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  1. Rainbow Mage

    The last year has made me really proud to be a Democrat

    I have to say that my faith in my party has increased a whole lot over the last few years, as I see how strongly the politicians in my party are willing to fight, even with a Republican majority. Democrats continue to fight for the oppressed, for the middle and lower class, and the marginalized...
  2. Rainbow Mage

    What does your religion teach about angels?

    Wondering what the similarities and differences between the Abrahamic religions and their view on angels is. What do Judaism, Christianity, and Islam each teach about angels? Is it your belief that angels have free will, or that they must obey god without question? Why is it in Christianity...
  3. Rainbow Mage

    Is there a point to belief in a non-conceptual Brahman?

    I would like your help with this please, dharmic seekers. It occurs to me, that if non-conceptual Brahman is the goal in striving for samadhi- wouldn't disbelief in Brahman and Brahman without conception be virtually the same? In disbelieving in Brahman there would be no images, ideas, or...
  4. Rainbow Mage

    Disagreement isn't attacking

    Am I the only person who feels like in modern society its become common place for people to say they're being attacked if their position is strongly criticized or challenged? This probably has several factors to it. The media certainly doesn't help. Do others see this too, and what do you...
  5. Rainbow Mage

    How can one know they have a soul or spirit?

    The soul is usually defined as the seat of the self, or that sense of 'I' that would remain if the body with its functions shut down. Some define spirit in this way, and yet others call it the Atman. How is it that one can posit the self has a seat or permanence to it, when the sense of being...
  6. Rainbow Mage

    Let's Make Our Own Quotes

    The quotes thread, but not just any quotes thread... The make your own thread. Basically for sharing any quote that comes to mind, that inspires you, or you feel could inspire someone else. So let's get this ball rolling: I regard life as the greatest miracle, gift, and treasure, therefore...
  7. Rainbow Mage

    Epicureanism: a minimalist philosophy for a good life

    It seems like Epicurus isn't very discussed here, so I figured I'd open a thread where we can discuss him freely, and however we see fit. I don't consider myself Epicurean, for the same reason I don't consider myself Buddhist, but I really like Epicurus's philosophy. It seems like Epicurean...
  8. Rainbow Mage

    Should Religion ever motivate a person to be cruel?

    I guess this is an issue I have with more fundamentalist forms of belief, is that I often see opposition to other worldviews and groups that could be called cruel or hateful. I guess a good example of this is some Christians supporting ex-gay conversion therapy for teens and kids, when such...
  9. Rainbow Mage

    Returning for a bit

    I'm not sure how long I'll stick around this time, but let me give you all updates on how I've been doing. I think I announced that I'd gotten married last time I was on here. I still am, and we're doing great. He and I are going two years strong of living together. I'm still an atheist too...
  10. Rainbow Mage

    Is Gnostic Atheism a belief?

    I was wondering what your response might be to the above proposition. When I mention gnostic atheism, somebody usually says this is a belief because we cannot prove there isn't a god either. Is it a belief?
  11. Rainbow Mage

    Connection between Greek philosophy and Buddhism?

    Do you think Buddhist thought may have influenced some of the Hellenic schools like Epicureanism or Stoicism, or vice versa? Upon examination of Epicurus, Epictitus, and others I couldn't help noticing some similarity, notably with the concept of Ataraxia: a lucid state of perfect pleasure or...
  12. Rainbow Mage

    Back for a bit

    Hi everyone. Its been awhile. Decided to stop by. Not sure how long I'll be around. Hope everyone has been well. I don't remember if I told you all that I became an atheist. I've been one about a year now. Since I have I've been very stable in my convictions. I no longer jump all over the...
  13. Rainbow Mage

    Do Baha'is have a concept of hell?

    I wanted to ask if the Baha'i religion has any notion of hell as a place of punishment? If the answer is no, can you also explain how you interpret the Bible and Quran's repeated warnings about hell?
  14. Rainbow Mage

    Gambling

    Okay, so I need some dharma advice. Let me start by saying that I understand some ethical questions that come with gambling, but do they come with moderate gambling? Gambling for fun or as a social activity with no particular attachment to gain or loss? To cut to the chase- should we as...
  15. Rainbow Mage

    Reasons behind god belief

    I think one of the most important questions we can ask ourselves when examining god claims is the reasoning that underlies theistic belief. This thread was created for that very topic- what are the reasons that many people feel the need for a god? I'll start the ball rolling by saying that...
  16. Rainbow Mage

    Are the cultural ideologies of the Middle East irreconcilable with Secularism?

    Sam Harris and others have pointed out that any attempt to inject secularism into Middle Eastern nations only meets with short-lived success. The problem clearly isn't lack of democracy, in light of increasing favor for a more religious law in secular Turkey. The question is will the majority...
  17. Rainbow Mage

    I Take Refuge in the Buddha

    As stated in a recent thread, I consider myself an atheist but find Buddhist thought and practice helpful to my life. It was suggested to me that perhaps I'm already practicing Buddhism. I think I'd like to and I'd like to learn more about Zen. This isn't my first time affiliating with...
  18. Rainbow Mage

    Zen Book Recommendations

    I have recently taken an interest in Zen and was looking for some good book recommendations. I've already started on Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki
  19. Rainbow Mage

    Buddha and the Upanishads

    I was wondering if any of you have encountered the opinion that perhaps Buddhism sprung out of developing Upanishadic philosophy? I encountered the idea reading Eknath Eswarn, who suggested the Buddha's teachings represent developing Upanishadic thought, and referenced the many similarities...
  20. Rainbow Mage

    The Nature of Self

    I was wondering what everyone's take on the idea of self is. My own view agrees with Buddhism and some modern thinkers that a self independent of environmental influences and sensual aggregates doesn't actually exist. We are actually many factors playing out at once. I wonder what everyone...
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