Believers,

[nailit]

is there ANYTHING that would make you think that you may be wrong?
And in the interest of equality, sceptics, is there anything that might make you think you may be wrong?

[mrblear]

Well, Khandro, I was expecting something more than 'because they want to' but thank you for your answer anyway.

[jomifl]

/Beautiful isn't it? /

actually....No.

[naomi24]

^I didn't think much of it either.

[Hypognosis]

Seems I was also fooled into thinking Khandro was a Bhuddist. I even saw someone (shaven-headed, sounded female) whose on screen caption had Khandro as a middle name and was identified as a Hare-Krishna type.

Incidentally, in the interests of equal-opportunities, AB should be deconstrucing them as often as we do Christians and others *unless* it is the peripheral effects of religion where our principal objections lie (interference with minors, politics, law and so forth)? I think that was the angle Naomi was pushing and that Khandro failed to address to her (and our?) satisfaction.

Situation normal, there.

[jourdain2]

nailit -

You are looking for the 'meaning of life'. No words can give you that - all words can be contradicted.

I very seriously suggest that you search for a way of helping others worse off than you - yes, some people are! In losing yourself by helping others you may find yourself.

You have a roof over your head - some people don't, I suggest you start there. :0)

PS Is it in order that I offer up a prayer for your success?

[Hypognosis]

@naillit

I guess I would admit I was wrong if there was a sudden and scientifically inexplecable extinction of malaria and dozens of other parasitic diseases; the destruction of part of his/her/its 'creation' in order to spare the suffering of the supposedly important part of it which does all the supplication and praise.

Then again, per Douglas Adams, God says "but proof denies faith and, without faith, I am nothing." So any attempt to put on a globally apparent show, as per Birdy's specification, whilst it would settle the argument, it would destroy the faith element which was what researchers determined was providing the measurable health benefits (longevity, as opposed to sports performance, say).

The firm knowledge that there was some lacadaisical space-alien up there who happily watched us maltreat each other for millenia, without intervening, is hardly comforting. The afterlife stuff would still, frustratingly, be left unproven.

[Khandro]

mibn2cweus

If you look back at your 16:45 post, don't you feel a little embarrassed? To remind others it was;


"Ourway Atherfay inway eavenhay,
allowedhay ebay ouryay amenay.
Ouryay ingdomkay omecay,
ouryay illway ebay oneday,
onway earthway, asway itway isway inway eavenhay.
Ivegay usway isthay ayday ourway ailyday eadbray,
andway orgivefay usway ourway ebtsday,
asway eway alsoway avehay orgivenfay ourway ebtorsday.
Andway eadlay usway otnay intoway emptationtay,
utbay eliverday usway omfray evilway"

[Hypognosis]

The version I remember (school assembly) used "tresspasses" whereas some of the translations above seem to say "debts".

Odd for a faith which promotes helping the poor to focus so much attention on land ownership* or failure to pay up for services rendered.

Whether these variations are regional even within a single country (fwiw, it was a school in Wales) or from one country to another might prove interesting.

* watching The Big Questions on iPlayer, recently, someone pointed out that even Judaism is keen on its "promised land" and rebuilding the temple on the mount is a central plank of their present day philosophy. If the book is God's word, why is he so concerned about land ownership?

Does it actually matter which patch of ground people kneel on when they grovel to him/her/it?

[mibn2cweus]

//mibn2cweus

If you look back at your 16:45 post, don't you feel a little embarrassed?//

I suppose I've made bigger blunders in my day . . . not putting a '?' at the end of my user name perhaps being one of them.

[naomi24]

^ :o)

[Khandro]

mibn2cweus; So you are saying it wasn't serious? That's a relief, I thought for a moment you were irreverently doing to the Lord' Prayer what isis has been irreverently doing to Palmyra.

jomifl; I'm saddened you can find no beauty in what has meant much to so many for so long and in many lands and tongues, and is what the Duke of Wellington described as, "containing the sum total of religion and morals".

Tomorrow I'm going under the knife, I'm not praying, but I'm hoping all goes to plan, if not I won't be back to aggravate you.
I'll leave it one last time, in English;

Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth,
As it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
The power, and the glory,
For ever and ever.

Amen.




Adios compadres!

[naomi24]

I wish you well, Khandro.

[gness]

I hope all goes well for you, Khandro....x

[mrblear]

Best wishes, Khandro

[jomifl]

Good luck Khandro, my recent experience of being 'under the knife' demonstrates that as the 'devil looks after his own' you have nothing to fear. Just keep away from priests.

[Hypognosis]

Our Air Force
Which art in the heavens
Hallowed be thy planes.
To kingdom come,
They will be blown,
Off the earth
as it isn't heaven.

Give us this day our daily missiles
and lead us not into invasion.
Forgive us our trespasses
Though we don't forgive those
who trespass against us
For thine is the JDAM
The maiming and the gory
For sortie after sortie
Our men.

[birdie1971]

Khandro - "Oh boy, are you in for a surprise! If I get there first I'll try to put in a good word for you (that might be a tough assignment!). Good luck."

Wow. That's just... amazing. For two very important reasons.

First, your absolute belief in a literal Pearly Gates for which there is zero evidence. Not a shred of physical evidence nor logical proof exists for such a thing. The very notion of the 'Pearly Gates' is an invention clearly created by man yet you seem to genuinely believe it is a very real portal somewhere between heaven and hell.

Second, you have seen fit to stand in judgement of my entire life having never met me and knowing almost nothing about me. Based on nothing more than our exchanges on this website you have concluded that if a list of pros and cons about my deeds to date were compiled, I would have done more bad than good.

What arrogance.

[Mamyalynne]

Hope your surgery went well Khandro.

[retrocop]

Khandro
Always enjoyed your interesting posts.I wish you well my friend and a speedy recovery. Have a few more procedures to enjoy myself. Lets hope we can continue for as long as possible on AB together. I know you have your faith. My faith is in medical science and it's practioners. :-)

[birdie1971]

How does one extricate oneself from such a situation?
I genuinely didn't know that you were going under the knife before I posted my above missive. I wish for your speedy recovery.