I find myself much more connected to Eastern religion, than any western religion.
Word. It's good sh1t dude.i'm looking into buddism right now, and have been for a minute.
I say different mantras during the day and I offer each meal, especially meals that I find precious, such as meat and dairy. I've had Shiva dreams as well.Sweet dude. I know a lot of saviate sadhu's (shiva worshiping monks) smoke herb to commune with their diety. :439: For holidays, they basically stay stoned the whole day. Cool business, in my book.
You do any puja?
Polytheism sounds like the Progressive Auto-Insurance of religionsI really like the polytheism religions, I guess they are mostly found in Eastern part of the world. Just the fact that your don't have to focus on one God for all the answers just seems to much easier on the conscience.
As in, you can't really say "Oh yeah, well homosexuality goes against God"....Because there isn't just one, you have to be more specific to whom it is a problem for...and I guess for any other related situation...Basically you pleasing the one you want....It's just seems more peaceful and not as barbaric as Christian/Catholic view of religion where it's a bit more douchey, where you just believe that your God is better than anyone's.
But then again I could be a bit misinformed...But I don't really here the following being said, "Well, since this guy is believe in polytheism...He would obviously believe in ____" where as the same with someone following Christianity or some other one god religion "Oh well, since he is a Christian...and the bible....he most likely doesn't believe in homosexuality, abortion, stem cell, etc."
Just seems like polytheism doesn't not carry as much package if you are associated to that sort of a religion. People don't assume your views ahead of time and the religion is not usually used in politics.
And also, all these polytheistic religions seems to be a lot more peaceful and almost zen-like. It's almost like atheism, in the sense that you are just their in the middle...not really choosing one side and claiming it's the best....
...heh, I hope my point has not be lost, lol
As westerners we tend to romanticize eastern religions in this way. Unfortunately, this is not the case.I think the difference in eastern and western religions is that the eastern religions were ment to bring peace where as a large amount of western religion history has been used to control people when government and religion were basically one in the same
I do think the history of eastern religions tends to be more peaceful than the monotheistic beliefs that are middle eastern in origin. Even reading the texts, leads one that way.As westerners we tend to romanticize eastern religions in this way. Unfortunately, this is not the case.
Guessing you've never seen how 20 million chinese taoists fight a land war. :lol:I do think the history of eastern religions tends to be more peaceful than the monotheistic beliefs that are middle eastern in origin. Even reading the texts, leads one that way.
If you compare overall histories, I hate to say it its not really close. Although I will say this, most "theists" of some sort could go in the direction of violenceGuessing you've never seen how 20 million chinese taoists fight a land war. :lol:
I'm with Rhyno. In fact if you were to line up a bunch of quotes from say the Pope and the Dalai Llama and ask a bunch of westerners to pick who said what I'm pretty sure you'd find yourself surprised.
You assumed I was talking about today, and I wasn't. I was speaking from a historical perspective. Pretty sure 20 million guys fighting a landwar today would be newsworthy. :lol:If you compare overall histories, I hate to say it its not really close. Although I will say this, most "theists" of some sort could go in the direction of violence
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I think your 20 million estimate is a tad exaggerated. As taoism today barely has 20 million followers, and they are spread throughout the world. Most are cetnered in taiwan
Bingo.Regardless of the belief system, all believers get manipulated into fighting for those in power. The "us versus them" mindset gets applied whenever conflict over resources, power, land etc arise. Eastern religions typically don't have "us versus them" clauses written into their doctrine, but one can see from the history of China and the Shogunate of Japan, that the clause still gets used.
I do appreciate Buddhism for peaceful introspection, Western religions for emphasis on helping the "lesser among us", but at the end of the day I take it all with a grain of salt.
I don't think it has to mention it a lot when it references it in such a bad light. eg; Sodom/Gomorrah account or from God in the bible saying its a detestable thing among many others.. and the Devil I mean LOL....He ruined everything from the beginning and is mentioned throughout....You need to study more before you talk out of your ass.Yep. Or such huuuuuge emphasis on homosexuality or the Devil when the Bible mentions them very little.
Not prudent :nono:You need to study more before you talk out of your ass.
Never underestimate anyone.Definitely teaches you to not underestimate someone based on size alone..
"People in the west are always 'getting ready' to live."I know a little about most religions. Born and raised catholic. What would you boys say is the significant differences between eastern and western religions?
Two years ago I was blessed with the opportunity of a lifetime, imo. I got to go and see H.H. The Dalai Lama speak at the Chrysler Center in Ann Arbor for 3 hours. I have been studying/practicing Buddhism for years, however I cannot call myself a Buddhist. I am deeply interested in it and it has done wonders for me in recovery.(Drug & alcohol addiction). At times it can be utterly confusing, but deep concepts & thoughts kind of seep their way into my psyche over time and eventually I can comprehend them to an extent.I find myself much more connected to Eastern religion, than any western religion.
I have a minor in humanities, but sure throw out an insult to cover your supposed Biblical expertise. Satan is mentioned twice in the Old Testament, and not all that often in the New Testament of the earliest versions of the Bible. He was added in more and more during the Dark Ages to scare more people into the pulpits and give modern dolts more talking points on the internet.
As far as homosexuality, many Biblical historians think the emphasis of Sodom was the cultural practice of older men taking on a male child lover under the guise of being their mentor. This was a common practice amongst Greeks, Romans and surrounding tribes and some believe was the gist of Christ's "abomination" speech.
The all you can eat buffet at Red Lobster is also an "abomination" as are about a hundred other outdated things so I don't get the desire to take a literal translation of the Bible when most folks who do that only cherry pick the content that is convenient for them incorporate into their lives like hating on gays or start some wacky talk about the Devil is doing this, that, and the other. YOU and I are responsible for evil things going on, mostly through apathy towards our fellow man which was more of the real focus of Christ's teachings...not the devil or some group of disagreeable people.
Love that movie, love that line, love this post."So I jump ship in Hong Kong and make my way over to Tibet, and I get on as a looper at a course over in the Himalayas. A looper, you know, a caddy, a looper, a jock. So, I tell them I'm a pro jock, and who do you think they give me? The Dalai Lama, himself. Twelfth son of the Lama. The flowing robes, the grace, bald... striking. So, I'm on the first tee with him. I give him the driver. He hauls off and whacks one - big hitter, the Lama - long, into a ten-thousand foot crevasse, right at the base of this glacier. Do you know what the Lama says? Gunga galunga... gunga, gunga-galunga. So we finish the 18th and he's gonna stiff me. And I say, "Hey, Lama, hey, how about a little something, you know, for the effort, you know." And he says, "Oh, uh, there won't be any money, but when you die, on your deathbed, you will receive total consciousness." So I got that goin' for me, which is nice."
Satan is mentioned twice in the Old Testament, and not all that often in the New Testament of the earliest versions of the Bible. He was added in more and more during the Dark Ages to scare more people into the pulpits and give modern dolts more talking points on the internet.
Exactly among others. Where is your proof btw? Because ancient manuscripts are pretty close in translation to todays buddy. Sounds more like you are internet educated yourself.I'm not sure which Bible you are reading but satan is mentioned more than just a couple times. Satan, the devil, the enemy, the adversary , the thief. All refer to satan. No wonder you don't think there us evil and Satan is the rules of darkness. You are reading the wrong book.
I says it the way I sees it.Not prudent
As far as homosexuality, many Biblical historians think the emphasis of Sodom was the cultural practice of older men taking on a male child lover under the guise of being their mentor. This was a common practice amongst Greeks, Romans and surrounding tribes and some believe was the gist of Christ's "abomination" speech.
The all you can eat buffet at Red Lobster is also an "abomination" as are about a hundred other outdated things so I don't get the desire to take a literal translation of the Bible when most folks who do that only cherry pick the content that is convenient for them incorporate into their lives like hating on gays or start some wacky talk about the Devil is doing this, that, and the other. YOU and I are responsible for evil things going on, mostly through apathy towards our fellow man which was more of the real focus of Christ's teachings...not the devil or some group of disagreeable people.
I am sorry,but this is incorrect.Because ancient manuscripts are pretty close in translation to todays buddy.
I've been taoist for quite a while now.Taoism is a very cool religion, particularly when you apply it to weight training. Effortless effort and all that. If you haven't done much reading on it I'd check it out. It tends to be one of the lesser known Eastern Faiths but it's very interesting.
I was born and raised catholic but I have my own hybridised idea of what's what in relation to spirituality and religion.