Prince Harry and P*ki jibes.

[Mich the Tester]

Actually the argument may be that people with a strong ideology or "ism" (religious or otherwise) cause problems.

Especially when they refuse to accept others as their equals.

[Gibbon]

Atheists sent millions to the Gulag, slaughtered Poles, political opponents and Germans before and after the second world war and occupied Eastern Europe for nearly half a century. They also manipulated the history of Russia to serve their own ends and stole cultural artefacts in Europe.

Your argument amounts to this; some muslims did some nasty things, therefore I dislike muslims. Some christians did some nasty stuff, therefore I dislike christians. Surely it follows that if some atheists did some nasty things, you would dislike atheists.

Nope I dislike them for their superstious beliefs. I don't want to persecute them or harm them in any way, I dislike them in the same way I dislike liver and onions.

[Mich the Tester]

Nope I dislike them for their superstious beliefs. I don't want to persecute them or harm them in any way, I dislike them in the same way I dislike liver and onions.

It's quite possible to dislike someone's superstitious beliefs without disliking the person.

[AlfredJPruffock]

Desires are the best thing about living

and

Hold on though - wasnt that the core teaching of the Buddah - that Desire iteself was the root cause of suffering ?

Also unlike the Abrahamic Religions , Buddhism like Marcus - also concluded there was no aferlife in the sense of the continuation of the Ego - however it went further to contend that '"you'' cannot die - because in fact "'ýou' was never born - in other words ÿou" as the Égo' is an illusion - a hoax.

Right - time for a cup of tea.

PS I had some Liver last night - but forgot to get Onions - still enjoyed it - well at least my illusionary Ego did.

[Gibbon]

Interesting as per your comments on Aurelias - do you share his essential Nihilism as per his views on life and death ?


The significance of death was very important in the philosophy of Marcus Aurelius. He didn't believe in the afterlife.

He wrote: 'We live for an instant, only to be swallowed in "complete forgetfulness and the void of infinite time on this side of us." "Think how many ere now, after passing their life in implacable enmity, suspicion, hatred... are now dead and burnt to ashes."

According to Marcus Aurelius everything will be turned in absolute oblivion, even legends. "Of the life of man the duration is but a point, its substance streaming away, its perception dim, the fabric of the entire body prone to decay, and the soul a vortex, and fortune incalculable, and fame uncertain.

In a word all things of the body are as a river, and the things of the soul as a dream and a vapour; and life is a warfare and a pilgrim's sojourn, and fame after death is only forgetfulness." '

Everything existing "is already disintegrating and changing... everything is by nature made but to die." '

The length of one's life is irrelevant, "for look at the yawning gulf of time behind thee and before thee at another infinity to come. In this eternity the life of a baby of three days and the life of a Nestor of three centuries are as one." 'To desire is to be permanently disappointed and disturbed, since everything we desire in this world is "empty and corrupt and paltry."

For Marcus Aurelius, death was desirable, because it would make an end to all desires.

In a nutshell yes. Read some of his meditations, don't profess to understand them deeply.

Every morning when I don't want to get up him I recall him saying words to the effect "why do I not want to rise when this is what I was put here for".

Also his philosphy on allowing people to hurt you only if you let them I have found useful in dealing with situations.

[Mich the Tester]

Hold on though - wasnt that the core teaching of the Buddah - that Desire iteself was the root cause of suffering ?

Also unlike the Abrahamic Religions , Buddhism like Marcus - also concluded there was no aferlife in the sense of the continuation of the Ego - however it went further to contend that '"you'' cannot die - because in fact "'ýou' were ever born - in other words ÿou" as the Égo' is an illusion - a hoax.

Right - time for a cup of tea.

PS I had some Liver last night - but forgot to get Onions - still enjoyed it - well at least my illusionary Ego did.

The Stoics had a few things to say on this theme too, and it would be strange to accuse Seneca the younger or elder or indeed Zeno of being religious zealots.

[minestrone]

Hold on though - wasnt that the core teaching of the Buddah - that Desire iteself was the root cause of suffering ?

I dunno, I spend half my day looking down to the lower floor and right into this girl's cleavage. Makes my day I tell yee.

[AlfredJPruffock]

In a nutshell yes. Read some of his meditations, don't profess to understand them deeply.

Every morning when I don't want to get up him I recall him saying words to the effect "why do I not want to rise when this is what I was put here for".

Also his philosphy on allowing people to hurt you only if you let them I have found useful in dealing with situations.

Interesting reflection upon getting up - I am a terrible Sleep Monster and really have to battle to get up - another quotation of the same Ilk was from the movie Christianne F. - I recall a quote about sleep - youve slept enough for today - plenty of time for that after you're Dead.

[AlfredJPruffock]

I dunno, I spend half my day looking down to the lower floor and right into this girl's cleavage. Makes my day I tell yee.

Whatever Gets you thru your Life
Its allright - its allright
Do it Wrong or do it Right
Its allright

Dont need a gun to blow your Mind
Dont need a watch to waste your Time

[lilelvis2000]

Makes me wonder when he gets home what he says about us "commoners".

The man is thick...who goes to a party in a Nazi outfit these days?