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The Forum > Article Comments > Is littering the sin of the century? > Comments

Is littering the sin of the century? : Comments

By Michael Cook, published 28/3/2008

There were raised eyebrows around the world when newspapers reported that the Vatican had updated the seven deadly sins.

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The pancasila (five factor moral code) is seen by many eastern religions as a necessary basis for a good and happy life. It covers abstention from killing, stealing, lying, sexual misconduct and taking intoxicants. The Buddha taught this not as an end in itself, but as a necessary step in quieting the mind so that it might practise samadhi, concentration of mind. This in itself is a necessary step for practising vipassana, observing with detachment the reality of the present moment within one's own mind and body, in order to free oneself from impurities and become enlightened. In this context, the "modern" sins mentioned in the media are irrelevant, although anyone practising sila, samadhi and panna (wisdom developed through experience with vipassana) will be disinclined to actions which harm others.

The test for the Roman Catholic Church should be whether its moral guidelines help those who follow them to develop spiritually, which involves developing one's own wisdom based on one's own experience rather than blind adherence to scripture or externally-imposed rules.
Posted by Faustino, Friday, 28 March 2008 2:35:12 PM
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'The Buddha taught this not as an end in itself, but as a necessary step in quieting the mind so that it might practise samadhi, concentration of mind. This in itself is a necessary step for practising vipassana, observing with detachment the reality of the present moment within one's own mind and body, in order to free oneself from impurities and become enlightened.'

The difference between Buddha and Jesus Christ is that one tomb was found empty while the bones of Buddha remain in the ground. I know whose words I believe above that of the Catholic church and Buddha.
Posted by runner, Friday, 28 March 2008 2:50:05 PM
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I suppose everyone knows that Mercator is a propaganda outlet for that charming organization called Opus Dei.
The founder of which was an open admirer of herr Schicklegruber--aka Adolf Hitler.
An organization which uses self-flagellation as a means for attaining "holiness", or disciplining "carnal" desires.

And which brought us that exercise is sado-masochistic pornography---namely the film The Passion of Christ. Which was applauded at the time as being a great recruiting message/vehicle for Christianity altogether.
My advice would be to run as fast as you can from such an organisation.
Hitler's politics was pure applied sado-masochism dramatised all over Europe.
Posted by Ho Hum, Friday, 28 March 2008 8:21:49 PM
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I particularly liked the sin regarding the obscene accumulation of wealth.
Posted by enkew, Saturday, 29 March 2008 7:08:40 AM
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Ho Hum, it is interesting to note that Gerardus Mercator was charged with heresy by the Catholic church and imprisoned for seven months in 1544. His friends managed to get him released, but four others who were imprisoned with him were executed for "Protestant sympathies". Of course, that portion of Mercator's CV isn't highlighted on MercatorNet.

Michael Cook suggests that "every generation has its own chance to creatively reinterpret how it will break the Ten Commandments. Centuries ago, slavery was a modish sort of sin, but nowadays the enemies of human dignity prefer to clone men rather than own them." Yes Michael, damn all those sinners. Life was much simpler when you could just burn your critics (or bury them, behead them etc etc).

It seems ironic (or possibly apposite) that a Catholic apologist website should use Mercator as a figurehead.
Posted by Johnj, Saturday, 29 March 2008 8:42:47 AM
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'Sin' is a just convenient label for actions which we disapprove of but which do no harm to anybody. Deeds which cause harm are adequately covered by social sanctions including the legal code, but how can we convey our disgust and outrage at things that don't actually hurt anyone or damage anything? If we can persuade the legislature to go along with us then we can call them 'victimless crimes' and toss the wicked perpetrators in jail, but otherwise we just have to fall back on the good old epithet 'sinful'. How dare other people have a better time than us!
Posted by Jon J, Saturday, 29 March 2008 7:55:54 PM
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