Sorry LBAE did not see your post when I quickly checked the forum yesterday.

What are the major similarities and differences between agnosticism/atheism and Buddhism

Not answering the question directly, but interestingly there are such things as Buddhist Atheists and Buddhist Agnostics.

So the way an atheist believes we can know as a fact whether there is a God or not, while an agnostic holds their judgement, a Buddhist Atheist can question the Buddhist theory of Karma and Rebirth as one example, dismissing it as being 'rubbish' if you like, while a Buddhist Agnostic questions but does not dismiss it out of hand.

Having an open opinion about rebirth, and that one is basically punished or rewarded by karma in a new life, is understandable. Although whatever one says, or believes, about Karma it is a fact that the effect of what we have done in our lives lives on, for good or bad, when we are no longer here.

There is apparently "instant Karma" while we are still here.

Anyhow a type of karma remains whether we come back in one form or another to see or experience it, or not.

The Buddha taught that there was no “I”, that it is necessary to be aware we have a responsibility to the wider world and the world we personally share we others, both while we are living it and with a thought to what we will leave behind. We are not here permantly, neither are we autonomous entities, what we do affects others and not only now but down the line.

Our legacy if you like. Will it be positive or negative.

But that is just a part of being a human being, and so not tied to any belief system don't you think?

Also that of Atheists and Agnostics.....so a similarity?

And sometimes we manage to live to this ideal better than at other times..........because we are only Mensch, human beings. Like Buddha, he insisted he was not a god.

Lisa the Buddhism editor will know the answer to the theory and beliefs of Buddhism in depth and far better than I do, while in relation to Atheism and Agnosticism, can only give my own interpretation and would imagine an agnostic would have more in common with someone who follows Buddhism than an atheist.

If you like an Atheist believes in a certainty, an Agnostic 'sits on the fence'.

And as there is often discussion as to whether Buddhism is a philosophy or a religion there is already some 'fence sitting' going on.

As you know it does not involve believing or not beliving in God or gods, and Buddha said he was not to be worshipped as one, however it is common for people to pray to either the Buddha or one, perhaps many, other figures. There are altars with a Buddha figure around which people leave offerings.

Nevertheless there is a school of opinion which believes Buddhism is actually a form of Atheism.

Just as there are several religions which believe in the same God, but approach 'His' worship in very different ways, and also various interpretations and branches of Christianity, there is a similar situation with Buddhism. It is diverse.

For some Buddhism is simply a form of practice, a way of life and thinking. It could even be that Buddist history as such, including the life of Buddha, is of no interest to them, to others it is a fundament.

Many have no interest in the suttas at all, some respect what they stand for, others live by them.

There is even some extremism amongst Buddhists, self immolation for political purposes would fall into that category perhaps.

Many do not eat meat, there are those that do.

Meditation and mindfulness is again a part of the regular lives of many Buddhists, but by no means all.

Etc. etc. the list is endless and would need an entire series of articles for which I am just not qualified.

Some of these differing forms of Buddhism would have similarities to Aethism or Agnosticism, others none at all.

So what are the major similarities and differences between agnosticism/atheism and Buddhism?

It comes down to the fact that we all have some type of belief, it could be 'Aethism' for example. An idea which one clings to, sometimes with indisputable evidence, in other cases with none at all but which nevertheless is, and remains, a valid 'belief', one of many but to a greater or lesser extent with similarities and differences shared between all of them.

Not really answered your question directly have I smile


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