[Buddha-l] Gods in Theravada (was: Will this be on the final exam?)

[S.A. Feite]

On Dec 26, 2008, at 6:13 PM, Curt Steinmetz wrote:

> Gombrich wrote in 1988 that the "radicalism" of the "Protestant
> Buddhism" of Anagarika Dharmapala & Co., who "condemned belief in Gods
> ... and rejected the traditional communal religion of the Sinhalese",
> "is now virtually unknown" and that not only is "spirit religion"  
> alive
> and well among Sinhalese Buddhists, but the Goddess Kali in particular
> has become increasingly popular.
>
> Gombrich emphasized the "terrible" and "irrational" aspects of Kali  
> when
> he wrote in 1988, but in 2006 Wickremeratne and Bond wrote that "In  
> Sri
> Lanka, Kali is seen as an entirely benign and helpful Goddess" with "a
> gentle disposition".
>
> So perhaps in future BN surverys, belief in Kali should be used as a
> marker for Theravada Buddhism, at least in its Sri Lankan version -  
> with
> Sri Lankan Theravadins further divided between those who worship the
> "terrible" Kali, and those who worship the nice one.


She sounds SO nice. ;-)

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,322673,00.html?imw

LINK

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2006/mar/05/india.theobserver

LINK