Is belief a choice?

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lawrenceindestin	Karen Armstrong	#41	[url]	[-]
Posts: 18 09/21/05 13:28:24 Brand Spankin' New	I recently attended Karen's lecture on this book. I heard her thesis statement to be, "It doesn't matter what you believe, atheist, buddist, christian, etc., we will not live in peace with each other until everyone learns to respect the 'holyness' of each individual." There is a very rational basis why each of us should treat all others with respect. Our own knowledge, understanding, and wisdom in everything is incomplete, inaccurate, or in error and so is everyone elses. A little humility will carry us all a long way toward our goal to peace. Relationships will need to become more important than being right.
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misterpessimistic	Re: Karen Armstrong	#42	[url]	[-]
Indisputable BookTalk Master Posts: 4113 09/21/05 14:02:06 Indisputable BookTalk Master	Well...I can buy this. I do indeed feel this way, reading your words: *Quote:* Our own knowledge, understanding, and wisdom in everything is incomplete, inaccurate, or in error and so is everyone elses. A little humility will carry us all a long way is a way I have looked at things. I will say that I have low tolerance for religion and belief in a god though...as that seems so improbable that I feel it should be left behind. BUT...as I always have said, so long as that faith and belief are kept to the PERSONAL sphere...more power to ya! (Not you specifically). The plain fact is that a secular way of life is the most neutral for a mass populace. Mr. P. The one thing of which I am positive is that there is much of which to be negative - Mr. P. The pain in hell has two sides. The kind you can touch with your hand; the kind you can feel in your heart...Scorsese's "Mean Streets" I came to kick ass and chew Bubble Gum...and I am all out of Bubble Gum - They Live, Roddy Piper
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MadArchitect	Re: Karen Armstrong	#43	[url]	[-]
Posts: 3169 09/21/05 17:53:32 Indisputable BookTalk Master	The plain fact is that a secular way of life is the most neutral for a mass populace. What do you mean by "neutral"?
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misterpessimistic	Re: Karen Armstrong	#44	[url]	[-]
Indisputable BookTalk Master Posts: 4113 09/21/05 22:26:59 Indisputable BookTalk Master	I think that would be obvious. by it's nature, a secular society does not promote or inhibit any one religion. It would allow all to thrive on their own merits. As such, it is a neutral force. it takes no sides. A society based on one religion would discriminate based on it's dogma or cannon law. Secular government was endorsed by minority religious groups way back when because of this neutrality...hmm...this should be in the Jacoby discussion...but I will leave it here. Mr. P. The one thing of which I am positive is that there is much of which to be negative - Mr. P. The pain in hell has two sides. The kind you can touch with your hand; the kind you can feel in your heart...Scorsese's "Mean Streets" I came to kick ass and chew Bubble Gum...and I am all out of Bubble Gum - They Live, Roddy Piper
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Chris OConnor	Re: Karen Armstrong	#45	[url]	[-]
Indisputable BookTalk Master Posts: 9511 09/21/05 22:29:15 BookTalk Owner	I agree Nick.
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misterpessimistic	Re: Karen Armstrong	#46	[url]	[-]
Indisputable BookTalk Master Posts: 4113 09/21/05 22:31:17 Indisputable BookTalk Master	Thank you Chris! The one thing of which I am positive is that there is much of which to be negative - Mr. P. The pain in hell has two sides. The kind you can touch with your hand; the kind you can feel in your heart...Scorsese's "Mean Streets" I came to kick ass and chew Bubble Gum...and I am all out of Bubble Gum - They Live, Roddy Piper
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MadArchitect	Re: Karen Armstrong	#47	[url]	[-]
Posts: 3169 09/22/05 15:21:33 Indisputable BookTalk Master	So do you mean a secular government, or a secular way of life? I assumed that you meant something particular by way of life, but if you mean a society that tolerates religious difference then it would seem that you're talking about the govenment and not the whole of culture.
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misterpessimistic	Re: Karen Armstrong	#48	[url]	[-]
Indisputable BookTalk Master Posts: 4113 09/22/05 16:19:43 Indisputable BookTalk Master	I meant as it applies to society as a whole..yes, government...the wayof life of the system. Sorry for the confusion. The one thing of which I am positive is that there is much of which to be negative - Mr. P. The pain in hell has two sides. The kind you can touch with your hand; the kind you can feel in your heart...Scorsese's "Mean Streets" I came to kick ass and chew Bubble Gum...and I am all out of Bubble Gum - They Live, Roddy Piper
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MadArchitect	Re: Karen Armstrong	#49	[url]	[-]
Posts: 3169 09/23/05 13:25:23 Indisputable BookTalk Master	Okay, just trying to get it straight in my head. To my mind, a secular government is worlds apart from a secular way of life. When I hear the latter, I infer an almost total absence of religion, whereas a secular government could be either tolerant or bordering on a fascist abolition of religion.
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misterpessimistic	Re: Karen Armstrong	#50	[url]	[-]
Indisputable BookTalk Master Posts: 4113 09/23/05 13:34:15 Indisputable BookTalk Master	Again...sorry for the confusion...I have been making these post late at night.... Mr. P. The one thing of which I am positive is that there is much of which to be negative - Mr. P. The pain in hell has two sides. The kind you can touch with your hand; the kind you can feel in your heart...Scorsese's "Mean Streets" I came to kick ass and chew Bubble Gum...and I am all out of Bubble Gum - They Live, Roddy Piper
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