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Re:Zen Buddhism and Alan Watts by Estragon on Sunday October 05, 2014 @03:43PM (#8413235)

  > I don't understand the need for constantly interspersing
  > an otherwise flowing article with references to science.
It's just that that was what sold spirituality back in the day. Even though it seems tired and forced now, it was a very easy path to popularity.
Re:Zen Buddhism and Alan Watts by zerouniverse on Sunday October 05, 2014 @09:14PM (#8413968)
One should take into account the fact that Watts was presenting his material to an audience of western intellectuals who had been so deeply indoctrinated into "scientific orthodoxy" that one really had no chance of getting anything across if one did not choose to invoke science. I don't see this as any different than the Buddha choosing to give teachings using concepts familiar to the brahmins of his time.
Re:Zen Buddhism and Alan Watts by Estragon on Sunday October 05, 2014 @10:56PM (#8414123)
It's not just Watts. It was fashionable back then.