Interesting On-Line Resources for spiritual matters.

[Dr. Wankler]

Just came across this today and thought some here might find it interesting:

levity.com's "Mavericks of the Mind" interviews:

http://www.levity.com/mavericks/frames11.htm

Their "Voices From the Edge" interviews are pretty good, too, the one's I've read at least.

http://www.levity.com/mavericks/frames12.htm


Traditional religion (maybe "conventional" would be a better word) isn't represented here, but there's no reason people can't add their own favorite sites.

[christopher d]

I happen to like Beliefnet.com (so much that I registered on their boards, btw). They also have a calendar of worldwide annual religious festivals that I'd like to use to generate some more discussion.

Sneak peek: Tomorrow is both Ash Wednesday and Purim. :)

[sebakoole]

This site is an excellent resource for Theravada Buddhism:
http://www.vipassana.com/
Scroll down to the bottom of the home page and you'll find brief answers to the questions "What is Vipassana?" and "What is Theravada Buddhism?"

The site has the complete text of the book "Mindfulness in Plain English" which is an excellent introduction to insight meditation:
http://www.vipassana.com/meditation/mindfulness_in_plain_english.php

[nicodemus]

I happen to like Beliefnet.com (so much that I registered on their boards, btw). They also have a calendar of worldwide annual religious festivals that I'd like to use to generate some more discussion.

Sneak peek: Tomorrow is both Ash Wednesday and Purim. :)

It misses the beginning of Lent for those of us on the Julian Calendar though! :D

[Rostam]

Sneak peek: Tomorrow is both Ash Wednesday and Purim. :)

there is a sweet story behind Purim.
http://www.jewishmag.com/77mag/whatispurim/whatispurim.htm

"Purim took place during the time that the Jews were in the Golus, the exile between the two Temples. From the view of the physical well being, the Jews in Persia we were well off and did not suffer from deprivement as we know it. Just the opposite, we see in the Megalith, that Jews were amongst those invited to the royal feast. The wife of the king, was none other than Queen Esther. Mordecai was a top trusted adviser. "

[#10 Jersey]

I happen to like Beliefnet.com (so much that I registered on their boards, btw). They also have a calendar of worldwide annual religious festivals that I'd like to use to generate some more discussion.

Sneak peek: Tomorrow is both Ash Wednesday and Purim. :)

Beliefnet is a good site, although the christian boards have a larger and more diverse community than the others, no surprise there, based on #'s.

Purim is not tomorrow. Do you mean they are unveiling a Purim section tomorrow?

[#10 Jersey]

there is a sweet story behind Purim.
http://www.jewishmag.com/77mag/whatispurim/whatispurim.htm



Can you please explain to me what is sweet about the Persians trying to physically destroy their Jewish population?

[Norsk Troll]

I prefer this site (http://www.pantheon.org/), because it groups religion where it belongs. ;)

[Riz]

Religion and Ethics (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/index_flash.html)

Good show, and good online resource.

[YankHibee]

www.infidels.org and http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/ are good.

[Rostam]

Can you please explain to me what is sweet about ONE Persian (Haman) trying to physically destroy their Jewish population?

Although you always have ill intentions but out of the goodness of my heart I fixed your post and if you want an answer to the corrected question then you must become a good Jew and read the story.

btw, I am not even sure if Haman was a "Persian" by blood. As Mardacei, a Jew, was accepted to the court as a trusted advisor, there were other ethnic people accepted to the court just as well. That was Persian way of making the system inclusive and making sure every group was represented and had a share in the making and maintaining an empire.
The name Haman sounds more Assyrian or Babylonian to me.

Another point, once the King issued the second edict to provide protection for the Jews, since by The Order he couldn't nullify a previous Order for security reasons, it ended up costing the lives of nearly 50,000 Persians just in Susa, alone.

[nicephoras]

Another point, once the King issued the second edict to provide protection for the Jews, since by The Order he couldn't nullify a previous Order for security reasons, it ended up costing the lives of nearly 50,000 Persians just in Susa, alone.

Yeah, Susa has nothing to do with Jews.
And since when could Kings not repeal their own orders? For "security reasons"? WTF.

[#10 Jersey]

Although you always have ill intentions but out of the goodness of my heart I fixed your post and if you want an answer to the corrected question then you must become a good Jew and read the story.

btw, I am not even sure if Haman was a "Persian" by blood. As Mardacei, a Jew, was accepted to the court as a trusted advisor, there were other ethnic people accepted to the court just as well. That was Persian way of making the system inclusive and making sure every group was represented and had a share in the making and maintaining an empire.
The name Haman sounds more Assyrian or Babylonian to me.

Another point, once the King issued the second edict to provide protection for the Jews, since by The Order he couldn't nullify a previous Order for security reasons, it ended up costing the lives of nearly 50,000 Persians just in Susa, alone.

Like many, I do my best at being a good Jew and fail many a time, just like others. Having said that, I can assure you that my knowledge is better than most and I am attempting to improve all the time.

You are a joke. You want to posit that Haman was the only one out to get the Jews, when it's actually more likely that not one Persian attempted to help the Jews as nowhere in the Megillat Esther does it describe help from anyone that was not Jewish.

I'll thank you to keep your ignorance to topics that don't concern Judaism. Your attempt to explain Judaism to others is not only silly but offensive.