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Atheists & Agnostics

struggle4progress

(118,275 posts)

9. She might look at some Buddhist texts. Reincarnation usually strikes me as woo, but

Reply to Soylent Brice (Original post)

Fri Feb 1, 2013, 08:04 AM

Feb 2013

not all Buddhists take reincarnation literally: in some schools, the notion of reincarnation and of karma is not understood as "what you do in this life affects what happens to you in the next life" but rather as a metaphor for the succession of thoughts -- one thought passes away, the next thought arises, and the prior thought tends to leave a trace that determines the succeeding one

Buddhist psychology frequently strikes me as quite profound, and (depending on what you read, of course) it often comes with practical advice

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Highlight:

Question regarding "spiritual" texts for atheists/agnostics [View all] Soylent Brice Jan 2013 OP

John Campbell, Alan Watts, and Thomas Merton all come to mind Warpy Jan 2013 #1

I don't care enough to read spiritual texts, Curmudgeoness Jan 2013 #2

i have always found jorge luis borges to be.. compelling. Phillip McCleod Jan 2013 #3

And maybe Umberto Eco in the same vein..... dimbear Jan 2013 #4

UBERTO ECO!!!! Phillip McCleod Feb 2013 #6

Name of the Rose by default, I secretly haven't read Foucault's Pendulum. dimbear Feb 2013 #7

calvino has been suggested to me more than once after chatting Phillip McCleod Feb 2013 #10

Invisible Cities. Don't read it straight through, tho. n/t dimbear Feb 2013 #11

thank you all, and Soylent Brice Jan 2013 #5

I have no suggestions, but amuse bouche Feb 2013 #8

She might look at some Buddhist texts. Reincarnation usually strikes me as woo, but struggle4progress Feb 2013 #9

I would have to agree on Buddhism TM99 Feb 2013 #18

Carl Sagan meeshrox Feb 2013 #12

i've recommended sagan as well. Soylent Brice Feb 2013 #13

I read Integral Consciousness and the Future of Evolution by Steve McIntosh. cleanhippie Feb 2013 #14

thank you! i just forwarded the link to her. Soylent Brice Feb 2013 #15

I always recommend this one... onager Feb 2013 #16

Just picked this one up from our local library... progressoid Feb 2013 #17