Search results

I think it's more the rural to urban migration than anything else. Smaller communities lose schools, businesses as well. But most religions are on the decline too. There are few exceptions.

Nearly all South Indian style temples hold an annual festival. It is a time of anywhere from 5 to 31 days when the intensity around the temple is heightened by more ritual, rites that are only done once a year, etc. Live musicians perform along with the rites, and are in tune with what the...

I grew up around the United Church. I never went but it was the main Church in the rural community I lived in, so most neighbours went. Yes it was quite tolerant. Still, individuals varied, and they had several splinters over the gay issues some 20 years back. I only know this because of relatives.

I'm currently working on choosing my next life. The word is that whatever you're thinking at at the point of death is an important factor.

My father was a WW2 Vet, and returned to farm where his father had farmed. I considered it but he discouraged it. The risks of drought and hail were hard on him, and he worried too much, as did my mother. He was happy when I finally decided to pursue higher education and become a teacher. The...

Now is now, then was then. Attachment to the past is the root cause. So a soul has to drop it, although it's easier said than done.

Thanks everyone for all the food for thought. I've always lived, (as have most of the people here) under the 'live and let live' method. It's easier, and just makes more sense to me.

I have no 'counter' idea. That idea is absurdly foreign. Gee, who knew? But it will help me psychologically understand why if I get into something like your dinner table.

wil, not sure if I understand, but ... in the scripture itself it says, 'this view is the one and only correct view' and tells people to go out and preach that message. I always thought it was just in the people themselves, similar to being convinced of a political party, or of a favorite car...

Now I'm wondering where, when and how this idea of 'I'm right and the rest of you fools are wrong!" came about, or is it just the egocentric nature of man to project his own thoughts on to all others?

I agree. It seems obvious that polytheism 'emerged simultaneous' in different places. It's highly unlikely that it originated in one spot and spread. Too many hunter and gatherer societies were focused on just hunting and gathering (and nomadic) to develop this stuff really early on. Religion...

Thank you. According to Wiki on Zoroastrianism it was fairly early, and other monotheistic traditions came out of that.

I'm glad this forum exists cause I can ask questions and get decent answers. ( I think.) Today for about what seemed the 3000th time I was asked why Hindus worship so many Gods, and it occurred to me (that happens after you get the same question over and over) to give a snarky response of ...

These days, I'm in bed before fireworks happen. Canada Day happens to be my youngest daughter's birthday, so it makes one birthday easy to remember. Until she was 4 or so, her older brother had her believing the fireworks were just for her.

I view religious rites as communication between man and God, and end every puja with a harmony between the three worlds chant. So it's both.

Thanks arthra ... I've looked into it before, and I got the perspective. Political persecution of anyone is horrible, and as you know, the Bahai in Iran is not unique. Sad, but not unique. Obviously, its close to your heart, as is the Sri Lankan Tamil genocide and the Hindu genocide in...

They (radical Islam, plus a few others scattered about the planet) won't stop at anything. I was particularly saddened by the destruction of the large Buddha a few years back. In Sri Lanka, the war affected the Tamil community so badly that it'll never return. The law on the ground today...

Human rights violations at least are looked into these days, and there is a certain level of global awareness. Not like in the old days. For a perspective on that, have a look at this article about destruction of Hindu temples in the past...

In Hinduism, it's definitely both, depending on context. Private thoughts at a temple, silent, but all the beseeching stuff at home or temple rites, aloud for sure. Personal mantras, both, but generally silent.

A certain openness helps a lot. An ability to listen, read others words, and not react emotionally. After all, it is practically all opinion. But Aussie is correct in that you can offend people pretty easily if they're looking to be offended. Then it's hard to withdraw your statement, because...