h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

done

re 59:

I wish I was in the US, Dmitri. Starting a tv-religion and receiving massive donations isn't really feasible where i live

Having read the e-mail, I can't for the life of me find anything offensive about Prof's posting.

Although I do not find the following objectionable, I would have thought it more likely for post 45 JONAH to have been yikesed!

Perhaps the mods are having a bad hair day

Maybe this will be yikesed next!

on second thought, dmitri, if i were ever to found a new religion it should be 'the first church of open-mindedness'

would you apply for the job as high priest by any chance?

i'm afraid there's not much money in it

I could never become a high priestI'm only 5ft 3ins

you could become the president or the prime minister of russia instead

Do away with ALL religion, I say. OK, with the exception of Buddhism, maybe.

Buddhism isn't a religion though

So what is it then? A lifestyle with a belief? And what do they have temples, monks and nuns for, and prayer wheels and everything?

When I was in Sri Lanka the practice was little different from Hidu practice. Also I have found, surprisingly, that Buddhist monks are often heavily involved in nationalistic politics.

That's interesting.

I thought it was the only peaceful religion there was in the world.

Hmm. Since I knew a number of Buddhists who had no problem with their children going to Sunday School, I'd say Buddhism is a philosophical system that does not object to religious practice,

However, not all Buddhists are peaceful. Some Zen Buddhists in Japan supported Japanese imperialism:

http://www.darkzen.com/Articles/zenholy.htm

The question is complex - there's still a debate on what DT Suzuki did or did not say and do - but it is clear that Zen was misused by people who took Zen metaphors literally.

In other words, this, too, can be misused. So what else is new?

As for creating a religion, guys - how about one that asks for donations in the form of kind thoughts?

No need of a religion there, don't we all ask for kind thoughts anyway?

True. Does anybody give them?

there's only one religion ME! all the rest are idols (and not as modest as me)

seems you are so ready for becoming head of state in russia, doc

- - -

sending kind thoughts to all

Cheers, Pierce.

I've sent and received positive thoughts. I'm convinced it doesn't help directly, but just to know that somebody out there is thinking of you and wishing you well, can help a lot to make you feel better.

B'El! Every nation has something to be ashamed of. The Brit's (of which I am one - although not born until after WWII) Bombed Dresden; without thought for the local population. We also bombed the dams and made films of the heroic deeds - again without thought for the thousands of innocents killed in the process. War is inevitably about the death of innocents.

Memorials to the military seem to be everywhere;
but there's precious few for civilians,Twice as many of whom
died as the military(easy pickings?)