DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post

**Retapleapse** · 06-22-2011, 10:53 PM

Hi,

I feel confused.

Reading through different postings on this site, some people say categorically that, no, Buddhists don’t believe in a God. However, reading the article: AN 4.77 - Acintita Sutta: Unconjecturable - http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....063.than.html it is more or less saying that it is a waste of time and energy worrying and dwelling on things which can’t be proven one way or the other. Its not firmly ruling out the belief in a God.

Then there is what Bhikku Buddhadasa says in his book ‘Keys to Natural Truth’ where he talks about the Law of Nature being the Buddhist God. He also uses both the terms 'God' and 'Religion', but interprets them in a very different way than say a Christian or a Muslim does. The Buddhist God is clearly referred to here in this book as an impersonal God as opposed to a personal God but still responsible for creating the universe (The Laws of Nature), and he talks about the words ‘religion’ and ‘God’ in Dhamma language not in everyday language. So, is it all just down to terminology? Is it because we don’t like to use these words since they have very negative connotations when thinking of them in relation to Christianity or Islam, and this idea of a supreme deity which we must all bow down to and obey?

I have difficulty with these words too for this same reason, but when attaching a different meaning to them, they sit much easier with me. Why does Bhikku Buddadasa use these terms at all in his book? Do Buddhists, just like Christians, have widely differing beliefs on this subject as well, and is this a grey area?

I’m not trying to be argumentative by asking this question, but its something I need to sort out in my head before I can move forward, because its one of the basic beliefs I feel. Help!

06-22-2011, 10:53 PM	#1
Retapleapse Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 480 Senior Member	Is God a dirty word in Buddhism? Hi, I feel confused. Reading through different postings on this site, some people say categorically that, no, Buddhists don’t believe in a God. However, reading the article: AN 4.77 - Acintita Sutta: Unconjecturable - http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....063.than.html it is more or less saying that it is a waste of time and energy worrying and dwelling on things which can’t be proven one way or the other. Its not firmly ruling out the belief in a God. Then there is what Bhikku Buddhadasa says in his book ‘Keys to Natural Truth’ where he talks about the Law of Nature being the Buddhist God. He also uses both the terms 'God' and 'Religion', but interprets them in a very different way than say a Christian or a Muslim does. The Buddhist God is clearly referred to here in this book as an impersonal God as opposed to a personal God but still responsible for creating the universe (The Laws of Nature), and he talks about the words ‘religion’ and ‘God’ in Dhamma language not in everyday language. So, is it all just down to terminology? Is it because we don’t like to use these words since they have very negative connotations when thinking of them in relation to Christianity or Islam, and this idea of a supreme deity which we must all bow down to and obey? I have difficulty with these words too for this same reason, but when attaching a different meaning to them, they sit much easier with me. Why does Bhikku Buddadasa use these terms at all in his book? Do Buddhists, just like Christians, have widely differing beliefs on this subject as well, and is this a grey area? I’m not trying to be argumentative by asking this question, but its something I need to sort out in my head before I can move forward, because its one of the basic beliefs I feel. Help!
	Quote