romansh Posted September 5, 2022 Share Posted September 5, 2022 (edited) Quote Jesus stands at the middle of history, pointing at the kingdom of heaven, and the church sucks on his fingertip. Supposedly by Alan Watts. I have not been able to verify. But the quote has an interesting point to make regardless whoever said it. Edited September 5, 2022 by romansh 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
romansh Posted July 18, 2023 Author Share Posted July 18, 2023 Simon Blackburn Quote Being an infidel, that is, just having no faith, I do not have to prove anything. I have no faith in the Loch Ness Monster, but do not go about trying to prove that it does not exist, although there are certainly overwhelming arguments that it does not. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
romansh Posted January 16 Author Share Posted January 16 I came across this quote yesterday ... not sure what to make of it ... I think the notion that the species can be improved in some way, that everyone could live in harmony, is a really dangerous idea. Those who are afflicted with this notion are the first ones to give up their souls, their freedom. Your desire that it be that way will enslave you and make your life vacuous. -- Cormac McCarthy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
romansh Posted March 30 Author Share Posted March 30 (edited) anonymous A belief isn't something you choose to believe A belief is something you can't choose not to believe Edited March 30 by romansh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulS Posted March 31 Share Posted March 31 8 hours ago, romansh said: A belief isn't something you choose to believe A belief is something you can't choose not to believe A good example of this is Father Christmas or Santa. As a child you believed he existed - indeed, the evidence was there - but try believing in him again now that you're an adult! That is precisely how I feel about mainstream Christianity that says I must believe Jesus mission was to come to this planet to die for my sins as a human sacrifice to God - there's just too much water under the bridge now for me to believe that story again, like I did once upon a time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tariki Posted April 1 Share Posted April 1 On 3/30/2024 at 11:04 PM, romansh said: That virtually sums up his book "Beyond Theology: The Art of Godmanship" 😀 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tariki Posted April 1 Share Posted April 1 On 1/16/2024 at 5:41 PM, romansh said: I came across this quote yesterday ... not sure what to make of it ... I think the notion that the species can be improved in some way, that everyone could live in harmony, is a really dangerous idea. Those who are afflicted with this notion are the first ones to give up their souls, their freedom. Your desire that it be that way will enslave you and make your life vacuous. -- Cormac McCarthy At a fundamental level any thought of a need to improve (of ourselves or of others) is an attack upon acceptance. Leading to revolution - which is just what it means, a revolving wheel. New winners and new losers, but also "meet the new boss, same as the old boss" as Pete Townsend has it! True and genuine acceptance is - paradoxically - the way to transformation. Sadly, more often than not, our "acceptance" is a sham - we "accept" with our eyes upon the change it will bring! Therefore...... "No-calculation"! This all involves mercy, forgiveness, and so much more. The associations and correspondences are there to be found across the whole world of our Faith Traditions. What we have to be is what we are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tariki Posted April 1 Share Posted April 1 On 3/31/2024 at 8:21 AM, PaulS said: A good example of this is Father Christmas or Santa. As a child you believed he existed..... Hey, what are you trying to tell me? 😀 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulS Posted April 1 Share Posted April 1 14 hours ago, tariki said: Hey, what are you trying to tell me? 😀 Um, err, no, I was referring to the Australian Father Christmas, Derek! The English one is for real, of course! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tariki Posted April 2 Share Posted April 2 11 hours ago, PaulS said: Um, err, no, I was referring to the Australian Father Christmas, Derek! The English one is for real, of course! Thanks for the clarification. 😀 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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