Thread: For An Intelligent Conversation On Spirituality/Religion

Not that you can't get that on SRP, but having never been to college and had the opportunity to hear speakers such as those found here I felt like I missed something.

I have studied various belief systems and to be honest I don't know precisely what I believe. I had heard Karen Armstrong on Booknotes and really liked what she had to say. She was on Bill Moyers on Friday night. I googled her name and came up with Meaningoflifetv.com. Great site IMHO to hear erudite conversations on the topic.

The interviewer, Robert Wright, is invariably as interesting as his guests. If you would like to hear various points of view from people who have spent their lives in spiritual seeking this is a great resource.

I find that Buddhism and Martial ways are great philosophies. I tend to stay away from the words "belief system", those seem to be slippery words.

Most religions IMHO are essentially the very core, similar. That being said, they all have differences. None of which I am qualified to speak on.

Only when you start getting into the obscure beliefs, no offense if we have any of these, like indigenous tribal religions do things tend to go sideways in comparison.

Check out Bill Moyers' interview with Pema Chodron on Youtube. I think that series was called "Faith and Reason" or something like that. I'm not a Buddhist, but Chodron has some very insightful things to say. Cool subject.

Jordan

I used to love W.F. Buckley's annual conversations with Malcolm Muggeridge on spirituality. I will have to see if there is any youtube of those.

i can honestly say that i think that any religion can be a very positive thing. i don't think that i have to state how negative things can get though. i can't really put a label on my religion i guess, and i am very comfortable with that. i pray, in a manner of speaking, but i don't claim to know who or what. that may sound strange to some, but to me it makes sense. i have an Ojibwe background (native american) and french, with some Scottish and Belgian somewhere in there . i tend to be more in line with the Ojibwe way of thinking, but i am far from an expert in the traditional beliefs.

i must say that one of my biggest pet peeves is people who try to push their religion on others. also people who can't take any criticism of their religion, not to say that they have to agree (or that i would ever criticize someone elses beliefs, i just don't do that).

i guess i should have mentioned that i am looking forward to checking out all the links as i find this subject very interesting. but i want to actually spend some time and watch them with full attention, right now i'm at work

I haven't checked out the links yet Jimmy but as far as having an intelligent spiritual conversation on SRP? There are tons of intelligent folks here at SRP, which is why I post so many "Conversation" topics. What I have found though is that the words often get in the way of the meaning one is trying to convey...maybe I should start a new thread.

actually, jms, I think many of the posters here are very good at expressing themselves. the problem stems from a basic flaw in humanity, demonstrated by the following conversation:

person A: I believe X
person B: cool, I believe Y. agree to disagree.
person A: (to self) I'm going to convert him or die trying. the fact that he believes Y somehow threatens my belief in X, and I won't stand for it.

when you think about it, that's pretty much the cause of at least 99% of human conflicts.

Originally Posted by jockeys

actually, jms, I think many of the posters here are very good at expressing themselves. the problem stems from a basic flaw in humanity, demonstrated by the following conversation:

person A: I believe X
person B: cool, I believe Y. agree to disagree.
person A: (to self) I'm going to convert him or die trying. the fact that he believes Y somehow threatens my belief in X, and I won't stand for it.

when you think about it, that's pretty much the cause of at least 99% of human conflicts.

I agree with the above. I see many statements of religious belief that assert correctness and therefore all disbelievers are wrong and subsequently either damned and require salvation or are heretics and are therefore the enemy. So, If I were to boil it down, it is just like my bug-a-boo about bumper stickers. If you want to get along with others, keep your opinions regarding religion and/or politics to yourself.

Originally Posted by jockeys

actually, jms, I think many of the posters here are very good at expressing themselves. the problem stems from a basic flaw in humanity, demonstrated by the following conversation:

person A: I believe X
person B: cool, I believe Y. agree to disagree.
person A: (to self) I'm going to convert him or die trying. the fact that he believes Y somehow threatens my belief in X, and I won't stand for it.

when you think about it, that's pretty much the cause of at least 99% of human conflicts.

I agree wholeheartedly that we humans as a species have flaws in spades; inherent flaws that have not been corrected in eons and, here comes a "glass half empty" ending....wait for it........won't be corrected even eons from now.

Your second "person A" exchange is interesting. I would argue that a true Christian for example, wouldn't feel threatened by another's belief system. They absolutely would believe their belief system is true but being threatened by opposing belief, nihilism, athiesism? No, quite the opposite. Since inception, true Christians that die for their faith having been oppressed, tortured and killed believe that being oppressed and being a martyr is a good thing. A true Christian would believe that threat to them as a result of their faith and subsequent oppression, persecution and death wouldn't mean the Christian was doing something wrong, it would mean the Christian was doing something right.

To clarify my reference to a "true Christian" I would mean a Christian that follows the teachings of Jesus as recorded in the Gospels which would not necessarily then be specific to a single denomination.

Interesting stuff.

Chris L