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Pastimes : History's effect on Religion -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Sun Tzu who wrote (458)	3/12/2007 2:34:24 PM
From: Sultan	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 520

All we are is dust in the wind ? Sure for physical and material life which is limited and finite.. but the soul is another matter entirely.. Great song by the way.. Don't listen to lots of western music but this echoes a lot of eastern philosophies.. Mirrors my mood so often.. ladynwavsone.com

To: Sun Tzu who wrote (458)	3/12/2007 2:36:25 PM
From: Sultan	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 520

Selections from the poetry of Rumi Whoever Brought Me Here, Will Have To Take Me Home. All day I think about it, then at night I say it. Where did I come from, and what am I supposed to be doing? I have no idea. My soul is from elsewhere, I'm sure of that, and I intend to end up there. This drunkenness began in some other tavern. When I get back around to that place, I'll be completely sober. Meanwhile, I'm like a bird from another continent, sitting in this aviary. The day is coming when I fly off, but who is it now in my ear who hears my voice? Who says words with my mouth? Who looks out with my eyes? What is the soul? I cannot stop asking. If I could taste one sip of an answer, I could break out of this prison for drunks. I didn't come here of my own accord, and I can't leave that way. Whoever brought me here, will have to take me home. This poetry. I never know what I'm going to say. I don't plan it. When I'm outside the saying of it, I get very quiet and rarely speak at all. Translation. Coleman Barks.

To: Sun Tzu who wrote (458)	3/12/2007 5:52:55 PM
From: epicure	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 520

It bothered me when I was young that there would be nothing. After my 20's it ceased to bother me. I can't tell you why. It just ceased to matter. It does not bother me that this will happen to my loved ones. It does not bother me that there are no eternal consequences. I don't know why people wouldn't be driven without an afterlife. I can't explain that. I am very driven without one, so I have no idea why people would just give up without an afterlife carrot. I do what seems important and good for society and my family, and I do it because I think it's good to live a good life, and for your children to live a good life after you. That's all I need. Were I under oppression I would do the same thing, hoping that my children, or my grandchildren, would see the fruits of my labors, even if I could not. That's the best I can do. I really don't understand why anyone would be driven by an afterlife. Seems to me with a good one, you'd want to die as soon as possible (though not from your own hand, if that's prohibited)- so it would sort of encourage giving up. I mean isn't that why religion is the opiate of the masses? Maybe I should be asking you why the religious don't just give up :-) All the scientists I know are agnostics and atheists, and they seem pretty driven.