Seasons
This is a forum or general chit-chat, small talk, a "hey, how ya doing?" and such. Or hell, get crazy deep on something. Whatever you like.
Posts 325 - 336 of 6,170
Posts 325 - 336 of 6,170
The mind is a powerful thing though. Take, for instance, the act of blushing. You get embarrassed and suddenly blood rushes to your cheeks and you look even stupider. So I don't see the harm in believing in some religion, whether it's true or not, if it helps you live a better life and/or keeps you sane. I'm not a religious nut by any means, but I refuse to insult someone's religion whether I believe in it or not, because it may be perfectly valid & meaningful for them. I mean think, we have a lot of attractive delusions, so why is everyone always harping on religion? You may be convinced your husband loves you or you have the cutest baby in the world or you're the best artist/scientist/fisherman in the world, and while it may or may not be true, believing it is will likely make you act more confident in a variety of situations and feel like a worthwhile person. Think how much more the world would suck if we had nothing to believe in. Think how much more the world would suck if we all consciously knew the truth about every facet of our lives and realized that hey maybe we're not the pinnacle of existence, maybe we're just one speck of dust underneath the cosmic couch. If you don't believe in anything, nothing matters, and if nothing matters, you have no reason to refrain from doing things that aren't in your (or someone else's) best interests. You might as well kill yourself and get it over with because what's the point in living when you don't care about anything and the universe is just a cold, sterile room full of anal probes? So as far as I'm concerned, let ppl believe in whatever religion they want because no matter how many ppl they kill in God's name, it can't be worse than the alternative.
Personally, I'm doing fine without religion. Not to say the rest of the world would be, but hey, I'm not deciding for you.
I also find it interesting how you used an anal probe reference in a heated religious discussion...
I also find it interesting how you used an anal probe reference in a heated religious discussion...
Yeah well it's never mattered which god (if any) you believe in, sooner or later you're bound to get fucked up the ass regardless. 
If morality only derives from religion, or from fear and hope for the afterlife, that's a sad commentary on the human condition. That's not to say it doesn't fill that function for a lot of people, but that scares me almost as much as no morality at all.
It's a sad fact of life that most ppl, most of the time, won't do something unless there's something in it for them. I think that's a damn pathetic view to have of religion, but that's how a lotta ppl act about it anyway. You know, those go to church on Sunday but treat everyone like sewage the rest of the week types.
Actually I meant that in a broader sense though. Religion isn't the only thing ppl can care about that can give their lives meaning, it's just one of the more popular obsessions out there. You also see it in workaholics and ppl who constantly brag about their family & think they hafta practically breathe for them to be a good mother/wife/whatever. What does the workaholic do when he loses his job? What does the momaholic do when for one reason or another she can't take care of her family anymore? They become drunks or junkies or go crazy or just sit in a room doing nothing as much as possible. The focus may be different, but the simple act of caring about something gives us a reason not only to live, but to feel passionately about the way we live. It also causes a lot of problems, but then so does everything else and what good is happiness if you have no sadness to compare it to?
Actually I meant that in a broader sense though. Religion isn't the only thing ppl can care about that can give their lives meaning, it's just one of the more popular obsessions out there. You also see it in workaholics and ppl who constantly brag about their family & think they hafta practically breathe for them to be a good mother/wife/whatever. What does the workaholic do when he loses his job? What does the momaholic do when for one reason or another she can't take care of her family anymore? They become drunks or junkies or go crazy or just sit in a room doing nothing as much as possible. The focus may be different, but the simple act of caring about something gives us a reason not only to live, but to feel passionately about the way we live. It also causes a lot of problems, but then so does everything else and what good is happiness if you have no sadness to compare it to?
That's a good point, Crab. If there is nothing other this life then the only thing that matters is how we fill the time we have here right now. It's all we're going to be remembered for, and if each generation doesn't make it possible for the next to reach just a little higher than they did, what is the point?
OnyxFlame, that drives home the point that far more important than finding God is finding yourself. I don't think you can be a really moral or functional person (let alone happy) if you are motivated by fears and insecurities -- self-sufficiency comes first of all.
Corwin, I agree with you, but I think leaving the world a better place for future generations is just one derivation of natural morality.
By the way, what do people think about colonizing Mars? There's a number of people who believe this would wrong Mars.
Corwin, I agree with you, but I think leaving the world a better place for future generations is just one derivation of natural morality.
By the way, what do people think about colonizing Mars? There's a number of people who believe this would wrong Mars.
IF mars had complex life on it and not just a few germs I would probably be against it. But since it doesn't I think the idea is cool.
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