Ever prayed to God?

[zeebo phillips]

Catholocism seems like a fairy tale to me.

None of it seems real, and if it is, it's hard to believe.

My biggest issue is that it's based on rules. If you do this, you're going to hell. If you don't do this, you're going to hell. Worship him, or live in sin. Whereas in a religion such as Buddhism, it's more of a guideline. Yeah, for strict Buddhists, there's "rules", but for average people, it's just something that isn't as uptight as the catholic religion. I'm not picking on Catholics by any means, cansidering I was raised one, but I think after experiencing church on Sundays, CCD and the surroundings of a Italian family, I've seen and heard enough to bother me.

[braddog10]

Hey... Binzhoubum

[Binzhoubum]

I am here Braddog10...always. :smokin:

[braddog10]

Thought I'd wait for the storm to pass...

[Binzhoubum]

Catholocism seems like a fairy tale to me.

None of it seems real, and if it is, it's hard to believe.

My biggest issue is that it's based on rules. If you do this, you're going to hell. If you don't do this, you're going to hell. Worship him, or live in sin. Whereas in a religion such as Buddhism, it's more of a guideline. Yeah, for strict Buddhists, there's "rules", but for average people, it's just something that isn't as uptight as the catholic religion. I'm not picking on Catholics by any means, cansidering I was raised one, but I think after experiencing church on Sundays, CCD and the surroundings of a Italian family, I've seen and heard enough to bother me.

You could apply the same thing you said about rules in Buddhism to any form of Christianity or any other religion for that matter. :smokin:

There are some Catholics who don't always follow the rules and just use everything more as a guideline. There are some Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Jews, etc. that also do the same.

But then again, if you ARE religious you have to ask yourself: If God made the rules, does he really want them to be followed in a half-ass manner?

:smokin:

[Binzhoubum]

Why do people in the West always think Buddhism is the answer...

I live in a country where many people practice it, and I have been to many temples and such throughout Asia and I really mostly see alot of incense burning and kneeling before statues of various ancient kings, spirits, landowners, etc... It's not like you go to a Buddhist temple and there are hundreds of monks sitting in the lotus position searching for enlightenment...HAHA!!! :Smokin: In the temples I have been to, all of the monks are selling little doo-dads and asking for donations.

I remember this time in Jiuzhaigou (I believe it is in Northwestern Sichuan province extremely close to Tibet) when I climbed up this mountain for four hours to get to the top. At the top they have this huge temple that was built over a number of years of workers carrying all this material up this huge mountain. There was a monk standing in front of the main hall of the temple banging on a gong, smokin a cigarette, saying, "Give me money! Give me money!"

Is that how you picture Buddhists? Don't leave one religion behind and escape to another one until you do real world research and aren't just living off the image inside your head...

I also see a lot of Buddhists here who are perpetually afraid of ghosts and spirits. They always leave offering of fruit and such at the door and burn incense and chant and such not in an attempt to find enlightenment but in an attempt to ward off evil spirits and bring in good luck and money.

The pictures are of Jiuzhaigou. Enjoy! :smokin:

[Hamlet]

I remember this time in Jiuzhaigou (I believe it is in Northwestern Sichuan province extremely close to Tibet) when I climbed up this mountain for four hours to get to the top. At the top they have this huge temple that was built over a number of years of workers carrying all this material up this huge mountain. There was a monk standing in front of the main hall of the temple banging on a gong, smokin a cigarette, saying, "Give me money! Give me money!"

lol...ain't that how it goes?! Take things too seriously and the tricksters always there telling ya to pull his finger But enlightenment is there at the top of the mountain anyway--it just wasn't the enlightenment you wanted...lol

[braddog10]

Is that how you picture Buddhists? Don't leave one religion behind and escape to another one until you do real world research and aren't just living off the image inside your head...

lol...ain't that how it goes?! Take things too seriously and the tricksters always there telling ya to pull his finger But enlightenment is there at the top of the mountain anyway--it just wasn't the enlightenment you wanted...lol.

The monk could have raised that gong flat, and had an offering plate that would make any Baptist jealous. Isn't it interesting, that religions of different cultures and great distances reviel the same display of the hearts of man.

The Holy Spirit spoke thru Solomon, Years ago, that there is nothing new under the sun. Sure thereâ??s technology etc.. but when it comes down to matters of the heart,..... hidden or exposed, nothing at all is new.

Heres a good opportunity to clarify differences between religion and and a genuine walk.

I couldn't help but think of the time when the Israelite were moving thru the desert with a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day. God did some wonderfully miraculous things.

It's tremendous moves of God like this that man takes, builds a cathedral or a temple around it, and it becomes a shrine to "Gods move", at that time. Most denominations seem to be frozen in time.

Had this been done In the desert,..... there they would be...... with their "faithful",...... their Temple, Church, whatever,......... and the Pillar of fire and the cloud ~ Long Gone.

Where's the presence of God??
Wasn't He displayed by the fire and the cloud?

As a Christian...I must keep the fire and cloud in view.
Hebrews 12:2
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

[braddog10]

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Lord Jesus I thank you for this day, For these here on the boards. I appreciate your presence here. I ask that you would increase. Remove the blocks that the enemy has placed over the eyes of all of us, that block our view of you, and how good you are. I pray for all that donâ??t know you, open the eyes of their understanding. Heal the wounds that I inflicted upon oneironaut, breuk and gray. Help them understand that it is the diception that grips them that I dispise, for I care for them very very much.

Lord, ....as you know pride has been having a hard time with his dad. Strengthen this boy, give him the discernment to keep offenses in perspective of the manâ??s illness. Gaurd over birdgirl and her family. Protect them from the evil one. Give her sister visions of you, during this time to prepare her and to give her peace as she parts. And God........Be very close to da haze meister and his brother. Help them rebuild their home, for the foundation has been removed. Be their dad just as you revieled your self to be mine at a young age.

I pray for Shelby, to lose your best friend......what a hole it leaves. Protect her from evil, I ask that a root of bitterness will find no soil. Keep her in your intensive care. May she find her comfort in you during this time.
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[mrdevious]

Why do people in the West always think Buddhism is the answer...

I live in a country where many people practice it, and I have been to many temples and such throughout Asia and I really mostly see alot of incense burning and kneeling before statues of various ancient kings, spirits, landowners, etc... It's not like you go to a Buddhist temple and there are hundreds of monks sitting in the lotus position searching for enlightenment...HAHA!!! :Smokin: In the temples I have been to, all of the monks are selling little doo-dads and asking for donations.

I remember this time in Jiuzhaigou (I believe it is in Northwestern Sichuan province extremely close to Tibet) when I climbed up this mountain for four hours to get to the top. At the top they have this huge temple that was built over a number of years of workers carrying all this material up this huge mountain. There was a monk standing in front of the main hall of the temple banging on a gong, smokin a cigarette, saying, "Give me money! Give me money!"

Is that how you picture Buddhists? Don't leave one religion behind and escape to another one until you do real world research and aren't just living off the image inside your head...

I also see a lot of Buddhists here who are perpetually afraid of ghosts and spirits. They always leave offering of fruit and such at the door and burn incense and chant and such not in an attempt to find enlightenment but in an attempt to ward off evil spirits and bring in good luck and money.

The pictures are of Jiuzhaigou. Enjoy! :smokin:

What you are describing isn't necessarily buddhism though. I sought out buddhism and have gained a lot from it, particularily now. But I don't base my beliefs on what the monks do, I don't even adhere to a particular sect, I merely study the teachings to the best of my ability and live by the philosophy as my mind interprets it.

I think the whole world would be a lot better off if we all stopped basing religion on what the leaders and temples do, and just studied the teachings of the originators, using these teachings to live to the best of our ability. Just imagine if christians stopped going to church and simply did their best to live as Jesus did.

There are many enlightened beings throughout history with great knowledge to give, the problems arise when the followers try to adopt the same status as the original teacher.