I was thinking today about the idea of choice. The existentialists talked about choice all the time- How every human has the "burden of choice". In other words, we all have the "burden" of free will, the choice to do something or to not do something. I know my philosophy knowledge is rudimentary at best, but I guess my question is: when did this idea of choice emerge? Primitive man had no luxury of choice, everything was about survival- So at what point did humans develop the idea of having a choice?
posted by ISeemToBeAVerb at at 12:22 AM - 22 answers

Last week I read the graduation speech Patton Oswalt gave to the kids at his former high school, and it's been marinating, but I'd like to make sure I'm understanding his advice in the very best way possible. [more inside]
posted by pwally at at 4:49 PM - 17 answers

Recently, I left a job. One of the responses I got to my "goodbye" email was a beautiful and touching message I received from one long-time colleague, an American-born Muslim. In his email, he said "May Allah (swt) bless you and your family. I will keep you guys in my prayers." In this context, what does the (swt) stand for? And, what would be a culturally-appropriate response? [more inside]
posted by deadmessenger at at 1:48 PM - 10 answers

Does America's religious history have a parallel in England? Give me the details. [more inside]
posted by gregb1007 at at 8:12 PM - 14 answers

I sometimes see announcements in the newspaper praising saints and listing prayers or novenas with instructions to publish the same ad in a future edition of the paper if the prayers work for you. Who places these ads? What purpose do they serve? What's the deal?
posted by lysistrata at at 5:49 PM - 8 answers

Where did the universe come from in the first place? [more inside]
posted by mjewkes at at 8:41 AM - 39 answers

Good books on Shaker history? [more inside]
posted by Julnyes at at 7:57 PM - 8 answers

As a Buddhist in the South, how do I politely deal with the often-asked question of where I go to church? I want to be truthful yet non-confrontational with my Christian neighbors and co-workers. [more inside]
posted by karmagirl at at 4:25 PM - 21 answers

Can anyone recommend meditation classes in Los Angeles? [more inside]
posted by wannaknow at at 8:42 PM - 5 answers

Today at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, a Buddhist monk (Mahayana, since he was from Bhutan) tied a yellow piece of yarn around my wrist. Being as this was in a temple, I'm assuming this had some religious significance. [more inside]
posted by QIbHom at at 6:40 PM - 2 answers

What, if anything, is this picture from the comic book Castle Waiting based on? [more inside]
posted by shirobara at at 7:07 PM - 6 answers

What happened to Calpurnia after Julius Caeser's death? [more inside]
posted by tellurian at at 7:55 AM - 10 answers

Who decides what passages of the Old Testament are no longer relevant in Christian theology, and who grants this authority of interpretation?
posted by plexi at at 1:38 PM - 30 answers

I'm attending my first Quaker meeting tomorrow. What should I know beforehand? [more inside]
posted by clcapps at at 2:18 PM - 14 answers

How can I get started learning about the I Ching and actively consult the oracle? [more inside]
posted by saxamo at at 9:14 PM - 13 answers

What is the most readable translation of Kant's Critique of Pure Reason? [more inside]
posted by limon at at 5:10 PM - 10 answers

what is the inner voice that Gilbert speaks of in Eat, Pray, Love? [more inside]
posted by mordecai at at 10:54 AM - 15 answers

Looking for some good christian apologetics podcasts. I listen to Stand to Reason but was curious if anyone liked or could recommend others.
posted by snap_dragon at at 10:30 AM - 10 answers

What kind of computing power would be needed to simulate consciousness? [more inside]
posted by prunes at at 7:38 AM - 21 answers

How many people after being brought up in one religion, eventually choose another? [more inside]
posted by Static Vagabond at at 6:37 PM - 23 answers

Is there any reason I can't be younger than I am? [more inside]
posted by mpls2 at at 1:22 PM - 60 answers

How can a non-believer be most expediently baptized? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at at 8:51 AM - 44 answers

Complete neophyte looking for an astrology-related birthday present. [more inside]
posted by FatherDagon at at 2:41 PM - 13 answers

IslamFilter: I'm looking for examples of regional cultures/ethnic groups within the present-day Ummah that were bypassed by the expansion of Islam. For example, most of the people of the mountainous and hard to access Nuristan province of Afghanistan only converted to Islam ca. 1890. Prior to that it was known to everyone outside Nuristan as "Kaffirstan" (land of the unbelievers/infidels). [more inside]
posted by thewalrus at at 3:56 PM - 11 answers

I tire of the summer hiatus from academia. I live with a very strong work ethic and moral sense of duty that causes me a sort of existential crisis when my life seems to be put on hold. This feeling cannot be ignored, and cannot (seem to) be reconciled. Do you have similar experiences? I'd love to hear stories... [more inside]
posted by anonymous at at 3:20 PM - 14 answers

I ran into a parade of children from our local Hebrew school today...what were they chanting? [more inside]
posted by Wavelet at at 8:12 PM - 10 answers

Marxism Filter: Sure, Socialism was the phase before Communism (state monopoly of the means of production right before the proles took over the same). But where in Marx's writings does he talk about this? [more inside]
posted by jak68 at at 4:24 PM - 10 answers

What's the big deal with JL Austin's "How To Do Things with Words"? [more inside]
posted by limon at at 8:04 PM - 10 answers

A Crisis of Identity? All my life, I've been the sort of person to avoid my faith to a certain extent (I would pray and try and be as good a muslim as I could, but there was always so much more I could do, and I knew it). Recently, I've met someone who's awakened that desire in me to finally make the commitment, and it feels great to have begun to do so, but there's another side of me that feels like I'm (I don't even know how to say it...) cheating on it... [more inside]
posted by hadjiboy at at 2:03 AM - 38 answers

What is the best English translation of Marcus Aurelius' Meditations out there, and why?
posted by ac at at 9:39 PM - 3 answers

In Buddhist philosophy, how is one supposed to do anything? [more inside]
posted by phrontist at at 8:16 PM - 44 answers

Was Aeschylus a Pythagorean? [more inside]
posted by catherinem at at 6:36 PM - 3 answers

Help me find a shul to attend in New York and Washington D.C. [more inside]
posted by PenDevil at at 7:31 AM - 10 answers

I'd like to delve deeper into one of the Yoruba-based religions. Where can I go for Candomble, Umbanda, Santeria, or Voodoo in Los Angeles, CA? [more inside]
posted by tinatiga at at 4:08 PM - 4 answers

JewishFilter: how do Jewish people wear a kippah (aka yarmulke) without it falling off every ten seconds? We're just talking about this at work, Google fails us, and we can't figure it out, it seems like it would fall off whenever you moved.
posted by paperclip at at 7:53 AM - 21 answers

Where, online, can I buy one of these rocks? Ideally, I'd like to be able to chose from a selection.
posted by Rabulah at at 12:46 PM - 2 answers

I would like to sense God in my life. I go to church regularly, pray, and read the Bible to understand Him better but I still have such deep bouts of depression where I either don't trust or sense his presence. There is a wide gap between what I believe with my heart and what I understand in my head. For example, I understand and believe in the sovereignty in God but when hard times come or extremely difficult emotions (despair) arise, that is the first thing I question. I am not looking for an easy life or a perfect life, just one that is able to trust God more. Any opinions on how to do this? I feel a great tension between trying harder, and just letting go but my letting go resembles more closely giving up than "letting God" if you know what i mean. To summarize, I want a stronger faith. Any ideas? Thanks so much for input.
posted by snap_dragon at at 6:30 AM - 58 answers

I'm thinking of a term to describe a causation related to taboos. [more inside]
posted by jalebi at at 4:48 PM - 11 answers

When undergoing an ministerial ordination ceremony, is it customary or common for the about-to-be-ordained person to gift the minister who is conveying the ordination? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at at 1:54 PM - 5 answers

REINCARNATION. Is there any compelling evidence that wouldn't be immediately dismissed by a skeptic? [more inside]
posted by Chasuk at at 3:26 PM - 47 answers

Who are some famous athletes who are Scientologists? There are plenty of actors who I hear about being Scientologists but rarely an athlete.
posted by josher71 at at 6:28 AM - 6 answers

I am a little out of sorts sorting out my life as it is. Please give me some advice on how I should go about life in my thirties. [more inside]
posted by rawwell at at 4:35 PM - 23 answers

Are there alternatives to the lotus position for classic meditation that don't leave the back unsupported? I've found that sitting in an unsupported position, or in a chair that doesn't have a seat back, ends up making my back ache rather strongly. I've thought about investigating meditation (and looking into the more classical, early practices), but have wondered if there's a "kosher" (accepted in the discipline) way of doing the more classical meditations while having your back completely supported (by lying on the ground, or doing it in a chair, or what have you).
posted by WCityMike at at 8:16 PM - 15 answers

Can you suggest a use for a Holy Communion veil? [more inside]
posted by Morrigan at at 5:53 PM - 5 answers

Looking to learn more about Wicca in general, and about a particular ritual specifically. [more inside]
posted by TrueVox at at 5:02 AM - 22 answers

What are some common arguments against religious evangelism/proselytism? [more inside]
posted by aheckler at at 1:09 PM - 25 answers

I am taking a look at two Marx texts, Capital (V: I) and his Eighteenth Brumaire of Napoleon, which are the best translations? I know there are a few problematic translations with the latter.
posted by christopherbdnk at at 9:58 PM - 1 answers

I have an ethical or logical quandary that I'm trying to puzzle out. [more inside]
posted by WCityMike at at 8:34 AM - 33 answers

How do I pronounce POGGE? [more inside]
posted by verisimilitude at at 1:31 AM - 9 answers

Got any Haggadah recommendations? I'm looking for something that non-Jews can easily follow and participate with.
posted by mkultra at at 8:59 AM - 10 answers