Originally posted by Lira
That anti-vaccination bit is probably related to the 3,249th wave of McCarthyism in the USA. Instead of looking for communists, however, this time around hundreds of parents are flocking behind a big titty playmate who claims vaccines gave her kid autism - which, according to quite a few studies that tried to establish a link between both things - is utter nonsense.
Fixed!
We are always looking for scapegoats, in one form or another.
Lira
quote:
Originally posted by EddieZilker
Fixed!
We are always looking for scapegoats, in one form or another.
Yeah, but how many of these witch hunts have been led by members of the McCarthy family? That's why I said this is the second :p
Tranceporter99
quote:
Originally posted by Lira
All here, for your appreciation. Be sure to hang it on your wall and, if you ever manage to defeat one of these nutty ideas, all you have to do is cross an X and keep fighting :D
May this continue as an appreciation thread!
what's delusional about buddhism?
EddieZilker
quote:
Originally posted by Lira
Yeah, but how many of these witch hunts have been led by members of the McCarthy family? That's why I said this is the second :p
Well played.
Lira
quote:
Originally posted by Tranceporter99
what's delusional about buddhism?
Reincarnation, for one thing. Also, the further it spread, the quirkier it got. In some (very popular) strands of Japanese Buddhism, for example, the Buddha is almost seen like a God-figure, and I really have a hard time saying that Pure Land Buddhism is not a Christian sect at times.
Lews
I wouldn't say that all of those are complete bull :p
However, most (99%) are, and it made me laugh.
Tranceporter99
quote:
Originally posted by Lira
Reincarnation, for one thing. Also, the further it spread, the quirkier it got. In some (very popular) strands of Japanese Buddhism, for example, the Buddha is almost seen like a God-figure, and I really have a hard time saying that Pure Land Buddhism is not a Christian sect at times.
Which Japanese Buddhism are you referring too? In Zen, there is almost never a mention of the buddha himself, and reincarnation is never discussed (as far as I know).
I guess I always think of the original Buddha's teachings at buddhism, not all of the cultural stuff that has been tacked on over the millennia. If you include that stuff, than I agree it can be delusional. Nothing delusional about the original teachings/philosophies though.
This is Brad Warner, an author and ordained Zen monk.
MrJiveBoJingles
Pretty extensive. I had no idea what some of those were, like "Cao Dai," "bunyip," and "indigo child."
Moongoose
Lets just stop beating around the bush and say that any kind of belief in supernatural is bs
Lira
quote:
Originally posted by Tranceporter99
Which Japanese Buddhism are you referring too? In Zen, there is almost never a mention of the buddha himself, and reincarnation is never discussed (as far as I know).
Pure Land Buddhism.
quote:
Originally posted by Tranceporter99
I guess I always think of the original Buddha's teachings at buddhism, not all of the cultural stuff that has been tacked on over the millennia. If you include that stuff, than I agree it can be delusional. Nothing delusional about the original teachings/philosophies though.
The Buddha made as many mistake as any philosopher would have made back in his day (or even now, for that matter) and there are a couple of things that are downright delusional in his teachings as well. There are the 10 different realms of being (you need to work very hard in the hypothesis that this is all a metaphor if you want it to make sense), some more concrete interpretations of what Karma might be, the whole reincarnation process (the Buddha even tells parables about his so-called past lives) - lest we forget, the reason why Nirvana is supposed to be desirable is because it is a break in the cycle of life-and-death. If you refuse there's such a thing as reincarnation, most of what is taken for granted in Buddhism becomes just senseless: why would you want to take an ascetic lifestyle if this is your only take in life? Sure, Buddhists say "life is painful" and all that but, while you're at it, aren't you better of trying to do something with the world around you instead of simply anticipating what death will eventually bring you? Namely, nothingness?
Buddhism was very important to me in my late teens as a way to break free from Christianity. However, it'd be pretty ironic if I liberated myself from one intellectual cast just to harden my mind in another :p
MrJiveBoJingles
quote:
Originally posted by Moongoose
Lets just stop beating around the bush and say that any kind of belief in supernatural is bs
A lot of that stuff is not even supernatural, though. Cryptozoology, claims about aliens, government conspiracies, much of the alternative medicine stuff, historical revisionism, crank physics claims like perpetual motion.
MrJiveBoJingles
quote:
Originally posted by Lira
If you refuse there's such a thing as reincarnation, most of what is taken for granted in Buddhism becomes just senseless: why would you want to take an ascetic lifestyle if this is your only take in life?
You might argue that asceticism is the surest way to happiness in the one life you have. If desires lead to suffering like Buddhism says, then by paring them down, you reduce your suffering. On the other hand, a lot of people might view happiness as something more positive than just lack of suffering.
