Can a Buddhist be critical of other faiths

MaryAnne

Personally, I believe understanding (motivation) is one thing and acceptance (of actions) is another.
I can UNDERSTAND how some Islamists, some Christians, or people of ANY faith and practice can misread the messages within their books of faith, and in turn do (what they consider "righteous") things that ultimately harm others - or themselves.

However, understanding where the idea for that action originates is one thing, but that does not mean I/we/Buddhists/whomever must ACCEPT their actions without critique or judgement.
Because its our duty -- not as Buddhists, or Christians, etc -- but as HUMANS to admonish those who intentionally cause harm and hurt to our fellow humans whenever possible.
That said, I'd like to address the original poster, Zidangus, and say that I see a deeper issue concerning your specific stereotyping of Islam and its followers, more than you are concerning yourself with it being "right" - in a Buddhist sense - to criticize 'other religions'. I think that might not be the most mindful thing; to critique an entire religion based on the bad actions of a few.... There are so-called righteous Christians who bombed women's clinics and killed doctors they labeled "abortion doctors and baby killers"... does that mean ALL Christians should be represented by those few who killed others in the name of their religious beliefs?

federica

reviving old threads doesn't always work, and some of the contributing members are no longer active.
if you'd like to start a new discussion, please feel free, but if a thread is not from this year, it's not always productive.

thanks!