Is there a difference between practicing Buddhism as a religion vs a philosophy?

People say that Buddhism can be looked at as either, so I wanted to know if there is really a difference between claiming it's a religion or a philosophy. No matter which it is, it's looked at as a way of life, correct?





Oh and somewhat randomly I'd like to ask as an additional mini-question: What is the relationship between Buddhism and meditation? What purpose does it serve?





Thanks!|||Yes, you are correct.





Well, the purpose of meditation is to maintain calmness and positive state of mind more.


The final goal in Buddhist meditation is to reach enlightenment by being able to apply right views in everything. By having a goal to do so, one will be able to become more relax and more aware, and many other things even though they haven't reach enlightenment yet.|||I don't find it to be either a religion or a philosophy.



It's not a religion because there is no God in Buddhism, and because the only person who have "save" you from suffering is yourself.

It's not a philosophy because philosophy is "the rational investigation of the truths and principles of being, knowledge, or conduct". This requires the use of intellect and logic, and Buddhism is experiential, not intellectual.



The role of meditation? During meditation, you learn to focus and control your mind and to be aware without using intellect ... you function outside of thought. As you become skilled at this, you start applying skill to how you live through daily life.|||i'm christian it's basically you live you die you come back repeat


the Christian Scriptures are historically outstanding, deserving serious consideration. One could even say that the history of the Bible is so compelling that to doubt the Bible is to doubt history itself since it is the most historically verifiable book of all antiquity. The only book more historically verifiable than the Old Testament (the Hebrew Bible) is the New Testament.


Buddhism is one of the leading world religions in terms of adherents, geographical distribution, and socio-cultural influence. While largely an “Eastern” religion, it is becoming increasingly popular and influential in the Western world. It is a unique world religion in its own right, though it has much in common with Hinduism in that both teach Karma (cause-and-effect ethics), Maya (the illusory nature of the world), and Samsara (the cycle of reincarnation). Buddhists believe that the ultimate goal in life is to achieve “enlightenment” as they perceive it.|||I am a Buddhist and I find it more of a philosophy than a religion.





Buddhism gives examples of how we can live our life, whereas religion tells us exactly how it should be done (according to rules made up by the church elders).





Buddhism allows us to think for ourselves, and I have yet to find a religion that encourages that.





Meditation is a huge part of Buddhism because it calms the mind and emotions, and allows us to let the Energy come thru to us. Prayer is mostly us trying to convince God to do something we want it to do.





I was raised a Christian, converted to Catholicism in my quest to find the truth, gave up religion altogether, then found that Buddhism resonated with my heart. Buddhism and science are very close; and I'd rather base my beliefs on facts than imaginings.





Just my humble opinion....|||It depends entirely upon the beliefs of the individual who follows: If the person is an atheist, then it is a philosophy. But, if the person believes in the various deities, Bodhisattvas, etc. of Buddhism, then it is a religion.



Just like with Judaism: if the person who follows it is an atheist, then it is a culture; but, if they do believe in God, then it is a religion.



Edit:@ Gib mer Kraft; Buddhism DOES have gods, etc. It just doesn't have a Creator God.



Edit # 2: Meditation is to Buddhism what Prayer is to Christianity.|||technically speaking the original buddhist teachings are not a religion. buddha said he was not a god. so no god typically means no religion.





so originally (therevada teachings) no there is no difference because you can't practice it as a religion.





however if you define religion differently then yes. let's say you think that it's a religion because it has beliefs about karma and rebirth and different realms. then if you practice as a religion you believe in all of this stuff and try to do what you need to do to have good karma and not be reborn ever again or at least be reborn in a good place.





if you practice as philosophy then you only practice the parts that work without any leaps of faith. so you meditate because it's good for the mind and can bring great mental peace. you're a nice person because life is easier when you don't have many enemies. and all the other parts that work directly in our reality. but you deny all the stuff that has to be taken on faith. this would be a philosophical non-religious out look.|||reading it and thinking about what you've read can make Buddhism philosophy if you're reading and thinking from outside of Buddhism with curiosity or research. This is not even literal learning (pariyatti).





practicing Buddhism must include meditation (vipassana) as patipatti.|||Strictly speaking Buddhism can't be a religion as by definition religion requires the belief in a god or gods.|||Christan mystics reference Buddhism to clean up the mind,


think we need some mind cleaning? I do.