Do you view Buddhism as a religion or a philosophy?

[byeya]

14. On a tangent, sort of, I view religion as distinct from spirituality in that religion is organized

in a defined structure with defined authority; and, spirituality seems to be part of humanity because all studied cultures be they animists or Roman Catholic(say) have spiritual elements. It may be just the sense of awe one often feels contemplating the night sky on a clooudless moonless night but it's incorporated into the culture at hand.

Buddhism differs in several important ways, one of which is for most traditions, it's something you do and work towards. Meditation whether that of no-mind, or Rinzai koan wrestling, or thanka contemplation, or scholastic study of the suttas, makes Buddhism unique and, with a master to guide you, quantifiable. Maybe simplistic but: If you do A, B, & C, a master can tell you if you're ready for D or already there.

As for the monks and nuns and begging, in most Buddhist communities, they provide needed community services at various significant points in life such as marriage, illness, consoling the bereaved, etc, gratis.

Taking all the above, I believe Buddhism is akin to a science - a science of life to me anyway - plus being an asset to the community. It is certainly not a sky-god religion but having a defined structure removes it from animism and random spirituality.