Evil Is Good And God Doesn't Exist???

[Didymos Thomas]

Jesus didn't beat anyone up in the temple - he overturned tables and chastised those doing business.

But, yeah, if you followed his lead in this respect I'd praise you. Not only do the actions of Jesus advise us against religious profiteering, but so do his words, so which ever is premier, both would give credit to your actions.

[Solace]

Heh heh, you might praise me, but I'd probably get arrested for even overturning tables. Not that I'd mind that particularly, if I considered any modern church to be the house of God. The whole idea of receiving a salary for being a minister is religious profiteering in my book.

[Didymos Thomas]

Ain't that the truth.

Not that I'm promoting illegal activities, but civil disobedience is a very American concept.

[Solace]

Lol, American maybe, but in Canada we're too polite to be right.

[Aedes]

Originally Posted by Didymos Thomas

civil disobedience is a very American concept.

How so? It seems that Europe has a pretty illustrious tradition of it if you look at the events of 1789, 1791, 1832, 1848, etc.

The greatest traditions of this come from Asia. The greatest of all was Gandhi, who was very influential on the tactics of Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights movement in general.

Satyagraha - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar is another exponent of this, as is the Dalai Lama.

Aung San Suu Kyi - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Didymos Thomas]

It's a very American concept in that HD Thoreau coined the term in his famous essay. While Jefferson did not use the phrase, his political philosophy seems to align itself with the ideals of civil disobedience - Jefferson even went so far as to suggest open rebellion, violent if necessary, every ten years.

You're absolutely right, though, the greatest examples (with the exception of Dr. King) of civil disobedience come from the east, Gandhi in particular. And I would argue that civil disobedience in some form or another is an essential aspect of Buddhist political involvement. South East Asian Buddhists, especially, have a rich tradition of civil disobedience. Bless them for it.

Of course, Gandhi was greatly influenced by the Americans. And the Americans, like Thoreau, were influenced by eastern thought, too. Giant circle of political responsibility and integrity. Gotta love it.

Lol, American maybe, but in Canada we're too polite to be right.

Well, as Aedes points out, the Dalai Lama advocates civil disobedience - and I doubt there are many people who are more polite than His Holiness.

So come on, brothers and sisters to the north, get out and disobey, in a civil manner.

[Aedes]

Originally Posted by Didymos Thomas

Of course, Gandhi was greatly influenced by the Americans. And the Americans, like Thoreau, were influenced by eastern thought, too. Giant circle of political responsibility and integrity. Gotta love it.

That's cool, I hadn't thought about it like that -- yes, Thoreau and in particular Emerson were influenced by Buddhist philosophy.

How do you think Gandhi's experience in South Africa informed his experience?

(which reminds me that Nelson Mandela is a heroic African example of civil disobedience, though he was certainly influenced by Gandhi)

[Didymos Thomas]

How do you think Gandhi's experience in South Africa informed his experience?

As I understand it, that's where Gandhi got his first taste of real political activism, that's where he first implemented his ideas of passive resistance.

Like his home nation, South Africa was a British colony. I'm sure his experiences there helped solidify his feelings against colonization, and gave him the foundational experience to carry on the vastly more complex campaign in India.

I really don't know much about Gandhi. Obviously, I'm familiar with him, and his struggle, but I don't know any of the nuances to his life or work. I just see a man who managed, without the use of violence, to cast off one of the most powerful military forces in the world. Some evidence that you may not need a military to defend your home. I'm increasingly convinced that having a (significant) military only increases the danger of being the victim of aggression.

[Aedes]

Originally Posted by Didymos Thomas

I'm increasingly convinced that having a (significant) military only increases the danger of being the victim of aggression.

I'm not convinced of that, if you consider the cases of the American colonies in 1775, Poland / Czecheslovakia in 1938-1939, Belgium and France in 1940, all the victims of the Napoleonic wars save Russia and Britain, Kuwait in 1990, etc. It's due largely to British incompetence and moronic strategy that they could not wipe out the Revolutionary army -- and the tenacity of Washington and von Steuben that they were able to string their ragtag army together. There are many stories of weak victims out there who fall victim to stronger adversaries. Why did we attack Iraq and not North Korea? Mainly because North Korea's military was a much bigger deterrent.

[Solace]

So come on, brothers and sisters to the north, get out and disobey, in a civil manner.

I'm not sure how they did it, but our government seems to have found a way to keep us just passive enough that we complain plenty but are too lazy to do anything more than that about it. Maybe they put something in the water? j/k.