Atheism exists in just the same way as a-astrology exists, or a-Greek mythology or a-unicorns. I'm 'a-' a hell of a lot of things.
You can be fully appreciative of the wonders of life and the universe without the belief in a God, especially a personal one or any specific one advocated by any of...
Well i might beg to differ with respects to not allowing violence or extremism. Its literally a reality.
Of course economics, education and politics all play a part in the civil unrest, and violent behaviour patterns, but i am highly suspicious that the ideologies of Islam provide a synergistic...
I mean its evident that there is a distinct lack of violence from the people of Tibet, as compared with the middle East, even though they have endured quite equal hardship and brutality. If violent behaviour was fundamentally down to local political and economic reasons alone you would expect...
I do acknowledge the shared origin of the Abrahamic religions, and with that the host of similarities that likely follow. But also im aware of the differences too, spurring me to probe a little into Islam specifically.
In consideration of a mentality that permeates almost all religions, that of...
Yes, i think so. But not in the sense that something considered today is thus automatically expected to be improved upon in future, even though its a possibility. As all our efforts are essentially a process of creating best fit models, there will always in theory be that wiggle room, that...
Yes, sure i agree. The thread was focused more towards Islam in part because of my relative unfamiliarity in comparison to Christianity, such that i hoped to maybe learn some new perspectives and insights. Not that i meant to somehow highlight Islam as fundamentally on its own in the world as...
Is the attention not caught precisely because of the extreme nature of the violence? In reiterating my example in the OP, would you not think that a devout Muslim might be more likely to demonstrate violent behaviour than say a Buddhist monk, at least statistically speaking? (Because of course...
It sort of strikes me as not a religion that promotes peace, at least not as a core principle. I dont quite understand how violent extremist interpretation could be quite so easy if it were indeed build on a principle of peace, to embrace a martyrdom mentality and a demonising of 'infidel'...
Sure, i understand that many factors, say in the middle east might be cumulatively responsible for the violence and atrocities that occur, with political and econimic issues being among them. But i wonder how the given religious scripture itself contributes, if at all. It strikes me from the...
Why is there such associated violence with the Islamic world? Does its framework as a religion easily allow and facilitate the extremist mentality towards violent solutions? As an interesting comparison, one might point out the distinct lack of violent Tibetan Buddhist extremists even in light...
Relating to the idea of an underlying racism, i thought this might be quite interesting to some. I had a thread about it a while back. (http://www.religiousforums.com/forum/general-discussion/108449-speak-your-mind-but-do-you.html)
Its the Implicit Association Test developed at Harvard, which...
I think that everyone has the capacity to be racist, if we talk about rational adults, which is what gives the issue moral weight. I don’t think it’s useful or appropriate to just label everyone a racist at heart, because for one, as has been mentioned, i think it dilutes the term to...
Just a place to post short funny clips from your favourite TV shows and Movies.
Having just started getting into SNL, I'll start with this one i enjoyed.
DkmFbZsY_RU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-mMRHTGskY&feature=related
Just watched 'The Notebook'. Must say i was on the ropes, had to wipe the old eyes a fair few times :P
Also saw 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' not that long ago. Literally a must watch film. Very powerful stuff.
Alex