Hi everyone!

Buddhism is something I've been interested and studying for a few years now. And there seems to be a common "debate" in certain circles about whether or not it is a religion or a philosophy. I was curious as to your thoughts.

On the one hand, there are certain principles most Buddhists live by, making it like a religion. And in some sects, there are elaborate rituals that take place. However, there is no God to worship in Buddhism and, in fact, even the principles themselves are up for debate. The Buddha himself told his followers to question everything he said and, if his teachings didn't work for them, to simply cast them aside.

I am just interested in getting a light exchange of ideas going. If anyone cares to share their opinions, especially if they are interested in Buddhism, please feel free to do so.

Thank you friends!

Philosophy, because buddhists are actually intelligent.

Religion is defined as the belief in a supernatural higher entity, or supernatural entities.

Basically a god, or a spirit.

Buddhism fits in, in slot B. In that it's a spiritual belief; a religion.

Although, to be honest with you. Buddhism, imo, fits nicely in both religion and philosophical areas. I myself, an atheist, 'carry about' with me a few Buddhist teachings.

From what I read about Buddhism a while back, it was a teaching about a way of life, rather than a religion, a way of transcending suffering. Religious aspects came in later on. Buddha, himself, did not speak about the afterlife, or its possibility. So, as such, in theory anyway, you can follow any religion while still incorporating Buddhist teachings.

I'd agree with Chokmah... it's both.

If you've ever been to Asia (Thailand, Korea etc...) you'd quickly realize that it's both lifestyle (philosophy) and religion.

For me it's more a Philosophy because Buddism teachings you how to live in balance with all things. They do not believe that Budda was ever a God even though thier are people who worship him. Buddha never asked to be worshiped nor did he claim to be one.

I am a fan of Zen Master Huang Po who lived in the 800's. His teachings could not be catagorized as either a religion nor a philosophy.
I believe religion and philosohy would fall under the catagory of practices that are to be avoided. Here are a couple of links....

http://www.abuddhistlibrary.com/Buddhism/C...%20Huang-po.htm

http://www.selfdiscoveryportal.com/cmHuangPo.htm

Very interesting stuff. Thank you, everyone, for your responses thus far. I have greatly enjoyed reading your opinions.

A lot of Japanese Buddhists are atheists as well, so it would seem that it can be both religious faith and philosophy together or apart from each other. I carry along the weight of some Buddhist philosophy, though. Not all of it, but who really does?

Why can't it be both? To those in Asia it's a religion. To those who claim to be buddhists in the western world who wouldn't touch real buddhism with a ten foot pole it's a philosophy. If it were just a philosophy why would buddhist monks self-immolate from time to time?

I agree with this.

I think it is a belief Like anyother Belief, Something one can live and aspire to.

Love Omnaka

I agree with Chokmah

It seems to me that Buddhism is both Religion and Philosophy. I know people have already mentioned that, but just wanted to add a few thoughts to that sentiment. Religion does not just refer to higher powers or spiritual entities. While some definitions of religion include the nature of God, other definitions do not. Moreover, some strands of Buddhism do teach that God exists (though they are generally vague about the description or characteristics of said god).

But then again, I call my belief in Jesus to be both a religion and a philosophy as well, so I guess we might be looking at it from different points of view

Both and neither.

From a cultural perspective Buddhism is easily a religion. Robes, professional clergy, temples, rituals, ceremonies, statues everything you expect out of a religion with some regional beliefs of whatever flavour you are examining. Gautama is presented as fully human (Theraveda), transcendent cosmic being (Mahayana), or local gods are converted into Buddhas and Bodhisattvas (Mahayana, Vajrayana).

Then you look deeper...

The Buddhadharma offers a pragmatic philosophy that encourages critical thinking and compassion. It's one part existentialism, one part naturalism, and one part humanism, shaken and served with an olive.

Then you look deeper...

The Way is not about belief and not about erudition. It's about seeing.

Depends how you define religion and philosophy. Ultimately there is no difference between them. They part ways when either a religion or philosophy becomes dogmatic and rigid.
There are dogmatic religions and dogmatic philosophies. There are dogmatic philosophies which could easily be considered the adherents religion as well as dogmatic religions which could easily be considered as the persons life philosophy.

Hence Buddhism can be called either a religion or philosophy.

Also one part Hinduism. . .

Its both. Religion in its concepts of karma, nirvana, reincarnation, etc. but philosophy in that it is a way of life. I seriously think people of all faiths should study Buddhism, whether they agree with their afterlife concepts or not. I think we'd all be better people if we lived as they do. Seriously; even Christians should act more like Buddhists. The first Buddhist work I read was the Art of Happiness by the Dali Lama. It blew me away. Changed the way I acted, that's for sure. Buddhist Bible was also very influential.

They follow the way of peace so much so, IMO, they are already one with God, and as such don't even need to recognize Him as such. a living Nirvana, truly.