In all the major religions, it seems that Buddhism have won most Filipino atheists' approval. That’s because most believe that Buddhism is the most peaceful religion. It is said that there are no wars that were insinuated by Buddhism. I also have the same fondness with Buddhism and I also believed that the religion is quite passive. Maybe I’m not really looking very hard.
I have read Joseph Grosso’s article in Free Inquiry (February/March 2008) entitled Buddhism: Blood and Enlightenment and I were enlightened (no puns intended) by the facts that Buddhism is really not so different with other religions when it comes to violence and war. Maybe because when I think of Buddhism I always imagine the image of that burning monk in protest of the Vietnam War. I thought they always stand against hostilities...I never knew that there were wars that were started by the Buddhists.
Modern hostilities is found in Sri Lanka where the Buddhists hold a “principal” place in the country’s 255 member Parliament and there are reports (in the New York Times – February 25, 2007) about Buddhist monks disagreement with anti-war protestors in behalf of the Sri Lankan offensive against the Tamil Tigers. – So who said they are always passive and anti-war?
There was also a time when Buddhist leaders supported Japanese imperialism before the end of World War II. It was also recorded that Buddhism supported Japan during the Sino-Japanese War (1894-95) and at the Russo-Japanese War (1904-05).
I think the most problematic doctrine in Buddhism is the Law of Karma. Well...in comparison with Christianity’s resurrection, the Law of Karma is more into “cause and effect”. That’s because punishment in Christianity is base on a certain God’s standard that the adherent didn’t follow. That’s what the concept of sin is for. The Law of Karma is a universal, immutable law (according to believers) which adjusts effects to causes. It is sometimes referred to as a "moral law of cause and effect." It is said the Karmic law places the responsibility for someone’s own destiny. Karma is both an encouragement to do good and to avoid evil, as well as an explanation for whatever good or evil befalls a person.
So what’s bad about that?
Well it teaches people to accept their fate because it was his/her punishment in his/her past life. Suppose you’re not living as poor as a dormouse. Will you just sit in the corner of your house accepting the fate because you believe that this is your punishment when you were a rich spoiled kid in your past life?
This is more damaging in feudal states like Tibet. Serfs are taught to believe that they are helots and are bound to the land and owned by the feudal lord because they were evil in their past lives while those rich elites who took advantage of them deserves their glorious wealth because it is the rewards for their virtues in earlier lives. There is really no social mobility in this type of mind-set.
I didn’t say that the Buddha is as crooked as the money-grabbing Christian pastor down the street. Buddhism does share some of the best teaching a person can exemplify. Yet Buddhism also contribute to the same violence and twisted logic other religions offer.
Until next time,
Pinoy Atheist
