Quote:
Originally Posted by Shasown
Dont you? The Rape of Nanking and other atrocities committed by Japanese (Buddhist) soldiers during WW2.
The Sinhalese-Tamil (Buddhist - Hindu) civil war in Sri Lanka saw atrocities committed by both sides. The genocide of the Urghurs, the massacres of Muslims in Thailand. Laos, Burma and South Vietnam(prior to and during the Vietnam War) all saw terrorist atrocities committed by Buddhists.
Tibetan Monks rioted and looted banks within the last 5 years, chinese soldiers were killed during the riots
All Buddhist countries have seen atrocities committed by Buddhists in the last 80 years. Christians and Muslims dont have a monopoly in terrorist murders attrocities and genocide in the name of religion.
It is not religion, but politics, injustice, colonialism, greed for land and resources and occupation that create violence
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Firstly the buddhism thing was a joke and secondly anyone who commits violence in the name of Buddhism isn't a buddhist since it's core concepts are all about bettering yourself, promoting peace and doing good in the world. It's more of a case of Buddhism being used as a tool by others to commit violence rather then condoning the violence itself. Which you could say for Islam and Christianity except both of their pasts are completely blood soaked due to their own doing (Christianity in particular).
Also in the examples you gave there's only really one which could be seen as extremist behavior (the religious war) the rest seem to me just to be terrible crimes commited by Buddhists rather then religious extremist actions.
Organised Religion is bad because of what most of it promotes and how it can by used to turn people against each other but in fairness Buddhism doesn't preach hate or violence so on the Totem pole of the most violent religion it has to be pretty low in comparision to others.