Jonathan H. B. Lobl

Good point.

You have my sympathies. I had an awful time with the formulas. That was no fun at all.

Matthew 6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations Not really consequence free. Think of all the resentment that they are creating. Imaginary enemies become real. Called into existence by all that sanctimonious smugness.

I'm inclined to agree. People who have a real connection to the culture, might be able to tell the difference. The parts available to outsiders, stinks of New Age and fraud. Maybe you remember the fad, back in the seventies, Westerners going to India to find themselves? History repeats.

Where we stand depends on where we sit. If you want arguments for slavery -- ask a slave owner. If you want arguments against slavery -- ask a slave. If you want to find someone so ignorant, that he has no opinion -- ask an American.

By all means, tell him -- yes. You did hear the good news. Atheism is more popular than ever.

Just so. This is one reason why I have come to despise arguing about God's existence. Without common reference points -- people are just arguing. Getting mad about something they can't define.

It might help to think in concrete rather than abstract terms. I'm thinking of the police doctrine of excessive force. Consider two examples. One. The police show up to discover a drunk trying to break into a liquor store. He has cracked the plate glass window. He's more pathetic than dangerous. There is no need to hurt him, or even threaten him with harm. He is quickly subdued and placed in the back of the police car for processing. Two. The police show up at an armed bank robbery in process. One of the robbers exits the bank and shoots at the first police officer to arrive at the scene. He refuses to drop his weapon. The police will shoot back. They use their side arms. They do not use a rocket launcher. Another example. A deer hunter normally goes hunting with a sport rifle. Not an AK-47. There is necessary. There is sufficient. There is excessive.

Terminology is it's own can of worms. Christians don't have religion. They have a special relationship with God. Orthodox Jews don't have religion. They are only obedient to Torah. Muslims don't have religion. They submit to the will of Allah. Odd, really. Nobody is religious.

I don't know how to describe the Shaman's journey. What it is NOT, is Damnation for the unbeliever.

I find philosophy more interesting as an idea than as a practice. As an idea, philosophy is great. In practice, it makes me want to run for the door. There is nothing quite like a room full of intelligent, intellectual old men, arguing about -- "What is the good life?". I can't stand it. I'm also less than thrilled by heavy discussions about "First Cause" or the "Nature of Reality" or "The existence of God." In general, the big questions. Like -- "Why is there something instead of nothing?" I can't do it any more. When I was younger, I was into this stuff. Now, it just drives me crazy. I must admit, it's a shorted drive than it used to be.

Things change. It was exciting when the new video stores came in, because they were change making things better. Then they died. Not getting better -- but different.

There are none near me. They closed years ago.

One New Age idea about the lost yeast of Jesus; is that he spent time in India. The supposed justification of this idea is Matthew 11:28-30 [Full Chapter] "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." The meaning of Yoga is yoke. As in yoking oneself to God. I find the idea far fetched, but over the years, I have seen people advocating for it. In this light, Jesus is saying that his Yoga practice is easy. I do not believe this. I do not advocate this. I have encountered it and found the idea amusing.

True. "You can't lose them all."

I try to be reasonable. I don't always succeed, but I try.

I don't know about "everyone". I sure did.

"the ACLU would probably be johnny on the spot to put a stop to teaching philosophy in grade school lol" Those are your words I was responding to. Do you want to post and be ignored? On this board, we respond to each other. You don't get to make the rules.

If I were a sheep, I would be checking the shepherd's breath, to see what he's been eating. I would also be watching his wardrobe. Things become cliche for a reason.

Teaching a course about philosophy is not the same as "instilling" philosophy. Neither is it the same as indoctrinating in religion. If people don't want their children exposed to ideas -- then their children should never leave their home. Or read a newspaper. Or listen to radio news. They should just stay home and be ignorant.

Welcome. Make yourself at home and join in.

The teaching of philosophy, does not violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

Thank you. One more thought. If somehow, all God belief were to vanish -- people would still be people. The world would still be a mess. It would be a different mess -- but still a mess. The triumph of Atheism -- by itself -- would not save Humanity from itself.

"Never trust anyone under thirty."