Yuku free message boards

interesting piece. though what it does not treat is the trivialization of humanity finding/interpolating/interpreting/placing meaning in the world. indeed, if such things were not done, then how and why would we progress as a species at all?
also, the piece's specific beliefs/"facts" about certain religions were very askew. For instance, the entire idea of "theologically correct" buddhism is a eurocentric/christocentric construct, as especially the dalai lama will tell you. The tantric and mahayanic strains of buddhism are not, as totally outdated 19th century anthropologists would have you believe, corruptions of "pure" theravada buddhsim, but it is more than likely that they were part of the tradition, carried over from the larger indic context, from the outset. to the piece's credit, it was a very good point about the idea of a "soul" and its ascension to heaven being a later idea, and not a biblical one, in Judaism. It was taken from the Hellenists in the last few centuries before the common era. I find it highly disturbing and insulting, however, that the great faith of Islam is never included when the tenets of the other Abrahamic religions are discussed. Islam has a very rich and developed tradition about the afterlife, and yet, it was only Christianity and Judaism that were mentioned. It is becoming increasingly obvious to scholars and intelligent layfolk that the entire concept of a "Judeo-Christian" God, to the exclusion of Muslims, and also to the exclusion of their differences is a lexicographical fallacy. One really should refer to an idea of a monotheistic deity, or to an Abrahamic God, or really be exact with what one is discussing, which is the responsibility of a reporter and a scholar.
lastly, as a liberal believer, i found the lack of coverage of more naturalist, humanist, neo-mystical, and liberal religious traditions/sects to be apalling. many of the conflicts that the writer sees between science and religion are not completely solved but are at least discussed, treated and not whitewashed over in a frank and (hopefully) honest way.
a very thoughtprovoking piece. Good on you.
peace,
~the invisible_hand