I can answer that and the answer is no. If one belives in God or gods, one is religious.
On Sep 12, 10:28 pm, rigsy03 <[email protected]> wrote: > Perhaps the real question is this: can a person be spiritual and holy > without any religious affiliation or trappings? > > On Sep 12, 10:49 am, Allan H <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > Vam is referring to the old concept of dharma and that has nothing at all > > to do with religion,, as wit all things in evolution meaning of words also > > change evolve. Well Lee you and I have different concepts than other > > people. > > Allan > > > On Mon, Sep 12, 2011 at 11:40 AM, Lee Douglas > > <[email protected]>wrote: > > > > I'll say it again. I find no differance between the concepts of > > > dharma and religoin. > > > > What is the point of dharmic practice, what is the point of religious > > > practice? > > > > On Sep 10, 8:32 am, Vam <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > Therefore ? I didn't see the logic. > > > > > Dharma is universal values... I agree that isn't very universal ! > > > > > rigsy03 wrote: > > > > > How is one instructed by Dharma except by tradition? Therefore it does > > > > > not exist as a Universal. > > > > > > On Sep 9, 10:12 am, Vam <[email protected]> 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 !- Hide quoted text - > > > > > > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text - > > > > > - Show quoted text - > > > -- > > ( > > ) > > |_D Allan > > > live is for moral, ethical and truthful living.- Hide quoted text - > > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text -
