"Leave me alone!" — Last words from a SGI member in a debate

I willingly started a debate with a SGI member this week. Here in Brazil, there's a vlogger called Fabi (from this YouTube channel), who already posted almost a hundred videos talking about BSGI and Nichiren Buddhism. I recently watched a particular one titled "The Failure of Religion" — a self-critical decoy that obviously immunize SGI's "perfect law" later on. We refuted all of her arguments in favor of SGI here and here. Then, I called her attention. First I wrote a comment in that video:

Good morning, Fabi. I invite you and those who sympathize with Buddhism to read the post in response to this video in my channel's blog. Of the many articles we have there, just look for RESPONSE TO: "THE FAILURE OF RELIGION"

Also, a thought about your argument — "before pointing out the faults of others, see if you have no flaws either": this is a fallacy called "tu quoque" (you too), or appeal to hypocrisy. Maybe you didn't notice, but you only answered an accusation with another accusation. That is, "Buddhism has flaws, but so do you." Although true, this does not absolve anyone and does not make the first accusation false.

On "follow the law and not the person": you say this on the assumption that the law is correct. Have you ever stopped to think that they may have filled your head with clichés and softened teachings, when in fact the real dogmas of Nichiren Buddhism are unquestioningly accepted absurds by a legion of devotees who worship a allegedly dead "master"? Have you noticed that they encourage you to spend hours chanting for a piece of paper, they stimulate you to memorize the "gongyo", but they never presented you the translation of this sutra? Even suspecting your answer... Ask yourself if you really know "the law". Ask yourself if you really know what is written in the 400-plus pages of the Lotus Sutra before saying with such conviction that this religion preaches love, peace and tolerance.

I'll use a simple analogy. Politics fails because people fails. Political laws are created by people, so laws can fail. "Religion fails because people fails." Religious doctrines are created by people, so doctrines can fail. This also applies to family institutions, school systems, economic ideologies, cultural traditions... And religion is no different. There are thousands of religions divided into thousands of other sects — all of them calling themselves "the true religion," the right doctrine. Religions are invented. And there are tons of messiahs out there. These who, by excess of narcissism, call themselves enlightened, supreme beings, holders of all understanding. The way, the truth and the life. The alpha and the omega. The spiritual leader of mankind. Sensei.

There is zero evidence of "enlightened beings", different from us, who possess any extraordinary wisdom... We can have wonderful ideals, cherish peace on Earth, nurture great values ​​and spread them to the four corners. This does not make us enlightened, but rational and generous people. Religious dogmas, mysticism and superstition, on the other hand, create irrational people.

Naturally, I got no response. Different from this kind of bullshit. By the way, that comment section is frightening! Take a read: "It is lack of information to criticize Buddhism, who does that are ignorant people." (...) "I am ABSOLUTELY sure that these people who denigrate the image of the organization are defeated people in the practice of faith, they don't have the minimum of study on Buddhism and zero Shitei Funi relation. I mirror myself in my master, the best of all examples on how a devotee of the Lotus Sutra should behave in this Saha world." — And so on. Fabi also says on the video: "I'm not here to convert anyone", which is ridiculous.

So we contacted her.

Hello.

I'd like to present our blog about our experiences at BSGI. I was a member for 20 years and I finally managed to get out - with various psychological problems and several threats. Our goal is to show the other side of the story so that everyone can reflect and see that Buddhism and BSGI are not 100% perfect, and can be very harmful and evil. https://bsgideverdade.wordpress.com/

Please, I ask you to read before any hasty comments. Thank you for your attention!

Then, we got this:

Darling... I think you still didn't understand...

I'm not the organization... I'm a person that learned to be a better human being through the organization... period.

Who likes or dislikes it, fuck them... it's not my problem... I'm literally not giving a shit for those who want to bad-mouth... everyone has its own experience and I respect it, but respect of these people NEVER COME BACK, implying that the "competition" spends more time wanting to shoot down BSGI than doing Shakubuku and bringing humanistic teachings to people. Free will, darling... learn it!

So, I'm not interested to discuss about it, I do not have THE LEAST INTEREST.

Therefore...

Thanks.

And I replied:

Respecting "experience" is totally subjective. A pedophile, a rapist, a serial killer, all of them have sublime experiences in their view, but that doesn't get our respect. "My experience was positive." Alright, but as an active member of a religious organization, your experience is made of a lot of other factors, including trying to convert other people. I may not respect someone's actions if I consider them destructive to society. I do not respect the indoctrination that produces unfounded fears (devils, karma, Avīci hell, bad cause). I do not respect proselytism masked as goodwill. Any SGI member does that, even if they have the best of all intentions. If not for the mysticism, for the appeal to metaphysics and the supernatural, the ideals of peace, culture, education and humanism would be great. But these ideals do not exist alone in Soka Gakkai. "Good fortune", "karma" transformation; all that is positive is linked to the practice of religious dogma and to the maintenance of the organization (participation in meetings, kofu, broad propagation, shakubuku, newspaper signature). On the other hand, everything that is negative is related to not complying with these terms. Only in this superficial analysis it is evident that "humanistic teachings" are not a priority. How did you learn to be a better human being through the organization, exactly? Are you more serene, more tolerant? Really? Maybe with whoever agrees with you. What I notice from you is the same thing I see from any other devotee: proselytism. You say you do not do what you do to convert anyone, but at the same time most of your videos teach doctrine. So contradictory. Furthermore, you are collaborating with child indoctrination: not only by participating in an organization that induces children to their own beliefs, but also by propagating those beliefs to future parents. Poor is the child of the young who's being converted today. Any religion manipulates children's innocent minds by saying that "that's the way things are, it's all written in these scriptures, and that's the end of it." They will learn that these dogmas are the way the world works, when they could be created with an open mind. Especially if the parents are converted. In SGI, they will grow up with their parents religion (with the "right" to a conversion ceremony even if they are newborns), and soon they will receive responsibilities in the organization (which only increase over time). In a short time their lives will be the "kosen-rufu" and from there, most likely there will be no return. This story that religion preaches love, peace and tolerance is just a beautiful speech to attract suggestible people. And, by the way, what did you mean by "competition"? I do not preach any religion, lady. If you think that BSGI is being persecuted by evil people who try to destroy it, congratulations, you have been successfully indoctrinated. It is incredible how anyone who disagrees with the teachings of this religion automatically becomes an enemy. Anyway, it is logical that I will not waste my time "doing shakubuku", it does not make sense and I didn't even understand why it was part of your sentence. In my view, opening people's eyes to the opposite side of religious indoctrination is more humanistic than any religion has ever done for anyone. Morality exists without religion. In fact, generosity usually comes with much more honesty from an atheist than from a religious person, after all we do not act for the "benefit" of the good cause. It is a pity that you don't have "THE LEAST INTEREST" in discussing about it. Your response was very convenient to realize what tolerance, peace and love you preach. Thanks for the answer. Big hugs.

The conclusion was an even bigger turn-off.

Again, I respect your opinion, but I will not be giving you ibope for you to send me walls of text because I have better things to do... I will not justify myself to anyone because any person can be good regardless of religion, so... Leave me alone!!

Good day.