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Question
Hi, Buddhist don't believe in a creator God, yet, some Buddhist believe in devas, why doesn't the same reasoning and logic apply to them? Why do some Buddhist believe in devas but not a God?
Hi Marc,
> Buddhist don't believe in a creator God
True.
> yet, some Buddhist believe in devas,
True again.
> why doesn't the same reasoning and logic apply to them?
They are completely different ideas. It may or may not be true that there are powerful beings living on some kind of "spiritual" plane who have some effect on our lives (like celestial politicians, you might say). Whether that is true or not is similar to the question of "are there fish at the deepest part of the sea?", or "is there life on other planets?" It may be difficult to tell, but there is nothing inconsistent about the question.
It's the idea that saying "creator god" answers any questions about the nature of things that is silly, and the idea that this god is all-powerful that is frighteningly horrible. I won't even start on the idea that some middle-eastern hermits used to have a hot-line to him!
Again, in short, they are two completely different ideas.
Best wishes
Alex W
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Answers by Expert:
Alex Wilding
Expertise
I have practiced and studied Tibetan Buddhism in the Kagyu and Nyingma traditions since the early 1970s, and have a good knowledge of theory, history and of the struggles of trying to practice the teachings, including meditation, while leading a normal, modern life. I am also available to provide background information for journalists.
Experience
I have been a practitioner since the early 1970s; have run a small Buddhist centre in the English Midlands and was vice-president of Kagyu Benchen Ling e.V. in Germany, for whom I managed three large Buddhist summer-camps. More importantly, I maintain a habit of personal practice.
I am the "owner" of the Kagyu list at Yahoo.
Education/Credentials
My first degree was an M.A. from Oxford. I later obtained a Master of Philosophy degree for a research thesis in "Initiation in Tibetan Buddhism" from Leicester University. I also have engineering and educational qualifications.
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