Philosophy Now Forum

Buddhism is fundamentally atheistic, as it grew and spread throughout S E Asia it syncratised with local religions who already had personifications of abstract notions embodied in god heads, but none of these are Buddhist, and none are of the type of God IC is always banging on about.

His failure to be able to mention who these gods are supposed to be, are both indications of his ignorance, and the fact that he is wrong on this issue.
Obviously he does not know the difference between Hinduism and Buddhism.

It's the "doing" in Buddhism more than the "believing" required by Christianity which separates the two. B is more active than C in the discovery phase of oneself.

Dubious wrote:It's the "doing" in Buddhism more than the "believing" required by Christianity which separates the two. B is more active than C in the discovery phase of oneself.

There are 2 different approaches to similar ends. In Christianity it is taught that if you believe, then you will act in the correct way. In Buddhism it is taught that you should act a certain way, and then you will believe correctly. However in Christianity it is stated that the actions come from the belief, but in Buddhism it is not stated but assumed that it will happen.

thedoc wrote: There are 2 different approaches to similar ends. In Christianity it is taught that if you believe, then you will act in the correct way. In Buddhism it is taught that you should act a certain way, and then you will believe correctly. However in Christianity it is stated that the actions come from the belief, but in Buddhism it is not stated but assumed that it will happen.

In "Think For Yourself" it is assumed you will work it out on your own.

Harbal wrote:

thedoc wrote: There are 2 different approaches to similar ends. In Christianity it is taught that if you believe, then you will act in the correct way. In Buddhism it is taught that you should act a certain way, and then you will believe correctly. However in Christianity it is stated that the actions come from the belief, but in Buddhism it is not stated but assumed that it will happen.

In "Think For Yourself" it is assumed you will work it out on your own.

It would be nice if people would do that, but most do not, and have to be told.

thedoc wrote: It would be nice if people would do that, but most do not, and have to be told.

Speaking purely for myself: it is my aim to live my life in a morally correct way without either having to spend significant amounts of time sitting cross legged beneath a tree or ending up being nailed to a piece of wood.

Harbal wrote:

thedoc wrote: It would be nice if people would do that, but most do not, and have to be told.

Speaking purely for myself: it is my aim to live my life in a morally correct way without either having to spend significant amounts of time sitting cross legged beneath a tree or ending up being nailed to a piece of wood.

There is no reason to think that you can't do it your way, just don't be critical of those who want to do it another way. Your way might not be the only way.

thedoc wrote: There is no reason to think that you can't do it your way, just don't be critical of those who want to do it another way. Your way might not be the only way.

Tell Immanuel that.

Harbal wrote:

thedoc wrote: There is no reason to think that you can't do it your way, just don't be critical of those who want to do it another way. Your way might not be the only way.

Tell Immanuel that.

There are some Christians who believe that Jesus and God are exclusive to Christianity, I don't share that belief because I do not know who God might have revealed himself to, or by what means. I also don't know if IC believes that Jesus is exclusive to his own version of Christianity, it might be an interesting question to ask him.

thedoc wrote: I also don't know if IC believes that Jesus is exclusive to his own version of Christianity, it might be an interesting question to ask him.

It doesn't matter what he believes, it's his thinly veiled contempt for anyone who doesn't believe the same thing that I'm referring to.

Harbal wrote:

thedoc wrote: I also don't know if IC believes that Jesus is exclusive to his own version of Christianity, it might be an interesting question to ask him.

It doesn't matter what he believes, it's his thinly veiled contempt for anyone who doesn't believe the same thing that I'm referring to.

Are you sure it's "thinly veiled"?

BTW, On another forum, many years ago, I was openly critical of another poster who seemed to believe that anyone who didn't believe as he did was going to hell. I tried to tell him that hostility was not the way to win others to his way of believing.

thedoc wrote: Are you sure it's "thinly veiled"?

I was being tactful.

Harbal wrote:

thedoc wrote: Are you sure it's "thinly veiled"?

I was being tactful.

That is so out of character for you.

thedoc wrote:

Harbal wrote: I was being tactful.

That is so out of character for you.

Yes I know, doc, I can only apologise for the lapse.

Harbal wrote:

thedoc wrote:

Harbal wrote: I was being tactful.

That is so out of character for you.

Yes I know, doc, I can only apologise for the lapse.

Be careful, it could be habit forming.