If you look at this (https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2015/04/02/religious-projections-2010-2050/), you can clearly see that islam is the fastest growing religion by a large margin. No surprises there. Christainity is actually the 2nd fastest growing religion. A european may be surprised by this since most European countries are becoming more secular. But if you look at Christian african countries and look at how seriously they take their religion there, it makes sense. But the only religion to decline in this research is buddhism. And if you look at the trends of buddhist countries, it confirms this research.

Young thai people are becoming less religious and more secular. In malaysia, it is the opposite and younger generations are generally more islamic. If you comapre photos in malaysia and indonesia from the 60s to now, you can see the effects of islamisation.

In Mongolia, younger people are becoming less religious and less into tibetan buddhism. Officially, the country is 55% tibetan buddhist (but the real number is likely way lower like in europe) and 40% atheist. There were also some abuse scandal done by some moanstries which only futhered irreligiousity. If you would compare that with Kazakhstan (the most secular central asian nation), you see a lot of young people taking islam more seriously. You see a lot of insta influecners becoming hijabis and stating the importance of being devout (https://ulysmedia.kz/news/16213-kazakhstanskie-selebriti-nadevaiut-khidzhab-za-dengi/) (although some have taken of the hijab). In other central asian countries, they are more relgious (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ug25LUq_MmE). If you see street videos of tashkent, around 50% of the women are wearing hijabs. In Bayan ulgii region (kazakh region in mongolia that is majority muslim that is known for the eagle hunters), religion is taken more seriously than other regions of mongolia.

Even in South Korea, buddhism is taking a back seat to Christianity. There a loads of chirstian cults in korea. Maybe shincheongji and moonies ring a bell. Also, there a quite a few kpop stars (such as Choi Si Won of super junior). who take their christain relgion quite seriously. There are so many churches around in Korea. Even shamanism has more influence than buddhism ( politicians are known to consult shamans). Buddhism does not get that same attention, and there are less buddhist cults in korea.

So why buddhism has taken a back seat compard to all the other religion. Is it something in the theology. Is buddhism les dogmatic, less preachy and aggressive than other religions? It is also interesting that as buddhism is declining, elements of Buddhism is becoming popular in the west (such as meditation and inner peace among groups such as hippies and upper middle class westerners)

I was given this question in school and it really got me thinking. Atheism implies that one chooses not to believe in the existence of a celestial being, right?, but it seems that Buddhists acknowledges the existence of gods such as Yakshas and Devas that are derived from Hinduism. However, it is widely believed that there is no god within Buddhism. I would love to hear your thoughts regarding this!

What exactlhy is reincarnation for the Buddhists, if they deny a permanent self? What makes it the case that I am the same being as someone who lived earlier?