You said.

"I find it fascinating that people blame discrimination against women on Christianity alone..."

This isnt true. No one blames discrimination against women on Christianity alone.

I think its interesting that the Gospel of Thomas expresses a similar idea, though it's contained in a small verse with nothing more on the specific subject:

(114) Simon Peter said to them: Let Mary go forth from among us, for women are not worthy of the life. Jesus said: Behold, I shall lead her, that I may make her male, in order that she also may become a living spirit like you males. For every woman who makes herself male shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.

FWIW

I don't have any real knowledge about it, but I think you are quite correct in a large number of cases, anyhow. I had a bunch of friends drive me mad when The Tao of Physics had something of a renaissance (early nineties from memory).

There's this kind of romantic 'mishmash' of eastern philosophies and religions which people claim to venerate. I'm very skeptical that its anything other than "Here's a few thoughts I feel good about, loosely connected in some kind of unarticulated way. Any contradiction I will pass of as 'eastern mysteriousness'."

Take out the word "alone" then because it's just nitpicking.

Well if people can get into a religion from a vague impression then that bumps up people who are culturally influenced imo. Because people tend to have more knowledge or info on their own cultures than on other cultures.

Its not nitpicking. But thats all i asked so fair enough.

I have a bad habit of stating things in terms that are too emphatic.

Its no big deal i do the same. Props for changing it.

Fwiw i agree with you that a lot of westerns tend to look at Buddhism through rose colored glasses. Its not all love and flowers.

The Dalai Lama, a traditionalist and against all religious conversions, is in an Indian Muslim newspaper quoted as saying: ‘I always believe it's safer and better and reasonable to keep one's own tradition or belief,’

http://www.milligazette.com/Archives/15022001/Art28.htm

First time I ever read a Buddhist opinion on homosexuality:
Dalai Lama Speaks on Gay Sex / He says it's wrong for Buddhists but not for society

http://articles.sfgate.com/1997-06-1...harmsala-india

Dalai Lama is not Buddha. If you want to read the origins and principles of Buddhism, read about what Buddha said. And fyi, Buddha said nothing about gay sex.

And I also explained the origins of Buddhism, the topic of his thread, which you ignored gloriously.

When you say something I don't already know it might be response worthy.

The truth is people harp on and on about Christianity and the gays on this board but they never check out what the other world religious positions are on it.

Why is that? Atheist political dogma aimed very specifically at changing the backyard it finds itself in?

Did you read what I said?

Buddha said nothing about gay sex or gay marriages or gays.

I saw several people quote verses from the bible, "the word of God", that condemns gays as sinners. Christianity gets flake for this because Bible has multiple verses condemning gays, having cavalier attitude towards slaves. Buddha holds none of those views. His goal was to FREE ALL HUMANS from suffering. Not just non gays or non slaves or Christians.

I suspect the Dalai Lama knows a whole lot more about Buddhism than you do. Sorry to hurt your feelings by pointing that out.

The West could be in the process of re-inventing its' own version of Buddhism.

Dalai Lama was giving his personal response to a specific question. Buddha said nothing about gays. But Bible said a lot about gays which is why some Christians do this:







Do you see any Buddhists doing this? now, do you see why people rag on some Christians for hating gays?

Well nobody on this board knows the first thing about slavery in the ancient world and bothered to check on it except Jib and me and maybe NotReady.

I suggest you take a look at the bible subtopic on slavery in the book Hard Sayings of the Bible. It explains a few things about it. Tim Keller in his book The Reason for God explains a bit more.

Modern chattel "race based" slavery wasn't identical to the slavery of the ancient world. Also Israel implemented slavery differently from other countries implementation of it.

As far as I can tell nobody on this board has the Old Testament chops they need for all the political conclusions they are drawing and advancing.

The ancient world just didn't operate identically to us today.

Can you show us ANY instance of a Buddhist involved in this kind of hate speech?

Do you think it would be morally good if we brought back slavery as outlined in the bible?

So, Splendour, are you going to now give us a SINGLE instance of a Buddhist engaging in hate speech against gays? ONE instance would suffice. Otherwise, you should stop getting all hurt when Christianity gets flack for gay hating and Buddhism doesn't.

Superficial.

Try studying the nature of the two religions. That is what the thread is about: the nature of Buddhism in the East where it originated.

Christianity is a revealed religion. As such we elevate the text more than Buddhists elevate their scriptures.

It doesn't mean all minds are elevated in understanding.

Look how far you tried to understand the natures of various religions.

Please come into the 21st century.

Do you know anyone who thinks slavery is a good thing today?

Buddhism originated in India. It was founded by Siddhartha(Buddha). He NEVER said anything about gays. All he was trying to do was free ALL mankind from suffering. Buddha was born into a Hindu family and he was a Prince. There is NO God in Buddhism.

Since this thread is about Buddhism, I'll answer why that is: because Buddha said nothing about gays. Buddhists today don't go around hating gays. Buddhism is a way of life where the practitioners try to understand themselves at a higher level and free themselves from suffering. No God. No hate towards others. Just focus inwards and try to better themselves.

What would that prove?

Do I have access to every statement made by Buddhists throughout history?

Obviously not.

Do Buddhists think they are the temples of God?

It'd prove that your below statement is absurd when it comes to Buddhism because Buddha didn't say anything about gays. His only aim was to free ALL humans from suffering. And buddhists don't go around hating gays

No. Thats why i think the slavery outlined in the bible is immoral whether or not its compared to another slavery in another time. Two wrongs dont make a right.

Kind of like if you point to Buddhisms wrongs. That does nothing to take away Christianity's wrongs.