Penitents Compete is a new reality show from Turkey where a Muslim imam, a Christian priest, a rabbi, and a Buddhist monk will each attempt to convert 10 atheists, says a report from Reuters. Religious leaders in Muslim but secular Turkey are “not amused by the twist on the popular reality game show format,” which is set to air in September. The Religious Affairs Directorate has refused to provide an imam for the show. Read more here.
Socio-religious climate notwithstanding…and putting aside the question of whether converting others is a worthy goal for a Buddhist… wouldn’t you think the Buddhist stands a good chance?
7 Comments
Depends on the Buddhist (and the atheist), I'd think. While there is much in Buddhism that could appeal to an atheist – the lack of a creator god, the imperative to be a lamp unto oneself and to "test all things," the insistence that each of us in endowed with innate wisdom and compassion that we can tap into through our own efforts without mediation from a priest or savior and, most centrally, the concept of anatta. All of these are ideas that can, and have, caused atheists to "convert" to Buddhism. But there are also a lot of externals that, if misunderstood, taken literally or presented as central, could become stumbling blocks. I don't think many atheists would be too eager to accept a belief in reincarnation, for instance, or most of the other cosmological assumptions the Buddha borrowed from his native context. While many western Buddhists are most comfortable with the "agnostic" Buddhism exemplified by writers like Stephen Batchelor, we have to remember that's not the version of Buddhism most people first encounter (I certainly didn't when I engaged in my own first forays into reading about it). Will the monk in question present Buddhism in a way that makes sense to the atheists, or will he obfuscate the central issue with cosmology. That's the question.
Thanks Jaime, quite right. Reminds me that a study a while back by the The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life showed the diversity of beliefs and practices among Buddhists —and that was just in America! For instance, many Buddhists reported a belief in God, or at least, a universal spirit. See our blog post here
http://www.shambhalasun.com/sunspace/?p=1421
or go directly to the Pew Study
http://religions.pewforum.org/portraits#
"Putting aside the question of whether converting others is a worthy goal for a Buddhist … "
I'd say that's a pretty important question, actually. But, okay, setting it aside …
Most of the atheists I know personally say that if they *had* to choose a religion to be affiliated with, it would probably be Buddhism. Which is really not surprising, is it? Because Buddhism can already be atheistic in nature: No god(s) required.
But, everyone is different. Some atheists might find Buddhism to be anathema.
That's the think about atheism: There is only one shared characteristic: A-Theist = Without god(s). That's it. No other dogma. It's not a religion in itself.
Having said all of that, I think this sounds like a particularly stupid "game show".
It doesn't take too much insight to see that game shows, particularly this one, are actually war game shows and so a Buddhist would know quite well enough all there is to say. "Hello."
I'd say what I always say to a New York City hot dog vendor whenever I am in that wonderful city, usually within a few hours of getting settled in my hotel room and venturing out into the city, "Make me one with everything, please!" Makes me giggle as I walk away.
Atheists and Gnostics are right in most of their thinking
It has been common among religious believers to look with misgiving to atheists and Gnostics, and to think that they are mistaken; however, in many instances the opposite is the truth; some religious beliefs are not just irrelevant, but baseless. The “God” of main line traditions simply does not exist. I accepted the challenge of finding the One who may be recognized even by Gnostics and atheists: the Existence itself, “All-That-Is.” If something is there, that is God. Look at the book “Christianity Reformed From ist Roots – A life centered in God” (Amazon.com). I am confident that some of your friends will be relieved of the illusion, as I did myself.
Jairo Mejia, M. Psych., Santa Clara University
Retired Episcopal Priest
Carmel Valley, California
http://www.mbay.net/~jmejia/Grudzen.htm
http://www.mbay.net/~jmejia/Churcher.htm
Atheists and Gnostics are right in most of their thinking
It has been common among religious believers to look with misgiving to atheists and Gnostics, and to think that they are mistaken; however, in many instances the opposite is the truth; some religious beliefs are not just irrelevant, but baseless. The “God” of main line traditions simply does not exist. I accepted the challenge of finding the One who may be recognized even by Gnostics and atheists: the Existence itself, “All-That-Is.” If something is there, that is God. Look at the book “Christianity Reformed From ist Roots – A life centered in God” (Amazon.com). I am confident that some of your friends will be relieved of the illusion, as I did myself.
Jairo Mejia, M. Psych., Santa Clara University
Retired Episcopal Priest
Carmel Valley, California
http://www.mbay.net/~jmejia/Grudzen.htm
http://www.mbay.net/~jmejia/Churcher.htm