I believe there is value to be found in the sacred texts of all religions.

I keep the Tao te Ching, Qur'an, Vedas, Buddhavacana, and other religious texts and next to my LDS texts which include the Bibles (I have a number of versions), Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price.

I believe a great deal of truth can be had in religious texts, regardless of the truth of the religious claims therein.

My favorite non-LDS text is the Tao te Ching. I believe that if a person lives up to the standards therein, one would be in good standing on the day of judgement.

I believe the buddhist texts offer great insight into introspection and methods of meditation. A person who practices these may be capable of achieving a personal peace.

Given my beliefs in this regard, I am curious as to other's views on the subject. Do other Christians and non-Christians have positions against or for using other groups religious texts? What about the atheists, do you have problems with using religious texts as guides to living life?

The only time I see a problem is when it threatens humanities potential advancements. There shouldn't be an issue with things such as cloning, stemcell research, etc.

The moral implications come from mostly religious views towards life which conflict with scientific views on life. These permeate through into the political scene and cause a whole host of problems...

Two names that are prime examples of this: George W. Bush and Mike Huckabee

I find it difficult to find any other problems with using religious texts towards how to live your life.

I also carry around a lot of different religious texts. A copy of the Dhammapada (the sayings of Buddah) never leaves my purse, I have another small book of the Mother Mira and Sri Auribindo's affirmations.

there are truths in ALL religious texts... You'd have to be blind not to see it.

Can you share a few examples of what is truth in these texts?

cheers missus!<---pic me saying that in my accent lmao

this has to be the best book of all to own in respects to philosophical value and simplicity !!!

http://www.peace.ca/kindergarten.htm

I do not believe all the moral implications slowing or impeding cloning, stemcell research, etc. are religious in nature. I do not even believe a majority of the implications are due to religious considerations.

...

With stem cell research it is not a religious question that states human life may begin at conception. Is it acceptable to take one life to save another? The question is valid.

Also, with stem cells, there are alternative stem cells to embryonic stem cells. Researchers do believe there are other avenues that could prove just as useful. Further research is needed in this. If such is the case, then the above conflict could be avoided.

...

With cloning there is the issue of creating a life that will be full of pain suffering. So far there have not been successful clones that lived neither a life pain and suffering or a short life. Is perfecting the process of cloning worth the possibility of these animals/people going through such a life?

You may state that such wouldn't be the case, that we would perfect it on one animal and move to the next, but this is not the case thus far. Up to this point in time cloning presents a new set of complications for each new species upon which it is attempted.

...

There are other considerations as well, but these are a couple of the stronger ones. I understand these issues as I took courses in biotechnology and ethical concerns related to the fireld.

A good short concise read on the subject of ethics and cloning is - Human Cloning: Report and Recommendations of the National Bioethics Advisory Commission

there are plenty of extra-biblical (or what ever religious book) sources of great philosophy and what makes them better is they are more apt to contemporary society, and dont have a damaging religious agenda.

It has been said that the wise man draws wisdom from all paths....

any path would be evaluated for good evidence (evidence that withstands scrutiny,, the longer it withstands evaluation ( I mean a full evaluation) the stronger it is..I don't really sign the dotted line on beleifs/things (rarely)..I consider the given conditions/limitations ....either directly or indirectly...

LR, you made me smile...

Well lets see if my Becky has learnt anything....

Share everything.
Yea I guess she does this

Play fair.
Yes sometimes....
Don't hit people.
Oh dear...im afraid she does the opposite...and we didnt teach her this neither

Put things back where you found them.
HA HA HA you must be joking, she will only do this when you make her do it...and I have to make her do it

Clean up your own mess.
LOL not likely...but most times I get her to do it, she is getting used to it more

Don't take things that aren't yours.
She is a typical 2 yr old and thinks everything is up for grabs!!!

Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.
YES she does this...she will say sorry if she has done wrong....but the odd time when she is huffing, she can be stuborn!!! AND she thinks saying sorry is a free get out of jail card!!

Wash your hands before you eat.
She always does this

Flush.
HA..were do I begin...this little lady thinks she can flush her dvd's down the Loo..I had to put a lock on the bathroom door so she cant get in on her own....my make-up ect went for a swim!

Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
Its a given lol

Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
She loves to do all of these....likes to put on a show even in public!!!!

Take a nap every afternoon.
Yea for like 30 mins if you are lucky!

When you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together.
She has yet to learn this


Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all die. So do we.
Unless Becky has scared them off...our cat ran away because ofher....need I say more?

And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned - the biggest word of all - LOOK.
LMAO mine was - Dick and Dora LMAO

I am referring specifically to George W. Bush and his many references to God in the speeches he gives that deal with these topics.



Embryos are not life. Adult stem cells are not as useful as embryonic stem cells, because they are pluripotent rather than totipotent. We would be well on our way to curing the possible diseases and ailments if federal funding was given for embryonic research, instead of wasting time with adult stem cells, which is extremely over hyped in the news. The latest paper recently released is not all that hopeful in terms of adult stem cells. The issue that many people don't know about is that scientists involved in embryonic stem cell research wish to use embryos from invitro fertilization clinics, which were going to be thrown away anyway. Where are these embryos now? They are in a landfill, destroyed when they had the possibility to save countless millions. All due to George W. Bush's ignorance.



Those scientists involved in cloning aren't as concerned with developing a full fledged human as they are individual organs. These organs alone are not living organisms. There is no moral problem here.



I already know the issues, as I deal with them on a daily basis in my lab and participate in peer discussions on these topics with other scientists.

So what constitutes a truth???

http://www.fas.org/spp/civil/crs/RL31015.pdf this was very easy to find... Bee, what are the other considerations??? do you have links???

Beautiful thread, Bee Eff.

I would like to add to your list the great European mythological texts, particularly the Odyssey. It is probably as close as we shall ever get to a "scripture" for the 'mystery cults' that were contemporary with the early Christian church.

In the Christian tradition, let me also put a word in for the Gospel of Thomas. It is usually dismissed as a "Gnostic" work, but it is much closer to the canonical gospels than to any of the well known Gnostic books.

Well Geri, I think there are universal truths in all religious texts. Here are a few good ones.. .there are thousands upon thousands more of course. I think there are universal truths that can be found in non-religious texts too.

I think from Buddha's texts these are some good ones:

"An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind."

"It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell."

Or some Christian sayings:

"Be still and cool in thine own mind and spirit."

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you"

Or some sayings from Islam:

"Be yourself beautiful, and you will find the world full of beauty"

"Love all, with sincere love and concern"

There's truth in those religious sayings in religious texts that are quite universal. I'm mean, I'm not sure who could disagree with those. But of course, someone here will... it's the nature of the beast.

AHA cheers MissMels....I thought you were going to speak about other truths...like I dunno, something these faiths have predicted!! ya know that sort of thing lol

but thanks for the response I see what you mean now

I think there is alot of valuable life lessons and philosophies that can be gleaned from many religious stories. Most religious text is an example of how that culture evolved into the culture that exists today. Almost every society is in some way still influenced from their religious texts.....which is a direct account (in most cases) of the manner in which that culture evolved.

I think what corrupts these ancient philosophies is theology.

Mw's so these "sayings" are truths to you??? let me ask this what is a non truth to you ??? what thinking apparatus do you use to weigh this???? How are you defining truth???? If i am not mistaken this is a philsophical exploration into the merit of religious texts( thankyou Bee) ' truths" so we have to clarify what do 'you' mean by truth....what makes is obvious to you????
Geri can answer for you if you prefer...
In your post you said: "there are truths in ALL religious texts... You'd have to be blind not to see it."

Chauncy, I concur with this...beginning with dynamism, to animus, to pantheist, to polythiest, to henotheism, to dualism and diesm and now to ethical monotheism....this is the backdrop for what we have now.....its our story of conciousness or a building of beleifs.... if you will..but merit or value is another matter IMO....

Sheri, you know full well I will not be answering you. How many more times do I need to tell you that?

Thanks, ignore me please.

Verywell MW..