tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6487611241541459968.post4711515575463823755..comments2018-04-02T11:34:26.470-04:00Comments on MindSpirit Book Journeys: Spiritual Memoirs: Spirituality and the SelfMaria Beharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13635809880830316283noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6487611241541459968.post-21822974861220093382015-09-11T14:54:41.697-04:002015-09-11T14:54:41.697-04:00Hi, Parrish!
I don't blame you at all for har...Hi, Parrish!<br /><br />I don't blame you at all for harping on this book, and recommending it to your friends. From what I remember, this was a GREAT read! And I am planning to re-read it, too.<br /><br />Thanks so much for conmenting back!! : )Maria Beharhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13635809880830316283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6487611241541459968.post-21665068207000981972015-09-10T07:31:09.047-04:002015-09-10T07:31:09.047-04:00Read Zen & the Art of, years ago & loved i...Read Zen & the Art of, years ago & loved it & I think another one Pirsig wrote called Lila. I remember at the time making all my mates aware of the Zen book & causing some annoyance with my harping on about it.@parridhlanternhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12793548943992250238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6487611241541459968.post-72143369665277321452015-09-10T00:29:18.238-04:002015-09-10T00:29:18.238-04:00Hi, Brian,
I really admire you for respecting the...Hi, Brian,<br /><br />I really admire you for respecting the spiritual beliefs of others, while being a non-believer yourself! Not everyone acts or feels that way! Richard Dawkins is a prime example. His hostility toward believers is well-known. So I greatly appreciate that you read posts like these, and even find them interesting.<br /><br />I'm somewhat familiar with humanism, which is probably what you're referring to when you mention the integration of spiritual values into a secular Universe. I certainly do think that it's possible for a non-believer to uphold the highest ethical values. On the other hand, I do wonder whether they have in some way acquired those values from a religious system, perhaps through their family, or simply coming across it when reading religious books. I'm not sure, though, whether ethical values are given to us by religions, our families, or whether they are somehow ingrained in us from birth. (Hmmmmm.....now I wonder whether there's 'an ethical gene'.....)<br /><br />I think there are some books on Amazon on the subject of having an ethical system without any reference to any religion. I must look them up. I would also like to read the stories of Christians who ended up becoming atheists. I would really like to know why they changed so drastically. Curiosity has always led me to to try to find out things. That's why I have in the past read books that would actually be frowned upon, in Protestant Christian or Catholic circles.....<br /><br />You've read the Confessions of Saint Augustine? WOW. I've never read that book. I really must! I'm not surprised you had trouble with the text; it was probably written in a Medieval style. KUDOS to you for reading it! And yes, the right translation is VERY important, especially when reading ancient (and even not-so-ancient)texts.<br /><br />Thanks for the great comment (including, of course, your compliment)!! : )Maria Beharhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13635809880830316283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6487611241541459968.post-61428832398194310592015-09-08T08:29:45.184-04:002015-09-08T08:29:45.184-04:00Great post Maria.
As you know I am a non believer...Great post Maria.<br /><br />As you know I am a non believer who is interested and tries to be respectful of spiritual beliefs. Lots of the books that you list look to be very interesting.<br /><br />There is also an entire line of thought that tries to incorporate spiritualism into a secular Universe. In addition I think some of what is called spiritualism is philosophy that can also fit into a secular universe.<br /><br />A while ago I read Confessions by St. Augustine. I remember having a lot of trouble with the text. I am better reader now and I would be more careful in picking the right translation so I think that I should give it another try.<br /><br />Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.com