Dear Doug, (And being mindful that some/most people on this list don't want to be inflicted with religious rants - so we can take this offlist hereafter ?? ).
On the codicil, I can't agree that Islam is an Eastern Religion. It is as much a Western religion as Judaism or Christianity is. All Western religions are now proselytising religions which are geared to impose their will, their leaders and prophets on the unwilling. Nonetheless, as per me, Judaism is the most Eastern of these 3 religions and my own religionists would straightway agree (generally) with the first 4 of Judaism's principles as set down by, say, Maimonides. ie. to say 1. The existence of God 2. God's unity 3. God's spirituality and incorporeality 4. God's eternity About 95% of my co-religionists would also agree with his 5th principle 5. God alone should be the object of worship Unfortunately we cannot agree with any of the other 8 proselytising Judaic principles. or 8 of the 10 Commandments of Christianity or 4 of the 5 Pillars of Islam which are being collectively thrust on the East by imperialist means for economic / political objectives. Sarbajit On 4/2/12, Douglas Roberts <d...@parrot-farm.net> wrote: > Dear Sarbajit, > > I take your points, but with one codicil: The Muslim religion is also of > eastern origin, and I suspect you will agree that the Islamic "Sunday > School" teachings in today's fundamentalist Islamic countries are also > somewhat problematic, for obvious reasons which we maybe don't want to > dwell on here. > > --Doug > > On Sun, Apr 1, 2012 at 10:15 AM, Sarbajit Roy <sroy...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> Dear Doug >> >> What is taught in Sunday School is the problem with the "Christian" >> religion which for the most part seems based on gospels, unprovable >> historical events and parables etc. The ancient Eastern religions >> Dave mentioned don't have that problem insofar as their core beliefs >> are concerned >> >> For instance, my own religion's very ancient working principles can be >> distilled into 4 or 5 sentences. I would really like to know where and >> why you differ with me on them. >> >> 1) "GOD" (aka "Singularity"). Infinite, formless, beyond description, >> ruling principle of existence. [Comment - In other words there is a >> Unified Theory of Everything but "we" can never know it.] >> >> 2) "SALVATION". There is no salvation and no way to achieve it. All >> life exists to be consumed. There is neither Heaven nor Hell nor >> rebirth. >> >> 3) "WORSHIP". There is no scripture, revelation, creation, prophet, >> priest or teacher to be revered. Worship consist of revering the >> "inner light within" (i.e. enlightened conscience / intelligence) >> >> 4) "CULTS". There is no distinction. (All men are equal. Distinctions >> like caste, race, creed, colour, gender, nationality etc. are >> artificial. There is no need for priests, places of worship, long >> sermons etc. "Man-worship" or "God-men" are abhorent to the faith and >> denounced since there is no mediator between man and God) >> >> 5) "LIFE-FORMS" God / religion is not limited to "Man" alone, but >> covers / permeates all "life" >> >> Sarbajit >> ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org
