Link roundup to prove we're still here

Link Round Up

Just thought I'd asked:

Who are "we" and "where" did "we" appear to go?

Why are so many singers and musicians attracted to Nichiren Buddhism?

What do you mean by "so many"?

Don't let being alive ruin your day.

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by: joeisuzu @ Mon Aug 01, 2011 at 07:24:40 AM UTC

musical chanters

let's see how many we can come up with. Off the top of my head....amy winehouse...phoebe snow...courtney love...wayne shorter...herbie hancock...tina turner...melody gardot...suzanne vega...duncan sheik...

considering that buddhists account for something like .3 percent of the population in the u.s., i think it's amazing that i can name more than three renowned music stars who identify as nichiren buddhists.

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by: brooke @ Mon Aug 01, 2011 at 15:30:54 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Confirming Belief Biases

Hey, you know I get off on being contrary! I just become wary at confusing association with causality. One could also ask "why do so many rock stars die at 27 ?" There's a list of over thirty. But if you make it past the age, you're not on a list of people past the age. I do apologize if I offended.

And come to think about it (code for "I may be wrong") there is a natural proclivity towards something that is "spiritually awakening" to those who are fortunate enough to have the musical muse sitting on their shoulder, especially with something as lyrical as chanting.

.3 percent of the population, which is estimated at 311 million, would be about 900,000 Buddhists. I would guess, a guess-timate, that there were that many either currently practicing or former members in Nichiren sects alone in the US, not counting the other non-Nichiren sects of Buddhism. So the number of Buddhist in the US might be higher.

One might not think it "amazing" to list say 50 or 100 artists in this arena that claim a Christian belief along with their music (granted not off the top of your head, but put a couple of devoted Christian heads together) because this is an overwhelmingly Christian nation filled with Christians. Just ask any Christian and they will confirm that for you. And the number of artists would be enough to confirm their belief bias.

Again, I apologize, but I was just confirming my own bias that we all have a tendency to confirm our belief biases.

PS
Amy was brilliant.

Don't let being alive ruin your day.

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by: joeisuzu @ Mon Aug 01, 2011 at 17:30:03 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Singers/musicians

"We" means the pseudonymous handful of people who can post items to the main column on this website. "Where" means hiatus such as summer vacation.

Joe, there are a lot of pop stars and musicians who chant. Are there just as many renowned architects, astronauts, politicians, and judges who chant? That would be great, but I doubt it.

Try it. Name all the famous people you can think of who identify themselves as Nichiren Buddhists. I bet singers/musicians will be disproportionately represented on that list. But I could be wrong. So show me.

About demographics:

Accurate counts of Buddhists in the United States are difficult. Self-description has pitfalls. Because Buddhism is a cultural concept, individuals who self-describe as Buddhists may have little knowledge nor commitment to Buddhism as a religion or practice; on the other hand, others may be deeply involved in meditation and committed to the Dharma, but may refuse the label "Buddhist". Studies have indicated a Buddhist population in the United States of between 2 and 10 million.[25] In the 1990s, Robert A. F. Thurman estimated there were 5 to 6 million Buddhists in America.

In a 2007 Pew Research Center survey, at 0.7% Buddhism was the fourth largest religion in the US after Christianity (78.4%), no religion (10.3%) and Judaism (1.7%)

Source link.

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by: Nine Lives @ Tue Aug 02, 2011 at 00:43:40 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

So show me

Uh, ...so I guess you didn't read my response to Brooke where I pretty much agreed with you? I don't know what credence Uma's scholar pop gives to statistical studies in this context without citing sources, but your PEW Research Study basically agrees with me so what do you want to talk about now? How about you'll the criteria for acceptance in a chosen field? Politicians vs rock stars?

Don't let being alive ruin your day.

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by: joeisuzu @ Tue Aug 02, 2011 at 06:12:46 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Duh

 "How about you'll the criteria for..."
WHO WRITES LIKE THAT? Oh yeah, I do.

Don't let being alive ruin your day.

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by: joeisuzu @ Tue Aug 02, 2011 at 06:41:09 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

skewed perception

I don't know about famous people, but my impression is that a lot of teachers/educators are attracted to Nichiren Buddhism. Maybe it's because of the whole Makiguchi connection. Maybe it's because one Nichiren sect actively courts teachers and academics. I'm not sure. I'd be interested to see a demographic breakdown of Nichiren practitioners by profession.

Also, I'd say that athletes are attracted to the practice for some reason. I can think of a few stars -- Roberto Baggio, Orlando Cepeda...OK, so only two sports stars off the top of my head. I'm sure there are more.

Oh, and actors. Tons of actors. Joe, I'd put you on the list of recognizable actors who chant.

With all "famous people" who chant, I'm sorta suspicious. What are their motives for touting affiliation with Nichiren Buddhism? How serious are they about their practice? Is it just for publicity? Is a particular sect using implicit "endorsements" from celebrities to legitimize itself and attract more recruits?

One thing I dig about Tina Turner's approach is that she doesn't really get into talking about the dharma or trying to explain. She just chants, and people respond.

With Herbie Hancock (and I think Wayne Shorter, too) when they talk about Buddhism (in interviews I've read) they talk in a fresh and personal way about concepts. They're not locked into sectarian terminology or the kind of salesmanship you sometimes see when celebs talk about religion. When Hancock/Shorter talk about Buddhism, you can hear how they've made the practice their own.

Anyway, I think those are two great examples of celebs who model different approaches to what I consider "good Nichiren practice": Tina Turner who is all about sound and feeling, and Herbie Hancock who verbalizes hard-won understanding.

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by: deardenver @ Tue Aug 02, 2011 at 18:10:11 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Celebrity Endorsed

Yes, dear, you're correct, "tons of actors" if you weight them by their egos. A typical actors' ego weighs about 2000 lbs., is kept inside their enormous hydrocephalic heads, and has the density of a cubic metre of water. This is one of the reasons they gush so easily about what "they" are up to. They're bursting! So if you get three actors practicing Nichiren Buddhism you have "tons of actors". Throw in Orlando Bloom and it's slightly more because it's a metric ton. He's also taller than most when he stands on his wallet. But I don't see actors or athletes or musicians "touting" an affiliation with Nichiren Buddhism. I see it the other way around. But every organization loves a celebrity endorsement as long as they stay within a set of parameters. Its like they say in Scientology: "Shut the fuck up Tom!"

Don't let being alive ruin your day.

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by: joeisuzu @ Tue Aug 02, 2011 at 23:28:47 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Connection to actors

joeisuzu notes:
But I don't see actors or athletes or musicians "touting" an affiliation with Nichiren Buddhism. I see it the other way around. But every organization loves a celebrity endorsement as long as they stay within a set of parameters.

Indeed, that's the function often foisted upon celebrities, in our culture, by many groups, whether religious, political, or the producers / purveyors of a market product.

deardenver is on the right track - nothing is proven by finding the examples that support your theory. You have to look at a balanced sample and see if any correlation really holds up under scrutiny.

Life is just a fiendish plot to get us all killed.

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by: dead guy @ Sat Aug 06, 2011 at 22:30:04 PM UTC

[ Parent ]