>On Saturday, December 17 dkotschessa posted: >>On Friday, December 16 Bill Smart posted: >> Since we have to use words on this forum I first want to make sure we're >> using the words the same. The relevant terms here and my working >> definitions are: >> - THEIST: One who believes in the existence of God or gods. >> - ATHEIST: One who does not believe in the existence of God or gods. >> - GNOSTIC: One who one who believes it is possible to know about the existence of God and the essential nature of things. >> - AGNOSTIC: One who believes it is impossible to know anything about the existence of God or the essential nature of anything. >> >> Using those definitions and the usual definition of 'God or gods', I'd say zen is ATHEISTIC.
>You forgot one. :) > >I prefer non-theistic. Zen is a practice, not really a philosophy. >It is really much like a trade like plumbing. The plumber is >concerned with the plumbing, getting the crap out of the toilet. >When she is talking about pipes and crap, the subject of god does not >play into her plumbing. What she does when she leaves is up to her. > >Buddhism is the four noble truths and the eightfold path. Anybody >can practice it. > I assume by 'non-theistic' you mean something like 'does not have a position on god' or 'does not care one way or the other'. If so, I agree. I thought of that when I wrote the previous post but finally decided 'atheistic' was closer. Either way I believe attempts at categorizations like this are just games with words and don't really mean much. I definitely enjoy the games but don't take them too seriously. I thought the definitions of 'gnostic' and 'agnostic' were more pertinent and, leaving aside the reference to 'god', depended on how you define 'know' in the definition. Gassho...Bill! ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Join modern day disciples reach the disfigured and poor with hope and healing http://us.click.yahoo.com/lMct6A/Vp3LAA/i1hLAA/S27xlB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Current Book Discussion: Appreciate Your Life by Taizan Maezumi Roshi Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZenForum/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
