Buddhism and Secularisation Flashcards
1
Q
what is secularisation
A
process where things become less religious –> sociological term
2
Q
Berger and the liberation movement
A
- ‘believers are likely to be found only in small sects…to resist a worldwide secular culture’
- ‘is as furiously religious as it ever was, and in some places more than ever’
- secularisation thesis: the world would become more secular in 21st century
- not proven as time progressed
3
Q
wilson defining secularisation
A
- the process whereby religious thinking, practices and institutions lose social significance’
4
Q
Bruce defining secularisation
A
social condition manifest in
- declining importance of religion for the operation of non-religious roles and institutions such as the state and economy
- a decline in the social standing of religious roles and institutions
- decline in the extent to which people engage in religious practices, display beliefs of a religious kind, and conduct other aspects of their lives in a manner informed by such beliefs
5
Q
evidence of secularisation (census)
A
- woodhead 2016
1983: 30% no religion
2013: 50% no religion
6
Q
western secularism
A
- no differentiation between religion and life in past
- dharma: politics, social institutions, and piety
- no greek or latin word corresponds to religion: oxford dictionary
7
Q
woodhead rise of the nones
A
- children decreased carrying on religious beliefs of parents
- children brought up christian have a 45% of ending up as nones
- no religion children: 95% stay non religious
- non religion is proving ‘sticky’
8
Q
Damien Thompson and decline in Christianity
A
- numbers of Anglicans fell from 40% of population in 1983, to 17% in 2004
- predicted at current rate, no Christians in Britain by 2067
9
Q
rise of materialism
A
- sec promotes a materialistic worldview focused on wealth and possessions
- Martin: individual wealth attachment can replace conventional religion –> capitalistic religion
- overconsumption = strain on natural world
- religious leaders like pope francis and rowan williams have criticised materialism: life of sharing and consideration for vulnerable preferred
- christian prosperity gospel in US challenges this
- however: rise of alternative spiritualities and secular pilgrimages as evidence of non materialistic pursuits without religion
- BUDDHISM: anatta and anicca –> craving and dukkha
10
Q
what is militant athiesm
A
belief that there isnt a God and religion is harmful as:
- violence
- enemy of progress and development
- suppressive force
11
Q
rise of militant athiesm
A
- Dawkins vs McGrath
- religious faith is irrational and juvenile vs adult conversions
- god of the gaps, not needed after further scientific progress vs evidence of design requires divine explanation
- science and religion as fundamentally at odds vs coexistence (believer scientists, overlap between faith and reason, religion as a form of societal behaviour)
- violent history of christianity vs complex narratives
- origins of religion (needed as comfort when we evolved but has become an evolutionary virus) vs complex psychology in religion and its effect on families
- most secularising people are not MA: 40% of non rel are MA
12
Q
rise of militant atheism and effect on buddhism
A
- BUDDHISM: no belief in God so is it relavant
- violence is condemned with ahimsa
- progress is stunted by archaic views on the role of women
- religions are suppressive: laity ignored on the path of nirvana but are a part of the sangha structure (below monks)
- buddhist progress in the west can be attributed to the decline of christianity due to militant athiesm
13
Q
rise of relegation of religion to the personal sphere
A
- churches increase charitable role: faith based organisations and food banks
- liberation theology: preference for the poor –> impacted christian focus on charity
- environmentalism: A of Cant, taking part in climate change negotiations and addressing colonialism (BLM)
- church involved in education: secondary and primary schools
- BUDDHISM: not as reliant on public institutions like church, but need financial support from laity
14
Q
rise of religion as irrational
A
- non religion becoming more ‘sticky’ –> usually from christian backgrounds
- many have positive views on God, but reject the religious affiliations and hierarchal authority
- people seek personal meaning and autonomy –> resist structured religious organisations and preferring individual authority over existential/moral issues
- controversy in church: scandals and sex abuse, and discrimination against women and lgbtq+
- BUDDHISM: rational way, ‘come and see’ - the buddha
- however: mythological elements of birth and enlightenment (upaya and conventional understanding?)
15
Q
what is secular Buddhism
A
focus on who we are and what we do in this lifetime, not on rebirth –> non literal rebirth focused on like with karma
16
Q
how is secular Buddhism different to normal buddhism
A
- SB is human versus trikaya –> M not repped as no cosmic understanding of the Buddha (lack of hagiographical elements)
- 4NT are empirical descriptions of living
- community needed for practice
- demythologising Buddhism: myths of buddhism taken of –> ‘all i teach is S and CS’
- justified by parable of poisoned arrow
17
Q
evidence showing Buddhism as not a religion
A
- no central god figure
- no soul
- based on reason
- practice not belief
- no divine religious experience
- T do not worship
- parable of the poison arrow -> all that is important is present not metaphysical issues
18
Q
evidence showing Buddhism as a religion
A
- M worship Bodhisattvas and have religious festivals
- doctrine for living life with end goal
- metaphysical beliefs with faith –> MOS, Nirvana etc
- scripture: PC and sutras
- trikaya
- tathagartagarba –> Buddha potentiality like a soul
- ethical practice
- 4 jhanas to enlightenment
- meditation
19
Q
why might Buddhism be becoming more popular in the West
A
- western alternative to religion
- gives us a purpose, meaning and values without having to have doctrinised belief
- ‘all i teach is suffering and the cessation of suffering’
20
Q
stephen batchelor and buddhism as a rational philosophy and way of life
A
- pursue an analytical approach to buddhism in general and to the life of historical B
- secularisation is making primary concern about the world –> about experience of living on the planet and using this to bring modernity to Buddhism
- many voices in PC and sutras, and focuses only on sceptical and pragmatic voices to be the most valid towards Buddhas teaching and ignores dogmatic, mythic etc
- other voices occur due to Buddhism developed with the social norms of Brahmanism –> these mythical aspects belong in the past
- need to remove layers that cover the true dharma, and leave them in the past –> focus on the Buddhas pure teachings
21
Q
Batchelors 4 Ps for secularising B
A
- principle of conditionality
- best way to know your past is to examine quality of future experience and the most fruitful way to prepare for the future is to consider the quality of what you think - principle of the fourfold task
- interpretation of the 4 noble truths - perspective of mindful awareness
- heightened attention to everything that has been done –> meditation is key here - power of self reliance
- being your own refuge
- being independent of others in the sense of framing your own life using 4 Ps
these can establish an egalitarian society
22
Q
Brazier and Buddhism in the west
A
- making B a secular religion has distorted it so only some forms of it have been accepted
- ‘selective blindness’ to the ‘devotional, supernatural and metaphysical aspects’ which are the heart of B
- dismissing them as foreign superstitions destroys Buddhism
- holding onto secular B is like ‘never learn to swim because they will not let go of the rail on the edge of the pool’
23
Q
Brazier and the status of the Buddha
A
- Buddha should still be accepted as metaphysical being with supernatural gifts and abilities –> trikaya and all 3 bodies of buddha are metaphysical
- Brazier accepts all voices in the pali C –> parts of it assert it as a religion, like the Buddhas instruction about the importance of worship and veneration and the instruction to create a stupa after his death
- Mattakundali: experiences Sukha (Bliss) as he dies due to thinking about the Buddha –> dies with a pure heart full of faith and he finds peace in heaven (Buddha is peace)
24
Q
materialism and Buddhism teachings that apply to M
A
- worldview that sees material possessions, money and personal comfort as more important than spiritual belief and practices
- right livelihood –> honest profession
- three marks –> money is impermenant
- five precepts –> do not steal
25
Q
Buddhist responses to Western materialism
A
- Materialism seen as attachment and pleasure in physical things, but Buddhism is an alternative way
- wat phra dhammakaya: westernised B using religion to profit
- right livelihood to earn money morally
- generosity and giving –> monastics and alms
- monks have 1 bowl to avoid attachment
- west has commercialised Buddha’s teachings –> yoga eg mindfulness, Buddha statues
- Thich Nhat Hanh
- engaged buddhism
- 4/14 rules about money –> do not accumulate wealth while millions are hungry (mindful)
26
Q
Buddha and Sigala advice on responsibility of a household owner
A
- take care of fam –> respect parents and teach children
- successful marriage –> faithful and working hard for partnership
- choose right friends, good influences and be kind to them
- earn living in a good way –> money should be practically used
- use money sensibly and keep people happy; do not pick a career that breaks the precepts
27
Q
quotes on materialism
A
- ‘it is not life and wealth and power that enslave men, its clinging to life and wealth and power’ SB
- ‘to be content with a simple life, detachment from materialistic concerns’ Cush
‘riches ruin the foolish, but not those in the quest of the beyond’ Dhammap
‘Buddhism’s emphasis is on a moral framework for economic activity, and the importance of generosity’ Harvey - 30 rules for monks in VP is about handling money and wealth
‘first benefit is thta he acquires his wealth by honest means’ Sutta Pitaka
28
Q
Forest Buddhism
A
- amaravati
- preservationist and authentic Buddhism —> Theravadin
- strictly follow original monastic rules of discipline created by the Buddha —> live as close to the Buddha as possible and do not believe Buddhism needs to change for the west
- practicing completative Buddhist life, including renunciation and meditation to realise truth and enlightenment (truth and peace)
- can refine the the mind to explore fundamental truth
- ‘bringing the mind to a halt, bringing it to rest’ —> strengthening the mind
29
Q
FWBO - Triatna
A
- global modern Buddhist movement
- modifying Buddhism even though they believe the Buddhas teaching is timeless
- draw on all divisions of Buddhism
- see themselves as removing pure Buddhism from the ‘exotic novelty of oriental trapping’
Key practices
- Dharmaachari: dharmer farer
- ‘keeping the precepts, not slavishly, but in spirit’
- not celibate, do not follow rules in the Vinaya
- encourage sexuality —> sexual misconduct interpreted liberally
30
Q
Is triatna Buddhism authentic
A
- anglicise the b statues —> changed according to heritage of the country
- monks: families and relationships are allowed
- meshes m and t Buddhism
- main practices is meditation
- changed name due to controversy of sexual misconduct of founder lingwood
31
Q
Engaged Buddhism
A
- thich nhat hanh
- applying Buddhist teachings in a more activist and social manner than it has been traditionally
- aims to reduce social suffering and oppression through social and political reform
- Mahayanan Bodhisattvas are ideal for this, as their goal is to gain enlightenment to come back and help others suffering in samsara
32
Q
Why does engaged Buddhism apply
A
- Anatta and sunyata and inter being
- engaging with needs of modern society as we are all interconnected
33
Q
To what extent is Buddhist liberationist
A
- aim is to be liberated from the three fires and samsara
- Dalai Lama - ethical and social active; gained a Nobel peace price for political action
- Buddha: against caste system and discrimination of women as minorities
- upaya: parables used to deliver teaching to all people
- alms round: interdependence between s and l
34
Q
Ambedekar and engaged Buddhism
A
- uses Buddhism to liberate lower castes
- conversions to Buddhism, mass liberation with 300,000 at a time
- this is because people of lower castes did not have a caste when Buddhist —> ‘I shall endeavour to establish equality’
- rejected Anatta and rebirth and defined it in terms of social liberation
- made 22 vows —-> anti Hindu and mostly Buddhist compatible —> believed Hinduism perpetuated inequality
35
Q
Thich nhat hanh and engaged Buddhism
A
- ‘we must be aware of the real problems of the world’
- if you can see suffering you must use mindfulness to help
- tnh is internationally known
- only possible through mindfulness of society
- driven by Vietnam war
- 1970s: governments rejecting refugees, but he broke law to help them and formed international alliance
36
Q
Joanna Macey and engaged Buddhism
A
- third turning of the dharma wheel —-> engaged Buddhism is a new age for Buddhism
- western Buddhist taking dharma into world, developing skillful means and compassion when helping those in need
- involved in social, economic and political issues
- ‘the world is our cloister’ Buddhism cannot be isolationist as this is where you learn and practice Buddhism
37
Q
Rules from tnh order of interbeing
A
- do not accumulate wealth while millions are hungry —> share resources with those in need
- do not use Buddhist community for personal gain/profit or turn it into a political party —> should take stand against oppression and injustice
- do not force others to adopt your views
- avoid being narrow minded and bound to present views
38
Q
Evidence that Buddhism is engaged
A
- sigolavada sutra —> sigala given advice from b on how to live life well as a lay person
- questions of king malinda —> engaging with a king
- bodhisattvas —> aim is to come back
- monks teach laity and have interdependence with them
39
Q
Evidence that Buddhism is not engaged
A
- T goal is enlightenment for themselves do not return to help
- women in Buddhist have a Lower status
- T cannot be enlightened
- forest Buddhism —> T renunciation of Society
- aim is intentionless action —> anti engagement in society as it can lead to misplaced attachment
