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On Optimism (pg. 9)
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| SuperJimbo |
| quote: | Originally posted by DigiNut
So, faith is the only way to make one's life meaningful? And here I thought that personal relationships and personal accomplishment had something to do with that...
You're certainly right, Josh, in your definition of faith. I won't argue with that. I'm just not sure why that's necessary or, truthfully, even helpful in life. There's no denying that some people would be lost in life without faith of some sort (and usually this is manifested as faith in God, because an intangible perfect being is always so much easier to have faith in than imperfect human beings), but those people are generally not the pragmatists when you separate faith from the equation. It's much easier to show someone another faith than it is to teach them reason and judgment.
Those people you meet or hear about who led hopeless lives until they found faith in something generally turn out to be the ones who lack any reason or understanding of their environment. They are not ex-pragmatists.
Pragmatists generally don't find themselves lost without faith. I realize that this is something that's very hard to understand for the people who depend on faith and trust and optimism, who think we must all be sorely depressed and empty with unfulfilling lives, but we actually do just fine without resorting to irrational behaviour. |
I recently read The God Delusion, by Richard Dawkins, which addresses many of these issues. I highly recommend it, whether you a person of faith or an atheist.
Here is a link to the first chapter, for those who are interested....
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/22/b...&pagewanted=all
An excerpt, which I think is helpful...
"Let's remind ourselves of the terminology. A theist believes in a supernatural intelligence who, in addition to his main work of creating the universe in the first place, is still around to oversee and influence the subsequent fate of his initial creation. In many theistic belief systems, the deity is intimately involved in human affairs. He answers prayers; forgives or punishes sins; intervenes in the world by performing miracles; frets about good and bad deeds, and knows when we do them (or even think of doing them). A deist, too, believes in a supernatural intelligence, but one whose activities were confined to setting up the laws that govern the universe in the first place. The deist God never intervenes thereafter, and certainly has no specific interest in human affairs. Pantheists don't believe in a supernatural God at all, but use the word God as a nonsupernatural synonym for Nature, or for the Universe, or for the lawfulness that governs its workings. Deists differ from theists in that their God does not answer prayers, is not interested in sins or confessions, does not read our thoughts and does not intervene with capricious miracles. Deists differ from pantheists in that the deist God is some kind of cosmic intelligence, rather than the pantheist's metaphoric or poetic synonym for the laws of the universe. Pantheism is sexed-up atheism. Deism is watered-down theism." |
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| SuperJimbo |
| quote: | Originally posted by jennypie
Why should what someone ELSE thinks have an effect on YOUR life?? Who's driving the ship here?? The idea is ludicrous to me. That might matter to some people, but not to me.
I think worrying about what other people think is just another excuse not to be fully accountable. |
The quote below accurately describes my bias...
"Strange is our situation here on earth. Each of us comes for a short visit, not knowing why, yet sometimes seeming to divine a purpose. From the standpoint of daily life, however, there is one thing we do know: That man is here for the sake of other men - above all for those upon whose smile and well-being our own happiness depends, and also for the countless unknown souls with whose fate we are connected by a bond of sympathy. Many times a day I realize how much my own outer and inner life is built upon the labors of my fellow men, both living and dead, and how earnestly I must exert myself in order to give in return as much as I have received and am still receiving." --Albert Einstein |
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| Silky Johnson |
| quote: | Originally posted by SuperJimbo
The quote below accurately describes my bias...
"Strange is our situation here on earth. Each of us comes for a short visit, not knowing why, yet sometimes seeming to divine a purpose. From the standpoint of daily life, however, there is one thing we do know: That man is here for the sake of other men - above all for those upon whose smile and well-being our own happiness depends, and also for the countless unknown souls with whose fate we are connected by a bond of sympathy. Many times a day I realize how much my own outer and inner life is built upon the labors of my fellow men, both living and dead, and how earnestly I must exert myself in order to give in return as much as I have received and am still receiving." --Albert Einstein |
I understood you before you posted this. ;) |
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| SuperJimbo |
| quote: | Originally posted by jennypie
I understood you before you posted this. ;) |
Haha. Sorry, even though I quoted you, the post wasn't really directed to you. I just liked the quote, decided to post it, and thought the post required context...
;) |
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| RobotHouse |
DID SOMEONE SAY OPTIMUS? |
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| Silky Johnson |
| quote: | Originally posted by SuperJimbo
Haha. Sorry, even though I quoted you, the post wasn't really directed to you. I just liked the quote, decided to post it, and thought the post required context...
;) |
Ahh...word. :) |
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| EvilTree |
| quote: | Originally posted by jennypie
Ahh...word. :) |
No no no.
It's werd and you have to scrunch up your lips weird every time you say it or it's a fail |
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| Silky Johnson |
| quote: | Originally posted by EvilTree
No no no.
It's werd and you have to scrunch up your lips weird every time you say it or it's a fail |
LoL....wtf? |
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| EvilTree |
| quote: | Originally posted by jennypie
LoL....wtf? |
Well, practice in front of the mirror until you get it right.
/random post of the day :D |
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| Silky Johnson |
| quote: | Originally posted by EvilTree
Well, practice in front of the mirror until you get it right.
/random post of the day :D |
Hahah, you're special Yohan. *pat on head* |
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| EvilTree |
| quote: | Originally posted by jennypie
Hahah, you're special Yohan. *pat on head* |
My fav mode of transportation |
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| SuperJimbo |
| quote: | Originally posted by EvilTree
Well, practice in front of the mirror until you get it right.
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I can see her now...I imagine it will go something like this....:D
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