Originally Posted by GarryP

Take that copy of "A Brief History of Time" you bought to look smart down off the shelf and read the tail end of it - it covers the general area.

Originally Posted by lesleys

What always fascinates me is how parents can tell what religion their child is when it is born. What would happen if babies arrived with a helpful birthmark to tell you if it was a Hindu or a Jain or a Jew? Would they get their designated education?

If your own god is the true one that means that the majority of people are wrong, whatever your religion.

Originally Posted by Sally Redux

The Buddha is not a god.

Originally Posted by Sally Redux

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gautama_Buddha

The Buddhist system of insight and meditation practice is not claimed to have been divinely revealed, but to spring from an understanding of the true nature of the mind,

Originally Posted by commonwealth

is buddhism even a religion?

Originally Posted by Swerv-o

It would appear not.

Is Buddhism a religion?

Originally Posted by renth

It might not be a "religion" but it's still a "faith" :

http://www.equity.uwa.edu.au/welcome...faith_calendar

As with other faiths Buddhism has different branches which hate and persecute each other.

Originally Posted by Bernieboy

Not sure 'hate' comes into it,but must admit as a Buddhist i have visited some london 'temples' and found the proprieters a bit up their upper middle class arses,very off putting for someone who needs help understanding the way

Originally Posted by renth

I heard something on Radio 4 a while back about how the Dalai Lama's sect of Buddhism actively tries to suppress/harass the other flavours of the faith? That he's not this wonderful nice guy everyone seems to think he is.

I suppose I could Google it but I'm off to the beach in a bit.

Originally Posted by Bernieboy

Oh mate i don't know,have been a follower/reader of his holiness for quite a few years and while i understand what you 'may' be saying,i know we all have our weaknesses but find it hard to find anything nasty/sneaky about him,i could be wrong,but i don't see it.

Originally Posted by renth

I'll have to see if I can find it. Anyway if he's OK by you and OK by MCA from the Beastie Boys then that's a good enough endorsement for me.

Originally Posted by Turban Explorer

Buddha is a bar.