Well, speaking of Western Religion and its 'morality'

Post #278,870 by Ashton 3/19/07 10:36:16 PM 3/19/07 10:39:47 PM Reply	Well, speaking of Western Religion and its 'morality' Or to paraphrase Gandhi's likely most famous quote re 'Western civilization' What do you think of Western morality? G: I think it would be a good idea. Before teaching "Christian Bible Reading 101-R" to massively-captive audiences of ~~Xians (all 1666 varieties engaged in their interminable internecine warfare), Jews, nontheists, a-theists et alia.. I'd think it more along the lines of 'critical thinking' to construct a course with some. notion. -simply- of what the word metaphysical connotes, why that is a distinctly non-'religious' methodology, such as it has been.. (being 'religious; does not follow inexorably from: any small comprehension of that concept) -- and why the (considerable..) effort to discern the Difference: may save any student (paying attention) a lifetime of enduring (or launching) specious "logical" arguments about which Gawd is the Badder female Deity.. whose wrath you'd best escape. Ad nauseum I Who Be ... Yashure, right after Rush's Dittoheads leave, en masse - and enroll. Ed: opTy Deeply earnest and thoughtful people stand on shaky footing with the public. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe PPS: or, have Blackwater [World's Largest Mercenary Army\ufffd, whether outsourced by Shrub or -???- the Next highest bidder] -- do the introduction to $morality VS umm, some of the other flavors. [??] ie. ... never mind. :-/ Edited by Ashton March 19, 2007, 10:39:47 PM EDT Well, speaking of Western Religion and its 'morality' Or to paraphrase Gandhi's likely most famous quote re 'Western civilization, What do you think of Western morality? G: I think it would be a good idea. Before teaching "Christian Bible Reading 101-R" to massively-captive audiences of ~~Xians (all 1666 varieties engaged in their interminable internecine warfare), Jews, nontheists, a-theists et alia.. I'd think it more along the lines of 'critical thinking' to construct a course with some notion -dimply- of what the word metaphysical connotes, why that is a distinctly non-'religious' methodology, such as it has been.. (being 'religious; does not follow inexorably from: any small comprehension of that concept) -- and why the effort to discern the Difference: may save any student (paying attention) a lifetime of enduring (or launching) specious "logical" arguments about which Gawd is the Badder female Deity.. whose wrath you'd best escape. Ad nauseum I Who Be ... Yashure, right after Rush's Dittoheads leave, en masse - and enroll. Deeply earnest and thoughtful people stand on shaky footing with the public. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe PPS: or, have Blackwater [World's Largest Mercenary Army, whether outsourced by Shrub or -???- the Next highest bidder] -- do the introduction to $morality VS umm, some of the other flavors. [??] ie. ... never mind. :-/ Collapse All History
Post #278,882 by bepatient 3/19/07 11:13:46 PM Reply	So you think it wise... to "spare" our youth a discussion of religious documents...essentially treating the fact that a majority of the earth's populace has a belief structure based on a half dozen or so religious doctrines as the singular concept of "they believe"...ignoring exactly what it is that they believe? Too much of today's music is fashionable crap dressed as artistry._{Adrian Belew}
Post #278,889 by Ashton 3/19/07 11:40:52 PM Reply	As usual, you think linearly on this issue (too) >That comes After< -- the inception of a miniscule capability at -- Didja ever catch, in the '80s on PBS - a Brit wag's show, [link\|http://www.amazon.com/Bonos-Thinking-course-Edward-Bono/dp/0563165006\| De Bono's Thinking Course] ?? A proof that you Can! 'teach. thinking.' Typ accompanying 'members' on his 'show' were aged ~8 to 80; random 'problems' were tossed out: audience was to contribute "angles of view" (A synonym for 'scale and relativity' I wot, then and now.) Fascinating to watch / partake. Once a tyke has an intro into the Problem: that of the Mystery {sigh} ~ "why is there Anything, At All?" Then [and Only then] the fatuous bafflegab which (even on on into the sublime, very-occasionally) - is the Stuff of religio warz - can be seen for what it is, (and, even in one warring faction's own fav symbolism! to boot): a Tower of Babel / the Blind leading the Blind - while tithing the masses for the chance to hear their imaginitive guesses / buy their fancy robes.) Etc. See? (yet) FIRST comes: the capacity to discern! NEXT: may come (in some special cases) actual insight, possibly even rough communication of that insight [don't count much on that] -- if each one has first read The Tyranny of Words, thus appreciates just how many blab-words are bound to enter into Any 'religion' topic. LASTLY: all who have, in this way, come to see the anatomy of the 'Issue'; those thus prepared -- can enjoy a decent belly laugh at, What Fools these mortals Be. HTH
Post #278,891 by bepatient 3/19/07 11:48:48 PM Reply	Sure... you want a course that teaches kids to think...teaches them to think that the majority of the world's people are mindless sheeple...because they believe something that you don't. Pardon me for thinking that teaching the kids to understand what these people base their beliefs on is a good idea. What could I be thinking? Too much of today's music is fashionable crap dressed as artistry._{Adrian Belew}
Post #278,894 by Ashton 3/20/07 12:24:07 AM Reply	Thou sayest What could I be thinking? and demonstrate ... ^ Z o o o m ^ the fatuousness of your underscoring the folly of attempting to make Sense of the duelling bafflegab - which you wish to have presented as, ~~ "reasoned dialogue" -?- with All Due Respect cha cha cha Before! one has learned how [ever] to Tell what IS and what may NOT be 'fatuous' - You can't have it Both Ways. Know why you believe X or, don't bother. ymmv; obv Does.
Post #278,897 by Ashton 3/20/07 12:44:49 AM Reply	And, just then.. the GRR comes up with an Ad: [link\|http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/customer-reviews/1598582437/qid=1167254067/ref=cm_cr_dp_2_1/103-7926611-5726260?ie=UTF8&customer-reviews.sort%5Fby=-SubmissionDate&n=283155&qid=1167254067&gclid=CM2AmYjFgosCFQ8RQQod5XzkGw\| LIFE! Why We Exist... And What We Must Do To Survive] Haven't read the blurb.. but a quick scan of first review provides this gem: One final bit of wisdom from the wise, articulate and always very fair Mr. Walker: "As conscious beings...We can conceive of things that don't exist and could never exist. We can therefore appreciate that material existence is not a necessary condition, and neither does it encompass all conceivable possibilities." (p. 99) Tell Me ... that, the LRPD, (OK.. in concert with the GRR's Ad Agency ...) ain't Sentient!
Post #278,911 by bepatient 3/20/07 8:52:37 AM Reply	Would be interesting but I'm not talking about a "religion" class...talking about a comparative class on the belief structure and underpinnings. In what I'm talking about...the "why I believe" is irrelevant. The "what THEY believe" is how its taught. Think sociology. Too much of today's music is fashionable crap dressed as artistry._{Adrian Belew}
Post #279,108 by Ashton 3/21/07 7:03:07 PM Reply	Clearer.. certainly better than Now. But.. it-all (including that 'comparative' class) could be viewed with much less confusion from - a bit of preparation along the lines I suggested. (How coul done possibly explain, 'n lambda = 2 d sine theta' -- if the student has to ask, "whats an [=]?" or, "why is there a frat house in this?")

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