Are you too angry about religion?

[Audley Strange]

Heh. You have a party that worship mammon and another who worship pluto. Pray by putting an x for the candidate to worship the Black or white Capitalist.

I hate religion as much I do politics or sport. That is not at all until their worshipers start demanding entitlements and punishments for those who disagree. In other words I hate some humans.

[amused]

No, I don't think I am too angry about religion. I think religion should be treated with derision and disrespect because of the ongoing drag it places on human potential. I accept that it's a useful salve for particular people with that particular need. However, I think that religion has long been corrupted by charlatans and thieves who prey on human weaknesses for profit.

This thread is two years old. I read the whole thing. There were some interesting members who commented who don't seem to be here much anymore.

[rasetsu]

"Yes." Because, even in lay Buddhism, you are considered being disruptive for merely suggesting it might not a good idea to drink the Kool-aid.

[FBM]

"Yes." Because, even in lay Buddhism, you are considered being disruptive for merely suggesting it might not a good idea to drink the Kool-aid.

The Kool-aid in this case is the supreme perfection of the Buddha? There is, in my experience, and unspoken (usually) demand among both lay and some ordained Buddhists to impose omniscience and inerrancy on the dude, despite suttas that indicate otherwise.

[rasetsu]

"Yes." Because, even in lay Buddhism, you are considered being disruptive for merely suggesting it might not a good idea to drink the Kool-aid.

The Kool-aid in this case is the supreme perfection of the Buddha? There is, in my experience, and unspoken (usually) demand among both lay and some ordained Buddhists to impose omniscience and inerrancy on the dude, despite suttas that indicate otherwise.

Oh good, then it isn't just me.

[JimC]

My anger mostly stirs when they insist on imposing their tenets, implicitly or explicitly, on the rest of us...

If they just pottered about as private eccentric clubs I wouldn't mind at all...

[FBM]

"Yes." Because, even in lay Buddhism, you are considered being disruptive for merely suggesting it might not a good idea to drink the Kool-aid.

The Kool-aid in this case is the supreme perfection of the Buddha? There is, in my experience, and unspoken (usually) demand among both lay and some ordained Buddhists to impose omniscience and inerrancy on the dude, despite suttas that indicate otherwise.

Oh good, then it isn't just me.

Far from it! I can't stomach talking to most "Buddhists" because I scrutinize what the suttas say and compare it to my knowledge and experience of the world. Dood was a human. He lived and died 2,500 years ago. He was wrong about some things. Get over the hero worship and put his ideas to the test instead of blindly following yet another "savior".

[Animavore]

The Buddha specifically said not to worship or idolise him. You don't even have to listen to him. He just invites you to meditate and see for yourself.

This is what happens when you allow people to interpret things for you instead of just reading them yourself with a blank slate.

[Hermit]

Timely bump, Pappa.

I find that my moderate religious inlaws and my old college friends and similar (who probably aren't even religious) all now regard me as the angry ranting atheist with a chip on his shoulder. The path I've taken has made it difficult for me to say anything at all positive about religion, and while I don't think I am aggressively anti-religious, I'm pretty sure they think I am simply because I criticise religion fairly often. Like the majority of the population, they seem to think that any minor critique of religion amounts to a massive offensive action.

Last week I went to Sydney for my middle sister's birthday. She requested that each of us bring some nicknack along and tell us how it fits in with their past family life. I could not find the piece I wanted to bring along by the time I needed to drive 400 kilometres to Adelaide and catch the plane to Sydney, so I just talked about it. It is glazed terracotta, shaped like a soup dish and about 9.5 centimetres in diameter.



I said it was given to everyone as a memento of our first communion, and that parents don't always do everything right. The date indicates that I was not quite eleven years old. Brainwashing, no?

A bit of a discussion ensued, and I was appalled by the responses by some of the about 15 well educated, liberal-minded adults. Parents have the best intentions. Religion does do some good. Dad died peacefully because he believed in a god. The ritual of holy communion is not particularly important. People can make up their own minds on religious matters when they grow up. Et cetera. The worst of it came from my youngest sister the next day. She said I was bitter. I replied that I was being forthright, but she had a problem accepting that.

Pity, I didn't do my homework. First communion typically takes place at the age of eight. The souvenir turns out to be a memento for confirmation, which makes the confirmed a "soldier of Christ."

[Hermit]

The Buddha specifically said not to worship or idolise him. You don't even have to listen to him. He just invites you to meditate and see for yourself.

This is what happens when you allow people to interpret things for you instead of just reading them yourself with a blank slate.

Inevitable Life of Brian reference: The sandal or the gourd.

[Feck]

Actually I'm ashamed I'm too lazy to be angry enough .

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I'm making up for fifty years of not being angry enough.

[Pappa]

The souvenir turns out to be a memento for confirmation, which makes the confirmed a "soldier of Christ."

So you're doomed to go to heaven whether you like it or not?

[rasetsu]

Actually I'm ashamed I'm too lazy to be angry enough .

I'm with you, Feck. Any more, I participate in the religion wars solely to get to know people and revel in wordy wordplay and snarky snark.



Well, I am officially kicked out of this group.

I noted a line at the end of the previous emails that if I disrupted the group again, I would be kicked out. So I sent off two more emails saying that, a) I didn't think he had the answers I was looking for, and b) requesting a list of the actions that I did or might do which would be considered 'disruptive'.

Apparently, one of those two things was on that list that I never got.

[FBM]

The Buddha specifically said not to worship or idolise him. You don't even have to listen to him. He just invites you to meditate and see for yourself.

This is what happens when you allow people to interpret things for you instead of just reading them yourself with a blank slate.

Word. This is why I left the Order and bought up the entire Pali Canon for myself. I can read. I don't need to listen to this or that "master" telling me what the suttas say.