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The idea of the earth being flat was only of those who were ignorant. Any one of any scientific background of the time of this theory would highly beg do differ. That would infact mean that there is only one side to the earth, beacause 2 of the sides would be like what water falls and then what was the idea for the bottom half just nothing.... Like OKEY!Quote:
Originally Posted by krazy chino
I'd prefer to be a Christian, I think it would give life more significance. And whoever said Christians are squares was way wrong. Sure, a lot are, but I know a lot of Christians who do what they like (within reason) and still follow God. In the Old Testament prophets (the books), it was usually visions that god showed them, and they wrote down what they saw. And the Bible, Isaiah especially, had predictions about Jesus and his life. Now of course it's debatable whether or not he was God, but these books were written long before he ever came to be. The Bible is an amazing book, study it and you will find only the most minor contradictions, where a book was written off memory or a word as translated wrong. It predicted how the world would be today, and 100 years ago no one would have imagined that it would be this way. Dont judge a book by its cover, and definitely dont judge it by heresay. And whoever said the commandments weren't amazing, it's our morals! And it means to not worship a graven image or make false gods in the 2nd commandment that you mentioned. People often think it's the same as the first, but really, IMO when the first says have no other idol before me, it means idol as in anything you put before God. Despite lecturing everyone on this, I'm not a Christian at all:wtf:, but I acknowledge our creator. It gives a more ultimate meaning to life, rather than a more insignificant, relative meaning. It's a reason for our existence
I was raised in a Christian church, but I don't consider myself a Christian, or a Buddhist, for that matter. I do consider myself spiritual; I pray to a "spirit" when I do pray and try to pray for others instead of for selfish reasons.
If I had to pick, I'd MUCH rather be a Buddhist, a lot of hypocrisy w/ Christians, or so-called Christians. Buddhists actually believe like Christ did...love everyone, be tolerant, be peaceful.
Some recovery programs also take a lot of their beliefs and practices from Buddhism, too.
"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."
-- Mahatma Gandhi
No Taoist would ever claim to be Taoist.Quote:
Originally Posted by nightlight
jesus saves!!!
passes to budda. shoots. scores!!
But that's just it, in eastern religion, you are God or rather the embodiment of God. Same with Christianity. God is everywhere and everywhere is God.Quote:
Originally Posted by JackdaWack
Yes yes, and no Buddhist would claim to be a Buddhist, I've heard that one too. Go research the philosophies some more, it's a common misinterpretation of eastern approaches to ego and the tao. Much like those who think enlightenment, the extinction of self, means you don't exist any more.Quote:
Originally Posted by sneakyt33
Don't go putting people down for their beliefs and telling them that they are intrepreting them wrong, and you interpret them right. Nothing, especially in Buddhism or Taoism, is so simple as one person's egocentric view.
First: I didn't put anyone down.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gandalf_The_Grey
Second: You are incorrect. I'm not making any claims about buddhism, so I don't know what a buddhist would claim. You need to reread the Tao Te Ching.
Third: You are also incorrect about the simplicity of the Tao.
I couldn't find the edit button, so I'm posting again to flesh out a little bit of what I was saying. Generally, I'm a man of few words (spending 6 years in a monastery will do that to a fella), but since Gandalf thought my comment was insulting, I feel I should elaborate a little more.
The first verse of the Tao Te Ching is:
The tao that can be told
is not the eternal Tao
The name that can be named
is not the eternal Name.
Therefore to put a label on yourself like, "I am Taoist" completely negates the most basic principles of the belief system. It is about doing away with labels and names, and just living.
In addition, the two words, "I am" go against the fundamental taoist practice of Wu Wei.
To claim that your are Taoist is similar to claiming that your are enlightened. You may follow the Tao, but to claim that your are Taoist is like claiming that you have attained perfection. Semantics? maybe...but I'm willing to argue semantics when it's the difference between everything and nothing.
i have read the tao te ching and found it very enlighning.
the reason i think most people who follow the teachings of lau tze refer to them self as a taoist is to simplify things for people brung up in a christan dominant society.
i myself would say that knowing in my heart that it may be wrong but it makes it easier than having to talk for 2 or 3 hours to some one who has no clue.
let face it many people dont even know about the tao. so just to make things easier for them we will say "i am a taoist" but saying "i follow taoist philosophy" would more than likly be a better way of stating it.