Eastern Religions Thread

[Nightkill the Emperor]

So a while ago, I had a general thread on Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims. I decided to revive that, but with a difference. Now we'll discuss 'Eastern' religions in general.

I am a Hindu agnostic from a Vaishnavist family, meaning we consider Vishnu and his avatars the Big Good instead of Shiva. I went from being a hardcore Hindu to an atheist to a Hindu again, but 'softcore'. The agnostic is an add-on that I don't particularly know if God exists. I'm an agnostic theist as I like to believe it does, but I know I can't be completely sure.

So here people can discuss Eastern religions. Atheists and Christians are welcome to debate as well.

[Augustus Este]

Do eastern religions get mixed up in politics as much as western religions do?

[Nightkill the Emperor]

Do eastern religions get mixed up in politics as much as western religions do?

You have no idea.

There were riots over Manmohan Singh becoming the PM, because he was a Sikh.

And this.

[Nicholistania]

I'm one that is very interested in eastern religions. I'm currently agnostic. Also I have a question about reincarnation. Could you control what you are reincarnated into per say?

[The Congregationists]

Where's Taoism?

I'm not so much a religious as a philosophical Taoist.

[Nightkill the Emperor]

I'm one that is very interested in eastern religions. I'm currently agnostic. Also I have a question about reincarnation. Could you control what you are reincarnated into per say?

Not precisely. You can accumulate good karma or bad karma, which affects what you end up reincarnated as.

There are monks who claim to be capable of doing so and knowing who you were in a past life however.

[Nightkill the Emperor]

Where's Taoism?

I'm not so much a religious as a philosophical Taoist.

Where's Taoism? Probably in China.

[Aeronos]

Where's Taoism?

I'm not so much a religious as a philosophical Taoist.

Where's Taoism? Probably in China.

Taoism is Japanese isn't it? China is predominantly Buddhist last I checked...

I have to say, though an atheist, I always found Buddhism somewhat compelling as a humanist philosophy, and Hinduism as just a generally awesome religion.

[Nightkill the Emperor]

Where's Taoism? Probably in China.

Taoism is Japanese isn't it? China is predominantly Buddhist last I checked...

I have to say, though an atheist, I always found Buddhism somewhat compelling as a humanist philosophy, and Hinduism as just a generally awesome religion.

China is predominately atheist. And Taoism is not a religion as Westerners know it. It is a religion, but it is more of a philosophy. Taoist influences have left themselves all over China, but one can practice Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism at the same time.

And damn right us Hindus are awesome.

[1000 Cats]

Where's Taoism? Probably in China.

Taoism is Japanese isn't it? China is predominantly Buddhist last I checked...

I have to say, though an atheist, I always found Buddhism somewhat compelling as a humanist philosophy, and Hinduism as just a generally awesome religion.

Heh, no, Taoism is out of China. Lao Tzu was Chinese. Buddies with Confucius.

I've always had a great deal of respect for Shinto. It's an animistic religion that's existed in a modern society all the way up to today.

Do eastern religions get mixed up in politics as much as western religions do?

Well, the caste system in India is right out of Hindu philosophy. And I believe China and other regions still talk about Buddhism on occasion in politics. Confucianism has had an enormous influence all over the east. And Shinto was used in similar ways Islam is today in the Middle East during World War II in Japan. But is it used as an excuse to harbor archaic ideas that explicitly limit civil rights and entitle people to ignore established scientific theories? Not really.

[Nightkill the Emperor]

Taoism is Japanese isn't it? China is predominantly Buddhist last I checked...

I have to say, though an atheist, I always found Buddhism somewhat compelling as a humanist philosophy, and Hinduism as just a generally awesome religion.

Heh, no, Taoism is out of China. Lao Tzu was Chinese. Buddies with Confucius.

I've always had a great deal of respect for Shinto. It's an animistic religion that's existed in a modern society all the way up to today.

Do eastern religions get mixed up in politics as much as western religions do?

Well, the caste system in India is right out of Hindu philosophy. And I believe China and other regions still talk about Buddhism on occasion in politics. Confucianism has had an enormous influence all over the east. And Shinto was used in similar ways Islam is today in the Middle East during World War II in Japan. But is it used as an excuse to harbor archaic ideas that explicitly limit civil rights and entitle people to ignore established scientific theories? Not really.

1. I actually know little to nothing about Shinto, to be honest.
2. Oh trust me, it's used so often for just that purpose. So bloody often.

[1000 Cats]

Heh, no, Taoism is out of China. Lao Tzu was Chinese. Buddies with Confucius.

I've always had a great deal of respect for Shinto. It's an animistic religion that's existed in a modern society all the way up to today.


Well, the caste system in India is right out of Hindu philosophy. And I believe China and other regions still talk about Buddhism on occasion in politics. Confucianism has had an enormous influence all over the east. And Shinto was used in similar ways Islam is today in the Middle East during World War II in Japan. But is it used as an excuse to harbor archaic ideas that explicitly limit civil rights and entitle people to ignore established scientific theories? Not really.

1. I actually know little to nothing about Shinto, to be honest.
2. Oh trust me, it's used so often for just that purpose. So bloody often.

In India, I presume? I'd believe that, and I guess I should have assumed it; I just haven't heard much about it. I'm more familiar with China, South Korea, and (mostly) Japan's interactions between religion and politics.

There isn't a whole lot to know about Shinto other than its history. You can get to know the more prominent kami, some of the philosophy over the years, the various celebrations, but in the end it's an animistic folk religion, which makes it very flexible. Flexible enough that any shonen anime you pull out of a hat will somehow have something to do with it, and no one bats an eye.

[The Congregationists]

Yeah, Taoism was Chinese. Buddhism was more east Indian, but it found its way to China and Japan. Zen is Taoist influenced Buddhism, or so I've read. Compatability between Buddhism, Confuscism and Taoism is questionable.

[West Vandengaarde]

Isn't Christianity technically Eastern, as well as Islam and Judaism, according to origin of the religions?

[The Truth and Light]

I am an admirer of all religions. Hinduism fascinates me for its sheer variety of practices, ranging from polytheistic to monotheistic, legalist to free-sprited. Daoism seems to me to make philosophical sense. Shintoism is a pretty mild, innocent form of paganism (I don't use this word as a pejorative). Cofucianism strikes me as interesting, but although it involves practices, worldviews and philosophies, I don't consider it a religion.

I like to compare these religions to my own, to see what's similar and different, to see which practices I can try, and to just see how small the world really is. It, in a word, fascinates me.

[The Truth and Light]

Isn't Christianity technically Eastern, as well as Islam and Judaism, according to origin of the religions?

According to strictly origin, they are Eastern. According to history and influence, they are Western. But according to modern spiritual principles, they are worldwide.

[West Vandengaarde]

Isn't Christianity technically Eastern, as well as Islam and Judaism, according to origin of the religions?

According to strictly origin, they are Eastern. According to history and influence, they are Western. But according to modern spiritual principles, they are worldwide.

So Israel is in the West now? Possibly in modern political terms, but not in geographical values...

[AETEN II]

I'm not a member of any, but they're more awesome than our western shit.
Out of curiosity, in the East, does anyone knock on your door, invite themselves in and try to convert you?
(Sikh's FTW)

[The Truth and Light]

According to strictly origin, they are Eastern. According to history and influence, they are Western. But according to modern spiritual principles, they are worldwide.

So Israel is in the West now? Possibly in modern political terms, but not in geographical values...

Israel was not even Jewish until recently, mind you.

[West Vandengaarde]

So Israel is in the West now? Possibly in modern political terms, but not in geographical values...

Israel was not even Jewish until recently, mind you.

But it's where Christianity began. That's what I was getting at. And anyways, the African nations it began in aren't exactly "Western" either.

[Salvarity]

First person to vote Islam on Poll.

[The Truth and Light]

Israel was not even Jewish until recently, mind you.

But it's where Christianity began. That's what I was getting at. And anyways, the African nations it began in aren't exactly "Western" either.

You missed the point. Christianity has been focused in Europe and its colonies for millenia.

[West Vandengaarde]

But it's where Christianity began. That's what I was getting at. And anyways, the African nations it began in aren't exactly "Western" either.

You missed the point. Christianity has been focused in Europe and its colonies for millenia.

That's completely irrelevant since it still exists in very old realms where it has retained a presence for even longer, and aside from that, its canon is Eastern.

[The Truth and Light]

You missed the point. Christianity has been focused in Europe and its colonies for millenia.

That's completely irrelevant since it still exists in very old realms where it has retained a presence for even longer, and aside from that, its canon is Eastern.

No it absolutely is not. Greek is a Western language, and furthermore the canon itself was put together in Rome.

You have to consider all the factors that go into the makeup of a religion. Christianity has been made into a Western religion after thousands of years of hogging by European peoples.

[Chinese Regions]

I have a few decorations like fat Budai (Not Buddha, some people think it is Buddha but it is actually a fat Chinese man who achieved enlightenment, some say it because he was fat and therefore rich and therefore happy to achieve enlightenment, though I think that goes against buddhist teachings so I say it was because he made himself ugly and therefore suffered. ) statues

I am Agnostic Atheist.