SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  
To: Katelew who wrote (222548)3/5/2007 5:18:13 PM
From: Sun Tzu  Read Replies (4) of 281500
 
Many Eastern religions or branches of them, would hold life to such exalted levels as to avoid killing at all costs. The most obvious example is Jainism. Buddhism and Sufi Islam also take similar approaches.

But religion is not the same thing as spirituality and or "experiencing God". Religion is a *structured* framework and accompanying rules that governs the relationship between human beings and the universe. Whether or not some Christians have "mystic" experiences is not the issue. The issue is the position of Christianity on such experiences.

To see the difference, consider for example that Sufi Muslims believe that using reason to reach God is like trying to run a marathon with prosthetic legs; it is possible but not very practical and most people would fail at it. Therefore their religion *demands* meditations and chantings under the supervision of a master so that they "experience God". Sufi imagery likens the process to cold black iron (us) trying to understand fire (God). Describing the fire to iron would be like trying to explain color to the blind. But if the iron was to be put into the fire long enough, then it can "know" what fire truly is. Most importantly, Sufies believe that such "iron" is no longer iron at all, but fire (it gives off light and heat). The whole thing is almost identical to Buddhism, excluding the afterlife stuff. I could have made the example of Buddhism from the start, but I thought it is good to show Islam is very diverse.

Anyway, my point in all of the above is that it is one thing to say I've had a spiritual experience and therefore now I am going to look for a Church that is compatible with that experience. It is quite another to say my religion *demands* that I beat a path towards the direct experience of God and if I shall achieve it deep enough, I am a god.

ST
Report TOU ViolationShare This Post
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  

HomeMailHotSubjectMarksPeopleMarksKeepersSettings
Terms Of UseContact UsCopyright/IP PolicyPrivacy PolicyAbout UsFAQAdvertise on SI
© 2026 Knight Sac Media.  Data provided by Twelve Data, Alpha Vantage, and CityFALCON News