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It might be interesting for you to look at the way the different schools of buddhism spread and what cultural ceremonies and beliefs that they added to the basic teachings.
In addition, you keep maintaining a strict separation between culture and religion, as if they are interconnected branches. Buddhism as practiced by actual cultures, have hell-like beliefs for those who sin or don't follow its basic tenets. In other words, in some Buddhists points of view, I am currently suffering, or may even suffer in the afterlife due to me not following Buddhist practices.
Once again, I'm not saying every detail of Buddhism=Christianity. I'm only saying that there is punishment for sins and those that don't follow the religion's basic tenets.
I've been to Asia quite a bit, as mentioned above I've lived in Korea and Japan, and am well traveled in Thailand, with a smattering of Cambodia, Laos & Burma.
Why do you ask?
I just find it odd that you have seen the sculptures and such showing very hellish punishments and then deny that Buddhist cultures don't observe anything resembling hell.
Semantics. That essentially says the Christian hell and Buddhist hell aren't the same ideas. Not surprising, given they are different religions. I wasn't saying they are 100% equivalent. If they were, they'd be the same religion. However, are they suffering for their sins? For not following the religious rules and ideas correctly? It says purgatory right there. Purgatory is essentially a type of hell.
Yeah, but the difference is the concept of karma.
It's not eternal suffering of a soul.
A little more than semantics.
I edited my original post.
Last edited by chielgirl; 07-27-2009 at 02:30 PM..
In addition, you keep maintaining a strict separation between culture and religion, as if they are interconnected branches. Buddhism as practiced by actual cultures, have hell-like beliefs for those who sin or don't follow its basic tenets. In other words, in some Buddhists points of view, I am currently suffering, or may even suffer in the afterlife due to me not following Buddhist practices.
Once again, I'm not saying every detail of Buddhism=Christianity. I'm only saying that there is punishment for sins and those that don't follow the religion's basic tenets.
No, no, no, I get that.
I'm not getting this afterlife part of your argument.
My separation of culture from the basic tenets of buddhism is because as it moved, the layers of pre-existing cultural or belief systems colored the practice.
Look at the Tibetans, they had a strong Hindu influence from the onset; as it moved to China, it incorporated Confusianism. So, while the basics of theravada are the same, in each country they look outwardly different; as in the mahayana school, the outward appearances incorporate the cultural differences while the basic tenets remain.
In Buddhism, you suffer for your actions if you don't live by the 8-fold path; but you suffer now because it affects you here and now.
(or if you're ordained, 72 or 40 gazillion precepts).
Yeah, but the difference is the concept of karma.
It's not eternal suffereing of a soul.
A little more than semantics.
I edited my post.
Please reread the OP.
THis isn't about the details of how and why one is punished. It is about whether sinners get punished. This includes purgatory-type conditions, and perhaps even worldly suffering for not following a religion's basic tenets (which essentially what sins are).
Are there any religions which don't claim some sort of punishment for those who fail to adhere to their particular set of beliefs or who 'sin' against them? So are there any that are just plain indifferent to the plight of non-believers (with regard to the 'afterlife')?
Judaism, more or less. If you go by the Torah alone, everybody has the same afterlife (or, by some interpretations, there is no afterlife at all).
The Talmud added the idea of a judgement + resurrection in paradise. There is no hell, however (or maybe only hell for the very, very evil) - the unbelievers simply cease to exist. But you don't have to believe that to be a Jew (and it was never even mentioned in my community).
Buddhism, Sikhism and I think certain Hindu Gods and Goddess do not punish you for not beliving in them.
Christian and Islam are like the worst when it comes to this.
The Buddhist and Hindus have their hells, but they are not permanent. The thing is they don't call it punishment but karma, i.e. You reap what you sow. It depends upon your own intrepretation, doesn't it? Either way, you suffer. Some Buddhists aaruge that hell is literal while others just say that it is all in your mind or just a bad rebirth on earth. The teachings vary as much as in other religions. I once asked a Hindu swami if there were literal hells where you burn, and he said Yes.
Last edited by Mattie Jo; 08-02-2009 at 06:47 AM..
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