If you could only have one book in your life for guidance, what would it be?

[HollyElise]

Ah yes, but guys, the question wasn't what one book would you pick for everybody, but what one book you'd pick for your self. Otherwise, I might myself pick something like, "Peace is Every Step" by Thich Nhat Hanh. Do you know that one Andy?

[ANDY-J2]

Holly Elise,
No I've never read it although having looked at a review of it I gather it deals with meditation etc.

[Fear_nam_Beanntan]

Melodeon Man, you can't really blame the Bible for Western Society's violent history. White people were violent before Christianity, and if anything Christianity pacified us. Place the blame for wars and exploitation squarely where it lies: on greed and lust for power and conquest. The Bible adamantly denounces both of these. If some people have used the Bible as a front for actions that the it strongly denounces, it's not the Bible's fault, but the fault of the people who pervert it.

Best book for guidance: after the Bible, The City of God by Saint Augustine.

[Theja]

Something to think about for folks like Melodeonman...

Attila the Hun did not read he Bible.

Genghis Khan did not read the Bible.

The Greeks in most of their wars did not read the Bible, and yet could not get along.

The Romans, fierce and brutal to their enemies, were not influenced by the Bible until the 4th Century.

Known for their brutalities, the Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, did not care for the religion of the Jews with the Torah.

The Vikings and the Norsemen were barbarians known for vandalising the Christian West --- and the believers would pray "God, save us from the Norsemen."

The Inquisition was not sanctioned in the Bible and yet it got the blame.

Hitler's action was contrary to the teachings of the Bible.

Europe benefitted from the Bible in its journey towards modern government and economy.

And oh the former Vikings and Norsemen are now prosperous and peaceful Norway, Sweden, Denmark, etc now as Christian nations.

Europe has turned secular humanistic hanging on the coattail of Christianity. Because secular Humanistic ideologies cannot (CANNOT) thrive under Islam, Hinduism, or Buddhism.

Bible influenced nations today : Britain, Spain, Canada, Scotland, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Sandinavian countries, etc. Hindus, Muslims, and Buddhists have been and are dreaming of living in those lands.

Go ahead, show us a better book.


(Afterthought: Lenin, Stalin, Mussolini, Caecescu, Mao-Tsetung (Red book), Pol Pot (killing fields), all these leaders did not care for the Bible, and yet millions died needlessly for their causes. And yes, there are still many Bible loving believers in the USA which have won the cold war to make the world a better place.)

[Edited by Theja on 1st July 2003 at 15:23]

[Sharp_Kid]

Originally posted by Theja
: Hindus, Muslims, and Buddhists have been and are dreaming of living in [Canada, Scotland, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Sandinavian countries, etc (Bible influenced nations today)].

That's a fib of biblical proportion.
Truly devoted Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists are dreaming no such thing.
I have to question why you bothered to type that Theja, because you're usually rather more careful than to post such utter nonsence.

Sorry, mate.

[Theja]

Sharp-Kid, I notice your ignorance of the Bible and the Koran. And I also notice your not-so-sharp obeservation.

Please call the foreign service office of those countries and ask the number of applicants and how long the lines are each work day of the week. You will be surprised at the thousands of visa rejections they had to issue. But Buddhist, Muslim, and Hindu nations eagerly welcome tourists from the countries I mentioned. Good for their economy.

I rest my case.

[Edited by Theja on 2nd July 2003 at 06:54]

[HollyElise]

Originally posted by ANDY-J2
Holly Elise,
No I've never read it although having looked at a review of it I gather it deals with meditation etc.

It probably does, i hadn't thought of that. It's not what i got out of the book. You can learn meditation from any of so many good books on the subject. My favorite one for learning meditation is, "Beginners Mind" by Suzuki. "Peace is Every Step" is special for a different reason.

Thich Nhat Hanh was a VietNamese Buddhist (he's still living, but in exile), who is a greatly admired humanitarian and peace activist. Buddhist monks... well, really so many people... were persecuted, tortured, and killed by the Chinese during the years of war there. If you know the history of communism in Asia, it always found Buddhism particularly threatening. (After Mao took power, only TWO Buddhist temples were allowed to exist in ALL OF CHINA... and those mostly for tourism purposes. Thousands of other temples were burned to the ground and the monks put to death.)

Much like as happened to Victor Frankyl during his internment in Auschwitz, Thich Nhat Hanh was quite transformed by the horrors he witnessed in Viet Nam during the war years, and he became an outspoken, very brave, and much respected (or feared, depending on who you were) peace activist. Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. himself voted for Thich Nhat Hanh to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, the year it was awarded to MLK.

I think of this book being about peace, both inner, interpersonal, and international. It left it's mark on me.

Thich Nhat Hanh is credited with authoring many books, but to my knowledge, they are all co-authored or ghost-written with varying degrees of success. This slim volume, however, is a not-to-miss if you have any interest in Buddhism or peace.