Religion, Politics & Culture: Buddhism and its Impact on Society and the Environmental Movement

As we join our Buddhists friends to commemorate Vesak Day, let us recall how religion still plays a significant role in shaping our cultural identity, political response and approach to social activism around the world.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/buddhism.htm

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lodro-rinzler/buddhism-and-activism-how_b_804162.html

http://newlotus.buddhistdoor.com/en/news/d/31783

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/desilva/attitude.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/21/world/asia/extremism-rises-among-myanmar-buddhists-wary-of-muslim-minority.html?_r=0

http://www.onislam.net/english/news/asia-pacific/486625-dalai-lama-urges-suu-kyi-to-defend-rohingyas.html

http://www.ibtimes.com/why-nobel-laureate-aung-san-suu-kyi-unlikely-heed-dalai-lamas-pleas-help-rohingya-1942838

Like all established religions, the Buddhist faith has also been   (mis)appropriated for various political movements around the world. Political violence and intolerance is one. The case in Myanmar is rather unfortunate. In human history, religion has often been used as a convenient tool to generate political rhetoric and violence on different communities. Recall important case studies you may know within the Christian, Hindu and Muslim faith where the issues and the role of religion in public life continue to generate rich and meaningful  debates between policy-makers and scholars in our region and communities.