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RE: An alternative to atheist thought
September 27, 2017 at 10:00 pm
(September 27, 2017 at 9:57 pm)Mr.wizard Wrote: (September 27, 2017 at 9:52 pm)Astonished Wrote: I know you probably didn't waste your time even skimming his bullshit chapter descriptions, but based on those descriptions, it's scarcely distinguishable from theism, so technically it is that.
Your right I did not read all of that, I just saw him saying that he was just here to give atheists an alternative view of life.
He's a street corner preacher peddling his ripped-off bullshit. It's basically H.P. Lovecraft's Old Ones without actually naming them.
Religions were invented to impress and dupe illiterate, superstitious stone-age peasants. So in this modern, enlightened age of information, what's your excuse? Or are you saying with all your advantages, you were still tricked as easily as those early humans?
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There is no better way to convey the least amount of information in the greatest amount of words than to try explaining your religious views.
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RE: An alternative to atheist thought
September 27, 2017 at 10:02 pm
(September 26, 2017 at 2:35 pm)Harry Nevis Wrote:
(September 25, 2017 at 8:53 pm)BlindedWantsToSee Wrote: I have high standards! I really do not see a good reason for me or anyone else to have to experience misery, other than "that's just the way life is". Yup, that's the way life is, and it is wrong. I don't think we should put up with it.
Then don't put up with it. Ever look into the Four Noble Truths?
Yes! I have, thanks for asking. I think Buddhism has a lot of merits, but ultimately it is misleading, like all other religions. I mean they are supposed to lead people to a certain outcome, but they don't (in this case the outcome or goal is the elimination of suffering from people's lives). I seriously doubt that very many Buddhist people in the whole history of Buddhism have achieved a completely blissful life, with no suffering in it.
I really believe all religions are aimed at getting people to "behave", to be good citizens, and do what the people who rule humanity need them to do. They are not aimed at procuring the welfare of the people.
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RE: An alternative to atheist thought
September 28, 2017 at 5:08 am
(September 27, 2017 at 11:00 am)Mr.wizard Wrote: How can you say you want offer an alternative view of life to atheists? How do you know what atheists view of life are, in the first place? They only alternative to Atheism is Theism, so unless your planning on pulling a God out of your pocket I don't think there is much to discuss.
It's atheism basically, but with a bit more faith in spirits, evil and humanity (and all life) deserves eternal happiness and bliss. Ok nevermind, it's theism if you look at the big picture to what he's going for. I still think he should give up the whole cult thing where everyone offs themselves just because life is a bit rough and not heaven-like. But it seems his mind is made up.
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RE: An alternative to atheist thought
September 28, 2017 at 10:21 am
(September 27, 2017 at 10:02 pm)BlindedWantsToSee Wrote: (September 26, 2017 at 2:35 pm)Harry Nevis Wrote:
Then don't put up with it. Ever look into the Four Noble Truths?
Yes! I have, thanks for asking. I think Buddhism has a lot of merits, but ultimately it is misleading, like all other religions. I mean they are supposed to lead people to a certain outcome, but they don't (in this case the outcome or goal is the elimination of suffering from people's lives). I seriously doubt that very many Buddhist people in the whole history of Buddhism have achieved a completely blissful life, with no suffering in it.
I really believe all religions are aimed at getting people to "behave", to be good citizens, and do what the people who rule humanity need them to do. They are not aimed at procuring the welfare of the people.
I doubt many have achieved it as well. But I don't think the achievement is the point.
"The last superstition of the human mind is the superstition that religion in itself is a good thing." - Samuel Porter Putnam
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RE: An alternative to atheist thought
September 28, 2017 at 12:26 pm
(This post was last modified: September 28, 2017 at 12:31 pm by The Grand Nudger.)
It's poor success rate is unsurprising, as a folklore based method for securing intangibles. Buddhism is a bit like learning to fly by rubbing your belly and patting your head in just the right way.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
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RE: An alternative to atheist thought
September 28, 2017 at 9:10 pm
(September 28, 2017 at 10:21 am)Harry Nevis Wrote: I doubt many have achieved [enlightenment] as well. But I don't think the achievement is the point. Well you can do the whole "the journey is the point" thing if you want but the offered value proposition is freedom from suffering and the motivation to believe in the system is to gain its benefits.
At least Buddhism is honest: it tells you right up front that it will take "countless" rebirths to get there with a high possibility of various setbacks. And that's where it loses me at least on that value proposition.
Now there are ways in which it works as a self-help methodology, one of any number of things that can make your life a few percentage points less sucky. Learning to let go of desire / attachment to specific outcomes, flexing in response to life rather than expecting the inverse and accepting the constancy of change (impermanence) are good life lessons and well presented by Buddhism, and best of all don't require all the ritual and cruft of the full blown religion.
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