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Buddhism in the West - Coggle Diagram
Buddhism in the West
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Western inculturation
- The term inculturation comes from the meeting of the gospel and various world cultures
- In this sense, inculturation refers to how Buddhism has grown and responded to the cultures and values of the West, and the specific needs and values of the West
Interplay of Christianity and Buddhism: Paul Knitter
- Knitter believes in the importance of inter-religious dialogue, a result of globalisation and immigration
- He believes all religions can learn from all other faiths - other religions can help address questions and struggles in religion - this is inter-religious experience
- Knitter promotes dual-belonging - where people are nourished by two different traditions
- He believes inter-religious dialogue is helpful in approaching issues which require collaboration
- Knitter - "Buddhism has helped me take another and deeper look at what I believe as a Christian"
- Knitter - "Even if I've misunderstood Buddhism, if that leads me to a new, deeper, more engaged understanding of the Christian message, well, that's how things happen" - Knitter describes this as a form of upaya
- Knitter claims his study of Buddhism has helped him "review, reinterpret and reaffirm Christian teachings", he says studying Buddhism has helped when he has struggled with his Christian beliefs
Evaluating Paul Knitter's dual-belonging
- Chad Thralls argues from a theological perspective, Knitter is a heretic because his project is fundamentally syncretistic
- Thralls suggests Knitter's project is heretical because his meditation does not focus on words and Christ is not central to it - any syncretism is rejected by the Catholic Church
- However Schmidt-Leikel defends syncretism and argues each person's religious identity is a "unique garment woven together' from one's specific life experiences, so people incorporate those beliefs and practices that especially nourish them
- Schmidt-Leikel argues that a multi-religious identity is an 'authentic' option, and that with syncretism, one's primary identity is not lost but given opportunities for deepening and positive transformation
- Thralls also argues a theological critique cannot appreciate the "enrichment and deepening" of faith Knitter has achieved, and that Schmidt-Leikel's arguments demonstrate that syncretism is not a threat to Christian faith, but can actually deepen it
- Arguably Knitter has appropriated upaya to better understand Christian beliefs, rather than its intended purpose which is to understand the Dharma
Secular Buddhism: Stephen Batchelor
- Secular Buddhism is a form of Buddhism and secular spirituality which is based on humanist, sceptical and agnostic values, rather than religious beliefs
- Doctrine may be separated from traditional beliefs that could be considered superstitious or unverifiable by empirical research - such as devas, bodhisattvas, nagas, rebirth and cosmology
- Batchelor believed the historical Buddha was only interested in a system of meditative therapy and that scriptures were later adapted to include a metaphysical dimension, to compete with other religions such as Hinduism and Jainism
- Batchelor - "Rather than attaining nirvana, I see the aim of Buddhist practice to be the moment-to-moment flourishing of human life within the ethical framework of the eightfold path here on earth"
- Batchelor does not believe in the continuity of personal consciousness or self after death, or karma
- Batchelor believes secular Buddhism seeks to return to the roots of the tradition - he believes the teachings of the Dharma which cannot be derived from the context of 5th century BCE India are of central importance
- Conditionality, the four noble truths, mindful awareness and self-reliance are four key ideas which do not appear to have direct precedent in the Indian tradition
- Batchelor argues all religions need to go through a radical transformation as in order to be effective, religions must be able to relate to this day and age, otherwise they will not survive
Evaluating Secular Buddhism
- Julian Baggini argues due to Buddhism's origins of the Vedic tradition, Buddhist has many supernatural and metaphysical elements which oppose naturalistic thinking, such as karma
- Baggini argues that separating the supernatural elements from Buddhism does not diminish its beliefs and practices of mindfulness and compassion
- Baggini - "Take away karma, rebirth, nirvana, deities, oracles, reincarnated lamas, and you still have a set of beliefs and practices to cultivate detachment from the impermanent material world and teach virtues such as compassion and mindfulness"
- Secular Buddhism appeals to more agnostic people, as well as scientific or modernist thinkers
- However karma, rebirth and other supernatural aspects of Buddhism are all key to the tradition, separating them arguably erases its traditional history and ideas - making secular Buddhism an 'inauthentic' Buddhism