Things like sexual promiscuity are, at least to me, unrelated to 'peace & love'. They are bondage in Buddhism.clw_uk wrote:Perhaps Islam is the religion of peace and love after all.
Tibetan Buddhism is historically anti-gay. It was only recently we had to sort out the non-Buddhist anti-gay views of the Dalai Lama. Each three of the Abrahamic religions are anti-gay, however Islam, at least according to the Koran, is the most lenient, given it is actually silent on homosexuality; although the later Muslims wrote Hadith, seeming to follow Judaic law, about homosexuality. I think it would be quite naive to assume homosexuality did not exist during the height of the cosmopolitanism character of the Islamic Empire (however, it would be been practiced discretely). Traditionally, Muslims can be quite open & lewd about sex, such as in the writings of Rumi.clw_uk wrote:The anti-gay persecution and anti-women elements must be western lies. Then again, maybe not.
As for women, Islam treats women like Buddhist bhikkhunis, which is not anti-women but anti-sexual-exhibitionist. I think the flaw in your arguments are, just as erroneously equating capitalism with freedom, you seem to equate female sex-exhibitionism with women. In Buddhism, the following is chanted everyday by female bhikkhunis about their use of clothing.
Considering it thoughtfully, I use the robe:
simply to counteract cold,
to counteract the touch of flies, mosquitoes, wind, sun, & reptiles;
simply for the purpose of covering the parts of the body that cause shame.
There were wives of Muhammad (PBUH), particularly Aisha, who became very politically powerful and even lead a military battle. In the Buddhist suttas, wealthy or influential men had many wives, but generally in a family environment, similar to Muhammad (PBUH). Often gay men & eunuchs worked in the harems, according to some Islamic reports. Often harsh critics of Islam using the tenuous anti-women argument are against sexual morality & are in favour of sexual promiscuity. In other words, there is no objective truth Islam is anti-women because Islam actually believes it is pro-women. In Buddhism, the word 'freedom' or 'liberty' means 'freedom from defilement (kilesa)' rather than freedom to engage in defilement. My two gay friends have been together for over 40 years. They respect relationships & sexual boundaries. They are ordinary members of our community who help old people, take care of children, walk people's dogs when they are on holidays, etc. They know they know how to behave respectfully towards people in different cultures. Due to their virtue, they have travelled enjoyably in Muslim countries. While Buddhism does not discriminate against gay people, Buddhism does hope both gay & non-gay people alike, like my two friends, live according to the five precepts (rather than promote sexual heedlessness & promiscuity). If gay & non-gay people transgress the five precepts, Buddhism does not really support or endorse that. In Taiwan, many Buddhists were against gay marriage legislation. There is nothing in Buddhism that is especially pro-gay. Buddhism treats all people the same and says all people are heirs to their kamma. Being gay does not offer any special privileges or entitlements under the law of kamma in Buddhism.clw_uk wrote:Oh, and let's not forget Muhammad. Do you see a noble character there? What do you think of his rather, shall we say, peculiar sexual appetites? I know Buddha wouldn't have approved. Where do you stand friend?
