How do atheists who direct all their ire against religious belief think about religions that don't emphasis le believing things, e.g. Zen? : atheism

[–] Carnelian@lemmy.world 9 points 6 months ago

I’ve never met such an atheist, one who simply hates the concept of any type of spiritual belief? Have you?

[–] MrJameGumb@lemmy.world 7 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

Personally I consider things like Zen Buddhism to more like a philosophy or a lifestyle than a "religion". I always assumed it was lumped in with religion because there isn't really a better term that allows it to fit into most people's world view

To me "religion" implies a dogmatic system overeen by a fictional all powerful self serving omnipresent deity or deities

Again, these are just my personal views on the matter though

[–] frightful_hobgoblin@lemmy.ml 3 points 6 months ago

Personally I consider things like Zen Buddhism to more like a philosophy or a lifestyle than a “religion”. I always assumed it was lumped in with religion because there isn’t really a better term that allows it to fit into most people’s world view

This seems intelligent.

[+] raccoona_nongrata@beehaw.org 6 points 6 months ago (1 children)

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[–] MagosInformaticus@sopuli.xyz 4 points 6 months ago

I'd say this is a fairly good spot to focus an investigation. Buddhism can sometimes be orientalized and idealized by westerners, and it's not good to let that blind us to when someone like Ashin Wirathu claims it in order to stoke Islamophobia, Imperial Japan used it in nationalist propaganda, or some traditions use it to denigrate women.
Any belief system will likely have some power-hungry bastards try to use it in these kinds of ways, I think.

Personally I do usually see myself as a secular buddhist - I am agnostic on the truth of the longer arcs most schools draw regarding rebirth etc., but I know experiences within a human lifetime include suffering, change, the pain of grasping etc. which the teachings offer some understanding of and tools for dealing with that have helped me. And from the suttas I've read, that appears to be the thing the Sakyamuni Buddha returned to a fair bit - the purpose of practice is to reduce suffering, not metaphysical musings.

[–] Wes_Dev@lemmy.ml 6 points 6 months ago

Don't know. Contrary to popular belief, I don't sit around mulling over how much I like or dislike different religions. I do think about when the people in those religions do stupid and evil shit, but otherwise I don't care that much.

[–] spaceghoti@lemmy.one 5 points 6 months ago

Speaking strictly for myself, I'll believe anything you tell me as long as you can support it with the appropriate evidence. If you tell me there's life after death, I'll believe you -- after you show me how you know it's actually true. I do not accept arguments from authority, arguments from faith, or any other example of motivated reasoning. You need concrete, repeatable evidence before I take you seriously.

Not all atheists are skeptics, and not all skeptics are atheists. But they are very complementary positions.

[–] fsxylo@sh.itjust.works 4 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I think religious or spiritual belief itself is a compromise on your intelligence that social engineers can use to make you do anything they want... Which if you look at American politics is working like a charm for them.

As for "ire" generally my beef is with Christianity and the woo community, both of which promote harmful beliefs over safe practices just to live out a Harry Potter fantasy.

[–] frightful_hobgoblin@lemmy.ml 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I think religious or spiritual belief itself

Right, but that is my point. So the ones that aren't about 'Belief', what do you think about those?

[–] fsxylo@sh.itjust.works 2 points 6 months ago

Meh, I guess.

[–] SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world 3 points 6 months ago

The word "atheist" comes from "a", meaning "without," and "theos," "god." It's about supernatural deities, not religion in general.

[–] thezeesystem@lemmy.world 2 points 6 months ago

Don't really care about religions that are not actively not being equitable with there people. It's when it becomes unethical inequitable and non consensual is when I don't tolerate them. Sadly it feels like 90% of religions out there.

[–] dudinax@programming.dev 1 points 6 months ago

It's only the idea that you have to believe certain things that I hate. It's one of the most destructive ideas. People that hold to that idea often don't understand that other religions don't teach it.

That being said, there's a certain amount of Philosophy in practices like Zen, and perhaps long ago there was even a bit of science in it.

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