Friday, 14 October 2011
MADPRIEST'S THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
When I write that Western capitalism and Chinese communism are bad ideas I am either applauded or politely disagreed with. When I write that Islam and Buddhism are bad ideas I am either applauded or accused of being prejudiced and a racist. Liberal niceness can be very selective.
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RENZINTHEWOODS' THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
ReplyDeleteLike their closely related cousins who also kill each other for sport, humans are an exceedingly violent species. Religion is simply a weapon of choice, not the cause of the violence. In fact, all religions do more for the cause of peace than when they are misused as a justification for violence.
Agreed. But my assertion is that Islam is a bad idea because it focuses on submission. I also stated that submissive forms of Christianity and Judaism are bad ideas. I think Buddhism is a bad idea because it divorces mind from body and has a very low opinion of the body. Others have moved the discussion away from ideas and made it all about people so that they can accuse me of bigotry.
ReplyDeleteHey, stop stealing my thunder! What makes you think my thought of the day is about you or a challenge to you, hmmmm? :: starts humming Carly Simon::
ReplyDeleteSo, I'm supposed to work out when you lot have stopped having a go at me. Yeah, like that's fair.
ReplyDeleteHey! When have I really had a go at you today? Sure we've been sparring a bit, but ultimately I am seeking to better understand your viewpoint (and then you go and recommend a book that seems like it will do the opposite - not exactly a winning strategy there)
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I recently started reading the Oxford History of Byzantium...the book you recommended, is it about the Eastern Orthodox Church or about the other smaller sects? Or both?
PS - when and if the trolls ever return, will they accuse me of being one of your sycophants? Is that the right word?
ReplyDeleteIt's mostly about the churches of Mesopotamia and further east. Studying the hidden history of the Eastern churches blew my mind. If you read the Jenkins book you will end up a very sad man mourning the death of something beautiful you previously never really knew existed. Who you blame for that death you will no doubt, and rightfully, decide for yourself.
ReplyDeleteIf you are one of my sycophants, Larry, then bring on the trolls!
ReplyDeleteGo to bed. By the way, husband number four slot may be opening up in the near future, let me know if you're interested...
ReplyDeleteI think Buddhism is a bad idea because it divorces mind from body and has a very low opinion of the body.
ReplyDeleteI've noticed this too. And Joe, when he left the RCC, never even considered becoming Buddhist because of this very reason. He enjoys the carnal side of life waaaaaaay tooooooooo muuuuuuuuch to ever be a Buddhist.
That IS one thing I can say for the Christian way - it says "incarnation is a GOOD thing." The body is good. Sensuality and physical pleasure is good. Many people don't realize this about Christianity.
RE: Despising ones own ancestors is a modern Western conceit and we have allowed it to blind us to possibilities in the past.
I've run into this A LOT of late...esp. here in the US....
Arghhh!
ReplyDeleteBuddhism is not gnosticism.
Can't say more now. Got a class to teach. (Yup, you've got it: on Buddhist meditation....!)
I came across the history of the Eastern Church reading "Christianity The First Three Thousand Years," an amazing book. I agree it is a sad loss, and the violence of Islam in its attacks on it is inexcusable.
ReplyDeleteWhat is it about young religions? The LDS committed mass killings, Islam attacked the Christians and Jews in many places, and the early history of post-Constantine Christianity is a story of violence, followed a few centuries later by the inquisition. Sad, very sad.
FWIW
jimB
I never said Buddhism was gnostic. I said it was dualistic. Gnosticism is dualistic as well but it is isn't Buddhism.
ReplyDeleteDon't much like LDS but they were as much subjected to mass killings as doing them.
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ReplyDeleteI should think so too! And you a translator.
ReplyDeleteBuddhism is not gnosticism.
ReplyDeleteAnd gnosticism is not what you think it is.
You're creating a monolithic gnosticism just as MP is creating a monolithic Buddhism.
I'm referring to the doctrines espoused by the Buddha.
ReplyDeleteMe too, Jonathan. The Buddha taught the "middle path".
ReplyDeleteOh, and I know what you mean, Mark. There is a very rich complexity to gnosticism.
ReplyDeleteIn my defense, I was in a hurry when I wrote that and trying to make a point when I had no time, really to develop it. I suppose that was sloppy.
I think there are plenty of good ideas in Buddhism its adherents are usually lovely people (if a bit soppy in their Western incarnation). But I still stick to my accusation that central to Buddhists beliefs, dating back to the Buddha, is the bad idea that the physical life should be avoided or, at least, got through as quickly as possible in order to pass onto a spiritual only existence. Whenever Christianity adopts this unscientific heresy it leads to all sorts false beliefs about the body.
ReplyDeleteNow, come back at me, Ellie, but only to insist that Buddhism is not dualistic which is the only thing I am accusing it of.
I'm not going to get into the same tired argument, Jonathan, as you will not listen; you're positively dogmatic on the subject. Why you almost sound like Tokugawa talking about that horrible foreign superstition of Christianity!
ReplyDeleteEllie, have at it, if you dare.
Oh, I just haven't had the energy today, Marik (it still being Wednesday here -- just barely). At least I know now why he's so insistent about the matter. (No pun intended...)
ReplyDeleteIt seems MP is talking about teachings about being liberated from the "Wheel of Life" and it will take some time for me to develop why that is not a dualistic doctrine.
Every school of Buddhism with which I'm familiar teaches the NON-duality of all that is.
It's also possible that there is some misinterpretation regarding the word "illusion". Illusion in Buddhism does not mean unreal or made up or anything like that. If something is said to be "illusory", it means that it is not what it seems to be.
But I will need to go into all of this in more detail later.
(I'm turning out the light now. Good night, everyone!)
Marik = Mark
ReplyDeleteSorry about that!
Ellie,
ReplyDeleteHe winds us up - a reverse bodhisattva.
Only because I love you.
ReplyDelete...a reverse bodhisattva."
ReplyDeleteOh, that's funny, Mark!
I can't take credit - only got the idea from Kenneth Leong in his book The Zen Teachings of Jesus.
ReplyDeleteHmmm. I have that book, Mark, but it's been a long time since I've dipped into it. I don't remember that bit. It's definitely a good catch! :-)
ReplyDelete