Semantics confuse me.
Finally, a religion/anti-religion thread.
Hey Rob, how does this grab ya?
The Tao Te Ching is an easy read - it has 81 chapters all about that length, but no matter how many times I reread them, there's still more to be found in the words. "Tao te Ching" roughly translates to "the way", and it's a religion of sorts, but it is an atheistic one. The Tao is kind of like the Force from Star Wars, to use a cheesy analogy. It's just what the universe <i>is</i>, and if you follow the way of things, you achieve harmony in your life. I suppose it could be seen as a kind of god, but not a personal one. Not anything that people were made in the image of. It's very simple, and very profound.
Lao Tzu wrote:42.
Tao gave birth to One,
One gave birth to Two,
Two gave birth to Three,
Three gave birth to all the myriad things.
All the myriad things carry the Yin on their backs and hold the Yang in their embrace,
Deriving their vital harmony from the proper blending of the two vital Breaths.
What is more loathed by men than to be "helpless," "little," and "worthless"?
And yet these are the very names the princes and barons call themselves.
Truly, one may gain by losing;
And one may lose by gaining;
What another has taught let me repeat:
"A man of violence will come to a violent end."
Whoever said this can be my teacher and my father.
The Tao Te Ching is an easy read - it has 81 chapters all about that length, but no matter how many times I reread them, there's still more to be found in the words. "Tao te Ching" roughly translates to "the way", and it's a religion of sorts, but it is an atheistic one. The Tao is kind of like the Force from Star Wars, to use a cheesy analogy. It's just what the universe <i>is</i>, and if you follow the way of things, you achieve harmony in your life. I suppose it could be seen as a kind of god, but not a personal one. Not anything that people were made in the image of. It's very simple, and very profound.
Daiye Spa wrote:To me, if you believe in Christ, you're a Christian. Isn't that the definition of the word?
To be a Christian, you have to believe in the Christ of the Bible. There are quite a few things in the Book of Mormon that directly contradict the Bible, such as the 'people can become God' thing. So there you go.
You can't go around building a better world for people. Only people can build a better world for people. Otherwise it's just a cage.
--Terry Pratchett
When it's cold I'd like to die
--Terry Pratchett
When it's cold I'd like to die
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Axtech
- Oskar Lifetime Achievement Award: 2004
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Daiye Spa wrote:Hey Rob, how does this grab ya?
Anyways... I'd rather just stick with atheism than follow someone elses set of rules (or a guide).
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Every now and then I fall out into open air just to feel the wind, rain and everything.
And though the hum and sway gets me down, I'll find the way to peace and openness.
"Robbo" - © Alex (happeningfish)...^5 ^5 v v
Every now and then I fall out into open air just to feel the wind, rain and everything.
And though the hum and sway gets me down, I'll find the way to peace and openness.
"Robbo" - © Alex (happeningfish)...^5 ^5 v v
Thank you for posting about the Tao Te Ching (Daodejing). I have a copy myself and love just sitting down and thinking about what it all means. Copies are available also with explanations of each chapter.
!EMiLY!
sweet blasphemy my giving tree
it hasn't rained in years
i bring to you this sacrificial offering of virgin ears
leave it to me i remain free from all the comforts of home
and where that is i'm pleased as piss to say
i'll never really know
sweet blasphemy my giving tree
it hasn't rained in years
i bring to you this sacrificial offering of virgin ears
leave it to me i remain free from all the comforts of home
and where that is i'm pleased as piss to say
i'll never really know
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starvingeyes
- Oskar Winner: 2007
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Daiye Spa wrote:You're wr--aaaaah!
You're wr-whooooooaaah!
You-re wr-amalamadingdong!
Hey, you're right!
I have a sticker that says "guns don't kill people, relgions do".
Do you really think if people followed their religions as it is written in their own holy books that there would be this much killing?
It's not religion that kills. Religion doesn't tell people to kill. There is a rule in most common religions prohibiting murder. "Thou shalt not kill" and so forth. It is the corruption of the so called "religious leaders". Corruption is fueled most oftenly by greed. If Christians would follow what the bible says, they wouldn't be enlisting in the military, now would they? Last time I checked the bible didnt say, "thou shalt not kill, unless you are protecting America because God loves America more than everyone else"
"You say love is a hell
You cannot bear
And I say gimme mine
Back and then go there
For all I care"
You cannot bear
And I say gimme mine
Back and then go there
For all I care"
Of course God has a sense of humor. Look at the duck-billed platypus.
We express sincere regret over the above-said statement about duck-billed platypi. We did not wish to anger or offend any fans of these stupid little creatures.
And, y'know... I'd like some proof that the state (what? Is this a Nickelback forum? Why does everyone refer to a country that's a united congregation of seperate states -- and, oh, sorry Minnesota, four "Commonwealths" -- that holds communals to achieve a common goal, as "the state"?) has managed to kill more than religion.
If this "state" you refer to happens to be America, you're not counting the thousands of years where misinterpreted statements of the Bible and differences in seperate religions led to deaths of some, few, or many. Overall, I'm sure religion wins out -- by a good margin.
We express sincere regret over the above-said statement about duck-billed platypi. We did not wish to anger or offend any fans of these stupid little creatures.
And, y'know... I'd like some proof that the state (what? Is this a Nickelback forum? Why does everyone refer to a country that's a united congregation of seperate states -- and, oh, sorry Minnesota, four "Commonwealths" -- that holds communals to achieve a common goal, as "the state"?) has managed to kill more than religion.
If this "state" you refer to happens to be America, you're not counting the thousands of years where misinterpreted statements of the Bible and differences in seperate religions led to deaths of some, few, or many. Overall, I'm sure religion wins out -- by a good margin.
Ninamori:"Our little secret, okay?"
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Henrietta
State does not refer only to America. State refers to thousands and thousands of years of greed. Such as the Roman Empire (a state) and the Crusades.
Actually, the Book of Mormon compliments the Bible quite nicely. Have you ever read it?
There are quite a few things in the Book of Mormon that directly contradict the Bible, such as the 'people can become God' thing. So there you go.
Actually, the Book of Mormon compliments the Bible quite nicely. Have you ever read it?
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Venom
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the state is the number one killer of people in the history of the world.
no I'm right. The state is acting in the way of its culture which always follows some religion. George Bush for example is a Christian and does what he thinks a "good" Christian should do while Osama is a muslim and does what he thinks the Koran tells him to do. Religions clash and thats why states clash. Every war reverts back to religion for one reason or another. People argue that religion is peaceful but its not. People of one religion just can't seem to tolerate people of another. It will always be that way and there can never be peace. So all you tree huggin, world peace junkie out there can get a clue. Its not gonna happen!!! The ball was set in motion LONG before your small voice came along and its never gonna change.
While you're right about the violence attributed to religion, Venom, I don't think that's the whole story.
Religion is a symptom, not the disease. Religion just gives greedy, power-hungry people a moral high ground to stand on while they destroy others. Most wars have religion plastered all over them, but this is only on the surface. Religion is there so that people will feel justified in their actions - that God is on their side. But it's really about territoriality, race, culture, and evolution. The inherent human desire to destroy all those different from oneself, in an attempt to secure the longevity of one's own genetic line. Religion is a byproduct of this, not the cause. Eliminating religion would not eliminate war. War is in our nature, in our genes, part of the very core of being human.
Religion is a symptom, not the disease. Religion just gives greedy, power-hungry people a moral high ground to stand on while they destroy others. Most wars have religion plastered all over them, but this is only on the surface. Religion is there so that people will feel justified in their actions - that God is on their side. But it's really about territoriality, race, culture, and evolution. The inherent human desire to destroy all those different from oneself, in an attempt to secure the longevity of one's own genetic line. Religion is a byproduct of this, not the cause. Eliminating religion would not eliminate war. War is in our nature, in our genes, part of the very core of being human.
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joe_canadian
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or, there's the possibility that people believe in their religion and follow it because of that belief. sorry, but you're implying that religion is nothing but a scantily veiled weapon, which is not the truth, no matter how you look at it.
Just because I am sexy, naked, a bassist, and sporting a top hat doesn't make me Duncan Coutts!
Belief is secondary. We believe because we need an excuse. We couldn't live with ourselves if we knew we were killing innocent people in our selfish desire to dominate. So we make up gods who tell us we are righteous, humble, and good when we do these things, and that the people we kill deserved to die because they were evil. It helps us to sleep at night. A perfect example of this is the recent war between America and Iraq. "We are good! We are right! We are fighting for freedom! God bless America! They are bad! They are evil! We will stop them!" Or was it "We are good! We are right! We are fighting for justice! Praise be to Allah! They are bad! They are infidels! We will destroy them!"
Does it matter whether we believe it or not? That's like asking whether or not the gun likes to fire. It's a meaningless question. The result is the same. Religion is a tool, used by the powerful against the weak, and by the human intellect against itself.
As Nietzsche said, "Religion is the opiate of the masses."
Does it matter whether we believe it or not? That's like asking whether or not the gun likes to fire. It's a meaningless question. The result is the same. Religion is a tool, used by the powerful against the weak, and by the human intellect against itself.
As Nietzsche said, "Religion is the opiate of the masses."