Atheists and Christians certainly could get along with each other. The problem is that neither group seems to be particularly inclined to want to. The problems inherent in any philosophical or religious position are magnified when the espouser of that position adopts an absolutist view in regards to the subject. As atheists ...
The amount of misinformation put forth by various Christian "experts" on the subject of Ghosts never ceases to amaze me, especially considering most of their widely varying doctrines prohibit them from gaining any practical experience on the subject. To sum up those "teachings", one can simply say that "any ghost is the mini...
Some religions are most certainly better than others, but not for the reasons you might suspect! Religions are, without exception, the product of human beings. They are attempts to explain the universe, understand the natural order of things, and to promote certain behaviors over others. Regardless of their individual doctri...
There are two dimensions which must be considered when attempting to discuss the purpose of religion, temporal and spiritual. These two dimensions often overlap, which can make sorting through them difficult. On the "temporal" side, religions exist as a form of "social control" mechanism, attempting to impose a degree of uni...
Skepticism is often a healthy attribute to possess, but it needs to ensure it does not devolve into a form of ideological cynicism. The difficulty in applying that safeguard to religious or spiritual practices lies in the non-empirical nature of spirituality. Ritual is for the Ritualist. It consists of a set of practices tha...
"There is no love sincerer than the love of food." This quote by renowned Irish playwright and author George Bernard Shaw, embodies a sentiment that I should think would be of import to the fairer sex. Unfortunately, however, most of my experience has shown this not to be the case. I can only speak from my personal experienc...
In the strictest sense, one cannot "learn" shamanism. Certainly, one can study shamanic practices from many cultures. One can develop a comprehensive understanding of ritual practices, symbolism, and mythology, and can learn to weld them together into a coherent whole. One can even learn the techniques for inducing in one's ...
Ghost Hunting, not to be confused with "ghostbusting", can either be an exciting, entertaining pastime or a phenomenal exercise in self-delusion, depending upon the motivations and perspectives of the participant. But before we can examine the factors that determine this conclusion, we must begin by defining what "ghost hunt...
Druegan
Akron, Ohio US
Member since: July 2007
Articles Written: 8