All Comments (43)

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JJ:

"Att: P A G A N, et al,;

"Please change your name to 'SAGAN' or ???, but no more Pagan! Ya? Ya!"

That would be an honor, but a misplaced one, in my case. I doubt he'd think much of my mystical life, but I have few heroes in this world, and he's one of them. His books taught me how to think, and the way he looked at the stars taught me real ...reverence.

" Reasonable not hateful:"

(If you have to claim that, are you protesting too much? :) )

Pagan-

"Really what this comes down to is that True Christianity and Buddhism are not compatible."

How very sad for you.

"You seem to think Canyon has not compassion but it is not Canyon that needs to have compassion- but God- and He has already done everything that can be done to save you and all of humanity from the sin that is ingrained in all of us."

Odd question, but, *what if it worked?*

I mean, did your dude save us from this 'sin' of yours or *not?* Seems to me you don't believe he saved me from this thing you say exists, cause I'm supposed to beg to be saved from it by the guy who supposedly already saved me from himself by sacrificing himself to himself..

"It is more like- God hands you His free gift, but you seem to think that there are strings attached if it is the truth, and you don't want it cause it is "PC" to have many paths to God, even if those other paths actually lead to destruction."

Ah. So you think... that if people keep trying to beat the crap out of you in the name of a 'Free Gift' that 'saved you from 'sin,'' ...except that you must forever be *enslaved to the idea that you must forever yet remain a 'sinner,' cause some humans say so...

That... say, I meet the Gods and live a life that isn't *based* on that kind of abuse...

That obviously, I'm just being 'PC?'

Is that a strong argument in your world?

Sorry. There's... kind of a world out here.

People live in it. Really.

" The whole thing comes to Jesus- who was he and what did he REALLY claim to be - Christianity claims that He came and provided you the only real connection to God."

Which is real because you say it's 'The only,' ?

Is that your definition of 'real?'

Like, if you convinced me in my mind of that, would that be 'real,' or just 'acceptable to you?'

"So don't talk about compassion if you reject the God of the universe out of hand. Just admit that you don't think it is the truth walk away."

Compassion is as compassion does.

Or at least *actually fricking feels,* dude.

I think what bothers you is that *I didn't walk away.* I walked in the *world.*

Still do.

If you want to say advocating torture and slavery in the name of 'Compassion' entitles Canyon to call *Buddhists* hypocrites for putting on a ceremony once in a while... is really compassionate, then, no, I won't 'walk away.'

All I walked away from is people like *you,* dig?

Whatever you're walking away from and squalling about it being 'Reasonable and not hateful,'

Well, that's between you and the world, ennit?

"You protest too much and it leads me to believe you suspect Jesus really is the way, the truth, and the life."

How convenient for you.

Yet, if you think I 'Protest too much,'

I ask.. How much protesting does it *take* before you stop dismissing what's going on in the world as 'PC?'

When you sanctimonious types start halfway acting your hype instead of spending all your time *advertising by marginalizing others,* well, *then,*

Maybe *then* I'll have protested enough.

While you're talking like that, though.

Clearly something ain't gotten across.

If your Jesus ends up willing to save me from the *extremely* remote possibility people like you are *right about the universe in the face of all evidence,* then, OK.

Ain't my world, though.

Im my world, you're messing with my people, screwing up my country and my planet, supporting profiteers, telling me I'm a lesser human being, and claiming you're divinely-guided when you *even screw up the warmongering.*

I'll let you know when I've protested enough, trust me.

Maybe when the stones shout or something, who knows.

Pah. :)

"That is one of the lamest arguments I've ever heard."
But, of course. For the lusting to stay faithful mind all arguments to the contrary of his overbearing confidence are lame.
As I said - you're a waste.

"Science proves daily that this universe from the biggest galaxy to the tiniest cell is fearfully and wonderfully made."
... and destroyed - from galaxies to planets, to humans, embryos and the tiniest cells. Every moment, every day, every millennium. Amen! That's what science proves as it only takes for proof what's visible, detectable, empirical, partial, incomplete, contingent. Science can never prove god nor it is even in its nature to deal with this question. It is philosophy that only has a capacity to seriously address this.
As I said - you're delusional.

"Only the most delusional of fools, or the most God hating individual would say there is no God."

1st. I never said there is no God. I am saying that I KNOW that I don't know that It exists - both rationally and empirically. So I am forced to live as an atheist not because of my faith but because of my knowledge of my ignorance. Neither can you know but you pretend that your personal vulgar loyalty and hunger for god can pass for knowledge. With me and many others like me on this planet you won't have free ride, mister, in your destruction of truth.

2nd. Since there's no god, Christ, Allah, nirvana or omnipresent cosmic force around TO KNOW there is nobody and nothing to hate except stubborn egotistic people like you who are so afraid of death they rather lie all their lives that they "know" otherwise.
That I hate truly.

"It is your duty, nay, your best interest, to find out who that God is before He manifests Himself to you as your judge."
Excuse me. Let me correct you about my duties at al. It is in my best interest to find out what truth is and if god is in its way, too bad for god.
It is a sign of both utter disrespect and looming personal danger that I sense strongly and affirmatively when I hear from a barely conscious, hanging on to life fellow mortal that he personally knows of god to soon arrive and judge my transgressions while he doesn't bother to first make god genuinely true to me with objective precision, certainty and legitimacy.
As I said - your kind is pathetic and dangerous.

Canyon:
The way I understand Buddhism, you're misinterpreting at a phenomenal rate.

**The Beginning - “I am the core of all that exists. I am the seed of all that exists. I am the cause of all that exists. I am the trunk of all that exists. I am the foundation of all that exists. I am the root of existence. I am ‘the core’ because I contain all phenomena. I am ‘the seed’ because I give birth to everything. I am ‘the cause’ because all comes from me. I am ‘the trunk’ because the ramifications of every event sprout from me. I am ‘the foundation’ because all abides in me. I am called ‘the root’ because I am everything.”**

As are all people. "I" didn't refer to Gautama exclusively, but to Gautama as a representative of humanity, and thus to all human beings.

**Omnipotent - "All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become.”**

Again, this is not Gautama speaking only of himself, but of the fact that thoughts do become things.

**Omniscient - "To understand everything is to forgive everything”**

This is a bad thing?

**On Buddha, "He is universal Goodness, beneficial, destroyer [of suffering], the great Lord of Happiness, sky womb, Great Luminosity … the great All-perceiving Lord … He is without beginning or end … [He is] Vishnu [God] … Protector of the world, the sky, the earth … The elements, the good benefactor of beings, All things … the Blessed Rest, Eternal … The Self of all the Buddhas … Pre-eminent over all, and master of the world.”**

Gautama was the first Buddha, not the only Buddha ever. Buddha does not refer to one and only one being, but to the perfection and enlightenment toward which all strive.

**What Hinduism thinks of Buddha:

From the Amarakosha, "He who is the All-knowing One, the One who has Well-gone, awakened, the King of Righteousness, the One who has Thus Gone, Universal Goodness, the Blessed One, the Conqueror of the Demon Mara, the Conqueror of the [Three] Worlds, the Victorious One, the Possessor of the Six Supernatural Knowledges, the Possessor of the Ten Strengths, the Speaker of Non-dualism, the Guide, the Lord of Sages, the Auspicious One, the Teacher, the Sage and the Sage of the Śākya Clan -- that one is the Lion of the Śākya clan, He who has accomplished all goals, the Son of Śuddhodana, Gautama, the Kinsman of Scholars and the Son of Mayadevi."**

Sounds like words of admiration and praise for a teacher who was wise beyond any of his predecessors or contemporaries - nowhere does it call him a deity.

**The Christian God said, "Humble yourself before the Lord, and He shall lift you up."

Buddha said, "You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”**

As a Christian, I heard repeatedly that I didn't deserve the love of the one who had supposedly created me. It made no sense to me then, and it makes none now. Even your Jesus said "Love your neighbor as you love yourself." That means that you have to love yourself before you can love anyone else.

**The Christian God said, "Love Thy Neighbor."
Buddha said, "He who loves 50 people has 50 woes; he who loves no one has no woes.”**

True - if you love none, you have no woes. But Buddhism has an element of Tao to it - if you love none, you also have no joys.

**The Christian God said, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."

Buddha said, "The whole secret of existence is to have no fear. Never fear what will become of you, depend on no one. Only the moment you reject all help are you freed.”**

Who wants to live in a state of fear? "Love" or "worship" that is born of fear is not real love or real worship - it's oppression. Thanks, but I'll pass on that.

**I have met several 'enlightened' Buddhists, and they have the HIGHEST opinion of themselves out of anyone I have ever met, even 'atheists', their robes are lavish and showy.**

Looked at any Christian vestements lately? And pray tell, what do atheist robes look like?

**In the end, Buddha and his followers seek to alleviate suffering by avoiding it.**

And what intelligent person doesn't seek to avoid suffering? I certainly don't seek out pain for the sake of pain.

**Christ confronted suffering, bore it upon Himself, and alleviated suffering.**

Really? So all those hungry, homeless, sick people are just figments of my imagination? What a relief.

**True Buddhist's who are after enlightenment should be following Christ, not Buddha.**

Where to begin with the oxymoronic nature of that statement?

Indie,

That is one of the lamest arguments I've ever heard. Science proves daily that this universe from the biggest galaxy to the tiniest cell is fearfully and wonderfully made. Only the most delusional of fools, or the most God hating individual would say there is no God.

It is your duty, nay, your best interest, to find out who that God is before He manifests Himself to you as your judge.

Canyon,
You "know the beginning, the middle and the end"? What a delusional pompous mind you've carved for yourself in these short years of your pathetic life! Complete waste.
How do you know God exist? 'Cause you read the book? And how do you know the book tells the truth? 'Cause it's reasonable that God exists? And why is it reasonable? "Cause it doesn't contradict your desire that there should be the first cause? And how is your thinking that there must be first cause actually connecting you to one but through faith that you're connected? Then what's it worth if it is based on itself, on - I believe!? Pathetic!

CCNotL,

You're one to talk...

Wow, talk about bible and koran thumpers!!!

Cures are available for these sufferers of the Three B's i.e. Bred, Born, and Brainwashed in orthodox, old time religions. The cures, Common Sense, History, Archeology and Reality!!!!!

Thinkaboutit...

Those are the dumbest questions I've ever read.

What causes death? What causes dementia? Are you smart enough to say that 100% of the time it is purely medical? Natural science has NO idea in the least why death happens.

Your second question doesn't bear consideration, it is totally nonsensical.

Benny Hinn is one of your antichrists, to name one.

Imitation is the greatest form of flattery.

The Synoptic problem is not a problem unless you hate God and want to make up reasons to ignore Him.

Learn something. 1 Corinthians was not Paul's first letter. His first letter, Galatians, has a miracle in it in the first chapter.

You obviously know nothing of Rome. Look up the persecution of the first century, Christianity was at the forefront of Rome's goals to stop.

Dumb questions...all...repent of this thy wickedness...

Repeat (and fixed typos -- Ok I don't have to be inerrent on typos -- that should be what we see from you with your divine assistance, right?)

TO: GABRIEL SALGUERO: Great post. If more Christians were like you, there would be fewer atheists and agnostics.

TO: CANYON SHEARER: It is because of people like you, that some atheists are becoming more hostile to Christianity (i.e. It is not the religion – it is its hateful adherents like you!)

Also for Mr. Shearer:
I do not oppose anyone who wants to "hope" there is some intelligence out there. But it is intellectually dishonest to "pretend" one has all the answers …

Got some for us here?

• Why is it that all of Jesus “cures” of the insane in the NT entailed casting out demons?? I’m sure you see it as no coincidence that the ancient world believed demons were the “cause” of madness during ancient times (only the Greeks hypothesized madness might have a “natural” cause.)

• If Jesus was an all-powerful being, why did he not have foreknowledge that John the Baptist was killed?(someone had to tell him), that a fig tree was bare? (he had to walk up and SEE it)… that everyone in his generation WOULD die before seeing a “Second Coming” ?? (oh well, guess all powerful beings make mistakes too, no?)

• Why did Jesus have to warn his followers about the LARGE number of other miracle workers they saw working the same back woods of Palestine? Answer: They performed the exact same miracles (casting out demons etc) so it was explained they got their powers from satan/demons.Canyon: If you profess this is true, where are those evil miracle workers today – the televangelists?

• Why are there so many similarities between Jesus and the ancient Greek mystery religions (such as the god, Mithra), the latter which were hundreds of years older than when Jesus was born. Mithra was a member of a Trinity, was killed by authorities after not accepting his teachings, was resurrected to heaven after 3 days, and his followers engaged in baptisms to purify themselves in preparation for going to heaven themselves when they died. Many of the traditions and trappings of the Catholic Church came from Mithraism. Anyone wonder where Christmas really came from?

• Why are there so many discrepancies between the four gospels --that cannot be resolved by simplistically saying ALL the events in them happened) Ask me for examples. It will be a long list.

• Why did the earliest New Testament writings (Paul's letters) state in Corinthians that Paul was not aware of any miracles ever performed by Jesus (giving evidence by scholars that some miracles were added on by later Christian author— Note. This is exactly what happened in other religions that proclaim miracles. Ex. It was only latter that stories surrounding the historical Buddha proclaimed him him a godlike/divinelike being in legends.

• Why is it that the first Roman reference of Christianity was over a century later and the author referred to it as just “another superstition that found itself in the streets of Rome (one of many for the ignorant masses.)

If you want to stress Jesus’ moral teachings and love, that is one thing Canyan. It’ll keep people like me quiet and respectful. Until you have some answers to the above, I would recommend you try and hide your disdain and hatred, else we will expose you for the superstitious fool you are.

"If God has spoken, why is the universe not convinced?" -- Percy Bysshe Shelley

TO CANYON SHEARER:

I am special, do you know why?

Sincerely, Thomas Paul Moses Baum.

TO: GABRIEL SALGUERO: Great post. If more Christians were like you, there would be fewer atheists and agnostics.

TO: CANYON SHEARER: : It is because of people like you, that atheists are becoming more hostile to Christianity (i.e. It is not the religion – it is its hateful adherents!)

Also for Mr. Shearer:
I do not oppose anyone who wants to "hope" there is some intelligence out there. But it is intellectually dishonest to "pretend" one has all the answers …

Got some for us here?

• Why is it that all of Jesus “cures” of the insane in the NT entailed casting out demons?? I’m sure you see it as no coincidence that the ancient world believed demons were the “cause” of madness during ancient times (only the Greeks hypothesized madness might have a “natural” cause.)

• If Jesus was an all-powerful being, why did he not have foreknowledge that John the Baptist was killed?(someone had to tell him), that a fig tree was bare? (he had to walk up and SEE it)… that everyone in his generation WOULD die before seeing a “Second Coming” ?? (oh well, guess all powerful beings make mistakes too, no?)

• Why did Jesus have to warn his following that the LARGE number of other miracle workers they saw working the same back woods of Palestine? They performed the exact same miracles (casting out demons etc) so it was explained they got their powers from satan/demons. If you profess this is true, where are those evil miracle workers today – the televangelists?

• Why are there so many similarities between Jesus and the ancient Greek mystery religions (such as the god, Mithra), the latter which were much older than Jesus. Mithra was a member of a Trinity, was killed by authorities after not accepting his teachings, was resurrected to heaven after 3 days, and his followers engaged in baptisms to purify themselves in preparation for going to heaven themselves when they died. Many of the traditions and trappings of the Catholic Church came from Mithraism. Anyone wonder where Christmas really came from?

• Why are there so many discrepancies between the four gospels --that cannot be resolved by simplistically saying ALL the events in them happened) Ask me for examples. It will be a long list.

• Why did the earliest New Testament writing (Paul to the Corinthians) state that Paul was not aware of any miracles being performed by Jesus (giving evidence by scholars that some miracles were added on by later Christian author— Note. This is exactly what happened in other religions that proclaim miracles. Ex. It was only latter that stories surrounding the historical Buddha made him a godlike/divinelike being.

• Why is it that the first Roman reference of Christianity was over a century later and the author referred to it as just “another superstition that found itself in the streets of Rome (one of many for the ignorant masses.)

If you want to stress Jesus’ moral teachings and love, that is one thing Mr. Shearer. It’ll keep people like me quiet and respectful. Until you have some answers to the above, I would recommend you try and hide your disdain and hatred, else we will expose you for the superstitious fool you are.

"If God has spoken, why is the universe not convinced?" -- Percy Bysshe Shelley

thank you ......you have said a lot that is undeniably true.... that is the base in my opinion all good is built upon.
it seemes counter intuative but even somthing that a person is not proud of but something that is factual can and has many times through history been the underlying bedrock of much that turned out to be good. i think people need to understand the truth of a matter never changes... it can't if it is the truth it is true all the time ....in all instances... and if it is not true in any of it's manifistations t.....then it simply is not the truth.
i think it is true also in my experience that the same truth can be seen very differently by different people who were experiencing very different consequinces of the same reality. in art ....and i am an artist this is called perspective... to know that a painting was meant 2 represent a particular place and space and there by view of the world. what i acnowledge as an artist is that there are countless different places to look at the same scene....

.....and so is life eye think

Pagan-

Really what this comes down to is that True Christianity and Buddhism are not compatible. You seem to think Canyon has not compassion but it is not Canyon that needs to have compassion- but God- and He has already done everything that can be done to save you and all of humanity from the sin that is ingrained in all of us. It is more like- God hands you His free gift, but you seem to think that there are strings attached if it is the truth, and you don't want it cause it is "PC" to have many paths to God, even if those other paths actually lead to destruction. The whole thing comes to Jesus- who was he and what did he REALLY claim to be - Christianity claims that He came and provided you the only real connection to God.

So don't talk about compassion if you reject the God of the universe out of hand. Just admit that you don't think it is the truth walk away.

You protest too much and it leads me to believe you suspect Jesus really is the way, the truth, and the life.

Sidebar: It got ingrained in me a while, too, being raised to it, but, turning your Gods' names into curse words seems to actually be a Christian kink that's not really an issue to other people, possibly precisely because you have a commandment against it and are taught to see pain that way, or something.

You hit yourself with a hammer, you try and send the hammer to your Hell.

Does not improve the carpentry.

So happens I hurt a lot: you'd hear a lot of 'Oh, Gods,' or 'Oh, Goddess,' if you were to hang out with me on a strenuous day, but it's no kind of 'taking names in vain' or curses.

It's just like, 'Goddess, that hurts.' Not about cursing anyone or anything, just maybe remembering the pain ain't *you.*

Might go so far as to say whatever you guys mean when you say *G-- damn it* is supposed to be forbidden for you cause you're not supposed to have that very kind of sadomasochistic relationship with your Gods that you here insist is the order of the universe.

Even if you didn't pay enough attention to your 'hammer.'

*with a little laugh as the Andrews Sisters come up on this machine I'm talking to you with.*

Besides, Canyon.

You forget I'm not the one that's afraid of your sadistic threats about an eternal afterlife.

You are.

So happens I know better.

If you're so sure you know about 'my hedonism,' you-who-thinks-himself-vicariously-mighty...

Well. *chuckle.* If I were a 'hedonist' I surely wouldn't be spending my time here talking to *you,* would I?

You, on the other hand, seem to be getting off on something, 'Christian,' ...I wonder what it could be, apart from the obvious delight you take in the idea of others suffering.

No one screams 'Siddhartha!' when they hit themselves with a hammer, cause he has nothing to do with self-abuse in the first place.

I see no room for goodness and compassion in your world, Canyon.

Only 'evildoers' and those who would become monsters 'punishing' those who they like to accuse of it.

May you learn better.

Paganplace...

Which one of the 4.6 Billion versions of the coloring-book religion of Buddhism do you want me to look at? It's a ridiculous me-centered religion that shouldn't be called Buddhism, it should be called, "I-wanna-be-Godism..."

Might be a good religion for you, it matches your hedonism quite well. The problem is that Buddha is not in any position to mediate for you. He is in Hell for rejecting reality and positing himself as God, an idolater who ignored his conscience. No-one screams, "Sidartha!" when they hit their finger with a hammer, because he's already cursed and there is no reason to proclaim our hatred for him because he's already cursed.

Repent, lest ye likewise perish.

Athena,

You're certainly right, a person can be a follower of Jesus Christ and a Buddhist, Muslim, or anything. They're going to knock on the door of Heaven and Christ is going to say, "Depart from me, you worker of iniquity, I never knew you."

Canyon Shearer,

Have you heard of the Buddhist legend of the Great Teacher named Issa, whom many people claim was Jesus? There is some historical research that indicates that a great spiritual healer and teacher traveled to India about the time that Jesus was alive. So, in theory, you're wrong about Buddhists "rejecting Jesus". One can be a Christian, Jewish, or Moslem and still be a Buddhist.

In a world torn by religious, ethnic and geopolitical conflict, what can we be thankful for this Thanksgiving?
Aside from its earliest days when has this world not been ravaged by these conflicts?
All that distinguishes us from our ancestors is the lethal efficiency with which we prosecute such conflicts today.

Of course I am thankful for family, health, a daily portion, and for the capacity to extend a helping hand to one in need. Yet in this late autumn season what warms me through is knowing that God alone will judge me from my beginning to my end, for this I am grateful. Grateful in the sense that no human or created entity will pass judgment on one another.

On that note Canyon Shearer
You know the Gospel is good news. It also cautions us against judging others. We the created judge each other by external evidence that is seen, and heard. The Creator goes inside to the heart, He sees what is not seen, hears what is never uttered.
You know the measure we use on others will be applied to us as well. Speaking from experience, this experience itself is all in one quite humbling and edifying.

When Jesus walked on earth the Samaritans worshipped on another mountain and were hated by the Jews for their paganism. Luke 9:51-56 reveals how the offended disciples reacted to these people, contrasted by how Jesus dealt with both the Disciples and the Samaritans. Jesus also examined a Priest, a temple worker, and a Samaritan in The Parable of the Good Samaritan in Ch.10.

You know Christ shows the way, and that Gods ways are not our ways, His thoughts are not like ours. The Holy Spirits work is to convict, not even He condemns. Just run the race Canyon Shearer.
Sincerely

Tell you one thing, Moody, seeing we have someone *else* joining the ranks of the hate-filled ranters.

You wanna know why:

"-Why kids are molested in there dark churches and convents by there priests. TURNED INTO MILLIONS OF GAYS OR ETHEIST, I GUESS BETTER CHOICE FOR THEM!"

Cause too many people believe that to report molestation and other abuse by priests makes one gay or atheist, and thus just turn around and ostracise the victims. The churches stigmatize and dehumanize and demonize people with natural homosexual feelings, and tell them the way to deal with it is to confide in clergy, who then have a ready supply of isolated, shamed, and silent victims to exert their desire for power over.

Of course no one wants to believe you're 'gay' till they want to use it against you by claiming that 'gay' priests are a gay thing that made you choose to be gay.

It's a perfectly vicious circle. The victims needn't even be gay, just afraid to be *treated* as such, because gays are treated so badly, in part because of the very 'logic' you spout.

Muslim countries don't do so well on this kind of issue, either.

Why there's other kinds of abuse so endemic to *both* Christian and Muslim societies is cause *both* tend to repress honest sexuality and turn it to things about anger and sin and shame and control and fear.

So I wouldn't talk. From what I hear, there's little difference on this kind of thing.

And, frankly, Canyon, you haven't got a leg to stand on claiming Buddhists have 'lavish robes,' or even, 'don't confront suffering.'

As a matter of fact, if you've ever actually *worked with* Buddhist monks, the non-attachment parts are often seen as for the very *purpose* of practicing compassion without being wound up in suffering and ...being unable to help.

There are a lot of schools of thought on this, to be honest. Don't personally agree with all of it, certainly not for all lifetimes and purposes.

But it's better than what you do, I think, trying to *inflict* suffering in order to 'bring people to God,' as you say.

I don't know how you can advocate torture in the name of your Christ one week, and be claiming moral superiority by defaming Buddhists for insufficient compassion, the next.

What the Buddha is said to say there isn't taken the same way Christians read what Jesus says about himself, to be honest.

I think your Jesus actually makes a lot more sense if you read from a Buddhist perspective than a sacrifice-based one: in fact, I think you'd stand a better chance of one day understanding your own prophet, if you learned about Buddhism on its *own* terms.

Just for starters,

You don't see Buddhists running around yelling "Lord Buddha is your LORD!"

Might wanna look at how they work that.

Norrie, (forgive my previous error in title!)

You can pretend that Buddha didn't think he was a god or that his followers don't godize him, but you're only fooling yourself.

From Buddha:

The Beginning - “I am the core of all that exists. I am the seed of all that exists. I am the cause of all that exists. I am the trunk of all that exists. I am the foundation of all that exists. I am the root of existence. I am ‘the core’ because I contain all phenomena. I am ‘the seed’ because I give birth to everything. I am ‘the cause’ because all comes from me. I am ‘the trunk’ because the ramifications of every event sprout from me. I am ‘the foundation’ because all abides in me. I am called ‘the root’ because I am everything.”

Omnipotent - "All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become.”

Omniscient - "To understand everything is to forgive everything”

From the oral tradition of Buddha, aka Pali Canon:

Monk's question, "...but I ask you where the four elements cease and leave no trace.” Then the Great Brahma took him by the arm and led him aside and said, “These gods think I know and understand everything. Therefore I gave no answer in their presence. But I do not know the answer to your question and you had better go and ask the Buddha.”

Buddha is referred to as, "Master of the Dharma, the Sage who is completely perfect, who is all-pervasive, who encompasses all world systems, who is All-Knowing, the Lord Vairocana."

On Buddha, "He is universal Goodness, beneficial, destroyer [of suffering], the great Lord of Happiness, sky womb, Great Luminosity … the great All-perceiving Lord … He is without beginning or end … [He is] Vishnu [God] … Protector of the world, the sky, the earth … The elements, the good benefactor of beings, All things … the Blessed Rest, Eternal … The Self of all the Buddhas … Pre-eminent over all, and master of the world.”

What Hinduism thinks of Buddha:

From the Amarakosha, "He who is the All-knowing One, the One who has Well-gone, awakened, the King of Righteousness, the One who has Thus Gone, Universal Goodness, the Blessed One, the Conqueror of the Demon Mara, the Conqueror of the [Three] Worlds, the Victorious One, the Possessor of the Six Supernatural Knowledges, the Possessor of the Ten Strengths, the Speaker of Non-dualism, the Guide, the Lord of Sages, the Auspicious One, the Teacher, the Sage and the Sage of the Śākya Clan -- that one is the Lion of the Śākya clan, He who has accomplished all goals, the Son of Śuddhodana, Gautama, the Kinsman of Scholars and the Son of Mayadevi."

The Christian God said, "Humble yourself before the Lord, and He shall lift you up."

Buddha said, "You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”

The Christian God said, "Love Thy Neighbor."
Buddha said, "He who loves 50 people has 50 woes; he who loves no one has no woes.”

The Christian God said, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."

Buddha said, "The whole secret of existence is to have no fear. Never fear what will become of you, depend on no one. Only the moment you reject all help are you freed.”

I have met several 'enlightened' Buddhists, and they have the HIGHEST opinion of themselves out of anyone I have ever met, even 'atheists', their robes are lavish and showy. Just as the Pharisee's in Christ's day lost Heaven because they sought after it with legalism and flare, the Buddhist loses enlightenment at the moment he thinks he finds it.

In the end, Buddha and his followers seek to alleviate suffering by avoiding it.

Christ confronted suffering, bore it upon Himself, and alleviated suffering.

Christ said, "Come unto me, all ye that are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

True Buddhist's who are after enlightenment should be following Christ, not Buddha.

Lepidopterix,

You're right in what you said about Buddhism.

Canyon,

1. Buddhists don't believe in a god. They believe that Gautama was a person, like you and me, who became enlightened.

2. The Buddha was not a "pretend god man" and Buddhists don't worship him.

3. You say that "coveting Nirvana" is a sin. Buddhists don't "covet Nirvana, they seek enlightenment. But if they did, is that more sinful than wanting to get to the Christian heaven?

4."The Buddhist falls into these categories stunningly well. And they will pay their fine in Hell, because they have pridefully rejected the only God-man that was perfectly sinless, fulfilled all of the laws and rules, and yet offered Himself up to die in their place."

Those Buddhists who never heard of Jesus "pridefully rejected" him? And so will go to Hell? Nice Jesus, nice universe. The Buddha taught compassion.

5. Buddhism is not Paganism by anyone's definition.

A Merry Christmas to you, too, Canyon. I hope your celebration is as happy as ours.

GAK - not enough coffee yet. That should read "...one man...sins of all people...."

CANYON:

I'm not Buddhist, but a Pagan with Buddhist friends, and the way I understand it (Norrie, please correct me if I am wrong), Buddhists don't view Gautama as a deity, but as a wise teacher, and everyone has the potential to become a Buddha. Some people who have attained Buddhahood postpone their entry (if that's the right word) into Nirvana in order to remain in this realm to teach others amd serve humanity. I think these teachers are referred to as Boddhisatvas. the Buddha is not worshipped by Buddhists any more than Galileo is worshipped by astronomers.
I read somewhere that when he was asked, "Are you a God?" Siddhartha Gautama responded "No." When askd "What are you then?" he replied "I am awake." That makes much more sense to me than ine man being tortured to death for the sons of all people past, present, and future.

I always wondered why every passing day west is going shamelessly promiscuous, vulgar, obscene, abhorrent to morality or virtue and repulsive by reason of crass disregard of moral or ethical principles. OTHER THEN RUTHLESSLY VIOLENT AND BARBARIC TO OTHER RELIGIONS AND RACES!!

-Why kids are molested in there dark churches and convents by there priests. TURNED INTO MILLIONS OF GAYS OR ETHEIST, I GUESS BETTER CHOICE FOR THEM!
- Why children are molested by there parents (mostly adopted not blood related) in your society?
- Why every second women is raped in your society? Alone in USA more than 2730 women raped every single day.
-Why teenage girls pregnancy is out of control in your society?
-Why kids are not properly raised by there parents and why old parents are not been taken care by there kids in your society?
-Why your society is so violent and crime rate is so high in its civic fabric?

FIRST I WAS SHOCKED, IMMEDIATELY AFTER READING BIBLE REALIZING THAT ALL MY EYES GET WET, I PRAYED AND THANKED GOD AND ASKED FOR HIS MERCY AND FORGIVENESS, THAT HE SAVED ME FROM THE CURSE OF TWISTED LIES…….AS ALL THE ACTUAL VIRTOUS VERSIONS, ALL THAT WE MUSLIMS KNOW AND MOSTLY NOT AWARE OF THE WAY VULGORLY THOSE HISTORY STORIES ARE TWISTED IN THE BIBLE.

I READ YOUR BIBLE AND CAME TO REALIZE WHAT KIND OF TWISTED VOLGUR ATRIBUTES YOU HAVE ATTACHED TO YOUR PROPHETS AND TO YOUR LORD GOD. YOU HAVEN’T LEFT ANYONE, FATHER TO DAUGHER, SON TO MOTHER, GOD TO SARAH, THERE BASTERED OFF SPRINGS. HAVE YOU LEFT ANYBODY THERE?????
AND THAT IS THE CURSE IN REALITY WHICH IS REFLECTING UPON YOUR WHOLE SOCIETY, BELIEVE IT OR NOT!!!!!!!

VERY FEW EXAMPLE OUT OF THE BIBLE……..

PROPHET LOT AND HIS DAUGHTERS (YOUR BIBLE TELLS SLEEPING TOGATHER AND HAVING CHILDREN)

30 Lot and his two daughters left Zoar and settled in the mountains, for he was afraid to stay in Zoar. He and his two daughters lived in a cave. 31 One day the older daughter said to the younger, "Our father is old, and there is no man around here to lie with us, as is the custom all over the earth. 32 Let's get our father to drink wine and then lie with him and preserve our family line through our father."
33 That night they got their father to drink wine, and the older daughter went in and lay with him. He was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up.
34 The next day the older daughter said to the younger, "Last night I lay with my father. Let's get him to drink wine again tonight, and you go in and lie with him so we can preserve our family line through our father." 35 So they got their father to drink wine that night also, and the younger daughter went and lay with him. Again he was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up.
36 So both of Lot's daughters became pregnant by their father

PROPHETS SON SLEEPING WITH HER MOTHER YOUR BIBLE TELLS-GENESIS 35

21 Israel moved on again and pitched his tent beyond Migdal Eder. 22 While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father's concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard of it.
Jacob had twelve sons:

PROPHET ABRAHAM MARRIED HER REAL SISTER ACCORDING TO YOUR BIBLE

11 Abraham replied, "I said to myself, 'There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.' 12 Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not of my mother; and she became my wife.

THE BIRTH OF ISAAC (LORD DID FOR SARAH, WHAT HAD PROMISED) ACCORDING TO YOUR BIBLE IT WAS NOT ABRAHAM
Genesis 21 (New International Version)

1 Now the LORD was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what he had promised. 2 Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him.

Now I clearly understand that why our Quran tells that Bible or any other devine book is not in its orignal form and are all tanted by the evil doers. And that why we do not believe or follow them, though we do believe in all devine books including bible revealed in their original form but do not exist. AND WE ALSO BELIEVE IN ALL THE PROPHETS INCLUDING JESUS CHRIST AND OUR QURAN REJECTS ALL KIND OF VOLGARITIES ATTRIBUTED TO THEM OR TO OUR GOD. AND EXPLAINS AND TELL STORIES ABOUT HOW VIRTUOUS THEY WERE IN REALITY!!!!!

CORRECTION.........

Deb & Dave,

Since you forget history and prefer not to discuss your religion (???) let me enlighten you:

- When Prophet(PBUH) finally entered Mecca with the his army, not a single person was killed. And he gave amnesty to every one INCLUDING HIS WORST ENEMIES, people who for 13 years keep on killing his family, his diciples, newly reverted muslims, tried to kill him so many time, who tourtered and butchered muslims through out his life, with the trail of all previous wars raged by them upon muslims.

- In 13-14 centurey, christian crusaders took Jerusalum by force and ruled over it with IRON FIST for 100 years, not allowing muslims to practice there religion and extreme oppression. But when Sultan Salahudin Ayubi took it back, he gave unconditional pardon to all the Christians and Jews, following his Prophets(PBUH) foot steps. And since then all religions were practiced there with out any operation until ISRAEL came into Being.

-Israelis (Jews) forgot that when the Europion Crusadors throwed them out of from ALL Europe. The only place they got emnsty, peace and lived freely for more than 800 years in Spain with Muslims under there rule. Finally after that they are thrown out once again into Palestine.

-And you Hindus forgot that you are ruled by your own race converted Muslims for more than 1000 years. And as per your Indian records, audio / visual documentories and movies, which until now tells and aploud about the justice of Muslim rules. IF we would have to convert you Hindus by sword, there was no Hindu left after 1000 year of muslim rule. Look around the comparative world history of Crusadors, colonists or other nations.

- I don't want to go into details way Indian muslims ruled instead of hindus there. All the reason hidden deep with in your religious discrimination to the very extend of killing each other, burning women alive, as per sacred religion still eating cow dung and pee and so many other rediclous hate mongering practices...so and so...even today India is the only country where women are less in number, every day more than 3000 female fetuses are aborted there. And continuous genocides of different religious races including there own are still going on under Hindu rule.

Note : Muslims in reality never wanted to divide India. You can read my post in this regard in " Islam and Voilence" dated Nov 04, 2007 with the topics.
- India / Pakistan History before Partition
- Pakistan history Politics after Partition.

And why muslims killing muslims. The answer is in very recent example:
Before American Invasion, Sunni Iraqi Tyrant leadership to please its master USA was in war with Shia Iran for more than 8 years. But there was no sign of civil war between sunni and shia Iraqi's, further more any kind of security forces killing and public bomb blasts on such every day mass scale level. It is USA who ploted TWIN TOWERS and by every means fueling the muslim riots among the muslims AND KEEPING THE FUEL!!!!!! EXACTLY THE WAY COLONIST DID IN THERE 300 YEAR ERA. IT IS NOT SOME THING NEW……..BLOODY DIVID AND RULE CRUELITY WITH RUTHLESNESS.
AND SAME IS THE BRITISH AND FRENCH LAST 300 YEAR COLONIAL HISTORY ON THE MUSLIM LANDS. WHERE ONLY MUSLIMS WERE CRUSHED AND OPPRESSED BARBARICLY. IT IS ALL VERY OPEN ON RECORD AVAILABLE EVERY WHERE. ALL YOU NEED TO JUST SEARCH GOOGLE.

And though suicide is forbidden in Islam. But after almost 60 years long BARBARISM OF ISRAEL AND SILENCE OF HYPOCRATE WEST, the hopeless tormented muslims (now in many different regions starting from Palestine) are committing that forbidden sin, giving up hope in extreme frustration from there present state of destroyed life by every means. THANKS TO THE BEASTS BECOME MONSTORS………..

Of course Buddhists believe in a god. It depends on which flavor of this coloring-book religion you believe is the true one. But the big problem is that all Buddhists are wrong.

On the day of their death they will stand before God. He will check to see if they've ever told a lie, if they've worshipped a pretend god-man who rehashed Hinduism, if they've coveted nirvana, if they've ever downloaded any music without paying, or stolen any other thing, they'll be checked against adultery, lust, murder, hatred.

All adulterers, fornicators, murderers, idolaters, and liars will have their place in the lake of fire.

The Buddhist falls into these categories stunningly well. And they will pay their fine in Hell, because they have pridefully rejected the only God-man that was perfectly sinless, fulfilled all of the laws and rules, and yet offered Himself up to die in their place.

You don't have to agree with me that this is right, but you do at least have to finally open your eyes and see why Christianity is different than your paganism.

Merry Christmas,
Canyon

Canyon,

Do you, like the 17-year cicadas, regularly return at Thanksgiving?

If so, is there anything we can do to alter your body clock, so that, like the cicadas, we see you only every 17 years instead of annually?

You wrote:

"Islam, Buddhism, and Judaism are all valid ways to God..."

Come now, Canyon, you know better than that.

Buddhism doesn't postulate a god and Buddhists don't believe in one.

Happy holidays to you.

Rev. Mr. Salguero,

"Why am I hopeful...?", you wrote.

I'm with T.S. Eliot:

"I said to my soul, be still, and wait without hope
For hope would be hope for the wrong thing; wait without love
For love would be love of the wrong thing; there is yet faith
but the faith and the love and the hope are all in the waiting.
Wait without thought, for you are not ready for thought:
So the darkness shall be the light and the stillness, the dancing."

Four Quartets

Well, I'm not sure what you think you're accusing me of, Canyon, but I'm sure it's very interesting for you.

We aim to please. :)

Paganplace,

I always enjoy receiving correspondence from you, it allows me to find out what I actually believe.

Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin.

You know, Canyon, seeing as how you represent a strain of Christianity that seems to consider it a 'Great Disappointment' when the world *fails to end,* (And isn't it *always* ending for you guys,)

..You seem to be the one bent on there being 'one world religion with political control in the name of Jesus' ...but actually doing the opposite of what he *said* to do.

I see in your lot a very case-study in the self-fulfilling prophecy. You've become what you fear.

Thomas,

You failed the litmust test years ago. You are not a Christian, we all know that.

Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God.

Canyon

TO CANYON SHEARER:

You wrote, "but whom loved them enough that He died on the cross in their stead.", well that is true. Why then , may I ask, don't you believe it?

God wins, satan loses, a tie is unacceptable.

Sincerely, Thomas Paul Moses Baum.

DZ,

Thanks for reading.

Repent and Believe, the kingdom of God is at hand. :)

Canyon

Canyon:

Even for you, that is one of the most hate-filled posts you've ever made. Even we unbelievers know intellectually that all Christians are not like you, it is precisely this kind of bigotry that gives rise to our distrust of Christians.

A litmus test for Christians to see who reads their Bible and who doesn't, is whether they welcome or abhor ecumenical relations with heathen religions. Islam, Buddhism, and Judaism are all valid ways to God, but they'll only get you to God long enough to be judged and then thrown into the Lake of Fire...not for picking the wrong religion, but for a lifetime of transgression against a holy God.

Supposing we are near enough to the apocolypse, we will see a great push for ecumenical relations, a one-world religion based around a one-world leader who looks suspiciously like satan manifest as a human being.

In this world of chaos, strife, and death, I am thankful that I know the beginning, the middle, and the end, and that I have been commissioned and commanded to introduce a few more to a God whom they hate, but whom loved them enough that He died on the cross in their stead. So that despite their lifetime of transgression, they can be forgiven if they'll repent and place their full trust in Jesus Christ to save them.