If you have a particular faith or religion, that is good. But you can survive wi

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   snigdhalposted 12 years ago

   If you have a particular faith or religion, that is good. But you can survive without it.
   Dalai Lama
   
   Do you agree ? Disagree ? Support your views with examples and reasons please, to help everyone better see your point of view .
   
   

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2. 60

   DAWNEMARSposted 12 years ago

   Even people who have no faith or religion have beliefs about life. Belief (although not always grounded in fact) is an influential aspect in a person's life. Belief in that sense really is everything at times.

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3. 70

   Angie Jardineposted 12 years ago

   I believe the Dalai Lama's words to be accurate. Of course you can survive without faith. Being religious is not the same as being spiritual. We can all be kind to one another without having to bow down to an invisible deity to pray.
   
   The Dalai Lama just happens to have a faith and is a supremely spiritual man who speaks a lot of good sense without feeling he has to be evangelical about Buddhism. He tends to hope his loving, pacifist views come through his example.
   
   What makes life miserable is not having some sort of internal moral code and that does not always come from having a faith; for a good many people that is just a default setting. I like to believe that it is the setting for most of us.

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   phillippeengelposted 12 years ago

   No. We cannot survive without a faith. If not, when we are in a spiritual distress, who is going to support us? Sometimes our family and friends may sympathise, but to have a greater encouragement, we need a faith. Prayers can placate ourselves.
   
   Of course, we cannot misuse and distort religious teachings to justify terrorist activities. There is no religion that supports violence; only terrorism supports.

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   whonunuwhoposted 12 years ago

   Yes, a person can survive without a faith or religion, however I often see that these individuals who claim to be without a faith, appear to be very unhappy in their lives and sometimes very bitter about life, in general. People who are devout believers, are generally much happier and more well adjusted in the way in which they live. Our Creator means for each of us to have faith and this in tern gives our lives more purpose and meaningful, making it a joyful and more rewarding experience. I respect the Dalai Lama and his views very much. To survive is life, yet enjoyment of life comes through a faith and purpose, found in our religion. I also believe we are endowed with a responsibility in serving as a good example and show others our purpose chosen lives.

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   Marturionposted 12 years ago

   I think a lot of people misunderstand the fundamental point of religion.  If your religion is only present in your life to make your life better, then you have grievously erred.  Of course you can survive without faith.  Of course you can be happy without any real kind of faith.  Faith is (or at least, is supposed to be) about your inner soul's reflection of the divine, and a seeking of truth.  I am a Christian, not because it makes me a better person, but because I believe in the truth of God and of Christ.  While that does provide me with a moral compass and an ethical guide, those are not the reasons I maintain my faith.  I think that the Dalai Lama was trying to make this point, and I believe he did it very well.  Don't rely on religion for your personal betterment.  rather, let your personal betterment show in your chosen religion.

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   MilesArmbrusterposted 12 years ago

   Survive without what? Without beliefs? If he is saying that people can live without believing in one of the "major" religions, then yes, he is right. People, as a rule, can and will believe all kinds of things, and none of those beliefs necessarily must align with any "specific" religion.
   
   If he is saying that people don't need to have beliefs, that is contrary to our very natures. We all believe something, and we follow those beliefs. Now, I suppose that you could say that having a set of beliefs is not the same thing as believing a religion, but really, what is the difference? In general, every religion gives us specific beliefs, and specific standards, and specific cultural norms. But how is that different from saying, "I don't believe in religion." Even that is a position that you believe, and out of it, you have developed your own set of standards and norms.
   
   All of us have a moral code that comes from the faith we hold. Take an example: Is universal health care right or wrong? You might answer that question from the standpoint of a specific religion, or you might have an answer based on your political views or your economic views. No matter how you answer the question, you do so out of what you believe - whether those beliefs were given to you by some religion, or you developed them on your own. If you take your views and organize them in such a way that they answer ALL the questions of life, you suddenly have a religion. Look at L. Ron Hubbard. He was a science fiction writer who put all of his beliefs together to start his own religion, which I can't name because it might look like an advertisement.
   
   I guess that what I believe is that we need to clarify the Dalai Lama's statement.

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   Eunice Stuhlhoferposted 12 years ago

   I suggest that everyone operates on a certain degree of faith even when it is not based on religion. Everyone holds some attitudes, beliefs, principles that help them through life; the basis of which depends on an individual. As a christian, my faith is in Christ. I wouldn't call it religion but a relationship that defines my purpose in life and who I am. I wouldn't want to live without faith in God anymore. . . I was blind but now I see.
   
   I hope this helps.

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   mcals71posted 12 years ago

   Note that the Dalai Lama said, "if you HAVE a particular faith or religion." The Dalai Lama is a Buddhist and, as such, he believes that when you strip yourself of all your "have" attitude, you are left with the pure essence of the self, and even then you have to be careful not to attach to the self the connotation of "I" or "Mine." According to Buddhist belief, everything both exterior and interior is nothing but a hindrance, a delusion and a distortion of the Reality of being, which can not be defined nor fathomed by anything, not even by a vision of the Divine. This is similar to St. John of the Cross' stance on the "Nada," in his "Ascent of Mount Carmel," and I would also suggest a certain similarity to the "the Cloud of Unknowing," and the writings of the German theologian and mystic Meister Echkart. All religions converge in this one single point where they all agree that God and the Self are far beyond everything that our mind can conceive even at the supernatural level of mysticism. At that level of Enlightenment there can be an open dialogue among all religions. However this way of thinking might work well for the Dalai Lama and those people who may already have achieved a state of Enlightenment. Those of us who are still trudging along in that direction need the guidance of a base, a path upon which to walk, until we reach a point where we can safely put those things that previously helped us aside. Most of us aren't there, yet.

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    Levertis Steeleposted 12 years ago

    I needed a purpose for living and something to believe in. I was not happy without the greatest power I know. I was not happy without faith. Yes, I eked out common everyday happiness that always seemed short and lacked sustenance, and I always had a thirst for something more fulfilling. Jesus gave me faith, purpose, and something to believe in, something to live for, something to look forward to, something wonderful to dream about. He gave me marvelous goals and anticipation. He gave me hapiness and completion. He showed me how to deal with the negatives in life and find peace in the eyes of life's tornadoes. He showed me how to survive. He gave me Himself, forgiveness, and his story as a reminder.
    
    I survived when I did not have faith, but I did not feel complete. Something was missing in my life.

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