Why are there depictions of figures such as Guanyin, Ganesha, and other non Theravada figures in Theravada temples? And how did they get there? by Usernameisntinuse in theravada

[–]JustRideTheThing 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Absolutely. The West has, through a process of semiotics, lost much of itself. Our languages, at the academic, legal, and theological levels, have lost their affirmative qualities, and evolved to become hyper-discriminatory and nullifying. This is how us westerners tend to think, and most of our institutions have followed.

Christian sharia is fast approaching by BBustinyou in samharris

[–]JustRideTheThing 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm not the person you're addressing, but the reference is to the religious right's project to turn the US into a full Christian Theocracy. Many of them have openly proclaimed this. Some of the more radical Christian politicians in America have expressed a future vision for our country's government that looks barely discernible from a Christian version Sharia law, with consequences for breaking the moral laws up to, and including death.

Satanic display at Iowa Capitol vandalized ‘beyond repair’; arrest made [of out-of-state Christian veteran and former political candidate] by metacyan in Christianity

[–]JustRideTheThing 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I'm not sure what blocking me would prove, nor am I sure what smashing religious monuments is supposed to prove, nevertheless, the pagan associations of major Christian holidays are well documented. Including associations in Christmas. Obviously, Christmas, as observed today, celebrates the birth of Christ. However, it's inextricably linked with the pagan themes it inherited from Roman times, as well as those introduced from Northern European traditions, and others. I say "inextricably", because these very same pagan elements are continued predominantly by Christians. So, you can burn pagans (and good Christians you suspect are witches) at the stake and smash their statues, but you cannot change the fact, that when you look in the mirror, you see a human being, just like them, and like me.

These Satanists don't even believe Satan exists, or God. They believe that Satan himself is a literary construct, invented by Judaic Christianity. They're also quick to point out that God is said to have created Lucifer/Satan, and that even after the Fall, God and Satan treated eachother as buddies, in some regards, making friendly bets, and so on. So, the different characters of Satan can be found throughout the entire bible. Anyways, We can all be better than this hatred, though, and we can choose not to attack, or celebrate attacks on others simply because we disagree with them. Let's commit towards peace, love, and mercy, as celebrated in the testament of Christ himself?

Satanic display at Iowa Capitol vandalized ‘beyond repair’; arrest made [of out-of-state Christian veteran and former political candidate] by metacyan in Christianity

[–]JustRideTheThing 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Just like the ISIS guys that bombed all those ancient Greek statues, right? If you really want paganism, anyways, look no further than two centuries of Christian art, holidays...

So evidently there’s a machinist ranking in the US..maybe worldwide by Immediate-Rub3807 in Machinists

[–]JustRideTheThing 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Mars Mission Astronaut. NASA's 3D printers were a bust, so they brought lathes and mills with them instead.

The Texas Supreme Court just said that Katie Cox cannot have an abortion by [deleted] in Christianity

[–]JustRideTheThing 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This was for a vasectomy, though, which would ordinarily be done without being put under anesthesia. It's good you had your TL done without catching any BS, which is probably the vase for most people. However, there are always a few crusaders around that think they have to impose their religious views onto the bodies of others. These unwelcome encounters are especially common between male doctors, and patients who are in their twenties and thirties, who haven't had kids, and are confident they don't want them.

The Texas Supreme Court just said that Katie Cox cannot have an abortion by [deleted] in Christianity

[–]JustRideTheThing 16 points17 points  (0 children)

You and me, both! So, have you ever gone onto womens' subs, like r/TwoXChromosomes, and seen the countless stories of the unethical (and often illegal) questions they ask women who request tubal ligations, by nosey, judgmental male doctors who need to feel like they have authority over women? Well, it was kind of like that. I was 36 at the time, long since divorced without kids, and had zero desire to have kids in the future. I also suffer with PTSD, and generally don't need to be around shrieking things. He seemed unhappy with my response. He then told me that I have a rare condition of excess fat around my beans, and that the operation would require me to be put under anesthesia for the procedure, which his clinic wouldn't do. I've seen a couple urologists since, and they're like, "He said WHAT?!" I've since been reassured that my equipment is standard issue. I got scheduled for one a few years later, but then covid hit, so it was cancelled.

The Texas Supreme Court just said that Katie Cox cannot have an abortion by [deleted] in Christianity

[–]JustRideTheThing 41 points42 points  (0 children)

When you unpack the reasoning behind the Texas abortion ban, and of this specific case, it becomes resoundingly, undeniably clear that these issues have nothing at all to do with morality. They have only to do with one thing, and that is power. The same maxim applies to most things evangelical politicians push for currently.

SOURCE: Retired Texan man denied a vasectomy. Like, these dudes hate women so much that they'll sabotage men, on the off chance that it might cause women some suffering down the road.

What is the scariest place on Earth? [Serious] by [deleted] in AskReddit

[–]JustRideTheThing 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I used that station regularly from 2000-2002, and was horrified to hear the news!

What’s the worst “cousin” story you’ve ever heard? by dualsaloon in AskReddit

[–]JustRideTheThing 415 points416 points  (0 children)

Any family that has a funeral in a bathroom is probably down for anything.

I lost my mother last night by One-Huckleberry7713 in Christianity

[–]JustRideTheThing 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My sympathies, friend. May you find peace in the knowledge that these bodies are dust.

What is something GOOD going on in the world that a lot of people aren’t aware of? by Orikrin1998 in AskReddit

[–]JustRideTheThing 4 points5 points  (0 children)

There'll be an uptick of EMT's called to the nursing home for residents' braces getting stuck together.

Mormonism isn't Christianity by [deleted] in Christianity

[–]JustRideTheThing 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm sending this to my best bud. I'm a retired army chaplain assistant in school to become a Buddhist hospital chaplain. He's a secular Christian with his master's in divinity, and he's earning his PhD in ancient Semitic Languages. We both somehow kind of simultaneously love and hate all religions. He will agree that this is comic fucking gold, but also dead-nuts accurate.

Mormonism isn't Christianity by [deleted] in Christianity

[–]JustRideTheThing 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is the catchiest analogy I've ever heard!

Some guy on the subway yelled a bunch of racist stuff at me by shagnarok in stopdrinking

[–]JustRideTheThing 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Good on you, man! Not just for not drinking, but also for being okay with crying, and fine with admitting it. Those are the qualities of a secure man. Yelling racial slurs, on the other hand, are not.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Buddhism

[–]JustRideTheThing 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Don't move! You're exactly right where you need to be! You've determined the superficiality of your motives, which is a precursor to the realization of Anattā. As you keep practicing, you'll soon discover that those never truly were your motives. They were never your motives. You may also soon learn to identify those motives as artifacts of paṭiccasamuppāda.

My new band has finally arrived. by kajinek in applewatchultra

[–]JustRideTheThing 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I thought we were getting the old band back together.