# Does Buddhism address Homosexuality? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 8, 2008, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-buddhism-address-homosexuality/476247 "2008-12-08T15:17:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-buddhism-address-homosexuality/476247/41 "2008-12-09T23:25:05Z")
Goes to show that (for Westerners, I think) Buddhism is a big rorschach test in terms of ones preexisting beliefs and inclinations. Part of that mystique of the mysterious East, donchaknow. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-buddhism-address-homosexuality/476247/42 "2008-12-10T01:31:16Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > That sounds kind of . . . un-Buddhist. I.e., it would have to involve some sort of supernatural agency, and that’s not what Buddhism is **about.** _Shrug_ You’ve got that, you’ve got your virgin birth of Jesus, you’ve got your Muhammad ascending to Heaven. All of this goes toward explaining why I can never get into any organized religion no matter the stripe. > [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > That’s what some variants of Buddhism is about. > [@Koxinga](#): > > Goes to show that (for Westerners, I think) Buddhism is a big rorschach test in terms of ones preexisting beliefs and inclinations. Part of that mystique of the mysterious East, donchaknow. Many Westerners who come here end up disappointed by the reality, for others it’s better than they thought. For an unlucky few, it’s downright dangerous, as some tourists have been raped or murdered by the “holy man” who was really a drug addict who’d entered the monkhood to dry out or evade the police. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-buddhism-address-homosexuality/476247/43 "2008-12-10T02:05:47Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > _Shrug_ You’ve got that, you’ve got your virgin birth of Jesus, you’ve got your Muhammad ascending to Heaven. All of this goes toward explaining why I can never get into any organized religion no matter the stripe. But, those religions **are** supposed to be about the supernatural. > [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Many Westerners who come here end up disappointed by the reality, for others it’s better than they thought. For an unlucky few, it’s downright dangerous, as some tourists have been raped or murdered by the “holy man” who was really a drug addict who’d entered the monkhood to dry out or evade the police. The pastor of my Unitarian church once adopted a teenage girl from Thailand – and was rather disappointed to find out he knew a lot more about Buddhism than she did. To most lay Buddhists in Thailand, apparently, the Buddha is just a god to worship; they no more **think** about the whole thing than the average American Evangelical Protestant thinks about theology. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-buddhism-address-homosexuality/476247/44 "2008-12-10T02:15:01Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > But, those religions **are** supposed to be about the supernatural. > > The pastor of my Unitarian church once adopted a teenage girl from Thailand – and was rather disappointed to find out he knew a lot more about Buddhism than she did. To most lay Buddhists in Thailand, apparently, the Buddha is just a god to worship; they no more **think** about the whole thing than the average American Evangelical Protestant thinks about theology. Buddhism in Thailand – and other nearby countries, such as Cambodia – is actually blended with indigenous animism. It’s a very, very superstitious religion as practiced here. The few monks who try to point out that that’s not right are given short shrift by the followers. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-buddhism-address-homosexuality/476247/45 "2008-12-10T02:37:35Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > That sounds kind of . . . un-Buddhist. I.e., it would have to involve some sort of supernatural agency, and that’s not what Buddhism is **about.** Oh, and if you liked Makha Bucha, we also have a religious holiday called Wisakha Bucha, which commemorates the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and passing away, all of which by some sort of divine providence supposedly happened on the same day of different years. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-buddhism-address-homosexuality/476247/46 "2008-12-10T05:45:01Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Buddhism in Thailand – and other nearby countries, such as Cambodia – is actually blended with indigenous animism. It’s a very, very superstitious religion as practiced here. The few monks who try to point out that that’s not right are given short shrift by the followers. New doctoral dissertation idea! It occurs to me that no country has ever wound up being exclusively Buddhist. It’s always (Buddhism + Thai indigenous animism) (as I now learn) or (Buddhism + Taoism) or (Buddhism + Tibetan Bon shamanism) or (Buddhism + Shinto). Seems to me that the non-theistic features that make Buddhism intellectually appealing to some, also make it spiritually unsatisfying to the larger population in any culture. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-buddhism-address-homosexuality/476247/47 "2008-12-11T01:07:12Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > New doctoral dissertation idea! It occurs to me that no country has ever wound up being exclusively Buddhist. It’s always (Buddhism + Thai indigenous animism) (as I now learn) or (Buddhism + Taoism) or (Buddhism + Tibetan Bon shamanism) or (Buddhism + Shinto). Seems to me that the non-theistic features that make Buddhism intellectually appealing to some, also make it spiritually unsatisfying to the larger population in any culture. I suppose it’s the same with all religions. Look at the different flavors of Islam. And even Christianity. Catholicism alone blends many elements of the Aztec religion in Mexico, I learned in Anthropology class way back when. For example, the exceptionally bloody Jesus on the cross you see there is a direct descendant of the Aztec sacrificial rite. A heavier emphasis on the Mother Mary than seen elsewhere seems to be taken from the Aztec religion, too, I seem to remember. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-buddhism-address-homosexuality/476247/48 "2008-12-11T06:28:01Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Catholicism alone blends many elements of the Aztec religion in Mexico, I learned in Anthropology class way back when. For example, the exceptionally bloody Jesus on the cross you see there is a direct descendant of the Aztec sacrificial rite. “This is the Body of Christ . . . :dubious: Yes, yes, I **know** it tastes like Tenapactli the cacao merchant! It’s really the Body of Christ, OK?! Eat it!” ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-buddhism-address-homosexuality/476247/49 "2008-12-11T06:33:16Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I suppose it’s the same with all religions. Look at the different flavors of Islam. And even Christianity. Catholicism alone blends many elements of the Aztec religion in Mexico, I learned in Anthropology class way back when. For example, the exceptionally bloody Jesus on the cross you see there is a direct descendant of the Aztec sacrificial rite. A heavier emphasis on the Mother Mary than seen elsewhere seems to be taken from the Aztec religion, too, I seem to remember. Point taken, though in the heyday of Christianity’s spread (not to mention Islam’s), you’d hardly see a church of the new religion standing side by side with a temple to the old pagan gods and spirits–the way you did (and still do) with Buddhism on the one hand and Taoism and Shintoism on the other. ---
**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-buddhism-address-homosexuality/476247/50 "2008-12-11T17:30:12Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > But then, there are no lamas in Thai Buddhism, and the Sangha (top religious body) will defrock a monk pronto for, among other things, sexual practices. Boy, did I ever read this wrong the first time through. “It is time to begin our sexual practices. Please remove your frock.” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-buddhism-address-homosexuality/476247/51 "2008-12-11T23:38:48Z")
> [@SCSimmons](#): > > Boy, did I ever read this wrong the first time through. > > “It is time to begin our sexual practices. Please remove your frock.” > 😉 Well, I have heard stories. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-buddhism-address-homosexuality/476247/52 "2008-12-12T00:18:21Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > Point taken, though in the heyday of Christianity’s spread (not to mention Islam’s), you’d hardly see a church of the new religion standing side by side with a temple to the old pagan gods and spirits–the way you did (and still do) with Buddhism on the one hand and Taoism and Shintoism on the other. Well, Buddhists always (?) regarded other faiths as merely mistaken or incomplete or suboptimal-compared-to-Buddhism – not as abominations in the eyes of the Lord or demon-inspired paths to damnation. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-buddhism-address-homosexuality/476247/53 "2008-12-12T01:07:36Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Well, Buddhists always (?) regarded other faiths as merely mistaken or incomplete or suboptimal-compared-to-Buddhism – not as abominations in the eyes of the Lord or demon-inspired paths to damnation. They are masters of self-congratulation, however. That aside, what intrests me is how society receives Buddhism. Regardless of what the Buddhist missionary thinks, it seems that society always keeps a fallback supernatural faith in reserve, while at the same time bending non-theistic Buddhism into a deity-driven form that might be hardly recognizable to old Prince Gautama. I’d suspect that the general population _wants_ a faith of ghosts and hellfire, and that old om mani padmi hom just ain’t satisfying on its own. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-buddhism-address-homosexuality/476247/54 "2008-12-12T01:16:58Z")
_Are_ there many Buddhist missionaries? I’ve heard of one, but they seem to be rare. That one I was featured years ago in a US news story because he was so rare. That’s one thing I like about hanging out with Buddhists: Not one has ever tried to push his religion on me, ever. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-buddhism-address-homosexuality/476247/55 "2008-12-12T01:36:17Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > _Are_ there many Buddhist missionaries? I’ve heard of one, but they seem to be rare. That one I was featured years ago in a US news story because he was so rare. That’s one thing I like about hanging out with Buddhists: Not one has ever tried to push his religion on me, ever. Heh-heh-heh . . . and that’s exactly why . . . **NO ONE** expects the Buddhist Inquisition! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cider\_Depot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Cider\_Depot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cider_Depot)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-buddhism-address-homosexuality/476247/56 "2008-12-12T01:57:31Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Homosexuality > General Delivery > San Francisco, CA 94101 Please deliver to rear entrance ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-buddhism-address-homosexuality/476247/57 "2008-12-12T02:54:13Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > _Are_ there many Buddhist missionaries? I’ve heard of one, but they seem to be rare. That one I was featured years ago in a US news story because he was so rare. That’s one thing I like about hanging out with Buddhists: Not one has ever tried to push his religion on me, ever. Buddhist missionaries are very important to my current strategy in Civilization IV, I’ll have you know sir. As for the real world: I can see that certain Buddhist _organizations_ have significant influence in their communities and make their presence known (donations welcome), though I’m sure they’d deny that they’re proselytizing. (Note that I’m talking mainly about the Chinese-language community in the US and Taiwan.) ETA: In Taiwan you see monks and nuns on the street every day, though whether any out there to proselyze is hard for me to tell. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-buddhism-address-homosexuality/476247/58 "2008-12-12T03:38:20Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > _Are_ there many Buddhist missionaries? Sure. How do you think Buddhism spread throughout Southeast and East Asia? For instance, the Pala state in what’s now Bangladesh sponsored Buddhist missionaries that converted Tibet, Nepal, Burma, Indonesia, etc. Thailand was converted by missionaries from Ceylon. And so on. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-buddhism-address-homosexuality/476247/59 "2008-12-12T14:21:55Z")
So why’d they stop? That I don’t know. You just never see Buddhist missionaries in other countries like you see Christian missionaries here and everywhere else. It just doesn’t seem to be a proselytizing religion anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-buddhism-address-homosexuality/476247/60 "2008-12-12T15:46:20Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I suppose it’s the same with all religions. Look at the different flavors of Islam. And even Christianity. Catholicism alone blends many elements of the Aztec religion in Mexico, I learned in Anthropology class way back when. For example, the exceptionally bloody Jesus on the cross you see there is a direct descendant of the Aztec sacrificial rite. A heavier emphasis on the Mother Mary than seen elsewhere seems to be taken from the Aztec religion, too, I seem to remember. This very morning, Mexicans flocked to the shrine of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe to celebrate her miraculous appearance in 1531. She is the dark-skinned patroness of Mexico & her image is still powerful–even to many who don’t buy the whole story. Celebrations include singing of _Las mañanitas_–the Mexican birthday song–a sign of tender affection. The site of her appearance was formerly sacred to the Aztec goddess Tonantzin. But many sites formerly sacred to goddesses are now dedicated to Our Lady. Spain’s Virgin of Guadalupe is one of the famous [Black Madonnas](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Madonna). Lots of worshippers would rather ask their Mother for help than asking The Old Guy–hey, read the Old Testament! Jesus is better–but one wonders if he’s gotten over how shabbily he was treated. The Holy Ghost is just too weird–leave him/her/it to the mystics. (And many cultures had sacrificed gods who influenced the Jesus story. The Aztecs were just extra good at that bloody stuff.) But the Catholic Church generally overthrew the old gods & goddesses and only let them back in disguise. Buddhism has often been more tolerant, even within the different Buddhist variants. The first time the Dalai Lama visited Houston, he dropped by a pagoda where Vietnamese refugees worshipped. Sort of like the Pope visiting a little Baptist Church; even if he’d wanted to go, they wouldn’t have let him in! (Yes, I’ve studied Anthropology, too. You started it!) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-buddhism-address-homosexuality/476247.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-buddhism-address-homosexuality/476247.md?page=4)