Re: atheists, cont.
Nathan Brindle (NBRINDLE@INDYCMS.BITNET)
Wed, 24 Nov 1993 08:35:35 EST
Waitaminnit...you're arguing semantics here. Buddhism is a RELIGION,
there is a Buddhist religious award in Boy Scouting, so by the BSA's
definition, Buddhists aren't atheists. (Whether or not you wish to
argue that, as my Webster's puts it, that an atheist is "One who denies
the existence of God.") Theism being a western concept rooted in medieval
Christianity (remember theism vs. deism from your Western Civ courses?),
it has almost no bearing on Buddhist or Confucian belief. As a student
of Japanese history, let me assure you that in our casual use of the word
"atheist," we ain't talkin' about Buddhists...and I suspect that my former
professor in Religious Studies would agree with me. (In fact, I think
I'll ask him...) Atheism as a Western concept is difficult to apply to
Eastern religions because the concepts are different--but I don't think
the Buddha would have agreed that his philosophy was atheistic.
Somebody please quote the BSA "Statement of Religious Principle" here,
I don't have a copy with me???
-----------------------------------------------------BITNET: NBRINDLE@INDYCMS
Nathan C. Brindle, Administrative Specialist, Student Activities Office
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
Staff Advisor, ALPHA PHI OMEGA, TAU OMICRON CHAPTER
List Administrator, STUACTS, APOSEC52, ACCESS-L, and BRTHPRNT@INDYCMS
Internet: NBRINDLE@INDYCMS.IUPUI.EDU
Disclaimer: My opinions are my own. Indiana University can speak for itself.
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