The Phenomenon of Secular Buddhism in the West
Essays on Religious Studies December 31, 2024 Ihor Kolesnyk
Secular Buddhism is a contemporary movement that blends Western humanism, atheism, agnosticism, and scientific rationalism with Buddhist philosophy and meditation. It emerged from 20th-century dialogues between Buddhism and Western scientific and philosophical thought. Key figures include Robert Wright, Sam Harris, Dana Nourie, and Stephen Batchelor. The movement is contrasted with positions of other Buddhist schools, as seen in debates and open correspondence. Secular Buddhism is still forming its core ideas, apologetics, and applications, ranging from popularizing secular meditation (mindfulness) to developing humanist-oriented value systems in Western Buddhism.