Is There A Factor Common To All Religions? (ritual, Buddhism)

[Bishka]

Jay, there's not need to belittle someone for what he sees with his eyes. Just because you don't see, doesn't mean it's not there.

[Jayhawker Soule]

Originally Posted by beckysoup61

Jay, there's not need to belittle someone for what he sees with his eyes.

If that is what he sees with his own eyes, it is in his interest to correct the astigmatism. Education would help. It is certainly more fruittful than demonstrably preposterous babble. Explain, for example, how anyone can responsibly assert that iconoclasm is a factor common to all religions. And only one with a severely limited knowledge of theology would claim the paramormal as an ubiquitous factor.

I have no need to belittle him. His assertions, however, are irresponsibly uninformed.

[Bishka]

Originally Posted by Jay

If that is what he sees with his own eyes, it is in his interest to correct the astigmatism. Education would help. It is certainly more fruittful than demonstrably preposterous babble. Explain, for example, how anyone can responsibly assert that iconoclasm is a factor common to all religions. And only one with a severely limited knowledge of theology would claim the paramormal as an ubiquitous factor.

I have no need to belittle him. His assertions, however, are irresponsibly uninformed.

You use a lot of big words, some I don't, and some I do know, but still, there is no reason to make rude remarks for some who is unlearned. It's not like he is purposefully that way. Give him a break. We all make mistakes.

Remember Jay, not everyone has had the chance to be as learned and educated as yourself.

[Hacker]

Originally Posted by YmirGF

I would heartily recommend that people close their books, and learn to listen to that whisper of eternity, deep within themselves.

Are you referring to meditation? Just what do you mean if you don't mind me asking? Did you ever succeed at listening to "that whisper of eternity?" And if so, what was it like?

Originally Posted by YmirGF

Religion is the physical echo of that voice and is a sad, rather poor, alternative. That is all I am trying to say.

Very well said, and I agree, it is in fact very sad and primarily I'm referring to hellfire and brimstone.

[Jayhawker Soule]

Originally Posted by beckysoup61

Remember Jay, not everyone has had the chance to be as learned and educated as yourself.

What a load of ...

One does not have to be particularly "learned and educated" to know that iconoclasm is not "a factor common to all religion" - one need merely approach the subject responsibly.

[retrorich]

Originally Posted by Jay

That is simply ignorant. Where was/is the fantasy in the views of Shirley Jackson Case, Mordecai Kaplan, Henry Nelson Wieman, Alfred North Whitehead, Paul Tillich and others?

I don't know. Why don't you tell poor ignorant me, Mr. know-it-all?

[Halcyon]

I can only think of one aspect that ALL religions share - speculation.

As far as i'm aware all forms of religion, and most philosophies, are built around speculation. Speculation on the existence and nature of deity/ies. Speculation on the existence/nature of the human souls and/or human experience in general.

Theistic religions are built upon the speculation that there is a God/s and that this God/s can interact with us.

Buddhism is founded on the speculation that a human being can free themselves of attachment through meditation. It also includes speculation concerning the reincarnation of speculative souls.

Taoism speculates on the existence and nature of the Tao, giving it qualities of balance eg. Yin Yang.

[d.]

Originally Posted by Halcyon

Taoism speculates on the existence and nature of the Tao, giving it qualities of balance eg. Yin Yang.

i don't agree, but that's admittedly a matter of interpretation...in my reading, the TTC strives to avoid speculation as much as possible.

it's also important to note that the yin/yang dichotomy wasn't invented by taoism, but an already present symbol in chinese cosmology. as i remember it, the TTC uses yin/yang in relation to the 'ten thousand things' not the tao itself.