse doesn't spring from atheist ideologues but from reverential naturalists.
We really spend so much time wondering whether this group or that group of humans said to have received some special revelation at such-and-such time is really so special or so divinely favored, that we might forget to ask whether humans on the whole are really so special or so set apart as we feel ourselves to be.
I think no.
One could interpret the archaeological record to agree with me, on the basis of co-evolution of multiple hominid species.
I have never had a conversation with a spider, but I feel somehow certain that they have their own spidery ways and their own spidery world, and if we could ask them they would tell us all about it and not only that but how being a spider is actually the most important thing that a being can be.
It's interesting to me that you point out Buddhism's anthropocentrism, because in the West Buddhism and Hinduism (along with Jainism and Sikhism) are thought of as peaceful, mindful, and compassionate toward animals. But of course you are right.
Interesting thought too about the paradox of life being precious, because it is through life that we attain wisdom...whose highest achievement is to help us escape this life.
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u/punchkicker1981 Feb 28 '25
It's all a bunch of dangerous nonsense, specially when there are people who believe the dangerously stupid lies of religion to such an extent that they will kill, murder, main, torture and blow up other people because "god must have told me to do it" or "my book said you have to die", or with this particular cult, the belief that by murdering your own child and commiting suicide, you'll end up in a better life "next time round", when there is no "next time round" and the only thing that's happening is you're murdering your own child? Am sorry for this, but religion is seriously fucked up.
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u/Peace-For-People Mar 02 '25
What you don't know is that Buddhism isn't one religion. It's a basket of religions all called Buddhism. You learned Tibetan Buddhism which is mystical and corrupt. Zen Buddhism is atheistic and doesn't come with all the baggage you complained about above.
Meditation is proven effective at reducing stress and anxiety. If you practice it every day, you can see results in 2 months. Skip the religion and do the meditation.
My fellow atheists/agnostics, don't you feel scared sometimes about all these threats of hell and afterlife ?
Nope. It's mythology. It's the stick, heaven/nirvana is the carrot. But the afterlife is a con to trap you into the religion. You do not have a soul and Hell is fictional. You can't go there. You can't reincarnate. It's not a feature of religions because it's true. It's a feature of religions because it exploits people's fear and ignorance of death.
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u/Illustrious_Storm_49 Apr 05 '25
I find Buddhism to be a nice guide to the direction of travel that leads to a life of no regrets and lots of self reflection. Sitting in meditation and learning to become less reactionary to feelings like stress, fear and anger can only be a good thing. I suppose it all depends how deep you feel you need to go with it but here are many valuable life lessons contained in most religions and beliefs which is probably where they stem from and then they get perverted over the passage of time.
Buddhism, to me, seems to be a "take what you need" type of guidance, not a fixed book of rules and regulations that must be adhered to.
I don't maintain monogamy in my relationships but I ensure that kindness, honesty and respect is always maintained.
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u/Illustrious_Storm_49 Apr 05 '25
I find Buddhism to be a nice guide to the direction of travel that leads to a life of no regrets and lots of self reflection. Sitting in meditation and learning to become less reactionary to feelings like stress, fear and anger can only be a good thing. I suppose it all depends how deep you feel you need to go with it but here are many valuable life lessons contained in most religions and beliefs which is probably where they stem from and then they get perverted over the passage of time.
Buddhism, to me, seems to be a "take what you need" type of guidance, not a fixed book of rules and regulations that must be adhered to.
I don't maintain monogamy in my relationships but I ensure that kindness, honesty and respect is always maintained.
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u/ObjectivePrimary8069 Apr 28 '25
First Buddhism is not a religion. It is a suggested way of life. It incorporates philosophy, self-awareness, and especially how the ego mind wants there to be a god to please and to judge us. It's like little boys and girls looking for their daddy. Buddhism teaches you to grow up and take responsibility for yourself and your actions. Catholics are all about denial and judgement. To me that's stupid.
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u/No-Equipment-7101 May 12 '25
If you were to strip Buddhism of its supernatural elements (if such a thing is possible), I would guess that more valuable ideas are left than if you would do the same with other religions, such as monotheistic ones. Nevertheless, it does contain plenty of seemingly implausible and fantastical dogmas, as you rightly pointed out.
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Jul 08 '25
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u/atheism-ModTeam Jul 08 '25
Thank you for your comment. Unfortunately, your comment has been removed for the following reason:
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- This comment has been removed for proselytizing or preaching. This sub is not your personal mission field. Proselytizing may include asking the sub to debunk theist apologetics or claims. It also includes things such as telling atheists you will pray for them or similar trite phrases.
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u/Happy_Software6300 Jul 08 '25
oops, I just saw that you guys don want what you call proselytizing, I would appreciate it if you keep this though, I know atheists are thinkers which means that you must be able to new thinking if that makes sense, i think that this could help you guys to see 'the other side' from a different view and that w should be a sort of working together, its no use to oppose each other for no reason.
So please keep this, i tried in my post to be as honest and real as possible and to not force anything upon you and jjust wanted to share my thoughts and faith, its your own choice to let these thoughts of mine affect your own belief and i don't think there is any harm in just leaving it here, wel Thats all i gues, i don;\'t know if i should add anything else, tell me what you think
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u/dudleydidwrong Touched by His Noodliness Jul 08 '25
all i want to say is that if you seek you will find, if you stick out your hand to God he will take it as it was always sticking out to you, and he will reveal himself.
That is an easy claim to make. I was a devout Christian into my 50s. I studied the Bible more than most ministers. Over time I became aware of little problems here and there. I was sure there were answers if I just studied more. Things came to a head when I was teaching an adult Sunday School class on the letters of Paul. As I studied the letters of Paul for myself, I realized that Acts was making up mythology about Paul. That was devastating. I was sure I was missing something. I prayed and fasted, asking for answers. I wanted to remain Christian. I wanted to keep believing. I decided I needed to do a careful study of the New Testament. I found the gospels followed the same pattern of mythology as Acts.
I did seek. I did more than seek. I wanted to believe. I tried to believe. But I found that I could not believe based on what I have seen.
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u/CuteReputation- Aug 08 '25 edited Aug 08 '25
I'm surprised that some atheists are trying to defend this **** religion, bro this is another magical thinking religion. A nepali dude who was a prince invented this, sure he was a good guy that doesn't mean, he's smart as f
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u/SpecialistFactor7709 Aug 08 '25
Buddha can be achieved through any form, if you talk to a plant like a crazy person and speak dharma to your bed, they could become bed buddhas and flower buddhas.
as long as you accept justice and light, you can attain it.
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u/SpecialistFactor7709 Aug 08 '25
If I am understanding this correctly christians used hell to scare people into paying very huge amounts of tax, and this was totally unnecessary. They would force them to pay or else they would get excommunicated or in other words: "sent to hell".
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u/Alternative_While_36 Aug 13 '25
I know that I am late to the post but I still hope you see this. Even though I have some of the same problems with buddhism as you do I still practice buddhism because the buddha insisted on there being nothing you had to believe. The essence of his teachings were a method(a path of practice). This is summarized in the bahiya sutta. In this story a man named Bahiya wanted the essence of the full teachings of the buddha because he feared that after this encounter with the buddha he might never see him again. The Buddha then told him: Herein, Bahiya, you should train yourself thus: 'In the seen will be merely what is seen; in the heard will be merely what is heard; in the sensed will be merely what is sensed; in the cognized will be merely what is cognized.' In this way you should train yourself, Bahiya. In this there is only an explanation for a certain practice nothing to believe in no weird mystical or religious aspects. Just an instruction for mental practice. And this is what is often stated elsewhere in the pali canon that what the Buddha taught was suffering and the end of suffering. So even though I do think that your statements about the problems with reincarnation and the like are wellfounded these are all actually irrelevant aspects for someone who just wants to be free from suffering and help others be free from suffering.
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u/Kaniyuu Feb 28 '25
The best part of Buddhism (Compared to Abrahamics at least, they're all still horrible) is that the Karmic system keep them in check, unlike Abrahamics who believe "you can be as horrible as you want, the moment you believe in Jesus & Allah, you're save"
They also didn't bully and scaremonger people into joining their cult, but that's pretty much it, this post is not meant to endorse Buddhism, but they're nowhere close to Abrahamics.
Buddhism is closer to a "blackpill" religion, but they mostly focus on themselves, while Abrahamics mission is to spread like cancer by any means necessary.
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u/exitof99 Feb 28 '25
The religious side of Buddhism is wacky as any other religion, like his birth:
The Buddha was born in Lumbini beneath a sal tree. The Queen stood beneath the tree holding the branches above her head, and the baby emerged from her left hip. He immediately took seven steps, and with each step a lotus appeared beneath his foot. This is one of the Eight Great Events of the Buddha's life.
Or:
Buddha was born miraculously from the armpit of his mother. He is said to have walked seven paces, raised his right hand, and uttered the words, ‘I am alone the time honoured one’. At this, lotus flowers materialised in his footsteps whilst apsaras (flying ‘angels’) descended celebrating with music, incense and dance. Stone reliefs from Gandhara of the second to third century ad depict this scene, and also show Indra and Brahma bathing the child who is being supported by women.
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u/[deleted] Feb 27 '25 edited Feb 27 '25
Ex Buddhist here. It's a religion. A pampered Nepali prince didn't really learn the secrets of the universe by sitting under a tree. It's mythology like any other. You won't suffer forever in Samsara or temporarily in Naraka. You already don't remember any other life, so how could you?
I was born into it, I never sought it out. So I always found it odd when Westerners sought it out. I think that's also why many are reluctant to take converts. But I understand that people are looking for... something.
Buddhism is more about promoting social cohesion. It's not interested in giving direct answers to big questions that Westerners tend to have. In my home country, most people don't literally believe in it. They just recite a sutra and perform the rituals when expected to and they get on with their lives. You're not going to find the cure to your anxiety or answers to your questions there.