Guest guest Posted March 7, 2001 Report Share Posted March 7, 2001 Hello, Jay. I'm a new r (but old Vedantin of 35 years) -- got your info from Ann Myren here in San Francisco Bay Area. I've been enjoying the various emails...but am oh so curious about Dr. Dobrin's questions: Who can speak for " Hinduism " , for example, on such subjects as gay marriages and smoking????!!!!??? Many of the questions seem to presuppose the Judeo-Christian worldview, where a monotheistic God lays down rules & regulations ... or at least, a church presumes to do so. Well, I shall be very interested to hear what, if anything, our group members have to say.... Marjorie (AKA Mkewbird) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2001 Report Share Posted March 8, 2001 sir, this question always aroused in my mind. it will be good for me if any one can give a more clear explanation to the below question. 9. Why do bad things happen to good people? As the vedanta philosophy says that every thought, imagination, instinct or doing that takes shape in the mind of a person whether good or bad will ultimately affect him with an equal force, it is due to your own Karma (action); the magnitude being equal to the level of projection and not only that but the manner in which it affects you is also the same. As Advaitism teaches us that all the beings of the world are one with Brahman . thus your every 'good or bad' thought/deed is actually affecting you only. because YOU are nothing but I and all humanity is One . Thus as long as there is existance of ignorance on earth. the bad things will affect a person independent of whether he himself is good or bad, rich or poor , religious or non religious it doesnt matter. but then also one doubt peeps out of our mind , that why this fact is so difficult to comprehend why one do not one(individual) faces the immediate consequences of his action, so that he can learn from his deeds that whatever he or she has done was right or wrong. an hindu has a good explaination for this also, this will cause a person to be fruit oriented or selfish in a sense he wont be good for the sake of being good but for the sake of reward as lord Krishna says do your work and leave the fruits to god. regards rahul > " Vivekananda Centre " <vivekananda >Ramakrishna > " list " <Ramakrishna > >[ramakrishna] Hindu Ethics >Wed, 7 Mar 2001 23:24:02 -0000 > >We received the following email with a list of questions on Hindu ethics. >We would request the list members to respond >(either directly or via the list). > >Vivekananda Centre London >http://www.vivekananda.co.uk > >=====copy of email received====== > " Lyn Dobrin " <lyndobrin > >I am Dr. Arthur Dobrin and I teach a class in religious ethics at >Hofstra University. I am presently working on a book of comparative >religious ethics to be used by students and the interested public. I have >prepared a list of about 50 questions regarding ethical beliefs and >requirements and am asking representatives from various religions to >respond to these questions. The reader would then have a handy >comparative guide to religious ethics. > >Is there someone you could suggest who may be interested in contributing >to this work? > >Thanks for your consideration. > >Arthur Dobrin > >=========The questions sent by Dr Dobrin are as follows========= > >Here are the questions. >General > >1. What does it mean to be a good person? >2. Why be good? >3. Is it possible to be a good person and not be a member of your religion? >4. Is it possible to be a good person and no longer believe in your >religion >i.e. can an apostate be a good person? >5. Is there a difference between religious requirements and morality? >6. What is the source of ethics? >7. Can someone be a good person and be an atheist? >8. How do you decide what is right and what is wrong? >9. Why do bad things happen to good people? >10. Is there a difference between a religious offence and a moral/secular >offence? >11. Who enforces the moral rules of your religion? >12. Should the moral rules of your religion apply to everyone? >13. What role should religion play in secular society? > >Use of Force > >14. Is killing ever justified? >15. Is war ever justified? >16. Is violence against innocent people justifiable? >17. Can someone be a conscientious objector? >18. Is force justifiable against children? >19. Is force justifiable against a spouse? >20. Is suicide ever justifiable? >21. To what extent is martyrdom acceptable? >22. Is it right to kill an innocent person in order to save the life of >another? >23. Is capital punishment acceptable; if so, for what offences? > >Science and Medicine > >24. Under what circumstances, if any, is abortion allowable? >25. Are autopsies allowable; if so, under what circumstances? >26. Are there rules about body modification e.g. tattoos, cosmetic surgery >or >amputations? >27. Are transfusions allowed? >28. Should extraordinary means be used to prolong life? >29. Should family and/or patients have the right to end suffering? >30. Does anyone have the right to hasten death? >31. In the case of conjoined twins when both will die if nothing is done to >separate them but only one will live (and the other die) if the operation >takes place, is the killing of one acceptable in order to save the life of >the other? >32. Is genetic engineering permissible? >33. Is the theory of evolution compatible with your religion? >34. Are environmental concerns part of your religious ethic? >35. Do animals have any moral standing? >36. Does your religion predict an end of time? If so, when will that be and >what will the world be like for humans? > >Behaviour > >37. Is sex outside marriage permissible? >38. Is sex only for procreation? >39. Is masturbation allowed? >40. Is genital sex the only morally permissible type? >41. Are there moral codes regarding dress and hairstyles? >42. Is transvestism immoral? >43. Is homosexuality immoral? >44. Should all people have equal rights under the law even if they engage >in >immoral behaviour? >45. Should gay marriages be recognised by the state? >46. Is it immoral to have more than one spouse at time? >47. Is divorce acceptable? >48. Are the roles played by men and women a moral issue? >49. Are men and women separate but equal? >50. Is the use of drugs and/or alcohol allowable? >51. Should prayers be allowed in public schools? >52. Should the state subsidise religious schools or programs? >53. Is the food a person eats a religious and/or moral concern? >54. Is gambling allowed? >55. Is smoking allowed? > > " Lyn Dobrin " <lyndobrin > >=========================== > >thanks >jay Vivekananda Centre. > > > >Sri Ramakrishnaye Namah >Vivekananda Centre London >http://www.vivekananda.co.uk > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2001 Report Share Posted March 8, 2001 Dear Marjorie Welcome to the list. Your response is very valid. I have passed it on to Dr Dobrin.. Let us see what other list members make of these questions on Hindu ethics. jay - <MKEWBIRD <Ramakrishna > Thursday, March 08, 2001 03:36 Re: [ramakrishna] Hindu Ethics > Hello, Jay. I'm a new r (but old Vedantin of 35 years) -- got your > info from Ann Myren here in San Francisco Bay Area. I've been > enjoying the various emails...but am oh so curious about Dr. Dobrin's > questions: Who can speak for " Hinduism " , for example, on such subjects as > gay marriages and smoking????!!!!??? Many of the questions seem to > presuppose the Judeo-Christian worldview, where a monotheistic God lays down > rules & regulations ... or at least, a church presumes to do so. Well, I > shall be very interested to hear what, if anything, our group members have to > say.... > Marjorie (AKA Mkewbird) > > > Sri Ramakrishnaye Namah > Vivekananda Centre London > http://www.vivekananda.co.uk > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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