Agnostics “R” Us...

[Luman]

Well let's see. Where to start. Who are you going to believe:

This page reports his net worth is $1.

This page reports his net worth is $150M as do many others .

Then if he is worth $150M, then what is he doing or going to do with all that money? The guy is like 86 and not in great health. He lives much like the Pope who lives in quarters with other priests in Vatican City. Pope Francis won't live in the Papal quarters. What would you say Pope Francis is worth? These guys are basically good human beings who are not living large seems to me. Then you may be right they are both just grifters. I just don't have the same view as you do. You think he is lying and I think he is s good guy.

He does not think he is divine it seems from what he says. He has been asked many times does he think he is a god and he says he is just a Lama (which means a priest or monk in English). Sometimes he says he is just a human being.

Plenty of political and religious leaders have never owned up to "bloody history". No USA President apologized to the Native Americans for the genocide of their people (among many other things the USA needs to apologize for in my mind). I don't think the Queen of England or a Prime Minister has apologized for the excesses of the British colonial era (not totally sure of that one). Has the Pope apologized for the Inquisition? The Mullahs apologized for the excesses of Mohammed? I think not but I could be wrong about that. I would agree it would be great if he did and maybe he has for all I know. He has apologized for a sexist remark he made a year or two ago... after all he is just human.

Yes, you may be right had the world not intruded on Tibet in the 1940s and 1950s he might have been as bad as the others. Then maybe not. We can't know the answer to that one.

So I guess we will have to agree to disagree. I would be interested to know if you think any institutions or any particular people are doing good things in the world.

I don't want to change the subject. What exactly is so wonderful about this total hypocrite, the Dalai Lama? What is it about him that makes people gush and pay four hundred dollars to hear him give a speech? The correct way to address him, we are told, is "Your Holiness". What if I do not believe in such things as "holy"? Suppose somebody like myself called him by his real name, Lhamo Thondup, or simply Mr. Thondup? Would his bodyguards whisk them away, or worse? This man represents a centuries-old tradition of inhumanity and deserves no adulation, at all.

 

[Lane]

Particularly as one is in the mid to late autumn of life as I am close to the end of the line. It would be nice if I was pleasantly surprised to find a "good god" saying hello on the other side

Hi again @Henry Orlando FL -- In lieu of hearing from a "good god" on the other side, might you perhaps consider the possibility of hearing from one of the ECK Masters of Eckankar? My understanding is there are almost countless ECK Masters whose mission in life is to humbly assist others on their own spiritual journey, in whatever way they can. There are many stories on Eckankar's website of encounters with these Eck Masters.

My mother finally decided to to seek out these spiritual beings when she was about 80 years old, and it transformed her life. She went from intensely seeking truth from the Bible most of her life, to being able to relax and accept the love these spiritual beings had to offer. It was amazing to see her enjoy dancing and being joyful in the last years of her life, even though she suffered from debilitating lewy body dementia.

Again, I hesitate to write too much here. But when I see many of the comments on this thread, they come across as exasperations of futility. There seems be be a common conviction that it's really not possible to achieve a greater understanding of life. From my own experience, it's usually just a matter of following some pretty simple spiritual instructions on how to take much greater control of our spiritual affairs. And choosing to accept and take advantage of the love and assistance that's available to all Souls.

LEARN FROM
SPIRITUAL MASTERS

The ECK Spiritual Guides can seem to simply appear out of the mists of time to help any Soul seeking love, truth, and the awareness of God. They come by day, by night, at times of great trouble or need, or in disguise to bring comfort to an old friend—perhaps someone like you.
​

Sri Harold Klemp

 

[Luman]

Hi again @Henry Orlando FL -- In lieu of hearing from a "good god" on the other side, might you perhaps consider the possibility of hearing from one of the ECK Masters of Eckankar? My understanding is there are almost countless ECK Masters whose mission in life is to humbly assist others on their own spiritual journey, in whatever way they can. There are many stories on Eckankar's website of encounters with these Eck Masters.

My mother finally decided to to seek out these spiritual beings when she was about 80 years old, and it transformed her life. She went from intensely seeking truth from the Bible most of her life, to being able to relax and accept the love these spiritual beings had to offer. It was amazing to see her enjoy dancing and being joyful in the last years of her life, even though she suffered from debilitating lewy body dementia.

Again, I hesitate to write too much here. But when I see many of the comments on this thread, they come across as exasperations of futility. There seems be be a common conviction that it's really not possible to achieve a greater understanding of life. From my own experience, it's usually just a matter of following some pretty simple spiritual instructions on how to take much greater control of our spiritual affairs. And choosing to accept and take advantage of the love and assistance that's available to all Souls.

LEARN FROM
SPIRITUAL MASTERS

The ECK Spiritual Guides can seem to simply appear out of the mists of time to help any Soul seeking love, truth, and the awareness of God. They come by day, by night, at times of great trouble or need, or in disguise to bring comfort to an old friend—perhaps someone like you.
​

Sri Harold Klemp

Why would anybody come to a group that is specifically intended for people who do not practice religion, or believe in a god or gods, and post praise for this Eckankar garbage?

 

[Shelbylynn]

It was like a tea that everyone said was the most amazing tea they've tasted and when I tried to access that spiritual part of myself it was not awakened, it was not even dead. It just simply did not exist at all.

I just realized I dropped off and changed mid metaphor. My metaphor is that it's like a tea everyone else says is amazing and when you try it you can't taste it. LOL Not a good metaphor anyways but the best way I can describe how I felt growing up and feeling distant and alienated.

 

[Jazzer]

Why would anybody come to a group that is specifically intended for people who do not practice religion, or believe in a god or gods, and post praise for this Eckankar garbage?

Because this is a place designed for debate.

 

[Luman]

Because this is a place designed for debate.

Thank you. I was not aware of this. I don't debate much with theists because it's pointless, they don't get it and never will.

 

[Henry Orlando FL]

I don't want to change the subject. What exactly is so wonderful about this total hypocrite, the Dalai Lama? What is it about him that makes people gush and pay four hundred dollars to hear him give a speech? The correct way to address him, we are told, is "Your Holiness". What if I do not believe in such things as "holy"? Suppose somebody like myself called him by his real name, Lhamo Thondup, or simply Mr. Thondup? Would his bodyguards whisk them away, or worse? This man represents a centuries-old tradition of inhumanity and deserves no adulation, at all.

I understand your position in the matter Luman. You may even be right. I will give it a rest at this point although I do wonder if there are any institutions or people you think deserve acknowledgement for doing some good things in the world. If you would like to share them, if there are any in your thinking, I would like to know about them.

PS: I like Penn and Teller...nice video...Oh, I did not think much of Mother Teresa by the by.

 

[volsung37]

"His Holiness" Dalai Lama believes that he is a God, an incarnation of a deity called Avalokiteshvara. In the highly unlikely event that I was to meet him, I would explain to him that he is no different than anybody else, just a human being who was chosen by barbarian religious tyrants to be regarded by the people of Tibet as the latest incarnation of this fictitious entity. I would further explain that if he believes in all of this Avalokiteshvara nonsense, he is either stupid or insane.

The Dalai Lama often says he is a simple monk.

I judge the man by what he says. I have never heard or read him say very many things that I disagree with.

Buddhism is not really a religion. It is a way of seeing the world. There are no Gods in Buddhism and everyone has to find their own way to peace.

The Dalai Lama has said many times that his only religion is kindness.

I can find nothing to argue with there.

Avalokiteshvara is seen as the personification of compassion.

Some people believe in reincarnation. It's something I keep an open mind about. The universe is a strange and wonderful place. We know very little about it or about consciousness in general.

 

[Luman]

I understand your position in the matter Luman. You may even be right. I will give it a rest at this point although I do wonder if there are any institutions or people you think deserve acknowledgement for doing some good things in the world. If you would like to share them, if there are any in your thinking, I would like to know about them.

PS: I like Penn and Teller...nice video...Oh, I did not think much of Mother Teresa by the by.

I did not wish to answer because it sounded like a disingenuous question, meant to put me on the defensive. I would acknowledge many worthwhile doctors, medical researchers and workers, scientists, universities, charities, theoreticians, inventors, artists, musicians, historians, scholars of various subjects, writers, creative thinkers of various disciplines, and millions of everyday people who are trying to make a difference as best they can without forcing their beliefs or preferences on others.

 

[Henry Orlando FL]

Hi again @Henry Orlando FL -- In lieu of hearing from a "good god" on the other side, might you perhaps consider the possibility of hearing from one of the ECK Masters of Eckankar? My understanding is there are almost countless ECK Masters whose mission in life is to humbly assist others on their own spiritual journey, in whatever way they can. There are many stories on Eckankar's website of encounters with these Eck Masters.

Thanks for the response Lane. I am glad your mother found a great place in her last years. I am pretty sure I am good and will not be moving from the Agnostic Atheist point of view see here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnostic_atheism

With an element of Secular Buddhism as well see here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secular_Buddhism

Eckankar did not resonate with me in my 30s and does not now in my 70s having passed through a lot of approaches to other approaches in my spiritual journey. I first learned of the "spiritual journey" concept in getting into the Unitarian Church see here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitarian_Universalist_Association

The closest thing to Eckankar that I have gotten into in great depth for periods of my life were these:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seth_Material

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sathya_Sai_Baba

(Really probably if not definitely a total fraud I ultimately found as did many others and even later found to be a sexual predator... but at the time I sure wanted to believe in it.)

I am glad you have found something that works for you though.

 

[Henry Orlando FL]

I did not wish to answer because it sounded like a disingenuous question, meant to put me on the defensive. I would acknowledge many worthwhile doctors, medical researchers and workers, scientists, universities, charities, theoreticians, inventors, artists, musicians, historians, scholars of various subjects, writers, creative thinkers of various disciplines, and millions of everyday people who are trying to make a difference as best they can without forcing their beliefs or preferences on others.

Understandable Luman. Thanks for the response. Sounds good. Just so you know I am not into debate at least in the sense of the word where there is a loser and a winner in a debate. I am into dialogue where we share our points of view (so much the better with some sort of reasonable evidence preferred) and both can be empowered and/or contributed to out of the conversation. I monitor closely my very human tendency to make people into "the other" and to be "right and win" if you will. It is a lifelong effort to deal with that seemingly ingrained human nature as far as I can tell since I am still working on it.

 

[Henry Orlando FL]

I just realized I dropped off and changed mid metaphor. My metaphor is that it's like a tea everyone else says is amazing and when you try it you can't taste it. LOL Not a good metaphor anyways but the best way I can describe how I felt growing up and feeling distant and alienated.

I am an atheist. If people ask why, I usually say something like this: I'm not convinced.

Nothing I've been shown or told that has convinced me. No "evidence" (scriptures, figures, documents) that has convinced me. I don't think people realize that belief/disbelief, conviction/skepticism, is not a choice. I remember when I was young I prayed, even though I doubted and didn't really understand the whole concept of God, religion, etc. I only did it because I was told it would help me. As I got older and realized I didn't have faith, I didn't feel the way others felt, I started to panic. It was a stark difference between me and everyone I knew. It was like a tea that everyone said was the most amazing tea they've tasted and when I tried to access that spiritual part of myself it was not awakened, it was not even dead. It just simply did not exist at all.

If I ever came close to the feelings of spirituality, it was through science and nature... the knowledge that we are connected through being living beings and our experience of life. But I take a more humanistic approach. I still don't understand faith and why people have it. I don't understand what they feel or why, when to me it's completely unconvincing. I didn't chose to be unconvinced or an atheist. I just am. Maybe there is something in the psychology of people that gives us different requirements for belief. I've always been interested in the topic of belief and why we seem to have different standards for belief to happen.

I would agree it is very interesting to consider what drives we humans to do most anything and religion is of particular interest to me. You can delve into it via the psychology of religion if you have time since people spend their lives on the topic. See here:

Psychology of Religion

Being in Catholic Schools definitely made a live long interest in religion a "thing" for me. The notion of some brains being wired more for spirituality than others is also fascinating. See here:

Distinct 'God spot' in the brain does not exist, study shows

 

[volsung37]

I would agree it is very interesting to consider what drives we humans to do most anything and religion is of particular interest to me. You can delve into it via the psychology of religion if you have time since people spend their lives on the topic. See here:

Psychology of Religion

Being in Catholic Schools definitely made a live long interest in religion a "thing" for me. The notion of some brains being wired more for spirituality than others is also fascinating. See here:

Distinct 'God spot' in the brain does not exist, study shows

I was a Catholic schoolboy too Henry. Perhaps a reason I was first interested in Tibetan Buddhism. It shares a bit of the 'smells and bells' aspect of Catholicism.

 

[Henry Orlando FL]

I was a Catholic schoolboy too Henry. Perhaps a reason I was first interested in Tibetan Buddhism. It shares a bit of the 'smells and bells' aspect of Catholicism.

Ah, like that term "smells and bells". I was an altar boy as well. I am into Secular Buddhism as probably saw above. The whole enchilada of the Tibetan thing is not for me. Especially this aspect:

"Bon is commonly considered to be the indigenous religious tradition of Tibet, a system of shamanistic and animistic practices performed by priests called shen (gshen) or bonpo (bon po). Although this is widely assumed by Buddhists, historical evidence indicates that the Bon tradition only developed as a self-conscious religious system under the influence of Buddhism."

Source:
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/tibet/understand/bon.html

And always... to each whatever works for them is fine with me as long as they endorse freedom of religion.

 

[Elmer B Fuddled]

my own chosen spiritual path (Eckankar).

Garbage.

 

[Luman]

 

[Luman]

All religion is superstition and no more real than mythology, fortune-telling, astrology, witchcraft, or voodoo. The charlatans that represent themselves as "special", and/or in possession of supernatural powers or the ability to communicate with a god or gods, are liars and frauds. This includes all priests, rabbis, mullahs, swamis, clairvoyants, various "holy" people, gurus, faith healers, ministers, monks, Dalai lamas, and other clergies.

Thus far in history, not a single alleged supernatural ability or phenomenon has ever passed scientific scrutiny.

 

[Luman]

Superstition is, always has been, and forever will be, the foe of progress, the enemy of education and the assassin of freedom.

—Robert Green Ingersoll

 

[Henry Orlando FL]

All religion is superstition and no more real than mythology, fortune-telling, astrology, witchcraft, or voodoo. The charlatans that represent themselves as "special", and in possesstion of supernatural powers or the ability to communicate with a god or gods, are liars and frauds. This includes all priests, rabbis, mullahs, swamis, clairvoyants, various "holy" people, gurus, faith healers, ministers, monks, Dalai lamas, and other clergies.

Thus far in history, not a single alleged supernatural ability or phenomenon has ever passed scientific scrutiny.

I am a bit curious Luman, do you believe there is no god? Of course it is fine to not respond if I am being too personal.

As you may recall I am an agnostic (does not believe, at least at this time, that it is possible to know about the existence or nature of god) and thus I am an atheist (one who does not believe in a god). In a way being an agnostic is a subset or type of being an atheist.

Now to be totally transparent I must admit in my thinking it is not possible to know there is a god or if there is not a god from the perspective of "knowing" or "being certain" in the matter. Thus some atheist's are not much if any different from a religious person from a "logical" or "rational" perspective since both have no proof about their knowing about god.

Another example of my thinking about god: In the USA to be convicted of a criminal offense one is considered innocent until proven guilty "beyond a shadow of a doubt". In the USA in a civil matter the winner of the lawsuit must show by the "preponderance of the evidence" that their position is true. When I think of god I don't think it is remotely proven "beyond a shadow of doubt"... there is a ton of doubt in the matter. When I think of god in terms of the "preponderance of the evidence" I think there is no god is the most likely scenario and almost certainly none of the religions I know about are accurate in their assessment and assertions about god.

Thanks for considering this post.

 

[Damocles]

Career atheist Richard Dawkins admits he is in fact agnostic | Daily Mail Online

Dawkins admits he can't prove Darwin's theory - iBelieve Magazine (newlifepublishing.co.uk)



Why the world's most famous atheist (Antony Flew) now believes in God by James A. Beverley | The Daily Hatch

 

[Luman]

I am a bit curious Luman, do you believe there is no god? Of course it is fine to not respond if I am being too personal.

As you may recall I am an agnostic (does not believe, at least at this time, that it is possible to know about the existence or nature of god) and thus I am an atheist (one who does not believe in a god). In a way being an agnostic is a subset or type of being an atheist.

Now to be totally transparent I must admit in my thinking it is not possible to know there is a god or if there is not a god from the perspective of "knowing" or "being certain" in the matter. Thus some atheist's are not much if any different from a religious person from a "logical" or "rational" perspective since both have no proof about their knowing about god.

Another example of my thinking about god: In the USA to be convicted of a criminal offense one is considered innocent until proven guilty "beyond a shadow of a doubt". In the USA in a civil matter the winner of the lawsuit must show by the "preponderance of the evidence" that their position is true. When I think of god I don't think it is remotely proven "beyond a shadow of doubt"... there is a ton of doubt in the matter. When I think of god in terms of the "preponderance of the evidence" I think there is no god is the most likely scenario and almost certainly none of the religions I know about are accurate in their assessment and assertions about god.

Thanks for considering this post.

I do not believe that "there is no god". I would rather say that I do not believe in things for which there is no evidence of existence, and the popular notion of "god" is one of them. I would include Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, and Pie-In-The-Sky When You Die, as examples of other things and entities for which there is no evidence.

To make it simple, there are many Theists who, through the writings and prophecies by men they believe are divinely inspired, believe in a force above nature and man, known as "god". Atheism means "Without theism". A nontheist, or Atheist, does not believe in the existence of a god, or gods, or other supernatural beings. Atheists, unlike theists, do not claim to know about matters for which there is no evidence. There has not been a single shred of evidence that supports the existence of the supernatural, for the past few thousand years and before. This is a fact, and an Atheist does not disagree with this fact.

Do not accept definitions of Atheists by those who do not understand what the word means, which very few people do, or those who are hesitant to support true Atheism for professional or political reasons.

Atheism = Absence of theism, living without a belief in a god, or gods.

 

[Henry Orlando FL]

I do not believe that "there is no god". I would rather say that I do not believe in things for which there is no evidence of existence, and the popular notion of "god" is one of them. I would include Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, and Pie-In-The-Sky When You Die, as examples of other things and entities for which there is no evidence.

To make it simple, there are many Theists who, through the writings and prophecies by men they believe are divinely inspired, believe in a force above nature and man, known as "god". Atheism means "Without theism". A nontheist, or Atheist, does not believe in the existence of a god, or gods, or other supernatural beings. Atheists, unlike theists, do not claim to know about matters for which there is no evidence. There has not been a single shred of evidence that supports the existence of the supernatural, for the past few thousand years and before. This is a fact, and an Atheist does not disagree with this fact.

Do not accept definitions of Atheists by those who do not understand what the word means, which very few people do, or those who are hesitant to support true Atheism for professional or political reasons.

Atheism = Absence of theism, living without a belief in a god, or gods.

Thanks for the response. Makes sense to me Luman.

 

[Jazzer]

I do not believe that "there is no god". I would rather say that I do not believe in things for which there is no evidence of existence, and the popular notion of "god" is one of them. I would include Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, and Pie-In-The-Sky When You Die, as examples of other things and entities for which there is no evidence.

To make it simple, there are many Theists who, through the writings and prophecies by men they believe are divinely inspired, believe in a force above nature and man, known as "god". Atheism means "Without theism". A nontheist, or Atheist, does not believe in the existence of a god, or gods, or other supernatural beings. Atheists, unlike theists, do not claim to know about matters for which there is no evidence. There has not been a single shred of evidence that supports the existence of the supernatural, for the past few thousand years and before. This is a fact, and an Atheist does not disagree with this fact.

Do not accept definitions of Atheists by those who do not understand what the word means, which very few people do, or those who are hesitant to support true Atheism for professional or political reasons.

Atheism = Absence of theism, living without a belief in a god, or gods.

'Spot On Brother'

 

[Luman]

"The doctrine that future happiness depends upon belief is monstrous. It is the infamy of infamies. The notion that faith in Christ is to be rewarded by an eternity of bliss, while a dependence upon reason, observation and experience merits everlasting pain, is too absurd for refutation, and can be relieved only by that unhappy mixture of insanity and ignorance, called 'faith."

― Robert Ingersoll, On the Gods and Other Essays

 

[Luman]

The Dalai Lama often says he is a simple monk.

I judge the man by what he says. I have never heard or read him say very many things that I disagree with.

Buddhism is not really a religion. It is a way of seeing the world. There are no Gods in Buddhism and everyone has to find their own way to peace.

The Dalai Lama has said many times that his only religion is kindness.

I can find nothing to argue with there.

Avalokiteshvara is seen as the personification of compassion.

Some people believe in reincarnation. It's something I keep an open mind about. The universe is a strange and wonderful place. We know very little about it or about consciousness in general.

If "His Holiness" is a "simple monk", why does it cost $400 to sit in the audience of one of his talks?

If he never says anything that you disagree with, perhaps he's only saying things that virtually everybody agrees with. What then, is the point of his lectures and such?

If his only religion is kindness, why does he consider himself to be worthy of the title "His Holiness", "Your Holiness", etc.?

Tibetan Buddhists monks taught their subjects that each Dalai Lama is a reincarnation of a god known as Avalokiteshvara. If the Dalai Lama is indeed a kind, intelligent man, would it not be best if he disavowed such superstition and ignorance, rather than claiming that he doesn't know whether it is true that he is a god? He has avoided the truth his entire life since the monks who ran Tibet took him from his parents. The Tibetan Buddhist clergymen raised him under highly privileged conditions as the 14th Dalai Lama. His predecessors, and him as well if the Chinese had not intervened, were leaders of regimes that are known for having imposed tremendous oppression, ignorance, extreme injustices, abject poverty, lack of medicine or science, cruelty, mutilation, amputations, executions, short life spans, slave trading, and other horrors on the people of Tibet.

From Sept 20, 2019, Daily Mail:

EXCLUSIVE: Dalai Lama was paid $1 MILLION to endorse women-branding 'sex cult' after secret deal between Buddhist's celibate U.S. emissary and his Seagram billionaire 'lover'

• Buddhist leader the Dalai Lama was linked to NXIVM, the controversial self-help organization described by former members as a 'sex cult'
• He spoke at an event in Albany, New York, in 2009 and put a Tibetan scarf round the neck of its founder Keith Raniere in what was said to be a 'victory' for NXIVM
• DailyMail.com can disclose the Dalai Lama was given $1 million to spend on causes he backs in return for attending the function
• The deal to get him to go was made by Sara Bronfman, a billionaire heiress to the Seagram fortune, and Lama Tenzin Dhonden, head of the Dalal Lama's U.S trust
• But Bronfman and Lama Tenzin face claims they were lovers, even though the Buddhist cleric took a vow of chastity
• NVIVM hailed the Dalai Lama's visit but it is now being hit by claims founder Raniere runs it as a sex cult with a 'harem' of women
• The women are branded, call him 'Vanguard' and believe that sleeping with Raniere, 57, will heal them, according to claims made about NXIVM
• Raniere denies it is a sex cult but neither NXIVM or the Dalai Lama's office addressed the latest allegations

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5230067/Dalai-Lamas-1-MILLION-women-branding-sex-cult.html

This is the cult that "His Holiness" was paid ONE MILLION DOLLARS to endorse.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NXIVM

 

[Damocles]

I do not believe that "there is no god". I would rather say that I do not believe in things for which there is no evidence of existence, and the popular notion of "god" is one of them. I would include Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, and Pie-In-The-Sky When You Die, as examples of other things and entities for which there is no evidence.

I hear what you're saying @Luman, but I feel like you're confusing the two definitions here, and what you are actually describing yourself as, is an agnostic.

To make it simple, there are many Theists who, through the writings and prophecies by men they believe are divinely inspired, believe in a force above nature and man, known as "god". Atheism means "Without theism". A nontheist, or Atheist, does not believe in the existence of a god, or gods, or other supernatural beings. Atheists, unlike theists, do not claim to know about matters for which there is no evidence. There has not been a single shred of evidence that supports the existence of the supernatural, for the past few thousand years and before. This is a fact, and an Atheist does not disagree with this fact.

Do not accept definitions of Atheists by those who do not understand what the word means, which very few people do, or those who are hesitant to support true Atheism for professional or political reasons.

Atheism = Absence of theism, living without a belief in a god, or gods.

For example, the above definitions you've provided are correct, but shouldn't really be open to interpretation (in my opinion).

So basically, if belief in God(s) was a spectrum, it would look like this:

THEISTAGNOSTICATHEIST

• THERE IS/ARE DEFINITELY (A) GOD(S) (LIKELY: AS DEPICTED IN ONE OF THE MAINSTREAM RELIGIONS)

• THERE IS/ARE DEFINITELY NO GOD(S) (LIKELY: LIFE AS WE KNOW IT EVOLVED THROUGH A SERIES OF RANDOM CHEMICAL PROCESSES)

• THERE MAY OR MAY NOT BE (A) GOD(S) (CONCLUSION: THERE IS NO EVIDENCE, OR EVIDENCE CAPABLE OF BEING PERCEIVED BY THE HUMAN MIND, FOR OR AGAINST ANY SUCH EXISTENCE, THEREFORE BELIEF/DISBELIEF IS SUSPENDED)

If you prefer to call yourself an atheist, obviously that is your right; as a person can really describe themselves as whatever they want these days (I became a 13 year old girl just this morning! ヽ(◦^⌣^◦)ノ ), also I take your point entirely regarding "charlatans" who have sold spiritual quackery to the "unenlightened" and gullible western population.

But just going by your description of your own beliefs, I have to say you don't really strike me as an gnostic atheist, but more perhaps an agnostic atheist (employing rather a: guilty until proven innocent stance, on (a) God(s) taking credit for our existence, and perhaps fate), which fits perfectly within the realm of what (by clear definitions) would be described as an agnostic.

 

[Elmer B Fuddled]

This is the cult that "His Holiness" was paid ONE MILLION DOLLARS to endorse.

It was all done in the name of religion, they were not the first religious cult to have a "sex cult" of women; the Davidians in Texas for example.

 

[Greg Sacramento]

@Lane, it warms my heart to know that your mother was able to relax and to enjoy dancing and being joyful in the last years of her life.

I'm lucky to have a beautiful yard that I look upon from my side sliding glass door and windows. A large assortment of beautiful gray textured rocks where some surround two built in ground spas with a gazebo. Two rare, endangered cork oak trees, pine trees and blooming flowers and plants.

Not been able to do anything in our yard for five years as I'm too weak. I often look at a very tall neighbor's palm tree during sunset from our side glass door that lights up at sunset. I like to look at the sky at night and look for objects.

Gray squirrels come to our side sliding glad door for unsalted peanuts. They always thank us in some cute way.

I'm very thankful for my compassionate beautiful wife who gives me baths, dresses me, cooks for me and takes cares of all my needs without asking.

Her son is a famous and likable sports player. He makes a fortune from endorsements and gives much of that to the disabled.

I read your post about where you live, and I like that.

 

[Luman]

The Dalai Lama was perfectly at home with these degenerate sex criminals, after all, it's a family tradition with his profession. All of them are currently serving time in prison, except for "His Holiness".

From Frank Report website:

The Dalai Lama meets with Nxivm members to discuss Albany appearance.
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama pictured with Keith Raniere, Nancy Salzaman, and Sara Bronfman.

The Dalai Lama with Keith Alan Raniere and Nancy Salzman. She knew her place with Keith, which was second fiddle, to support him, to do whatever he told her to do — or else.

The Dalai Lama bows and touches hands with Sara Bronfman, the gal that was bedding one of his monks and would be a large benefactor to him if she could finagle him to the USA to appear on behalf of her Vanguard.

Shivani: The Dalai Lama & Nancy Salzman — Nancy Has Always Been a Repugnantly Falsified Fool

Sara Bronfman, heir to the Bronfman fortune who is currently serving a six-year sentence in prison, since 2020.

Wikipedia: Sara Bronfman

The Dalai Lama additionally wrote the foreword to the book The Sphinx and Thelxiepeia, which Raniere co-authored in 2009. Raniere is serving 120 years.

 

[volsung37]

If "His Holiness" is a "simple monk", why does it cost $400 to sit in the audience of one of his talks?

If he never says anything that you disagree with, perhaps he's only saying things that virtually everybody agrees with. What then, is the point of his lectures and such?

If his only religion is kindness, why does he consider himself to be worthy of the title "His Holiness", "Your Holiness", etc.?

Tibetan Buddhists monks taught their subjects that each Dalai Lama is a reincarnation of a god known as Avalokiteshvara. If the Dalai Lama is indeed a kind, intelligent man, would it not be best if he disavowed such superstition and ignorance, rather than claiming that he doesn't know whether it is true that he is a god? He has avoided the truth his entire life since the monks who ran Tibet took him from his parents. The Tibetan Buddhist clergymen raised him under highly privileged conditions as the 14th Dalai Lama. His predecessors, and him as well if the Chinese had not intervened, were leaders of regimes that are known for having imposed tremendous oppression, ignorance, extreme injustices, abject poverty, lack of medicine or science, cruelty, mutilation, amputations, executions, short life spans, slave trading, and other horrors on the people of Tibet.

From Sept 20, 2019, Daily Mail:

EXCLUSIVE: Dalai Lama was paid $1 MILLION to endorse women-branding 'sex cult' after secret deal between Buddhist's celibate U.S. emissary and his Seagram billionaire 'lover'

• Buddhist leader the Dalai Lama was linked to NXIVM, the controversial self-help organization described by former members as a 'sex cult'
• He spoke at an event in Albany, New York, in 2009 and put a Tibetan scarf round the neck of its founder Keith Raniere in what was said to be a 'victory' for NXIVM
• DailyMail.com can disclose the Dalai Lama was given $1 million to spend on causes he backs in return for attending the function
• The deal to get him to go was made by Sara Bronfman, a billionaire heiress to the Seagram fortune, and Lama Tenzin Dhonden, head of the Dalal Lama's U.S trust
• But Bronfman and Lama Tenzin face claims they were lovers, even though the Buddhist cleric took a vow of chastity
• NVIVM hailed the Dalai Lama's visit but it is now being hit by claims founder Raniere runs it as a sex cult with a 'harem' of women
• The women are branded, call him 'Vanguard' and believe that sleeping with Raniere, 57, will heal them, according to claims made about NXIVM
• Raniere denies it is a sex cult but neither NXIVM or the Dalai Lama's office addressed the latest allegations

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5230067/Dalai-Lamas-1-MILLION-women-branding-sex-cult.html

This is the cult that "His Holiness" was paid ONE MILLION DOLLARS to endorse.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NXIVM

As ever there are two sides to every story. At the time NXIVM was seen simply as a self-help organisation. The Dalai Lama has categorically denied receiving $1 million for the event.

The Real Story Behind The Dalai Lama's Puzzling NXIVM Entanglement

As regards paying to see the Dalai Lama I saw him in audience in 2004. Can't remember how much it was but I didn't regard it as excessive.

He says a lot of things that ring true with me. Other things I don't. He says you check out a guru seven years before you accept him as your teacher. You should always check the behaviour of the teacher at all times.

I don't think you can blame the Dalai Lama for the past injustices in Tibet. He has recognised them.

All in all he's not perfect. However I have never heard him advocate wars or denigrate other people for their faith or non-faith.

And he advocates compassion and non-violence which is a plus for me.