Is Buddhism atheistic or non theistic?

Buddhism is non atheistic.

However it is not theistic, and do not require a belief to a god.

Means that, yes Buddhism acknowledge gods, however doesn’t require certain belief to a god.

What is atheistic?

Atheistic is an adjective that’s used to describe things that involve atheism—the belief that there is no supreme being or deity.

In other words, atheism is the denial of the existence of God or of any gods.

Buddha did not deny god.

However, to Buddha, these ‘gods’ were not important factors to ones awakening.

What is theistic?

Being theistic is to get involve or relate to belief in a god or gods.

Buddhism do not require a belief in a god or gods.

Buddha said the emancipation does not depend on he benevolent grace of a god or any external power as a reward for obedient good behavior.

Referece: Walpola Rahula: What the Buddha Taught – The Buddhist Attitude of Mind

Buddhism and god

Let us remind that the the founder of Buddhism, the Buddha, did not claim to be other than a human being.

Two ideas are psychologically deep-rooted in man; self-protection and self-preservation. For self-protection man has created God, on whom he depends for his own protection, safety and security, just as a child depends on its parent.

For self-preservation man has conceived the idea of an immortal Soul or Ātman, which will live eternally.

In his ignorance, weakness, fear, and desire, man needs these two things to console himself. Hence he clings to them deeply and fanatically.

The Buddha’s teaching does not support this ignorance, weakness, fear, and desire, but aims at making man enlightened by removing and destroying them, striking at their very root.

According to Buddhism, our ideas of God and Soul are false and empty.

Though highly developed as theories, they are all the same extremely subtle mental projections, garbed in an intricate metaphysical and philosophical phraseology.

These ideas are so deep-rooted in man, and so near and dear to him, that he does not wish to hear, nor does he want to understand, any teaching against them.

Reference: Walpola Rahula: What the Buddha Taught – The Doctrine of No Soul

Also we need to note that the Buddha claimed no inspiration from any god or external power either.

Buddhism is more like a way of life.

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Would you like to know more about Buddhism?

Please Google “What the Buddha Taught”!

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