Migration and Pluralism Flashcards
What is pluralism?
The co-existence of different religions/cultures in the same society
What major factors have caused migration to Britain?
Skills shortages
Attractiveness of UK (e.g. free healthcare/education)
British Empire / Commonwealth
Free movement within EU
What are three different examples of how Buddhism has entered Britain, and which forms of Buddhism has this led to?
British Empire -> Brits who lived in British India developed academic interest in Pali scripture -> import of Theravada Buddhism to UK
Better standard of life/asylum -> Tibetans and other persecuted Buddhists seek safety in UK -> import of more diverse forms of Buddhism
Skills shortage -> post-war immigration from countries such as China -> import of Mahayana and Zen Buddhism
Which three major British schools represent the development/diversity of Buddhism in Britain?
Amaravati
Triratna
Secular Buddhism
How did the Amaravati develop? (e.g. how did migration/pluralism cause this?)
Import of Thai Forest Buddhism due to contact between UK and Thailand. First monastery in Hampstead in 1985.
How did Triratna develop? (e.g. how did migration/pluralism cause this?)
Experience of lots of different forms of Buddhism led Sangharakshita to conclude that Buddhism should be separated from “cultural accretions” so created a form better suited to British culture.
What adaptations did Amaravati Buddhism have to make in order to adjust to life in the UK?
Handling of money / inclusion of ten-precept nuns
Why might Buddhism be seen as no more than a collection of traditions with little in common?
Different schools use different scriptures and have different understandings of the Buddha, e.g. Trikaya / Diversity of Buddhism in Britain shows that Buddhism is heavily shaped by the surrounding culture / many teachings from one school of Buddhism are strongly rejected by another, e.g. the Theravada rejection of Sunyata
Why might Buddhism be seen as more than a collection of traditions with little in common?
Many of the fundamental teachings of Buddhism appear across all schools e.g. Four Noble Truths/Universal Marks/Eightfold Path / Upaya means that Buddhism will take many different forms but they all ultimately share the same goal (Nirvana) / All religions contain diversity e.g. Catholics and Protestant have many different teachings but still both fall under the umbrella of Christianity
How is religious pluralism a feature of modern secular states?
Secular states do not take an official position on matters of religion, so try to respect all religions equally.
What is exclusivism?
The view that only one particular religion or belief system is true
What is inclusivism?
The view that one particular religion or belief holds the most truth, but others also contain some truth and have a place in society
What is pluralism (in contrast to inclusivism/exclusivism)?
The view that all religious beliefs are equally valid and there is no reason to hold one as more true than the rest.
Who was King Ashoka?
A Mauryan emperor in the 3rd Century BCE who conquered most of ancient India and later converted to Buddhism.
What are Ashoka’s edicts? Where are they found?
Proclamations which Ashoka wished to be recorded publicly. Inscribed on rocks/pillars. (Edict 12 is a rock edict.)
Who does Ashoka claim to honour in Edict 12?
Householders and ascetics of all religions
What does Ashoka claim to value more than honours and gifts in Edict 12?
Growth in the essentials of all religions
What does Ashoka view as the ‘essentials’ (saravadi) of religion?
The basic ethical principles, such as right speech
In Edict 12, what does Ashoka argue religions should not do?
Praise themselves or condemn other religions without good cause
What is “good” according to Ashoka’s Edict 12?
Contact between religions
Would Edict 12 be described as inclusivist, exclusivist, or pluralist?
Most likely pluralist, though could argue inclusivist as Ashoka still promotes the Dhamma (though he might just mean general rules and principles here).
Why might Edict 12 be seen as a good source to understand Buddhist attitudes to other religions?
Many Buddhists texts treat Ashoka as an important figure of legend. / Ashoka’s inscriptions use the word ‘Dharma’, showing that he was ruling according to Buddhist principles / Although technically a layperson, Ashoka is an important example of what Buddhism looks like as a state religion.
Why might Edict 12 not be seen as a good source to understand Buddhist attitudes to other religions?
It is thought that many of the Buddhist legends about Ashoka are exaggerated in order to portray his conversion as miraculous / Some scholars have suggested that Ashoka clearly inscribed his edicts for propagandistic purposes, and therefore should be used with caution / Ashoka’s edicts are not a part of the Pali Canon and therefore are not as important
What are the two ways in which the Buddha shows an inclusivist attitude to other religions in the conversion of Upali?
1) He tells Upali to go away and reconsider before converting
2) After Upali converts, he tells him that he must continue to give alms to the Jain monks
Which country did Nichiren Buddhism originate in?
Japan
Which scripture did Nichiren believe Buddhists should follow?
The Lotus Sutra alone
What did Nichiren blame for the earthquakes and political unrest of Kamakura Japan?
Neglect of the Lotus Sutra / Japanese people following impure forms of Buddhism such as Pure Land
Would Nichiren be described as inclusivist, exclusivist, or pluralist?
Exclusivist
Where in European law is freedom of religion found?
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), Article 18
How is freedom of religion expressed in European law?
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience andreligion; this right includes freedom to change his religion orbelief, and freedom, either alone or in community with othersand in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief inteaching, practice, worship and observance.
What is the name of the group of anti-Muslim monks in Myanmar?
Ma Ba Tha
What are the moral issues around freedom of religious expression?
Different religions wanting to express incompatible views / certain religious practices being offensive to others e.g. food norms / when one religion wants to use its freedom of expression to criticise another
