The Original Messages of Religion

[Anomalocaris]

According to Christianity that is why Jesus died, for the sins (our sins) of humanity, so that humanity (we) could be saved. That is what CHRISTIANS believe, not what I believe. How you concluded that since I was describing what Christians believe makes me a Christian is beyond me.

What you believe is intelligent human adults are all worthless scum with neither judgement or perception, and deserve nothing better, and can hope for nothing better, than to become a christard.

[Chad32]

Moderation of Krokodil is ineffective and abstinence from it would be much better. Sin gives us a name to lump all immoral deeds in one name, that is why I like it.

The saying goes all good things in moderation. No one is saying you should do a certain amount of everything. No doctor is going to subscribe a certain amount of gasoline in your diet. We could say moderation in all that's good, and abstinence in all that's bad, but people have different views on what is good or bad.

Sin is clearly defined in the bible, the source of the word sin, as things that Yahweh disapproves of. Since many people disagree on things Yahweh approves and disapproves of, it's not accurate to say sin is things that are bad. Slavery, genocide, and raping unspoken for virgins is bad, despite Yahweh approving of it. Adults doing whatever they want as long as everyone involved consents is good, despite Yahweh disapproving of many things that we as free thinking beings might care to do.

[Ben Davis]

If I thought there was something suitable to supercede this I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing now. In Buddhism, I believe the main objective of meditation is to clear your mind to be 'empty' in the head. I can't help but feel that doesn't produce very good improvement of oneself most of nonsecular meditation is based on buddhism which I don't quite agree with is the best approach to meditation.

I don't think you read my post as illustrated by the words in bold. We're talking about non-religious alternatives to prayer. Last time I checked, Buddhism was a religion as are 'non-secular' things. Do you acknowledge that there are existing, secular alternatives?

[Celestine]

If I thought there was something suitable to supercede this I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing now. In Buddhism, I believe the main objective of meditation is to clear your mind to be 'empty' in the head. I can't help but feel that doesn't produce very good improvement of oneself most of nonsecular meditation is based on buddhism which I don't quite agree with is the best approach to meditation.

I don't think you read my post as illustrated by the words in bold. We're talking about non-religious alternatives to prayer. Last time I checked, Buddhism was a religion as are 'non-secular' things. Do you acknowledge that there are existing, secular alternatives?

Yes I acknowledge there are already some secular alternatives. And AGAIN if I thought they were any good, I wouldn't be trying to do what I am now.

In Buddhism, I believe the main objective of meditation is to clear your mind to be 'empty' in the head. I can't help but feel that doesn't produce very good improvement of oneself most of nonsecular meditation is based on buddhism which I don't quite agree with is the best approach to meditation.

-There we go....you have a position, you explained it.

Now, is "nonsecular meditation" actually based on buddhism? If it isn't, then when you offer your opinion on buddhism you aren't offering an opinion on "nonsecular meditation".

(would you be willing to stick to this with me for just a moment, going through step by step and making modifications -or not- until we reach a statement that we are comfortable with as having both the power to lead to the conclusion we hold, and being comprised of statements which can be agreed upon by our intended "victim" -lol- or otherwise argued to be accurate?)

I said most nonsecular meditation and while I admit I shouldn't have used the word most, it's just most from what I've seen (in fact all that I've seen really)

[Clueless Morgan]

[Celestine]

Need I go on? Can we put the rest the stupidity of saying we're not engaged in argumentation here?

We are.

Then allow me to put an end to that, even the only one seeking to argue is you.

[ShaMan]

Get over it.

I read the whole thing in your accent tag voice. You're a ninja for sure!

[Clueless Morgan]

[Celestine]

[The Grand Nudger]

-he argued

LOL, Celstine. Possessing an argument - is merely possessing a set of statements which can be shown to be valid and sound. That is, the statements appear to be accurate, and the manner in which you've arranged them will have the power to lead to the conclusion you've offered. It has nothing to do with "arguing" in the sense that you seem to be interpreting the word. Does that help you to understand why you've been getting so much flak?

If two people both have arguments (and we all think that we do, of course) that reach entirely contradictory conclusions, it behooves us to figure out why. People just letting things fall from their mouth without considering the strength of their statements, or the statements of others, will lead nowhere but a noisier world.

The sky is blue!
The sky is red!
The sky is black!

on and on, ad infinitum.