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Attention Non Believers...
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Why do you not believe in a God?...
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K... ; //You're a terrible representative for Buddhism.// - I do not 'represent' Buddhism, do you represent atheism? In your above statement; "It's also kind of nice to see Khandro modelling that great Buddhist virtue spite". 'Spite' would apply if I said something deliberately to harm, which I never do, anything I say is within the context of "If you can't stand the heat keep out of the kitchen', -we are all grown-up aren't we?- and that is why it is "inaccurate". It is self-evidently "sarcastic" and needs no further comment. It is "cowardly", because like most finger-wagging atheists, you wish to attack anyone with religious conviction, no matter what that is, without ever having to state what your life's moral framework consists of, rendering you comfortably immune from criticism, because your standards, whatever they are, are conveniently private.
Khandro, when we atheists 'wag our fingers' at you we really dont know what we are 'wagging' at. You like to imply all sorts of belief knowledge and experience but admit to nothing. You must be the original 'straw man'. Can you not see how your constant stream of bile and sarcasm unsupported by any admission of opinion or belief irritates people just a little. So just for once put your cards on the table, if indeed you have any.
"I do not 'represent' Buddhism, do you represent atheism?"
Every atheist who is open or public in their beliefs represents atheism.
"without ever having to state what your life's moral framework consists of, rendering you comfortably immune from criticism, because your standards, whatever they are, are conveniently private. "
I'll happily state where I derive my morals from (though it will have to be another time as I'm heading out soon). You're the one who has dodged every single question about where your beliefs come from.
And I wasn't being sarcastic - I genuinely think you were being spiteful. Somebody posted with a desire to learn more about Buddhism and confessed that he didn't know much. You didn't bother correcting him in a sensible or civil way - you were just rude, aggressive, scornful and patronising to him without ever even actually saying anything of substance or value. If being a Buddhist would bring me closer to acting in the way that you do, then I want no part of it.
Every atheist who is open or public in their beliefs represents atheism.
"without ever having to state what your life's moral framework consists of, rendering you comfortably immune from criticism, because your standards, whatever they are, are conveniently private. "
I'll happily state where I derive my morals from (though it will have to be another time as I'm heading out soon). You're the one who has dodged every single question about where your beliefs come from.
And I wasn't being sarcastic - I genuinely think you were being spiteful. Somebody posted with a desire to learn more about Buddhism and confessed that he didn't know much. You didn't bother correcting him in a sensible or civil way - you were just rude, aggressive, scornful and patronising to him without ever even actually saying anything of substance or value. If being a Buddhist would bring me closer to acting in the way that you do, then I want no part of it.
Khandro, //no matter what that is, without ever having to state what your life's moral framework consists of, rendering you comfortably immune from criticism, because your standards, whatever they are, are conveniently private. //
That is disingenuous. In my experience, unlike the religious, atheists will, and do, willingly state their position. Ask and you will be given.
That is disingenuous. In my experience, unlike the religious, atheists will, and do, willingly state their position. Ask and you will be given.
"Are you open and public in your beliefs"
Yes.
"what do you have in common with all other atheists that you wish to represent on their behalf? "
Like every other atheist, I don't believe in God. Every atheist who identifies as such - and does so publicly - represents the community of people who do not believe in God.
Personally, I wish to represent the fact that atheists are just like anyone else: it's possible to be an atheist who lives a moral and fulfilling life, it's also possible to be an atheist who is a sadist or a monster, or an atheist who is just a normal everyday person with their own insecurities, worries and ambitions.
All of the above examples are also true of the community of people who believe in god.
Come to think of it, maybe I was wrong - perhaps you're an excellent representation of a Buddhist. You represent with perfect accuracy the fact that Buddhists can be just as spiteful as anyone else.
Yes.
"what do you have in common with all other atheists that you wish to represent on their behalf? "
Like every other atheist, I don't believe in God. Every atheist who identifies as such - and does so publicly - represents the community of people who do not believe in God.
Personally, I wish to represent the fact that atheists are just like anyone else: it's possible to be an atheist who lives a moral and fulfilling life, it's also possible to be an atheist who is a sadist or a monster, or an atheist who is just a normal everyday person with their own insecurities, worries and ambitions.
All of the above examples are also true of the community of people who believe in god.
Come to think of it, maybe I was wrong - perhaps you're an excellent representation of a Buddhist. You represent with perfect accuracy the fact that Buddhists can be just as spiteful as anyone else.
Kromovaracun; To reiterate; I do not do 'spite' (words spoken to deliberately hurt), anything I have said is for a purpose, also I have not been asked to explain Buddhism, please see post, 00:27wed.25th Sept. (bit of spite in there maybe?) and I do not represent it, though I have offered to point the way towards it, which was refused.
If you are given a prescription for medicine, sitting and reading the note over and over again, or saying you do not like the attitude of the doctor or his/her dress or decor is pointless, - you go to the pharmacist, get, and take the medicine and see if it is of benefit.
If you are given a prescription for medicine, sitting and reading the note over and over again, or saying you do not like the attitude of the doctor or his/her dress or decor is pointless, - you go to the pharmacist, get, and take the medicine and see if it is of benefit.
"I do not do 'spite' (words spoken to deliberately hurt), anything I have said is for a purpose"
Well, you haven't done a bad job of it Khandro:
"For f***s sake! if you are really 'interested', why don't you do something about educating yourself?"
"Either stop whining and start learning, or stick in your complacent rut"
"You whine pathetically how you are searching for 'help' and are being abused"
"Also, I don't give a toss about your 'impression' of me, my karma or my 'harmony'. "
"I have not been asked to explain Buddhism, please see post, 00:27wed.25th Sept. (bit of spite in there maybe?"
If that post is sufficient to count as "spite" in your book, then you've far exceeded anything that was in it. Modeller explained that he was basing his views on a limited knowledge of buddhism. You had a perfectly good opportunity here to actually demonstrate your (alleged) knowledge and correct misunderstanding Instead you chose to reply in a way that was haughty, rude and deliberately patronising - which didn't actually say anything. I wonder what all these mentors you're so very proud of would think of that.
Well, you haven't done a bad job of it Khandro:
"For f***s sake! if you are really 'interested', why don't you do something about educating yourself?"
"Either stop whining and start learning, or stick in your complacent rut"
"You whine pathetically how you are searching for 'help' and are being abused"
"Also, I don't give a toss about your 'impression' of me, my karma or my 'harmony'. "
"I have not been asked to explain Buddhism, please see post, 00:27wed.25th Sept. (bit of spite in there maybe?"
If that post is sufficient to count as "spite" in your book, then you've far exceeded anything that was in it. Modeller explained that he was basing his views on a limited knowledge of buddhism. You had a perfectly good opportunity here to actually demonstrate your (alleged) knowledge and correct misunderstanding Instead you chose to reply in a way that was haughty, rude and deliberately patronising - which didn't actually say anything. I wonder what all these mentors you're so very proud of would think of that.
Whatever you think about Buddhism is definitely wrong. There is a Shambala article called 'Killing the Buddha', you can read that if you care to, I agree with a lot of it but not everything and I am not what (I think) he thinks I am. Just don't expect me to explain everything here on AnswerBank.
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I have not read all of this debate as I've only just seen the question, so this is simply my answer without reference to anyone else's. I do not believe in a God for the same reason I do not believe in a pantheon of gods, of fairies, pixies and goblins, the celestial teapot, Father Christmas and the tooth fairy to name but a few, because they have all been created by the imagination. Human beings have a tremendous capacity to create stories to fit any situation, and a God is just one of many stories men (and maybe women) have created for their own purposes. It is no good quoting this or that book as evidence -they have all been written by men with their own particular agendas for writing them. Just because these ideas have been written down, does not constitute proof.
God is meant to be All Knowing, All Loving, and All Powerful right? If God was all Loving, why are innocent children being killed? If God was all Powerful, why isn't he stopping innocent children being killed? And if God was all Knowing, surely he'd know such bad things are happening and surely be able to stop it? One or more of these cannot be true.. This is why I personally don't believe in God. I have lost almost everyone close to me, so I find it quite hard, however I do deeply respect other peoples right to religious belief and would never be discriminating against religion.
jomifl; //so perhaps they are all blank.// - perhaps they are, and perhaps you are out of your depth. For some reason; I am reminded of a letter written by T.S.Eliot to Bertrand Russel in 1927 on Russell's publication of a pamphlet on Christianity;
[i]"All the reasons you advance were familiar to me, I think, at the age of six or eight; and I confess that your pamphlet seems to me a piece of childish folly. But I was brought up as an atheist, and you were evidently brought up, and in my opinion remain an Evangelical. Why don't you stick to mathematics?"[i]
[i]"All the reasons you advance were familiar to me, I think, at the age of six or eight; and I confess that your pamphlet seems to me a piece of childish folly. But I was brought up as an atheist, and you were evidently brought up, and in my opinion remain an Evangelical. Why don't you stick to mathematics?"[i]
