Ishtadevata Hinduism Sanskrit Ishta
The particular title on Helium caught my attention and I felt an instinctive pull to make a contribution to it. The term ‘Ishtadevtaa’ is a Sanskrit word and is related …
Why you don’t need Religion to be a Good Person
Religion offers a framework for living morally, and it “works” for a lot of people. Neither of these statements is meant to imply that religion (belief in God within this …
The Holy Spirit at work
Gifts of the Holy Spirit are plentiful and occur frequently, but most people don’t recognize them. At there most common they are the little delights and extras that make the …
There is no Good or Bad Karma only Karma
The popular understanding of karma is wrong. The majority of westerners believe it goes like this: If you do good things, good things will happen to you; and if you …
Where the Bible contradicts itself
Many people throughout history and even today argue that the Bible is literally true and inerrant. This is impossible, as the Bible contains contradictions from beginning to end. Attempts to …
Islam as the Worlds only Religion
Islam can never be the world’s only religion because within the Islamic system of faith lie deep divisions and continual in-fighting between Sunni and Shi’ite. With the relatively late entry …
Fasting in the holy month of Ramadan is an act of worship
Ramadan is one of the most blessed months in the Islamic Calendar. It is a month of worship, which requires a Muslim to fast from dawn to dusk, consecutively for …
Buddhism the Noble Eightfold Path
The noble eightfold path is not just eight steps for a Buddhist but it is eight parts of a Buddhist’s life. Each of these eight parts can be sectioned into …
What can Atheists do with Tarot
Tarot cards have many uses for atheists and agnostics. Some just like to point at the Tarot and laugh, which can be very therapeutic. Some also appreciate Tarot decks for …
Pro God Propaganda in the Media
This just in: The New York Times affirms that God exists. After years of agonizing over whether the New York Times was going to come down for or against God, …
Yoga is a Part of Hinduism and Lord Shiva
Yoga is a part of Hinduism and started with Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva used yoga practice for means of meditation and his followers meditated as a way to clean thoughts …
Finding your piece of Heaven on Earth
Peace of mind is that strange feeling that people chase after, yearn for and yet somehow never seem to find. There are always distractions that get in the way of …
Tibetan Sky Burial Among Buddhists
After death ceremonies vary from each faith from Judaism, Islam, Christianity, etc. In Tibetan Buddhism, there’s a method of burial known as sky burial. Being Buddhist myself, I didn’t know …
Introduction to new Thought
What is spiritual perfection anyway? I was amazed as I surfed around one day on the web to find out something truly useful about myself! That was the magical day …
The History and Significance of the God Dainichi Nyorai
The two major religions of Japan, Shintoism, and Buddhism, have an interesting history and effect on each other. For a long time, Shinto was the key religion in Japan until …
Monasticism in Hinduism
Almost every existing religion in the world has an element of monasticism. My grandmother is a Buddhist nun that went to live a monastic life at various temples and monasteries …
Book Reviews Islam at the Crossroads by Muhammad Asad
It has been a couple of years since I read through this book, and then, rather quickly. I was impressed by Asad’s intellect, and so I would, before all else, …
Hindu Deities Vishnu
Hinduism is among the world’s oldest religions and boasts over 900 million followers around the globe. The Hindu religion teaches that there is one God, Brahman, who created and is …
How Israelis Honor Passover
The term ‘to celebrate’ Passover (Pesach in Hebrew) would be more appropriate than ‘honor’. Pesach is an 8-day holiday that commemorates the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt where they …
Biographies the 14th Dalai Lama
Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, is an extraordinary teacher, writer, and speaker. Some have revered him as a god, but within Tibetan Buddhism, he is actually a bodhisattva, an …
Motivated by Fear
Why I’m an Atheist That’s a question that has been asked and answered a hundred or more times in my short life. It’s simple really, I think logically. That statement …
Divisions of Modern Judaism Origins of Reform Conservative Judaism
Despite claims that may say otherwise, Judaism has more or less been monolithic in its tenets and is a closed system based on the divine revelation that occurred fifty days …
How Religious are Americans
Ohio, Nation Less Religulous Atheists, Humanists No Longer Fear Their Secular Orientation April 30, 2009 COLUMBUS, OHIO: As the high tide of Republican control of the government in Ohio and …
The Moral Code for Buddhists
Westerners often find it difficult to understand the Eastern way of thinking. Nevertheless, Buddhism remains one of the East’s most popular exports. What is it about Buddhism that, unlike Hinduism, …
The seven basic virtues as seven steps to becoming wise
The acquisition of wisdom is closely related to the acquisition of virtue. To the essence of wisdom belongs not only knowledge of the human virtues but also the possession of …
Zen Koan Case of One Hand Clapping
The koan of the paradoxical idea of one hand being able to clap has been attributed to the Zen master Hakuin. Hakuin Ekaku was a famous Japanese Zen master, who …
War and the non-Religious
Religion itself retains an ambiguous nature, therefore any answers in regard to the effects of religion are at their core vague and inconclusive, but attacking the matter from different angles, …
The Psychology of Religion
As a former Christian, this writer believed that the Bible was true and that it was the word of God written through human beings as inspired by the Holy Spirit. …
How can we see as Jesus sees?
When Jesus looks at his children he sees their heart. In 1 Samuel 16:7, the Lord said, “I do not judge as people judge. They look at the outward appearance, but I …
Agnostic Point of View
I myself am agnostic. I’m not saying I don’t believe in God, I am just saying that I want pure solid proof before I go shouting out my religion. I …
What are the Celtic Holy Days
In Celtic tradition, particular times of the year are celebrated to acknowledge certain natural energies-celebrating the eight Sabbats. Wheel of the Year Your Celtic ancestors worked within a ‘Wheel of …
Reflections on Hindu and Buddhist Relations
As a person who was brought up in Buddhism, I have learned that there are parallels to Hinduism. Practicing Buddhism, I know that we cannot deny Hinduism as both faiths …