Religions - Your Opinion

[Furore]

If you noticed, I spoke about astronomers and those who've educated themselves in other forms of knowledge that pertains to the universe outside our own planet. They're very smart people who came to the conclusion that things are a lot more complex than what we currently understand, and instead of looking for an answer here on earth which there's no proof to it's existence they've looked elsewhere for the answer to where we've come from.

And some astronomers are religious and just have an interest in what things beyond our reach hold. Curiousity can be a strong motivator, especially when a person feels some answers can be within their grasp. All I was saying is that some of these people are indeed religious and stating that religious people tend to be uneducated is an unfair assertion. I'm also very open to being proven wrong if you can find me some credible well researched statistics. Until that point in time, I will stick with my sentiments that educated people can be religious.

I know a guy associated with the CSIRO who mentions things I may never be able to grasp on a regular basis who is a devout catholic to the point where it aggravates me every so often when he points me on the 'correct path'. Even as a minority, his very existence is proof that that some educated people can be quite religious.

As far as when I said more out there than what we experience everyday, I was talking about an afterlife. Instead of accepting that this is all there is for us, religious people have an incessant belief that when we die our spirit carries on. I believe it's a fear of aknowledging that our death is our final moment, and that there is nothing more for us.

To counter that I believe that some people fear that there is something for us after death, and some are just not open to the possibility. I myself do not believe we end so absolutely and while it's just personal opinion, so's saying there's nothing after death. Until you've actually died you wouldn't know, right?

I sure hope these forums aren't a microcosm of society as a whole. What a stupid world we would live in.

Society is as stupid as the sum of it's parts. Perhaps stupider than anyone would likely realise, but at least it makes things fun at times.

[OnOneRyder]

I never stated that religious people are less educated, I said that a majority of the people who are educated in the sciences that teach about our universe do not believe in a deity. I in no way meant to say that someone who believes in a god is of lesser intelligence. I can understand how you came to that conclusion though.

[Sinister]

I would say it's a rather perfect microcosm. A nice healthy sample-size too. It's tragically unbalanced, but that comes largely from letting one demographic teach and affect all the others into a directed and forceful flow.

But then, it's not too unusual for people to shoot down maxims, beliefs and religious statements. In certain corners of Buddhism, such an act is the greatest civil service and a religious duty. Not to shoot down any particular belief and most CERTAINLY not to replace it...but just to destroy any one-sided ideology. If you came to a Zen monk and talk of science and how one knows this or that. The Zen monk will quickly debunk these beliefs, like putting out a fire. If you present them with a POV from Christianity, Taoism, Shintoism or Sikhism...ect...then you'll never get anywhere! It's their responsibility to keep the myriad creatures on the middle path...no matter where they are lost.

They don't sell their religion. They have nothing to sell. You go to one and say: "How can you break down these beliefs? They're all I have!" They smile or laugh. Because you shouldn't have THAT. Because if you do, you perpetuate it to others and it unbalances not only on a personal level, but as you pointed out, Jin, it unbalances on the grand scale as well.

You say: "What do you believe, if not any of this?" They will just walk off.

So, I have nothing wrong with Agnosticism. But crying Atheism is replacing a problem with yet another problem and from there it degrades into tedium and torture...and you're re-encumbered in the same forest of threads.

You wonder why they will not assert their beliefs? Any Buddhist knows what you are. You are part of the same singularity. And in Hinduism...the word Maya(illusion, magic, art, play) applies as implies that this is all an act, anyway. The thing of being God... If there is a such a being...he would be profoundly bored! Considerably so, and all alone, seeing he is this singularity. So, the ideal activity is to hide from oneself, one's own nature and get as lost as possible.(Even you play Role-playing games, you should be in an IDEAL situation to understand.)

This is why a Hindu or Buddhist will bow to you. He is respecting all the other manifestations of this one singularity, and also is somewhat applauding you(itself) for being as totally lost as you are, in understanding what you are. They could no longer be fooled, you see, they know who and where they are and what they are doing. So, they have the time of their life and don't trouble themselves with moralistic dull... And when they see it, they are doing you no real favor by spoiling the secret for you and keeping you on the middle-path. Err...or that is, if you are enjoying your self-identity.

There is no sense of urgency in their pledge to liberate everything from "Illusion" and keep it on the middle-path. They could care less. Mainly because the task is horrifically impossible. None-the-less, to ascend beyond their own rankings in this existence, it helps them to help you. Therefore they will try and keep you on a balanced point of view, all the while, enjoying the show.



-Sin


EDIT: I do not know why I gave free Zen lessons. =/ I'm tired, I digressed and got completely off topic. Let the play go on.