"Religion is the **** of the masses"--Karl Marx. My unfortunate Sociology professor mentioned it in a discussion during class. It got pretty heated. But after all the hubbub died down, it got me to thinking: does religion make us who we are, or is it the other way around? What do you think?
(Even though I'm a Socialist and people say that's a step towards Communism, I still think Marx was just an emo before his time. This little adage further proves my point.:splat
Zen Buddhism and Tao are real awesome, the wu-mei philosophy in Tao and the search for Nirvana in Buddhism is way cool. As for paganism, I'm not too sure. It appears to be a rather ambiguous belief system due to the lack of awareness (or more or less acknowledgment) of its existence. My bestest friend was a Wiccan, so I have no issues with paganists. I'm just rather confused about its philosophies and doctrines.
Yea...I really like religions/philosophies that are centered around man. I guess you can say that I'm also into "secular humanism." But I really started to get into Zen after reading this guy called Osho, he talks about it all the time, have you heard of him?
Yea...I really like religions/philosophies that are centered around man. I guess you can say that I'm also into "secular humanism." But I really started to get into Zen after reading this guy called Osho, he talks about it all the time, have you heard of him?
To tell the truth, no I haven't. Is he Japanese? For the most part, I know that a majority of the followers of Zen Buddhism are Japanese, so this is why I ask. My knowledge of Zen Buddhism or just about any school of Buddhism comes from my Mahayana Buddhist French teacher and Zagat. Oh and if you find a further interest Buddhism in any case, the books 'What Would Buddha Do? by Franz Metcalf and Siddhartha by Herman Hesse are great reads.
In early youth, Marx was a Christian. The first of Marx's known works was entitled, "Unity of believers in Christ according to the Gospel of John 15:1-14: Unity's meaning, unconditional necessity, and influence." Here we find the following words: "Union with Christ is found in a close and living fellowship with Him and in the fact that we always have Him before our eyes and in our hearts. And at the same time that we are possessed by the greatest love of Him, we direct our hearts to our brothers, with whom He bound us closely, and for whom He sacrificed Himself." So Marx was aware of the way in which people may show brotherly love towards each other, that is, through Christianity. He continues: "Therefore, unity with Christ internally exalts, comforts in trials, and makes the heart open to love people, not because of our pride or thirst for fame, but because of Christ." At the about the same period of time, he writes in his work entitled: "Thoughts of a young man before choosing a profession": "Religion teaches us the Ideal to Whom we all aspire. He has sacrificed Himself for all mankind. Who will dare to deny such assertions? If we have chosen a profession at which we may give our best to mankind, then we won't falter under its burden, because it is a sacrifice for all." When he graduated from high school, his diploma contained the following in the category "Religious knowledge": "His knowledge of Christian teachings and principles is clear and properly based. He also knows the history of Christian church to a great extent." Soon after receiving of his diploma, something very mysterious happened. Even before Moses Gess led Marx to socialistic persuasions in 1841, he had become a zealous atheist. This change character could be seen in his later student years.
I hope somebody prayed for karl Marx...because he was sick
The link is tight
The devil is still a Liar
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Karl Marx spoke to Yahshua as a young man but he chose to listen to satan
Karl Marx spoke to Yahshua as a young man but he chose to listen to satan
Oookay. Right. So this is just your opinion based on religious belief, correct? If so, then it can't be generally applied to what Marx actually was. Simply because it's just your opinion, not documented fact. What is documented, however, is that Marx was born into a Jewish-Lutheran family and later on in his lifetime, adopted atheism. An atheist is someone who doesn't believe in the existence of God or a Supreme Being. That's all. And for the record, Yahshua is the Hebrew equivalent for Joshua. God, on the other hand, is referred to in Hebrew as Yahweh...I'm sure I mentioned this before...
The link is tight
The devil 
is still a Liar
