Open Discussion on Religon

It's served its purpose in the past but the increasing scientific development and individualism has rendered it pretty much useless. That said, buddhism lifestyle appeals to me even though I don't know dick about it.

Anyone have any good entry-tier buddhism books?

>>923432
Hell yeah dude check out The essence of Buddhism I have it, it's a great way to get started.

>>923432
This Is It by Alan Watts.

There's nothing to really talk about. I mean it's not like Jesus is going to stop being the messiah anytime soon.

>>923432
I read Buddah in your Backpack back in highschool, I would consider that a nice starter. It teaches the basics behind "mindfullness"

>>923432
What the Buddha taught

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>>923426
America isn't falling behind in technological development per say, but other countries are catching up. Religion has a lot to do with the stagnation of our practical scientific development. It isn't a priority in education. America could be great again if it re-embraced it's role as primary technological innovativor. But religious dogma is holding back our development of science at a grass roots level. We need to convince more youth to focus on STEM fields.

Thoughts? Am I wrong?

>>923740
per se*

>>923426

It's shit.

Buddism is a crook of bullshit too, there is no such thing as nirvana or any of that ascendant crap. Though, as someone who meditates quite often, I can definitely say it has it uses and can be very beneficial to you, unless you are suffering from severe mental illness, such as disassociation, if that is the case you need to stay away from mediation because it will make it worse, much worse.

>>923758
How come that'd make it worse?

>>923467
Well obviously.

To stop being something you have to at one point have been that thing.

>>923760

When you are suffering from a disassociation with reality that is causing you a lot of panic, the last thing you need is your mind to be focused on how you feel, it will only help amplify your distorted senses and drive you away from any chance of ''getting your mind away from it''.


Also, meditation by itself commonly causes depersonalization (feeling like you are not real) so you definitely do not want to be messing around if you are already in a fragile state of mind.


It's like a depressed person doing hallucinogens, you are going to have a bad time, panic and probably end up traumatized for a couple months. That does not mean meditation cannot be helpful to people with anxiety/depression produced by negative thought patterns, which meditation can definitely help destroy the habit, I just would not recommend it for people with serious issues.

>>923781
Yeah that makes sense.