[Buddha-l] rebirth

[Mike Austin]

In message <43DBCBBE.2080707 at adelphia.net>, Bob Zeuschner 
<rbzeuschner at adelphia.net> writes
>
>Since we all pick and choose from among the wide variety of doctrines 
>found in our sacred texts (Bst. and Xian), I cannot in good faith 
>simply believe one doctrine "because the Buddha taught it" and yet 
>reject another doctrine which the Buddha did teach and which is false.
>Bob Zeuschner
>

I suggested some distinction between 'believing' and 'believing in'. The 
first holds something to be true while the second holds that there could 
an advantage from consideration of that something. It is like the finger 
and the moon. One could either become preoccupied with the finger or one 
could reject the finger, instead of using it for direction.

Of course,  one could further suggest that there is no reason to believe 
in the efficacy of the consideration of anything any more that believing 
it is 'true' as spoken. I suppose one has to go by experience, reasoning 
and imagination. If one has found a source to be reliable, one should be 
prepared to reflect on whatever else that source says.

-- 
Metta
Mike Austin