Buddhists can be huge flaming jackasses just like anyone else. They can also be really cool guys like anyone else. And everything in between, of course.
I wasn’t referring to individuals, I was referring to the faith as a group. What is offensive about Buddhists as a group entity, that there would be a big clash against them from another religion?
I’d disagree with this characterization. During times of Convivencia the religious authorities (both Christian and Muslim) rallied against it, and lobbied for a much less tolerant, extremist policies. When strong political leaders, with vested interests in the advantages of Convivencia were in charge, the religious extremists were kept largely in check. When that political landscape changed that was no longer the case.
Exactly the same things as other organised religions. It becomes associated with a particular ethnic or political group, and hence causes conflicts (and causes existing conflicts to become more vicious). See the civil war that currently winding down in Sri Lanka for a case in point.
Very easily, especially when they’re oppressing you, which they’ve historically done in the deep South – denying employment, denying health care, denying education etc, and for no better reason than they’re “filthy Muslims,” to use one term of endearment I’ve heard Buddhists here use. There are some real bastard Buddhists. It’s not all David Carradine and Kung Fu.
That’s funny-I think the problem is religious institutions trying to manipulate governments for their agendas. It is impossible for government to stay out of the business of religion if some religions continue trying to manipulate government.
There’s a difference between religion and politics now?
Seriously, religion is just politics with “god is on my side” thrown in to make the deluded leaders convinced they’ll always win. (they’ll believe they’re inherently right with or without god obviously)
…especially when protesting by self-immolation.
What? It had to be done.