Porcelain Doll: I am fascinated by your response to Kathy on July 1st. I first have to say that I am sorry for the experiences that have made you afraid to put your faith in any philosophy that “may or may not let me down.” But doesn’t that include every thought pattern? I hear you saying that you don’t want to be a cheerleader for any philosophy that may not fit your listener’s lifestyle. So how can you endorse Buddhism? If I may suggest a test for you to convince yourself that God is a loving and omnipotent being. Take a long breath and let it out slowly. When you feel like inhaling again sense the confidence you feel knowing that when you do the air will be there for you to continue your life. When God created the universe and specifically the world, He did it with you in mind and gave you all the things you need to exist and question His beingness.
And Ray, your response is pointed and relevant. Let me also add 2 Corinthians 11:1-4. I ask the simple question. If I am now existing, where did all this existence start? Horny amoebas? Randomly colliding electrons? Why the very stones cry out! A superior intelligence who is worthy of my awe, as you refer is reflected in the Psalms, must be behind it all. Buddha even granted his limitations in this regard by recognizing he was a man seeking revelation from a higher consciousness. And if the universe cries out the existence of God, how can I know Him? Through a history of revealed thought from different cultures, different men, and over thousands of years. I believe the Bible gives me much to think about and guide my life by. Occam