Religious Subculture-Buddhism

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Religious Subculture-Buddhism
Buddhism is the fifth largest religion in America behind Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Hinduism. The fifth position may not seem like anything to write home about, but the estimated Buddhist population is 3.9 million. This is a significant number for any country. This religious subculture attracts many because of its simple yet firm doctrines, which appeal to a considerable size of the population. It advocates for peace and harmony unlike other religions, which have been known to perpetrate violence and hatred based on differences in ideologies. The following paper will highlight the Buddhist subculture in America, its origin, how the religion has influenced its followers and the society and the statistical data of its members.
History of Buddhism and Reason for choosing the subculture.
The Buddhist religion started in 624 BC in modern day Nepal. At the time, the area was still part of Northern India. When its founder, Buddha, was about 29 years old, he retreated to the forest to meditate and focus on his spirituality. It was so useful that others asked that he teach them how to meditate and focus as he did. Thus began the religion that is Buddhism. The religion is based on principles of suffering, reasons for suffering, cessation of suffering and the path to such cessation. Collectively, they are known as the four noble truths, and they are the pillars upon which Buddhism is based. Apart from that, the religion also advocates for inner peace and deep meditation, which believers know, can help withstand anything.

It rests on the tenets of spiritual development and righteousness that leads the follower to understand the true nature of life. Further, the practice of meditation is seen as a way of changing oneself CITATION Bro15 p n.p l 1033 (Brown n.p) to develop the virtues of kindness, wisdom, and understanding.
The religion is one of the most interesting religions the world over. It is unique because of its doctrines and further, it preaches tolerance and love for all coupled with a desire to understand oneself and those around him truly. It is also unique in the sense that although Buddhists pray to Buddha, he is not a Supreme Being or a Deity in the way God or Allah is to Christians and Muslims respectively. Its teachings provide a different understanding of what religion is or should beCITATION Wut04 p 370-372 l 1033 (Wuthnow 370-372). The fact that it promotes inner peace and tolerance for all is enough to study it.
Buddhism in America
Buddhism has experienced a significant rise in followers from all over the world. America is no exception. From around 1850, there has been a steady increase in Buddhist followers in the country. The primary reasons for the escalating numbers have been migration and religious diversity. The number of immigrants who flock to America annually is quite high, and many of the migrants are from Asia where the religion began and still widely practiced. Most of the immigrants have continued practicing Buddhism in America, and many have taken to it because of the teachings it advances. Away from that, the American constitution has also granted the citizens the right to practice any religion they so wish. This freedom has allowed many to convert to Buddhism and stick to it. The internet has also played a major part in the advancement of Buddhism. This is because it provides extensive information on the subject including its doctrines and principles, which appeal to many. Anyone who takes an interest in the religion can just google ‘how to practice Buddhism’ if there is no one around him or her that is a practicing Buddha.
Historical and Social Forces Influencing Buddhism
If you are a peaceful human, then Earth is not for you. For centuries, the world has been plagued with incidences of violence and the spread of hatred and contempt. People have been taught to hate based on differences in ideologies and beliefs. The culmination of intolerance has been exemplified by the two World Wars, religious and civil strife that has been experienced the world over. All this is in contrast to what Buddhism teaches. The religion is based on tenets of inner peace, tolerance and a deeper understanding of the true nature of life. The things that Buddhism stands for are what many people want to practice. Most individuals who are either Buddhists or have converted to Buddhism desire world peace and harmony for all. The one way to rid the earth of such misunderstandings is through patience and understanding CITATION War93 p 1067-1069 l 1033 (Warner 1067-1069). Society has also been fraught with intolerance of every kind.
The biggest type has been racial intolerance where people have been segregated based on the color of their skin. People have been murdered and even enslaved because of it. Those who do so believe that they are superior and that those who are subjugated are unworthy human beings. The irony of it all is that those who perpetrate such acts are strict followers of one religion or another. Thus, Buddhism comes in. It solves all the perennial problems related to hatred and violence along with discrimination. All these historical and societal issues have significantly contributed to turning people towards Buddhism. Many feel that if everyone stuck to the principles that the religion teaches then World War I and II would never have happened and neither would there have been slavery. Everyone would be patient with the other person, and he or she would express nothing but love.
Demographics of Buddhists
The United States of America has an approximate population of about 3.9 million Buddhists. This makes up about 1% of the total population of 488 million. The average age of Buddhist followers is 33 years, which is younger than the median age of the land that stands at around 37 yearsCITATION Pew12 p n.p l 1033 (Pew Research Center n.p). A large population of adherents of the religion is of Asian descent. This can be attributed to the fact that the religion began in Asia and had been passed on from generation to generation. About 8% of the Buddhists are in the state of Hawaii. This is the largest population of followers anywhere in the United States and is attributed to its mostly Asian American population. However, Southern California has the greatest number of practitioners that stands at 1.2 million.
Conclusion
Conducting research has taught me how the Buddhist religion works. I have also learned what the religion is premised on and what its core principles are. Further, I have discovered that the religion has considerably contributed to a more harmonious society with its push for virtues such as inner peace, understanding, and tolerance. It would also be accurate to say that if many took to the religion or stuck to its principle then the misunderstandings that have plagued the world would not have happened. It is a unique religion that is open to all and which many should embrace.
Works Cited
BIBLIOGRAPHY Brown, Candy G. “The Huffington Post.” Mindfulness: Stealth Buddhist Strategy for Mainstreaming Meditation? (2015): n.p. Website.
Pew Research Center. Global Religious Landscape: Buddhists. 18 December 2012. Website. 7 December 2016.
Warner, R Stephen. “Work in Progress Toward a New Paradigm for the Sociological Study of Religion in the United States.” University of Chicago Press Journal (1993): 1044-1093. Document.
Wuthnow, Robert. “Buddhists and Buddhism in the United States: The Scope of Influence.” Journal for Scientific Study of Religion (2004): 363-380. Document.