Reasons I like Buddhism, #1:

The prominence of cause and effect in the Buddhist way of looking at the world. When I first encountered the term "dependent origination" I was a bit puzzled. One of the Dalai Lama ghost-written books had a good explanation, however, that cleared things up a bit:


"This principle means that all conditioned things and events in the universe come into being only as a result of the interaction of various causes and conditions. This is significant because it precludes two possibilities. One is that things can arise from nowhere, with no causes and conditions, and the second is that things can arise on account of a transcendent creator. Both possibilities are negated."

In our daily lives, we have no problem seeing cause and effect governing just about everything we do. Why jettison this knowledge when thinking of spiritual matters? I never understand people who have faith in science, modern technology, and all that has been created by the application of principles of cause and effect, but then persist in believing that everything is "in God's hands?"

Purpose-driven claptrap. I'll admit that I've thumbed through some of the book, The Purpose Driven Life. It is pretty bizarre. The whole thrust seems to be that I'M SPECIAL.

Dig this:

"You were planned for God's pleasure.
The moment you were born into the world, God was there as an unseen witness, smiling at your birth. He wanted you alive, and your arrival gave him great pleasure. God did not need to create you, but he chose to create you for his own enjoyment. You exist for his benefit, his glory, his purpose, and his delight." p.63.

In Buddhism, the goal is ego-reduction, the realization that I am not really separate or distinct or in any way special at all. We are tied up in the wheel of Samsara until we have worked our way through to enlightenment and cessation. I realize that the great majority of serious Christians are moral and kindly people but taking this sort of book seriously could be a very dangerous thing. If I am really God's special project, then I'm pretty damn important!