RE: Reflecting on Atheism.
November 16, 2013 at 6:53 am
(This post was last modified: November 16, 2013 at 6:55 am by arvind13.)
In reply to Genkaus:
"Wrong. As a matter of fact, tradition as never been the explanation given for conducting pujas - the reason is always an embodiment of beliefs.
I have asked that question ant the answers I've received have always been based on belief. "We conduct the Vaastu Puja to bring good luck within the new home". "Satyanayrayan Puja is done at the start of a new venture to have success in it". "Specific days are auspicious for worshipping specific gods - so be sure to visit the Hanuman temple on a tuesday".
Sure, people give all kinds of reasons as to why they do this or that puja. All of them are accepted. Or you have the option of giving no reason at all. This is itself evidence for the fact that beliefs are irrelevant to performing a ritual in Indian and Chinese cultures.
Because if these practices are predicated on beliefs, then there would have been huge theological tracts written about what to believe, what not to believe, truth claims. We do not have such doctrines. The Vedas and Bhagavad Gita are not doctrines. The vedas contain ritual chants and instructions on how to reflect on our experience. The bhagavad Gita is just a poem instructing the reader on appropriate action depending on the context
There are no doctrines or 'belief system' behind puja or going to temples. There are plenty of books on how to perform a puja, but that is a different matter.
And yes, the fact that it is a tradition is given as its own justification in many instances. I have personally seen it many times, especially among the older generation.
"Because that's how religions work - you have a central doctrine on which your worldview is formed. If you don't accept that doctrine as true, then following the practices consequent of it makes no sense at all. "
when it comes to the semitic religions, you're right, without doctrinal justification (based on beliefs) none of their practices make sense. Why is this the case? What is it about the structure of the semitic religions that makes belief central? Why can't one be a Christian and not believe in the bible? What gives doctrines their authority?
One needs to do research and build and develop a theory of religion in order to answer such questions. Definitions can't help us in the matter, because anyone can make up any definition. There are no empirical consequences or constraints.
So without a theory, any answer you provide to such questions will be ad hoc and unscientific.
"Wrong. As a matter of fact, tradition as never been the explanation given for conducting pujas - the reason is always an embodiment of beliefs.
I have asked that question ant the answers I've received have always been based on belief. "We conduct the Vaastu Puja to bring good luck within the new home". "Satyanayrayan Puja is done at the start of a new venture to have success in it". "Specific days are auspicious for worshipping specific gods - so be sure to visit the Hanuman temple on a tuesday".
Sure, people give all kinds of reasons as to why they do this or that puja. All of them are accepted. Or you have the option of giving no reason at all. This is itself evidence for the fact that beliefs are irrelevant to performing a ritual in Indian and Chinese cultures.
Because if these practices are predicated on beliefs, then there would have been huge theological tracts written about what to believe, what not to believe, truth claims. We do not have such doctrines. The Vedas and Bhagavad Gita are not doctrines. The vedas contain ritual chants and instructions on how to reflect on our experience. The bhagavad Gita is just a poem instructing the reader on appropriate action depending on the context
There are no doctrines or 'belief system' behind puja or going to temples. There are plenty of books on how to perform a puja, but that is a different matter.
And yes, the fact that it is a tradition is given as its own justification in many instances. I have personally seen it many times, especially among the older generation.
"Because that's how religions work - you have a central doctrine on which your worldview is formed. If you don't accept that doctrine as true, then following the practices consequent of it makes no sense at all. "
when it comes to the semitic religions, you're right, without doctrinal justification (based on beliefs) none of their practices make sense. Why is this the case? What is it about the structure of the semitic religions that makes belief central? Why can't one be a Christian and not believe in the bible? What gives doctrines their authority?
One needs to do research and build and develop a theory of religion in order to answer such questions. Definitions can't help us in the matter, because anyone can make up any definition. There are no empirical consequences or constraints.
So without a theory, any answer you provide to such questions will be ad hoc and unscientific.
