talking about soka gakkai is really hard without a background in nichiren buddhism, buddhism in japan, buddhism in general, and the way state religion has shaped japanese history.
similarly for inzomo taishakyo but w/ shintoism.
izunome is a new on to me to be honest. but at a quick glance it shares a common problem with many religions (and more secular schools of thought) wrt whether or not morality/virtues/goodness is an objective feature of the universe - in practice. i can discuss this wrt no-mind and/or samsara if you need.
seicho no ei is also new to me, but from their website:
It was founded in Japan in 1930 by Rev. Masaharu Taniguchi, who, through his deep concern over the many contradictions in life, dedicated many years of intensive study to different philosophies and religions, until one day, while in deep meditation, he received the divine inspirations that were to form the basis for the Truth of Life Movement.
but this "divine inspiritation" thing? not new. and it generally has a common set of problems and harms around it.
* * *
re: cult the controversy is the problem. not what constitutes a cult. as a phenomena, claims of cult status happen when memberships is controlled that such a way that leaving, joining, or being excluded estrange relations between family/friends of members. this is harm.
* * *
if you really want to pick a bone with me, try to determine what harm is.
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Date: 2010-04-13 05:48 pm (UTC)talking about soka gakkai is really hard without a background in nichiren buddhism, buddhism in japan, buddhism in general, and the way state religion has shaped japanese history.
similarly for inzomo taishakyo but w/ shintoism.
izunome is a new on to me to be honest. but at a quick glance it shares a common problem with many religions (and more secular schools of thought) wrt whether or not morality/virtues/goodness is an objective feature of the universe - in practice. i can discuss this wrt no-mind and/or samsara if you need.
seicho no ei is also new to me, but from their website:but this "divine inspiritation" thing? not new. and it generally has a common set of problems and harms around it.
* * *
re: cult
the controversy is the problem. not what constitutes a cult. as a phenomena, claims of cult status happen when memberships is controlled that such a way that leaving, joining, or being excluded estrange relations between family/friends of members. this is harm.
* * *
if you really want to pick a bone with me, try to determine what harm is.