Then let us first embark on this question. Is Virtue found only in extraordinary cases of heroism such as war or disaster or giving of ones whole life to missionary work in a foreign land? The common people seem to speak of it as such. — MysticMonist
Do they indeed? — t0m
Let us endeavor to establish 3 pillars of virtue on which the whole of the good life rests. — MysticMonist
There is a resulting list of sometimes absurd requirements such as not eating meat and cheese together (Orthodox Judaism) or even men or women not allowed to hug outside marriage (the typically liberal Baha'i). Even the sabbath laws either on Saturday or Sunday. These laws exist sometimes for good reason but surely they are not the COMMANDMENTS of God (which thereby if they existed written by the finger of God Himself should be obeyed unquestionably). — MysticMonist
I think I would advocate no commandment or moral law should ever be followed unquestionably. — MysticMonist
Going back to dharmic religions, my zen teacher taught me that the five Buddhist precepts (no killing, no sexual immorality, no lying, no stealing, no intoxicants) are "my own" meaning it's up to me, through my meditative practice, how I interpret them and follow them. I found that to be the most fulfilling and successful, at least I thought so, moral guide. — MysticMonist
It's ultimately part of the reason I ended up not pursuing conversion to Judaism. — MysticMonist
correct behavior toward other people comes from inside. We are built to know how we should behave. What I have to do in order to know what to do next is to open my heart. — T Clark
I say that this guidance comes from God thru illumination but I don't think human religions have a hand in that process. I don't think belief in God is neccesary to be moral since illumination is not gained thru belief. — MysticMonist
I would say humans have the ability to see thru their eyes because God creates them that way. You would probably say they see thru their eyes because they are human. We almost all get eyes if we believe in God or not. — MysticMonist
I would suggest we face a same problem then. What about people who though illumined or possessing an innate moral sense ignore it and practice vice versus those who practice virtue? What's the difference and why does virtue "take" in one but not the other? — MysticMonist
Perhaps Plato is right and we be repaid 10 fold for our actions in an afterlife or perhaps it's just karma in this life (punished by your anger not for your anger type karma). — MysticMonist
I feel like I've hijacked your post away from Plato and on to my own personal views. We should go back to him agai — T Clark
It is our illuminated reason that guides us towards virtue, not the opinion of the masses. — MysticMonist
It is our illuminated reason that guides us towards virtue, not the opinion of the masses. — MysticMonist
I suppose being a mystic bent I find it so strange that they "premodern" ideas are seen as so implausible. — MysticMonist
It was the Franciscan John Duns Scotus, more than anyone else, who put an end to the theory of divine illumination.
Though what if I have direct knowledge of God, am I to reject that on my Zen Master's authority? — MysticMonist
By "knowlegde" are you referring to your direct experience of God or some interpretation of the experience that you might have extrapolated?
If the former then it begs the question as to how you could reject it, that is how could direct experience ever be rejected? — Janus
How can one reject direct experience? In this case by simply discounting the experience as delusion. I was taught that this is what these experiences were and I still think delusion is a very plausible explanation. Religious delusion is very common. — MysticMonist
Isn't what we say we experience almost always a combination of direct impressions and our conception of them? — MysticMonist
How can one reject direct experience? In this case by simply discounting the experience as delusion. I was taught that this is what these experiences were and I still think delusion is a very plausible explanation. Religious delusion is very common. — MysticMonist
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