...of course, it is a scientific fallacy that we only use a small part of our brains... [img]wink.gif[/img]
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...of course, it is a scientific fallacy that we only use a small part of our brains... [img]wink.gif[/img]
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I can't remember if I read that in its entirety, but it accompanied the stack of literature I went over studying Nirvana (not the band). For myself, I can only be sure of the character of God. I haven't any solid thoughts as to the composition of this being. There may be some merit to the notion that the one life force split into millions of corporial hosts, living now in our collective consciousness. How many religions claim that their god is within them? I have seen from Darwin's perspective how a race can invent a deity, and certain aspects of that theory are quite aparent in the way some people conduct their worship. Perspective.Quote:
Originally posted by Andyman:
I subscribe to Terry Pratchet's take from his book "Small Gods". How strong and influential a god becomes is in direct proportion to how many believers he has. Silly as the story is I feel it has some credence. People here talk about how we only use a small percentage of our brain. Okay, what about the world population as a whole? If we could link ourselves as a colony of ants or bees do, imagine what the human race could create with all that brain power combined? A god maybe? [img]graemlins/wonder.gif[/img]
DA, some of us are using all the brains we have left...why else would we drive on the parkway and park in the driveway? [img]wink.gif[/img]
...Nostro, that excuse doesn't fly with my ilk and you know it! Need more brains? EAT MORE! [img]wink.gif[/img]
But I digress. The nature of God? How did my little thread come to all that? Wowzers. I think, if there is a god, he/she/it has one helluva sense of humour. Take that as you will.
My fault, getting to why I don't believe in psychics was probably a lot messier than you cared to expect. I'll try to refrain from now on.
Although I'll quickly add this: how could any deity be expected to cope with everything we blame him/her/it/them for without a paramount sense of humor? There are some I studied that came across as a bit more prudent, but God allegedly built the first man out of a pile of dirt, and then grew a woman on one of his ribs. How fucking funny is that? [img]tongue.gif[/img]
Fate.
This was a hard one for me to make up my mind about, especially in regards to divine fate. Has God set my destiny in stone, so that no matter what I choose my purpose and outcome will come to pass according to His design? Or, is it that within the wisdom of said Creator, my free will causes ripples across the spiritual landscape that have already been foreseen and prepared for? Am I really making decisions, or is my free will anticipated and no other path is possible?
Upon pondering at length about the immense ratio between the portion of the brain that science reports as unused and that which is used, and comparing the minute store of data my bio-electrical memory has collected in my short lifespan to what this potential supreme being must omniciently posess, I ultimately settled on this notion: Choice is not written. As a sentient being my decisions are my own (however easily influenced they may be), but the unfathomable wealth of knowledge that a singular master being - the deity - holds lends quite naturally to the possibility that every outcome of any one of my actions may effect is already known. Therefore, no future is written. This challenges Christianity, of course, because many would argue that it was Jesus' fate to be a sacrificial lamb. I believe that as the manifestation of God on Earth, he may have foreseen potential outcomes, but as a man he still was bound by the choices of free will. There again, that's just me.
I subscribe to Terry Pratchet's take from his book "Small Gods". How strong and influential a god becomes is in direct proportion to how many believers he has. Silly as the story is I feel it has some credence. People here talk about how we only use a small percentage of our brain. Okay, what about the world population as a whole? If we could link ourselves as a colony of ants or bees do, imagine what the human race could create with all that brain power combined? A god maybe? [img]graemlins/wonder.gif[/img]
Yes, a lot of people believe in a divine scapegoat. That solves any issues with the personal reponsibility thing. [img]wink.gif[/img]
<font color="#cd6600" size="1">[ September 15, 2004 08:35 AM: Message edited by: Andyman ]</font>
Fluffles, don't get me started.
...OK, too late. Here's what thinking about yesterday's posts got me: Fate, destiny, those things open up a can of worms that I don't think many people are prepared to deal with. For instance, if each and every one of us is on a path we are meant to travel, how does one explain the life and actions of someone like Hitler? Was it all simply meant to be? If so, what does that say about the nature of good and evil? If it was meant to be, if it had to happen...how can it be "evil"? If not..well, where the hell have the spiritual police gotten to? 'Cause they damn sure fell asleep on that job.
But one need not invoke anything quite so horrible to question the theory. If there is some kind of "Fate" at work in our lives, we begin erring toward beliefs in predestination and the like. In other words, it doesn't matter what we do, as we are going to end up wherever we are intended to be regardless. So why bother with charity and kindness and all that bullshit? History will just keep tweaking itself to keep us on our intended paths regardless of how we live our lives. And that just doesn't sound quite right to these ears...
Oops! [img]graemlins/angel.gif[/img]
Hey, how 'bout them psychics?
...hey, you poked the bear...now you gotta live (or...not) with the consequences!
Didn't know the bear was ticklish...
...learn something new everyday, eh? Hey, maybe you are on a path of learning. Meaning that you aren't necessarily supposed to find a solid answer. Ever think of that? [img]wink.gif[/img]
Which brings me to my next thought, which is that a lot of eastern philosophies/religions argue that we all have a path to follow, but it isn't concrete and we must find out own ways. If we deviate from it there are consequences, there's no "free pass" from some outside force who will tweak us back to where we belong--although you can, apparently, take a rather roundabout way to get where you belong, in at least some cases. See karma.
So, then, we have to address the issue of "the greater good"...that there is a higher purpose that must be served, regardless of our frail, tranquil, human notions of "good" and "evil". In other words, if my actions, on their face, are "evil", but serve this greater good, I was never evil at all, and my "path" is still intact.
--that's all under the assumption, of course, that our lives have any meaning whatsoever, and we aren't just flattering ourselves... [img]wink.gif[/img]
Yes, but sometimes you gotta stray from the path to take a leak. [img]wink.gif[/img]
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">My quest hasn't ended. While I practice to grow spiritually within the faith I have, I still keep an eye out for other aspects that I may have overlooked before or have forgotten. The answers I have aren't solid, per se, but their the best I have at any given moment. My faith is constantly evolving because I am learning. Now, whether or not I'm supposed to or destined to learn the whole truth is something I no longer worry about. To me, the journey is just as important as the destination.Quote:
Originally posted by -Dark Angel-:
Ever think of that? [img]wink.gif[/img]
I believe there is merit in Karma. Newton was speaking of physics, but the law that states that every action has an equal and opposite reaction has other applications. Christ said that what goes around comes around. However, if the ends are known, that what concern should we have about the means? If my fate is to die in a car crash can I be expected to jump out of a 32nd floor window and live? Do I invite misfortune by challenging this notion?
Your greater good point is another can of worms entirely. You mentioned Hitler earlier. By your example, another perspective could reveal that his actions - evil and unjustified - resulted in an era of advancement and prosperity. Though the human cost was terrible, consider that countless lives since then have been saved or enhanced by the chain of technology that received an immense growth spurt from the war waged to end his reign. Flattery maybe, but I personally consider it an insult to imagine that all of those lives, including the sacrifices made now, are ended in vain. The value of death is just as great as life.
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Or was it your destiny to leak?Quote:
Originally posted by Andyman:
Yes, but sometimes you gotta stray from the path to take a leak. [img]wink.gif[/img]
...I think its his destiny to irritate me... [img]wink.gif[/img]
i believe in more like people who are more in touch with the spiritual world, and can "see" stuff that's going to happen, but cant grasp it and harness it the way these bogus psychics and crap claim they can, like almost deja vu, but on a higher level
...dan, I think that is very sensible.
As for Nostro...so, we are talking about gradients of destiny? I have a hard time with that. If you are not meant to jump out of the window, the thought wouldn't cross your mind, am I right? Or, if it did, you would lend it no credence. Is it possible that, while certain things are primarily intended to happen to intended people, that they nevertheless can undergo "correction" even to the point of finding a surrogate, similar person to center them on? Maybe that is why none of us is quite as "orginal" as we like to think...some of us are the understudies of Fate!
...me...I have always had the sneaking suspicion that I just might jump one day...
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">That is possible. That analogy was made in the Matrix, where programs were sent to "correct" the human mind that had exceeded its perameters. I don't get the sense that our free will is bound by those factors. Fate says that the building was put there for you to jump out of it, I say you had to enact the will to open the window. In your case, however, your wings would start flapping involuntarily and there'd be no point in it anyway. [img]wink.gif[/img]Quote:
Originally posted by -Dark Angel-:
As for Nostro...so, we are talking about gradients of destiny? I have a hard time with that. If you are not meant to jump out of the window, the thought wouldn't cross your mind, am I right? Or, if it did, you would lend it no credence. Is it possible that, while certain things are primarily intended to happen to intended people, that they nevertheless can undergo "correction" even to the point of finding a surrogate, similar person to center them on? Maybe that is why none of us is quite as "orginal" as we like to think...some of us are the understudies of Fate!
...me...I have always had the sneaking suspicion that I just might jump one day...