Why do Americans join Buddism?

[Evil Tony]

I was wondering about this, sometimes I see onlinel dating profiles of women, white, caucasion American women, but when I see their religon it says, "Buddism"

Now why would an American join a religion exclusive to S.E. Asians?

[Thrashdragon]

I'm no Buddhism expert, but I don't think there's anything in it that mandates a certain race. People use religion for different reasons, maybe these women find peace in the tenets of Buddhism. As religions go, it seems to be a pretty benevolent one, unlike...well, pretty much all the other ones. Plus they have that great fat guy. A guy that looks like he'd sit down and have a beer with you. I imagine a Buddhist woman would be more tolerant of her mate developing a beer belly. She could rub it for luck.

:D

[Gamer Shockley]

Thats a really good question. I'm no sure... and I live here in America, and know these women.

Then again... People also try to take a concept of freedom to new levels just so they can be different. Thats the only thing I dislike about where I live at... everyone insists on being different and unique. They fail to realize they're own significance, and try to make a false one, using whatever means necessary.

This a sad thing, but true.

Just goes to show that you should never let someone else's opinion falter your own.

[Premonition]

freedom of religion.....

[BigTwinky]

freedom of religion.....

Simple quote, sums up my beliefs as well. Nicely put.


Religion is not tied to one?s nationality. Sure, the place where religion is born typically has a higher concentration of people practicing it. But religion is about thoughts and ideals, and limiting that to a certain group is kinda stereotypical and close minded. :|

That?s like saying that all Jews should are in Israel, all Muslims are in the Middle East and all Pagans are in Salem.

[rafles]

mmm... why are you looking at online dating profiles?? :?

:D

[thedeadlyassassin]

People come all over the place to covert religions, or some like to stay put and covert religion.

I guess people like their ways. I myself am not a religion expert, but suprirsingly (or not) more then 75% of all Arabic immigrants are Christians, and the only explanation that really makes sense was to covert.

I'm probably off topic by now lol.

Anyways, I think they just want to try new religions, could be much like why Lisa Simpson coverted.

[BigTwinky]

Why they move? Christinanity is in a decline right now. There are less priests and even less people going to church. Many religions promote a way of life, spirituality through morales, actions and values. Compared to someone telling you that this is how it is.

Add to that alot of the media attention given to the pedophile priests and the covering up and denial done by the church, people are not as inclined to follow people who think like that. But they still have a need to be spiritual, thus turn to more pacifist religions. Many of the most horrible wars and events in the world are usually religion based and are often centered around the world's major religions - islam, christianity, judaism.

[Murphy420]

mmm... why are you looking at online dating profiles?? :?

:D

LoL you know he is :D

[mapes]

Why they move? Christinanity is in a decline right now. There are less priests and even less people going to church. Many religions promote a way of life, spirituality through morales, actions and values. Compared to someone telling you that this is how it is.



Ummm isn't that what religion is doing...Telling you this is how it is. Be good go to heaven be bad go to hell.....Myself I'm a secular humanist.

Secular humanism is a humanist philosophy that upholds reason, ethics, and justice, and specifically rejects the supernatural and the spiritual as warrants of moral reflection and decision-making. Like other types of humanism, secular humanism is a life stance focusing on the way human beings can lead good and happy lives. More specifically, secular humanism is a non-religious life stance.

Hey Han Solo was one too

Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid.

[mapes]

I guess people like their ways. I myself am not a religion expert, but suprirsingly (or not) more then 75% of all Arabic immigrants are Christians, and the only explanation that really makes sense was to covert.

Just out of curiosity where did you get this number of 75% of all Arabic immigrants are Christians? In my dealings with immigrants from Jordan, Assyria, Palestine(yes Palestine) and Saudi Arabia all of them have been Muslim. Not a single one has been a Christian. Obviously my experience is not all inclusive however there is a high number of immigrants from the middle east in the high tech sector (which is where I work). So where did you get that number?

[BigTwinky]

Ummm isn't that what religion is doing...Telling you this is how it is. Be good go to heaven be bad go to hell.....Myself I'm a secular humanist.

Secular humanism is a humanist philosophy that upholds reason, ethics, and justice, and specifically rejects the supernatural and the spiritual as warrants of moral reflection and decision-making. Like other types of humanism, secular humanism is a life stance focusing on the way human beings can lead good and happy lives. More specifically, secular humanism is a non-religious life stance.

Hey Han Solo was one too


Hmm, probably didn?t come out right (sorry, I?m french and sometimes have issues getting the right through across).

Many religions promote a way to LIVE your life, with values and morals while others tell you that if you are good (good, by their standards) you will go to heaven and live in bliss for the rest of your life or be bad and you will live a life of torment.

Yes, in essence they all have a ?superior? power who is laying down the law. Whether he is a smiling fat guy, a hippy with a dress or someone without a face. Some have teachings while others have absolute laws/rules.

Make more sense?

I tend to lean towards the secular humanism as well. However, I am so not a fan of having to classify and group everyone into something. Kinda like bands, where this one is classified as retro hippy pop while the other is an acid hillbilly rock.

[xGoblin013x]

I was wondering about this, sometimes I see onlinel dating profiles of women, white, caucasion American women, but when I see their religon it says, "Buddism"

Now why would an American join a religion exclusive to S.E. Asians?

Funnily enough, these dating sites dont actually hunt down the people who log onto them to make sure theyre telling the truth...
These women are probably just tyring to throw you off-balance; I know my girlfriend tries to.

And why do you need a dating site? Youre the one gettin all the belly-dancers :2thumbs:

[Gamer Shockley]

Thats a really good question. I'm no sure... and I live here in America, and know these women.

Then again... People also try to take a concept of freedom to new levels just so they can be different. Thats the only thing I dislike about where I live at... everyone insists on being different and unique. They fail to realize they're own significance, and try to make a false one, using whatever means necessary.

This a sad thing, but true.

Just goes to show that you should never let someone else's opinion falter your own.

I didn't mean for it sound closed minded, since I DO promote freedom of religion.

I just know people here that were born and raised Christian, and change over time just to be different.

We're I live at in the US you seldom see people change their religion for actual personal benefit.

I am Christian, and even though I would promote someone to become Christian, I would tell them to follow their heart, and try to show the true good side of my religion. I don't go to church, yet I am one of the most spiritual people you will ever meet. I don't believe in organized religion since it only leads to problems, and therefore I am Nondenominational.

Personally in my belief as Christian, God sees and will judge you for who you are and the acts you do, not wither you go to church.

[Sirex]

Reason...

Because they take solace in the facts of that religion, they feel comfortable in it.

My mothers catholic, my father is protestant (sp?) i follow nether why? because i cant take comfort in either, so i don't follow them.

Religion is a thing you rely on to be there when you need it, to help you, and if you dont feel comfortable in it, then whats the point of having it there?
So they pick one and follow one that they feel suits them etc.

[BigTwinky]

Thats a really good question. I'm no sure... and I live here in America, and know these women.

Then again... People also try to take a concept of freedom to new levels just so they can be different. Thats the only thing I dislike about where I live at... everyone insists on being different and unique. They fail to realize they're own significance, and try to make a false one, using whatever means necessary.

This a sad thing, but true.

Just goes to show that you should never let someone else's opinion falter your own.

I didn't mean for it sound closed minded, since I DO promote freedom of religion.

I just know people here that were born and raised Christian, and change over time just to be different.

We're I live at in the US you seldom see people change their religion for actual personal benefit.

I am Christian, and even though I would promote someone to become Christian, I would tell them to follow their heart, and try to show the true good side of my religion. I don't go to church, yet I am one of the most spiritual people you will ever meet. I don't believe in organized religion since it only leads to problems, and therefore I am Nondenominational.

Personally in my belief as Christian, God sees and will judge you for who you are and the acts you do, not wither you go to church.

If i get what you mean, I have seen things very similar here as well. Many people who are in the teens will often jump to different causes / religions trying to find their way, and often, simply trying to be different. I don't mean to generalize, I'm just speaking for what I have done and seen. At least it shows an openess to looking at something new. You won't often find "older" people who switch or are as quick to jump. Happens, but not as often.

On the flip side, I know many people who are adults who refuse to even look at other religions simply because they have always been christian. They refuse to acknowledge that there could be another way of thinking, and then we all go to war (exageration, but you get my point).

You have all types of people in this world. And I also live in Canada, which is typically a bit "free-er" in their way of thinking than many places in the US, so that can also factor into my way of thinking. :)

I'm just hoping those girls Tony is looking at on those online dating sites aren't these "younger" people who constantly change religions trying to fit in. Not that there is anything wrong with change, just something creepy about them being on the same site as Tony.

[Gamer Shockley]

Thats a really good question. I'm no sure... and I live here in America, and know these women.

Then again... People also try to take a concept of freedom to new levels just so they can be different. Thats the only thing I dislike about where I live at... everyone insists on being different and unique. They fail to realize they're own significance, and try to make a false one, using whatever means necessary.

This a sad thing, but true.

Just goes to show that you should never let someone else's opinion falter your own.

I didn't mean for it sound closed minded, since I DO promote freedom of religion.

I just know people here that were born and raised Christian, and change over time just to be different.

We're I live at in the US you seldom see people change their religion for actual personal benefit.

I am Christian, and even though I would promote someone to become Christian, I would tell them to follow their heart, and try to show the true good side of my religion. I don't go to church, yet I am one of the most spiritual people you will ever meet. I don't believe in organized religion since it only leads to problems, and therefore I am Nondenominational.

Personally in my belief as Christian, God sees and will judge you for who you are and the acts you do, not wither you go to church.

If i get what you mean, I have seen things very similar here as well. Many people who are in the teens will often jump to different causes / religions trying to find their way, and often, simply trying to be different. I don't mean to generalize, I'm just speaking for what I have done and seen. At least it shows an openess to looking at something new. You won't often find "older" people who switch or are as quick to jump. Happens, but not as often.

On the flip side, I know many people who are adults who refuse to even look at other religions simply because they have always been christian. They refuse to acknowledge that there could be another way of thinking, and then we all go to war (exageration, but you get my point).

You have all types of people in this world. And I also live in Canada, which is typically a bit "free-er" in their way of thinking than many places in the US, so that can also factor into my way of thinking. :)

I'm just hoping those girls Tony is looking at on those online dating sites aren't these "younger" people who constantly change religions trying to fit in. Not that there is anything wrong with change, just something creepy about them being on the same site as Tony.

Oh I don't know. I'd use them if I could meet a chick like the one in Tony's sig... :D

[BigTwinky]

Meeting and actually dating are two different things :P :D :) 8)

[Gamer Shockley]

Meeting and actually dating are two different things :P :D :) 8)

:P

[mapes]

Hmm, probably didn?t come out right (sorry, I?m french and sometimes have issues getting the right through across).

Many religions promote a way to LIVE your life, with values and morals while others tell you that if you are good (good, by their standards) you will go to heaven and live in bliss for the rest of your life or be bad and you will live a life of torment.

Yes, in essence they all have a ?superior? power who is laying down the law. Whether he is a smiling fat guy, a hippy with a dress or someone without a face. Some have teachings while others have absolute laws/rules.

Make more sense?

I tend to lean towards the secular humanism as well. However, I am so not a fan of having to classify and group everyone into something. Kinda like bands, where this one is classified as retro hippy pop while the other is an acid hillbilly rock.

Ok I get it now.

Yes I understand the annoyance of over classification. The music analogy is a pretty good fit. It drives me to fits when I rip my music off of CD and use Freedb to tag it and I forget to check the genre field cause invariably it'll have something like urban-ultra-redneck-metal or something equally stupid. How ever the one reason I specifically mention Secular Humanism is the idea of totally rejecting mythical mysticism and other unprovable or intangible's things for reason. It's a strong point for me.

[thedeadlyassassin]

I guess people like their ways. I myself am not a religion expert, but suprirsingly (or not) more then 75% of all Arabic immigrants are Christians, and the only explanation that really makes sense was to covert.

Just out of curiosity where did you get this number of 75% of all Arabic immigrants are Christians? In my dealings with immigrants from Jordan, Assyria, Palestine(yes Palestine) and Saudi Arabia all of them have been Muslim. Not a single one has been a Christian. Obviously my experience is not all inclusive however there is a high number of immigrants from the middle east in the high tech sector (which is where I work). So where did you get that number?

From a historian that has studied Middle East and religions there for ages. I'm just saying what he's saying.

[BigTwinky]

Historian name? Book you read it in? Any internet links? Anything?
Your numbers sound a wee bit off.

[mapes]

I guess people like their ways. I myself am not a religion expert, but suprirsingly (or not) more then 75% of all Arabic immigrants are Christians, and the only explanation that really makes sense was to covert.

Just out of curiosity where did you get this number of 75% of all Arabic immigrants are Christians? In my dealings with immigrants from Jordan, Assyria, Palestine(yes Palestine) and Saudi Arabia all of them have been Muslim. Not a single one has been a Christian. Obviously my experience is not all inclusive however there is a high number of immigrants from the middle east in the high tech sector (which is where I work). So where did you get that number?

From a historian that has studied Middle East and religions there for ages. I'm just saying what he's saying.



He's right...well sort of 15% of immigrants from the middle east were Christian....In 1970...Currently thats not the case.

From the Center for Immigration Studies

http://www.cis.org/articles/2002/back902.html

The religious composition of Middle Eastern immigrants has changed dramatically over the past thirty years. In 1970, an estimated 15 percent (29,000) of immigrants from the region were Muslim; the rest were mostly Christians from Lebanon or Christian ethnic minorities such as Armenians fleeing predominately Muslim countries. By 2000, an estimated 73 percent (1.1 million) of all Middle Eastern immigrants were Muslim.

[BigTwinky]

Wow, talk about a misquote, 30+ years old. :roll:

[omfg karl marx]

Ummm isn't that what religion is doing...Telling you this is how it is. Be good go to heaven be bad go to hell.....Myself I'm a secular humanist.
That's not true either. If what you are saying is true and a person didn't believe in a religion or a god, then they couldn't have any sort of morals. That obviously is not true. There are many responsible, moral atheists out there.

[Cain]

I was wondering about this, sometimes I see onlinel dating profiles of women, white, caucasion American women, but when I see their religon it says, "Buddism"

Now why would an American join a religion exclusive to S.E. Asians?

Wow, Tony, you stirred up a hornet's nest here with a pretty innocent question.

I can answer your question, then I'm closing this thread.

Those girls are posting that on their profile because they think it sounds cool, to pick a "religion" that sounds exotic and few around here know alot about - I seriously doubt they are truly Buddhists. They are looking to attract someone as flighty as they probably are.

My advice is pick someone who - whatever they believe - they really believe it, and follow its teachings - someone who is not ashamed of their beliefs and is unlikely to change them to sound cool, or contemporary.

Better yet Tony, find a girl in your area through work, or friends or family - with a similar cultural, and socio-economic background to yours !! Or meet a girl who loves science-fiction and computer gaming like you do - she is out there, trust me, in fact - you may already know her !!

Good luck !!

-- Cain