Heathens missing out?

[Khandro]

As historically, so much great art is predicated on a strong feeling for God, do heathens feel at a loss not to be able to fully encompass some of humankind's greatest creations?

[LazyGun]

@Khandro - smacks of dissimulation again. That, or you fail to clearly make your point. And once again you blame the audience. Patronising attitude that.

Your OP stated "so much great art is predicated on a strong feeling for god". That does not explicitly say art with a religious theme, as you now claim in your last message to Ludwig.

[jomifl]

Khandro, apologies if I have crossed your sensitivity threshold. I was only trying to prick the balloon of your pomposity, which seems immune to reasoned argument. Actually if you look back at some of your posts you will see that you regularly do that of which you are complaining only with a little more smugness and hauteur.

[ludwig]

// but you still don't understand the question, please read it again, it is entirely about religious art //

Forgive oh wise one. I have made a sincere attempt to interpret the meaning of your teachings, and clearly fallen short of the task. I shall bow out of the discussion at this point.
Yours, Grasshopper.

[naomi24]

Khandro, "Imagination is more important than knowledge." - Albert Einstein.
I couldn't say it better.//

You haven't the foggiest idea what he was talking about. So much for the ethereal understanding that you claim to possess. ‘The quotes of Albert Einstein' is one subject you should make a determined effort to steer clear of.

Have you figured out an answer to my question yet?

[Khandro]

naomi; I don't understand you, and I'm sure neither would Einstein.

[naomi24]

Khandro, the confession that you don't understand me doesn't surprise me in the least.

[beso]

"Imagination is more important than knowledge." - Albert Einsteiin

Yes. But don't pretend that this is an endorsement of religion. Einstein had a very low opinion of faith, comparing it to ignorance.

Imagination is required to come up with revolutionary ways of looking at the world, as Einstein did in conceiving Relativity, Maxwell with Electromagnetism and Newton with Universal Gravitation.

However these great men had imagination within the context of knowledge gained through observation and critical analysis.

Those who founded the churches simply pretended their prejudices were divine inspiration without bothering to even consider their merit and weaknesses.

[Khandro]

beso; //But don't pretend that this is an endorsement of religion.// I don't pretend any such thing.
naomi; The reason I do not answer your 'question' -why as a Buddhist I can endorse Christianity?' to your satisfaction, is because it is a NON-QUESTION, showing that you understand neither. It is like asking of one, "You say you like oranges, then why are you eating an apple?".

[naomi24]

Khandro, you're worming your way around this, but I think there is an answer - one you are not willing to give. Like all the religious here, you select one religion for yourself, which in effect means that you believe all the others are lacking in some way, but you nevertheless support them simply because they are ‘religions’.

[ludwig]

I feel a bit better knowing it's not just me that lacks the understanding to digest these pearls of wisdom.

[naomi24]

He moves in mysterious ways, Ludwig - or at least he tries to. ;o)

[Khandro]

naomi; Do you know who I mean by Thomas Merton?

[naomi24]

Khandro, the name was vaguely familiar, so I googled it – and I do now.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Merton

Why don't you stop trying to be mysterious and say what you have to say?

[jomifl]

Khandro, only you can know who you mean by Thomas Merton, we mere mortals can only guess.

[beso]

Khandro /// beso; //But don't pretend that this is an endorsement of religion.// I don't pretend any such thing. ///

Then what is the relevance of the quote to this discussion??

[jomifl]

Thomas Merton quote..
“Be good, keep your feet dry,
your eyes open, .."

Wikipedia Quote re. Thomas Merton
"While stepping out of his bath, he reached out to adjust an electric fan and apparently touched an exposed wire and was accidentally electrocuted."

[sandyRoe]

Were they Mr Merton's last words or had he had a premonition?

[Khandro]

//Why don't you stop trying to be mysterious and say what you have to say?//
Well just keep on Googling, better still, do some reading,- you may have to do some of the work yourself if you want answers. I'll help though by saying that Thomas Merton was a Christian, erstwhile N.Y. jazz musician, turned Trappist Monk at Gethsemane monastery, Kentucky, (been there, done that!) who embraced Buddhism and he was/is by no means alone in doing so. This is a position you seem to have a problem in understanding. Go figure.

[jomifl]

Sandy, people rarely utter quotable last words on being electrocuted even if there is anyone there to hear them.

[LazyGun]

I suspect that Khandro has this image in their heads that they are the wise and munificent teacher and guide, and AnswerBank R&S the classroom, desperately in need of gentle guidance to the path of cosmic Truth.

Atheists are the troublemakers of the class -rude, raucous and uncouth - who make arguments devoid of any grace, spirituality or intellect :)

And we all know that wise teachers believe that dropping cryptic nuggets of wisdom is a far better way of teaching and leading and guiding than explicitly stating your position.One can always backtrack and obfuscate when challenged, if all you offer is cryptic :)