1. Hinduism and Buddhism offer much more sophisticated worldviews (or philosophies) and I see nothing wrong with these religions.

Comment #192559 by yinyangnature on June 13, 2008 at 11:35 am

Why does Professor Dawkins claim Hinduism and Buddhism offer much more sophisticated world-views? I believe it is due to the fundamental differences that are found when comparing Western religions with those of Asia.

The Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) model the cosmos on the politics of the ancient Middle East. God is viewed as a monarch who rules and controls everything. Just as a tyrant king of this period, God is able to severely punish or reward his subjects as he sees fit.

The Dharmic religions (Buddhism, Zen, Taoism and Hinduism) don't see the cosmos as something that is responding to a ruler or controller. They believe the Universe is a self perpetuating unity.

The Western faiths also repel and distance themselves from Nature. Whereas the Asian philosophies are firmly rooted in the natural world and see all of Nature as divine.

Unquestioning faith is paramount in the Abrahamic religions and everything else is seen as secondary to the holy dogma. Yet in the Asian religions the very opposite is true. Acts of compassion are always foremost and adherents are free to believe whatever they choose. Buddha is quoted as saying "Do not believe anything unless it agrees with your own experiences and common sense; even if it is said to have come from me."

Atheists usually find the idea of reincarnation very disconcerting. Nevertheless on one level reincarnation is very factual. The atoms that makeup our body are the disregarded molecules of everything that lived on this planet before us. Statistically every person on earth has atoms of William Shakespeare within their body.

Another common misconception is that karma is some kind of cosmic retribution. Yet for many adherents positive karma is simply the guiltless sleep that comes from altruism. Negative karma manifests as stress and regret.

The basic assertion of all the Asian philosophies is that on another level everything is unified. This may seem very difficult to believe, however Quantum Physicists tell us that everything is actually a manifestation of the same energy field; they call "M theory".

The major advantage of the Dharmic religions is their unique perspective on life. It is from this new understanding of reality that one often finds comfort from suffering. Of course life isn't just suffering, but we aren't usually haunted by the things that go well for us. Our darkest hells are always reserved for loss and grief.

I'll finish this post with some beautiful dialogue from the Dalai Lama's biographical movie "Kundun". I think these words accurately portray the Buddhist perspective and it should likewise appeal to many Atheists.

"The Buddhas neither wash ill deeds away with water, nor remove being's suffering with their hands, nor transfer their realisations to others. Beings are released through the teachings of the truth; the final reality."

P.S. I grew up in the mildly Christian / mostly secular Australia; therefore my interest in the Dharmic religions is something I chose after a long and extensive search for the truth.