[Buddha-l] curious

[Curt Steinmetz]

Erik Hoogcarspel wrote:
> A Dutch Buddhist organisation has recently 
> declared everyone who has a Buddha statue in his house to be a Buddhist. 
> We're expecting them to start handing out free Buddha statues if ever 
> they need  a higher number of followers.
>   

In Europe the precedent is for people to be automatically assigned to a 
religion in just such an arbitrary manner. By default it is whichever of 
flavor of Christianity happens to be the officially established state 
Church.

Christianity forbids any form of idolatry, therefore it stands to reason 
that anyone in possession of a Buddha idol is not a Christian, but 
rather a Buddhist. This is far more logical than assuming a person's 
religion merely by the hapenstance of what country you were born in.

In fact why not just get it over with and declare that all beings with 
Buddhanature are Buddhists? Only those who can provide documented 
evidence of their status as icchantikas will be exempt from paying the 
Temple Tax.

Curt