SBN has hosted several important debates about the meaning and role of secular Buddhism in our contemporary society.
Reexamining ‘truths’ and ‘tasks’ in secular Buddhism: a dialogue (November 25, 2021)
Stephen Batchelor’s reinterpretation of the Four Noble Truths as a fourfold task to facilitate human flourishing is undoubtedly the most well-known aspect of his effort to develop a secular approach to the dharma and to make Buddhism relevant for our contemporary world.
While strongly supportive of Stephen's approach, Mike Slott's Reexamining 'truths' and 'tasks' in secular Buddhism raised concerns about Stephen's view of the relationship of truths and tasks.
Winton Higgins responded to Mike's article, which was then followed by Mike's rejoinder to Winton.
Responding to both Mike and Winton, Stephen Batchelor explains why it is crucial to highlight the radical shift from truth-based religion to a task-based ethics in the Buddha's teachings.
Reviewing the dialogue, Jonathan Golden uses Kuhn's notion of the 'paradigm shift' to support Mike's argument.
Robert M. Ellis and Winton Higgins discuss Middle Way Philosophy and Secular Buddhism (June 8, 2021)
In his SBN article 'Middle Way Philosophy and Secular Buddhism', Robert M. Ellis explored the connection between secular Buddhism and his Middle Way Philosophy. Ellis contended that while his Middle Way Philosophy shares with secular Buddhism a critical approach to the Buddhist tradition, he argued that ‘secular’ is not a term that provides the criteria we need to skillfully interrogate Buddhism and other traditions.
Winton Higgins, a frequent contributor to the Secular Buddhist Network and the author of Revamp: writings on secular Buddhism, has responded to Ellis's article. Higgins disagrees with Ellis's criticisms of secular Buddhism and argues that the Middle Way Philosophy's eclecticism, while well-intentioned, obscures important differences in the way we understand our spiritual quests:
Seth Zuihō Segall and Winton Higgins debate the meaning and value of secular Buddhism (November 19, 2020)
Seth Zuihō Segall's article, Why I Am Not a Secular Buddhist, began a lively and thought-provoking dialogue on this website between himself and Winton Higgins. In his recently published book, Buddhism and Human Flourishing, Seth laid out his eudaimonic approach to Buddhism. While similar to secular Buddhism, Seth has several objections to the 'secular' label and explained them in his article. His primary concern is that the term 'secular' connotes the rejection of religion as a whole and negates the sacred dimension of our lived experience in the world.
Winton has contributed numerous articles to this website in which he has presented a secular approach to meditation, the role of sanghas, and the need for social and political engagement based on the values of care and compassion. He is the author of After Buddhism: a workbook (a step-by-step guide to Stephen Batchelor’s groundbreaking After Buddhism: Rethinking the dharma for a secular age) and Refit: selected writings on secular Buddhism (forthcoming, Tuwhiri). In his dialogue with Seth, Winton has explored the nature of secularity, as well as the meaning and role of secular Buddhism in our society.
