[Steve_Seattle]

Once you get involved in real Buddhism, as opposed to theoretical Buddhism, it because very much like a Western religion. This is particularly true of Tibetan Buddhism, with its various "deities" such as Tara and Chenrezig who are prayed to in a way similar to the way in which Catholics pray to saints. The theory is different, but the practice is very similar.

[adam_az]

There are lots of sects of Buddhism.

I'm talking about what Buddha taught, which was not religion.

Gautama was born a Hindu, but abandoned Hinduism.

The schools that followed Buddha's teachings in their original forms were wiped out in the Islamic invasion.

Since then Buddhism has been Hindicized, including the use of idols and statues.

Many Christian sects had similar things happen. Most Christian rituals have pagan, not Jewish roots. Jesus early followers were Jews, but his modern day followers are descended primarily from Gentiles who brought their practices with them. Even going back to Roman times, many Christian rituals were really adapted from the cult of Mithraism.