The Buddhist questsion

[NewyorkVanguard]

So I'm openly a Mahayana Buddhist and I'd like to explain a few things about that before I leave the section open to discussion with a few questions for digestion.

As a Mahayana Buddhist, I personally practice the sects of Jodo Shinshui, Zen and Nichiren. In a nutshell, Jodo Shinshui practitioners are taught that they are equal, that their actions in this world should seek to benefit themselves and others in preparation to transcend into the Pure World and that the sole purpose of existing in this world is to ensure the spiritual enlightenment of others. Zen Buddhism focuses on being centered with oneself, promoting spiritual, physical and emotional health as well as focusing ones energy to creative expressions of the self and others. Nichiren focuses, primarily, on education, expression of self and compassion towards others.

Now, I'll admit that this abridged version might be a little confusing to certain people, especially if you search up these practices online or consult second-hand sources, but in essence, the combination of these three sects make up a great deal of my Socialist beliefs. From Jodo Shinshui I take the idea that all people are equal and that we should work to benefit each other. From Zen, I take the idea of expressing oneself and motivating oneself artistically and creatively. From Nichiren I take the strict focus on education and teaching.

Now, for my questions.

1: Do you feel that there is a difference between religion and spirituality? Do you feel that religion is problematic to the Socialist cause? Do you feel spirituality is problematic to the Socialist cause?

2: What is your opinion on spiritual or religious books? What is your opinion on incorporating certain spiritual or religious practices or theories into Socialist theory?

3: At what point in time, do you feel, does religion become a problem? Is religion problematic if it does not interfere with political, economical or social spheres? Is religion problematic if it shapes a persons interpretation of the world or Socialist theory?

I appreciate any and all comments and don't be afraid to offend me at all. I also want to request that the Mods and Admins allow any and all comments into this thread. I want to hear the honest opinions of others.

[tuwix]

1: Do you feel that there is a difference between religion and spirituality? Do you feel that religion is problematic to the Socialist cause? Do you feel spirituality is problematic to the Socialist cause?


Yes, to almost all questions. Religions is an organization, but spirituality are just beliefs. Religion has a ruling elite that as dangerous to the socialism as Lenin's elite was. In fact they destroyed dreams about socialism for very long time. And spirituality can be problematic to socialism when it becomes organized in religion.



2: What is your opinion on spiritual or religious books? What is your opinion on incorporating certain spiritual or religious practices or theories into Socialist theory?


It was done yet. There are many who claim that Jesus was the first communist. It can be the same said to Buddha.



3: At what point in time, do you feel, does religion become a problem? Is religion problematic if it does not interfere with political, economical or social spheres? Is religion problematic if it shapes a persons interpretation of the world or Socialist theory?


Religion is problem to socialism due to their elites. Socialism is egalitarian system and elites never accept egalitarian systems. Equality and elites aren't compatible.

[Creative Destruction]

1: Do you feel that there is a difference between religion and spirituality?

Spirituality is a component of religion, but it is not necessarily religion. You can be "spiritual," I guess, and not be religious.


Do you feel that religion is problematic to the Socialist cause?

It can be. It depends on how the organization of religion is expressed. If you have clerics who fuse their religion with fascism, then yeah, that's going to pose a problem for the "Socialist cause." (I'm going to stop using the phrase "Socialist cause" because it doesn't make any sense.) On the other hand, there are plenty of religious socialists, like the liberation theologists.

There are militant atheists in the socialist movement that insist on banning religious expressions and what not, but this is stupid and goes against what Marx conceived as religion's relationship with socialism. Religion is something that just dies out as it becomes irrelevant, since a lot of its organizational power is derived from the material suffering that socialism seeks to do away with.


Do you feel spirituality is problematic to the Socialist cause?

No.


2: What is your opinion on spiritual or religious books?

Some is beautiful writing (like the Quaran, Tao De Ching and the King James Bible.) A lot seems to be catalogs of violence and oppression. They've been incredibly influential on a lot of talented writers. I'm generally neutral. I think what people do with them and the inspiration they get from the books is what matters, rather than the books themselves.


What is your opinion on incorporating certain spiritual or religious practices or theories into Socialist theory?

I'm not sure it's necessary. It isn't for me anyway. Some folks thought it was necessary to include in some areas of life; like in Oklahoma, when the Socialist Party of America started gaining prominence in the 1910s and 1920s, much of its recruitment power relied on radical preachers in rural churches, who incorporated many bits of scripture into their appeals. It's give and take. Depends on who your audience is, really.


3: At what point in time, do you feel, does religion become a problem?

When it, as an organization, becomes an instrument of oppression.


Is religion problematic if it does not interfere with political, economical or social spheres?

But then it wouldn't be religion. Religion exists as an organization, by definition, and it necessarily seeks a propagation of its ideas and doctrines. At some point, it's going to "interfere" with political, economic and social spheres on some level. Whether this is problematic, again, depends on the expression of the interference.


Is religion problematic if it shapes a persons interpretation of the world or Socialist theory?

Again, it depends on how its being used. If religion is being used to justify the capitalist system and is attempted to be used as a basis for lying about the world or socialist theories, then yeah, that's problematic. But any ideology is the same way.