[andyt]

Zipperfish Zipperfish:

andyt andyt:

Religion has its problems, but your way (which is mine now too) has the danger of egoism. It's why Tibetans talk about lineage - you don't just get to make up what's comfortable for you.

The thing with gayness is that's it's such basic thing, what you are born with, presumably. So a church that at some point expects you to change who you are, well that will probably lead to disaster. But then religion (I think, if it's valid) basically challenges you to give up your central conceit, your primary narcissism, that you are the center of the universe. So really we all face that struggle.

Yes I certainyl agree with that. Jeez, you talked to any parents of gay kids and they've known for most ot he kid's life. There are some that rebel and be gay because it's cool, but they naturally revert to wherever on the sexuality continuum they belong.

Spiritually I'm rather coflicted. As a scientist I'm a strict skeptcial empiricist. But outside of science, I'm not. I requrie no burden of proof for my fundamental beliefs. I'm probably in a similar area as you as the books that influenced me heavily were Zena dn teh Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and the Tao of Physics. AS well as the writings of Thomas Hardy, which is influenced my liberal inclinations.

The Dalai Lama said if there's a conflict between science and religion, science must win. But with a non-fundamentalist religion, there really is no conflict. Religion (again in my mind) to be meaningful is about transcendence. Ie about the part of human experience that science really has no explanation for. You don't need religion for a moral code, an atheist can produce a perfectly valid moral code. Philosophy and biology and even economics can tell you why do unto others is a sensible approach to life. Unfortunately, Christianity has lost a lot of the transcendent element of religion, which is why so many Christians, even priests etc are drawn to Buddhism, because it has that element at its core.

[Zipperfish]

andyt andyt:

The Dalai Lama said if there's a conflict between science and religion, science must win. But with a non-fundamentalist religion, there really is no conflict. Religion (again in my mind) to be meaningful is about transcendence. Ie about the part of human experience that science really has no explanation for. You don't need religion for a moral code, an atheist can produce a perfectly valid moral code. Philosophy and biology and even economics can tell you why do unto others is a sensible approach to life. Unfortunately, Christianity has lost a lot of the transcendent element of religion, which is why so many Christians, even priests etc are drawn to Buddhism, because it has that element at its core.

Yes I agree. Science is a tiny part of our awareness. A simple tool that is often used in ways that it will serve no use,

[Freakinoldguy]

This bullshit has less to do with sexuality and everything to do with perceived self entitlement. My guess is if they weren't trying to force the Church of England into marrying them they'd be tilting at some other politically correct windmill because, there's nothing worse than a fake social activist with a pocket full of money.

[Count_Lothian]

Jabberwalker Jabberwalker:

Even the present Pope is lightening up on the whole gay thing in the Catholic church.

All that he has to do is look around him and he'll realize that half of his clergy is gay ... a particularly repressed form, mind you. I'm sure that he already knows that as did every other pope before him since the started insisting on a celibate priesthood. The present pope appears to have a better grasp on reality than any other that I've see in my lifetime.

makes sense.

[Count_Lothian]

andyt andyt:

The Dalai Lama said if there's a conflict between science and religion, science must win. But with a non-fundamentalist religion, there really is no conflict. Religion (again in my mind) to be meaningful is about transcendence. Ie about the part of human experience that science really has no explanation for. You don't need religion for a moral code, an atheist can produce a perfectly valid moral code. Philosophy and biology and even economics can tell you why do unto others is a sensible approach to life. Unfortunately, Christianity has lost a lot of the transcendent element of religion, which is why so many Christians, even priests etc are drawn to Buddhism, because it has that element at its core.

Buddhism is rampant with boogy man bullshit as any othe religion.
It's not a flawless religion.

Just saying: spirituality is all about love and how much love your spirituality produces in you.

Buddhism focuses on that.

I'm a big fan, but it's not bereft of bullshit.

the Dali Lama also said masturbation is not good for you. sort of..


from this
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Dala ... 836591.php

$1:

"We have to make a distinction between believers and unbelievers," the exiled Tibetan leader said at a press conference yesterday in San Francisco. "From a Buddhist point of view, men-to-men and women-to-women is generally considered sexual misconduct.

$1:

The Dalai Lama said the same Buddhist scripture that advises against gay and lesbian sex also urges heterosexuals to refrain from oral sex, anal sex and masturbation. "Even with your own wife, using one's mouth or the other hole is sexual misconduct," he said. "Using one's hand, that is sexual misconduct."

someone here said there is a reason people have to interpret the Bible due to it's content.


same hold true for what Buddhism became.

In order to study Mahayana Buddhism one must accept Buddha kept teaching after he died.

The Lotus sutra was taught by the Buddha , in secret and only a few could actually see him do this, and then held in secret by little Mermaid people called Nagas under the sea for thousand years till Nargajuna went down and retrieved them.

People, no make that Masters of buddhism, believed this to be historically true whilst they they taught about their own enlightenment.


have fun with buddhism baby, it's a rough ride.