[Buyingtime]

I think in most aspects they are positive. Tibetan Buddhism does have a lot of baggage and a lot of things most westerns won't agree with, but I do think it has done a lot of good in spreading Buddhism to the west and for some such as former Catholics, Tibetan Buddhism is, in many superficial aspects, similar enough to prove a path they feel comfortable with.

As to the 10th point. I don't think science means ditching enlightenment. The core of the Buddha's teachings such as the 4 noble truths and 8-fold path are very logical and don't contradict science at all. The Buddhist nature of no-self actually fits what neruo scientists are learning about the brain.

Even if a lot of people don't completely accept karma and rebirth, if they are following the Buddhist path it won't matter because, if those things do exist they will benefit and even if they don't exist, people will still suffer less.

As to what traditionalists think, no disrespect meant to people who are much more knowledgeable than I, but I do wonder if a similar discussion wasn't taking place in monasteries 2000 years ago when Buddhism moved from India to China, and so on. Buddhism will adapt and I think we will find it hold up against science much better than Abrahamic religions will, at least the core teachings will, some of the elements that have been added over the centuries may get discarded, but the core will remain. The 4 Noble Truths and Noble Eight-fold path will remain.