Shinken

I'm not sure about Hinduism either, but I do know that Buddhism borrowed a lot from Hinduism, seeing as how Siddartha Gautama (aka the Buddha) was raised in a Hindu family, in a Hindu country. That is, until he reached Enlightenment. ^^ It's amazing how many religions pop out of other beliefs... And yet we fight wars against those with similar (and sometimes the same) beliefs. It's a sad thing.

I wouldn't like to be the one to possibly lead this thread astray from its original purpose, but I simply have to ask this question: Since living beings (as we know them) are made of matter, is it conceivable that a life form could be made of antimatter? (I know this sounds like a stupid question, as I'm pretty sure that the answer is "No, Shinken. You're a moron.", but I figured I'd ask.)

Well, new boards, new banner, I guess. It's a relatively crappy banner, considering I only have Microsoft paint. (I also need somewhere to post the url, so I can have the banner in my sig.) But, anyways, does anyone have an opinion, based on how little tools I have?

Ah, RPGs. I love those things. I've played a bit of the Star Wars RPG, but I didn't like it that much. D&D, on the other hand, is a great game. The only problem is the only person I can play with is my younger brother, as there is NOBODY in my area who isn't too busy watching 'MTV Cribs', or whatever that show's called. My character is a human fighter (I know, I'm boring) who has had almost no experience, again due to the lack of play. Another game that I absolutely love to play is Marvel Heroclix. I'm quite sure this qualifies as an RPG, as you role-play superheroes during a game. :rolleyes: For those who don't know what it is, Heroclix is a collectible miniatures game where you pit characters against each other. I'm hooked on the Marvel Comics aspect, but there's also DC, and Indy comics. The gameplay has also been transformed to enter the MechWarrior universe, and there's a D&D-esque version called MageKnights. I'm just a comic nut. ^^; Anyone play?

Oh, and I found another thing that completely annoys me. [b]"Gangstas":[/b] You know, those scrawny, wiry little guys who think that listening to rap makes them bonafide 'gangstas'. There are more than enough of those guys at my school. Do you have any idea how funny it is to see a seventh grader walking around the library with pants down to his knees, a white tanktop, and a hawaiian-style shirt three sizes too big? Lemme tell you guys a little story: I was sitting in the library, doing my homework, when I see the aformentioned kid walk by. Seeing him gave me quite a laugh, so I had to chuckle. Apparently he noticed, and nodded to his friend. The kid's equally short, pudgy, with his hair slicked back with a good inch of gel. He's dressed almost the same way, which is apparently a very intimidating style. He walks up to me, hands together in front of him in typical bouncer fashion. The larger one then looks at me and goes "You think somefin's funny, punk-ah?" while his friend stands back watching with apparent amusement. As I said before, I was sitting. Was. I proceeded to stand up, thus shutting the two up and allowing me to get back to my work. (I'm not tall, but they were very short.) [b]"Enforcers":[/b] I'm sure that those of us still in school have had a few run-ins with this type of person. Basically, what they do is, well, enforce. Specifically, they're the oh-so-popular morons who somehow have a stranglehold on what/who the masses perceive as popular, cool, etc. If they haven't heard of it, then it can't be cool, I guess. Thus, anime, intelligence, and any spark of originality is frowned upon by the social status quo (at least in my school).

Well Mikkaddo, you've got me somewhat stumped there. I was only speculating in my previous post, so I can't really be sure. Maybe your choice makes you compatible with a newborn version of whatever you may want to become, and you're just 'downloaded' into the being while it's still got room in it for your soul/consciousness. Maybe you've gotta just shove your way in. Or maybe you don't get a choice at all. To quote Lulu from Final Fantasy X: "I can only speculate." In another, almost completely unrelated question, I'm a bit curious as to a certain religion that's always perplexed me (ie I just don't get it): Satanism. If there are any people who subscribe to it on the boards, I don't mean to offend you, but how can someone worship the being who is constantly described as wanting to take your soul and use it as a scratching post for all eternity? It doesn't make sense to me. Does anyone know about it? Does it even count as a religion by definition?

Hm... Sci-fi... [b]Star Trek:[/b] I'm a huge fan of Star Trek, especially [i]The Next Generation[/i]. I think that Patrick Stewart's series is the best of 'em all, although I haven't seen Enterprise yet. Unfortunately, I haven't heard many good things about it... :( I guess I like it because, for one thing, it's got a lot of actual science in it, and not quite as much fiction. And there are no Jar-Jar Binks characters running around. Data is one of the most interesting characters, due to the whole 'essence-of-humanity' thing. (As for favorite movies, I'm split between First Contact and Nemesis. ^^) [b]Stargate SG-1:[/b] Also a fan of this one. It's just a really good show. I also enjoyed the movie that sparked it. There's a lot of variety in the show, since the team is always ending up on a different planet, with a different situation. And the main baddies are awesome. [b]Matrix:[/b] What is there to say about it that hasn't been said already? Hm... Well, the only detractor I can find in the entire series is the rave scene in Revolutions. Very disturbing stuff... oO;

Sure thing, Crim. :D As for reincarnation, I would like to think that, if you were a good person, you would get a conscious choice as to whether or not you would like to rejoin the world, or remain in heaven/Nirvana, whatever you would like to call it. (Oh, just to clarify: It's a common misconception that reincarnation means that you'll be reborn as an animal. This is believed to be a rare thing, happening only to very bad people [in the case of... insects and the like]. I'd like to think that, in addition to the aforementioned choice, we'd get to choose what we would be reincarnated as. At least, as far as being human, a bear, etc. If we could choose what happened to us in life, we'd all be millionaires.) I really hope this thread doesn't get closed. I've been hoping for a mature religious discussion thread for quite some time. :rolleyes:

Ah, annoying things... Well, I've got plenty of them. [b]Vertebrains[/b]: The people who seem to go above and beyond just to be stupid. To gain a more complete understanding of what a vertebrain is, let's break down the word: The "verte" portion refers to the vertebrae of the spinal column, and the spinal cord itself (which has complete control of reflexes, but is not involved in conscious, rational thought). "Brain" refers to, well, your brain. That fleshy sac of protein you use to formulate hypotheses, opinions, and plot revenge against that special someone. Now, combine the words, and you gain the knowledge that a vertebrain applies almost no thought, rationality, or intellect to anything they say/do. (I'd add think, but that'd be a flat lie.) Examples include, stereotypical jocks, airheaded bubble-gum 'teenies', and... punk-rock skatas who have small locks as earrings (I KID YOU NOT). [b]"Jesus Freaks"[/b]: No, I in no way discriminate against Christians, being one myself. I use this term to describe those who decide to jam their religion down everyone's throat, berate you for disagreeing, and fervently attack anything that they view as 'sinful'. Take the Westboro Baptist Church for example. They attempt to justify their anti-gay hate crimes as 'picketing' and 'religious expression', going so far as to send to the UN a request for all member nations to 'illegalize homosexuality and impose the death penalty!!!!!!' (Again, I KID YOU NOT). (My definition of Jesus-Freakism does not apply only to theists, it also applies to atheists who berate you for believing in a religion. Like Danakar, my deleted 'friend' from NationStates.) [b]PETA[/b]: We all know 'em, we all love 'em. As a source of entertainment. While I agree that animal abuse is a dumb, pointless thing, I don't see how eating meat is a sin, but they somehow made the connection (which snapped instantly). In a classic move, PETA decided to put up a billboard stating "LARD HAVE MERCY: Gluttony is one of the seven deadly sins. Don't eat meat and BE SAVED!!!". This is where the "logic" fails. By this statement, Jesus is in hell because he ate meat (Fish, to be precise). Which makes absolutely no sense. Well, these are a few of my favorite things. I favor them as far away from me as possible.

Well, I figure it's time I stir up some conversation once again! :D I think it might be very productive if people posted why they believe in their respective denomination(s). (I sincerely hope that people don't start posting why there religion is "right", and why everyone else's is "wrong".) Myself, well, as for Christianity... I can't really disregard the likelihood of the existence of a God, and I also can't ignore my upbringing. As for Buddhism, it just feels right for me. Every single facet of it fits my personality, and it's just something I agree with. Also, many portions of Christian doctrine just didn't seem necessary to me, so I found myself looking for something a bit more practical, in my opinion. So, lo and behold, my Global History teacher started talking about Buddhism. Everything about it made sense, so I went on and started learning more about it, as did my friend Steve. Next thing you know, we're the only two Buddhists in the entire school! (A somewhat close-guarded fact, due to the amount of morons in our school who take any facet of individuality and turn it against you for the masses.) So, how did others come into their religion, and why?

[quote name='Mikkaddo][COLOR=DarkRed']allow me to say one thing about creation, I can back the creation by god, as something had to make it all happen, but the idea that first there was only god is too strictly following a flawed human ideal if you ask me, after all as a firm believer in reincarnation I believe there truly is no "time" meaning that there never was a "begining" but rather that it allways was and always will be, but that "creation" destroyed itself and the ruling spirit then took the ashes and corpses and reformed the world and all around it that it may live on rather than end in nothingness, but thats just what I think, if you don't like what I believe thats fine, follow what you believe, thats what I do, I won't fuss if anyone else won't[/COLOR][/quote] Mikkaddo, you may have just given me an idea... There's a scientific theory floating around... [i]somewhere[/i] stating that the universe may do just that. The Big Bang may have happened a few times before. From what I can remember, some of the space debris way out in space may be slowing down, thus creating what I dub a "slinky theory". Which means that the universe constantly expands and contracts, over and over. Thus, the Big Bang wasn't that spectacular. That is, if the theory is correct, it's all just speculation. Then again, so was flight. :D

Yeah, I didn't like the third poem that much, either. It was kind of written on a whim. Meh. :D I didn't think I was that good, though! Yeesh!

[QUOTE=Mitch][size=1][color=red] I'm so sick of the threads like this. I don't believe in Jesus Christ. I don't blindly believe in a God. I don't say I know anything more than I know. I think that sums it up. I don't see any reason to say more than that. [/size][/color][/QUOTE] I personally don't see the problem with this type of thread. It kinda helps get confusion out of the way as far as what religion a member belongs to. (And when you said 'blindly believe in a God', wasn't that a [i]little[/i] bit cynical? Just a teensy, weensy bit?

[i]I went outside to find myself, expecting to meet me in the woods. The bitter wind was cold and harsh, yet felt... right and good. I wandered round, my face grew numb. And still no answers reached me. The wind grew strong, as if calling me I hoped it would beseech me. I picked up a handful of snow and threw it at a tree. Expecting an answer, I looked at the impact. And what was it I saw? Me.[/i]

Is there a difference between how I act in school, at home, and online? You bet! At school, I tend to be pretty silent, straightforward, etc. Not that I don't have fun with friends. At home, I'm a bit more outspoken. I'm just loafing around, doing a metric crapload of nothing. And as for online... I'm a regular riot. Let it all out, that I do.

Ah, bullies. One of my main sources of entertainment during school. You see, since I'm an anime fan, I guess that automatically qualifies one in the 'geek' category in Upstate NY (not the 'you can't talk to that kid' category, just the 'bully cannon-fodder' group.). Fortunately, bullies always fall into yet another category of existence that my friend Caru and I have dubbed "vertebrains". Your typical vertebrain tends to think with its spine, relying mainly on instinct and sheer stupidity. I find that the best way to deal with the typical, run-of-the-mill vertebrain is to simply play to their intelligence, or lack thereof. It's mind-boggling how many intellectual openings they leave for themselves to be defeated in an intelligent manner. Unfortunately, there are those who skip the debate and head straight for swinging like a madman. But, lo and behold, another loophole appears in their stranglehold on the high-school social caste system: they (for the most part) have no idea how to fight, and tend to "freeball it". Which means that you can usually find a hole in their physical defenses relatively quickly. Believe me. It's amazing how many people think you have to punch by swinging from side to side, instead of at you. Not that I condone violence or anything... :demon:

Yet more proof that Cartoon Network really shouldn't be handling anime. Yes, Adult Swim still "keeps it real", but that's just not enough. Here in Upstate NY, anime isn't that big. I don't see much anime/manga, and whatever I do get, usually disappears just when I'm hooked. (Which is one of the many reasons moving to Japan just seems so right.) But at least there's still Shonen Jump... (As for that deplorable 'Totally Spies' tripe... It's no more than a feeble attempt at popularizing an absolutely retarded, overdone storyline [high-school spies... gimme a break] with an anime-esque surface texture. >_< )

[QUOTE=Altron]I wonder how the doctrines fit together... Could you give us some insight on how the two religions would work, on the aspect of salvation?[/QUOTE] How about... no? Just kidding. I've been asked this question a lot, so I'm kinda used to answering it now. As far as Buddhism and Christianity fitting together, well, I think there's one matter I really have to get out of the way. In Christianity, it's forbidden to worship "false idols", ie other deities. However, in Buddhism, there is no deification of the Buddha, nor is there any worship involved. If you see Buddhists praying in front of a Buddha statue, they are simply saying "Hey, thanks for the whole Four Noble Truths, bodhi tree, etc." It's like when you find yourself talking to a long-dead relative or friend. You're not worshipping them, just... well, you get the idea. As far as salvation, I see very little difference between the two. Both state that through doing good things, you will reach something better than yourself. In Christianity, it's heaven (a place). In Buddhism, it's nirvana (more of a state of existence). Buddhism just goes a bit deeper into how good deeds affect you. That's where karma comes in. You know how, in physics, each action has an equal and opposite reaction? Well, that's how karma works. Despite popular belief, your personal karma isn't all that affects you. The karma of everyone else does as well. Thus explaining "why bad things happen to good people", I guess. (I'm not as good at explaining it as I'd like. If you want to learn more about Buddhism in general, or each denomination thereof, just visit [url]http://buddhanet.net[/url] I hope this doesn't count as advertising... ^^x) As for the two blending together, well, Christianity says 'no false idols', and Buddha isn't an idol. And on the other end, Buddhism doesn't tell one whether or not there is a god. That's a decision you can make for yourself. I guess. :rolleyes:

Well, Altron, your wish is granted- sort of. As is posted in my signature, I'm a Christian and a Buddhist. I don't consider myself under any specific Christian denomination, but as for Buddhism... Well, I'd have to consider myself Mahayana, but I'm thinking of going with Zen. It's a tough decision. Then again, so was becoming Buddhist to begin with! ^^x Go figure, eh?

Restrictions are also a good thing, however. For example, by law (and hopefully, by conscience) most people are restricted from committing murder, among other things. And as far as death itself being a restriction, well, I tend to look at it this way: If there were no restrictions, where would the fun be? It's like playing a game where the only rule is that you win. Pointless. Now, a game where you've got a chance of losing.... well, that makes me want to play all the more. What about you? ^^x

Personally, I think that it's immoral of Bush to be using the footage of 9/11 in his campaign ads. Hundreds of civilians died during that tragedy, and he seems to be using it simply for personal gain. How do I reach this conclusion? It's very simple. He's not using that footage [i]just[/i] to show what America has gotten through. He's basically saying that America couldn't have gotten through [i]without him[/i]. I've seen both Bush's commercial and Kerry's, and I see a fundamental difference between the two. Kerry is depicted in the Vietnam War, and yes, many people died in it. However, they died as soldiers fighting for a cause, on both sides. 9/11, however, was a completely different matter. A small group of zealots hijacked a plane and killed hundreds of innocent civilians, who had no idea how to fight back (for the most part). There is a fundamental difference. All in all, I find Bush's use of 9/11 footage very distasteful and immoral. He might have done well during the tragedy (and the war with Iraq), but that does not justify using such a tragedy to further his personal agenda. (Now all I have to do is sit and wait for all the backlash...)

In most cases, yes, the parent(s) should have the final say. However, in some cases, they shouldn't. For example, if the parent (or both) is a "control freak" who controls absolutely every aspect of the child's life, they shouldn't have the last word. Or if, for another example, a parent tries to convince a child to not be friends with/ridicule another child (even a friend) on a racial or religious basis. These are very rare cases, but if that is the situation, then the parent definitely should not have the last word. Basically, if the parent is a psychotic control freak, no you! ^^ But in any other case, a parent should. Because they're a parent, and filial piety makes sense. (I'm not trying to sound anti-institutional here or anything. Just keeping it even.)

I was watching Yu Yu Hakusho today, and saw a commercial for Astro Boy. Apparently, it's coming to CN March 8th. But, no details were included. Such as: What is Astro Boy, is it just a movie, or a new show, and is it worth watching? *hint hint*

As far as the subject of teachers presenting biased information, in my freshmen year, there was a whole lot of that going on in my Global History class. For the first few marking periods, all was well. But as soon as the subject matter turned to teaching us about the major religions of the world, all hell broke loose (no pun intended). My teacher (poor guy, retired early because of horrible back problems) was an extremely devout Catholic. He was a very nice guy and all, but when it came to teaching us about anything other than Catholicism (coincidentally the largest religion we covered), he tended to describe it like one would a childhood fairy tale. Especially when it came to Buddhism. He went completely off-the-wall on that one. He was constantly cracking jokes about it, while teaching it. Even though he did give us all the facts, he was obviously biased about it. At least he wasn't bitter or anything...

As promised, here's more poetry from the me. I figured I'd go with a bit more lyrical style this time. If you're wondering about the title, just look at the repeated stanza. They tie together, somewhat. ^^x [i] In the temple where I hide, in the corner of my eye, I see them in the shadows, prancing. The flames of candles softly dancing, swaying with the midnight breeze, a sound that puts my mind at ease. And yet, one small part of me still keeps watch, just as it always will. When morning comes, I take my leave. I carry rouge within my sleeve. The day is bright, but soon is gone, and down my path I wander on. Swaying with the midnight breeze, a sound that puts my mind at ease. And yet, one small part of me still keeps watch, just as it always will. As time goes on, a simple noise alerts me to unseen enemies, poised to take their blades and end my life. And despite my skill, one day they might. Swaying with the midnight breeze, a sound that puts my mind at ease. And yet, one small part of me still keeps watch, just as it always will. [/i] Opinions?