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------------------------------ Let me first restate, for the sake of thoroughness, that I do not contend with the following statements: -Cigarettes have a serious potential of promoting disease in users -Cigarettes kill MANY, MANY people -Cigarettes are addictive This is the last time I'll...

I do see where you're going with the fact that "choice" may not always be a valid indicator in cases of addiction. That is certainly to be considered. In fact, I think the crux of the matter, so far as the issue with cigarettes, really rests upon this blurry line. Where is the line between...

LOL...I knew the moment I typed it that my whole 'car' analogy was a bit weak. I was trying not to spend too much time composing a post, a did certainly skimp on the example there. What I was trying to express, with limited success, was that people that haven't come from homes of smokers or...

OperaCast- Clearly, you are very passionate about this idea. But, frankly, you've made some totally unfounded criticisms, both of my ideas and myself, which have been mostly fueled by your strategy of picking apart every word I say to examine it out of context with a magnifying glass. You have...

Is this in regard to laws on cigarette smoking or health (is there a particular issue you aim to address)? I, personally, do smoke cigarettes. Frankly, I wouldn't think of telling someone that was bothered by my cigarette smoke that "it was all in their head." I know that it must not be the...

LOL...I guess when you've found everything you can with a telescope you have to find new stuff somehow...

Whoa...whoa... let's not get too angry here. You have really gone out of your way, OperaCast, to condemn me. Arrogance...and thoughtlessness of all varieties...how did I so easily accumulate all of these qualities? Wow! I didn't think I could inspire so much rash attack with a simple personal...

Pretty interesting article! I actually read a book recently called "Origin of Language" which, by comparing the similarities of languages all over the world, came to a very similar conclusion as expressed in this article. Amazingly, the author showed with truly exhaustive examples that not only...

By highlighting the line about judgement, I assume that your question is essentially directed toward that sentiment. For my part, I will say that this is only really 'mean' if you interpret it as the vindictive qualities of a God personality. What Jesus is saying here, is that those that do...

This is a very interesting thread, especially since a good deal of reading I've done recently has involved exactly this question. The piece which I will quote from is a book by D.T. Suzuki called "Zen and Japanese Culture". I know it may be boring to read quotes from a book, but Suzuki addressed...

A very appropriate story toward the discussion, I think. The Buddha's example clearly illustrates a scenario in which it is seen that all concepts considered "true" are inevitably only partly true. That is, each blind man argued correctly based upon what he felt of the elephant. The blind man...

Outside of scholars and theologists, such an effort to compile religious characteristics will only be "used" by people that are already confused as to spirituality, and that may thus lead themselves only into further confusion. There is, for instance, no reason why a person must adhere to any...

To get back to wei wu wei, specifically, I think that there are some basic metaphors that can be used to hint at it's meaning. Some of these are certainly vague and general, I know, but examples are often the most effective means of communicating difficult ideas (or ideas that are so simple...

It's somewhat funny that the problem seems to be based upon the same misunderstanding on both sides of the coin. Creationists insist that God is a physical personality of sorts...that he is a literal, intentional, physical entity. On the other hand, the Evolutionists that denounce God by...

This thread reminded me of some vague learning from school, so I decided to confirm my memories by looking it up. Around 250 BC, the Greek astronomer and mathematician named Eratosthenes calculated the circumference of the Earth to be about 46,000 kilometers, which is remarkably close to our...

Operacast- As one that has spent a good deal of time learning about various world religions, I must say that such a plan for a thorough and well-organized review, summary, and comparison of religions sounds pretty exciting. If such a report were released, I would probably buy it and enjoy...

This has been a most interesting line of debate and commentary. For my part, I simply would like to reiterate that the original post in this thread didn't really address action and responsibility and what we should or shouldn't do and all the implications therein. A simple statement was made (to...

I have heard, on many different occasions, the idea expressed that humans "ought" to live to be 120 years old. Frankly, when I look at this figure I am moved quickly to the basic conclusion that 120 is just a nice rounded number that lies just barely beyond the final ages of our average...

Well, penguin, I'm not sure what you're looking for as proof, exactly. It seems that the millions of people that seem to think he did certainly exist is not enough to convince you. This is good; who needs to be swayed by others beliefs, anyhow? However, if what you're looking for is some kind...

Objective truth is a 'truth' that exists independent of observers. This would mean that it is fundamentally seperate from the mind of all individuals in existence, in that it would be a truth first and foremost, whether or not it is acknowledged, or known of or whatever. "Truth", it should be...