Bill Maher: Comparing Islamist violence to Christianity is "Liberal Bull****"

The only variance of Buddhism I know anything at all is Zen, and while Zen is generally non-violent, I will observe that there are parts of it which could basically state that one may need to cut down one's enemies for the sake of justice/humanity or whatever. But doctrine isn't enough - the New Testament is pretty peaceful.

And Buddhism has a long history of abuse - from everything that the Tibetan monks did ( and as much as I seriously dislike/mistrust the Chinese, I can't blame them for how they've improved the area after the depravities of that theocracy), to Zen being used to justify the abuses of the IJA to causing the Cambodians to just accept Pol Pot's horrors. That doesn't mean Buddhism is evil - I dislike Buddhism almost as much I hate Christianity( and I dislike Buddhism's theology even more), but that doesn't mean it's evil. But it's perfectly possible to find a "live and let live" Christianity given its numerous sects, especially with the more liberal doctrines.

 

What do you dislike about Buddhisms theology?

I disagree with it on some things, doesn't mean I hate it

 

I won't go through the whole christian theology of being freed from OT law then.

 

You're trying to compare abuses among practitioners of different religions whether they be cults or sects. Im not asking about a practitioner scorecard as it pertains to violence. Anyone from any religion can partake in violence irrespective of the teachings of that religion. I'm asking you what teachings in Buddhism, as opposed to the concepts I mentioned from Christianity and Islam, encourage violence in the name of the faith. The example of the greater good applies to everything, not simply violence, and it's certainly not a call to violence.

 

Wow, all this talk about religion being inherently this or that that is BAD.

First, I'm not of any religion, but you can said I'm spiritual. I have tried to learn religion, some more than others - I think you don't even have time to truly learn and understand one religion in a life time, so i have only scratched the surface of some.

Religion, at it's core, or the original teaching of the whatever you want to call it - Jesus, Buddha, Muhammad, whatever is GOOD and PEACEFUL.

It morph into bad by PEOPLE. By groups. By interest.

And as with almost anything, it does change over time (what doesn't?) and evolve for the better --- if not, it WILL eventually die out.

Christianity at some point in time can be said is quite evil - By the leaders of that group at that point of time. What is it now? Far from ideal, but it has and is still evolving and improving. Just compare the Catholic Church of a few hundred years ago to today. Yes, there are still major problems, but it's not the abusive scary power it once was. Why and how has it improved --- PEOPLE change, they are less ignorance, they interpreted things differently (more truly, correctly, whatever you want to said) for the better.

Islam, a relatively new religion, is in that early stage that (and this is solely my viewpoint) is NOW the vehicle of so many crazies and governments for BAD things. Again, this isn't because Islam is inherently BAD, but that there are group of folks (you commonly call them extremists) purposely, politically and/or just have very extreme viewpoints and interpretation of Islam. This too, over time, and hopefully with today speed of progress and information exchange the time would be short, will improve as PEOPLE becomes more aware, less ignorant, economically more stable, etcs... for the better.

In some way (and I'm sorry for saying this, but this is my current belief based on limited understanding), I agree that a larger % of folks of the Islam faith is relatively more violent than of other faith today. But let me be clear that it is NOT ISLAM, but the People and their current situation (restrictive government, less freedom, etcs) that is causing this. [if said, everyone in the US today is of the ISLAM faith with the freedom we now enjoy and the quite decent lifestyle we have, do you believe we would be a violent bunch - I think not - European history is somewhat proof of this]

Now, let said there is no religion at all in the current world today. What do you believe would happen? Folks of the middle east region will behave the same as folks here? No. Their government, lifestyle will increase their chances of creating folks that are more extreme. Folks will always find their mean and method to satisfy their views.

Don't blame the Religion. Blame on the folks that do crazy things. And don't pull the rest of the folks down with them. Try to have some patient and understand of their situation. As you do, I think you will more see the better side of people.

 

This is exactly the viewpoint that i share. Good post.

 

Doesn't really address the point. Saying people are good and bad everywhere doesn't speak to religious culture, values, and inspiration. It's a cop out really.

 

Sure, who creates those culture, values, and inspiration?

And sorry, what point?

 

They are all false...

 

Everything can do that and religious doctrine certainly does that. I'll give you an example. Christians are bound to follow God's word, there's no middle ground there, whereas I'm encouraged to question everything the Buddha has taught. That's a gigantic difference in culture and values. God is infallible so his word is divine and perfect. The Buddha was very human, not a god and not all powerful. I hate to sound like im preaching but the Buddha flatly states to question everything he has taught and to only accept teachings once you know them to be true. It's a very important distinction which I feel makes Buddhism just inherently different from other mainstream religions.

The point i was addressing is encouraging violence as part of religious doctrine.

 

Yeah that was a bit of "ad-strawmanem"

 

Whats wrong here is Maher brought on a guest to discuss what makes people do crazy things (in obvious relation to marathon bombers.) But Maher wants the guest to acknowledge answer-in-advance that "ISLAM" did it. And the rest of the talk stayed focused on that. I don't think the guest was trying to be THAT apologetic to Islam. Instead of Maher trying to show how the guest is "One'a THOSE lib types", there's OTHER interesting things that coulda been discussed there

 

Looks like you hate liberals more than reproductive rights. What a completely ****ed up thing to put in a work contract.

 

I think Christianity and Buddhism are apples and oranges...to the point where I believe one can be a Christian Buddhist.

If you read the Gospel of John it sounds a lot like Buddhism to me at points.

I'd also point out that the whole "follow God's word" thing was simplified by Jesus to, "Love God and love your neighbor as much as you do yourself." Jesus said it all hangs on that. He also told people that to follow him would be costly, so they should consider what it will cost them first before deciding to do so. Much of the Church has watered down the meaning of God to simply mental assent by parroting the right words at the appropriate time in a church service while wearing their best suit.

 

What do you think Jesus means in the Gospel of John, when he tells the religious man that he must be born again?

 

A lot of things. I hate its wishy-washiness, as Comets has been demonstrating when he states basically that "Buddhism is believing whatever you want to believe." I dislike its slave mentality, that one should seek to escape this world and accept abuses, as the Tibetan monks used to keep their positions. Buddhism is an absolute manifestation of will, it takes absolute effort and will...and what does it use it for? Nothing more than "enlightenment"? What action is there in Buddhism?

Christianity is almost as bad, with its "meek shall inherit the earth" stuff, and its relative power makes it far more dangerous to the human condition - I am terrified of the day that socialism and Christainity do unite, as so many leftists think they should. But Buddhism has so much potential, but it uses it for such utterly pathetic, mundane ends. It's more disappointing, which is why I like it far less.

 

That would be pretty awesome lol. It reminds me of a movie called "the man from earth" in which Johan claims that He started buddhism in the far east with Gautama, then gives it a bit of taste of western world as he travels around.

Oh wait did I say Johan!? I meant to say John, my bad

 

I have studied the Gospel of John for a year now, and you have completely missed the mark with your idiotic analysis.

 

I always thought that you can be a Buddhist and then a Christian. But I wasn't sure if the other way is possible - a Christian first and then a Buddhist, at least knowingly.