Post #405547 by paranoid123 on Tue, Sep 2, 2008 2:08 PM

I can't say I totally agree with you, BB. Buddhism is a huge and varied religion as many denominations and branches as the Judeo-Christian religion. I'm not just talking about the vegan cookie-eating, zen garden-tending, incense-burning, yoga and meditation-doing, 'Free Tibet' protester Buddhists. I've known many people who have been Buddhists for many generations, yet never stepped into a temple. I knew one person who was not a vegetarian, but couldn't eat seafood chosen from a tank, because he could not choose who would die. A kid I grew up with, during 6th grade took a religious break, joined a monastary, and came back a few months later with a shaved head. Many of my friends' parents maintain a small household shrine and make regular offerings of food to it. They all consider themselves Buddhists, although by textbook definitions they are not.

These Buddhists I know wouldn't be caught dead (or reincarnated -heh-) in a Buddha bar, and I would certainly never drink out of a Buddha's belly mug in front of them. Yes, I've seen some of of them have plastic Buddha trinkets dangling from their rearview mirror, but they didn't get it for the kitsch value.

I'm not at all advocating over-PCness. I'm just saying that Buddhists wouldn't take it lightly, and I stick by that.