I was actually trying to discredit their immediate association with 'religious'.

However, how about 'violent' and 'violence', let's move onto those, shall we?

Are martial arts 'violent'?

That is another topic.

Usurping language, 'owning' it via open political agendas, isn't new. Neither is the 'scientific agenda'...one I see as covert revisionism that leads to more problems with dualistic perception.

Ed is trying to highlight the subtle differences, to deepen our understanding of the words...not disassociate the meanings. There are lots of words that exist that are considered 'archaic' and not applicable to modern contexts. As a lover of poetry, and words, I resist the idea of shelving words simply because they are difficult to apply.

Harlan,

We seem to be at cross purposes here. I personally was confused about why you felt this thread was bordering on religious topic. I assumed that the terms 'mystical' or 'mythical' were synonomous with religion. This was my reason for highlighting how they could be disassociated.

My initial point was contesting Ed's interpretation of the words and there useage.

Ed then suggested that we move onto 'less contraversial words', which suggests he too was worried about your own thoughts about the words and their possible association with religion. This was why I suggested the discussion of the words 'violent' and 'violence', as Ed had suggested earlier the possibility of discussing words and their usaeage on a wider field.

I think that this just may be a bad week for me...what with taxes on my mind and other stuff. My mind is all over the place.

lol...
Perhaps harlans initial wisdom of locking it down wasn't so off-base. (Women's intuition?)

sorry...thought it was salvagable. It's getting too abstract now: a thread discussing which language can be used in a thread which disscusses the use of language.

Ed! You were the one that brought that up!

Anyway, are martial arts 'violent'and what is the role of 'violence' in MA and Zen (which I know nothing about)?

I have "violence":a) physical forceintended to cause injury or destruction.
b) natural force
c)passion, intensity

"Violent" urged or driven by force; vehement; impetuous; forcible; furious; severe.

So would something like 'unlearning' be seen as violent through a destruction of previous mind-set?

Hey Harlan,

life is taxing! sadly, so is the government!

I did bring it up the topic...and now my head hurts.

Ed, I meant about 'contraversial words'. However, if you don't wanna play cos I'm spoiling the game then lets let Aunty Harlan lock the thread.

See... Aunty Harlan knew best all along

don't be an ass. tackle this: do you think it's possible for people to convey honest meaning while using an honest context but at the same time are sensitive to possible ways others may read it? It's different from 'political correctness' (before you point that out). It's more like 'social maturity'. Do you see the difference?