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Thanks for all your posts, Jerz, but it is a diss. I do however believe that homosexuals and others who can't reconcile with scripture should convert to buddhism, they can escape condemnation from others cause they are no longer consider a sin under new management.
And about taking care of myself first, I have already chosen to be agnostic. My advice is to those who must have religion in their lives, choose one that doesn't condemn you. It may seem ridiculous to 'shop' for a religion, but its even more ridiculous to believe in something that wants you gone.
Religion is the means to an end, to gain salvation, so it makes sense to 'shop' for one. If one wants peacefulness, why not look at the history of a religion's 'peacefulness'.
That may be the case with you, but it isn't the case for a great many religious folks -- including most Buddhists I know and have read. People who accept a religion because "they like it" or because it "makes them feel good" have a very shallow faith in my opinion. You should accept a faith because you believe it to be true, not because it appeals to you.
Personally, I'd love it if I could use the Force and wield a lightsaber. The religion of the Jedi sure looks cool. But I can't be a Jedi, because that religion is not true (not to mention entirely fictional).
Religion shouldn't be (only) about finding peace. It should be about finding Truth and living according to that. The end result of that will most likely be peace, true, but if that is one's only goal, it will likely always remain elusive.
My advice is to those who must have religion in their lives, choose one that doesn't condemn you.
With respect, I must say that's pretty poor advice. If someone (be it a religion, a person, a law, or a talking cricket) condemns you, your first question should be: Is the condemnation just? If so, then the problem is with you, not the someone. If the condemnation is unjust, then don't worry about it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by person
It may seem ridiculous to 'shop' for a religion, but its even more ridiculous to believe in something that wants you gone.
I don't know of any religion that wants its adherents "gone." But nearly all religions (Buddhism certainly included!) want to lead their adherents to faith and truth.
With respect, I must say that's pretty poor advice. If someone (be it a religion, a person, a law, or a talking cricket) condemns you, your first question should be: Is the condemnation just? If so, then the problem is with you, not the someone. If the condemnation is unjust, then don't worry about it.
I don't know of any religion that wants its adherents "gone." But nearly all religions (Buddhism certainly included!) want to lead their adherents to faith and truth.
Of course it should be unjust condemnation, that should have be obvious.
That may be the case with you, but it isn't the case for a great many religious folks -- including most Buddhists I know and have read. People who accept a religion because "they like it" or because it "makes them feel good" have a very shallow faith in my opinion. You should accept a faith because you believe it to be true, not because it appeals to you.
Personally, I'd love it if I could use the Force and wield a lightsaber. The religion of the Jedi sure looks cool. But I can't be a Jedi, because that religion is not true (not to mention entirely fictional).
Religion shouldn't be (only) about finding peace. It should be about finding Truth and living according to that. The end result of that will most likely be peace, true, but if that is one's only goal, it will likely always remain elusive.
The Jedi religion is true, some devil just want you to think its fictional.
That aside,
The history of a religion's past should be taken into consideration when trying to find the Truth and living according to that. Things like how did it work out for others in the past. What was done in its name?
And I don't know why you would think that finding peace should be the ONLY way to accept a religion.
Then you would find everyone disturbing, cause everyone has a lack of faith in other religions aside from the one they chose.
Dude, it was a STAR WARS quote (since we were talking about Jedi). A joke. Relax.
Remember in the Death Star when one of the officers was giving Vader a hard time for believing in the Force? Vader starts choking the dude with the Force. "I find your lack of faith disturbing...."
I think the problem is that a person can't just suddenly "believe" in Buddhism, for one, any more than someone can suddenly just "believe" Christianity (that would be me).
It's no different for Buddhism so you'd need to cut non-Buddhists some slack on this one.
Also, I don't think Buddhism is a religion per se but more of a practice. Or a way of living/system of practices to deal with human life. Isn't that right? (Feel free to correct me.) In other words, there isn't a named Buddhist "big god" (creator God), right? Siddhartha Buddha and Guatama Buddha and the other Buddhas were considered to be inspired but not gods in their own right the way Jesus is considered to be a literal part of God. I'm pretty sure you can be Buddhist but have your own concept of God. So it might be a little not-quite-committed for some people to handle.
As for your argument that there is less violence with Buddhism, again, you can't really just go grocery shopping for a religion and say, "This one has more love! This one has less violence! This one has fewer calories and is less filling! Okay. I believe." (Trust me, as a constant "searcher" this is one thing I know for sure.)goo
I think there is an issue of lack of structure that is appealing to the Buddhists but puzzling for those not used to it. It takes a lot of initiative to understand it. Above everything else it seems to be the least exclusive of all religions, the least threatened by the existence of "competitors." But the individualized independence and deference the religion gives its practitioners contributes to a lack of structure. Just like some folks can thrive in a healthy, wholesome manner with little or no government, others can't, and require varying degrees of power.
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