From: spam@hotmail.com   
      
   Evelyn Ruut wrote:   
   > Hi Dave,   
   >   
   > I am not trying to tell you anything, since it is obvious that   
   >  you believe only your own preconcieved conclusions.   
      
   They are not my preconceived conclusions. As I said, it is their   
   beliefs, not mine. It is not my opinion, it is theirs.   
      
   > I quoted several real practicing buddhists for you, and told   
   > you myself (a real practicing buddhist of many years) and you   
   >  still don't believe it.   
      
   Those I talked to were not "practicing" Buddhism, they were   
   living it. They were born into it. What you are trying to tell me   
   is in direct opposition to the monk I talked to that was tending   
   a giant prayer wheel in Nepal. It was being turned by a   
   waterwheel. He told me, through an interpreter, that it contained   
   an uncountable number of prayers written on tiny pieces of paper.   
   I asked if the gods ever got tired of hearing the same prayers   
   over and over again. His reply; "It is like music to the ears of   
   the gods."   
      
   Why should I believe your experts? Like I said, I can show you   
   experts in just about anything including ghosts, faeries,   
   astrology, chiropractic, magnetic therapy, and all kinds of   
   things that are not true. Just because someone studies one thing   
   to the exclusion of all else does not make them an expert..... it   
   makes them biased. Bible scholars will tell you that their god   
   and their jesus are absolutely real. Should we believe those   
   experts too?   
      
   > Obviously you have some turf to defend.   Be my guest!   
      
   I am not the one defending any turf, but your ad hominem is   
   noted. As usual Western style Buddhists always resort to such   
   attacks when the problem of real Buddhists believing in gods is   
   brought up. I'm just trying to correct your conflating Buddhism   
   with Atheism. They are not the same. Buddhists rely upon ancient   
   texts, and many believe in para natural (for want of an better   
   word) beings, and some super giant scorekeeper they call "karma."   
   None of which are found in Atheism or Secular Humanism.   
      
   > But on the long shot chance you might still be listening....   
   > just a little.... Buddhists do NOT have any gods.   That is   
   > the truth.   
      
   Well..... believe what you want but just know that many Buddhists   
   disagree with you.  Your blanket statement is obviously false   
   since I have shown you that some Buddhists do believe in gods. I   
   guess your preconceived conclusions have gotten in your way.   
   --   
   Dave   
      
   "Sacred cows make the best hamburger."  Mark Twain.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)