The Heart Sutra or Prajna Parimita Hrdaya Sutra is a Buddhist work that I really appreciate and read often, because it helps me remember what the nature of things really are when the world seems crazy, and it reminds me that all I need to do is live.
Here it is, as rendered in English:
When...
Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you- Friedrich Nietzsche
Did you mean heterosexuals?
As for believing what we choose to- it is true we can, but that doesn't make it so. Your belief that homosexuality can be changed has no basis in observable fact.
I would say yes, if we accept the premise that school is for the raising up of children, both academically, and as pertains to their character. Since public schools are paid for by tax dollars, and are intended to serve the American Republic, this should especially be the case- as pertains to...
How can I know how many of his supporters hold to this view? However, they're not jumping behind Trump for no reason. Consider the things he's said that would cause them to line up behind him. Consider the violence and open prejudice that's gone on at his rallies, and he says nothing to condemn...
What makes such questions not valid when the way religious people live directly effects the world around them? Now sure, one might say religious teachings aren't subject to popular opinion as far as they're concerned, but there's reasons they can't help drawing popular opinion.
Have you looked at the 25 points of Hitler's Nazi party? Here's a link:
http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/riseofhitler/25points.htm
Now if you look at that list- the sentiment that many Trump supporters have that Muslims can never be true Americans rings very similar to what Hitler said...
One possible purpose is that it will give people a new general idea of religion's potential, and the good it can be used for. I believe religion can be, and often is a great force for good. I also find it difficult to believe that a person is going to do what they do regardless of what others...
I would venture to say that Islam is up there with most persecuted religions. Muslims are often demonized in western media, and its started to turn the general western mind to being anti-Islam. Trump, case in point.
Saying god might use therapy is you saying that such cruel and abusive treatments are justified, rather you realize it or not. You're just bringing up more dimensions of the problem of god and evil. Also, how do you know the people you claim are now heterosexual actually are? You do realize that...
You said God 'might' use therapy, so which is it? Also, insisting that God can change people's sexual orientation doesn't prove your position. What evidence do you have of that?
Correction: Unitarian Christians broke from mainline Christianity over the Trinity. Unitarian Universalism isn't a Christian denomination, its a Universalist religion, and doesn't necessarily require any belief in a deity at all- as in my case.
As such, I have nothing invested in either a...
Yes I think I understand. You're saying that people's views of human rights, social justice, and similar aren't likely to change much with their worldview...is that right?
Okay, which of the core principles of Unitarian Universalism would you like 'proof' for?
That existence is an interconnected web that we're all a part of? That a person should construct their worldview based on a free and responsible search for truth and meaning...
Well I think its worth pointing out that 'liberal' and 'conservative' are usages that change with time and circumstance. Its occurred to me that if America ever found itself much more theocratic, to the point the Constitution actually was being shredded in favor of religious law, people who...