After yesterday’s horrific events I found it highly ironic that Buddhists have been calling for religious observances, Muslims and Islamists have been urging everyone to pray for the victims, and people in general have been urging you and I to pray pray and pray some more. This got me thinking. What is prayer? what does it do? is it any good? ...
“‘Religion is based . . . mainly upon fear . . . fear of the mysterious, fear of defeat, fear of death. Fear is the parent of cruelty, and therefore it is no wonder if cruelty and religion have gone hand in hand . . . . My own view on religion is that of Lucretius. I regard it as ...
“Do not pass by my epitaph, traveler. But having stopped, listen and learn, then go your way. There is no boat in Hades, no ferryman Charon, No caretaker Aiakos, no dog Cerberus. All we who are dead below Have become bones and ashes, but nothing else. I have spoken to you honestly, go on, traveler, Lest even while dead I ...
I’ve said this a number of times and I’ll say it again, I think we’ve given Buddhist monks too much leeway. The sheer gall, condescension and arrogance they employ when preaching on matters not under their purview is shocking. How dare they presume to tell us what to do and what not to do? we are but free agents capable ...
We have this notion that it is in the application of an idea or concept that the concept itself failed us. Stalinism for example is often quoted as a failed application of the ideas of the time – Communism. The recent Islamic protests against a video on YouTube are also explained away by the “true believers” by claiming that the ...
What are the strange and bizarre forms of ritualized behaviour that humans prescribe to, what are the similarities between the faith systems of the world and why do we hold on to them? Anthropologist Pascal Boyer has extensively researched these questions and presents his findings in this enlightening lecture. A full treatment of the material discussed can be found in ...
What are the strange and bizarre forms of ritualized behaviour that humans prescribe to, what are the similarities between the faith systems of the world and why do we hold on to them? Anthropologist Pascal Boyer has extensively researched these questions and presents his findings in this enlightening lecture. A full treatment of the material discussed can be found in ...
I’m not sure if it’s Thomas Paine or Havelock Ellis who said this but it is an absolute gem: ”The whole religious complexion of the modern world is due to the absence from Jerusalem of a lunatic asylum.”
I’m not sure if it’s Thomas Paine or Havelock Ellis who said this but it is an absolute gem: ”The whole religious complexion of the modern world is due to the absence from Jerusalem of a lunatic asylum.”
“Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?” It saddens me that religious humans of the modern age cannot even come close to ...
“Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?” It saddens me that religious humans of the modern age cannot even come close to ...
Rationalist Day 2011 will be held on the 7th of June (tomorrow) at the Namel Malini Punchi Theatre, Borella Sri Lanka. Get the full press release/invite from the Secular Society Of Sri Lanka here The event kicks off at 3 pm although I will probably show up a little later than that! see you there!
Rationalist Day 2011 will be held on the 7th of June (tomorrow) at the Namel Malini Punchi Theatre, Borella Sri Lanka. Get the full press release/invite from the Secular Society Of Sri Lanka here The event kicks off at 3 pm although I will probably show up a little later than that! see you there! ...
Sri Lankan hypocrisy at it’s best – A “gossip” site celebrates the Buddha Jayanthi (in style) Buddha Jayanthi, Sambuddhathwa Jayanthi call it whatever you want according to the establishment it has been 2600 years since Buddha achieved his ultimate goal. We are the kind of people that gives its politicians and leaders a lot of latitude. Thus we should ...
