[b said:Quote[/b] ]How? you can't see him, you can't joke around, you can't TALK with him, etc.
If you ask me it's more like a relationship between you and yourself (and I do have a nice relationship with myself lol... sometimes I piss me off... but hey, it's me so I can't stay mad at myself for long)
[b said:Quote[/b] ]
It hasn't lied to you because you base your beliefs on it.
lol... oh... just to save me from ETERNAL punishment. that's all.[b said:Quote[/b] ]Sure, he usually doen't talk to you verbally, but hey, he's God, why should he?
remember I said I thanked him too?[b said:Quote[/b] ]Also, nobody made friends just by asking for stuff
it is? wow then there are a lot of people who are seeking release form the cycle of reincarnation through a philosophy. Also there are millions of chinese who are being fooled by this "philosophy". if Buddhism is just a philosophy what qualifies something as a religion?[b said:Quote[/b] (aprilh @ Mar. 23 2005,4:05)]Buddhism is a philosophy...not a religion. April
[b said:Quote[/b] ]lol... oh... just to save me from ETERNAL punishment. that's all.
[b said:Quote[/b] ]Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
can't he make it a little easier to believe then? more than half the world isn't christian. are they all going to hell? He would be nice if he at least gave us some reason to believe.[b said:Quote[/b] ]Well avoiding ETERNAL punishment is entirely up to you. Nobody is going to force it on you.
[b said:Quote[/b] ]can't he make it a little easier to believe then? more than half the world isn't christian. are they all going to hell? He would be nice if he at least gave us some reason to believe.
Sounds a little like filling a field with landmines, and innocently saying, "Nobody forced you to step there," every time someone gets blown to bits.[b said:Quote[/b] (Rubra @ Mar. 22 2005,11:00)]Well avoiding ETERNAL punishment is entirely up to you. Nobody is going to force it on you.
[b said:Quote[/b] ]Sounds a little like filling a field with landmines, and innocently saying, "Nobody forced you to step there," every time someone gets blown to bits.
Isn't that passing the buck?
(Or do you mean you don't believe in the traditional hell either?)
What you are suggesting is called "The God of the Gaps" argument. The problem with it is that a gaps deity gets weaker as our knowledge increases.[b said:Quote[/b] (ktulu @ Mar. 22 2005,7:19)]but in the same manner of logic not being able to explain something means that supernatural causes could be just as likely as natural. Without evidence that shows how or why something happens both explainations are equally valid. Saying that everything can be explained by natural laws would also require complete and perfect knowledge of the universe, which is something that humans are very far from achieving (if its even possible).
Many different groups have been given different maps. Each group is convinced their map is the correct one.[b said:Quote[/b] (Rubra @ Mar. 23 2005,9:56)]If its a field with landmines, then you've been given a map showing the path to take through the field. If you dismiss the map as a bunch lies, that's your problem.
[b said:Quote[/b] ]Science employs methodological naturalism. This does not claim that there are no supernatural influences; it merely states that nature is the only objective, measurable standard we have by which to gain knowledge of the universe.
I take it a step further and extend it to philosophical naturalism: I do not believe any supernatural forces exist. As a scientist, I cannot back that claim up; I recognize it is a belief, and that science can offer no evidence either way on such matters. I simply feel nature is big enough to explain everything and feel supernatural claims tend to violate Occam's Razor.
[b said:Quote[/b] ]Quote (Rubra @ Mar. 23 2005,9:56)
If its a field with landmines, then you've been given a map showing the path to take through the field. If you dismiss the map as a bunch lies, that's your problem.
Many different groups have been given different maps. Each group is convinced their map is the correct one.
[b said:Quote[/b] ]Many different groups have been given different maps. Each group is convinced their map is the correct one.
Each group is equally convinced they're that group. This can go on forever.[b said:Quote[/b] (Rubra @ Mar. 23 2005,1:59)]The thing is only people in one group personally know the cartographer.
[b said:Quote[/b] (Wesley @ Mar. 23 2005,1:51)]No1. I think we all agree that nature/science is about the only way to find out about nature and the such... so why are we disagreeing about that?
[b said:Quote[/b] (Wesley @ Mar. 23 2005,1:51)]No2. I firmly believe there are things that will and have happened that can not be explained. They are natural though... super-natural. HA I amaze myself... I can never think of witty answers until later and yet I just came up with one!!!!
[b said:Quote[/b] (Wesley @ Mar. 23 2005,1:51)]No3. What the heck does Occam's Razor mean? I'm only a 9th grader.
[b said:Quote[/b] ]Each group is equally convinced they're that group. This can go on forever.
your definition of religion is differnt than mine, which is fine, but from my studies of buddhism i have to say it is a religion and always has been. From what i gathered about siddhartha teachings it was a religion, but i know that is something people debate.[b said:Quote[/b] (KingShaman @ Mar. 23 2005,9:09)]Buddhism is actually a philosophy or a religion. It depends on the form of Buddhism, however to follow the Buddha's original teachings it would be considered a philosophy. Siddhartha considered himself a man not a god, and his teaching was an end to suffering. The religion came about later, and would take to long to explain how and why. I guess Voltaire was right "If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him".
Oh, and the Qu'ran was given to Mohammad by the angel Gabriel not directly from Allah. Also you will find that the Torah and Bible are templates for the Qu'ran as the Qu'ran is supposed to supercede these books.