what is the point of religion?

[Paulclem]

It is not but if you want to want to simplify it and believe it…so be it. I don’t have any business to convince otherwise.

I'm interested to know what you think it is.

[ftil]

I'm interested to know what you think it is.

Don’t you think that it is too late to show your interest after a few posts where you made assumptions without asking what was so profound they said? It is a pattern in our conversations, isn’t it?

I hope that you understand now why I lost my interest to continue our discussion.

[MarkBastable]

Well, I'm interested in knowing what you think it is.

[Paulclem]

Don’t you think that it is too late to show your interest after a few posts where you made assumptions without asking what was so profound they said? It is a pattern in our conversations, isn’t it?

I hope that you understand now why I lost my interest to continue our discussion.

Not really. It only came up over that last couple of posts. I'd still like to know. You're a person who likes others to question things, so here's one for you.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Addressing the OP's question, "What is the point of religion?":

"All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit." ~ Thomas Paine

[Paulclem]

Addressing the OP's question, "What is the point of religion?":

"All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit." ~ Thomas Paine

You could say that religion is not really embodied in these institutions, but is more of a private practice sometimes expressed in communities. .

[Ecurb]

You could say that religion is not really embodied in these institutions, but is more of a private practice sometimes expressed in communities. .

The problem with DEFINING religion as "a private practice" is that private practices may or may not be identifiable. When social scientists talk about religion, they must talk about something they can identify. Of course religious practitioners make statements ABOUT their private practice, and, when those statements involve supernatural claims, they can be called "religious".

(I'm not saying that a social scientific definition of religion is the only reasonable definition, just pointing out some of the difficulties involved in it.)

[Paulclem]

The problem with DEFINING religion as "a private practice" is that private practices may or may not be identifiable. When social scientists talk about religion, they must talk about something they can identify. Of course religious practitioners make statements ABOUT their private practice, and, when those statements involve supernatural claims, they can be called "religious".

(I'm not saying that a social scientific definition of religion is the only reasonable definition, just pointing out some of the difficulties involved in it.)

I agree. I was just pointing up that Mutatis' quote refers only to one facet of religion.

[ftil]

Not really. It only came up over that last couple of posts. I'd still like to know. You're a person who likes others to question things, so here's one for you.

Well, you still can’t see what is wrong with our conversation. I would hardly call it conversation as you didn’t show any interest to know what they said but you made assumptions. You were not only not interested what they said but also what I thought. The bottom line is that fact that we had the same pattern in every conversation. If you are interested to hear yourself, be my guest……but I have more interesting things to do.

BTW, it is not a subject of this tread. Let's others continue their discussion about the point of religion.

[Paulclem]

Well, you still can’t see what is wrong with our conversation. I would hardly call it conversation as you didn’t show any interest to know what they said but you made assumptions. You were not only not interested what they said but also what I thought. The bottom line is that fact that we had the same pattern in every conversation. If you are interested to hear yourself, be my guest……but I have more interesting things to do.

BTW, it is not a subject of this tread. Let's others continue their discussion about the point of religion.

I'm getting deja vue, or perhaps I'm making assumptions again? But looking back over the posts it was you who posted something about Buddhism after I had responded to Kensington.

I seem to remember you posting to me when I was addressing Mazhur in the last thread too. I didn't seek you out. I assume, though that if you respond to my posts that you want to engage in conversation.

I think you're right. there is a pattern in the conversations. I answer your posts. You say I don't know you - (true) - and that I am making assumption about you - (not true). You post something, and I respond. You say I make assumptions about your knowledge, reading, study etc, but everything I say can be checked very easily on the internet. No problem. Where do you back up what you say?

[ftil]

I'm getting deja vue, or perhaps I'm making assumptions again? But looking back over the posts it was you who posted something about Buddhism after I had responded to Kensington.

I seem to remember you posting to me when I was addressing Mazhur in the last thread too. I didn't seek you out. I assume, though that if you respond to my posts that you want to engage in conversation.

I think you're right. there is a pattern in the conversations. I answer your posts. You say I don't know you - (true) - and that I am making assumption about you - (not true). You post something, and I respond. You say I make assumptions about your knowledge, reading, study etc, but everything I say can be checked very easily on the internet. No problem. Where do you back up what you say?

Well, you have answered my post …to hear yourself. I didn’t say that you made assumptions about my knowledge. You are making assumptions again and you are wrong. I think that I have already clarified for you what making assumptions means. I can do it again, hoping that you will understand. We make assumptions when we believe that we can read others minds. In other words, we try to sit in others heads. You don’t have any clue what I said and you weren’t even interested to ask. This is what making assumptions means.

Second, you may not agree with scholars I choose to read. But why don’t you argue with them. I don’t pretend that I am a Buddhist scholar. In fact, I have more questions than answers. Finally, I think that we may end our discussion. I respect what you believe but your truth doesn’t match mine. It is as simple as that. Nothing personal but we like to be around people who are like minded, don’t we?

I hope that I expressed myself as clear as possible so that we will not have that kind of discussion again.

Let's others talk about religion.

“To know is not to know, not to know is to know”
Indian Kena Upnishad

[Paulclem]

To be honest I've no idea who you read. You've never said. You've never quoted or paraphrased anyone to me in this discussion.

Now I know what assumptions are I'll try to stay away from them.

I don’t pretend that I am a Buddhist scholar.

You didn't, but since you posted to me I thought you might share what you know. I have shared what little I know. I thought that's what forums were about- sharing ideas and discussing and elucidating.

[ftil]

To be honest I've no idea who you read. You've never said. You've never quoted or paraphrased anyone to me in this discussion.

Because you didn’t ask. Maybe I will post it on my tread in the future. Now, I have other subjects that keep my mind occupied.

Now I know what assumptions are I'll try to stay away from them.

Oh, assumptions can drive people crazy. I avoid making assumptions because when we make assumptions what others think or feel we are most of the time wrong. I have learned to ask for clarification because the end of the day I want to understand others.

[JuniperWoolf]

^Has anyone else noticed that the more cornered ftil feels, the more emoticons he uses?

[ftil]

^Has anyone else noticed that the more cornered ftil feels, the more emoticons he uses?

LOL! I love using emoticons and it is you who have aversion to it. I don’t know what you mean that I feel cornered. Are you unable to escape your projections? BTW, how does your response relate to religion?