Barry

It sounds great but unfortunately I will not be able to attend, not least because it is the week of my wedding anniversary!

I hope that some more people do sign up, because it would be a real shame to have to cancel. I do intend to stick around this forum and to join in with the (somewhat sporadic) bursts of activity and hopefully in the future to join in one one of the retreats.

Rich.

http://secularbuddhism.co.uk/2013/04/middle-way-study-retreat/

So far only I and another person have made a firm commitment to attend and it might be cancelled due to lack of interest. I feel this would be a shame as Robert has to my mind broken new ground on this subject by synthesising his in depth knowledge of this ancient insight with a thoughtful application of what’s best in western philosophy to provide a sound, ethical framework for approaching life in a proportionate, practical and compassionate manner.

My reasons therefore for trying to persuade either you, circumstances permitted, or anybody else out there are twofold. Firstly, I feel Robert merits supporting (but also challenging) for this endeavour. The second reason is to accommodate my pure unadulterated self-interest – I would really like to spend a week sharing ideas with other people on how to live the good life, do a bit of meditation and walking in the hills (or not, Peter) and basically have a good time (all for £50).

This post has got me thinking as to why this phenomenon happens. I have not spent enough time on Secular Buddhist sites to see any examples and the conversation here seems refreshingly progressive and friendly. I have tended to shy away from most forms of internet posts (like comments on youtube, as well as forums) exactly because it seems to bring out the worst in people. Some people do not seem to communicate online as they would face to face and I think that Robert and Barry have hinted at a good reason why this might be. There are little or no consequences to their actions when online.

In terms of those of a secular persuasion I think it may be possible to draw a parallel with Atheism, specifically so called ‘New Atheism’. This form of Atheism is often seen as being overtly confrontational and aggressive, and in many cases it is. Richard Dawkins (I think unfairly) get accused of this, as did Christopher Hitchens (sometimes, I think fairly). Without defending this aggression it may be fruitful to enquire why this happens. Partly it is a reaction to certain sections of American society that consider an Atheist to be just about the worst thing one can be, this is less of a problem in the UK and so this aggression can seem to have come from nowhere. It could also be seen as a reaction to what some believe to be the domination of ‘religious’ forces in political and scientific thought (think abortion, euthanasia and more recently gay marriage) and the obstruction of critical thought. So, many Atheists saw this movement as a way to ‘come out’ and both sides then began to engage in robust debate. This quickly descended from considered criticism to unhelpful ‘harsh words’ from both sides and in many cases this has continued. It is of course worse in the realms of the interweb. Of course within a Secular community these issues will inevitably come up for discussion and ‘harsh’ language is likely to follow.

Please do not take this as justification but rather an attempt to understand where this anger and subsequent language emerge.

Should this be the kind of language that Secular Buddhism adopts? 100% NO! If a model is needed, traditional forms of Buddhism have got much right but an organisation like the British Humanist Assassination have come along way in being secular, tolerant and considered in its discussions.

Rich.

Thanks for these kind words, I can also find myself in the habit of woolly thinking. I think it is this habit, and the lessons that I have had to learn as a result, that prompted me to question life in the way that I do. Having said that one can become too analytical and sometimes it is necessary to have a nudge into, rather than away from, woolliness.

Baaa

Rich