Hey Bert, I think it's time the thread dies.

It kind of fell apart in the last few pages.

Sorry, guys. I took a shot.

Quoted from Mr. Blonde Sorry, guys. I took a shot.

Mr. Blonde, you did nothing wrong.  This was a healthy and therapeutic conversation.  I think the thread should remain.  

Quoted from Mr. Blonde Hey Bert, I think it's time the thread dies. It kind of fell apart in the last few pages.

We told you.  

OK,

Here's my take:

Evil = Necessary

Good = Necessary

Evil + Good = a mathematical system of forces given and existing in man

All comes from God

The purpose of life is for man to find his complete individuality and experience infinity and unbounded pleasure

For that to happen, a great negative deficiency needed to be created opposite this--

That great deficiency equals the entire history of our world, wherein we are currently reaching the height of all desires--

ie: Many of us are reaching a point where we have seemingly everything we could want in this corporeal life, but we desire something beyond this--

We desire something spiritual.

And many of us instinctively know, that when we meet certain others with this same desire, we are meeting up with divine sparks, that we recognize and remember from before:

As Carl Sagan said, "We've been this way before...." It's in the cruisin' thread.

Anyways, we each are responsible for ourselves, but there's a reciprocal relationship where we are all connected and need to love others as ourselves.

THAT'S the catch. How the hell do we do that?

It's not in our nature. We are actually naturally repelled from each other. Even in the most loving relationships, it always breaks down at some point.

So...

After all this long winded mercutious speech...

I say this:

Religion was a necessary part in human development. It's not a bad thing.

Spirituality is different. I think it crosses over religious and cultural boundaries.

None of us stand perfect. We know it within ourselves. I think. Now, maybe there are some people that think they are without sin, but that would be another story.

The very fact that we "think" we sin, or feel some kind of remorse tells me something personally. It tells me that I'm above the purely animalistic nature of any other beast on this planet.

The very fact that people want to discuss religious questions. Ask the question: What am I living for? What's the purpose of my life? Why is there suffering? How could there be a God if there is such suffering?

These questions tell me for certain what I know from experience with my own engagement with something above me, but that's me. I don't believe in telling other people what they should or should not engage in.

I will however say that they should engage with "something". They shouldn't be apathetic. If all you can engage with is football, then be the best engager in football this planet has ever seen.

What I'm saying, is if you need to search, then search. That's something that comes in time. When you're ready, it happens.

Anyways, what I'm talking about is not really religion the way people think about it.

I like to study mathematics sometimes and maybe sometime, I'll put up a formula that I don't have the ability to actually work out, but it's a reciprocal rule.

There are many good books you can buy if you enjoy math that you can check out.

Who knows, maybe some of you will give up screenwriting and be the next Arthur Young or someone like that.  

Maybe you'll write a book about how a "religion thread" on Simply caused you to go out and buy a book and yada-yada-yada... the rest is history.

Well, wherever this thread goes...

I just want to say for the record:

God created atheists too. Oh, and you don't have to be an atheist to be non-religious.



Sandra

Put the thread out of its misery.


Phil

Excellent insight, Sandra.  And George Willson's, too.  Pia's comments...not so excellent

Quoted from dogglebe Put the thread out of its misery. Phil

Oh, relax Phil.
This might turn out to be the hottest thread since "Not Even Death.

Quoted from dogglebe Put the thread out of its misery. Phil

You made me laugh. This thread obviously did something good.

Quoted from greg You're right.  I deleted my other post to avoid flame war involvement haha.  Here are my thoughts: While I'm Jewish and like what the religion is about, I've kinda made up my own beliefs over the years.  I like to believe there is a God, I like to believe in an afterlife, and I like to think that as long as you're a good person then the afterlife will bring great things to you, whatever the afterlife actually is.  That's pretty much my whole religious philosophy right there.  I don't think it matters what you believe or how you believe - as long as you live life to the fullest and are a good person then you've got it made.   I think our lives are what we make them to be and I don't believe God, whoever this being is, punishes people for believing in different ways.  I recognize I could be very wrong, but this belief system makes me feel good, so I'm happy with it.   -Greg

I'M COMPLETELY WITH GREG!!! IT'S SO COOL!!!

Anyways, the fact we can complain about it all, I see it as a good thing.

Really. Well, sometimes not. Sometimes it's so very depressing and I'm most definitely feeling Phil's sentiments. But other times, I'm right there in the moment and can feel something that is really so funny and wonderful.

You guys!!!  

Sandra

Quoted from Grandma Bear We told you.

You say it like I didn't know that going in, Pia. By the way, why'd you leave out the part of my quote where I admitted that I thought it was a bad idea? Lol. I'm not ashamed that I fucked up. That's why I said, "I took a shot." Lol.

We'll get the verdict from Bert, who really didn't want it in the first place.

So, how 'bout them Bears, huh?












Yeah, you're right. I don't care about the Bears. I don't even like anywhere near them. Sports are another thing people get touchy about, easily. Not as easily as politics or religion, but for some people, sports are a religion. (And, as we've seen, they also can become politics)

[quote=Bert]

Ah, but there are a number of brilliant researchers who have reconciled their science with their faith.

A know personally of a physicist who claims that his work brings him closer to God.

In the biochemical sciences, there are a great many instances where some unseen hand seems to be working behind the scenes.[quote]

Bert,

Absolutely true - one of the best books I've ever read was "The Tao of Physics" by Fritjof Capra, which basically states that the quantum world and Eastern Philosophy (or religion, if you prefer), are quite similar.

I was referring to the rift between them not in the way in which they can be unified, but rather in the way one can be used to attack the other.

In other words, using science, and thus logic, to attack religion is like using a sledge hammer to open a pistachio...

Quoted from Mr. Blonde You say it like I didn't know that going in, Pia. By the way, why'd you leave out the part of my quote where I admitted that I thought it was a bad idea? Lol. I'm not ashamed that I fucked up. That's why I said, "I took a shot." Lol.

You didn't fuck up dear. Us "old timers" just seen it before.  

Mr. Blonde don't let Pia bash you down like that.  I'm pretty sure her bark is a whole lot worse than her bite.  Stand your ground, man!    And anyway, I PM'd him and egged him on when he was mulling over the idea to open this thread.   If anybody deserves to get bashed, it's me.  Keep the thread, Bert.  I'll take full responsibility.  It's all good.


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With what I've seen, no one online could "bash me down", as you put it. I'm of the opinion that I don't do anything because a person tells me to. I'm a very different person on here than in real life. Never once have I actually been upset at anyone online and that's definitely not changing tonight. =)

And, no, it's not you, Rider. I wanted to do it. Your PM came while I was dealing with an e-mail about a quick re-write someone wanted me to do. Even without your PM, it's not your fault. And, if it gets taken down, it's more for Bert because he really didn't want to moderate it in the first place.

Quoted from Mr. Blonde With what I've seen, no one online could "bash me down", as you put it. I'm of the opinion that I don't do anything because a person tells me to. I'm a very different person on here than in real life. Never once have I actually been upset at anyone online and that's definitely not changing tonight. =)

Awesome.

Quoted from screenrider Mr. Blonde don't let Pia bash you down like that.  I'm pretty sure her bark is a whole lot worse than her bite.  Stand your ground, man!    And anyway, I PM'd him and egged him on when he was mulling over the idea to open this thread.   If anybody deserves to get bashed, it's me.  Keep the thread, Bert.  I'll take full responsibility.  It's all good.

Is that what a good Christian does? Eggs on?

Screenrider, if you think not, then you are mistaken.

We know how Jesus egged on; and so, you are our our wonderful stereotype like Jesus.

And I'm serious and not joking now at all. I find it very beautiful actually.

I think about lines that I can't repeat word for word, but like:

I didn't come to bring peace to the world, but a sword...

And I understand this, but not everyone does.

Anyways, I enjoy you.

You're cool.

But you might not want to hear that from me.  

Sandra