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Budai/Hotai is worshipped though. He’s not treated as an “icon to contemplate” - in some traditions he’s even considered a messianic figure (the Maitreya Buddha) himself. That’s why there are statues and shrines.
You are reading a lot of western understandings of religion into practices that are not western. The Alan Watts style of Buddhism is not the style of Buddhism that is practiced by the majority of Buddhists.
Okay buddy
Have you read a sutra? Can you distinguish Chan Buddhism from Zen Buddhism? Can you identify any of the Buddhist hells?
I’d recommend some of my books from grad school, but this video is a good short overview of the topic.
My guy, you’re only digging yourself deeper
Bro, I literally have taken a graduate religious historiography class and I’m citing sources - if you want, later tonight I can give you a ton of more academic sources. Arguing that Buddhism is nontheistic indicates a serious lack of understanding of Buddhism.