I know one practicing Buddhist (not Zen, but I forget which sect) who describes herself as an atheist.

It is my understanding of Buddhism is that there is nothing in the core beliefs which mandates a god, and is therefore a candidate for atheism. But many atheists might consider the nirvana concept as something that would exclude it from their fold.

Thanks for the rx knowledge! that's what i was thinking. In pain, my mind works less well.

WRT the religion discussion: this is a really interesting read. As someone who grew up reading myths and studying world religions, my POV has always been that every myth is someone else's religion story, and everyone's religion is someone else's superstition. I totally forget that other people don't think the same way, which usually ends in a very awkward silence after someone interprets my "statement of fact" as bashing their religious belief. In my mind, faith IS magic and magic IS faith. They are just aspects of different religious belief systems.

I always wanted to believe. I tried out every house of worship in Richmond, VA (which, admittedly, is very very few outside of diff flavors of protestantism). I envy my mother's strong faith, but find myself just as agnostic as my dad.

hey, did you know it's tough to type without using your thumb? cuz it is :)

I take ibuprofen like they're M&Ms, so do as I say, not as I do.

I absolutely give Benedryl advice like this. I will tell *you* actual medical advice and then *I* swallow little pink things like they are candies that will stop the evil tree sex from making me miserable.

Kristin, a quick Etsy search turned up these:

Rose and crystals: [link]

Pearl and garnet: [link]

Resin crystal and a rosebud: [link]

I was taught that some types of Buddhism are explicitly atheist in that once you peel all the illusion away there is, in fact, nothing, and gods are just more illusion, but my understanding is purely academic and grounded in a course I took a long time ago.

What kind of style are you looking for, Kristin? Something simple like this? Or more complicated like a big red octopus?

With silver or ooh, I like this circular one or a tree of life or red coral heart?

Oooh, Belle Epoque dragonfly and ruby crystal! [link]

I don't think many Western atheists think that one can become a Bodhisatva, though, which is why I think that the description of Buddhists as atheists is fraught. If atheism is not believing in a god, perhaps. But can one achieve nirvana without some sort of science-unexplainable power thing happening? What is enlightenment? Also, can you hear my one hand clapping?

Aaand more pearls and ruby crystals: [link]

If atheism is not believing in a god, perhaps.

Yeah, I think that was the specific definition of atheism we were talking about in that class. But Buddhism can be a very rational religion in which enlightenment is just knowing the truth, nothing supernatural about it, you can get there with deductive reasoning. And the non-existence of the soul is an important doctrine, very rationally presented, that I think is common to all the major branches though I am not sure about that. There are ways of being Buddhist that are more faith-based and mystical and may involve magical thinking, definitely.