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JPP Staff
Only if you used it as a basis to get married, gather, and promote a morality with it. It seems that is the criteria to make Theravada Buddhism into a religion.Originally Posted by Socrtease
Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but rather we have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.
- -- Aristotle
Believe nothing on the faith of traditions, even though they have been held in honor for many generations and in diverse places. Do not believe a thing because many people speak of it. Do not believe on the faith of the sages of the past. Do not believe what you yourself have imagined, persuading yourself that a God inspires you. Believe nothing on the sole authority of your masters and priests. After examination, believe what you yourself have tested and found to be reasonable, and conform your conduct thereto.
- -- The Buddha
It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.
- -- Aristotle
Atheist Missionary
Only if you used it as a basis to get married, gather, and promote a morality with it.
Making a big think of a marriage, or gathering together to discuss a problem (religion) are not defining factors of a religion.
And atheists don't have one single morality.
Sometimes people don't want to hear the truth because they don't want their illusions destroyed.
Friedrich Nietzsche
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JPP Staff
You'll have to go to one of their services, join the congregation and offer that up during it as an argument as to why they shouldn't do that. Maybe you'll get to see a wedding!
Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but rather we have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.
- -- Aristotle
Believe nothing on the faith of traditions, even though they have been held in honor for many generations and in diverse places. Do not believe a thing because many people speak of it. Do not believe on the faith of the sages of the past. Do not believe what you yourself have imagined, persuading yourself that a God inspires you. Believe nothing on the sole authority of your masters and priests. After examination, believe what you yourself have tested and found to be reasonable, and conform your conduct thereto.
- -- The Buddha
It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.
- -- Aristotle
Atheist Missionary
You are missing my point.
Gathering together for a purpose doesn't make it religious. Even if that purpose is to discuss religion.
Holding a wedding isn't innately religious, nor is holding any ceremony.
The defining part of a religion is the belief in some supernatural entity or force.
Sometimes people don't want to hear the truth because they don't want their illusions destroyed.
Friedrich Nietzsche
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JPP Staff
You are missing my point, they "congregate" regularly (They are actually called 'Congregations' rather than churches) to preach morality based in Atheism and have ceremonies that relate specifically to their Faith.
That is a religion, it is the same criteria used to say that Theravada Buddhism is a religion even though there is no teaching whatsoever about "gods" or any supernatural being that relates to Theravada Buddhism.
Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but rather we have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.
- -- Aristotle
Believe nothing on the faith of traditions, even though they have been held in honor for many generations and in diverse places. Do not believe a thing because many people speak of it. Do not believe on the faith of the sages of the past. Do not believe what you yourself have imagined, persuading yourself that a God inspires you. Believe nothing on the sole authority of your masters and priests. After examination, believe what you yourself have tested and found to be reasonable, and conform your conduct thereto.
- -- The Buddha
It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.
- -- Aristotle
Atheist Missionary
All definitions of religion involve some form of supernatural force.
It is just a gathering. By your definition schools are religious; places where people congregate to pass on information. They have ceremonies in schools. From the movie Grease I know you have pep rallies in the US.
Last edited by AnyOldIron; 03-25-2010 at 12:47 PM.
Sometimes people don't want to hear the truth because they don't want their illusions destroyed.
Friedrich Nietzsche
Loyal to the end
You sound like Al Gore. the High Priest of Warmists.
Atheist Missionary
No, I sound like me.
Want to take the argument for god/s?
Sometimes people don't want to hear the truth because they don't want their illusions destroyed.
Friedrich Nietzsche
Loyal to the end
I'm guessing you're a closed-minded atheist. *shrug*
Atheist Missionary
I'm guessing you're a closed-minded atheist. *shrug*
I argue the points presented...
Sometimes people don't want to hear the truth because they don't want their illusions destroyed.
Friedrich Nietzsche
New Nicotine Free Version
JPP Staff
Untrue, there is no "supernatural" force in Theravada Buddhism. You are mistaken in your understanding of this philosophy and like all Western people tend to mix it up with Tibetan Buddhism and think it's all the same.
Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but rather we have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.
- -- Aristotle
Believe nothing on the faith of traditions, even though they have been held in honor for many generations and in diverse places. Do not believe a thing because many people speak of it. Do not believe on the faith of the sages of the past. Do not believe what you yourself have imagined, persuading yourself that a God inspires you. Believe nothing on the sole authority of your masters and priests. After examination, believe what you yourself have tested and found to be reasonable, and conform your conduct thereto.
- -- The Buddha
It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.
- -- Aristotle
Atheist Missionary
Untrue, there is no "supernatural" force in Theravada Buddhism. You are mistaken in your understanding of this philosophy and like all Western people tend to mix it up with Tibetan Buddhism and think it's all the same.
Then Theravada Buddhism is not a religion but a philosophical perspective.
Sometimes people don't want to hear the truth because they don't want their illusions destroyed.
Friedrich Nietzsche
Loyal to the end
You must have mistaken me for an evangelist. I'm happy that assholes don't go to heaven.
Verified User
If that is true, you should pack your warm weather clothes.
fully immersed in faith..
well, you said the argument was over....and you identify yourself as an atheist missionary......obviously you weren't on the winning side.....
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