Stereotypes in Buddhism:

Buddhism is a religion that stands largely misunderstood by the general

public. It is plagued by assumptions; often times do to association that typically
leads to an idea nearly opposite of the actual ideology. Buddhism is unique in the
fact that there seems not to be one consensus stereotype, but rather many
stereotypes dependent on an individuals cultural upbringing. It is not a religion
whose construct defies reason. Instead, Buddhism rewards the pragmatic and
rational, and believes strongly in the potential of human life. [Explain more, Danielle
Young]
It is inevitable human condition to draw from past experiences in order to
understand new information. Even more so, people have a tendency to form
complete ideas even without sufficient information. This means that when a person
is introduced to Buddhism they often fill the gaps in information with ideas that
they associate from their past. A good example of this is the idea of Buddha as a
deity.
Most individuals are familiar with the major religious sects: Catholicism,
Christianity, and Islam. All three of which contain a morally superior deity that
guides their believers. Most people therefore associate religion with a deity and
assume Buddha is a god. This could not be farther from the truth. Buddhist believe
that humans have the capacity to lead themselves in the right direction and
ultimately become enlightened; Buddha is not a deity, it is a state of mind that all
humans have the potential to reach.

This is why someone with a background in a form of monotheism generally

has a hard time understanding the nature of the Buddhism. Monotheistic religions
speak of mans finite understanding of the world and his dependence on his deity
while Buddhism speaks of mans infinite potential and self-dependence. The two
ideas are opposite of one another. Buddhism is too abstract to understand with the
fundamentalist laws found in monotheistic religions.
A Lack of familiarity with Buddhist concepts furthers the understanding gap.
[reword this sentence, Danielle Young] Most people in the western world have
rudimentary understanding of karma, but very few know about the Buddhist Middle
Way: an essential facet of Buddhism. Much of the same could be said about peoples
understanding of other Buddhist principals.
Even if a person has had a basic construct of Buddhism presented to them
they are still likely to have misconstrued ideas. Buddhisms concepts are completely
intertwined. So to know one without the other undermines any potential
understanding.[Very confusing, Danielle Young] For example all Buddhist sects seek
to not harm anyone or anything, even if they are being harmed; but most sects do
not mandate a vegetarian diet. Also, on the surface Buddhism teaches moral
nihilism, but when practiced it produces moral standards far more strict than the
cultural norm.