From: janice@mailinator.com   
      
   In article , lite12noSPAM@hotmail.NOspam   
   says...   
      
   >Christianity and Buddhism are two of the largest religions in the world.   
   >If following the precepts outlined by either of these religions really   
   >developed Christs and Buddhas, then the millions of followers out there   
   >would at least see some shade of this in their daily practices.   
   >   
   >I don't see anyone moving mountains, or stones, or pebbles just by   
   >proclaiming Jesus Christ as their savior.   
   >   
   >I don't see anyone entering Nirvana at will by being emotionally detached.   
      
   Even assuming that Jesus and Buddha actually did such things and that the   
   goal of Christianity and Buddhism is to be able to replicate them (which   
   is open to question), why would a mere declaration of faith be expected   
   to enable a Christian to perform miracles or a beginner's exercise be   
   expected to enable a Buddhist to enter Nirvana?  These feats would seem   
   to belong closer to the pinnacle of accomplishment.   
      
   I *have* occasionally seen people turn their lives around through faith   
   or achieve a shade of the saintly peacefulness, loving-kindness, non-   
   aggression, concern for one's fellows, and so on associated with these   
   religions.  I doubt that it's really necessary to be religious in order   
   to do so, though it does seem to help in some cases.   
      
   >In fact I see quite the opposite. A combination of philosophical   
   >one-upmanship and evangelical tendencies that border on sacrilegious   
   >seems to be the only thing either religion is useful at "developing".   
      
   In my personal experience, I've found that religion is useful for   
   developing neurosis, as that has almost invariably been the result when   
   I've taken it seriously.   
      
   But we're focusing on the negative possibilities.  On the more positive   
   side, I do think that religion is sometimes useful in developing morals   
   and ethics.  It's not strictly necessary for having morals and ethics,   
   and it would be nice if people were less superstitious and less motivated   
   by hope of reward and fear of punishment, but religion does provide a   
   handy context for this aspect of socialization.  Unfortunately by the   
   same token it can also be a handy context for developing prejudices.   
      
   --   
      
   "I stand by all the misstatements that I've made."   
   --George W. Bush   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)