Deism

Having that said, even His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama has already said that the re-incarnation of one soul can happen in more than 1 person.

Considering that I dont believe in absolute truth, nothing is a fact. I dont take it as a fact, I take it as a possibility, an observation, and I choose to acknowledge it.

I take it as swada

...which makes absolutely no difference to me.

..............to which I really dont care

Originally posted by lil bitchiness
Animals have souls too. All creatures are equal and to be equaly respected - the trouble is that they are not and thus being re-incarnated into an animal is a form of punishment (depending on what kind of animal, of course)

Having that said, even His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama has already said that the re-incarnation of one soul can happen in more than 1 person.

I dont think anyone is holy or above anyone else in a spiritual sense.

I think reincarnation is as improbable and fantastical as the immaculate conception and resurrection.

But whatever makes you happy. 🙂

Originally posted by finti
..............to which I really dont care

Originally posted by Tex
I dont think anyone is holy or above anyone else in a spiritual sense.

I think reincarnation is as improbable and fantastical as the immaculate conception and resurrection.

But whatever makes you happy. 🙂

The ''such and such thing does not exist'' argument is pointless as noone can prove or disprove either.
Same goes from 'god'.

However - the fact with me still remains that I do not follow a set religion - I am spiritual, but I do not have a religion which conditions me to believing on or the other.

I have taken the bits that make the most sense from Buddhims, Hinduism, Christianity, Peganism and other multi gods religions as well as astrology and the likes - those make up my spiritual side. My ''religion'' doesnt have a name or a prophet/maker of my religion, nor does it have a following - once you establish a religion with the following, you need to esptablish the rules and set ideas which autmatically makes it organised.
I am open minded and flexible - and any new thing that appears in my path, religion or spirituality wise if it seems like its making sense, I will embrace it and check it out.

In the words of SOAD - '' Spirit moves through all things ''

Question:

If you share similar ideas with Atheists.....how do you deal with skepticism?

I can look at scientific research obtained about the complexities of the universe and reason that its so complex and intricate that its statistically impossible that it was created by countless chance coincidences. Hence my belief in a super intelligence.

You believe in reincarnation because years ago some "holy" person said it existed.

This is very interesting:
http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/
...

Skepticism? I'm a very skeptic person; but its individual.

Originally posted by Tex

You believe in reincarnation because years ago some "holy" person said it existed.

Nope. Buddha never claimed to be a god, a prophet, a son of god or the god's messanger - he was a teacher. Buddhists do not believe in God - just in cycle of life, nature and spirits.

The fact that some people worsip him, possibly makes him really pissed right now.

Jesus didn't want people to worship him either. Of course this was before the church came into existence and high jacked his persona.

You respect Buddha and feel that he is an authority in the spiritual, hence:

....
An Appeal to Authority is a fallacy with the following form:

1. Person A is (claimed to be) an authority on subject S.
2. Person A makes claim C about subject S.
3. Therefore, C is true.

So is there any other reason beside Buddha that you believe in reincarnation?

Dont get me wrong, Buddhists are fabulous dolls and they're the only organised religion that TRULY preaches peace and compassion and isn't trying to force their beliefs upon anyone else.

Originally posted by Tex
Jesus didn't want people to worship him either. Of course this was before the church came into existence and high jacked his persona.

You respect Buddha and feel that he is an authority in the spiritual, hence:

....
An Appeal to Authority is a fallacy with the following form:

1. Person A is (claimed to be) an authority on subject S.
2. Person A makes claim C about subject S.
3. Therefore, C is true.

So is there any other reason beside Buddha that you believe in reincarnation?

Dont get me wrong, Buddhists are fabulous dolls and they're the only organised religion that TRULY preaches peace and compassion and isn't trying to force their beliefs upon anyone else.

I am not a buddhist (per se), but I respect and acknowledge many things Buddhism has to say, not because Buddha said it, but because it makes sense to me - it made more sense to me that we are reborn over and over again till we pay off our dues and wrong doings (seeing how living in itself is suffering) then the idea that you live one life, do something thats sinful and then pay for it for eternaty in hell.

Reincarnation made more sense to me personaly than the statement above - it had nothing to do with Buddha, since he wasnt the one that preached reincarnation first - he acknowledge it.

Buddha was a Hundu.

The idea of reincarnation came from Hinduism, since it is the oldest main religion in the world today - noone knows who started Hinduism - they dont have a prophet, or gods messanger - it was a ''people faith'' just like multiple gods in ancient greece were, i suppose.

Thus the idea of reincarnation comes from Hinduism, and Buddha was brought up a Hindu - thus such idea was around long before he was born.

You are not made to believe anything - it is your choice. Unlike Muslims, Christians and Jews who believe that God will only admit them into Heaven, Buddhists believe that anyone who can end his/her own greed and be content with himself/herself will ultimatly find peace - regardless of religion.

With reincarnation wouldn't it be more difficult to pay off our dues and wrong doings as time advances? Seeing that as society advances into the future temptations are greater and easier to access than previous years?

I think it would've been easier to have good Karma in 1405 as opposed to 2005.

If reincarnation is true I think every life cycle just makes it harder to reach Nirvana.

However, reaching Nirvana doesnt consist of torturing yourself to death - Buddhist encourage pleasure, but warn that overindulgence will cause you to suffer more in this life - you dont sin if you enjoy yourself, but in order for you to not suffer you need to understand that such thing is not permanent.

Basically Buddhist say -

We all love to have good food, and every toy possible and good company, but the problem is that most of us are not satisfied with having good food and good company and all the toys - because once the food is eaten, and once the company has been enjoyed and once the toys have been broken, we are sinking in depression - in order for us to be happy, we need to have more and more and more of the same stuff.
And sometimes in order for us to get the means for that, people resort to crime or even violence.

There is nothing wrong with enjoying, if you have self control, you
can enjoy it and then be happy you had it, and move on.

Attachment to material things is what brings the problems for us - we want more and more of the material things and we are never satisfied with what we have. Once we can enjoy what we have, and always be satisfied, never ever desire more - we are that much closer to Nirvana.

They dont believe there should be too much of anything - but thats not the matter of forbidding, its the matter of self control. Forbidding doesnt work, because if you are forbidden, then you want it more - its about self discovery and will.

Basically -

Nothing lasts forever. Understand this and be not attached to what you are experiencing, otherwise you will experience suffering. When you experience happiness know that it is a reaction to circumstance and it is not a permanent state. Conversely, when you are suffering know that it shall not be eternal.

Craving sensory stimulation, craving existence, and craving non-existence give rise to the continuity of being, and with it its attendant suffering. To end this cycle of being, attaining a state of non-craving should be part of your daily effort.

One can end eternal suffering by ending the craving that leads to the continuation of suffering.

Ending the craving that leads to the continuation of suffering is brought about through living by the ideals of the Noble Eightfold Path. The Path avoids two extremes--the pursuit of complete and ultimate sensory pleasure, or the pursuit of utter self-denial

^^ I just like that idea, because I can see the ultimate truth in it.

Buddhism is more of a philosophy than a religion I would say. 👆

Nope, but you thought I cared

icecream

Originally posted by Tex
Buddhism is more of a philosophy than a religion I would say. 👆

How can Deists believe in God, or "a supreme intelligence that
created the universe", yet reject the possiblity that such a Being
would have certain sets of laws and commandmants that He/It
wants followed; and/or such a Being would contact a human to
spread word of His/It's existance and laws (that is, prophets)?

The point is, by believing in God, one should be open to the belief
in the various monotheistic religions (or even maybe gods, like
those of Hinduism for example).