Believers,

[nailit]

is there ANYTHING that would make you think that you may be wrong?
And in the interest of equality, sceptics, is there anything that might make you think you may be wrong?

[vetuste_ennemi]

Birdie, I think Khandro has a bit of mischief in him which is not necessarily malicious. Often comes out that way of course.

[vetuste_ennemi]

Internet dialogue is two dimensional.

[RATTER15]

Khandro has said on this site that he is a Bhuddist. After reading his posts, I think its fair to say, I am the Pope!

[pixie374]

I would change my mind if there was ever enough evidence or sense to convince me. It won't ever happen.

[naomi24]

Birdie, //Whoosh indeed. Astonishing isn't it?//

Indeed. It certainly doesn’t encourage credence but it does demonstrate the selfish nature of religion. Non-believers are charged with arrogance, pomposity, etc., etc., and yet he is willing not only to overlook the negative effects of religion, but to defend religion per se, regardless of the damage it imposes upon the weak vulnerable. His only defence has been //The weak and the vulnerable suffer many kinds of "negative effects"// There’s something morally very amiss there.


Ratter, A Buddhist who talks of ‘pearly gates’, or a Christian who doesn’t believe that Jesus died on the cross? I think you could well be the Pope.

[RATTER15]

^^^^ bless you my child! ;-)

[naomi24]

Thank you, your Holiness. :o)

[Khandro]

jomifl; LOL!
birdie; with such an unblemished career, you'd also fare well under Buddhism and Hinduism, both share the alternative to St Peter; Yama - the lord of death. When you finally meet him all he confronts you with is a mirror. Hmmm!

naomi; Now what was it Yeats said? ah yes,
"The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity."
What was your question again?

[naomi24]

Khandro, my question was “Why don’t you care about the negative effect that religion has on the weak and vulnerable?”

An answer In your own words would be novel.

[Khandro]

I answered that rude and arrogant question as soon as you asked it. Go back and look.

[naomi24]

Khandro, //I answered that rude and arrogant question as soon as you asked it. //

No, you didn’t. You said, //The weak and the vulnerable suffer many kinds of "negative effects", what is it that makes you so arrogant as to presume that I don't care?//

…. to which I replied ….

//Well, do you? And if you do why won't you criticise those aspects of religion that are responsible?//

I fail to see what’s rude or arrogant about my question – it’s a perfectly reasonable one - but if it makes you feel better to insult me continually, I can hack it, I see it for what it is.

[modeller]

nailit Your question to sceptics ! I would say :

I don't want to move a mountain but I would like to get rid of a cold.
If I succeeded in doing so through prayer I might think I'm wrong in not believing.

But I do ask myself some questtions :

If prayer worked we wouldn't need hospitals at all.

If prayer worked we wouldn't have misfortunes.

If prayer worked the sun / rain would happen when we wanted them.

So would prayer get rid of a cold. ? It's not much to ask .

[jomifl]

Modeller, I suspect that prayer is really just a sop to our conscience. It enables us to kid ourselves that we have done all we can when in reality we have done sodall.

[Khandro]

GANG RI RA WE KOR WAI ZHING KHAM DIR
In this pure realm, surrounded by snow mountains,

PEN DANG DE WA MA LU JUNG WAI NE
Is the source of complete happiness and benefit,

CHEN RE ZIG WA TEN DZIN GYAM TSO YI
Avalokiteshvara, Tenzin Gyatso.

ZHAB PE SI TAI BAR DU TEN GYUR CHIK
May you stand firm until the end of existence.

This prayer for the health and long life of the Dalai Lama has been said daily by countless monks for many years, - and so far, it's working :0)

PS. Posting it here is also a prayer!

[naomi24]

Khandro, you asked me to repeat my question. I did. Please have the courtesy to provide an answer.

[nailit]

Dont hold your breath naomi. Khandro, like many others religionists ive known in real life, have become experts in evading awkward questions.

[nailit]

This thread has certainly been an entertaining read though ;-)

[Khandro]

I repeat; to your;
“Why don’t you care about the negative effect that religion has on the weak and vulnerable?”

I said;

"what is it that makes you so arrogant as to presume that I don't care?"

To which, "Well do you" isn't an answer, it's another question, either answer it or apologise for your rude presumption.

[naomi24]

Khandro, in the absence of an answer to the question you were asked, the presumption that you don't care isn't arrogance - it's the logical conclusion. I've nothing to apologise for. My conscience is clear.

[Khandro]

n. "Why don’t you care..?" Is an accusation, stop wriggling.