Kwan Yin's Birthday

[firefly124]

It seems I've become pretty Hellenized lately, so it was refreshing to focus a bit on one of my Patroness' festivals today, even if it wasn't as big a production as a group celebration would have been. Though I did manage to make tentative plans with a friend to go to a Zen Day of Meditation in April. Not Kwan-Yin-oriented per se, but the sort

Comments

[amydmartin]

I love that you actually noted hellization! I totally discuss that with my Orthodox Jewish pal.

Anyway, have been thinking a LOT about the nature of morality and the capacity for an ethical system without a basis anchored in God. So, very interesting that you are also thinking about this. Wondering if, in fact, if there is no God all is permitted. I have no answer to that at present.

[firefly124]

I love that you actually noted hellization! I totally discuss that with my Orthodox Jewish pal.

Cool! Though I imagine you and your Orthodox Jewish friend probably mean something rather different than "participating in Hellenic rituals rather regularly." ;-)

the capacity for an ethical system without a basis anchored in God.

They exist, that's for sure. The classic example actually being Buddhism. While at the level of the layperson, Buddha and the Boddhisattvas are often treated as Deities, "officially" they aren't and the religion itself is non-theistic.

And I'd be very interested to hear your thoughts on the topic below. As Dicky says, those who aren't interested will just scroll by.

[amydmartin]

By the way, this issue came into even sharper relief as I considered the implications of Obama's speech about stem cell research and the capacity of science to restrict and monitor itself. Since I do not believe it will or can I posit that utilitarianism cannot ultimately work as a final arbiter of morality. Though it depends on how one defines that which is moral.

Perhaps I'll post about this as well to see what others think. I worry about posting too much of this sort of thing because I worry that others don't think on it as much as I do and I don't want to be boring. :)

[dickgloucester]

Don't worry about that, Amy. Those who are interested will read; those who aren't, won't. Simple as that.

I'd like to hear your thoughts.

[dickgloucester]

Thanks for all this - I'd been meaning to ask some of these questions...

[firefly124]

You're welcome. And ask away. One of the things I realized in having that convo with my coworker is that the process of figuring out how to answer, especially questions I haven't thought of from a particular angle before, gives me an opportunity to consider things from new angles and put them in better focus for myself.

[dickgloucester]

Ooooookaaaay...

I'm not sure how to ask this without sounding crass and insensitive, but you know I don't intend more than honest curiosity.

You have a personal pantheon of gods/goddesses from various religions, right? How do you come to that pantheon? A casual observer might just think you were cherry-picking the prettiest, or the ones that sounded swankiest, or those whose precepts would allow you to do preciesly what you wanted but feel smug about it (sorry - I told you I was going to be crass, but these are the sort of remarks I've come across amongst people talking about pagans).

However, when you talk about your beliefs, you come across as sincere, and as someone who doesn't use your gods as mere window-dresing. So I am curious to know how it is you come to this personal pantheon.

[firefly124]

A casual observer might just think you were cherry-picking the prettiest, or the ones that sounded swankiest, or those whose precepts would allow you to do preciesly what you wanted but feel smug about it (sorry - I told you I was going to be crass, but these are the sort of remarks I've come across amongst people talking about pagans).

I'm not at all surprised that you've come across those remarks. Some of them may even be deserved in cases. I know I've run across Pagans who fit that description. And you're not being crass at all, because I totally get the spirit in which you're asking.

So I am curious to know how it is you come to this personal pantheon.Very weirdly

[wombathouse]

wow. What a fascinating discussion. Thank you for talking about your path (though I must say, as I think I've said in a similar context before, boy do I feel spiritually lazy when I look at all the work you're doing. And kind of jealous, which leads to the obvious conclusion that I should be paying more attention to what I must therefore feel I'm missing. So thank you for that wake-up smack, also

[firefly124]

Thank you for talking about your path (though I must say, as I think I've said in a similar context before, boy do I feel spiritually lazy when I look at all the work you're doing. And kind of jealous, which leads to the obvious conclusion that I should be paying more attention to what I must therefore feel I'm missing. So thank you for that wake-up smack, also.)

You're welcome. Though I have to admit, I find it amusing that it looks like I'm doing much of anything. It often feels to me like I keep getting lazy, getting off track, and starting back over at square one.

That's a beautiful bracelet. I do agree with you though, IME, silk isn't your best choice for stones like that, especially if you didn't knot them individually. The edges of the beads will tear through the silk very quickly if you wear it much. Elastic is better, but Soft Flex beading wire is much the best, IMO, for a long-lasting piece.

Thank you, and thanks for the tips. I really do need to try using wire.

Either way they are operating with rules/ethics. Good

[wombathouse]

I like it! IMO, trouble is usually an indication of actual thought taking place. I never thought of religion as a conversation at quite that angle. I like that idea too.

I think one of the reasons I like the Chalion books so much is that they do some exploring of what things look like from the god side. And there's humor over there! Yay!

[luellon]

Thank you for this post.

Things I need to think about.

Thanks.

[firefly124]

You're welcome. {{hugs}}