Download or read book Godless Buddhism is highly philosophical and logical agnosticism written by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and published by Philaletheians UK. This book was released on 2020-06-12 with total page 21 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Where is the necessity for imposing our personal views upon others who must be allowed to possess as good a faculty of discrimination and judgment as we believe ourselves to be endowed with? It is difficult to obliterate innate differences of mental perceptions and faculties, let alone to reconcile them by bringing under one standard the endless varieties of human nature and thought. No attempt toward engrafting our views and beliefs on individuals, whose mental and intellectual capacities differ from ours as one variety or species of plants differs from another, will ever be successful. Nor we will ever be able prove our love to our fellow man by depriving him of his divine prerogatives — those of an untrammelled liberty of reason, right of conscience, and self-reliance. The religion of love and charity is built upon the gigantic holocaust of the faithful, fuelled by the illegitimate desire to impose a universal belief in Christ. Where is that creed that has ever surpassed it in bloodthirstiness and cruelty, in intolerance, in papal bulls, and the damnation of all other religions? Genuine morality does not rest with the profession of any particular creed or faith, least of all with belief in gods or a God. No matter how sincere and ardent the faith of a theist, unless he gives precedence in his thoughts first to the benefit that accrues from a moral course of action to his brother, and then only thinks of himself (if at all), he will remain at best a pious egotist. Theism and atheism grow and develop together our reasoning powers, and become either fortified or weakened by reflection or deduction of evidence. Why should not men imagine that they can drink of the cup of vice with impunity when one half of the population is offered to purchase absolution for its sins for a paltry sum of money? The more a child feels sure of his parents love for him, the easier he feels to break his father’s commands. One ought to despise that virtue which prudence and fear alone direct. We have therefore no right to be influencing our neighbours’ opinions upon purely transcendental and unprovable questions, which are speculations of our emotional nature, for none of us is infallible. Opinions are never static: they are amenable to change by reason and experience. By stirring up religious hatred, propagandism and conversion are the fertile seeds of cruelty and crimes against humanity. Where is that wise and infallible man who can show to another man what, or who, should be his ideal? The most fragrant rose has often the sharpest thorns. And it is the flowers of the thistle, when pounded and made up into an ointment, that will cure the wounds made by her cruel thorns the best. For all its beauty, it is an ungrateful task to seek to engraft the rose upon the thistle, since the rose will lose its fragrance, both plants will be deformed, and become a monstrous hybrid. Theosophy is Religion itself. Loyalty to Truth is its creed. Virtue, morality, brotherly love, and kind sympathy with every living creature are its noble objectives. Godless Buddhism ennobled the least philosophical of the dissenting sects of his religion, the Lamaism of the nomadic Kalmyks.
Download or read book Agnosticism Atheism Monism written by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and published by Philaletheians UK. This book was released on 2018-02-07 with total page 11 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Agnosticism is the modern variation on the ancient theme of the Greek philosopher, “All I know is that I know nothing.” Agnosticism is lack of reason, nescience rather than ignorance. Having found gnosis we cannot turn our backs on it and become agnostics, says a Master of Wisdom. The strong Agnostic assumes the negative position of knowing nothing but phenomena and refuses to believe in anything else. The weak Agnostic may be ready to entertain new ideas, but the light of Truth will always blind the religious bigot. With the exception of psychism, every other –ism is a shade of materialism — a science without a soul. Ancient pagans held far deeper views on the First Cause and its emanations than modern philosophers, whether Agnostics, Materialists or Christians. Agnostics have to choose between the Secret Doctrine of the East, and the materialistic Darwinian and Biblical Doctrines of the West. Agnosticism, Positivism, and Materialism are the worst enemies of Theosophy and Mysticism. Much of current agnostic speculation on the existence of the First Cause is little better than veiled Materialism. Between Agnostics and Catholics, the age revels at a debauch of phenomena. Brutal but frank Materialism is more honest than Janus-faced agnosticism in our days. Monism is no better than a mask concealing the void of final annihilation, even of consciousness. The Occultist would be guilty of treason, were he to demolish the old gods before he could replace them with the eternal verities that they represent. Atheists and Agnostics are thinly attracted to “godless” Buddhism, or to our highly philosophical and logical agnosticism. The “moral standard of the Theosophists” is TRUTH and this covers all. No sincere seeker of Truth can ever be found among the blind believers in the “Divine Word.” Our doctrine knows no compromises. It either affirms or denies, for it never teaches but that which it knows to be Truth.
Download or read book Quietism Agnosticism and Mysticism written by Krishna Mani Pathak and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2022-01-01 with total page 284 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book presents a unique collection of papers on various philosophical aspects of the unknown and unvoiced truth and reality of the cosmic world. It offers a systematic analysis of the three philosophical theories of Quietism, Agnosticism and Mysticism and introduces readers to the fundamentals of mystical knowledge claimed by philosophical schools of the east and the west. It discusses, debates and deliberates on philosophical issues concerning the acquisition of truth, its objectivity and its various dimensions along with the application of thoughts pertaining to Quietism, Agnosticism, and metaphysical-mystic traditions in philosophy. It examines and precisely defines the scope and limits of knowledge, the respective way of life, its expressions and morality, mystical revelation, ineffability of the ultimate, value realism, and faith and reason - with a primary focus on the classical Indian schools of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Agnosticism, the Bāuls, Greek traditions, modern western meta-philosophy, and contemporary quietist debate in religion and theology. This insightful collection should be of great interest to independent researchers, students and teachers of philosophy, theology, Mysticism and Agnosticism, cultural studies and religious studies.
Download or read book Confession of a Buddhist Atheist written by Stephen Batchelor and published by Random House. This book was released on 2010-03-02 with total page 348 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Does Buddhism require faith? Can an atheist or agnostic follow the Buddha’s teachings without believing in reincarnation or organized religion? This is one man’s confession. In his classic Buddhism Without Beliefs, Stephen Batchelor offered a profound, secular approach to the teachings of the Buddha that struck an emotional chord with Western readers. Now, with the same brilliance and boldness of thought, he paints a groundbreaking portrait of the historical Buddha—told from the author’s unique perspective as a former Buddhist monk and modern seeker. Drawing from the original Pali Canon, the seminal collection of Buddhist discourses compiled after the Buddha’s death by his followers, Batchelor shows us the Buddha as a flesh-and-blood man who looked at life in a radically new way. Batchelor also reveals the everyday challenges and doubts of his own devotional journey—from meeting the Dalai Lama in India, to training as a Zen monk in Korea, to finding his path as a lay teacher of Buddhism living in France. Both controversial and deeply personal, Stephen Batchelor’s refreshingly doctrine-free, life-informed account is essential reading for anyone interested in Buddhism.
Download or read book Spirituality for the Godless written by Michael McGhee and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2021-07-08 with total page 211 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A non-theistic contribution to the dialogue between religion and secular humanism through the medium of Buddhist spiritual practice.
Download or read book Partial SOVAN for Atheists written by Ananda Abeysinghe and published by Xlibris Corporation. This book was released on 2012-05-31 with total page 140 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Contrast to popular belief, this book demonstrates that you do not have to be religious to get benefits of philosophy attached to it. Looking at a very unique angle, this book provides a path to be self control and have contentment and happiness possible even under life dilemmas that force people to seek refuge in various religions. Surprisingly, the guidance toward this independence and contentment is presented in a simple manner by observing basic life forms. The book presents several other novelty concepts in an interesting manner that can not be read elsewhere. Author admits the guilt for not only presenting an over decorated religious concept in a very simple manner but also giving a vision for readers to view beyond that concept. Hence, this book may be categorised under self development, philosophy and also under religion. The term SOVAN comes under Buddhist domain but here that term is considered as a philosophy emphasising the value of that instead of demanding respect on it. The benefit of SOVAN is assumed obvious once the term is understood. Therefore benefits those could have been overlooked are listed instead. Author proposes partial SOVAN but never recommended not to attain full SOVAN Buddhist readers will find this book interesting as this provides a fresh view on the Buddhist concepts allowing the reader to deepen his or her understanding. As for an additional service, book states possible contradictions allowing the reader to make his or her own comparisons to improve understanding.
Download or read book Going Godless written by J. K. Fausnight and published by iUniverse. This book was released on 2010-02-01 with total page 278 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: If you have recently joined the growing ranks of nonbelievers, you may be wondering where to go next. What do you leave behind when you abandon religion? Is atheism and agnosticism a spiritual dead-end? How do you find meaning, morality, and spiritual satisfaction in a world without God? Going Godless takes a look at spirituality redefined within the material world around us, the world we know exists. Whether you are atheist, agnostic, deist, or simply don't subscribe to any existing religion, you are faced with going through life without a rule book handed down by God. Going Godless does not provide you with a rule book, but rather an important perspective for writing your own.
Download or read book Making Sense of God written by Timothy Keller and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2016-09-20 with total page 338 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: We live in an age of skepticism. Our society places such faith in empirical reason, historical progress, and heartfelt emotion that it’s easy to wonder: Why should anyone believe in Christianity? What role can faith and religion play in our modern lives? In this thoughtful and inspiring new book, pastor and New York Times bestselling author Timothy Keller invites skeptics to consider that Christianity is more relevant now than ever. As human beings, we cannot live without meaning, satisfaction, freedom, identity, justice, and hope. Christianity provides us with unsurpassed resources to meet these needs. Written for both the ardent believer and the skeptic, Making Sense of God shines a light on the profound value and importance of Christianity in our lives.
Download or read book Buddhism without Beliefs written by Stephen Batchelor and published by Penguin. This book was released on 1998-03-01 with total page 144 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A national bestseller and acclaimed guide to Buddhism for beginners and practitioners alike In this simple but important volume, Stephen Batchelor reminds us that the Buddha was not a mystic who claimed privileged, esoteric knowledge of the universe, but a man who challenged us to understand the nature of anguish, let go of its origins, and bring into being a way of life that is available to us all. The concepts and practices of Buddhism, says Batchelor, are not something to believe in but something to do—and as he explains clearly and compellingly, it is a practice that we can engage in, regardless of our background or beliefs, as we live every day on the path to spiritual enlightenment.
Download or read book The Apostates written by Simon Cottee and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2015 with total page 266 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Apostates is the first major study of apostasy from Islam in the western secular context. Drawing on life-history interviews with ex-Muslims from the UK and Canada, Simon Cottee explores how and with what consequences Muslims leave Islam and become irreligious. Apostasy in Islam is a deeply controversial issue and features prominently in current debates over the expansion of Islam in the West and what this means. Yet it remains poorly understood, in large part because it has become so politicized-with protagonists on either side of the debate selectively invoking Islamic theology to make claims about the 'true' face of Islam. The Apostates charts a different course by examining the social situation and experiences of ex-Muslims. Cottee suggests that Islamic apostasy in the West is best understood not as a legal or political problem, but as a moral issue within Muslim families and communities. Outside of Muslim-majority societies, ex-Muslims are not living in fear for their lives. But they face and must manage the stigma attached to leaving the faith from among their own families and the wider Muslim community.
Download or read book Agnosticism A Very Short Introduction written by Robin Le Poidevin and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2010-10-28 with total page 153 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What is agnosticism? Is it just the 'don't know' position on God, or is there more to it than this? Is it a belief, or merely the absence of belief? Who were the first to call themselves 'agnostics'? These are just some of the questions that Robin Le Poidevin considers in this Very Short Introduction. He sets the philosophical case for agnosticism and explores it as a historical and cultural phenomenon. What emerges is a much more sophisticated, and much more interesting, attitude than a simple failure to either commit to, or reject, religious belief. Le Poidevin challenges some preconceptions and assumptions among both believers and non-atheists, and invites the reader to rethink their own position on the issues. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
Download or read book Why I Am Not a Buddhist written by Evan Thompson and published by Yale University Press. This book was released on 2020-01-28 with total page 239 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "A provocative essay challenging the idea of Buddhist exceptionalism, from one of the world's most widely respected philosophers and writers on Buddhism and science. Buddhism has become a uniquely favored religion in our modern age. A burgeoning number of books extol the scientifically proven benefits of meditation and mindfulness for everything ranging from business to romance. There are conferences, courses, and celebrities promoting the notion that Buddhism is spirituality for the rational; compatible with cutting-edge science; indeed, "a science of the mind." In this provocative book, Evan Thompson argues that this representation of Buddhism is false. In lucid and entertaining prose, Thompson dives deep into both Western and Buddhist philosophy to explain how the goals of science and religion are fundamentally different. Efforts to seek their unification are wrongheaded and promote mistaken ideas of both. He suggests cosmopolitanism instead, a worldview with deep roots in both Eastern and Western traditions. Smart, sympathetic, and intellectually ambitious, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in Buddhism's place in our world today."--Provided by publisher.
Download or read book Atheism A Very Short Introduction written by Julian Baggini and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2003-06-26 with total page 137 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Do you think of atheists as immoral pessimists who live their lives without meaning, purpose, or values? Think again! Atheism: A Very Short Introduction sets out to dispel the myths that surround atheism and show how a life without religious belief can be positive, meaningful, and moral.
Download or read book The Theosophical Movement written by and published by . This book was released on 1976 with total page 554 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Nietzsche and Buddhist Philosophy written by Antoine Panaïoti and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2013 with total page 259 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An exploration of the complex and interesting relations between Nietzsche's philosophical thought and the Buddhist philosophy which he admired and opposed. The volume will appeal to students and scholars interested in Nietzsche's philosophy, Buddhist thought and in the metaphysical, existential and ethical issues that emerge with the demise of theism.
Download or read book Godless written by Dan Barker and published by Ulysses Press. This book was released on 2008-09 with total page 394 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Uncover the truth about atheism in the book Oliver Sacks calls, "a revelation. . . I don’t think anyone can match the (devastating!) clarity, intensity, and honesty which Dan Barker brings to the journey—faith to reason, childhood to growing up, fantasy to reality, intoxication to sobriety." ADVANCE PRAISE FOR GODLESS “Valuable in the human story are the reflections of intelligent and ethical people who listen to the voice of reason and who allow it to vanquish bigotry and superstition. This book is a classic example.” —CHRISTOPHER HITCHENS author of God is Not Great “The most eloquent witness of internal delusion that I know—a triumphantly smiling refugee from the zany, surreal world of American fundamentalist Protestantism—is Dan Barker.” —RICHARD DAWKINS author of The God Delusion “Godless was a revelation to me. I don’t think anyone can match the (devastating!) clarity, intensity, and honesty which Dan Barker brings to the journey—faith to reason, childhood to growing up, fantasy to reality, intoxication to sobriety.” —OLIVER SACKS authors of Musicophilia In Godless, Barker recounts his journey from evangelical preacher to atheist activist, and along the way explains precisely why it is not only okay to be an atheist, it is something in which to be proud.” —MICHAEL SHERMER publisher of Skeptic Magazine “Godless is a fascinating memoir and a handbook for debunking theism. But most of all, it is a moving testimonial to one man’s emotional and intellectual rigor in acclaiming critical thinking.” —ROBERT SAPOLSKY author of Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers
Download or read book Revelation Rationality Knowledge Truth written by Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad and published by Islam International Publications Ltd. This book was released on 1998-06-30 with total page 787 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Any divide between revelation and rationality, religion and logic has to be irrational. If religion and rationality cannot proceed hand in hand, there has to be something deeply wrong with either of the two. Does revelation play any vital role in human affairs? Is not rationality sufficient to guide man in all the problems which confront him? Numerous questions such as these are examined with minute attention. All major issues which intrigue the modern mind are attempted to be incorporated in this fascinatingly comprehensive statute. Whatever the intellectual or educational background of the reader, this book is bound to offer him something of his interest. It examines a very diverse and wide range of subjects including the concept of revelation in different religions, history of philosophy, cosmology, extraterrestrial life, the future of life on earth, natural selection and its role in evolution. It also elaborately discusses the advent of the Messiah, or other universal reformers, awaited by different religions. Likewise, many other topical issues which have been agitating the human mind since time immemorial are also incorporated. The main emphasis is on the ability of the Quran to correctly discuss all important events of the past, present and future from the beginning of the universe to its ultimate end. Aided by strong incontrovertible logic and scientific evidence, the Quran does not shy away from presenting itself to the merciless scrutiny of rationality. It will be hard to find a reader whose queries are not satisfactorily answered. We hope that most readers will testify that this will always stand out as a book among books – perhaps the greatest literary achievement of this century.
