| Buddhism is a teaching which has spread worldwide | | | | material found in Asia must be excluded because |
| absorbing the culture of each country it arrived in, | | | | there is no God here, and occasionally not even |
| which has resulted in many expressions of Buddhism. | | | | Gods. From the perspective that religion entails belief |
| Each strand, no matter how varied in nature and | | | | in a God, Buddhism is excluded from having the title |
| practice, holds a common emphasis on the | | | | of religion. Many outsiders to the Buddhist tradition |
| impermanence of human life. The worldwide spread | | | | may claim that the Buddha held some divinity and is |
| of Buddhism means that it is now practiced by over | | | | elevated to a Godly position, but the Buddha himself |
| three hundred million people worldwide, and thus, is | | | | refused to be regarded as divine. For the Buddha, |
| generally considered to be a world religion. However, | | | | humanity is here to improve ourselves and achieve |
| its authenticity as a religion has often come under | | | | liberation rather than worrying about ultimate |
| scrutiny by intellectuals in the Western world. To | | | | questions. Buddhists would argue that knowledge of |
| explore whether Buddhism can in fact be counted as | | | | a God or the afterlife does not matter as neither |
| a religion we must acknowledge that the main | | | | help in the quest for nirvana. If Buddhism is not |
| problems arise when looking for a definition of what | | | | counted as a religion then what is it? Buddhism can |
| a religion is. Either, definitions have proved too narrow | | | | be thought of as a way of life, a philosophy, a |
| excluding many belief systems which people believe | | | | psychology, a way of thinking through which we can |
| are religious, or they become too broad which means | | | | take responsibility for our present life and lives. |
| that any structure can be counted. When applying | | | | Like all major religions Buddhism contains a morality, |
| varying definitions of religion to Buddhism we come | | | | rituals and behaviours, certain ethical values and an |
| up with some very contradictory answers; some | | | | origin of existence, yet because Buddhists do not |
| which say that Buddhism is simply a philosophy or | | | | believe in an all knowing creator God some claim that |
| teaching, whilst others will prove that it is in fact, a | | | | Buddhism fails to be a religion. The large variety of |
| religion in practice. | | | | definitions of religion shows that we can never give a |
| To determine whether Buddhism is a religion or not, | | | | solid, one answer description of what it is that religion |
| we must also note that we, as Westerners will have | | | | is and does. |
| different views and concepts of religion to those | | | | We must remember that previously Buddhism has |
| practicing in the East. We must ask the question, is it | | | | many names such as the Buddha's teaching or |
| even possible for Westerners to understand the | | | | message, or the Buddha's way or the path of |
| religious life of Asia? What we view as Asian religion | | | | attainment. Although the religious status of Buddhism |
| and religious activity is for most of the people | | | | has come under constant attack, we could argue |
| practicing it a natural part of daily life; our ideas and | | | | that the questioning is in fact, not necessary. If we |
| concepts vary so greatly that perhaps someone | | | | were able to ask the Buddha if Buddhism was in fact |
| observing Buddhism from a Western perspective | | | | a religion or not he would probably answer with the |
| may never truly grasp the religiosity of the group. | | | | response that it does not matter. To the Buddhist, |
| For one attempting to provide a definition of religion | | | | their beliefs are essentially a philosophy by which |
| these practices would need to be described in a | | | | individuals can attain release from the world of karma |
| manner which did not exclude one religion from the | | | | and rebirth. Knowing whether or not Buddhism is a |
| definition. There needs to be one thing that is | | | | religion or not cannot lead to salvation, only through |
| attributed to all religions, a common factor. For many, | | | | practice and understanding can one be led to a |
| the common factor is God. However, if we conclude | | | | happiness which is not transient. |
| that God is the focus of all religion then much of the | | | | Copyright © All rights reserved. |