Which Religion is the biggest physical threat?

[Kensterberg]

I see that my friend ThoRn is off his meds again.

The only problem with your last post, ThoRnmeister, is that there isn't a single shred of evidence that supports it. Not one. And arguing that "we don't know that this isn't possible" doesn't mean that it is. Show me evidence of "other outposts of humanity" in the galaxy and then I'll consider it.

In the meantime, I'm still going with those ass-kicking monks as the religion which poses the biggest physical threat.

[samplestiltskin]

thorny said:

the fact the Church of the Subgenius is not included in this poll is enough to force me from voting

~ Long Live Bob Dobbs ~

I'm with you on this one thorn. But really.... ARE you off any meds?

My friend knitted me a pillow with Bob's face on it. I think it is the coolest thing I've ever seen come out of two knitting needles.

[Thorngrub]

Whoa, praise Bob~!

I'm always off again/on again w/my medsthe weed ;D

[Thorngrub]

"Those who must be shown the evidence of truth will miss staring truth in the face"

~ a random acolyte said that

[Kensterberg]

thorny said:

"Those who must be shown the evidence of truth will miss staring truth in the face"

~ a random acolyte said that

But w/o some sort of evidence, it's just speculation. Sort of like if I said "if you could be any animal you wanted, which would it be?" There's absolutely no attachment to the world that we know.

This is why I am so drawn to Buddhism/Taoism, they are based on principles which are apparent from what we can all see and establish from the natural world rather than relying on any kind of "revealed truth" -- whether the revealer is "God" or some alien inelligence.

[Thorngrub]

Any buddhist should be in alignment with the things I posted previously.

[Thorngrub]

A sphere cannot be perceived as being backwards or upside down.

[Kensterberg]

But a sphere can be percieved.

Buddhism really isn't concerned with the existence of life elsewhere in the universe. Buddhism is really agnostic about beings beyond our perception -- believe in whatever "gods" you like, they are governed by the rules of karma and the cycle of death and rebirth just like everything else. A Buddhist listens to this sort of postulation and then reminds you that those other beings are responsible for their own actions and destiny, just as you are for yours.

As Siddhartha said on his death bed: "Time is short, work diligently for your own salvation."

[Thorngrub]

"Buddhism really isn't concerned with the existence of life elsewhere in the universe"

I disagree and here's why:

There IS NO ELSEWHERE in the universe!

~

"Buddhism is really agnostic about beings beyond our perception "

I disagree and here's why:

THERE ARE NO BEINGS BEYOND OUR PERCEPTION!

i.e, we are the 'gods', the word 'god' is just that - a word. A self referential nomenclature for something we don't fully understand about ourselves.

~

"believe in whatever "gods" you like, they are governed by the rules of karma and the cycle of death and rebirth just like everything else"

EXACTLY. Yes. "JUST LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE". Think of it literally, as in "IS EVERYTHING ELSE".

~

"A Buddhist listens to this sort of postulation and then reminds you that those other beings are responsible for their own actions and destiny, just as you are for yours."

Yes, and for that reason a Buddhist would understand that what I am/was saying is THERE ARE NO OTHER BEINGS aside from more examples of ourselves, i.e, more humans, more life. All of it responsible for their own actions and destiny, just as we are for ours.

Yes, what I have/am postulating fits into Buddhist philosophy like a glove.

As Lou Reed once said, "There is no time"

[Galactus]

Without proof, there is faith. Without faith there is no humanity. Without humanity there is nothing larger than humanity. Then there is nothing larger then ourselves.

[Rit]

thorny said:

the etymology of the word Religion comes from Latin religion, religio, meaning "supernatural constraint, sanction, or practice", possibly from religare, "to restrain" or "tie back".

It is closely associated with the roots of the word "RELY", also associated with Middle English relien, "to rally".

Tying this in w/Latin's religare which also means "to bind" or "tie", there is a connection with ligature: "something that is used to bind".

As you can see, "Religion" is something that is used to bind a supernatural constraint or sanction or practice to rally the masses with.

Viewed in this strictest of definitive light, one can begin to easier see how religion is a tool appropriated by the Powers That Be to keep us all in line. It really makes sense if you think about it.

good point. Religious institutions really are limits on our imaginations. and priestly moralizers are the most obnoxious douchebags to ever walk the earth. worse than emo-kids. worse even than the Hollister generation.

[Rit]

"An animating principle characterized by assertiveness describing the vital aspect of sentience and life"

i like this a lot.

[Rit]

We have arrived, ladies & gentlemen. And we really need to get the word out ! We need to STOP with this "getting it all backwards" bullshit, and Cease & Desist with this mentality of destroying ourselves and our environment on account of how we incorrectly reason it's a shortcut to the afterlife! Fuck all that bullshit I say ! There IS NO AFTERLIFE, McFlies !

This is the only life we have. And it is up to us to make the best of it.

i wholeheartedly agree with this in principle.

[Rit]

i also agree that there is no elsewhere to speak of.

i feel like i'm only stating the obvious, but i'd say that the gods are mental constructs, yet they have a power nonetheless, because we percieve everything in terms of ideas and imagination. So the gods reign, and will always reign. We all make assumptions about the way the world works that often imply the inner workings of some godling or another, it's just that we don't consciously state it in these terms (nor even to ourselves). What's Lady Luck? What's Mother Nature?

gods and goddesses.

To return to the idea of other alien races, it's entirely possible. I wouldn't go so far as to say 'probable', but it's not ridiculous either. I don't believe they've had anything to do with us, though, as humans are quite capable of dreaming up Atlantises and pyramids and Giant Forms without the aid of exterior help. And all these things have become embedded in our mythic historical pasts.

[Thorngrub]

ritalinpants said:

i feel like i'm only stating the obvious, but i'd say that the gods are mental constructs, yet they have a power nonetheless, because we percieve everything in terms of ideas and imagination. So the gods reign, and will always reign.

I can get behind this. Man last night after I saw the Pagan Dead perform at Club Vegas - it was filmed for a local cable rock show -- I biked over to sisy's workplace and we stayed up till almost 2 am talkin all sorts of wack notions w/our friend Jesse. I'm runnin on 4 hrs sleep here