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Dalai Lama tells his Facebook friends that religion “is no longer adequate”

Dalai Lama tells his Facebook friends that religion “is no longer adequate”
George Dvorsky

This past Monday, people who have the Dalai Lama as a Facebook friend found this little gem in their newsfeed.
All the world's major religions, with their emphasis on love, compassion, patience, tolerance, and forgiveness can and do promote inner values. But the reality of the world today is that grounding ethics in religion is no longer adequate. This is why I am increasingly convinced that the time has come to find a way of thinking about spirituality and ethics beyond religion altogether.

The Dalai Lama's advice sounds startling familiar — one that echos the sentiment put forth by outspoken atheist Sam Harris who argues that science can answer moral questions. The Dalai Lama is no stranger to scientific discourse, and has developed a great fascination with neuroscience in particular. It's very possible, therefore, that his thinking has aligned with Harris.

In a recent interview with the Globe and Mail, Harris had this to say about science and how it should be used to inform our moral and ethical sensibilities:

Read the rest here.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by ɟǝןıx dǝʇɹɐɹ on September 13, 2012 at 12:55pm

Wow, if he did that, i will start admiring him and he will become a real hero.

Permalink Reply by sk8eycat on September 13, 2012 at 5:58pm

Hmmmm...this may be what he believes, All the world's major religions, with their emphasis on love, compassion, patience, tolerance, and forgiveness," but what I see and hear coming from all sides is:

MY GOD'S BETTER THAN YOUR GOD!
MY GOD'S BETTER THAN YOURS!
MY GOD'S BETTER 'CAUSE
HE KILLS NON-BELIEVERS!
MY GOD'S BETTER THAN YOURS!

(Now, who remembers what commercial that song is from....???? Heh!)

Permalink Reply by booklover on September 13, 2012 at 7:15pm

Dang Sk8eycat, I can't remember what that commercial is for and now I'm gonna spend all night singing it in my head. Someone better remember and post it~! lol

I've heard the Dalai Lama thinks homosexuality is bad. Is that true? Because if it is, I'm still not going to like him.

Permalink Reply by Ruth Anthony-Gardner on September 13, 2012 at 10:12pm

Baby steps.

Permalink Reply by Steph S. on September 13, 2012 at 10:31pm

Like Ruth said, maybe he is becoming a more critical thinker and will be where we are one of these days.

Permalink Reply by booklover on September 14, 2012 at 8:42am

I hope so!

Permalink Reply by Tony Carroll on September 13, 2012 at 10:52pm

Ken-L Ration dog food.

MY DOG'S BETTER THAN YOUR DOG

MY DOG'S BETTER THAN YOURS

MY DOG'S BETTER CAUSE

HE EATS KEN-L RATION

MY DOGS BETTER THAN YOURS!

Permalink Reply by sk8eycat on September 13, 2012 at 10:58pm

Applause! Applause!

The "My god's better than your god" version is one of the longest filksongs known to SF fans. "Cause she's got 8 tits," "Cause he has fish scales," and so on and so forth, all night long...IF there's plenty of bheer to lubricate the throats. Or Thoats.

Permalink Reply by Tony Carroll on September 13, 2012 at 11:05pm

And the boy wins a cigar!!! Thank you very little. :) !!!

Permalink Reply by sk8eycat on September 13, 2012 at 11:15pm

And the winnah gets....

Permalink Reply by Tony Carroll on September 13, 2012 at 11:20pm

Thank you. And on behalf of myself and the group, I hope we passed the audition!

Permalink Reply by booklover on September 14, 2012 at 8:43am

Thank-You Tony! I thought it was my dog's better, but I could NOT think of Ken-L Ration. My dog doesn't eat that, so I guess she's not better than other dogs. :( lol