Reddit reviews Confession of a Buddhist Atheist

Buddha was an freethinker. He was born into a high-class position and yet when he saw the suffering of others he rejected Hinduism and the evils of the caste system. He refused to believe that humans were destined to live a life of poverty while others lived lavishly. I doubt he was an atheist though he might have been but there weren't too many atheists during his time. If I have my guesses he was probably a Deist or maybe a Pantheist. Buddhism itself doesn't actually require a belief in a God. Here's a Book on the life of an Atheist Buddhist

I'll assume you've already found the 4 noble truths and 8 fold path (if not give those a google). Here are a few suggestions that I've found personally helpful:

Mindfulness in Plain English (link to text)

Confessions of a Buddhist Atheist (link to Amazon)

Explore the different sects of Buddhism, but don't get too caught up if some of them seem too religious to you. Much of Buddhism spread by incorporating local traditions and gods/goddesses, and those are not the heart of Buddhism. Don't get too much into the theory before you get into the meditation. While Buddhism can be studied academically, you really need to practice to fully understand. (And by practice I mean meditate).

I have to say my views are similar to yours. I've been considering reading:
http://www.amazon.com/Confession-Buddhist-Atheist-Stephen-Batchelor/dp/0385527063

I haven't really looked into teachers in particular, but Stephen Batchelor's books on both his path to secular Buddhism and Secular Buddhism itself are excellent reads. Here and Here

I just read this book, Confessions of a Buddhist Atheist.

It talks a lot about many of the questions you have asked, and reads as an anecdotal account of one seekers journey as well as attempts to frame historical buddah. The opening story about meeting a Buddhist monk much revered for his ability to control the weather sets the book up nicely.

"Charting his journey from hippie to monk to lay practitioner, teacher, and interpreter of Buddhist thought, Batchelor reconstructs the historical Buddha’s life, locating him within the social and political context of his world. In examining the ancient texts of the Pali Canon, the earliest record of the Buddha’s life and teachings, Batchelor argues that the Buddha was a man who looked at human life in a radically new way for his time, more interested in the question of how human beings should live in this world than in notions of karma and the afterlife. According to Batchelor, the outlook of the Buddha was far removed from the piety and religiosity that has come to define much of Buddhism as we know it today.

Both controversial and deeply personal, Confession of a Buddhist Atheist is a fascinating exploration of a religion that continues to engage the West. Batchelor’s insightful, deeply knowledgeable, and persuasive account will be an essential book for anyone interested in Buddhism."

edited for quote.

> I will not define Buddhism in any way

There's a wide range, apparently. The more dogma and lack of evidence involved the less I like it. There's nothing fundamentally wrong with trying to achieve inner peace, learning about your own consciousness, and all that.

Thinking I might learn something, I recently added Confession of a Buddhist Atheist to my wish list.

Yep, atheistic Buddhism.

Stephen Batchelor was excellent on Reasonable Doubts:

http://doubtreligion.blogspot.co.uk/2010/09/episode-73-confession-of-buddhist.html

He wrote a book:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Confession-Buddhist-Atheist-Stephen-Batchelor/dp/0385527063

I mean it in the sense that I agree with the general teachings and philosophies of Buddhism (4 noble truths, 8-fold noble path, interdependence, impermanence, etc.); but don't believe in the "organized religion" aspect of it or some of the metaphysical stuff that happens in the sutras.

Maybe "Buddhist Atheist" is redundant - but I was introduced to the term from:

http://www.amazon.com/Confession-Buddhist-Atheist-Stephen-Batchelor/dp/0385527063/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1292871808&sr=8-1-spell

Hope this helps to clarify

Buddhism to me is more like a practice than a religion itself.

My Islamic civilization lecturer once brought this up in the class "The true Buddhism doesn't believe in god".

Anyway, I'm not a good debater but you can read this book to find out more.

The Reasonable Doubts Podcast (one of my favorites, BTW) did a 3 part series on the good and bad of Buddhism Epsidoes 73-75. They had as a guest Stephen Batchelor, one time high ranking Buddhist monk turned atheist, and author of a number of books including Confession of a Buddhist Atheist

If you're interested, it's as good an overview as you'll find anywhere I think.

If you are not comfortable with mystical concepts like karma and rebirth, but would rather focus on concepts like mindfulness and compassion, you can read Stephen Batchelor, http://www.amazon.com/Confession-Buddhist-Atheist-Stephen-Batchelor/dp/0385527063/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1291073951&sr=1-1

I've been reading Confessions of a Buddhist Atheist and he delves into concepts like these. It was really eye opening. He could be twisting things, but he paints the Buddha as an atheist according to the Pali cannon based on some key things he had said. Then delves into how you can be a religious atheist. I've found many benefits in religious practices throughout my life, they are a good anchor, it's just the metaphysical dogmas I can't dive into as an atheist. But the ideas of community, meditation and ritual can benefit anyone's life. I think every religion has a good philosophy to offer once you strip away beliefs.

If you aren't aware of his work, take a look at Stephen Batchelor's Confessions of a Buddhist Atheist. Critchley's Faith of the Faithless might also be useful for you to cut through some of the cognitive dissonance you might be experiencing when balancing an atheistic standpoint with other ontological traditions. Take what is useful from the tradition to reduce the level of suffering you experience. The Buddha doesn't care; he's dead.