wh0mprat: You could also make up to $12,000 a year as a locksmith.

Which was pretty good money back then.

BergZ: This statement presupposes that Jesus ever existed.

As a person, sure. Whether you believe he was the son of G-d is open to debate.

MarshWoman: A three-L Lllama is a really, really big fire.

........*blink* where'd you get that from?

IXI Jim IXI: Now now...that's when you start running into chunks of rock and stuff. Let's not be so humanicentric ;)

Are the chunks of rock new?

mediaho: That was in some book, I think. It was a Good Book. Not great, but Good.

It was in a book in an anthology referred to as 'good', I think.

mediaho
Not if you're straight.

It's not like there aren't gay christians or gay christian organizations, you know. If they have them here, they have them everywhere.

revskippy: One of the problems with a lot of the writings and speeches and all that that get involved around the Dali Lama is that his base teaching is so simple it can be written on a bevnap at an airport while having drinks with someone. "You know what the right thing to do is, stop worrying about it and be a good person."

I think he would be a hell of a guy to have over for some tea.

muninsfire: MarshWoman: A three-L Lllama is a really, really big fire.

........*blink* where'd you get that from?

Three alarm-a. Three-L Llama.

I gotta admit, I chuckled.

This may be a little late to the party, but I really want to get this fact out there so people can have another perspective.

To those of you who keep claiming that all religions are exclusive, thinking that they are correct and others are false and will burn for thinking so; Hinduism is not necessarily like this. They have a sort of core belief in worshipping and praying to a god (Sometimes plural) however, whomever you pray to is just another manifestation of The Supreme God. The vast amount of gods that they have are more accurately thought of as just aspects of the one Supreme God, and so many--though I assume not all--are very pluralistic.

/Hare Hare Krishna!

IXI Jim IXI: I think he would be a hell of a guy to have over for some tea.

Make sure you have rancid yak butter.

AcadianSidhe: It's not like there aren't gay christians or gay christian organizations, you know. If they have them here, they have them everywhere.

Sure. There are Log Cabin Republicans too. I don't want to throw out a "no real Scotsman" argument but I don't understand supporting an organization that actively conspires against your interests unless you are trying to change it from the inside.

AcadianSidhe: Pay more attention to celebrity lifestyle.

Taken out of context, that is one of the most disturbing sentences I have ever seen. Makes me want to scream "NO!!!" and start running and/or shooting. It could be some kind of evil bumper sticker, like one might see when wearing particular sunglasses.

kyuzokai: Three alarm-a. Three-L Llama.

I gotta admit, I chuckled.

Ahh, now I see it. Hah!

Bonegead

"All I'm going to say about the Dali Lama is that everyone should read up on the history of Tibet and Tibetian monks..."

So, that would mean you are FOR slave reparations then? If we can find a historical example of a group of people treating another group of people poorly then we should completely discount the efforts of the current generation?

Without religion we wouldn't have cool cathedrals and shiat.

/old architecture geek

muninsfire: Is it the fault of those who did not act that the action was taken?

To a degree, yes. I'm guessing this is where we disagree...

AcadianSidhe: It's not like there aren't gay christians or gay christian organizations, you know. If they have them here, they have them everywhere.

That's beside the point. Christianity, as an institution, demonizes homosexuality and fights agains their civil rights. That there are gay Christians doesn't change that fact one bit.

I don't understand why people automatically make excuses for religion. Nobody, for example, argues that Peta isn't batshiat insane just because there are some members of it that aren't.

AuntofDogface When I say to them (and this includes my relative that won't just give up) "leave me be", I mean it. If they acknowledged my wishes, I might not have an attitude and would not call them hypocrites.

Everyone has an asshole uncle. Intelligent people do not use him as a reason to hate a broad cross section of America. It is like saying you saw a black buy rob a bank on TV so now you think all blacks are criminals. Unfortunately there are many people that like to stereotype. It does help you feel better about your righteous indignation.

There was a man who was about to jump off a bridge when another fellow runs up to him, crying: "Stop! Stop! Don't do it!" The man on the bridge looks down and asks, "Why not?" "Well, there's much to live for." "Like what?" "Well, your faith. Are you religious?" "Yes." "Me, too. Christian or Buddhist or...?" "Christian." "Me, too. Are you Catholic or Protestant?" "Protestant." "Me, too. Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist?" "Baptist." "Me, too. Are you original Baptist Church of God or Reformed Baptist Church of God?" "Reformed Baptist Church of God." "Me, too. Are you Reformed Baptist Church of God Reformation of 1820, or Reformed Baptist Church of God Reformation of 1912?" "1912." Whereupon the second fellow turned red in the face, shouted, "Die, you heretic scum!" and pushed him off the bridge.

I think the Dalai Lama has little to worry about here versus where he lives.

Dharamsala, April 1: The security of Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, has been tightened following reports of a threat to his life from the banned Lashker-e-Taiba, a police official said.

Security personnel on duty at the Dalai Lama's residence at Mcleodganj here have been put on alert in the wake of reports of the threat to his life from the LeT, Additional Superintendent of Police (he

mediaho
Sure. There are Log Cabin Republicans too. I don't want to throw out a "no real Scotsman" argument but I don't understand supporting an organization that actively conspires against your interests unless you are trying to change it from the inside.

Perhaps, but I'm a firm believer that, in a particular ideological group of any kind, no one believes absolutely everything the group professes to believe. And anyone who says they do is probably either full of shiat, or doesn't know what they're talking about.

This goes doubly for religion.

I hope it will involve the reanimated zombie of Abraham Lincoln.

A one-L lama, he's a priest;
A two-L llama, he's a beast;
But I would bet a silk pyjama
That you won't find a three-L Lllama.

/That one's been stuck in my head for years now.

A 3-L llama is one heck of a big fire.......

//ouch

JohnBigBootay

If the Dali Lama and his followers were to make amends to the people that they hurt, I would be happy. They weren't kicked out that long ago. And the US and other countries have paid reparations, many generations after the fact, so why not the Dali Lama? If you're gonna be a dick, be prepared to make up for it if you want back into the house...

muninsfire On the other hand, religion had a big part in helping to bring about civilization in the first place.

Sorry, I have to say that civilization has occured in spite of religion. The Copernican model, evolutionary theory, and genetic research are offered as cases in point.

And don't even get me started on "Abstinance Only" sex-education to prevent the spread of STD's.

GnomePaladin: To a degree, yes. I'm guessing this is where we disagree...

Most likely. I'm of the opinion that most people can't be bothered to get up and do something about things they disagree with that don't affect them personally--that, indeed, most people aren't entirely capable of doing so.

It's only exceptional individuals who can stand up for others.

we_hates

I don't understand why people automatically make excuses for religion. Nobody, for example, argues that Peta isn't batshiat insane just because there are some members of it that aren't.

I don't get why people automatically attack religion without provocation.

Hell, I think most fundies are batshiat insane. Doesn't nessecarily make them bad people. Just people I disagree with.

it's been alluded to in TFT... but must be listed...

So I jump ship in Hong Kong and make my way over to Tibet, and I get on as a looper at a course over in the Himalayas. A looper, you know, a caddy, a looper, a jock. So, I tell them I'm a pro jock, and who do you think they give me? The Dalai Lama, himself. Twelfth son of the Lama. The flowing robes, the grace, bald... striking. So, I'm on the first tee with him. I give him the driver. He hauls off and whacks one - big hitter, the Lama - long, into a ten-thousand foot crevasse, right at the base of this glacier. Do you know what the Lama says? Gunga galunga... gunga, gunga-galunga. So we finish the eighteenth and he's gonna stiff me. And I say, "Hey, Lama, hey, how about a little something, you know, for the effort, you know." And he says, "Oh, uh, there won't be any money, but when you die, on your deathbed, you will receive total consciousness." So I got that goin' for me, which is nice.

If Jesus was around today, he'd probably be a Buddhist.

Lollipop165: each Dali Lama is a reincarnation of the Dali Lama before him

That's how I thought the story went too. But that's just from watching Kundun.

/cool flick

fifthhorseman: Sorry, I have to say that civilization has occured in spite of religion. The Copernican model, evolutionary theory, and genetic research are offered as cases in point.

I was referring more to ancient Sumer, the code of Hammurabi, and the initial startup phase of civilization--where most early governments were theocracies.

Today, religion and government should be separated, yes--but there's little doubt that religion *started* government.

/Divine right of kings and all that, you know?

muninsfire: Are the chunks of rock new?

Sure they're not...but they don't give a damn what we do down here ;)

chuckles5 Jesus' teachings concerned the 613 mitzvot (commandments) in the Old Testament. Most so call Christians can't even list 5 of the 10 commandments.

ANd most Americans that will talk your ear off about politics can not name the last ten presidents or the Justices of the Supreme Court. Ingorance is not exclusive to the religious.

Raw_fishFood: If Jesus was around today, he'd probably be a Buddhist.

Either that, or completely disgusted at the people who claim to be following him.

muninsfire

I was referring more to ancient Sumer, the code of Hammurabi, and the initial startup phase of civilization--where most early governments were theocracies.

Today, religion and government should be separated, yes--but there's little doubt that religion *started* government.

/Divine right of kings and all that, you know?

Have I ever mentioned that you're my favorite thing about the main page?

muninsfire
Divine right of kings and all that, you know?

Or the Mandate of Heaven, which is similar to Divine Right of Kings but allows for changes in who rules.

AcadianSidhe: Have I ever mentioned that you're my favorite thing about the main page?

Heh. I just call 'em as I see 'em.

Somacandra: What's a little yak butter between actual and potential realizations of universal Buddhamind?

It sets the ambiance, you know?

muninsfire: Make sure you have rancid yak butter.

You're hitting on me, aren't you?

Either that, or completely disgusted at the people who claim to be following him.

LOL! Just gave me the image of Jesus walking down the street, with a line of people following him. He turns around, and yells "Ok, you bastards GO THE FARK HOME!"

Acadian Sidhe
Perhaps, but I'm a firm believer that, in a particular ideological group of any kind, no one believes absolutely everything the group professes to believe. And anyone who says they do is probably either full of shiat, or doesn't know what they're talking about.

That implies that
A) it's impossible to live up to the ideals of religions
B) Religion has very crazy ideas that no rational person really believes, or that
C) there are a lot of religious people out there who aren't doing it right.


Of course, the correct answer is D) All of the above.

big hitter, no tip

While in Chicago, will the Dalai go up to a hot dog vendor and ask "Make me one with everything"
\sorry, someone had to say it

wh0mprat: B) Religion has very crazy ideas that no rational person really believes, or that
C) there are a lot of religious people out there who aren't doing it right.

You also forgot "There are lots of irrational religious people" :D

AcadianSidhe: I don't get why people automatically attack religion without provocation

Without provocation? As an American who values personal freedom and the separation of church and state, I find there to be plenty of provocation for criticizing the institutions of religion.

Or the Mandate of Heaven, which is similar to Divine Right of Kings but allows for changes in who rules.

Yeah, basically "same shiat, different king."

"I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ."
Ghandi

Few years back, co-worker asks me what I'm doing this weekend.

I tell him we're heading out to see my family for Easter.

He says "What?!? You go to church, and do dat whole Easter ting?"

(Yes, you heard that in Apu's voice, since co-worker was from Mumbai.)

I said yes, we go to church every week.

He says "Dat's crazy! You know, in my country, we have ten t'ousand gods, and I don't believe in any of dem!"

/true story
//It's called "practicing Catholic" because you can still get it wrong sometimes

KarmicRetribution
While in Chicago, will the Dalai go up to a hot dog vendor and ask "Make me one with everything"

Dalai Lama then gives the vendor a five, who pockets it.
"Where's my change?" the Dalai Lama asks.
The vendor smiles and says "Change comes from within."

rancidPlasma
Without religion we wouldn't have cool cathedrals and shiat.

And virgin sacrifices. I love those.

IXI Jim IXI: LOL! Just gave me the image of Jesus walking down the street, with a line of people following him. He turns around, and yells "Ok, you bastards GO THE FARK HOME!"

Watch "The Life of Brian" and you'll see the scene I have in my mind reading that....

KarmicRetribution: While in Chicago, will the Dalai go up to a hot dog vendor and ask "Make me one with everything"

I love that joke...

wh0mprat
That implies that
A) it's impossible to live up to the ideals of religions
B) Religion has very crazy ideas that no rational person really believes, or that
C) there are a lot of religious people out there who aren't doing it right.

Or that people perceive things differently.


we_hates
Without provocation? As an American who values personal freedom and the separation of church and state, I find there to be plenty of provocation for criticizing the institutions of religion.


Perhaps. But why criticize every individual religious person? They're welcome to their beliefs. Hell, I don't like a lot of religions, religious people, or organization. But I'm sure as hell not going to say "All Christians are (fill in the blank)".