Talk:Dalai Lama
The article makes it look like RW really believes in reincarnation. - LucidFox (talk) 10:05, 17 January 2012 (UTC)
- I'm not sure about that. While never explicitly stating reincarnation is false (that's more for the article itself to do isn't it?), it refers to reincarnation in terms of points of view and official recognition. Failing to say "reincarnation is false" is not the same as saying "reincarnation is true." Rennie McGreet (talk) 11:18, 17 January 2012 (UTC)
[edit] Should the whole article be rethought?
I admit right away that I'm no expert here, but I do wonder whether the portrayal of the Dalai Lama doesn't suck up to someone who doesn't, from a rational point of view, deserve it at all. Now, some of the Lama's more questionable stuff is indeed mentioned, but mostly as side issues. Can anyone really give me a good reason why this homophobic, misogynist, creatonist theocrat, who has said that atheism is one of the greatest threats to the Western World (discussed here) shouldn't be treated as, well, exactly that? In fact, apart from his pacifism, he does strike one as remarkably similar to standard televangelists. True, he's said a lot of good about science, but even the Discovery Institute says a lot of good about science (indeed, they repeatedly assert that they truly and dearly love science), but when science actually happens to conflict with religion, regardless of what one says should happen in advance ... well, the Lama's track record isn't particularly good in those cases (and the DiscoTute sure endorses him wholeheartedly for his views on evolution). I don't think quasi-racist appeals to orientalism and Ancient Eastern Traditions suffice as a defense of him, but seems to the source of much of the admiration.
Ok, so maybe I am exaggerating here, but I do have misgivings about the tenor of this article. Anyone else?