[Buddha-l] Buddhist Intolerance?

[curt]

Saying harsh things is completely different from intolerance. Holding 
strong opinions necessarily results in having strong disagreements with 
those who hold different opinions. Voicing those disagreements is not 
"intolerant" - rather it is an obvious example of freedom of expression.

Now, if you organize a mob to physically assault people you disagree 
with, or burn down their houses, or go on a campaign to systematically 
eliminate all written evidence of the spiritual traditions of two entire 
continents - that would be intolerant.

Westerners have been (understandably) psychologically traumatized by our 
1700 year history of brutal religious intolerance. But outside of 
Christendom vigorous debate and disagreement do not go hand in hand with 
mob violence and state-sponsored persecution.

- Curt

Gregory Bungo wrote:
> Hi Brad,
>
> Didn't Nichiren have some especially harsh things to say
> about his opponents?  I think they were mostly members
> of other Buddhist sects, so I don't know whether that fits in
> the scope of your project.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Greg Bungo
>
> -----Original Message-----
>   
>> From: Bradley Clough <bclough at aucegypt.edu>
>> Sent: Oct 11, 2006 11:38 AM
>> To: Buddhist discussion forum <buddha-l at mailman.swcp.com>
>> Subject: [Buddha-l] Buddhist Intolerance?
>>
>> Dear Fellow Buddha-Lers,
>>
>> I have been recently been charged with coming up with a paper on 
>> intolerance in Buddhism, and I'm a bit at a loss as to how to approach 
>> it. One example I'll probably use is the Sinhala Buddhist chauvinist 
>> rhetoric that says that to be Sri Lankan is to be Sinhala and Buddhist, 
>> but what other examples come to your minds, and what pertinent sources 
>> would be good to look at?
>>
>> I think I will steer clear of the recently discussed Empress Wu, as it 
>> seems that anti-Nestorian persecution may not have been her policy but 
>> that of another non-Buddhist T'ang ruler.
>>
>> I was also considering Kukai's critiques of Confucianism and Taoism, 
>> but I'm wary of equating criticism with intolerance.
>>
>> I'll be interested and thankful to see what people come up with!
>>
>> Best Wishes,
>> Brad Clough
>>
>>
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