General Religion & Philosophy Discussion Thread (19 Viewers)
- Thread starter Sheik Yerbouti
- Start date
I never go into this thread anymore because I think arguments like this should be left to informed scholars of religious text. If anyone, religious or atheist, wants to access an informed, intellectual debate about religion then I recommend watching these two slug it out. I'm more inclined to agree with Reza Aslan but it's nice to hear an atheist argue without using pejorative and disparaging language.
That's a very good non-answer. It's the kind of answer designed to get comments such as "Proud to be Hindu!", "True peaceful religion FTW!" etc. The kind to bring in the Turks of the country 
For starters, Hinduism as an organized religion is a fairly new concept. If you take a step back and look at it, it's not a religion but a collection of religions with shared history, books and customs. That makes it an incredibly hard religion to evangelize.
For starters, Hinduism as an organized religion is a fairly new concept. If you take a step back and look at it, it's not a religion but a collection of religions with shared history, books and customs. That makes it an incredibly hard religion to evangelize.
Well Islam hasn't really had a large scale history of forced conversion iirc. Non-Islamic people living in regions controlled by Muslims usually had to face certain obstacles (mostly special kinds of taxes & levies), but didn't have to convert. Hence why regions such as Greece or Bulgaria are predominantly Christian even after centuries of Osmanic rule. There are exceptions of course, but in general conversion to Islam has more or less happenen volunturaly, at least when compared to Christiaity. Correct me if I'm wrong there.
What is much more important imo is the missionaristic (does that work exist?
) aspect that both Christianity and Islam posess very strongly (I heard that from a theological standpoint this is rather debateable for Islam, but historically it holds true). In Hinduism, this is much less prominent. As it is in Judaism as far as I know, another religion that is mostly hereditary and where conversions have much importance.
What is much more important imo is the missionaristic (does that work exist?
) aspect that both Christianity and Islam posess very strongly (I heard that from a theological standpoint this is rather debateable for Islam, but historically it holds true). In Hinduism, this is much less prominent. As it is in Judaism as far as I know, another religion that is mostly hereditary and where conversions have much importance.
This should be my thread but it's good that I'm not here that often to tell you what to believe.
I believe in nothing. There is no Gods, humanity I disguise. I could believe in free will, but you religious fuckers ruin that too.
So not much to believe in...Hawking and Hitler are the ones closest to the truth I guess.
I believe in nothing. There is no Gods, humanity I disguise. I could believe in free will, but you religious fuckers ruin that too.
So not much to believe in...Hawking and Hitler are the ones closest to the truth I guess.
I grew up with a Catholic upbringing. Through time I became an Agnostic. To me, an Atheist is someone who "does not believe in God". My stance is: "I don't know if God exists". The probability I would assign to God's existence is up for debate but I personally think that most people have the same thinking but choose to follow a faith or label themselves as atheists. I feel that it would be nice if God existed as it would raise the possibility of life after death. Feelings associated with "wanting" God to exist can be comforting but have no bearing as to whether God exists.
A lot of religions thrive on the "fear" angle. To put it bluntly, "if you do not believe" you will be judged and end up in hell. There are hundreds of known religions in the world. I personally think that if God indeed exists, god would not judge me for being a muslim, a christian, a buddhist, an atheist etc. I would like to think that God would have a supreme being capable of rationale thought. I personally think it is arrogant any religious teaching to say its their way or hell.
One thing I do feel very strongly about though, is that all religions are "man-made" and are all at least in part factually wrong. Given the lack of evidence on any one of the major religions, I find it irritating when "fundamentalists" try to impose their religions on others or commit acts of terrorism or murder and use their religion as justification.
A lot of religions thrive on the "fear" angle. To put it bluntly, "if you do not believe" you will be judged and end up in hell. There are hundreds of known religions in the world. I personally think that if God indeed exists, god would not judge me for being a muslim, a christian, a buddhist, an atheist etc. I would like to think that God would have a supreme being capable of rationale thought. I personally think it is arrogant any religious teaching to say its their way or hell.
One thing I do feel very strongly about though, is that all religions are "man-made" and are all at least in part factually wrong. Given the lack of evidence on any one of the major religions, I find it irritating when "fundamentalists" try to impose their religions on others or commit acts of terrorism or murder and use their religion as justification.
Suppose I want to know more about Islam and Islamic culture, what would be a good book to start? Does anyone know a book that's accessible without much prior knowledge - but doesn't simplify complicated matters -, and talks about both the theological foundations as well as cultural & historical developments from a relatively unbiased point of view?
I guess there's not really anything that fully satisfies all criteria, but do you guys know anything at least close to this?
@Fred @Bianconero_Aus @Zé Tahir @Mohad @king Ale
I guess there's not really anything that fully satisfies all criteria, but do you guys know anything at least close to this?
@Fred @Bianconero_Aus @Zé Tahir @Mohad @king Ale
You need something more modern that helps you to understand what you actually are looking for, so I highly recommend you Purification of the Heart by Hamza Yusuf.
http://www.amazon.com/Purification-Heart-Symptoms-Spiritual-Diseases/dp/1929694156
@Hustini @Raz
http://www.amazon.com/Purification-Heart-Symptoms-Spiritual-Diseases/dp/1929694156
@Hustini @Raz
Agnosticism and atheism are tangential. Atheism pertains to belief while agnosticism pertains to knowledge. We are all agnostics in the sense that no one has knowledge of the existence (or lack thereof) of God. However the same could be said of any metaphysical or mystical object or being (spirits, souls, ghosts, Zeus, Krishna, etc.)
Hmmm, I'l maybe check it out more thoroughly later, but this seems to be the opposite of unbiased on first glance at least
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I also searched the web for an answer, has anyone read this for example?
Reza Aslan has seemed quite sensible and balanced in some videos I've seen of him debating, and while it's perhaps a bit too history-orientated it seems to fit what I'm looking for very well.
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I also searched the web for an answer, has anyone read this for example?
Reza Aslan has seemed quite sensible and balanced in some videos I've seen of him debating, and while it's perhaps a bit too history-orientated it seems to fit what I'm looking for very well.
