Comparative Religions

2006-12-27T12:31:00.000-05:00

Week of Oct. 30-Nov. 5

2006-10-31T15:48:00.000-05:00

photo by Jacelyn Hart

There is no blogging assignment this week. Happy Halloween, Blessed Samhain, All Hallows Eve, All Saints Day, Dia de los Muertos, and Essay Writing!
~Namaste~

Comparative Religions: This I Believe

2006-10-30T19:30:00.000-05:00

Comparative Religions: This I Believe
I find all of these articles to be very interesting. The Chinese girlis what I expect young Chinese people to be like. She was taught from childhood to do what she is told without question. I think it is wonderful to respect and obey your parents, but I don't believe it is healthy to do something with your life and give up what would truly make you happy. I think later in life she will have regrets, but it will be too late. She is following her destiny, but at what cost to her true self. The man who feeds monkeys each year is following a story of his life that was told when he was an infant. I think it shows great character and preservation of his Chinese heritage. He has a job that he likes, so it is the best of both worlds. The last woman has found an inner piece and connection with her activity. It is never good to follow blindly, but I think this form of exercise completes who she is.

this I believe

2006-10-30T18:24:00.000-05:00

The people in these articles put their own beliefs first and did what they felt was best. I feel that this is greatly admirable. I believe education is very important as well. To a certain extent, I feel that it should be the center of every child's life. It is important to do well in school to have a more successful future. I do not agree that a grade less than an 85 is failing. I feel that is a little too harsh. I h!ve my own philosophy on life in which I follow each and every day. My beliefs, values, and morals may not all be influenced by my religion but simply ways in which I live my life. The article about feeding the monkeys was quite interesting. I don'tkthink that every year I would search for monkeys to feed although I know that the feeling of commitment is a wonderful thing in my opinion. As far as the story about Angelina, I could not even think about living life that way.

"><$BlogItemTitle$>

This I believe

2006-10-30T18:00:00.000-05:00

I now understand why the chinese take such heart in school in america. I never realized they felt it was their duty and such a big deal. More people should go by how they think about education. I think believing in non violence, self restraint, and respect is three of the greatest things a human being can learn. As for the monkey feeding, i agree with him, i would do it too, i have superstitions, like i have to knock on wood. That is sort of the same thing because i am protecting either myself or other people.
"><$BlogItemTitle$>

2006-10-30T16:12:00.000-05:00

I agree with many that see the youg girl's beliefs more of a burden for her than healthy faith. I respect this young girl very much. It is noble of her to put her family's being or status before her own desires, but at the same time it is sad to see the sacrifice effect her own personal goals. I respect the other two stories very much. They have heart and determination. They are unlike many of Western's ways. I do not agree with them ultimitely, but I agree abstractly with many of their views. I have gone out on the limb with many things, but only because it has made sense or is the best scenerio. I'm not big on blind faith.

This I believe.....

2006-10-30T16:02:00.000-05:00

I thought that the article by Ying Ying Yu was very admirable. Her great respect for her family, country, and heritage has caused her to strive for her goals. Her ideas seem to be very much similar to those of Confucius. Confucius said that if you learn something, or study something, and then don't put what you have learned to use, than you have wasted your time. This girl reminds me very much of my sister. Though her reasoning for striving the way she does may not be the same, my sister strives to meet her goals in the same manner. She lives on her own, goes to college full time, and works to support herself, yet she puts all that she has into her school work and is not happy with anything that falls to far below excellence. The story about the Burma man who feeds the monkeys every year is interesting. Will he suffer if he doesn't feed the monkeys one year? Probably not. I find his ways a little superstitious, but our backgrounds are different, and I do admire him for making sure that he fulfills this every year.

"><$BlogItemTitle$>

This I Believe

2006-10-30T10:34:00.000-05:00

First.......... the young Chinese girl, I am not sure if all that is expected of her is truly her belief. Or maybe she is now influenced by western ways of thinking that she is questioning what has been "instilled" in her. I hear a young girl explaining what is the right way of doing things who seems to have different ideas about her future. I hear fear and pressure to do what is expected without any concern for what might best suit the individual. This young girl shows great strength and discipline but do we hear or sense any real happiness. The only happiness expressed is when the young woman has attained some sort of progress scholastically which is great.........yet those results were pretty much demanded.

I am saddened for this young girl. Strong beliefs are wonderful but in this case it has placed too much pressure on a person who has other interests and other talents that will be exhausted along the way due to what is expected by the family. We all know what it is like to do something we have to do rather than what we would like to do. How can someone live a life that is expected instead of following their personal goals or dreams?

Second............the Burma man, his belief was brought about due to a Buddhist monk who predicted that the feeding of monkeys every day on his birthday would ensure prosperity. Instilling this idea in the individual has pushed this man to find the strength and imagination in his search yearly for monkeys to feed. I admire his ability to feed monkeys every year but this is a discipline he has decided to adopt in an effort to maintain prosperity. He believes it is the right thing to do. He has made a committment to do this. Unlike the Chinese young girl who really has no choice but to do what is expected.

Third.............the young woman believes in the principles of karate-do, my dojo-kun. She has taken the time to decide what is best for her. She states, "I will seek perfection of character! Be faithful! Endeavor! Respect others! Refrain from violent behavior!" But here again, she decides what she wants to believe in. It is admirable how she endures the pain, bloody feet, and broken nose in an effort to attain achievment that an ancient system created for bodyguards. This woman chooses these beliefs. Again, unlike the young Chinese girl who has been brought up to do as is expected.

I think it is great to have specific beliefs or morals to live by and creating customs or traditions to carry on generation to generation. But, I do have a problem if someone is forced to do something they would not otherwise want to do. Or if the goals are too high for everyone to reach. Some religions have what I think of as "the fear of god". I do not think that using fear to motivate someone to do something will bring about the best results.

this i believe

2006-10-30T00:42:00.000-05:00

i believe these people were all doing what they fealt in their heart was right. even if it seemed silly like the guy with the monkeys they all have a deep dedication to what they felt was rihgt. i can relate to this because i live by my beliefs, they are not religious but i have morals and standards that i live by.

Believe The Lie

2006-10-29T17:35:00.000-05:00

The people in these articles put their beliefs before everything else in their lives. I can relate this because I do the same thing. My beliefs are not ones of religious convictions just principals by which I live my life. However, I also think people need to learn and adapt with the times. I had trouble relating with the Chinese girl because of her rigid ideals.

This I Believe

2006-10-29T12:55:00.000-05:00

These essays on belief say alot about the individuals' belief system and what is important to these people. How people develope their beliefs is even more interesting. We are generally the products of our families and our belief system starts as children. We tend to follow the family practices and religions as our parents and grandparents did. Our sense of family changes as our world expands and we are exposed to more and more situations whereby we may alter our beliefs and the the way we see the world.

I truly admire people who can follow their beliefs and especially filial piety no matter what. In many cultures those beliefs were the only things that allowed them to survive difficult situations.

I do not think that I have ever been so committed that I would go and do something as difficult as finding monkeys to feed each year or follow my family's idea of destiny for me. In my family we encouraged our children to follow their dreams. We hoped we had given them a good base from which to grow as good people.

Each individual belief system is what gets us through life's journey, and there are practices of some of the religions we have studied such as meditation that can only support our beliefs. I admire the strong beliefs that Ying Ying YU, Angelina and Mr. Taw have.

This I Believe

2006-10-28T08:13:00.000-04:00

The article by Ying Ying Yu reflects filial piety. It reflects the strong sense of duty and focus on education and the pressure and sacrifice involved to do everything for the family and her country. I wonder what it must be like for someone that can't make the grade. Imagine the low self esteem they must endure. She speaks of moments when she would like to do something else, but feels it's too late to start over, it is her duty to become a lawyer, this is what her family expects. While I can appreciate her sense of duty and obligation to do well, I also think it is sad that there is no individuality. It is sad to think that one can't have dreams or have the oppotunity to follow those dreams.

I think the article about the monkeys is interesting. He follows that ritual every year, even when it proved difficult to do. Even though he may questioned the practice at times, he became anxious when he encountered difficulties attemting to carry out this ritual. He obviously felt the deep obligation to continue so his family can prosper.

The story about Angelina is foreign to me. I don't understand the blind obedience and suppression of individuality.

Comparative Religions: Comparative Religions: This I Believe

2006-10-27T14:56:00.000-04:00

Comparative Religions: This I Believe
I found the stories very interesting. The article by Ying Ying Yu made perfect sense to me, as I have always believed that Chinese people are very high believers in education. I know a few people from China and they are all very intelligent. I am sure there are exceptions out there, but for the most part, I believe they are intelligent people. In fact, the one Chinese person I know, sends his children to a Chinese school so they keep up with their speaking and writing of the particular part of China where they originate from. I enjoyed the story about Harold feeding the monkeys every year on his birthday. It makes me wish that I had some sort of ritual that I was commited to do every year to make me believe that I was helping my family in some way. We do have our birthday cakes every year and make our wishes, but do we wish for ourselves or for someone else? The story really made me think about this. The last story about Angelina was very foreign to me. Although we learned about these dedicated people in class, I can't imagine living my life that way. If this is what makes her happy and feel good about herself, then I say, why not? It is just not for me.

This I Believe

2006-10-26T09:14:00.000-04:00

In regards to the first article, this hard work ethic and "no self" idea was always a characteristic of Chinese culture it was just more emphasized and enforced with the arrival of communism. I also think a lot of these ideas are strong aspects of Confuciusism although i could not open the other article which explained why they were considered irrelevant until recently. These articles show just how strong belief is in people, even if they question it or if it seems a little silly to them it is very hard to eliminate its effect on your life. The man that fed the monkeys even questioned it a little bit but he still continues to do it.

2006-10-25T21:11:00.000-04:00

At fourteen years of age, I was concerned about learning a new cheerleading routine, memorizing my marching band music, my next test, or if that cute boy liked me. I knew what career I was interested in and I picked my classes accordingly. I wanted my parents and family to be proud of me and my accomplishments. I knew what I needed to do and should do, but I was not thinking about a duty, or obligation to my family, teachers, or country. I didn’t think of needing to repay them for what they did for me. I grew up going to church. I try to be a faithful Christian, treat others well, and act in good moral judgment. This is how I choose to live my life. The people in these articles were very disciplined and felt a duty to live a certain way. Their dedication to their beliefs, communities, and families is admirable.

This I Believe

2006-10-25T20:16:00.000-04:00

I commend the three people in each of these stories. While all three are somewhat difficult to relate to, the story about the American women seems extreme to me. While I admire her dedication and commitment, I cannot understand putting yourself through that type of physical pain. In the American culture we strive to be individualistic, to say "there is no individual, no me" is such a foreign idea to grasp. We are brought up to strive for ....., to achieve, and succeed, but that goal is for ourselves, not our country. If we make someone happy or proud along the way that is an extra bonus. Our dreams are what motivate us, to think of them as illusions would be disheartening. To not have a choice about my own life and the direction it would take, would be distressing. If my dreams were illusions, I would not be in school now.

I can relate best to the man who feeds the monkeys. I would like to believe that I go out on a limb almost everyday. I am deeply committed to the work I do, I have a responsibilty to challenge our judicial systems thinking, and reactions to victims. It is not always easy or comfortable, but I feel it is something I am committed to do. "><$BlogItemTitle$>

Comparative Religions: This I Believe

2006-10-24T16:21:00.000-04:00

I believe that the individuals in each article did what they believed was important to them through either traditions or teachings. In their hearts they believe this is a necessary part in theior lives that must be honored and fulfilled for their family to prosper from the many blessings they have received and or continue to receive. We talked about filial piety and this is one example of that.

I can relate to the gentlemen from Burma. He has practice the ritual of feeding a monkey every year on his birthday in honor of his family. Although he questioned this practice to some degree he never abandoned the ritual. I can honestly sqay that I have done something that someone else would probably question whether it was ethical or not. However I did what I thought was best for the individual as long as I did not cause any harm or injury to those involved.

This I Believe

2006-10-24T11:05:00.000-04:00

The photo above shows the author of the first article I'd like you to read. She was fourteen years old when she wrote it. As you read it, bear in mind that The People's Republic of China has, until very recently, insisted that the teachings of Confucius are not relevant in a communist state. A few years ago, the Party line changed considerably: see what's happening now.

There are two other brief articles I want you to read for this week's blog assignment. The first is by a man from Burma; the second is by an American woman.

All three of these (excepting the one about the Confucius statue) are part of a series by National Public Radio called "This I Believe." It's a wonderful series, still being aired; if you'd like to read others, you can check them out here.

Okay, so, how are these articles relevant to what we've been discussing in class? Do any of them speak to you? By which I mean, what are your reactions to them? Can you relate to them, or do the ideas expressed in them seem totally foreign to you? Have you ever gone out on a limb to do something you believed in deeply, as does the man from Burma every year on his birthday?

~Namaste~

2006-10-16T17:21:00.000-04:00

The pope can say whatever he wants, and people will follow him, i do not know why he would say what he did, but he did. He obviously felt he had a good reason, and maybe something good will come out of it.

"><$BlogItemTitle$>

The Pope and his speach

2006-10-16T15:51:00.000-04:00

I do not feel that what the Pope said was wrong at all. People took what he said out of context and when that happens the truth is often lost. The fact is Muslim Jihadists are crazy, the attack in retaliation of the Popes speach on an innocent nun prove it. That particular sect of the Islamic faith will never be able to coinside with the West or any other religion. They can not even get along with other members of Islam.

2006-10-15T23:41:00.000-04:00

I found the pope's words to be unwise, but not wrong. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and al though his statements were unnecessary, he still had the right to say them. Despite this freedom though, I also felt that the could have stated his opinions without making them sound so harsh.

The Pope and Islamism

2006-10-15T20:36:00.000-04:00

I'm not sure just what the Pope was expecting to happen but I also do not hold him totally accountable for the statements he made.

There seems to be a personal concern, on the Pope's part, regarding the Islam religion. Yet, if we think about all religions, there are aspects of which we do not understand or think of as moral; including the Catholic religion. Still, most of us have the sense to respect each and every religion. The Pope, in his speech, has decided not to give the respect expected but rather decided to attack the Islam religion.

I do not believe that the Pope should be held entirely responsible for what happened in Germany. I do realize that there are people that help him with his speeches and for, whatever reason, they allowed the Pope to express his concerns regarding Islams ability to live with the Western mentality of lifestyles.

Bottom line, there is no way that we should expect to change a religion. We should respect all religions and, in turn, our beliefs should be respected also.

The Pope

2006-10-15T18:56:00.000-04:00

I think that the remarks made by the Pope were not done to discriminate against anyone. He is a very important man to the Roman Catholic Religion, and if his faith leads him to believe the things he said, he is entitled to say those things. His intentions were most definitely not to brew up any conflicts or to even cause any sort of violence. I also see how his remarks could be taken as disrespectful to the people of Islam. If we could all love infinitely without boundaries, than even situations like these could be approached with greater ease.

"><$BlogItemTitle$>

pope and islam

2006-10-15T15:16:00.000-04:00

i think the popes words were taken out of context. his mission was to try and bring about more of an awareness of other religions but the media turned it into what it now is. why would the pope, a man of outstanding morals, put down any bodys religion or stereotype islamics as jihadists. i think the media really distorted this one.

The Pope and Islam

2006-10-15T06:42:00.000-04:00

The Pope is a very learned man and from what I understand, he was quoting an ancient text about the nature of Islam as depicted in that text. The media then interpreted the statement as against Islam which then fueled the controversy. I have listened to speeches by leaders of our country during the election process. I get one impression from that speech only to listen to the news commentary following the speech and wonder if I listened to the same speech. I do not think that the Pope's intention was to criticize Islam. I do believe his words were taken out of context from the rest of his statement. Unfortunately people respond without all of the facts, with what they think to be true. We do the same thing in our everyday life and look at the problems that are created by doing so.

We all have opinions - not always based on fact, but on what we believe to be true. If there is contraversy, we react to defend ourselves even though we may be wrong and unfortunately people's pride, self esteem can be hurt. The Pope did apologize, however I do not think that he needed to do so.

2006-10-14T19:21:00.000-04:00

As a person of world wide authority, Pope Benedict XVI’s words mean a lot. No one can be certain, of his intentions with the comments he made. He needs to make sure he chooses is words more carefully. His words were hurtful to many people.

The Pope and Islam

2006-10-14T09:51:00.000-04:00

A person such as the Pope, who is in a position of power has a greater sense of responsibilty for their actions. It was very short-sighted of the Pope to not understand the possible consequences for his comments, especially when we are quite aware that their are fractions of extreme Islamics who react with violence. In the first article the Pope is presented as a man who is quite learned in various religions, is reflective before speaking, and says what he means. A man of this presence could not have been so naive to not know what could possibly happen. While he may not owe an apology for his actual statements, he does owe an apology for being so short sighted. If his effort was to build a bridge between Muslims and Christians he created a greater divide. The violent reaction by some Muslems, is unfortuante also, it does little to bring together two worlds that have been already divided by to much violence and misunderstanding.

"><$BlogItemTitle$>

Does the Pope Quote in the Woods

2006-10-13T12:08:00.000-04:00

In the global world we live in, information is available like never before. Right now the opinions of this class, on this blog, are available for anyone to see. Through the right outlets, the average person can have their thoughts heard by millions of people. In this respect, people of power and importance have their every word scrutinized. This is why I feel that His Excellency knew exactly what he was doing. World leaders can’t say inflammatory things, even when making a reference in an innocent context, without reaction and consequence. Obviously His Eminency did not foresee nor intend the violent uproar resulting from his comments, however the comments’ negative connotation was not unintentional. Consciously, he expressed his opinion by referencing another’s.

The Pope and Islam

2006-10-13T08:46:00.000-04:00

I don't understand why the Pope would make the references he made toward Islam. He had to know these remarks would be taken out of context, splashed across the news media, and blown out of proportion. I've seen news reports reflecting the muslim world wants the Pope to "take it back", an appology isn't enough, well, we know that it's impossible to take it back. I think the Pope should have used better jugement , but I don't think the he needs to apologize to anyone. I think that no matter what he says now, it won't suffice. If this was an attempt to open a dialogue with Muslim leaders, or to promote a better understanding of Islamic religion, then he blew it big time. I know we only see negative news coverge of Muslims committing violence and atrocities, but hopefully, someday we will see the rest of the Muslims world, those that don't resort to murder or violence, portrayed in a positive light. I think thefirst article was definitely pro-Pope while the second article written by Abdulahi Sufi was very interesting and did a better job at describing the reactions to the Pope's speech.

Comparative Religions: Comparative Religions: The Pope and Islam

2006-10-11T18:20:00.000-04:00

Comparative Religions: Comparative Religions: The Pope and Islam
I don't understand why the pope would bring up a quote from a book that was written so long ago at this sensitive time on earth. Was he trying to open talks between Muslims & Christians? I tend to hope so. I think we should just leave the Muslim people alone. If you compare Christians and Muslims, they are both monotheistic by believing in one God(derived from Abraham). The Muslims believe in Jesus but as a prophet, not the chosen one. They believe that Muhammad is their chosen one. We also follow 2 different holy books. The Christians and Muslims should be at least tolerant of one another since their religions basically come from the same root. I know we will never agree with one religion, but I would like us to be at least understanding of each other's cultures.

The Pope and Islam

2006-10-11T09:19:00.000-04:00

Initially when I heard about his statements I was very surprised that he would say such a thing, but then I looked more into it and saw what his intentions were and understood his point a little better. His statements were more of a call to the moderate Muslims for peace and non-violence. But I'm still surprised he was naive enough to think that his comments wouldn't be taken out of context and used against him. His speech could be interpreted many ways but I would prefer to think he was reaching for understanding with the Muslim community.

Comparative Religions: The Pope and Islam

2006-10-10T20:06:00.000-04:00

Comparative Religions: The Pope and Islam
I think the Pope knew exactly what he was saying, but I think he underestimated the reaction he would receive. Killing in the name of any religion is wrong. If Mohammad believed in nonviolence than why do so many of his followers in the Middle East use their faith to justify all their senseless violence and destruction of their homeland. More muslims need to stand up to for what they truly believe in and put an end to the killing. I use to think that if all the muslim mothers would finally get fed up with losing their children and make a stand against violence that they could make a difference, but I see some of them on TV encouraging their children to die for the cause. What a waste of human life. I don't think the Pope owes anyone an apology, he was stating what many would like to say, but are afraid to do so. Religions with a true belief system preach compassion and kindness for their fellow man. I think a part of the Muslim community has lost site of this. I hope they can find their way back to what they say is their religious belief, but it doesn't look like it will be anytime soon.

Comparative Religions: The Pope and Islam

2006-10-10T20:02:00.000-04:00

I remember when I first heard about the Pope making that comment thinking, what would posses someone to make a comment like this with everything that is going on in Iraq. After getting more information on the comments that were made, I realized that the Pope just recited was already in written and I believe he did it more to generate awareness and bring to the surface what he innocently thought needed to be addressed. Like I had stated before, the timing was just bad.

Comparative Religions: The Dalai Lama and Science

2006-10-10T19:39:00.000-04:00

I feel this article on the Dalai Lama was proof that our society is not willing to accept, that although we have made many strides in science, we still have not been able to find cures for many diseases that have existed for decades. This proves that neuroscience is not an exact science and leaves one to wonder just how on the money the Dalai Lama was when he talked about how the human mind could be conditioned to be compassionate.

The Pope and Islam

2006-10-10T13:48:00.000-04:00

photo by miqul

I'm sure by now most of you have read or heard about the Pope's remarks concerning
Islam, and the reactions of many muslims around the world to his speech.

We haven't yet reached the Abrahamic portion of our course, but before this
controversy dies down entirely, we should talk about it.  What do you all make of
this?  What was the Pope's intention?  Was it a bumbling attempt to "open a dialogue,"
as they say in the diplomacy biz, with muslim leaders, hampered by foot-in-mouth
disease?  Does it indicate a deep-seated antagonism toward Islam?  Or was it, as
suggested in this article, a very carefully constructed attempt to begin
something much more far-reaching and ambitious - a move toward real understanding?

One more article to read - it's brief - a Muslim leader's very sane take on the
situation.  Then post your opinion of this fracas.

~Namaste~

Comparative Religions: The Dalai Lama and Science

2006-10-09T15:46:00.000-04:00

Comparative Religions: The Dalai Lama and Science
I think that sciwentists should welcome a collaboraation between the Dalai lama and themselves. I know scientists insist upon concrete evidence in order to support a theory, but they are also aware that many things happen to human beings that can't be explained by science. Thye also know that we only use a small portion of our brains, and I for one would be willing to explore any avenue that could help people that are suffering with many illnesses by using the power of their brain instead of adding another medication to their regimen. I suffer from chronic pain on a daily basis, and i often use meditation nad other non- pharmasuitical means to try and alleviate the pain. Scientists know that these methods work even if they can't prove why. I would think they would want to broaden their horizons and learn more from the Dalai Lama. Working together could prove beneficial to both sides. Science needs to look at things from all angles, and even if they can't find scientific proof to support what they are studying, at least they tried.

The Dalai and Science

2006-10-09T08:16:00.000-04:00

After reading the article on Dali Lama, I was curious as to why anyone would object to his presence as a speaker at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in Washington, D.C. Then after doing some research I came to realize that the concern was political and instigated by Chinese-American researchers. But, they did get over 600 signatures in protest of the Dalai speaking at the convention.
It is difficult to understand the mind of a scientist but I have been aware that science and religion are of very different thinking processes. Simply put, science is facts and religion is beliefs. But what harm would it be to listen to someone's years of compassion via meditation. Some argue that the Dalai's speech..." will highlight a subject with largely unsubstantiated claims and compromised scientific rigor and objectivity at a prestigious meeting attended by more than 20,000 neuroscientists". I do understand that scientists need proof but why not do some research?
I also came across an urban definition of scientist - an individual who aplies the realms of mathematics and the sciences to do things that are difficult without ever knowing why. A scientist will never care about science ever benefiting humanity, only advancing science for the sake of science. This may not be accurate for all scientists, but it may ring true for many.
I hope some of the scientists and physcians who attended the convention kept an open mind and listened to the Dalai because his experiences with meditation and its impact on humanity could benefit all of us.

Go Dalai Lama!

2006-10-08T23:26:00.000-04:00

I feel that no harm can be done by having a man, even a religious figurehead, speak at that kind of convention. At worst he could have no effect or good points to bring up, but at the most, he could shed light on a controversal subject and let us see this subject from new points of view. Nothing in this world is black and white, we have to look at things upside down and inside out before we can even begin to comprehend them. I think the Dalai Lama had relevent points and that he related both Buddhism and science in an understandable way. As for the scientists who boycotted the convention, I feel they missed out on what could have been and mind-opening experience for them.

science dali lama

2006-10-08T18:07:00.000-04:00

The article was very enjoyable. I thought the words and insights of the dali lama were very forward moving for the relationship of faith and science. Seeing how the mind interacts with exposure to emotions and attention was interesting. Because of traditional budhist meditation(freeing the mind) there is a unique opportunity of the scientific world to study the mind and its mechanisms . The dali lama and science according to the article both agree"understanding that the human capacity for moral thinking evolves alongside human knowledge" makes total sense to me. Think about how we were 10 years ago compared to now. Have we not learned and gained more understanding to life and what it deals us and others? A sense of what is real, right and wrong has developed in some manner in all of us. I think we can all agree..... what ever be true let it be known.

The Emperor wears no clothes

2006-10-08T17:39:00.000-04:00

When science dismisses an idea without fully exploring it, the scientists begin to sound like many close-minded religious zealots.

science/ religion

2006-10-08T16:11:00.000-04:00

i think that when the dalai lama gets to speak at something like that its a wonderful thing. to have a representitive of religion at a scientific meeting is a great idea. ive always thought that there was a connection between the 2. i dont agree that scientists did not feel the need to show up or speak. science cant explain everything, and these men who are so smart should be open to what a man like the lama has to say

His Holliness and Neuroscience

2006-10-08T12:23:00.000-04:00

I thought that it was appropriate for the Dalai Lama to be at the convention and to speak there because his topics of speech were relevent to neuroscience. For other scientists to protest against that was rather rude I thought. They could have just listened to what he had to say and took it in and accepted it for what it was or disagreed with it for what it was. I thought it was very interesting how he said that feelings of compassion and feelings of pain come from the same part of the brain. Also the topic of smoking and medicines used to eliminate the cravings was interesting. The Dalai Lama added that possibly there could be a drug that would eliminate all cravings. To this a scientist added that that would induce a coma. The Dalai Lama answered, "That would be disastrous." I think that remark means that we need not medicine to control our cravings, but a deeper sense of mind control over our body, which goes back to meditation and its effect on the brain.

"><$BlogItemTitle$>

2006-10-05T12:47:00.000-04:00

I think it was a little closed minded of some scientists to boycot the conference because the Dalai Lama was scheduled to speak. I think the Dalai Lama made some interesting comments about studying the relationship between intentional thought and mental activity. I think he made a good case for investigating the connection between the Buddhist ability to focus the mind and cognitive understanding. I believe as the article stated, that people are multidimintional and can learn from different perspectives. People practice meditation as a means of coping, so why not study the impact of Buddhist practices and influence on the mind? I think there could be meaningful insight gained from such a study. Not everything needs to be cured by science alone.

Dalai Lama and Science

2006-10-05T09:36:00.000-04:00

I myself was never one for science and being of a completely differnet mindset it is a little difficult for me to see why so many scientists objected to the Dalai Lama speaking at the Society for Neuroscience. Although I do see why they raised some objections because of the aspects of Buddhism that have no scientific evidence. But after reading the summary of the Dalai Lama's speech I feel that it did no harm and that his speech was a valid addition to the meeting. Through his speech he emphasized ethics and the compassion that science could take to their investigation and experimentation. These quailities are of high importance in Buddhism and its influence woud aid the scienetific communtiy. I liked how in the one article a women said that after hearing his speech she would have approached her study a little differently. The Eastern influence on science will always be an asset because it offers a different perspective that the west may not be aware of.

Dalai and Science

2006-10-04T16:35:00.000-04:00

I feel that there is definitely a place for a religious man to speak at a scientific conference and I am delighted that the Dalai Lama did so. There is a world separation of science and religion or should I say ethical issues surrounding science and scientific research. It would have been an inspiration to hear both sides of the discussion. It is a shame that some scientists were so opposed to the idea that they chose not to attend. In medicine, I have found that we are not truly treating the whole person, just the parts that may be broken and we are not looking at the interrelatedness of body, mind and spirit. There may not be definitive scientific research to support that thought (although we may be slowly moving in that direction), but my personal experiences say there is a very important connection. The Dalai Lama may not be a scientist, but he uses his brain and is able to relay those messages to his body and his spirit to meditate and he is aware of the ethical side as well as the scientific side.

I truly admire him for undertaking the task and for doing it so eloquently. he brought an awareness of the ethical side of research.

The Dalai Lama and Science

2006-10-02T23:20:00.000-04:00

photo by ronsimachine

The annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience which took place in November of last year was both controversial and unusual, in that for the first time it included one of the world's most respected religious figures as a speaker: the 14th Dalai Lama. And he spoke on neuroscience, rather than on religion!

If you click on the above link, you can read the reaction of many of the highly-respected neuroscientists who had intended to attend the conference but chose not to because of Tenzin Gyatso's presence.

Next click here to read a brief summary of the Dalai Lama's speech. I think you will find his approach to science in general, and to neuroscience in particular, very interesting. Finally, click here for one more brief article on the influence of his participation in the conference and the significance of some scientists allowing him to participate.

Post your reaction. Do you feel it was appropriate for a religious leader to participate in such a conference? What do you think of his remarks? Do you think that what he said was scientific, or do you agree with those scientists who boycotted the conference?

Remember to comment on your classmates' posts as well.

~Namaste~

Jainism

2006-10-02T15:38:00.000-04:00

I feel that the founding principals of this religion are good. It is good not to kill other things, trying to attain higher spiritual awareness is also good. Unfortunatley for me a lot of questions arise. What if a Jain has a parasite that will kill them? Will they kill the parasite in order to save their life or will they simply let themselves die in order to save the parasite? I would like to know. I really do not think that children fasting is such a good idea either. Children at that age are easily influenced by the people around them, and like the article states the child may only be doing it to obtain praise from his parents. It also strikes me as odd that the boys motivations for doing this was to break records in the family. He was not motivated to do it for his religion, he wanted praise and the rewards that flooded in from his family. After reading many of my fellow classmates blogs, I felt the need to play devils advocate. Let me know what you think, it would be interesting.

Jaina and Fasting

2006-10-02T15:13:00.000-04:00

They are very sincere about their religion. If their child wants to fast, there should be no reason why they shouldn't. They are very spirtitual, and if fasting helps bring them to that level, then they should do whatever they need to do.

"><$BlogItemTitle$>

Janis commitment to be admired

2006-10-02T08:51:00.000-04:00

I admire the commitment and dedication it requires to follow the ritual of fasting. Each of the articles portrayed one persons own conviction to the Janis religion. To totally give up everything for ones faith is uncomprhensable to me, but I admire each persons conviction. The story about the ten year old boy is somewhat concerning. Is the child only repeating what he sees, to gain the acceptance of his peers or, does someone of that age truly have the emotional capacity to understand what he is doing and why? If someone of that age is monitored by a guardian, as to his physical health during the fasting period and they were safe, I would not report them. I would only hope that this would not be a repeated process for loing periods of time, because then I feel it would affect his overall growth and development. In a world where we are focused on accumulating the most, I respect the total dedication and devotion of the Janis.

"><$BlogItemTitle$>

2006-10-01T22:38:00.000-04:00

I believe that fasting is an effective and useful tool in honoring the sacred. Al though it sounds extreme, I believe that if the boy himself wants to fast he should be able to. Their way of life creates an awareness many of us struggle to achieve.

Comparative Religions: Jaina and Fasting

2006-10-01T21:48:00.000-04:00

Comparative Religions: Jaina and Fasting
As an Rn, I find it hard to believe that someone could fast as long as Maharaj and still survive. I also believe that there are many things that happen in life that can't be logically explained. For an American like myself who thinks that fasting 24 hours for a hospital test is a hardship, I envy anyone who is so deeply devoted to their religious beliefs, that they would be willing to do this. fasting and deprivation appear to be the cornerstone of some of these religions, but if everyone in these religions stuck to the beliefs so ridgidly, the country would come to a standstill. They eat very little, but who would be able to harvest the crops since most of the people would be too eak from fasting, to do much more than pray, meditate and sleep. Fasting in the short term is practiced by many religions for one reason or another, but longterm fasts tend to focus on the individual, not the cause.

Jainism

2006-10-01T20:58:00.000-04:00

It seems to me that several people agree that there is a certain level of respect that should be given to Jains and their rituals of fasting. And as far as whether or not a child should be participating in a fast with their family, I would support it as long as he/she were old enough to understand why they were doing it and it was gone about in a healthy way.

"><$BlogItemTitle$>

Jains and Fasting

2006-10-01T15:44:00.000-04:00

After reading the articles about the Jains and how they fast, I found it to be very admirable of them to be able to have such mental control over their bodies in order to achieve a higher spiritual state. It's interesting that their reverence for life causes them to do things such as wear netted masks and not eat after sunset so they don't accidentally inhale any bugs. Also how they sweep their paths as they walk. I believe that if you revere everything that is around you and realize that all the material we own is really useless in our spiritual states, then you have achieved something that many lack these days.
As far as children fasting, if it is done out of their own decision, I believe it would be okay. As long as there was appropriate supervision as far as gaurdians and doctors to establish a safe level of health. I would support my neighbors child for making that decision if I saw that his gaurdians were approaching the situation correctly.

"><$BlogItemTitle$>

fasting and jainism

2006-10-01T14:02:00.000-04:00

after reading the articles on the jains, i have a very deep respect for them. i think everyone can learn from the jains. to achieve what you want in life, sometimes you have to sacrifice and do somethings you dont want to do. like in college. i dont want to do my homework but i do it because i want to be successful in life. the jains want a deeper connection to God and want to be religious so they choose to fast.
if i were to learn a little 8 year old boy was fasting it is in no way my obligation to inform child services. this is a religious ordeal not a negligent parenting case. if the family feels that a little boy should fast then so be it

Jain

2006-10-01T13:28:00.000-04:00

I respect anyone who denies self for clarity in God. We are limited in our mind, body and spirit. To commit the body and spirit to focused and cleansed is admirable. Fasting is seen healthy in the medical realm for a period of time. In Jainism, to be concerned with destroying small insects seems a little too strict and foriegn to reality. Death is a part of life. To kill a bug by accident does not seem consequential, but limiting.

The boy seems too young to fast physically for that period of time. I would not support his fasting.

Jains and Fasting

2006-10-01T08:15:00.000-04:00

The articles on the Jains and the fast were very interesting. I have worked with physicians, who as part of their religious practices, fasted during certain times of the year. They were not allowed to eat or drink until after the sun went down. This lasted about a month and the whole family was involved. To fast for a year with only one glass of water a day seems unbelievable let alone unhealthy. The incredible faith is what really strikes me. I cannot imagine the sacrifice.

The most difficult part however is when it concerns the children. Children when they reach an age to truly understand the "sacrifice" should be able to make the decision. The 10 year old wnted to be the youngest to do this but is that the reason to fast? Was his belief the reason for fasting or was it the promise of gifts? I truly do not know what I would do if my neighbors practiced Jainism and the children were fasting. I certainly respect the religion, however I can not see putting a child in jeapardy. We get court injunctions when a child is involved who requires blood to save his life and the religious beliefs of the family do not believe in blood transfusions. Is this any different?

2006-09-29T22:58:00.000-04:00

As I read the articles I tried to see fasting from the view of the Jainism religion. I found it very difficult for me. The hardest was to think of small children partaking in this act. I admire the strong spiritual faith of the Jains. I can look at an adult making the spiritual decision to fast with admiration. However, I wonder what lies beneath the decision of a child to fast. Is the child taking part in fasting as an act of faith or to get the praise of his/her parents and community? Does a child understand the health risks that come along with fasting?

Jains and Fasting

2006-09-29T18:00:00.000-04:00

I can appreciate the reasons and purpose of the fast, but I think the length of time is extreme. I am amazed that there is no irreparable harm to his physical body. I would expect there to be more damage than just weight loss. It does make me wonder how this man survived on one glass of water daily. I'm sure his faith played an integral part in his outcome, but I can't exactly say I'm not just a little bit sceptical. His statement about "people realizing they can live and be happy with nothing and they don't have to spend their lives struggliing to get possessions"is interesting. I wonder about the 10 year olds motives and his ability to make the decision to fast. I think it's too young and I don't agree with his parents supporting his decision at such a young age. He said he wanted to be the youngest in his family to fast. At what age do you draw the line? His uncle stated it's importance is equivalent to our Christmas, they make sacrifices and we shop. I found it interesting that the child was showered with material gifts.

What Ever Happened To Baby Jain

2006-09-29T15:10:00.000-04:00

The fact that Jains see fasting as a joy and way of enlightenment makes sense to me. Fasting is a way of expanding consciousness to reach spiritual enlightenment. Indigenous peoples in the Amazon put their hands in logs filled with fire ants in order to reach a level of spiritual awareness. Others eat ritual barks to induce heavy vomiting to purge the body and open the mind. When your mind and body are pushed to its limits, consciousness is expanded far greater than in normal, comfortable conditions.

Intervening in a religious fast because of the age of a child has to be looked at contextually. If the child is being forced to do it against their will than that constitutes abuse. However, if the child is fasting under its own volition and is under doctor supervision than that falls under the category of free will. When the child comes begging for food, than the idea of free will is negated. Forcing a child to follow adult practices against their will is irresponsible and unethical.

Jainism and Fasting

2006-09-28T21:15:00.000-04:00

It is with great respect that I write this comment. How totally amazing it was to realize that a human being could fast for a year without any medical problems. I find this kind of belief to be extremely strong. These people have so much faith in their religion, Jainism, that they do things that would ordinarily be detrimental to their health.

Has anyone ever been involved with a trust test where you stand in front of someone and they tell you to fall backwards into their waiting arms. How many people actually have that trust in another individual. Jainism has followers that have such trust and faith.

But, there is one concern I have and I do not mean to be a skeptic, but, the articles we read discussed many separate cases of people fasting without any problems healthwise...............what about others who also fasted? Are there statistics of those who fasted and survived unscathed and statistics of those who did not. Is everyone able to go through the ordeal of fasting for great lengths of time and finish in a pretty healthy manner? Or, are there others who have attempted and failed.

Comparative Religions: Comparative Religions: Jaina and Fasting

2006-09-28T16:57:00.000-04:00

Comparative Religions: Comparative Religions: Jaina and Fasting
What struck me with this article was how devoted these people are to their religion. I can't imagine being able to do something like that because of the way that we live here in America. If that is what they want to do with their lives, who is anyone to oppose them? They are doing it to their own bodies for their own belief. What if someone in a particular religion would gorge themselves with food for 100 days or more for what they believed in? It's a matter of how deeply you feel about your religion. As far as the 10-year-old boy is concerned, I as a parent, would not allow that at such a young age even if I did it myself. Your body is still growing and I would feel that it would hinder his/her health. I don't know what I would do if my neighbor would allow their child to do that for their religion, like I said, it really is none of my business. It's like any religion that you feel strongly about. They all have their different beliefs. For instance in the Catholic religion, they give up something for lent and don't eat meat on Fridays during lent. Now, if my neighbor was starving their child to be abusive, then I would definitely call Child Protective Services.

Jaina and Fasting

2006-09-27T20:53:00.000-04:00

I would have to say that much of what I read in these articles is very admirable yet very shocking to someone brought up in the culture of the west. The things that followers of the Jainism advocate such as non-violence and simplicity is something we can all admire. I also like how Maharaj said that "they don't have to spend their lives struggling to get possessions" and that "people will see me and realize that they can live and be happy with nothing". This is a sentiment I find very refreshing. Now I don't think that we shouldn't have any possessions or luxuries but I dislike how our culture is so consumed by the pursuit of these things. So much of our lives our spent trying to gain wealth and possessions which in the end don't really matter much at all. As for what I thought about the fasting, I thought it was very extreme but if they feel that this helps them spiritually then I see no harm if it really causes no serious health risks. "All things in moderation" .

Comparative Religions: Jaina and Fasting

2006-09-26T14:23:00.000-04:00

When I read this story about Sahajmuniji Maharaj breaking his year long fast it made me automatically think of this from a medical perspective. I thought about how this man could fast in the way he did without food an with just one glass of water per day. If you read most medical journals you will find how they would go on to say that it is difficult for the human body to be able to function properly with a limited amount of water consumption. The biggest concern with the lack of water consumption would be dehydration which could ultimately cause a laundry list of complications from Cardiac issues realted to the electrolyte imbalance or renal failure. What I took away from this story is just how devoted the Jains are to their religion and their quest to reach total liberation. I am totally amazed that Sahajmuniji Maharaj was able to fast as long as he has without any major medical complication beside the weight loss.

As for Bhavya Sheth fasting at the age of 10. I, believe that although most Westerners would agree that this could easily be considered borderline child abuse because of the po-tential dangers, it is part of a religious ritual and the child is not being forced to participate and has been fasting since the age of 7.

Jaina and Fasting

2006-09-26T13:07:00.000-04:00

photo by PrathapBN

Many religions incorporate fasting into their annual cycle of rituals, but for Jains, fasting holds special significance. It is undertaken in a spirit of joy, by Jains of all ages.

Read the articles I sent you by email. What struck you as most significant, surprising, or insightful in them? How would you feel if you discovered that your next-door neighbors were allowing their 8-year-old child to fast for several weeks for religious reasons? Would you call Child Protective Services? Would you be supportive? Would you attempt to slip the child some food surreptitiously?

~Namaste~

2006-09-26T00:54:00.000-04:00

I believe that the story could be very true, due to my own beliefs and the facts that the girl gave. Reincarnation could help explain why we are drawn to certain places, people, and time periods. Sometimes in life we feel connections to one or all of these three things, but we don't know why. The possibility that we've lived previous times helps explain these inner instincts.
Believing in reincarnation full-heartedly would affect my life because karma would always be in the back of mind. I think it would cause me to be more aware of my thoughts and actions. And so while I can't say that I believe in reincarnation 100%, I can say that in my opinion the belief is not very far-fetched.

Reincarnation

2006-09-25T17:17:00.001-04:00

My take on this story was the fact that there are explanations to why people can remember a previous life. I have always tried to abstain from learning about people with "special" powers or with "special" memories because the supernatural is possible; just very difficult to understand or comprehend and to me a little scarey.

Such is the case in this story of remembering another life. The story goes on to justify why this could happen. I personally find it disturbing that when reincarnated one could be given a chance at another life but there is a slight possibility something could go wrong and you could be tormented with memories of another life while trying to live a new life. How awful!

I'm not saying this couldn't happen, I'm saying how awful for this to happen.

Shanti Devi

2006-09-25T17:15:00.000-04:00

I must admit that her story is compelling. Does it make me a believer in reincarnation? I cant say that it does. I do like the idea of reincarnation though. I would not mind coming back and giving life another shot. Sure you would have to face things that may have hurt, but you would also get the chance to relive some of lives most amazing moments. I know many people say they would never want relive highschool, but I sure would. I had a lot of fun!! It would be interesitng to me to see if my life would sort of be the same or take a different path.

reincarnation

2006-09-25T08:08:00.000-04:00

I was amazed by all the detail that Shanti Devi was able to give about her past life. What I believe is a bit different. I do believe there is a heaven and a hell, but I also believe we are given a choice of whether we want to come back to earth, not that we most earn it. When it comes to people knowing facts about their past lives, there is no way for anyone to know the truth. It is the same deal with all other unbelivable holy occurances. Every scienctists in the world can try to prove the occurance. The only person or thing that knows the truth is the higher being controling the event.

Reincarnation

2006-09-25T00:01:00.000-04:00

I read the story of Shanti Devi and I found it to be quite amazing and interesting. To me the idea of heaven and hell seemed to simplistic. Why go through everything we deal with in life, if it only leads to us sit either in paradise or otherwise for the rest of eternity. Reincarnation has a more interesting appeal and gives us a chance to retry things and redo things that maybe we never got the chance to in another life. I was amazed at the detail Shanti Devi was able to go into, and the depth that the investigation took along with the amount of interest people found in it. I think that maybe the idea of reincarnation shouldn't affect how we behave as much as our own conscience should, considering wouldn't most people want to live the most honest and happy life they could just for their own sake, not just because of how it will affect you years and lifetimes from now? I know I try to live as the best person I can be, and whether that lands me in heaven, hell, or reincarnated as a worm, I will happily take what is given to me because I am the only one who can choose my own actions.

"><$BlogItemTitle$>

Comparative Religions: Reincarnation - what do YOU think?

2006-09-24T19:25:00.000-04:00

Comparative Religions: Reincarnation - what do YOU think
I'm not sure if I like the idea of reincarnation or not. If we believe that to do good in this world would mean that you would be reincarnated in human form in the next life, that might be OK, but what if the next life is not such a good one. I have known great joy and sadness in my life, but I woudn't trade it for another life. I like to believe that my soul will live forever in the afterlife, and that the afterlife is better than anything we could imagine here on earth. The article doesn't say which life she preferred, and if she regretted being reincarnated. If I was a member of the lower caste sect,I don't think I would have liked the thought of reincarnation unless i would have been reincanated into a different caste. I've thought about reincarnation when I've experienced one of those deja vu moments, where I feel strongly that I have been here or done something before and yet I know I couldn't have.

Reincarnation-What do I think?

2006-09-24T12:15:00.000-04:00

As the same as everyone else it seems, I found the story of Shanti Devi to be very interesting. Could Lugdi really have been reincarnated and remember her past life? Could Shanti Devi have known all of the details about Lugdi's life as she did unless she was infact a reincarnation of her? I'm not quite sure and it is still a little hard for me to grasp the idea. Reincarnation is something that i'm not quite sure that I believe in. I see that some people say that if it is real than they should start leading better lives. My question is why? Is it because you earnestly seek to be a good, spiritual person, or do you fear being reincarnated as a gnat or something? Are both of these reasons justifiable? I'm not sure.
"><$BlogItemTitle$>

Reincarnation

2006-09-24T08:53:00.000-04:00

I do not believe in reincarnation. However, the story of Shanti Devi really made me think. If I did believe in reincarnation, I wouldn’t want to remember my past life. It would be hard to think of the loved ones I left behind. There are also parts of my life that were difficult that I would like to forget.
Believing in reincarnation wouldn’t change how I have been living my life. Even without the belief of reincarnation, I try to live a good life. I try to respect others and treat them well. I am motivated by my own beliefs to live the way I do. If I did believe in reincarnation, my motivation for living a good life might also include the fear of not being reborn as a human or being born into a lower class.

Reincarnation

2006-09-23T17:38:00.000-04:00

I enjoy the philosophy of the Hindu Religion. Truth is not found focusing on the self and there are moral virtues. The view of continual retribution is comforting and exhausting. Reincarnation would change my view of "duty" on earth. I would still try to do what was "right" but my motivation would be different.

Shanti Devi

2006-09-22T17:35:00.000-04:00

I was under the impression that one didn't remember a previous life, so I found the Shanti Devi story quite interesting. I think it had to be very traumatic for her. I can't imagine the feeling of being stuck in one life longing for the previous life that she was so obviously connected too. It' s so simplistic to say that was then, this is now, forget your past life. That's easy to say if you have no recollection of your previous life. I think it would be a great challenge and testament to one's faith to accept the here and now of a new life and to make the most of it. I think many people in the western world would be in therapy trying to sort through this situation.
I think I probably would behave differently if I knew I would reborn into a new life. Ithink it would cause me to be more intune with my spirituality. I think I would truly strive for harmony in my life and to be more appreciative for simple abundances.

Such A Long Long Time To Be Gone And A Short Time To Be There

2006-09-22T11:19:00.000-04:00

This story has believable elements to it. The idea of reincarnation is hard to substantiate with science. We know so little about the brain and what it is capable of. The mind is an entity separate from the physical brain. Science trying to substantiate phenomena of the mind is a complicated subject. There are people who are in touch with parts of the mind that seem unfathomable to most. Memories from past lives are not something that can be fabricated. In this case, the girl was able to recall the location of her former house, as well as intimate family secrets impossible to know otherwise.

The Hindu religion is surrounded by images of circles. Reincarnation is a circle within itself. Life following death following life. The Earth orbits around the sun and right now the Earth is spinning on its own axis in circles. Ancient cultures were more in touch with nature without having to conform to the boundaries of scientific proof. Perhaps this is why they were able to comprehend things in ways our western, adult minds are unable to.

Reincarnation

2006-09-21T15:09:00.000-04:00

I found the story of Shanti Devi very interesting on a couple of aspects. First, I can't imagine returning to live as another person or being or thing and then remembering my past life. It seems that though my past life was a good one, I would not want to compare it. I think it would be good thing to not remember the past life. It would be better to learn on a new plane. As we discussed in class, I do not think that I would like to relive my teen years or the difficult years or be exposed to the same or worse problems that were faced in this life. Secondly, I found the extreme faith and awareness facinating. I do believe that people with faith can and do envision a hereafter as though it were here on earth. The article made me think about the time things have been familiar to me or the feeling that I had done something or met someone before but cannot recall the specific time or place as though it was a surreal experience. It did make me wonder (for a short moment) if maybe I was here before.

I think my life would probably change if I believed in reincarnation with a greater emphysis on service and community and less on self - to strive for the good (doing good) life to be with Brahman. I believe I would be more understanding of differences in people and in their cultures, and hopefully I would reach that state of harmony that is often elusive in today's society. Reincarnation is truly a difficult concept for me to grasp - rebirth or redeath.

Shanti Devi

2006-09-20T19:23:00.000-04:00

This was a very interesting story and maybe reincarnation isn't as unbelievable as you or I would think. The description in the article about how Shanti Devi was able to retain her memory from her past life by repeating the name of God day and night with full devotion just shows how strong her spirituality really was. I recently read the book Franny and Zoey by J.D. Salinger which is two short novels in one book. The Franny character in it has recently become really interested in this type of thing and she is telling her boyfriend about it who isn't very interested at all. She learned about it from this book about a pilgrim who learned how to do this and he journeys around the world teaching this type of prayer. Basically you just endlessly chant the name of god or some type of prayer until it just becomes second nature (but still with much devotion) and you are praying every single second of your life. So then your life is just one long endless prayer of devotion to God. The fact that Shanti Devi was so devoted to God is what struck me most about this story. For the western thinker reincarnation is very hard to believe but who knows, can you really discredit all the facts of this story?

Comparative Religions: The Reincarnation of Shanti Devi

2006-09-20T18:35:00.000-04:00

Comparative Religions: The Reincarnation of Shanti Devi
I was truly amazed by the story of Shanti Devi. When I first started reading, I thought it was a big hoax but after all of the investigation that was done, I really believe that she had been reincarnated. How could someone possibly remember details of family affairs that no one would have known about? Everyday people have "near death" experiences and can come back to tell about it in detail, so who is to say that we cannot be reborn? I know they say that it is a chemical reaction in your brain when you have deja vu, but could it be possible that we were here before? I have to agree with the comments about why are we attracted to certain people and places? I know have looked at pictures and feel like I had been at that place before but I know that I haven't (at least not in this lifetime). This story really made me think alot about reincarnation and I think it is possible to happen.

The Reincarnation of Shanti Devi

2006-09-19T10:28:00.000-04:00

I, found this story to make me think more in depth of a possible afterlife. It was amazing how the Shanti Devi was so detailed in her interviews regarding her previous life. It definitely made me think about the times I have been approached by strangers who have made the statement "I know you from somewhere". Was this just a coincedence, or did they know me possibly from a previous life? I would say the same would hold true for those times we have experienced déjà vu. Why is it that we can with great detail remember the same actions that occured? Is it déjà vu? Or have we been there before? I am not traditionally a believer of reincarnation however, I am going to be a little more open about the possibilities.

Reincarnation - what do YOU think?

2006-09-19T00:30:00.000-04:00

How would it change your life if you believed that you would return to this world in another form after you died? Would you behave differently if you expected to be reborn as a member of someone else's family - perhaps in another neighborhood, the next town over, or even across the ocean, speaking a different language and wearing skin of a different color?

Read the story of Shanti Devi and imagine its impact on Hindus around the world. Then post your own reaction to it here on the blog. Return before Sunday night to comment on someone else's post.
By the way, did you know there was a perfume named Samsara? Now that you know how most Hindus really feel about reincarnation and the cycle of birth and rebirth (or death and redeath), it's a little ironic, isn't it, that someone would name a perfume after it? Here's a link to an amusing piece on the subject.
~Namaste~

I Pray To Joe Pesci

2006-09-15T11:07:00.000-04:00

In class we spoke about criteria that are necessary for a religion to be valid. The criteria included an involvement with the realm of the sacred, a system of symbols with deep meaning, and a path of ultimate transformation. Even if this was a litmus test for validity, it is still observer dependent. My last post was ended by a quote. This time I believe my ideas on the validity of religion are beautifully and eloquently explained by one of our society's greatest thinkers: George Carlin.

“...You know who I pray to? Joe Pesci. Two reasons:
First of all, I think he's a good actor, okay? To me, that counts. Second, he looks like a guy who can get things done. Joe Pesci doesn't f**k around. In fact, Joe Pesci came through on a couple of things that God was having trouble with.

For years I asked God to do something about my noisy neighbor with the barking dog, Joe Pesci straightened that c**ksucker out with one visit. It's amazing what you can accomplish with a simple baseball bat. So I've been praying to Joe for about a year now. And I noticed something. I noticed that all the prayers I used to offer to God, and all the prayers I now offer to Joe Pesci, are being answered at about the same 50% rate. Half the time I get what I want, half the time I don't. Same as God, 50-50. Same as the four-leaf clover and the horseshoe, the wishing well and the rabbit's foot, same as the Mojo Man, same as the Voodoo Lady who tells you your fortune by squeezing the goat's testicles, it's all the same: 50-50. So just pick your superstition, sit back, make a wish, and enjoy yourself”

“…If there is a God, may he strike this audience dead! See? Nothing happened. Nothing happened? Everybody's okay? All right, tell you what, I'll raise the stakes a little bit. If there is a God, may he strike me dead. See? Nothing happened, oh, wait, I've got a little cramp in my leg. And my balls hurt. Plus, I'm blind. I'm blind, oh, now I'm okay again, must have been Joe Pesci, huh? God Bless Joe Pesci. Thank you all very much. Joe Bless You!”
-George Carlin

Validity of Religion

2006-09-13T19:20:00.000-04:00

I think that the indigenous people did believe that John Frum was a god, who would bring them many things that they felt would provide their people with a better life. While I don't believe that John Frum was a itself a religion, but one of the Gods that these people prayed to and part of their religion. Praying to Frum brought the people a sense of hope for a better life. I don't feel it is up to me to critisize what someone else's spiritual beliefs maybe. If this brings them a sense of hope and direction to their life.
"><$BlogItemTitle$>

Validity of Religion

2006-09-11T14:57:00.000-04:00

No I do not believe that is a religion. That doesn't mean all those people really thaught that Frum guy was like a god to them. It did give them a reason to live life. On the other hand it would just like me going onto a far away island or land and proclaiming myself god. Just because I say it so, doesn't make it true. As far as our class knowing that there is no god; I don't believe it would change anything. There are many things in my mind I know is not true, but that still doesn't change the fact that we all need to learn about them.

Is it Valid

2006-09-10T22:40:00.000-04:00

I really do not feel that this is a valid religion. The people who follow it may believe it to be, but just because they do doesnt make it real. If these people thought the sky was green, it doesnt mean it really is. This religion offers no path to spiritual enlightenment. It offers nothing of true substance, only the false ideas that they will obtain happiness through material wealth. I feel it is more on the lines of a cult than a true religion.

Tribute to Gyehyong Park

2006-09-10T22:36:00.000-04:00

"In the course of our lives things come and go - some pleasure, some pain, some work, some play, some dreams. And by these things we learn to make the heart an ocean, and on that to go beyond the troubles of this world."
~ from the diary of Gyehyong Park

Gyehyong Park was a 28-year-old Korean-American woman. She was a daughter, a sister, a beloved friend. She graduated from Queens College in 1999 and went on to work for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company as a sales support associate, until September 11, 2001, when the World Trade Center Towers were destroyed by terrorists.

We fear what we do not understand. Ignorance breeds fear, and fear, hatred. The only way to prevent such atrocities as the events of 9/11/01 is understanding. Only comprehension, in its fullest sense - "making the heart an ocean" - will end the violence. Can we ever achieve this?

Gyehyong Park's quilt square, from the United In Memory Project

Gyehyong, may you rest now beyond the troubles of this world. May your family find peace despite your absence. And may we never forget that five years ago we lost forever the opportunity to know you.

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.
~John Muir

click here for links to other 2,996 Project tributes

How Valid is This Religion?

2006-09-10T21:33:00.000-04:00

There is so much to be said in favor of this "cargo cult" religion, but there is much to be said against it.

When we consider what a religion consists of, John Frum's cargo cult meets three of the necessary criteria. I'm just not noticing a path of ultimate transformation. That alone does not make it a bad "religion" but the fact that the individuals worshipping John Frum in order to attain wealth and materialistic benefits is something to be concerned about.

Without specific information to state that worshipping for material gains is not a valid reason for a religion I will go on the premise that worshipping for material gains can leave individuals in a state of stagnancy. Waiting for something to happen instead of taking the steps to become more productive by one's own ability is especially counterproductive. Then, there is also the fact that what is gained without effort by the individual is not respected and might not be appreciated as well as that which is gained by personal labor and personal pride.

I would be inclined to consider this to be more of a cult than a "valid" religion. Just because someone took the time to attract people who are extremely needy of the basics of life by the promise of wonderful basics and luxuries to be expelled upon them someday as long as they worship him.........leaves me with feeling of a need to be "followed". The fact that John Frum condones or even urges the male members of this following to imbibe in the kava drink, which could be considered a form of brainwashing or at the very least a way of allowing men the ability of becoming intoxicated when others within the community might not think it is a good idea. This is an attivity is now allowed or approved which normally might not be allowed and then you gain an allegiance. Give something - get something back.

validity of religion

2006-09-10T19:20:00.000-04:00

to me this article made me realize that even though their religion seems a bit bogous it is still based off of good moral ideas.
their religions base is made up of primitive people who dont live mentally or physically in the same world as ameircans. yet their hope remains strong despite the obvious flaws.
i would say that this is definately a religion. in my opinion, god has showed humans many different ways to believe in a few different main ideas such as be a good person, dont lie, dont steal, dont kill. even if it is strange, and these islanders are still being virtuous people and thats a good thing no matter what they believe

if we as a class knew god didnt exist these religions would have no validity what so ever. no god would mean science explains everything making every little thing we no about religion such as faith, and good deeds bringing even better reward would have no bearing on our lives at all

Comparative Religions: Validity of Religion

2006-09-10T13:51:00.000-04:00

Comparative Religions: Validity of Religion
To these people, this is a religion. Prior to the missionaries attempt to convert them to Christianity, they believed in a higher power. When the Americans came along and brought all the new things that the villagers had never seen, they were awed and impressed. Creating John Frum as a "God" of sorts was their way of breaking free from the strict missionary influence. They were looking for a way out. The John Frum thing has been taught for 50 years, and has been passed from one generation to another. Over time an idea can become strenghtened as the story is told again and again, and ceremonies take on a traditional aspect. This is real to many of these people, but I kind of think the leader knows the truth. he skirted around many of the interviewer's questions, and never allowed himself to be locked into an explaination. If we as Christians did not know there is a God, I'm sure we would be open to other dieties. People tend to look for something or someone to worship, in order to explain the unexplainable.

Validity of Religion

2006-09-09T21:06:00.000-04:00

People of different religions can find reasons or “proof” to discount the beliefs of others. There is no one religion that has been able to scientifically prove its validity in all aspects. Religion is a matter of faith. The people of the John Frum movement needed the hope of a better life and permission to behave in a certain manner. Even though the religion they created is known by Americans to be based on false information, it is a valid religion to the people of Tanna.

Validity of Religion

2006-09-09T10:19:00.000-04:00

Under their circumstance it is not hard to see how so many of the residents in Tanna worship John Frum. It reminds me of the movie apocalypse Now. I do not belief that because their beliefs are not true that this makes their John Frum religion any less valid. When we talked about the "4 things that make a religion" in class it said nothing about the actual beliefs being true or factual. John Frum is their god, they pray to him, perform rituals to honor him, and devote themselves to the idea that he will return to bring them cargo from America. Chief Issac even alludes to the similarities between their religion and Christianity and is quite amused by the fact that we try to discredit John Frum.

Validity of Religion

2006-09-08T09:44:00.000-04:00

I was initially hesitant to call the cargo cult of Vanuatu a religion because it didn't appear to be based on religious or spiritual beliefs, but after giving it some further thought I see that it exhibits some characteristics of an alternative religion. The people come together to worship and place value in their belief that John Frum will come again someday. They hold ceremonies (albiet kava induced euphoria) to pray for John Frum to bring them material goods from America. These material goods will fullfill their needs and benefit their society, however it would definitely change their tribal ways. I don't see that they are being harmed in anyway. They demonstrate their beliefs and hope has held on for 60 years as Christians have waited 2,000 years for the return of Jesus.

Comparative Religions: Validity of Religion

2006-09-06T19:19:00.000-04:00

Comparative Religions: Validity of Religion
I believe that the people on the South Pacific island of Vanuatu practice a "true" religion because they believe that there is a god by the name of John Frum. They continue to have ceremonies every year and await for his return. As many people today are awaiting for the return of Jesus Christ. I see nothing wrong in what they are doing and do consider it to be a religion. They seem like happy, healthy people doing what they are doing. It is what they believe together as a community making it a religion. In the next question, you ask if (in this class) we knew that God didn't exist, would that affect the validity of the religions we are studying? I would have to say the it would affect some of the religions because not all religions believe in the supreme God above.

Validity of Religion

2006-09-06T18:24:00.000-04:00

In reading the article on the "cargo cults", I initially felt saddened that a people would put such faith in a person to bring forth material goods. I then realized that all people look for hope and something to believe in whether it is in the form of a supreme being or in the facts of scientific research. It is the meaning we place in what we believe or hope for. The cult belief does not seem to be making the leaders wealthy nor does it seem to cause physical harm. I feel this is a religion for these people and though I may have had doubts, the very last sentence made it very clear to me. I am waiting also. Their belief filled them with hope for something better.

validity of religion

2006-09-05T15:25:00.000-04:00

It seems to me that the John Frum cargo cult is a religon. This religion is not a traditional religion but has the necessary characteristics to label it as one. The men and women of the island abide by his rules to stick with their old culture and put trust in this man that if they pray to him he will bring them the "cargo." They compare him to nothing less than a god. They put their trust in this man and carry out their lives by his precepts. This is nothing short of a religion in the sense of putting trust in a higher power and practicing this out through tradition

Comparative Religions: Validity of Religion

2006-09-05T14:07:00.000-04:00

I find that religion comes down to what an individual values as a religion. For many of us religion would be defined by that relationship with God. However, that may not necessarily hold true with all religions. For example Eastern religions do not believe in God in the same way that Western religions do. In the Eastern religions it is about the "Self " preservation and living to the individual highest potential as a spiritual being and becoming one with nature and reincarnation. I don't think that the John Frum cargo cult would be what we would traditionally consider a legitimate religion, but they have similarities with modern religions in that they believe in a higher power to deliver them from evil and bring peace to them by way of cargo. Also you have to look at the fact that it stood the test of time. So I have to say that even though it is not what we traditionally consider it as a religion. I, think it is.

Validity of Religion

2006-09-05T07:35:00.000-04:00

photo by Jon Nakkerud

Do the premises of a religion have to be true for a religion to be considered a valid religion? If the followers of a religion believe in something that can be demonstrated to be false by some objective standard, does that relegate their belief system to a status lower than "religion"?

When archeological and paleological finds seem to contradict the Bible, there are still some ways of interpreting the information that allow for both types of evidence to be reconciled.

Very occasionally, however, we come across a religion whose most basic tenets can be proven without a doubt to be fundamentally flawed. This is the case with the Cargo Cult of John Frum on the South Pacific island of Vanuatu. Believers in this cult practice the religion faithfully, yet outsiders such as we know that what they believe in is not true and will not happen.

Read the article (the link is in the title to this post). Then decide for yourself: is this still a "real" religion?

To take the idea further: suppose we (in this class) knew that God did not exist. Would that affect the validity of the religions we are studying?

~Namaste~

You are What You Eat

2006-09-04T19:46:00.000-04:00

Fundamentalism and Extremism are what breed intolerance. The author of the second article says that religions all have basically the same message: be kind to one another, don’t steal, etc. When people take the teachings of their respective religions to extremes it often results in wars, violence and intolerance. George Bush, Mel Gibson, Osama Bin Laden and Hezbollah all follow extremist ideas, and in the wake of their actions we have witnessed unfounded wars, terrorism and outpourings of hate and intolerance.

“I'd never join a club that would allow a person like me to become a member.”
Woody Allen Quoting Groucho Marx

Religion is like food

2006-09-04T16:34:00.000-04:00

It would be a simplification to say that religion is exactly like taste in food, but the way religions are tossed around on bandwagons for different zealous endeavors. Why not? I think that in order to understand anything, you need to educate yourself. Maybe the key to getting along is not persuading people that religion divides us, but educating people into understanding most religions are, at least superficially, about peace and loving your neighbor. Education never hurts. We all eat food and know which culture has which food, shouldn't it be the same way with religion? Can you as an American, honestly say you've read the Koran, the Bible, or the Tripitaka.

Getting Along Together

2006-09-04T13:13:00.000-04:00

Many religions have a main leader, figure head, or prophet whether it be a Jesus, a Buddha, or the many others. I think they would all be extremely disappointed at the atrocities and horrible things being done in their name, but not at all surprised. The biggest reason for religious or spiritual divide is peoples inability to see how big the similarities between all religions are. They for the most part have all the same goals. These differences continue to exist and are strengthened by people holding up to meaningless traditions and differences of interpretation.

Getting Along

2006-09-03T22:32:00.000-04:00

The article implies that part of the reason people do not get along is the fact that there are so many different religions. I think it is because people to not respect other people's religious choices.

I think of religion as having a positive impact on the lives of those who believe, not negative. Having religion is having faith in something good and having faith can help those who are experiencing stress or physical problems. Sometimes the main reason people get better is because they have the will to get better.

I don't think different religions are the problem but rather people who forget the golden rule. All we really need to do is stop and think before we act or speak: treat others the way you would want others to treat you!