Comments on: Theocracy Watch: Buddhist Fundamentalists to Hijack Island

By: Joe

Joe — Fri, 07 Oct 2005 18:52:03 +0000

That is why our founding fathers were intellegent enough to create the first amendment and the ‘no religious’ test rule for our national govt.

I believe that god, atheism, and spirituality should never be mentioned by those working in or elected to our govt.

By: I Am

I Am — Fri, 07 Oct 2005 16:02:17 +0000

VICTORY!

By: Qalmlea

Qalmlea — Fri, 07 Oct 2005 14:04:48 +0000

If you delve into the eastern traditions, you’ll find just about every extreme. Buddhism the philosophy is often seen as compatible with other religions. Buddhism the religion usually is not (and often contains references to gods). Same with Taoism. I do not think the problem is primarily due to the presence of religion. I think it is due to the presence of a religious majority.

I live in southeast Idaho, which has more Mormons per capita than much of Utah. When one religion has a clear majority, it has a noticeable effect on the culture. You get an “Us vs. Them” mentality. When I was still going to church (before I’d actually started thinking about what they were telling me), this was especially noticeable. We’d have activities with any other church, so long as they were not Mormon. Likewise, the Mormons never seem to invite other churches to participate in their activities.

And I don’t think it would be any different if we had an atheist majority. Why? Because I see all too many atheists preaching the evils of religion. “No! You stupid person! Put that Bible down!” Fine, there’s usually more logic behind these arguments, but it’s the same “Us vs. Them.” Power corrupts, whether those in power are religious or antireligious.

By: Reluctant Atheist

Reluctant Atheist — Thu, 06 Oct 2005 07:20:49 +0000

DUB:
Minor thing here: most people forget that the Shaolin monks lived in a very dangerous time, where bandits ran around stealing & killing people.
I know that sounds contradictory to Westerners (they’re peaceable, but they fight back?), but the Shaolin version of Buddhism wouldn’t have survived elsewise.
Ta Mo brought it down from India, and was teaching the monks meditation, and the monks kept falling asleep. So Ta Mo (just a man!) taught them the Bone-Marrow washing exercises, which evolved into the Chinese external martial arts.
Just because you’re a pacifist, doesn’t mean you bare your throat to the knife.

By: DUB

DUB — Thu, 06 Oct 2005 06:35:44 +0000

I have never delved into Buddhism, actually. I do know that I have heard a good number of people claim “Buddhism isn’t a religion - it’s a way of life! There are Christian Buddhists, Muslim Buddhists, Hindu Buddhists…” to which I always asked Buddhist Buddhists?

That always seemed to be a load of crap to me. Of course it’s a religion. And a darn deadly one too. All this talk of “peaceful” Buddhists. Man, if there’s one thing Kung Fu Theater taught me, it was that Buddhist Monks can whoop your ass.

These are preachers who know Kung Fu.

I feel like a dirty racist now…