Members banned from this thread: Mister D and Cletus


User Tag List

+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 22 1234511 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 217

Thread: The Two Sides

  1. #1
    Points: 222,626, Level: 100
    Level completed: 0%, Points required for next Level: 0
    Overall activity: 32.0%
    Achievements:
    Social50000 Experience PointsVeteranYour first Group
    Ethereal's Avatar Senior Member
    Karma
    468804
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Posts
    67,628
    Points
    222,626
    Level
    100
    Thanks Given
    14,219
    Thanked 41,536x in 26,005 Posts
    Mentioned
    1169 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    The Two Sides

    It is in our nature to want to classify and categorize things. As this is a political forum, categories usually divide into camps like "capitalist" and "socialist" or "Democrat" and "Republican".

    But it seems to me, there is essentially only one dichotomy that really matters, which is theist or atheist.

    Granted, there are ostensible divisions within each of these respective groups, but those divisions are the result of human error and arrogance.

    For my own part, I've always been a theist. I started out as a Catholic simply because that is what my family was and all my neighbors were. And I still have a soft spot for Catholicism to this day. However, I've gravitated more towards "pagan" religions and their emphasis on nature as a direct connection to the divine. I sense a great deal of truth in this. I also feel connected to paganism's communal spirit, though I have little use for their pantheons except as metaphors.

    Anyway, my point is that all divisions we perceive can and probably should be distilled down to whether or not one believes in God. After all, everything is defined by that on some level.
    Power always thinks it has a great soul, and vast views, beyond the comprehension of the weak. And that it is doing God service when it is violating all His laws.
    --John Adams

  2. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Ethereal For This Useful Post:

    Orion Rules (12-29-2017)

  3. #2
    Points: 25,430, Level: 38
    Level completed: 84%, Points required for next Level: 220
    Overall activity: 20.0%
    Achievements:
    SocialTagger Second ClassVeteran25000 Experience Points
    Trish's Avatar Senior Member
    Karma
    8623
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Posts
    5,668
    Points
    25,430
    Level
    38
    Thanks Given
    2,708
    Thanked 3,754x in 2,330 Posts
    Mentioned
    170 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Your's is an interesting perspective. I'm not sure that I agree with it but it does make me wonder what the overall objective is to your point. Good/Bad, Right/Wrong?

  4. The Following User Says Thank You to Trish For This Useful Post:

    Ethereal (12-28-2017)

  5. #3
    Points: 222,626, Level: 100
    Level completed: 0%, Points required for next Level: 0
    Overall activity: 32.0%
    Achievements:
    Social50000 Experience PointsVeteranYour first Group
    Ethereal's Avatar Senior Member
    Karma
    468804
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Posts
    67,628
    Points
    222,626
    Level
    100
    Thanks Given
    14,219
    Thanked 41,536x in 26,005 Posts
    Mentioned
    1169 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by Trish View Post
    Your's is an interesting perspective. I'm not sure that I agree with it but it does make me wonder what the overall objective is to your point. Good/Bad, Right/Wrong?
    Basically, yes.

    Everything we believe, regardless of how we label ourselves, boils down to a set of assumptions upon which everything is based.

    Just as one obvious example, we all assume that our senses are an accurate reflection of the reality we inhabit. It's entirely possible that our senses are mere illusions. But almost nobody behaves as if that were the case.

    And in my humble and probably correct opinion (), the most fundamental of all assumptions is a belief or nonbelief in God. Everything stems from that.
    Power always thinks it has a great soul, and vast views, beyond the comprehension of the weak. And that it is doing God service when it is violating all His laws.
    --John Adams

  6. #4
    Points: 25,430, Level: 38
    Level completed: 84%, Points required for next Level: 220
    Overall activity: 20.0%
    Achievements:
    SocialTagger Second ClassVeteran25000 Experience Points
    Trish's Avatar Senior Member
    Karma
    8623
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Posts
    5,668
    Points
    25,430
    Level
    38
    Thanks Given
    2,708
    Thanked 3,754x in 2,330 Posts
    Mentioned
    170 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by Ethereal View Post
    Basically, yes.

    Everything we believe, regardless of how we label ourselves, boils down to a set of assumptions upon which everything is based.

    Just as one obvious example, we all assume that our senses are an accurate reflection of the reality we inhabit. It's entirely possible that our senses are mere illusions. But almost nobody behaves as if that were the case.

    And in my humble and probably correct opinion (), the most fundamental of all assumptions is a belief or nonbelief in God. Everything stems from that.
    I no longer believe in God. I haven't for some time but I do try and live my life with the philosophy that you should treat others the way you wish to be treated. I don't know where I would fall within your theory.

  7. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Trish For This Useful Post:

    AZ Jim (12-28-2017),Kalkin (12-28-2017)

  8. #5
    Points: 222,626, Level: 100
    Level completed: 0%, Points required for next Level: 0
    Overall activity: 32.0%
    Achievements:
    Social50000 Experience PointsVeteranYour first Group
    Ethereal's Avatar Senior Member
    Karma
    468804
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Posts
    67,628
    Points
    222,626
    Level
    100
    Thanks Given
    14,219
    Thanked 41,536x in 26,005 Posts
    Mentioned
    1169 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by Trish View Post
    I no longer believe in God. I haven't for some time but I do try and live my life with the philosophy that you should treat others the way you wish to be treated. I don't know where I would fall within your theory.
    Well, I guess my only question would be: Why?

    Because if there is no God, then all morality is ultimately subjective. And everything you decide to do or not to do has no firm foundation in ultimate truth. It's just random stuff that's happening for no apparent reason. So why assign any value or meaning to it?
    Power always thinks it has a great soul, and vast views, beyond the comprehension of the weak. And that it is doing God service when it is violating all His laws.
    --John Adams

  9. The Following User Says Thank You to Ethereal For This Useful Post:

    Captdon (12-28-2017)

  10. #6
    Points: 25,430, Level: 38
    Level completed: 84%, Points required for next Level: 220
    Overall activity: 20.0%
    Achievements:
    SocialTagger Second ClassVeteran25000 Experience Points
    Trish's Avatar Senior Member
    Karma
    8623
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Posts
    5,668
    Points
    25,430
    Level
    38
    Thanks Given
    2,708
    Thanked 3,754x in 2,330 Posts
    Mentioned
    170 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by Ethereal View Post
    Well, I guess my only question would be: Why?

    Because if there is no God, then all morality is ultimately subjective. And everything you decide to do or not to do has no firm foundation in ultimate truth. It's just random stuff that's happening for no apparent reason. So why assign any value or meaning to it?
    I disagree. What I decide to do or not do is based on my life code. It makes ME feel good to help someone else or to say a kind word to another person. I don't do it because "God" is watching and I may not get into heaven. To me, that is simply bogus. I don't need an audience to applaud me or thank me when I do something good.

    My perception of religion and religious people is that they do acts of kindness for several reasons. 1) to be recognized for that act. 2) to get a tax break.

    Maybe I'm misunderstanding your point.

  11. #7
    Points: 222,626, Level: 100
    Level completed: 0%, Points required for next Level: 0
    Overall activity: 32.0%
    Achievements:
    Social50000 Experience PointsVeteranYour first Group
    Ethereal's Avatar Senior Member
    Karma
    468804
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Posts
    67,628
    Points
    222,626
    Level
    100
    Thanks Given
    14,219
    Thanked 41,536x in 26,005 Posts
    Mentioned
    1169 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by Trish View Post
    I disagree. What I decide to do or not do is based on my life code. It makes ME feel good to help someone else or to say a kind word to another person. I don't do it because "God" is watching and I may not get into heaven. To me, that is simply bogus. I don't need an audience to applaud me or thank me when I do something good.

    My perception of religion and religious people is that they do acts of kindness for several reasons. 1) to be recognized for that act. 2) to get a tax break.

    Maybe I'm misunderstanding your point.
    So would it be fair to say that your life code, such as it is, is that you do things because it makes you feel good?
    Power always thinks it has a great soul, and vast views, beyond the comprehension of the weak. And that it is doing God service when it is violating all His laws.
    --John Adams

  12. #8
    Points: 25,430, Level: 38
    Level completed: 84%, Points required for next Level: 220
    Overall activity: 20.0%
    Achievements:
    SocialTagger Second ClassVeteran25000 Experience Points
    Trish's Avatar Senior Member
    Karma
    8623
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Posts
    5,668
    Points
    25,430
    Level
    38
    Thanks Given
    2,708
    Thanked 3,754x in 2,330 Posts
    Mentioned
    170 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by Ethereal View Post
    So would it be fair to say that your life code, such as it is, is that you do things because it makes you feel good?
    Yes, and because it's the right thing to do.

  13. #9
    Points: 222,626, Level: 100
    Level completed: 0%, Points required for next Level: 0
    Overall activity: 32.0%
    Achievements:
    Social50000 Experience PointsVeteranYour first Group
    Ethereal's Avatar Senior Member
    Karma
    468804
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Posts
    67,628
    Points
    222,626
    Level
    100
    Thanks Given
    14,219
    Thanked 41,536x in 26,005 Posts
    Mentioned
    1169 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by Trish View Post
    Yes, and because it's the right thing to do.
    But why is it the right thing to do?
    Power always thinks it has a great soul, and vast views, beyond the comprehension of the weak. And that it is doing God service when it is violating all His laws.
    --John Adams

  14. #10
    Points: 222,626, Level: 100
    Level completed: 0%, Points required for next Level: 0
    Overall activity: 32.0%
    Achievements:
    Social50000 Experience PointsVeteranYour first Group
    Ethereal's Avatar Senior Member
    Karma
    468804
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Posts
    67,628
    Points
    222,626
    Level
    100
    Thanks Given
    14,219
    Thanked 41,536x in 26,005 Posts
    Mentioned
    1169 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    I would also add that even when a person does not believe in God, God is still with them whether they realize it or not.
    Power always thinks it has a great soul, and vast views, beyond the comprehension of the weak. And that it is doing God service when it is violating all His laws.
    --John Adams

+ Reply to Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts