I find most of your comments helpful, but I do still have a problem with them overrunning the religious forum. It's at the point where the only religious discussions are negative. Which is sad, because people shouuld feel comfortable discussing,say, Liberation Theology.
--- In Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com, <billsm...@...> wrote: > > DP, > > > > My comments are embedded below: > > I've thought some more about my problrm with getting into arguments on the > internet. I think that the internet has fueled a certain type of ugliness in > arguments, with its tendency towards short comments that snipe at miniscule > errors in one's posts. I want to walk away, and yet I hate the idea of the > bullies winning the argument. > > [Bill!] If you have a problem it is NEVER someone else's fault. The problem > is yours. > > In the case above your problem is 'hating the idea that the bullies win the > argument'. Throw that hate away. It takes two to argue, so don't argue > with them. Just state your thoughts and feelings and leave it at that. If > they don't 'get it' or if they feel they've 'won', that's THEIR problem. > Don't make it yours. > > I find that in religious discussions the "internet atheists" (a specific > term for these type of arguers, not all atheists) tend to crowd out people > who want to sincerely discuss religion on particular forums, so I get > frustrated. > > [Bill!] If you're not wanted somewhere, or are picked on as entertainment, > just leave. Go somewhere else. Let them occupy that space and then they > can pick on each other. > > But here's where the ego comes in. Obviously, there is ego involved in > winning an argument, but there is also some ego in leaving. I feel like I'm > saying "i'm taking my ball and going home." > > [Bill!] Yes, there is ego involved. Ego = Self. Zen practice will soften > and eventually dissolve your illusion of self. > > As well, i'm very insecure about my beliefs, and I feel like I'm somehow not > worthy of my arguments. How does insecurity relate to ego, or is that a > completely different question? > > [Bill!] How can you be insecure about your beliefs? Are you sure you really > BELIEVE your beliefs? If you do really BELIEVE your beliefs than you can't > be insecure about them. You are the sum of your beliefs. Insecurity > DIRECTLY relates to ego and the illusion of self. If you have an illusion > of self (maintain an ego) you are operating as an illusion. When this > illusion is challenged or shown to be incorrect or distorted you can feel > insecure. If you do not have an illusion of self there is nothing to > challenge and nothing to distort. There is Just THIS!, and although that > can be challenged it can't be shown to be incorrect or distorted in anyway - > because it's so, so simple - it's Just THIS! Just YOU! Buddha Nature! > > .Bill! > > > > __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature > database 5493 (20100930) __________ > > The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. > > http://www.eset.com > ------------------------------------ Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: zen_forum-dig...@yahoogroups.com zen_forum-fullfeatu...@yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: zen_forum-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
