Various Religions

[CoffeeDrinker]

I feel like there's lots of wisdom that's peculiar to the various religions of the world. I like Buddhism/Zen, but I've randomly heard stuff from Judaism that impressed me, so I'd like to try to hear from people more well versed in that.
Also if there's any Christians, they shouldn't feel hesitant to post their knowledge, so long as it's something other than a cliche. But the "so long as it's something other than a cliche" goes for EVERYONE who wants to post something. I'm sorry to make the Christians feel like they have something extra to prove in this place, like they don't get enough of that already.

I think the problem people have with Christianity is that it's subject to such oversimplification and misinterpretation such as "Christ said "Only through me can you get to heaven," and people take that to mean that you NEED to be a "Born Again Christian" otherwise you're an immoral and misguided digbat just floundering in the mud of our society, which is obviously not true. Lots of Christians come off the wrong way, and they can forget about Christ's main message of love. All a religion is is a cultural reflection of any given societies search for truth in matters of the soul, the heart, human relationships, and faith in hope and love. Once someone starts saying something that actually makes sense, people are too quick to turn it into a religion, and then the real meaning gets lost.

What is stuff from a religion that impresses you? What are some readings that you'd like to share? I'd like it to be stuff that you actually were impressed upon first real attentive reading.

Just send a link to a holy text if you can while you're explaining it.

Eastern Religions I have delved into, but I feel like I don't have enough of a knowledge of them to really say much. I have books I can flip through and tell you, but I'd want someone who has actually distilled the knowledge down already. I'll do my best though to talk about something that impresses me.

Non-attachment is a big one, and that everything is "empty with such fullness." Basically I take non-attachment to be "question everything," especially the stuff that you are hung-up upon. Ask yourself "why do I feel this way about that thing?" and try to be mindful of what your reasons are and how you can work past them. Also try to let go of everything as much as you can, and especially try to lower your expectations. Anger is chiefly caused by expectations not being met. So if we don't expect anything (people to drive rationally, for instance) then it's hard to feel angry.
I've found myself laughing instead of getting road rage recently. Some driver did something idiot and the passenger looked back at me all worried looking, and I just smiled.
And "Empty with such fullness" I take to mean that everything is really just an accidental (purely derivative of cause and effect) form of an aspect of the greater whole, and they are constantly changing, and shouldn't be revered in this form, nor the next form they'll take, yet should all be appreciated as part of the whole from which we all come. Everything has infinite potential and is only awaiting a mere progression of events to undertake a transformation.

What are some things that intrigue you?

 

[theotherside]

I was raised a christian and I alway loved the proverbs. Even though these days I'm more interested in exploring inner space than praying, I still enjoy reading proverbs when I get down. Reminds me of how innocent people can be(my mother).

 

[B9]

What is stuff from a religion that impresses you?

Cultural persistence of religions impress me. In many ways they are greater drivers of culture than empires that last centuries. Organised religion is subtly and pervasively political. Those guys who represented the authority of religion really used to wield some power.

 

[CoffeeDrinker]

To the trolls. "Thoughtlessness is the path of death...Those who live thoughtless are as already dead." and "Hatred does not cease by hatred at any time, hatred ceases by love: this is an old rule."
That's the Dhammapada condemning foolishness. That's why I specifically said for people to not bring in cliches to this discussion, yet it's almost the first thing that happened. The state of the Philosophy and Spirituality forum has long been known to me to be a sad one, but I'm hoping to make it less sad, if possible. That's why I have a thread like this that promotes a quality discussion of the various points of differences and similarities of the various religions. What should remain center stage in this thread is the aspects of wisdom of the religions. Not adolescent mumblings.

Hey theotherside, would you mind listing a proverb that specifically appeals to you?
I'd like to quote one that appeals to me, in light of the troll situation we have here:
Proverb 9: verses 7-9
"If you try to correct a conceited man, you will only be insulted. If you reprimand an evil man, you will only get hurt. Never correct a conceited man; he will hate you for it. But if you correct a wise man, he will respect you. Anything you say to a wise man will make him wiser. Whatever to tell a righteous man will add to his knowledge."

Anything you say to a wise man will make him wiser. That's a brilliant observation. Whether someone lies to him, or tells him the truth, or just simply talks to him without telling the truth or falsehoods, all of it registers in a wise person's mind to make them even wiser. Hard to argue with that.
What other ones?

 

[Nagelfar]

As a non-jew, I've studied Hermetic Qabalah for circa sixteen years. Also the Essene code is a very interesting segue into unorthodox judaic mysticism.

Basically, Qabalah makes God the 'Ain Soph' or "limitless nothingness" (having no attributes), this is similar to the Brahman of hindu philosophy. As Ain Soph, God has three such aspects, Ain (nonexistence) Ain Soph, proper, (endless nonexistence) and Ain Soph Aur (Limitless light).

Think of the three forms of nothingness thus: first is lack of even potential, second is infinite potential without anything defining it, and third is lack of all definition or all infinite potential self-realized as being unrealized.

This follows in the Qabalistic tree of life, which starts with absolute unity or oneness; meaning these three veils of nonexistence, are actually found in this oneness, though the veils precede the oneness (the Absolute, God) before it truly realizes its potency as a whole. This is created by something referred to as tzimzum, or contraction, similar to self-synthesis serving to reify, as like dialectical synthesis in western philosophy.

This is an explanation of how God is self-created; and is similar to Hegelian dialectics.

 

[CoffeeDrinker]

Does the term "soph" have anything to do with the Greek words "sophism" or "philosophy" or "sophistry"? Basically meaning "wisdom" in modern English, with slight variations in terms of context. Or is that just a phonetic coincidence?

BTW thank you for your contributions.

 

[moonyham]

I simply love to be a positive part of peoples lives. Everyone gets that chance with me. Some never gain it. Some gain it and lose it. And some keep it.

Being a positive influence on someone makes them a positive influence on yourself, and creates happiness for all.

 

[Nagelfar]

Does the term "soph" have anything to do with the Greek words "sophism" or "philosophy" or "sophistry"? Basically meaning "wisdom" in modern English, with slight variations in terms of context. Or is that just a phonetic coincidence?

BTW thank you for your contributions.

No, 'Soph' or 'Sef', is Hebrew, of an Afro-Asiatic language group and the Greek "Sophistry" and related cognate etymological roots are from Indo-European. Of course, you could say anything that your mind connects symbolisticly is related; Hermetic Qabalah believes so; as God knows how you perceive things and masques revelation to the individual in accord to their own understanding.