Void
The one i heard was, all is brahman.
S
Humans Need Fantasy
by metatron 16 Replies latest jw friends
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Satanus
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Gopher
Of course people need fantasy -- it's a form of recreation. But illusions based on religion can be harmful, and religious zealotry has often proven deadly.
So as a counterpoint to what you said here:
Whatever the 'warts' of Christianity, I firmly believe that it motivated Western people in ways that Buddhism and other philosophical approaches did not. Human technological development exploded in Judeo-Christian lands and is now spreading into Asia.
I say you are undervaluing technology that came from a land of many Buddhists, China.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_science_and_technology_in_China
The history of science and technology in China is both long and rich with many contributions to scientific and technology. In antiquity, independently of Greek philosophers and other civilizations, ancient Chinese philosophers made significant advances in science, technology, mathematics, and astronomy. The first recorded observations of comets, solar eclipses, and supernovae were made in China. [1] Traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture and herbal medicine were also practised.
Among the earliest inventions were the abacus, the "shadow clock," and the first flying machines such as kites and Kongming lanterns [2] The four Great Inventions of ancient China: the compass, gunpowder, papermaking, and printing, were among the most important technological advances, only known in Europe by the end of the Middle Ages. The Tang dynasty (AD 618 - 906) in particular, was a time of great innovation. [2] A good deal of exchange occurred between Western and Chinese discoveries up to the Qing Dynasty.
The Jesuit China missions of the 16th and 17th centuries introduced Western science and astronomy, then undergoing its own revolution, to China, and knowledge of Chinese technology was brought to Europe. [3] [4] Much of the early Western work in the history of science in China was done by Joseph Needham.
And here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Great_Inventions_of_ancient_China
The Four Great Inventions of ancient China (traditional Chinese: ???? ; simplified Chinese: ???? ; pinyin: Sì dà fa míng , meaning "four great inventions") are, according to Chinese tradition and the British scholar and biochemistJoseph Needham:
These inventions are celebrated in Chinese culture for their historical significance and as signs of ancient China's advanced science and technology. [4] These four discoveries had an enormous impact on the development of Chinese civilization and a far-ranging global impact.
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Carmel
How many of the "christian" technologies can be traced back to Islamic leaning centers? Likely the discovery of America itself would have been delayed centuries without the navigation skills taught by Muslims. Algebra and dozens of other fundamental ideas gave life to Europe which in turn transferred it to the upstart early americans... Islamist also adapted ideas from China and India fertilizing their own elan of creativitiy. We are the benefactors of all the cultures of the past whether we like the social doctrins of the various religions or not. carmel
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metatron
Take your politically correct replies and move one step further!
Sure, China had paper money and gunpowder. They handed over their accomplishments ( and pasta?) to Europeans who progressed, while
they fell into decay and inertia. The Muslims? Algebra? And how do we know that they had algebra? Because the West made progress
and recorded THEIR achievement in history books! This cultural problem continues as tiny Israel has more scientists and technicians
than all of the Arab world combined. The few people in these empires who made progress didn't get the support of the culture they needed
and so passed on their achievements to the West.
I once attended a class on dzogzhen buddhism and read a apologia in favor of Buddhism that said they offer people enlightenment and so
don't build hospitals, etc. like Christians! Imagine that! Maybe they could write a defense for the Watchtower Society in the same vein!
metatron
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Scully
Guys like Dawkins and Hitchens extol the value of atheism - as if they could prove that a life without illusion is somehow "better".
The point that Dawkins and Hitchens are trying to get across is that illusion becomes a problem when people start believing that illusion is reality, not that illusion - when presented as illusion / fantasy / fiction / allegory - is wrong in and of itself.
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M.J.
Seriously, humans define themselves by the figurative hat that they're wearing. By the role they see themselves playing. That's because humans are a social animal. Check out "social identity theory".
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5go
Take your politically correct replies and move one step further!
Sure, China had paper money and gunpowder. They handed over their accomplishments ( and pasta?) to Europeans who progressed, while
they fell into decay and inertia. The Muslims? Algebra? And how do we know that they had algebra? Because the West made progress
and recorded THEIR achievement in history books! This cultural problem continues as tiny Israel has more scientists and technicians
than all of the Arab world combined. The few people in these empires who made progress didn't get the support of the culture they needed
and so passed on their achievements to the West.
I once attended a class on dzogzhen buddhism and read a apologia in favor of Buddhism that said they offer people enlightenment and so
don't build hospitals, etc. like Christians! Imagine that! Maybe they could write a defense for the Watchtower Society in the same vein!
metatron
And currently the US is falling into decay to it's holding it's self back to follow religious and political dogma rather than advance. Now the east looks like it will take our accomplishments and use them against us like the west did to them like you pointed out. I see Arab and Chinese socialist superpowers coming thanks to us. Hopefully they choose to add democratic to the socialist part but I doubt it.