Are you afraid to die?

[Ben Kenobi]

http://www.creeds.net/ancient/descendit.htm

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi
http://www.creeds.net/ancient/descendit.htm

Ah, I wasnt aware of whats in the Apostles' Creed. Though I dont see how the proof texts particularly support it. But then if church tradition supports it, it aint no skin off my back, so to speak. I aint no sole scriptura fella.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Ben Kenobi
http://www.creeds.net/ancient/descendit.htm

Ah, I wasnt aware of whats in the Apostles' Creed. Though I dont see how the proof texts particularly support it. But then if church tradition supports it, it aint no skin off my back, so to speak. I aint no sole scriptura fella.

[Blake]

Originally posted by Lorizael


Your posts previous to this one made me think you were a Buddhist. Here you say you are not, but you obviously take influences from Buddhism. Out of pure curiosity, what would you say sets you apart from Buddhism?

That's an easy one, I'm not pretentious enough to say I'm a Buddhist.

Although if you define Buddhist as loosely as "one who follows the teachings of Buddha" then I am a Buddhist. But my religion is not Buddhism - I am nonreligious.

In short, I'm not that interested in the superstitions and political baggage accumulated over thousands of years by the Buddhist religions/sects (which may well actually make me a "better" Buddhist than many Buddhists but I wont make that call).

[Sirotnikov]

I'm not afraid of death because I've always believed in rebirth - the stream of consciousness does not end (at least insofar as it exists at all). Death should be viewed as a bit of an inconvenience followed by a bunch of years as a screaming baby/toddler then a confused child and an angsty teen and maybe, just maybe, getting back on the path to enlightenment.

Ah, but what good is it if you lose all memory of the previous life?

After all - your conscious self is just the collection of memories you have.

If suddenly you lose all your memory and go to live with whole different people - there's no consciousness stream. To me, this would be just as bad as death.

[Blake]

Rebirth doesn't really make much sense without Karma also.

[DaShi]

I don't mind the idea of dying. It's just having everyone else continue on that bothers me.

[Dr Strangelove]

Hmmmm.......... You know, thanks to modern medicine there are a number of people who claim to have been to heaven and to have returned. Funny though that no one ever claims to have gone to hell and returned.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Blake
Rebirth doesn't really make much sense without Karma also.

Or with an increasing or decreasing population

[BlackCat]

Originally posted by Dr Strangelove
Hmmmm.......... You know, thanks to modern medicine there are a number of people who claim to have been to heaven and to have returned. Funny though that no one ever claims to have gone to hell and returned.

Well, maybe they weren't there long enough

[Lord Avalon]

No, I'm not afraid to die. I don't know if that would change should I be diagnosed with a terminal illness, but I don't think I'm about to drop de

[Blake]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker


Or with an increasing or decreasing population

Not so, although we may need to start dipping into the cockroach pool for some of the newer additions .

[Provost Harrison]

Of course I am, and I would like to delay it as long as possible.

[Lorizael]

Originally posted by Blake
That's an easy one, I'm not pretentious enough to say I'm a Buddhist.

Although if you define Buddhist as loosely as "one who follows the teachings of Buddha" then I am a Buddhist. But my religion is not Buddhism - I am nonreligious.

In short, I'm not that interested in the superstitions and political baggage accumulated over thousands of years by the Buddhist religions/sects (which may well actually make me a "better" Buddhist than many Buddhists but I wont make that call).

Interesting. I had similar encounters with Buddhism.

The logic behind the philosophy of Buddhism really resonates with me, but when I started reading about all of the magical mystical stuff that went along with it... well... it all just sort of seemed tacked on and artificial.

That said, the parts about reincarnation and karma didn't really resonate with me either.

[b etor]

Originally posted by Arrian
It's "gets the job done." You were close.

The analogy, however, wasn't. It's ok, I've seen it used before (by Ben, IIRC). It seems to be one of those conservative Christian talking points. :shrug:

-Arrian

i think you meant git r done!