Jonathan H. B. Lobl

The Bible has two primary functions. Function number 1. Support and Sustain Bible Based authority. Isaiah 45:23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations Romans 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations King James Version (KJV) Function number 2. Oppose and Silence all opposition. Psalm 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translation Psalm 53:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good. In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations Exodus 22:18 Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations What do I care that theses Scriptures condemn Hedone? These scriptures are not about making people happy. They are not about improving the quality of life. They are about destroying the opposition. It's all so political. How little things change.

Funny man. I'm only raising what I think is an obvious question. Buddhism is supposed to be a practical plan. Something that is workable. Well? After 3,000 years, where are all the Buddhas? At the risk of being unfair, either it works, or it doesn't. From what I can see, the path fails. Atheists commonly ask for proof that God exists. It occurs to me that there are other groups, making claims, that are not backed up by anything except assertions. Why do we not expect Buddhism to back up it's claims?

That is the difference. In your hands, Scripture is weaponized.

My intention is that this thread be a vehicle for serious discussion. About 3,000 years ago, Buddha declared a path. Anybody could follow this path to Enlightenment, and by so doing, become a Buddha. After 3,000 years, it is past time to examine the basic claim. Is this true? Does the path of Buddhism lead a seeker to Enlightenment? What does that even mean? Of course, the big question. After 3,000 years, where are all the Buddhas? I'm not being mean or snarky. I mean it. If the Path works -- if the Path leads to becoming a Buddha -- Where are all the Buddhas? At some point, all claims become subject to objective analysis.

Hello Dan. You have never understood me. You still don't.

Yes. Of course. In the Gospels, Jesus commands his followers to "love your neighbour as yourself". That doesn't count for much unless we have self love. Mark 12:30-31 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

Hello, Dan.

You are a voice of reason. I'm not confident that you're right. You do make good points. The "good" people who claim to "serve the Light" -- often do the worst -- the darkest -- deeds of all.

That is an interpretation that had not occurred to me. Hmmm.....

I can claim to be a horse. That does not make it so. We need to be careful with the question. The questions that we ask influence the answers. In my opinion, the question should be -- Does a belief in Jesus as Messiah, negate being Jewish? I used to have a circle of Hasidic friends. They would respond to such questions by citing Jewish Law. They would tell me, that because my mother was Jewish, I was Jewish. My Atheism didn't enter into it. My mother had made me Jewish, and my non-belief was not an issue. This makes things a little murky for me. As an Atheist, I can't very well appeal to Jewish Law. It was clear for them. I was Jewish. My lack of belief was a non-issue. Now, it gets confusing. The movement of Reform Judaism (Reform with a capital R) changed the rules. Reform Judaism recognizes Jewishness from either parent. That is to say, someone with a Jewish father is Jewish. Of course, the world of Orthodox Judaism had a fit. But, it gets worse. There is now a religious movement called Humanistic Judaism. The foundation book for this movement is -- Judaism beyond God. It is Humanism for Jews. Another major split. Without getting lost in the sub-fractures, we have an interesting development. The world of Orthodox Judaism does not recognize the Rabbinic authority of Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist, Humanist, etc. rabbis. When these rabbis conduct a conversion -- the process by which someone transits from being gentile to Jewish -- The Orthodox rabbis don't recognize it as being a valid conversion. What does that mean? When a woman converts to (for instance) Reform Judaism, the Orthodox will insist that she is not Jewish -- so her children are not Jewish. As an Atheist, I am not in any position to argue with the theology. I know what the issues are. I'm simply not able to take sides. It wouldn't really matter. Who wants my opinion? It's a mess. Entering the confusion, to make things more confused, are the "Messianic" Jews. The "Complete" Jews. Of course, they have it right and all the other Jews have it wrong. Much like the other groups. I have my opinion about them as well. Nobody who is part of this mess, cares what a Jewish Atheist thinks. It's just part of the mess. So, I watch from the sidelines. If God were real, is this how things would be? Now comes the funny part. I over simplified. It's a lot worse.

Bram Stoker took literary inspiration from Vlad the Impaler. Vlad and the Dracula of books and movies, were not the same person. The historic Vlad was about terror. Supposedly for patriotic reasons. So the story goes -- invading soldiers would take one look at the field of impaled bodies. They would be so filled with dread and horror, that they would turn back and flee in terror. The modern day equivalent would be the monsters in ISIS. I think that there are some actions, so utterly evil, that nothing can possibly justify them. That performing said acts, for any reason at all, makes the doer worthy of destruction.

Yes.

I regard the vampire as symbolism. Someone who feeds off the hard work, money and emotions of others. Their life's blood. It's all symbolism. The conman, grifter, real estate king, who lied and and used deception to become President -- Donald Trump -- is the perfect example of a modern vampire. Next to Trump, Dracula was a pathetic mosquito. I think you have misunderstood the word -- Apatheist. It is a fusion of two words. Apathy and Theism. The Apatheist is only apathetic regarding Theism. Not in regard to things that actually matter.

Medieval Atheism

I'm not most people. Distinctions matter. A vampire might find the blood of his victims tastes good. In this case, there is no virtue in the enjoyment of food. Feeding a hungry friend brings happiness, without being enjoyable.

Does pleasure or happiness equal goodness?

I also practice qigong. It helps a lot, but there is no one answer.

I think this takes us back to the Middle Path of Moderation. Don't live only for others. Don't live only for self.

It's a poor journey that has no goals at all. Meditation -- being in the moment -- requires the goal of meditation. Being open to whatever the day may bring, requires the goal of being open. Destinations can be fluid. Destinations can change. Without an opening destination, the journey won't begin.

"There is no God and we are his people."

I am a Jewish Atheist. I can't really take sides, based on theology.

Relax. In the unlikely event that all the stars do die all at once -- we will all be dead, before we know there is a problem.

True.

Well, did it help your back pain? Unlike ideology, physical therapy should have some degree of effectiveness.

You're taking the long view. Alright. In time, even the stars grow cold.