From: Valuemetaphysics@aol.com
Date: Sun Dec 14 2003 - 00:57:43 GMT
In a message dated 12/13/03 3:17:20 PM GMT Standard Time,
peterson.steve@verizon.net writes:
> Hi Mark, Scott, Khoo Hock Aun, all
>
> Mark said:
> > From what you have written, i now understand that it is not possible to
> define
> > a Christian or a Buddhist.
>
> I used to argue with my wife who is Catholic that she is not really a
> Catholic. (What nerve! ) I would explain to her that her beliefs are more
> consistent with this or that Protestant denomination or other religion, but
> she would still insist that she was Catholic. I finally realized that what
> defines her as a Catholic is simply that she identifies with Catholicism.
> For her it runs deeper than her intellectual beliefs, especially since she
> is Latin American. It is in her blood, she says.
>
> I recently read a book (which I highly recommend) called Life of Pi where
> the narrator describes his identity with his religion in this way:
>
> "I am a Hindu because of sculptured cones of red kumkum powder and baskets
> of yellow turmeric nuggets, because of garlands of flowers and pieces of
> broken coconut, because of the clanging of bells to announce one's arrival
> to God, because of the whine of the reedy nadaswaram and the beating of
> drums, because of the patter of bare feet against stone floors down dark
> corridors pierced by shafts of sunlight, because of the fragrance of
> incense, because of the flames of arati lamps circling in the darkness,
> because of bhajans being sweetly sung, because of elephants standing around
> to bless, because of foreheads carrying, variously signified, the same
> word--faith. I became loyal to these sense impressions even before I knew
> what they meant or what they were for."
>
> Intellectuals miss the point when they think of a religion as a set of
> beliefs to be affirmed or denied. Like Pirsig's statement on metaphysics, a
> list of religious beliefs would be like the "restaurant where they hand you
> a 30,000 page menu and no food."
>
> Regards,
> Steve
>
Hi Steve,
One thing should be kept in mind here - i am living a day to day life where
values have immediate and significant impact.
I value your enquiry, but the Christians i encounter do not enquire; they
promote value patterns. I feel these patterns are at variance with the MoQ.
All the best,
Mark
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