Comment Re:Let's head off the most common arguments right (Score 2, Interesting) 3451
Sorry for the lack of paragraphs. I should've previewed as that was my first post. There seems to be no "edit" option? I'm a slashdot newbie :p Allow me to reformat (I know this is probably frowned upon too because it generates one more posting but this is the only time, I promise):
This is a little off-topic. Being a Buddhist, I want to point out that religions don't necessarily come with creation myths.
I think a religion's inclusion of creation myths is to better mind-control its faithfuls when there was no science to dispute it. It, along with belief that anyone believing in other religions are wrong, are self-serving properties a religion can have that gives it a better chance to gain popularity among people. In my opinion, this is applying "survival of the fittest" to religions. A religion armed with qualities to "survive" has gained popularity in the western society.
But I digress. My main point is that Buddhism doesn't have a creation myth. Buddhism doesn't try to interfere with Science at all; in fact, it doesn't even try to interfere or exclude other religions. Buddhas are not gods. They never claim to create life, or the World. Buddhas literally mean enlightened people, that believe in kindness towards all living beings, humans or inhuman. Buddhism also believes that any person can potentially become enlightened and ascend into Buddha-hood.
This is a little off-topic. Being a Buddhist, I want to point out that religions don't necessarily come with creation myths.
I think a religion's inclusion of creation myths is to better mind-control its faithfuls when there was no science to dispute it. It, along with belief that anyone believing in other religions are wrong, are self-serving properties a religion can have that gives it a better chance to gain popularity among people. In my opinion, this is applying "survival of the fittest" to religions. A religion armed with qualities to "survive" has gained popularity in the western society.
But I digress. My main point is that Buddhism doesn't have a creation myth. Buddhism doesn't try to interfere with Science at all; in fact, it doesn't even try to interfere or exclude other religions. Buddhas are not gods. They never claim to create life, or the World. Buddhas literally mean enlightened people, that believe in kindness towards all living beings, humans or inhuman. Buddhism also believes that any person can potentially become enlightened and ascend into Buddha-hood.
