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Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 9:06 pm
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Are there any wiccans/pagans who are also buddhist? According to the What is Paganism? thread Buddhism is a pagan religion by definition. But historically, the original form of Buddhism was not intended to worship buddha or GuanYin, an eastern asian Bodhisattva. My knowledge on the subject is a bit limited, but to my understanding Theravada Buddhism is more of a lifestyle/ideology than a religion. So with this train of thought, one would think that it would be possible for a Wiccan to also follow the lifestyle/ideology of Buddhism without being 'unfaithful' to their religion (for the lack of a better word.)
The reason why I have begun pondering this question is because to my knowledge there are 3 religions that believe in reincarnation- Paganism (and by extension Wicca even though Paganism is such a broad term sweatdrop ), Buddhism, and Mormonism. I had begun wondering about the similarities and differences between Buddhism and other forms of paganism.
And, I'm very inexperienced with pantheons. I know there are people who have patron deities, and I was wondering if 'gods' that were not meant to be gods would appear to people. For example, Buddha, who when alive did not think of himself as a deity and to my understanding had no desire to be worshiped. Or other philosophers, for example LaoZi is sometimes worshiped by Taoists even though he's was only a philosopher.
Just the random ramblings of a newbie sweatdrop Anyone have any thoughts on the subject of the origin of religions, and interconnection between religions?
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Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 9:28 pm
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Sanguina Cruenta Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 10:07 pm
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Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 10:55 pm
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Erise Crewe So with this train of thought, one would think that it would be possible for a Wiccan to also follow the lifestyle/ideology of Buddhism without being 'unfaithful' to their religion (for the lack of a better word.)
As Esiris said, Wiccans are free to practice other religions as well as Wicca, so long as they maintain their oaths and aren't adding or taking away from Wicca. Think of it as not 'crossing the streams' - you can practice other religious paths, so long as they run parallel to Wicca. Most of the time if there's conflict between someone practicing Wicca and something else, it's on the part of the something else.
Erise Crewe I had begun wondering about the similarities and differences between Buddhism and other forms of paganism.
Buddhism takes on so many different forms. I really don't know enough to comment about its' practices. What I can say, though, is what San pointed out is the real conflict. Buddhists are looking to escape saṃsāra, the endless wheel of reincarnation, by attaining moksha, or nirvana - literally freedom from suffering, or what's sometimes called 'enlightenment'. Wiccans want the opposite of this - Wiccans wish to reincarnate again, and specifically as Wiccans. Part of Wicca entails forming spiritual connections such that initiates will be able to recognize each other in future lives, and continue serving the Lord and Lady as their priesthood.
Erise Crewe And, I'm very inexperienced with pantheons. I know there are people who have patron deities, and I was wondering if 'gods' that were not meant to be gods would appear to people. For example, Buddha, who when alive did not think of himself as a deity and to my understanding had no desire to be worshiped. Or other philosophers, for example LaoZi is sometimes worshiped by Taoists even though he's was only a philosopher.
What you've got in many Eastern religions is a melding of thousands of years of evolving theology based on a changing society. You also have a great deal of folk traditions getting blended into the different philosophies over time. As a result Hinduism has several hundred sects and deity-forms, which are specific to different states, regions, or even village to village. Buddhism has done the same - especially in Tibet, which is probably the most unique variant (in my mind).
And as was said, Eastern religions in general are not pleased at being called pagan. It's ...complicated. They qualify technically, as they are not Judeo-Christian in origin, but they really don't consider themselves the same sort of religion as what the West calls pagan. It's said that Vedic religions, in general, consider all people to be 'Hindu' - whether or not they practice. Vedic religions are some of the oldest known religious practices and beliefs in the world - it's possible that they are part of the basic foundation of the world's ancient religions as civilization spread across Eurasia.
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 1:15 am
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Esiris There are some pretty weird sects of Buddhism out there, so it might be possible to be both.
xd One man's weird is another man's normal. ninja Thinking of Scientology at the moment, but I try not to judge. sweatdrop Unfortunately there are going to be people who don't believe in witchcraft who think we're crazy too lol But I sort of think going way out of your way to prevent from killing insects is a little much. (Hear tales of monks doing this) I would go crazy if I couldn't kill the mosquitos biting me in summer scream *grumbles something about being in the south and the humidity and mosquitoes in the summer*
Morgandria Wiccans want the opposite of this - Wiccans wish to reincarnate again, and specifically as Wiccans. Part of Wicca entails forming spiritual connections such that initiates will be able to recognize each other in future lives, and continue serving the Lord and Lady as their priesthood.
That's incredible imo. I've heard stories of witches passing knowledge to themselves through astral projection and speaking to their past self. Have you ever had any similar experience Morgandria, or know of any stories about this kind of passage of knowledge?
Morgandria It's said that Vedic religions, in general, consider all people to be 'Hindu' - whether or not they practice. Vedic religions are some of the oldest known religious practices and beliefs in the world - it's possible that they are part of the basic foundation of the world's ancient religions as civilization spread across Eurasia.
eek I've never heard of the term vedic, but thanks for sharing. I have a sort of reverence for all the ancient religions. The mythology is fantastical and fun to read, and there's sort of a mystery behind anything ancient.
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 1:28 am
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 1:33 am
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 2:27 am
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Erise Crewe I'm weirdly the opposite xd I technically have no religion but I still believe in reincarnation eek So... I don't really know what I am. Paganly atheist?!? For the most part I don't believe in deities I just think there are forces beyond our control and understanding and randomly reincarnation ninja Whether those forces are manifestations of deities, who knows? But I personally don't think so sweatdrop Also thank you for taking the trouble to find the links I appreciate it heart
Even if there's no spiritual afterlife, physics tells us that energy doesn't end - it simply keeps moving from state to state. Whatever energy we are, whether it's what we consider the animating force, or merely the energy that can be broken down from our physical form, will continue onwards and outwards long after we're gone.
I like physics, and the physical laws of our universe. I don't dislike metaphysics, obviously, but I pretty much feel like I already know what I need to just from good old regular physics. If I had not had the experiences in life I have thus far regarding deities, I would be very comfortably an athiest. And even as a theist, I am still a skeptic.
Our entire lives are shaped by our experiences. We owe it to ourselves to be intelligent, think critically, question what we encounter, and make up our minds the best we can on the information we have.
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 10:08 am
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Erise Crewe xd One man's weird is another man's normal. ninja Maybe I can phrase this better- weird in that it has concepts built into it that are opposite of what the core of Buddhism is about.
Kind of like what Sang said- if you have a religion about transcending attachment, a sect dedicated to attachment doesn't make much sense.
Quote: Thinking of Scientology at the moment, but I try not to judge. sweatdrop I don't think it's fair to compare a religion that has intentionally killed people to prevent their human right's violations secret with mixing Buddhism and Wicca.
Quote: Unfortunately there are going to be people who don't believe in witchcraft who think we're crazy too I'm talking about weird as in the religion contradicts itself- not in the way that it's foreign.
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 3:17 pm
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 9:48 pm
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 7:59 am
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 8:02 am
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 8:24 am
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Sanguina Cruenta Vice Captain
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 8:54 am
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Esiris Quote: Even if you're part of one religion I think it's still okay to have some beliefs that aren't exactly in line with it, but that's just my personal opinion. I agree with you there! But I think there's stuff that is so opposite that it doesn't make sense to be in the religion anymore. Like being Catholic and being Gay- you can believe that the Church is just not really understanding the Bible and Love and is making a mistake. Being Catholic and playing soccer with babies doesn't work though.
Does that make sense with Catholicism? I thought in Catholicism, the correct beliefs were spelled out, or at least the parameters given. On matters of doctrine the Pope is infallible, etc, and papal infallibility is an aspect of being Catholic, so believing the church was wrong on a particular issue would probably be some sort of sin of heresy and you'd have to confess it. On the other hand they consider you Catholic even if you leave; you're just lapsed... sin is just a sin. You could play football with baby corpses and still be a Catholic just fine, you'd just be a terrible sinner. It'd probably even be OK depending on the nature of the baby corpses and the time in history in which you kicked them.
But today, be you doubter of papal infallibility or baby kicker, your sins are equal in the eyes of god, aren't they?
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