Posted by Bob - the Alien on February 19, 2003 at 18:04:08:
In Reply to: Clarification posted by PS on February 19, 2003 at 10:11:08:
: Of course this depends how you define "religion." What Buddha himself thought is probably more where you are going with this. But it terms of modern religious studies, which seeks to compare and contrast religious beliefs and practices, Buddhism clearly qualifies as a religion in most substantive, functional, and formal definitions widely in use.
True. You are correct in your definitions. But when I talk, it is more in philisophical, and not religious terms. Yes, most traditions today are religions. But I personally make the distinction between a specific tradition, and the core Buddhism taught so long ago.