Also, what with all the religion hate?

[Danbershan]

no.

Anyway, Buddhism isn't a real religion, I mean, come on, Buddhists don't even have a god. That's like claiming to be a country when you don't have a flag.

Who says a religion has to have a god?

[Mavorpen]

Anyway, Buddhism isn't a real religion, I mean, come on, Buddhists don't even have a god. That's like claiming to be a country when you don't have a flag.

Who says a religion has to have a god?

Oxford Dictionary does.

religion Pronunciation: /rɪˈlɪdʒ(ə)n/

Definition of religion
noun
[mass noun]
the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods:
ideas about the relationship between science and religion
[count noun] a particular system of faith and worship:
the world’s great religions
[count noun] a pursuit or interest followed with great devotion:
consumerism is the new religion

[Farnhamia]

Anyway, Buddhism isn't a real religion, I mean, come on, Buddhists don't even have a god. That's like claiming to be a country when you don't have a flag.

Who says a religion has to have a god?

It's common knowledge. Seriously. I think your sarcasm detector is busted.

[Danbershan]

Why is it that sometimes, when you tell someone your religion, they act with arrogance and ignorance? When I explain to people my Buddhist views, they always act like what I had said was nonsense and I was an idiot for not believing in "[omnipotent figure here]"

Why is it that I can't tell someone my religion without them criticizing me? One time a christian tried to prove to me that there was more proof of Jesus existing than Buddha. Not really; The only "scientific" evidence of Jesus existing was an iffy Shroud of Turin and his biblical stories, whilst the Buddha has much more evidence, like how he was a prince of a (probably) existent Indian king, among other things. (The christian also tried to tell me that "we had no church")

Aren't we in a point in history (the 21st century) where people can just accept each other?

I'd like to point out there is more evidence of God's existence but you were probably unaware of it. For example, the tilma with the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe on it. It has lasted in near perfect conditions in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe for 478 years. All other clothes made of similar material kept in the same environment as that within the basilica have lasted for only about 10 years. In 1785, a worker in the basilica accidently spilled nitric acid across the right side of the tilma. Since then, it has not frayed, decayed or suffered any discoloration as it should have. In 1979 Philip C. Callahan, a research biophysicist at the University of Florida studied the tilma and concluded the image could not have been made by human hands. The eyes of Mary also feature corneal reflections, a feat in imaging that was impossible until the modern age. To all who deny the existence of any higher beings of any kind, just look around and you will learn of all the impossible things that happened and still happen in our world.

Source?

[Danbershan]

Who says a religion has to have a god?

It's common knowledge. Seriously. I think your sarcasm detector is busted.

Oh, my bad :/

[Johz]

Why is it that sometimes, when you tell someone your religion, they act with arrogance and ignorance? When I explain to people my Buddhist views, they always act like what I had said was nonsense and I was an idiot for not believing in "[omnipotent figure here]"

Why is it that I can't tell someone my religion without them criticizing me? One time a christian tried to prove to me that there was more proof of Jesus existing than Buddha. Not really; The only "scientific" evidence of Jesus existing was an iffy Shroud of Turin and his biblical stories, whilst the Buddha has much more evidence, like how he was a prince of a (probably) existent Indian king, among other things. (The christian also tried to tell me that "we had no church")

Aren't we in a point in history (the 21st century) where people can just accept each other?

I'd like to point out there is more evidence of God's existence but you were probably unaware of it. For example, the tilma with the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe on it. It has lasted in near perfect conditions in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe for 478 years. All other clothes made of similar material kept in the same environment as that within the basilica have lasted for only about 10 years. In 1785, a worker in the basilica accidently spilled nitric acid across the right side of the tilma. Since then, it has not frayed, decayed or suffered any discoloration as it should have. In 1979 Philip C. Callahan, a research biophysicist at the University of Florida studied the tilma and concluded the image could not have been made by human hands. The eyes of Mary also feature corneal reflections, a feat in imaging that was impossible until the modern age. To all who deny the existence of any higher beings of any kind, just look around and you will learn of all the impossible things that happened and still happen in our world.

Yes, or you could just argue that we hold four historical documents that have not given way much more than any other historical document of the time, and so could probably represent a moderately fair assessment that there was a rabbi called Jesus. A slightly easier route to go down than the one marked with the word 'relics'.

Additionally, since this is NSG, and I'm in a foul mood, can I have a source for the claims you make of this particular relic?

[Farnhamia]

It's common knowledge. Seriously. I think your sarcasm detector is busted.

Oh, my bad :/

It's Monday.

[La Mafia Napoletana]

The monopoly on truth that most (monotheistic) religions claim. The more religious one is, the less open-minded they are, usually.

[Corinthina]

Why is it that sometimes, when you tell someone your religion, they act with arrogance and ignorance? When I explain to people my Buddhist views, they always act like what I had said was nonsense and I was an idiot for not believing in "[omnipotent figure here]"

Why is it that I can't tell someone my religion without them criticizing me? One time a christian tried to prove to me that there was more proof of Jesus existing than Buddha. Not really; The only "scientific" evidence of Jesus existing was an iffy Shroud of Turin and his biblical stories, whilst the Buddha has much more evidence, like how he was a prince of a (probably) existent Indian king, among other things. (The christian also tried to tell me that "we had no church")

Aren't we in a point in history (the 21st century) where people can just accept each other?

I don't argue with your all-encompassing views. I too share these views.

However... Both Jesus and Buddha existed. Fact. Whether they were the son of God or enlightened beings is the questionable part. Jesus has been publicly acknowledged by a variety of different resources, including Jewish, Arabic and Roman texts. The Romans kept a record of him because he was a pain in their ass. His existence on earth is 100% fact.

[Johz]

It's better than the Greeks and the Norse beliefs, who can't even decide which flag to use, and so pick all of them.

Or even the Hindus who have a flag that you can't understand, and so have to view in the form of the component parts of the flag.

Indeed, the Christians and the Muslims can't even see their flag.

I'm not sure where the flag of Nepal fits in this metaphor.

Interesting extrapolation. I rather think the Muslims and Christians can see their flags; they're wrapped in them. The Jews have a flag but only bring it out on special occasions and in the privacy of their places of worship. Nepal would fit roughly between Mali and Oman.

I would have to disagree with you there. Neither the Christians nor the Muslims can actually see their flag, but both instead occupy their time trying to reconstruct them. I would not disagree that they are still wrapped in flags, but would point out that the flags they wrap themselves in are usually of their own design.

[Liriena]

Many religious people are fear-filled, self-righteous assholes that can't accept the reality that their individual religion, from a purely logical POV, has as many chances of being true as any other.
Why? Maybe because they don't like uncertainty, or maybe just because they are so proud and cowardly they really can't take fair competition, so instead they try to demean other religions.

...and I think that's it.

That being said: I myself am Catholic, but I believe that your belief Buddism is just as valid as my belief in Catholicism (in fact, I recognize that there's a chance that it is your faith that which is true, and not mine) and because of that, you will never see me argue on politics using my own personal religion as an argument, because that would be incredibly fallacious (hear that, my fundamentalist fellow Christians?)

[Mavorpen]

That being said: I myself am Catholic, but I believe that your belief Buddism is just as valid as my belief in Catholicism (in fact, I recognize that there's a chance that it is your faith that which is true, and not mine) and because of that, you will never see me argue on politics using my own personal religion as an argument, because that would be incredibly fallacious (hear that, my fundamentalist fellow Christians?)

I'm... confused. What faith are you talking about in respect to Buddhism? Because Buddha never said the Noble Eightfold Path was the only way to escape suffering. Rather, it's the way he discovered and only with testing and observation should you choose to do follow it.

[Norstal]

Who says a religion has to have a god?

Oxford Dictionary does.

religion Pronunciation: /rɪˈlɪdʒ(ə)n/

Definition of religion
noun
[mass noun]
the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods:
ideas about the relationship between science and religion
[count noun] a particular system of faith and worship:
the world’s great religions
[count noun] a pursuit or interest followed with great devotion:
consumerism is the new religion

No. it's an "or" not an "and".

[Mavorpen]

Oxford Dictionary does.

religion Pronunciation: /rɪˈlɪdʒ(ə)n/

Definition of religion
noun
[mass noun]
the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods:
ideas about the relationship between science and religion
[count noun] a particular system of faith and worship:
the world’s great religions
[count noun] a pursuit or interest followed with great devotion:
consumerism is the new religion

No. it's an "or" not an "and".

Whut?

[Liriena]

That being said: I myself am Catholic, but I believe that your belief Buddism is just as valid as my belief in Catholicism (in fact, I recognize that there's a chance that it is your faith that which is true, and not mine) and because of that, you will never see me argue on politics using my own personal religion as an argument, because that would be incredibly fallacious (hear that, my fundamentalist fellow Christians?)

I'm... confused. What faith are you talking about in respect to Buddhism? Because Buddha never said the Noble Eightfold Path was the only way to escape suffering. Rather, it's the way he discovered and only with testing and observation should you choose to do follow it.

I spoke in more general terms regarding religions.

[Norstal]

No. it's an "or" not an "and".

Whut?

Nevermind, read it wrong.

[Farnhamia]

Whut?

Nevermind, read it wrong.

*makes a note about reading comprehension*

[Lockion]

the internet can be a cruel place, and religious views should be respected, even if you disagree. But not the Cult of Tom Cruise.

[Euronion]

Anyway, Buddhism isn't a real religion, I mean, come on, Buddhists don't even have a god. That's like claiming to be a country when you don't have a flag.

It's better than the Greeks and the Norse beliefs, who can't even decide which flag to use, and so pick all of them.

Or even the Hindus who have a flag that you can't understand, and so have to view in the form of the component parts of the flag.

Indeed, the Christians and the Muslims can't even see their flag.

I'm not sure where the flag of Nepal fits in this metaphor.

YOU DARE QUESTION ODEN! MAY THOR'S HAMMER SMASH YOU! AND HULK'S TOO! (that being said, I wonder how people would react if they made Jesus a Marval super hero)

[Mavorpen]

YOU DARE QUESTION ODEN! MAY THOR'S HAMMER SMASH YOU! AND HULK'S TOO! (that being said, I wonder how people would react if they made Jesus a Marval super hero)

About that...

[Neutraligon]

I'd like to point out there is more evidence of God's existence but you were probably unaware of it. For example, the tilma with the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe on it. It has lasted in near perfect conditions in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe for 478 years. All other clothes made of similar material kept in the same environment as that within the basilica have lasted for only about 10 years. In 1785, a worker in the basilica accidently spilled nitric acid across the right side of the tilma. Since then, it has not frayed, decayed or suffered any discoloration as it should have. In 1979 Philip C. Callahan, a research biophysicist at the University of Florida studied the tilma and concluded the image could not have been made by human hands. The eyes of Mary also feature corneal reflections, a feat in imaging that was impossible until the modern age. To all who deny the existence of any higher beings of any kind, just look around and you will learn of all the impossible things that happened and still happen in our world.

Yes, or you could just argue that we hold four historical documents that have not given way much more than any other historical document of the time, and so could probably represent a moderately fair assessment that there was a rabbi called Jesus. A slightly easier route to go down than the one marked with the word 'relics'.

Additionally, since this is NSG, and I'm in a foul mood, can I have a source for the claims you make of this particular relic?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Guadalupe
Seems much of the information is unsourced.

[Farnhamia]

the internet can be a cruel place, and religious views should be respected, even if you disagree. But not the Cult of Tom Cruise.

I respect the right of people to hold religious views but I feel no obligation whatsoever to respect the views themselves. That's absurd.

[Mavorpen]

the internet can be a cruel place, and religious views should be respected, even if you disagree. But not the Cult of Tom Cruise.

All religions are cults, so I'm not sure why we should respect them more than the new religions that are considered cults.

[Occupied Deutschland]

YOU DARE QUESTION ODEN! MAY THOR'S HAMMER SMASH YOU! AND HULK'S TOO! (that being said, I wonder how people would react if they made Jesus a Marval super hero)

About that...

I always preferred a Jesus who took action to combat evil more directly.

[Mavorpen]

About that...

I always preferred a Jesus who took action to combat evil more directly.

My personal favorite.