WebSadhu

Nice one. I remember reading this story somewhere:

One day, the Buddha visited a hamlet called Kesaputta. Then some princes of a clan named Kalama came to the Buddha and told him thus: "Venerable Sir, various types of teachers now and then come over to our town let and give us different kinds of teaching. One person teaches one thing and another gives a quite contradictory teaching. This happens over and over again. When we listen to them we get puzzled, and we cannot understand which one is correct and which one wrong. Thereupon the Buddha said: "It is no wonder that a man gets puzzled when he hears teachings contradictory to each other. But I tell you this:

" "Don't accept a thing merely because it is handed down by tradition.
" Don't accept a thing merely because many people repeat it.
" Don't accept a thing merely on the authority of the sage, who teaches it.
" Don't accept a thing merely because it is found in the so called scripture.
" Don't accept a thing merely because probability is in its favor.
" Don't accept a thing merely because you have so imagined, or it is inspired (by some supernormal agency).
" After examination, after testing for yourself, if you find it is reasonable and is in conformity with your well-being and the well-being of others as well, then accept it and follow it."

Buddhism and most other eastern religions can just not be called as religions. They are genuine and serious enquiry into the nature of man and reality. Often, this inspection may be distorted by priests and politicians, but the fact remains that buddhism and other eastern reigions primarily compared to Christanity and Islam is more concerned about facing and confronting reality, then simply accepting some God and pope/mullah/pundit blindly. Christianity , Islam and even eastern religions are polluted by popes/priests/mullahs for power and hunger.

"Buddhism does not worship a God and concerns itself with more human or immediate, practical matters than whether there is a God."... Chantw1 u r very right in saying this.
"Buddhism is unique amongst the religions of the world because it is not concerned primarily with refuting the notion of God but It is principally concerned with developing a method of escape from the worldly ills. Buddha was more interested in expounding a way to personal salvation, and to improve the weal of mankind both in this world and in the worlds to come."