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Originally Posted by willravel
This is a fantastic point! I've always viewed Buddhism as a philosophy, not a religion, but many people specifically see it as a religion. I would hope that someone who does believe Buddhism to be a religion could explain the religious facets to me.
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I think it is considered a religion because there is some path to divine enlightenment in it. Most religions have you dying before you reach eternal peace or complete understanding. That is why Buddhism is cool---a goal one ca live to see!
Personally, by considering it all as a philosophy---only sometimes with a story to believe in---I find the conversations become much smoother between varying theistic groups. My rule for some time now is: Live by a philosophy, not a religion; both are some sort of 'ism.
UPDATE:
Ustwo beat me to the thread and pointed out that comment. I have to agree with him. I was Catholic (of all things to be) and I knew nothing of the Catholic priest fiasco when I dropped it like a bad habit. The answers I was looking for were not answered to my satisfaction in the church. I called myself agnostic and have been studying the universe ever since. I don't know what the truth is, and it really does not matter what the truth is either, but, damnit, I want to try and figure it out.