At the Interdependence Project, there is a critique of secular Buddhism. I left this comment
We can look at this exchange in two ways, either as taking something away from Buddhism or adding something to secularism.
I’m part of a small but growing group of secularists who are trying to incorporate Buddhist practices without becoming “Buddhists.”
If any of you are around Boston, I invite you to join us at the Humanist Contemplative Group that meets at the Harvard Humanist Chaplaincy. Stephen Batchelor kicked off his recent book tour at the chaplaincy.
Here’s an interview I did with Dan Siegel in which we discuss this secularization of Buddhist wisdom: http://www.thenewhumanism.org/authors/rick-heller/articles/the-mindful-brain
Besides being skeptical of rebirth, I am also skeptical of “enlightenment” and “no-self.” I don’t consider “no-self” to be unscientific, but I can’t say I really understand it, and I’m not willing to accept anything on faith or authority, even something that is potentially plausible.
My main attraction to Buddhism comes from meditation, the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, which I think are all consistent with science and highly plausible, to the best of my understanding.