What would you call the Buddhist monks who set themselves on fire in protest?
What would you call the Buddhist monks who set themselves on fire in protest?The author of that paper is confused about Satan's existence. I linked to it only to show that Satan went through three religions. Question is why? One could say "it seemed like a good idea to blame someone for the evil humans do". My question is, if the religions after Judaism were invented, why bother taking ANYTHING from Judaism? If you are a good maker of stories, you can invent something truly more compelling than Judaism or the religions that came after it. Jesus had no need to even acknowledge Judaism. He could have invented something new entirely. Star Wars is an awesome religion of the Force. I truly love it. The ancient Greeks had awesome mythology about various gods too. Why didn't those form some Greek religion with millions of staunch followers today?
Another thing: Do you think anyone would die for the Force? Or for any of the Greek gods? Yet all three Abrahamic religions have fanatics willing to do so. What is so different about them? What's the special sauce in them that attracts crackpots willing to give everything up? Where are the Buddhist kamakaze madmen?
True pacifists. They believed that doing that would make some positive change. They were so disturbed that their minds told them that self immolation was the only available course of action. People sacrifice themselves for the greater good all the time. Nothing special there.What would you call the Buddhist monks who set themselves on fire in protest?
So close, keep following that thread…..True pacifists. They believed that doing that would make some positive change. They were so disturbed that their minds told them that self immolation was the only available course of action. People sacrifice themselves for the greater good all the time. Nothing special there.
I have to disagree because there's another way to approach this and which is what I believe. Religion has gone through tons of revisions, just like evolution of life (not humans, though. I believe that Adam was an almost perfect human being and there was no evolution involved there). God knows human nature. But just for the heck of it (because He can so why not?), He sent religion upon religion down to Earth through prophets and messengers, to see the clusterfuck that humans would make of them. This was also the perfect way to test who is actually pious (which is what matters to God when it comes to humans, above all else). The pious people followed their religion to the letter and only doing what was allowed. The hypocrites never really accepted it in their heart and tried to find ways to circumvent the laws.
Here's an example (heard from an engaged religious woman): she couldn't do pre-marital anything with her fiance because it was forbidden in her religion (but vaguely written as religious books tend to be, probably so God can enjoy seeing people come up with hilarious interpretations). So they put their heads together and came up with the idea that what was forbidden was penetration of her lovetrap. So she was doing everything with him except the penetration part and didn't feel guilty about it. But you see, she still had FEAR in her heart which was keeping her from doing the actual intercourse. That made her pious and she would get to doing that after marriage. Same way, people PLAYED with their religious rules and commandments, finding loopholes but FEAR is what will matter in the end. If you were FULLY capable of doing something but stopped dead in your tracks because of fear of God, there you go. You are pious and you deserve God's mercy. There is no simpler way of putting it.
Keep your mind open and you may just hear from Him in a dream.Maybe some truth to that, when God shows up to tell us this then lmk
The danger in this game of chance is the same dangers when people interpret text differently. As humanity has shown over and over again, atrocities can and will be committed in the name of “insert god here”. Well, shit, god spoke to me in a dream so it must be ok!Keep your mind open and you may just hear from Him in a dream.
All it takes is the plea "God, I'm lost and I need your guidance." over and over again till He responds in whatever manner He deems necessary. Perseverance is key. There was a Christian black woman married to a white guy I used to know (haven't spoken to her in years but I think she would respond if I messaged her on Facebook). She claimed that God spoke to her but the things she told me made me feel more like some angel was guiding her. She helped me survive for two straight months by sending me money and then an opportunity presented itself before the end of the 2nd month where I didn't have to depend on her anymore. Years later, I tried to return the money (with interest if she wanted) but she was like, "do some good with that money for yourself or someone else". The more you meet special people like that, the more you will believe God exists.
Except I don't think anyone can convince me to do that. I would rather die myself than hurt anyone else. BUT if it was something like fighting on Ukraine's side and killing orcs, sure, sign me up! The difference is just that I don't need any convincing there. My mind's pretty clear on that already.Those who can convince you to believe absurdities can convince you to commit atrocities.
Except I don't think anyone can convince me to do that. I would rather die myself than hurt anyone else. BUT if it was something like fighting on Ukraine's side and killing orcs, sure, sign me up!
If you are talking about the Crusades, yes unfortunately those happened and I think both sides were wrong and there could have been a peaceful resolution had they really cared about human lives.That’s nice and all, but what has history shown us? Anecdotes mean very little
If you are talking about the Crusades, yes unfortunately those happened and I think both sides were wrong and there could have been a peaceful resolution had they really cared about human lives.
Yeah people who want to speak out against Putin but stop dead in their tracks because of fear of Putin, there you go. They are pious and deserve Putin's mercy. There's no simpler way of putting it.I have to disagree because there's another way to approach this and which is what I believe. Religion has gone through tons of revisions, just like evolution of life (not humans, though. I believe that Adam was an almost perfect human being and there was no evolution involved there). God knows human nature. But just for the heck of it (because He can so why not?), He sent religion upon religion down to Earth through prophets and messengers, to see the clusterfuck that humans would make of them. This was also the perfect way to test who is actually pious (which is what matters to God when it comes to humans, above all else). The pious people followed their religion to the letter and only doing what was allowed. The hypocrites never really accepted it in their heart and tried to find ways to circumvent the laws.
Here's an example (heard from an engaged religious woman): she couldn't do pre-marital anything with her fiance because it was forbidden in her religion (but vaguely written as religious books tend to be, probably so God can enjoy seeing people come up with hilarious interpretations). So they put their heads together and came up with the idea that what was forbidden was penetration of her lovetrap. So she was doing everything with him except the penetration part and didn't feel guilty about it. But you see, she still had FEAR in her heart which was keeping her from doing the actual intercourse. That made her pious and she would get to doing that after marriage. Same way, people PLAYED with their religious rules and commandments, finding loopholes but FEAR is what will matter in the end. If you were FULLY capable of doing something but stopped dead in your tracks because of fear of God, there you go. You are pious and you deserve God's mercy. There is no simpler way of putting it.
LOL:And God would never ask anyone to hurt an innocent. Whoever says that God told him to commit a crime, he's delusional or lying.
First of all, the Bible has been amended by Jewish priests throughout the centuries. Taking these verses literally as the word of God is suspect.LOL:
1 Samuel 15:3 NIV
Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.’ ”
Numbers 31:17-18 NIV
Again, kill innocent little boys. Even women that slept with a man. I have no idea how they will know whether a woman slept with someone or not to be honest. Not only that, but commanded them to take the girls that didn't sleep with anyone for the men.
Now kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man, but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man.
Joshua 6:21 NIV
Again, God commanded Joshua to destroy everything and everyone
They devoted the city to the Lord and destroyed with the sword every living thing in it—men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep and donkeys.
That's more on the followers of the religion rather than the religion itself.Modern examples are how non believers or people who don’t fit the mold are treated.
Fail to see the relevance in that. Putin is a murderous mortal. He'll be gone soon enough.Yeah people who want to speak out against Putin but stop dead in their tracks because of fear of Putin, there you go. They are pious and deserve Putin's mercy. There's no simpler way of putting it.
That's more on the followers of the religion rather than the religion itself.
Most religious leaders these days are morons, spreading hate rather than messages of peace and love because they got into religion for the wrong reasons. But there are absolute gems if you look for them and those are the ones who are not interested in the limelight. They prefer to work at the community level rather than gain national recognition.Not really, since some of the religious leaders are controlling it.
Most religious leaders these days are morons, spreading hate rather than messages of peace and love because they got into religion for the wrong reasons. But there are absolute gems if you look for them and those are the ones who are not interested in the limelight. They prefer to work at the community level rather than gain national recognition.
Fail to see the relevance in that. Putin is a murderous mortal. He'll be gone soon enough.
Yes, I agree. These leaders are definitely a problem because they only care about their own followers and want to subjugate everyone else. And funnily, sometimes they will even go so far as hurting their own followers too.The concern is movements that want violent theocratic regimes, as well as the seemingly innocuous leaders and followers that think it’s their God given right to push their rules on others thru legislation.
Yes, I agree. These leaders are definitely a problem because they only care about their own followers and want to subjugate everyone else. And funnily, sometimes they will even go so far as hurting their own followers too.
As a USA citizen, I’m very concerned about this religious entitlement attitude that makes people think that they have a right to force religion on others. There’s always been a thread of anti-intellectualism in the USA, and it really started to get pulled on back in the 70’s, and now we stand on the precipice of theocracy with violent rhetoric taking the lead.
That’s the only reason religion matters to me, how it affects others
Actually seen that happening in religious families.The more they tighten their grip, the more the people will slip through their fingers.
Asking me? That girl was the only proud Atheist in a Muslim family.which fake god are we talking about here?