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JWeinCom on 10 October 2016
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robzo100 said:

JWeinCom said: 

Overall, it seems you're speaking more of idolatry than religion. 

Perhaps yes. But my point is that Eastern Religion by nature resembles idolatry more than Western Religion.  Western Religion, like most western philosophy in general, has more structure, heirarchy, and rules. Eastern is more holistic and fluid. Shintoism is largely based on the worship of "kami." Kami is the life-force that animates everything from rocks, to humans, cats, leaves, dirt, clouds, etc. And Hinduism like I said has many gods thereby diminishing any central heirarchy of worship.

Disclaimer for myelf as well, not an expert in Eastern Religions specifically, but as a general concept I understand the differences in philosophy. Shintoism more so as I lived in Japan for a while.

Life force seems somewhat analogous to soul, which I would consider supernatural.  Hinduism is definitely suernaturally.  There is a heirarchy within the system of gods itself, and there is also a belief in an afterlife (or another life I guess).  

WagnerPaiva said:
robzo100 said:

Just wanted to highlight the main points that resonated with me. Yeah, I like the way you view religion; can it really be thought of entirely as fiction when it's effects and impact is anything but. Which leads to the main distinction you posit; One claims to be objective and the other subjective.

hmmm...well, the person who initially wrote the bible may have very well mever intended it to be viewed as objective; perhaps besides the point but still food for thought. But again, the direction of religion is such that it's followers, more and more, one by one, are becoming more lax to the point where they pronounce their relativism more loudly in society. So muhc mroe young people (albeit I am speaking for America, from NY here) have this sort of "whatever floats your boat" attitude. They have their beliefs but recognize that beliefs are "wishy-washy."

As for Harry Potter fans not becoming as zealous as religious fanatics, I wouldn't disagree. But if you could reference some of my earlier posts relating to the community-side of gaming and where it's heading in the future as part of a general entertainment account system/virtual community, perhaps you could see how it may begin to mimic religion eventually.

I will not pretend that I can answer anything as intelligent as you just wrote, I will just say that you impressed me, not little.

I do think that even being a atheist or a "wish-washy believer in something" is not a light decision to make, even if the person pretends it is easy. We are not insane, part of our brains understand that eternity is on the line either way we choose.

I guess caring too much about entertainment can be a side-effect of not believing in a more transcedental meaning for life. so, by all accounts, color me impressed with your comment.

Being an atheist is not a decision.  I didn't decide one day I wanted to be an atheist.  I evaluated the claims made by religion (in my case judaism mainly because that's what I was sort of raised in) and it just didn't make sense to me.  

If you are a christian, then think of your own belief.  I'm assuming that, in your mind, you "know" that christianity is true, right?  So, if you really wanted to, could you choose to not believe it?  You may be able to choose not to follow the religion, but could you choose to legitimately not believe in the existence of god or jesus?  I'm guessing that you can't choose to believe that.  The reverse is true for me.  I can't choose to believe in something I "know" is wrong.

Eternity is not on the line, because there is no reason to believe in such a thing.  If you think there is, then that's fine for you, but my brain certainly does not "understand" this.  The suggestion that not believing in eternity makes a person insane is kind of offensive.