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Quote by Ninian Smart

“I think the attractiveness of Buddhism is that it doesn't involve a belief in God. That appeals to a lot of people - intellectuals and well-educated people in particular.”

Quote by Ninian Smart

Author

Ninian Smart was a renowned British writer in the field of religious studies, known for his influential contributions to the understanding of religion. Born on May 6, 1927, and passing away on January 29, 2001, Smart's work focused on the study of various religious traditions and their societal implications. more

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“Buddhism and Christianity are incompatible because there is no God in Buddhism - particularly in Theravada Buddhism. But they are also allies because their values and practices are compatible and they can work together - indeed, they would benefit greatly from doing so.”

Together Values Christianity Practice Buddhism Benefits Working Together Allies There Is No God Compatible Buddhism And Christianity

Author:Ninian Smart

“The fact of the matter is that Buddhism has changed a lot. When St. Francis of Xavier arrived in Japan, he wrote back to the Vatican and made a joke. "It is unfortunate," he said, "that the Lutherans were here before me." By this he meant that Pure Land Buddhism was so much like Lutheranism.”

Made Said Matter Facts Land Changed Buddhism Pure Jokes Japan Unfortunate Lutherans

Author:Ninian Smart

“One of the effects of religions getting together is that they borrow from one another. An example is the growing number of Catholics who are practicing Yoga and meditation techniques borrowed from Buddhism and Hinduism. So there are these borrowings which I think fertilize the religions.”

Thinking Together Numbers Meditation Growing Effects Example Buddhism Yoga Catholic Technique Hinduism Borrowed Borrowing

Author:Ninian Smart

“Syncretism can be disturbing to people. They have often been taught, "You have to have solid faith and must be sure of your religion," and so on. They fear that they might be threatened by these new developments and mergings. So you get a backlash against it.”

People Might Taught Development Threatened Disturbing Backlash Merging

Author:Ninian Smart

“I don't regard fundamentalism in the United States or in Europe as a terrible threat, partly because it is a self-curing disease. The younger generation drifts away, so fundamentalists always have to recruit to keep up with themselves.”

Self States United United States Generations Terrible Disease Europe Regard Threat Fundamentalism Younger Generation Recruit

Author:Ninian Smart

“Children become more liberal partly as a reaction to their parents and partly through education. Education tends to make people a bit softer.”

People Children Bits Parent Reactions

Author:Ninian Smart

“People now have their own particular religion - a denomination of one. I suppose it's a part of the new age phenomenon, but it's much wider than that. On the whole, I would say that is healthy. But I think it was always there, secretly.”

People Thinking Whole Age Particular Healthy Phenomenon New Age Denominations

Author:Ninian Smart

“To put it a little crudely, these days nobody is afraid of excommunication. If they decide they don't want to be Catholic anymore and want to become Episcopalians or Hindus, they just do it. The churches no longer have the disciplinary powers to keep their followers in check. That means that they have to accept much more feeding up from below than they had to in the past.”

Ifs Want Mean Littles Past Church Accepting Catholic Checks These Days Followers Feeding Just Do It Episcopalians Excommunication

Author:Ninian Smart

“I've often admired the way many Catholics who have left the priesthood, for example, have nevertheless remained sincere Catholics. They voted with their feet.”

Way Left Feet Example Catholic Sincere Nevertheless Priesthood

Author:Ninian Smart

“If you were going to be attracted to a mystical faith which involved the contemplative life, Buddhism would be quite reasonable. But then, not everybody is a budding mystic. In fact, it's pretty certain that very few people are. So another kind of religion, one that was perhaps more pragmatic and service-oriented, might appeal to those others. So I think you have to take your values into account.”

People Ifs Thinking Kind Facts Might Would Be Certain Values Buddhism Involved Accounts Appeals Reasonable Mystical Mystic Pragmatic Contemplative Contemplative Life

Author:Ninian Smart