Mike, I don't see your point. For me, a 'free pass' means you are exempt from something, such as criticism. I was thinking that you might be afraid of criticizing religion for fear of the hostile environment. Now I was shocked that you said something so strongly regarding Yehwah. It occurred to me that that is useful for you to act in Japan. They like what you say about the god. So good luck with your conversion of the Japanese to the glory of God. Anthony
--- On Tue, 5/10/10, mike brown <[email protected]> wrote: From: mike brown <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [Zen] Re: Don't pray in my school and I won't think in your church. To: [email protected] Date: Tuesday, 5 October, 2010, 10:24 PM Anthony, A couple of points. One religion criticising another religion is not the point I'm making about religion having a free pass. Take politics, for example. In the last presidential debate 4 candidates put up their hands to swear that they didn't believe in evolution. Was there a gasp of disbelief from the questioner/audience? Laughter? A roll of the eyes? Nothing. Not even a follow up question. And these people potentially could have their finger on the button. Now imaine if they said they believed in UFOs or Zeus or a flat earth etc. Now that's what I call a free pass. Mike Ps, I like Don Quixote. Probably the best example of a man of Zen in literature. From: Anthony Wu <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Tue, 5 October, 2010 7:43:43 Subject: Re: [Zen] Re: Don't pray in my school and I won't think in your church. Mike, I don't see the 'free pass'. You find Islam criticising Christianity, and vice versa, and Christianity reviling Buddhism and vice versa. Many other instances. The reason you are afraid to say something against Christianity is because you live in a strong Christain influenced environment. Once you say something, you will see a lot of Don Quixotes rushing toward you. Anthony --- On Mon, 4/10/10, mike brown <[email protected]> wrote: From: mike brown <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [Zen] Re: Don't pray in my school and I won't think in your church. To: [email protected] Date: Monday, 4 October, 2010, 11:38 PM Mayka, It goes waaaaaaaaay beyond mere "disappontment" in any established religious institutions. I really don't understand why religion gets a "free pass" from criticism. We attack the oil industry for polluting the environment; goverment/politicians for corruption and other socially unacceptable behaviours etc. What is it about religion that can claim "I'm offended" as a valid argument against scrutiny and even ridicule? If I said the world was flat you'd probably think I was mentally sick. But deny evolution (despite the overwhelming scientific eveidence) and that's ok because I claim to have 'faith' in a bronze-age myth. And I'm not even going to begin with the institutionalised cover-up of child rape by the Catholic church.. Mike From: Maria Lopez <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Mon, 4 October, 2010 22:51:51 Subject: Re: [Zen] Re: Don't pray in my school and I won't think in your church. Hi Mike and Everyone! If everytime one has a dissapointment in any established religious institution whether that dissapointment was in Christian, Muslim, Jew, Buddhist, Zen Buddhist, etc, etc institutions: and afterwards acts as a destructor towards the institution from which dissapointment took place, then it doesn't sound a very wise way of doing towards oneself. I certainly include myself in this unwise way of doing as I've recently experienced a great dissapointment in the TNH institutions which lead me to criticism of them. Though never as irrespetuos or destructive as many atheists show themselves ugly behaviour in front of Christianity. This harmful way of doing doesn't affect the instituions established but just to the ones who carries away such violent shows. When I look deeply into myself, I realice that it was me all the way alone who built up a pedestal to that institution. It was me who caused herself the dissapointment for building a pedestal of "holiness, peace....to the institution". They weren't the ones!!!. Having seeing this within myself I am now grateful having found that institution from which I was introduced in the walk of zen buddhism. I was ever dissapointed in any Christian institutions because I never built up a pedestal to the instituion!. And so my experience was always healthy and positive. It was positive because I never put that instituion in a pedestal. I saw it for what it was. And so I could get all the benefit from it and never the dissapointment and the anger and frustation that comes with it. Mayka --- On Sun, 3/10/10, mike brown <[email protected]> wrote: From: mike brown <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [Zen] Re: Don't pray in my school and I won't think in your church. To: [email protected] Date: Sunday, 3 October, 2010, 11:33 Kristy, You wrote: "If you have faith, there is a whole sphere they are ignorant about." However, this isn't really the whole story. Many atheists were once believers who have seen thru 'faith' and have rejected it for what it is. Moreover, I am ignorant of what it is to be a neo-nazis, but have no trouble rejecting their beliefs as not just harmful, but wrong. Mike
