Atheist zealots a heavy cross to bear

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by terrazoids

Hey I just found a quote by youy man Thitch.

"Aware of the suffering created by fanaticism and intolerance, we are determined not to be idolatrous about or bound to any doctrine, theory, or ideology, even Buddhist ones. Buddhist teachings are guiding means to help us learn to look deeply and to develop our understanding and compassion. They are not doctrines to fight, kill, or die for."

Sounds like he just denied his own faith. ...

Bhuddhism can't really be compared to other faiths, it's on a different level. It's not about blind obedience or surrender.
Bhuddha himself said we should disregard what he said if we thought he was in error.

[weateallthepies]

Originally Posted by ShortNCuddlyAm

Take the Guy Fawkes option?

It's tempting. There is after all, as has been pointed out, no reason for me not to blow people up.

[terrazoids]

Originally Posted by ShortNCuddlyAm

If it will keep you happy, then I have no objections if you want to pray for me.

I don't see my world as dark, gloomy or grim - it has it's moments of being such, but underneath of all that it is a place of endless wonder and beauty. Personally, I find there to be more beauty and poetry in the theory of evolution than in the belief that god made everything just so. The size of the universe, and just how small and insignificant we are fills me with awe, and makes me realise just how incredibly lucky I am to even be here, sat behind a computer, engaging in a debate as to whether god or gods exist. I mean, seriously, what are the odds?

As an atheist, the only form of life after death I believe in is the nutrients which I want my decomposing remains to give to a small patch of woodland. I find great peace in that. It frees me to try and live my life to the best of my abilities without worrying about being judged afterwards. It frees me to try to act in a way that is consistent with the type of society I want to live in. To be honest, I find the idea of no life after death so peaceful that I can apparently get rather seemingly morbid in my enthusiasm for discussing it. As many people are not very comfortable talking about death and decomposition, I try not to talk about it too much.



No idea about anyone else, but I don't. Unless we're talking hollow skulls that are large enough for a human to hide in as part of an ambush.



Take the Guy Fawkes option?



I think they should too.

I'm glad you think life is wonderful... but its going to get even better after your dead. If your world is full of light then you mustb be doing something right.

Ok I'll pry for you.

Der Lord please lead SweetandCuddley ,.. yada yada yada...

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by terrazoids

hmm.. trying to cast doubts on my faith aye... I don't think so.. In our exchange I told you to read carefully what I wrote and look into your heart. You should always take people seriously. Thats the only way you can truly consider their ideas.

I'm certainly not trying to cast doubt on your faith (whatever it may be), only on the faithfulness with which you express it.

I have read carefully what you've written, and 'looked into my heart'. I do take people seriously to start with. I also truly consider their ideas.

And having done all those things, my conclusion is that you're just pretending to have the views you have expressed in this thread.

I do congratulate you on a most successful imitation.

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by terrazoids

I'm glad you think life is wonderful... but its going to get even better after your dead.

Slightly unfortunate turn of phrase if you don't mind me saying so.

[terrazoids]

Originally Posted by Sparrow

Bhuddhism can't really be compared to other faiths, it's on a different level. It's not about blind obedience or surrender.
Bhuddha himself said we should disregard what he said if we thought he was in error.

Well maybe thats just a subtle way of saying he felt he was in error... If he knew he was correct he wouldn't have said that, would he.

Folks... ultimately you're either right or wrong correct? Maybe the Buddha was just having a big laugh about it all after having got through life not having done much. After all pretty cushy position just sitting under bodhi tree and having people come up and pray for you all the time.... Hmm kind of reminds me of a comment they once found in the diary of L Ron Hubbard (the founder of Scientology). He said in his diary..."Gee if you've got the time, why not create a religion.. thats where the moneys at" Oh yeah! So he went ahead and did that, made some money, and then got murdered by his disciple who took control of the organization and hypnotized Tom Cruise.

Well all I can say... if you play with fire, your just inviting Satan in....

[terrazoids]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

I'm certainly not trying to cast doubt on your faith (whatever it may be), only on the faithfulness with which you express it.

I have read carefully what you've written, and 'looked into my heart'. I do take people seriously to start with. I also truly consider their ideas.

And having done all those things, my conclusion is that you're just pretending to have the views you have expressed in this thread.

I do congratulate you on a most successful imitation.

Oh yeah... And how do you reason that?! Cause I'd sure like to know!

[terrazoids]

Originally Posted by Sparrow

Slightly unfortunate turn of phrase if you don't mind me saying so.

Look get over Death. Its not negative... If you're Good, Death just passes you on to a reality truer than this one. Why this life we're in will just be like a dream when you think on it from the other side.

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by terrazoids

Well maybe thats just a subtle way of saying he felt he was in error... If he knew he was correct he wouldn't have said that, would he.

On the plus side, none of his followers will need to cry out "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?".

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by terrazoids

Incorrect.

Please provide evidence.

Originally Posted by terrazoids

I think I've proved very well the original thesis of this thread.

Uh, no. There is a lot of work to do to get beyond the mass psychosis of belief in the supernatural, it may never be fully accomplished, but we must keep striving for truth, reason, compassion and for all of humanity.

[terrazoids]

Ok Folks.. heads up about Buddhism hears an article about some of the deception going on... (Oh God bless Google...)


Christians rescue children at risk of child slavery in Asia
Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar with incredible force in May. More than 100,000 people were killed in the disaster. More than a million lost everything.

Now, there's good news and bad news, says Vision Beyond Borders Founder and President Patrick Klein who just returned from Myanmar, reports MNN. "We saw a lot of rice patties, and so, thankfully, there is a lot of rice in the ground. Hopefully there will be enough food to go around. That's what we're praying."

However, Klein says the cyclone has left thousands of orphans. "There [are] 80,000 children that are homeless. We've heard reports there are pedophiles from Thailand going in to get these kids and take them in to be sex slaves over in Thailand. The military government is trying to get the young boys and put them into military service."

Christian children are being spiritually victimized. "We've heard stories of even Christian kids being put into Buddhist temples and monasteries. They're trying to get these Christian kids to renounce Jesus Christ and raise them as Buddhist monks."

Vision Beyond Borders is trying to do something about it. Klein says, "We bought some land recently. We're trying to set up four new orphanages. And we're trying to get these kids as fast as possible -- build these orphanages, get Christians to run them, and get the kids in as soon as we can so we can keep them away from these predators."

Klein says it's incredible to think that evil is making a bad situation worse. "These people have endured so much, and to think that these predators would go and get these kids who have lost their families, and who have seen their villages destroyed. [They] get these kids and then take them into Thailand into sex slavery. It just breaks your heart. I say, 'God, please, please do something -- help us to reach these kids.'"

Initially they want to build four small children's homes. Funding is the biggest need. He says, "For about $30,000 we can build a new house, which would house about 100 kids. And then, we're doing a bigger one that's about $84,000, and that would house 500 to 1,000 kids."

..... Not a great recommendation is it.

You know in the west loads of moneys been going into making buddhism look really shiny and superior to the old western religions, but people don't realize the truth about the old Buddhist kingdoms. Time to ... wake up!

I think we've got to get those missionaries over there ... doubletime!

[terrazoids]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Please provide evidence.




Uh, no. There is a lot of work to do to get beyond the mass psychosis of belief in the supernatural, it may never be fully accomplished, but we must keep striving for truth, reason, compassion and for all of humanity.

That wasn't the original thesis of this thread pal...

[Graham]

You do realise that nowhere in the article you've quoted does it link the Buddhists to the paedophiles? What it actually states is that kids at risk from sex trafficking are being taken in and protected by Buddhist monasteries.

Graham

[terrazoids]

Originally Posted by Graham

You do realise that nowhere in the article you've quoted does it link the Buddhists to the paedophiles? What it actually states is that kids at risk from sex trafficking are being taken in and protected by Buddhist monasteries.

Graham

Christian children are being spiritually victimized. "We've heard stories of even Christian kids being put into Buddhist temples and monasteries. They're trying to get these Christian kids to renounce Jesus Christ and raise them as Buddhist monks."

[Graham]

Originally Posted by terrazoids

Christian children are being spiritually victimized. "We've heard stories of even Christian kids being put into Buddhist temples and monasteries. They're trying to get these Christian kids to renounce Jesus Christ and raise them as Buddhist monks."

Not quite the same as sex-trafficking though, is it? Given that they are Buddhist monks, how would you expect them to try to raise the kids in their care?

Graham