Again : " ... one can quit or outgrow religion but not "dharma !" "
The word religion as I have used is previously indicated. The traditions Molly speaks of are those that have largely outgrown religion ( in the sense I have used the word ). Vam wrote: > A post elsewhere... which cud be juxtaposed with thoughts generally > expressed here : > > " ... the word " religion " itself is a Western construct, meaning as > it came to be practiced by people - looking for salvation, believing > what they were told, and launching on their conversion drives > everywhere they went with their gun and swords and recycled loot. > > " Dharma is a totally different construct... the whole universe of > values and truths in and of which all beings are born, in and of which > they live, in and of which they depart, and in and of which they are > reborn. It is life and living itself, which exhorts us to do the > needful and the right, even while leaving us with the freedom and the > choice to do otherwise, as we please but with their respective > consequences. > > " Dharma is life itself, and the way of living in accord to universal > values and truths." > > ornamentalmind wrote: > > Yet, are those traditions in any way strictly monotheistic? Most that > > I am aware of do not make such a claim; although as you say some do. > > > > When it comes to the presentation of an argument, the terms used are > > often important as Vam knows. Making a claim for all cases in such a > > case is asking for rebuttal. Of course, that may have been his intent! > > > > On Sep 9, 4:16 am, Molly <[email protected]> wrote: > > > I would disagree in that there are mystical traditions to many eastern > > > and western religions that do none of those three. > > > > > > On Sep 9, 6:34 am, Vam <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Monotheistic Religions, as they are, do three things : > > > > 1 Assure salvation, the power for which is entirely with another > > > > 2 Demand Belief in a defined presentation of thought and ideology > > > > 3 Convert others to their fold through material lure, physical and > > > > mental fear and reward. > > > > > > > Atheistic disciplines, pantheistic and polytheistic ways of living do > > > > none of these. > > > > > > > They are therefore not religions as the people in the West and Middle > > > > East believe in and understand !
