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Originally Posted by ARTelevision
I have an interest in philosophy but no religious belief. I see both religion and science as essentially different forms of the same thing - metaphorical narratives people use to explain mysterious things. I use metaphors to talk about and understand the universe but I don't "believe" those metaphors need to represent anything besides aesthetic truth.
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With philosophy/religion/science, do you make a distinction between "applied" and "theoretical"?
I don' view religion/spirituality as merely a means to describe things we don't actually know or can't know. I also view it as a practice. One of the main reasons why atheistic Buddhism appeals to me is that it is functional if you apply its principles to daily life. It helps you foster consciousness and awareness of yourself and the world around you. Yes, this can be done without Buddhism, but I view it as one of many paths, not as a crutch as can be the case with a lot of organized religion. The main focus of Buddhism is empirical truth. It doesn't lay out a bunch of rules and "truths" and expect you to take it at its word. It will make statements and then say, "See it for yourself. Practice it. And then see it more clearly now."
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Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön
Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot
Last edited by Baraka_Guru; 06-08-2010 at 11:08 AM..
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