'Theism' and Pure Land

[santamonicacj]

Buddhas are omniscient but not omnipotent, so asking them to act in one way or anothr may be futile.

I don't think that they are entirely impotent either, but they do not rule our lives. In Tibetan Dharma they talk about "The hook of compassion and the ring of faith". Their function seems more to be to elevate us rather than manage our childish demands on life.

At least that's kinda my current take on it. My view on this is not set in stone.

[Rael]

In that respect, yes, it acknowledges the existence of gods and demi-gods. However Buddha was clear that one should not expect him to do things for you or to 'save you', you have to do it one your own. In that sense, since the Buddha did not set himself up as a god, it is not theistic.

I've always had an uneasy feeling that sects, entire SECTS allow the masses to donate money and are allowed to go to temples and such and pray for fortune...

it's really bad and quite rampant in some places....

[Blue Garuda]

In that respect, yes, it acknowledges the existence of gods and demi-gods. However Buddha was clear that one should not expect him to do things for you or to 'save you', you have to do it one your own. In that sense, since the Buddha did not set himself up as a god, it is not theistic.

I've always had an uneasy feeling that sects, entire SECTS allow the masses to donate money and are allowed to go to temples and such and pray for fortune...

it's really bad and quite rampant in some places....

Institutionalised corruption appears in many forms - not only rampant usury.

There is also rampant sex in rampant sects.

[santamonicacj]

In that respect, yes, it acknowledges the existence of gods and demi-gods. However Buddha was clear that one should not expect him to do things for you or to 'save you', you have to do it one your own. In that sense, since the Buddha did not set himself up as a god, it is not theistic.

I've always had an uneasy feeling that sects, entire SECTS allow the masses to donate money and are allowed to go to temples and such and pray for fortune...
it's really bad and quite rampant in some places....

Institutionalised corruption appears in many forms - not only rampant usury.
There is also rampant sex in rampant sects.

I'm sure Caz can give the exact definition, but my comic-book level rendering of the 8 worldly dharmas are:
desire for, or even aversion towards, money, sex, power and prestige. It is not only the corrupting elements for Dharma, but politics, art, social movements, or whatever idealistic aspiration man may have.