Which Religions (Especially Religions In Thailand) Are The Most Inclusive And Tolerant? And Why?

[hermespan]

I venture to say Buddhism and Hinduism. Why? Because these older religions...

1.:Have been around for a long time

2. Have spread around Asia from missionary activity (especially Buddhism, Hinduism was more by trade)

3. Have been exposed to many other religions due to colonialism

4. Have had reformations, schisms etc that did not develop into violent internal conflicts (though of course sometimes they did)

5. Have as part of their scriptures ethical teachings against violence (with exceptions in some Hindu texts)

6. Buddhism is a universal religion, unlike Hinduism, which despite its philosophical and yogic teachings remains largely an ethnic religion (like Judaism)

7. Buddhism, and perhaps especially, Hinduism (a family of religions with today three major sects) have places *within* their own religions, for other religions, e.g. Gautama Siddhatha being considered an avatara of Vishnu.

8. Have protected similar religionists against attack by invaders and after strong provocation have taken up arms but not as aggressors, e.g. Sikhism of Gobindasingh

9. Encourage vegetarianism (characteristic of some streams of Hinduism, particularly Vaishnavism, and some varieties of Buddhism, particularly Mahayana, but mostly Jainism)

If I was the leader of a country or an academic writer I would not afford all religions equal status. I would hold conferences and debates to examine their scriptures, their histories, their teachings and exemplaries, not whitewashing for political correctness - to see which ones should be given favoured status, and which (if any) the opposite. I would require public confessions of faith by their respective organization's leaders to see if they contradicted public order, safety and progress. To me, it isn't important if they worshipped dog-headed tortoises and chanted every 3 am around the moon, as long as they did not preach violence and hatred.

Those that do, I would banish.

[Thai-Aust]

I would say Buddhism is the world's most tolerant religion. Buddhist teachings in many ways are similar to psychology practice, particularly so with Carl Jung's.

To learn and practice Buddhism, one doesn't need to become Buddhist. If you're married to Buddhist, you don't have to convert, unlike other religions that you must become the same as your spouse. Buddhism doesn't teach followers to fight back when you're hurt, no revenge, no hatred, doesn't even have to believe what the Buddha said but do your own critical thinking. Compassion, contemplation, forgiveness are one of the keywords.

[fabianfred]

Buddhism has never ,traditionally, been accused of proselytizing. The Buddha forbade his monks from teaching unless requested. It is still so for monks. He would send them out in ones and twos into the wilderness to practice. If people saw them and were impressed they might ask them who their teacher was and what was his dhamma. They could then explain and teach.

If people do not want to listen to the truth, they are not punished by hell, but simply have to stay in the cycle of rebirth and suffering until they do. e might feel sorry for those who are confused and suffering because they do not know the truth...as lay-people we can attempt to teach them.

[simple1]

I would say Buddhism is the world's most tolerant religion. Buddhist teachings in many ways are similar to psychology practice, particularly so with Carl Jung's.

To learn and practice Buddhism, one doesn't need to become Buddhist. If you're married to Buddhist, you don't have to convert, unlike other religions that you must become the same as your spouse. Buddhism doesn't teach followers to fight back when you're hurt, no revenge, no hatred, doesn't even have to believe what the Buddha said but do your own critical thinking. Compassion, contemplation, forgiveness are one of the keywords.

If you live in Thailand you will know that many Buddhist families will banish a member of family if they wish to marry a Muslim and vice versa. The philosophy of Buddhism is very different to what actually occurs in day to day life in Thailand, as is the case with nearly all organised religions and faiths. As to the OP idealistic suggestion for setting up a government agency to interrogate people of faith would very quickly transform government to a fascist/totalitarian State.

Edited March 18, 2013 by simple1

[Thai-Aust]

I would say Buddhism is the world's most tolerant religion. Buddhist teachings in many ways are similar to psychology practice, particularly so with Carl Jung's.

To learn and practice Buddhism, one doesn't need to become Buddhist. If you're married to Buddhist, you don't have to convert, unlike other religions that you must become the same as your spouse. Buddhism doesn't teach followers to fight back when you're hurt, no revenge, no hatred, doesn't even have to believe what the Buddha said but do your own critical thinking. Compassion, contemplation, forgiveness are one of the keywords.

If you live in Thailand you will know that many Buddhist families will banish a member of family if they wish to marry a Muslim and vice versa.

I live in Thailand for half of my life, I in fact am a Buddhist. I have never heard any Buddhist families ban a member of their family to marry Muslim. If that happens, it's most likely because that person (male) MUST convert to Muslim and that is not desirable.

[simple1]

I would say Buddhism is the world's most tolerant religion. Buddhist teachings in many ways are similar to psychology practice, particularly so with Carl Jung's.

To learn and practice Buddhism, one doesn't need to become Buddhist. If you're married to Buddhist, you don't have to convert, unlike other religions that you must become the same as your spouse. Buddhism doesn't teach followers to fight back when you're hurt, no revenge, no hatred, doesn't even have to believe what the Buddha said but do your own critical thinking. Compassion, contemplation, forgiveness are one of the keywords.

If you live in Thailand you will know that many Buddhist families will banish a member of family if they wish to marry a Muslim and vice versa.

I live in Thailand for half of my life, I in fact am a Buddhist. I have never heard any Buddhist families ban a member of their family to marry Muslim. If that happens, it's most likely because that person (male) MUST convert to Muslim and that is not desirable.

I live in the Muslim area of Pattaya and on a number of occasions Buddhist men and women have wanted to marry a local Muslim. Sometimes the marriage has not gone ahead due to the resistance by the Buddhist parents; as I said also vice versa. What I am saying intolerance also occurs in the Buddhist community; just another unfortunate aspect of human beings.

Edited March 18, 2013 by simple1

[HeavyDrinker]

Buddhism isn't a religion laddie......

[simple1]

Buddhism isn't a religion laddie......

He/she is proposing a political/law enforcement stance, therefore, in my opinion treating Buddhism as a religion. Personally I do not believe it should be posted in the Buddhism forum, of course people will disagree.

I like the following as an outline of the Buddhist approach.

There's a Zen story in which a professor visited a Japanese master to inquire about Zen. The master served tea. When the visitor's cup was full, the master kept pouring. Tea spilled out of the cup and over the table.

"The cup is full!" said the professor. "No more will go in!"

"Like this cup," said the master, "You are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?"

Edited March 18, 2013 by simple1

[camerata]

Let's not forget that this is the Buddhism forum, not the Religion, Philosophy and Spirituality forum. We don't need an open invitation to criticize other religions, thanks.