three4jump

"Rivers, ponds, lakes and streams all have different names, but they all contain water," Ali said. "So, too, different religions all contain truth."

"If there are people who don't have much interest in religion, they will see negatives," he [the Dalai Lama] said.

(AP article)

If the Enterprise traveled back in time to 2003 and beamed The Champ and His Holiness aboard, and if there were a transporter accident, would the resulting Muhammad Ali Lama tell people to follow Allah or Buddha? Apparently, it doesn't matter if you pick the right religion, so long as you pick some religion.

"But, Marge, what if we picked the wrong religion, and each week we're making God madder and madder?"

[Woohoo! I made into Elsewhere!]

Spleen

Woohoo! I made into Elsewhere!

You earned it.

three4jump

Oh, you're just saying that.

Actually, my question was: why would a religionist prefer someone belong to some other religion than none at all? I can think of many reasons, but none that make sense. So, the thread should have been started in General Religious. But then it has elements of Media/Pop Culture and also Secular Lifestyle. So, I would have filed it under miscellaneous, but what do I know.

squiddy

Buddhallah maybe? Has a certain ring to it, don'tcha think?

three4jump

It could be the start of a new religion! Buddhallah Jehovishnu, perhaps.

Opera Nut

The Dalai Lama is cool. Buddhism is the closest thing to no-bullshit religion I can find. You don't have to believe in god either. Definitely a plus.

three4jump

The Lama is pretty cool. Kundun is one of my all-time favorite movies, and there is certainly much to admire about him. That's why I was so disappointed to hear him say people without religion are prone to negative thinking. Skeptical thinking is not the same as negative thinking.