Christianity Losing My Religion: Why I'm Raising My Child To Believe In Science, Not God

[Harry Haller]

Harry Haller is a curious guy to me. Let me start by saying you sound like a likable and intelligent guy. But I'm mystified by your understanding of Sikhism.

I am glad about that, that means your relatively sane.

You're always quick to say most turban-wearing 'Sikhs' are not indeed Sikhs, presumably because they are close-minded, greedy, selfish, ignorant or whatnot

I take this back completely, if anyone is not a 'sikh' its probably me, not them, but then being a Sikh is different to many people, to me its to leave science to science, and just try and do the right thing. As I believe in nil intervention by a supreme being, that meditation is ultimately quite pointless other than for the self, (I find a big pie works wonders for the self and is much more fun), that ritual and superstition are to, frankly, confusing to me, that death is death, I suppose I follow a line of Sikhism devoid of Abrahamic and Vedic influence. However, if others choose to follow a 'traditional' way learned from the laps of their fathers, then that is their choice, and I have no ruck with that. My ruck is with those that insist their way is supreme and the only way,.

But you state you are a Sikh, right after admitting you are a womanizer, drunk, meat-eating atheist, etc...

I guess better to state I am a Sikh with the following faults then to state I am a Sikh period, maybe I am too honest?

I can't help thinking you were born into Sikh culture and have spent your life trying to reconcile Sikh identity with beliefs and lifestyle that fly in the face of Sikh doctrine

Close, close, no I was born into a Sikh culture that embraced the very facets that I was told made it vital for Sikhism to exist, I remember as a child wondering when I would finally embrace adulthood, and act like an adult, and know all the rituals and sayings that made me look wise and adult. After a while I realised I was watching blind ritual, I remember as a child sitting in a Gurudwara car park and watching a wedding party, I remember at the time thinking there was nothing particularly holy or spiritual about a house of God. It was around that time I rejected adulthood, I am 46 now and still going strong. To fly in the face of Sikh doctrine, one must first know what Sikh doctrine is.

Wouldn't it be easier to renounce Sikhi and go forth as a worldly and thoughtful atheist, rather than spending so much energy trying to explain away, re-word, re-interpret and re-read the literally thousands of descriptions in the Guru of the many aspects and qualities of God?

I believe I pass the conditions of Sikhism as laid out by the SRM.

Just wondering.
By the way, I'm not in disagreement with you that the vast majority of us go through life with the outside appearance of devotion, while in our hearts we are absorbed in low and mundane pursuits.

to me Sikhism is about the truth, people who meet me know the truth straightaway, they do not to spend time unravelling personalities and agenda, it saves so much time, but its not for everyone I guess.

 

[Ishna]

As I believe in nil intervention by a supreme being, that meditation is ultimately quite pointless other than for the self, (I find a big pie works wonders for the self and is much more fun),

Bhaji... I remember a few years back when your phrase of the month was to "put the oxygen mask on yourself before helping others".

Perhaps for some, meditation is how they oxygenate themselves. Hopefully before they go on to help others.

What do you think?

 

[Harry Haller]

Perhaps for some, meditation is how they oxygenate themselves. Hopefully before they go on to help others.

What do you think?

ahh but they only help others by showing them how to meditate!

 

[Ishna]

ahh but they only help others by showing them how to meditate!

Really? And you know this... how?

 

[Harkiran Kaur]

Ignoring the spiritual aspects of meditation which come from tuning out the physical (because I know Harry Ji completely dismisses such things) meditation has been shown to have many physical benefits as well:

Stress Reduction
Lower Blood Pressure
Lowers Heart Rate
Helps In Managing Pain
Reduce Anxiety Attacks
Enhances the immune system. Research has revealed that meditation increases activity of 'natural-killer cells', which kill bacteria and cancer cells.
Improved Mood
Cognitive Function, Memory
Helps with Insomnia
It increases serotonin production which influences mood and behaviour. Low levels of serotonin are associated with depression, obesity, insomnia and headaches.
Self Hypnosis can treat pathological fears - has been used for dentistry, minor surgery etc.

So showing someone how to do it, and gain these benefits I think is worth it! Even if they never attempt to use it for spiritual purposes at all.

 

[Harry Haller]

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-s...-can-it-actually-be-bad-for-you-10268291.html

above is an article in respected UK newspaper 'The Independent'

You may think it is worth it, I wonder if you are prepared to take responsibility for anyone who finds themselves worse off?

 

[Harry Haller]

actually interesting to note, google 'bad aspects of meditation' gives

About 40,300,000 results (0.29 seconds)

whereas 'good aspects of meditation' gives

About 20,200,000 results (0.29 seconds)

clearly for once, I am in the majority!

 

[Harkiran Kaur]

actually interesting to note, google 'bad aspects of meditation' gives

About 40,300,000 results (0.29 seconds)

whereas 'good aspects of meditation' gives

About 20,200,000 results (0.29 seconds)

clearly for once, I am in the majority!

Since meditation is basically just some time alone with your self to relax, I honestly can't see any negatives from it. That's like saying bubble baths are bad hahaha

 

[Harry Haller]

Since meditation is basically just some time alone with your self to relax, I honestly can't see any negatives from it. That's like saying bubble baths are bad hahaha

http://www.rightdiagnosis.com/b/bubble_bath_allergy/intro.htm

yes it is, and yes they can be, my wife is allergic to bubble baths, they bring her out in a rash.

are you actually seeing the full picture for all, or just an icon for you?

 

[Joginder Singh Foley]

WGKF-WGKK

I for one have no problems being both scientific, currently studying astro-physics because I cant stand wasting my time in front of the idiot lantern {TV} as I prefer to stimulate my brain not rot it, and a Sikh. The two are mutually compatible the motivation to exceed at one motivates me to exceed at the other at least for me. Just read the books be it SGGS or the one on the life and death of stars {Our own little G2 light bulb 93 million miles away is on its third life for example} or the one I have just started on the design,construction and maintainence of railway track all 600 pages of it, just open your mind and think

 

[chazSingh]

I guess better to state I am a Sikh with the following faults then to state I am a Sikh period, maybe I am too honest?

dude, this is the only type of Sikh there is...
huge chunks of the SGGS ji is telling us we've lost our way...

the Sikh is the one that says "i'm a fool....i'm a pervert...i'm the greedy money thirsting person that wants it all anyway i can...i'm the egotistical person that wants to beat others, reach the top at the expense of someone else..."

and then says "but i want to change...i'm going to change..."

 

[namritanevaeh]

Losing My Religion: Why I'm Raising My Child to Believe in Science, Not God

By Babble.com | Parenting – 3 hours ago

The first time I received the sacrament of Holy Eucharist, in third grade, I looked over at my best friend, kneeling at a nearby pew, his face transfixed with some emotion I wasn't experiencing. The wafer lacked flavor, it sucked up my spit, turning to a gummy mash that I affixed to the roof of my mouth with my tongue. "This is it?" I thought. "God? He needs salt."

By Brian Gresko
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I wonder if Brian Gresko has tried parshad?