2012-06-19, 08:55 | Link #3281 | |
NYAAAAHAAANNNNN~
Join Date: Nov 2007
Age: 35
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Hence the reason why many catgirls are flat-chested or lolis. Spoiler for Quote of the day:
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2012-06-19, 15:25 | Link #3282 | |
Moving in circles
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Singapore
Age: 49
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The quest for certainty is expressed through our innate need for something to believe in. We all share this. It's part of the human condition. A need for meaning, a desire for life to have value. To be human is to be aware of the concept of value. To be bereft of this awareness is to be something inhuman. I said nothing about the importance of this awareness. I merely stated that it's there and that it's folly to deny that it exists within each and every one of us. I believe that, for many of us, the denial or ignorance is so strong that it would take a lot of living just to overcome the mental block, to recognise that the awareness exists. To be happy; to laugh; to whoop with joy — to do any of these is to accept that you've achieved or experienced something you value, something you believe in. You may not have articulated that belief in so many words, but it's there. For some, such belief leads ultimately to God, or some other form of enlightenment. For others, it leads to other, more secular but no less spiritual, state of mind. I make no judgment on these sets of values. I merely acknowledge that they exist, and point out the foolishness of those who would preach that only religion will lead to ignorance. As it turns out, religion can claim no monopoly over that distinction — humans are pretty capable of deluding themselves without the help of God. The great joke is that all values are mental constructs. They aren't physical objects that exist independently from the minds of human beings. Without us to observe the beauty of a vase, that object would just be a vase or, rather, a lump of clay. Yet we continue to seek such values, whether consciously or unconsciously. Yin and yang. There will always be that little bit of messiness in the order we seek to impose. It takes faith to accept that what order we find, whatever comforting certainty we can grasp, is worth the messiness — and uneasy doubt — that it inevitably brings along. Men of faith learn to laugh, in good humour, at the necessary futility of their task. Men without faith merely succumb to debilitating despair. 42. Spoiler for extract from Mardock Scramble: The Second Combustion:
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2012-06-20, 18:17 | Link #3284 | |||
I disagree with you all.
Join Date: Dec 2005
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2012-06-20, 20:07 | Link #3285 | |
廉頗
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Massachusetts
Age: 34
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I'm an agnostic, and I believe the conclusion I have faith in, that neither you nor I are even remotely capable of truly imagining how/why (if there is a why) the universe came about. As a result, human religion, often inherently human in nature with anthropomorphized beings and concepts that make sense to our minds, seems to me a dismally improbable occurrence. Admitting my lack of expertise in the finer workings of reality itself , I do not exclude them from possibility outright, but my faith leads me to more or less throw them out as active considerations. Putting aside my above commentary on faith, don't you think it's possible to completely discount spirituality, and look at reality from a purely scientific point of view, and still be in awe and ecstasy of the world we live in? I am not spiritual at all, but every day driving through my hometown I feel pure and complete wonder at the universe, the Earth, the life on this planet. The sheer magnitude, the diversity, and the incomprehensible nature of the universe is enough for me. I am, by no means, a 'man of faith' from a religious point of view (as I'm sure you intended the phrase to be used), but I can certainly laugh at the futility of grasping reality, and my utter inability to ever truly understand. In fact, this insurmountable, indescribable bounty of concepts we've yet to understand, and mysteries, makes the secular universe, to me, all the more 'divine'. |
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2012-06-20, 21:17 | Link #3286 |
Juanita/Kiteless
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: New England
Age: 40
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It has had some turmoil in it in the past. If I recall correctly, I've seen this thread temporarily locked once, maybe twice, to create a cool down period since some members became too involved in heated debates.
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2012-06-20, 21:46 | Link #3288 | |
Juanita/Kiteless
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: New England
Age: 40
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I think the major religions of the world would be Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. I think they have the most followers. Not so much with Judaism, but it factors into Christianity a lot, and it factors into Islam to a lesser extent, and things from Judaism have been heavily integrated into western civilization. I think those five religions offer good things, and I'd advocate them to others. I also think Taoism and Confucianism offer much good. For westerners, I would advocate Taoism (and a lot of westerners benefit from and draw inspiration from what is known as 'philosophical Taoism') and I'd advocate people to read up on Confucianism and learn from its founder (I'm not sure if anyone outside of China/people who used to live in China really follow the religion in its pure form, with rituals and dogma and such). There are other religions I like or am okay with, too. I'm pretty open minded. It is great to be open minded. Open minded people accept many people for who they are. There is a quote: "Your mind is like an umbrella, it is best if it is open". Being open minded is usually very good. There is another quote I came across once: "Don't let your mind be so open that your brains spill out". I'm accepting or tolerant of many religions, but not all of them. Also, I don't like atheism (I just don't agree with it at all), but I'm just fine with atheists. In fact, I've had a few atheist friends over the years (and I never pushed my beliefs on them), and then I have one good friend who is an atheist, and I just don't care that he is one. He's a good guy, I like him for who he is, and I'm glad he is the person he is. I'm a very spiritual person, so I used to have a prejudice against atheists in the past. Then a some point I realized that was no good and over time I've become much better with that. I overcame it, I just don't like atheists who are prejudiced against spiritual people and religious people and have a habit of challenging the beliefs and faith of believers, with no other intent other then to try and make their faith unstable or to make them lose faith.
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Last edited by Urzu 7; 2012-06-20 at 22:03. |
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2012-06-21, 03:51 | Link #3289 | |
This is my title.
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Philippines
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I used to be closed-minded especially about atheists when I was in high school. Until I entered college and made friends who were atheists. It changed my view on on things, and we both respected each others' beliefs/nonbeliefs. Thing is whether you're a believer or not, there're bound to be closed-minded jerks in your sect. I have seen jerks in both the same religion I'm in and in atheism.
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2012-06-21, 06:51 | Link #3290 | ||
18782+18782=37564
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: InterWebs
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Humanity is engineered to believe in something. Doesn't necessarily have to be God Almighty or Zeus. It can be your parents, friends, your wealth, your job, your pride, anything. It really is innate, as much as our need to breathe or feed. Quote:
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2012-06-21, 09:12 | Link #3291 | |
Romanticist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Age: 33
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One thing that some atheists need to understand is that, in my opinion, some beliefs should just be left alone. As some posts above have stated, people seek certainty in their lives, whether it be from sensory input, cold hard logic, or religious faith. Imposing your own belief on someone else is the worst thing you can do since beliefs are a manifestation of one's own subjective experiences.
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2012-06-22, 03:35 | Link #3292 | |
ゴリゴリ!
Graphic Designer
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Age: 32
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Bashing religious beliefs is just like bashing personal interests; we are all of free will and thought, and what if you don't believe what I believe? Then you have your own belief, and nobody should ever touch that. I definitely do encourage the learning of other religions though, just to take the good from them and better ourselves as people.
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2012-06-22, 05:01 | Link #3293 | |
is this so?
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Gradius Home World
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There was actually only one time the past 2 years that I got into a semi-serious religious argument. Believe it or not, in a massage parlor. Halfway during the session, the masseuse asked if I had religion - to which I casually answered none (in the casual tone that I use at work). Suddenly her manner of speaking changed and I sense the atmosphere become heavy. Considered leaving but the massage fee would be wasted, so I stayed and finished it. It was one of the most awkward massage sessions I ever experienced, and I haven't gone back to that place ever since.
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2012-06-22, 05:04 | Link #3294 | |
ゴリゴリ!
Graphic Designer
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Age: 32
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P.S. I find it really interesting that one of the tags for this thread is "Not a Debate".
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2012-06-22, 05:43 | Link #3295 | |
is this so?
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Gradius Home World
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@papermario13689
I come from a really catholic country where a lot of people struggle everyday just to make ends meet. Probably for some, faith is one thing that keeps them going, and that should be respected. I just happened to come across a zealot working in that massage place. In that situation, avoiding further tension is the best choice, so I simply chose not to go back to the place. Quote:
Anyway, as I've said in a previous post. I've changed my ways, as much as possible avoid conflicts. It's better to try and get along with religious people than get into debates with them, both in internet and real life.
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2012-06-22, 07:41 | Link #3296 |
Level 5 Pyrokineticist
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Australia
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I'm an Atheist, and while I would much prefer to have a civil debate with anyone in regards to religion, by my own nature I won't suffer Stupidity, so as most would be able to figure out, debating Religion on the internet can be difficult.
I do stand by the live and let live position, but if any religious person wanted to confront me about being an Atheist, then I will gladly give them a belting. |
2012-06-22, 12:58 | Link #3297 | |
廉頗
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Massachusetts
Age: 34
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Reminds me a bit of the anthropic principle. Theists and atheists both try to use it to support their opinion. Ultimately, I throw it out because there are too many unknown variables, most important of which is the question: could reality be any different? |
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2012-06-22, 21:01 | Link #3298 | |
Juanita/Kiteless
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: New England
Age: 40
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I remember this math professor talking about how he solved a math equation that he was working on for a long time. I think it was well over a year. When he finally figured it out and realized how everything in the equation fell into place in his mind, he said it was so beautiful, and when he said that, he said it fondly and with a big smile on his face as he recalled that moment. That is an example of what I'm talking about. That was a beautiful moment for him. I'd say it was a spiritual moment for a man working on mathematics. I think Carl Sagan had a love for life and science, and I think for him, learning about the universe and pondering the wonders of the universe were like spiritual things for him - just that, he didn't label it as such or think of it that way. But it was probably all aligned with feelings and experiences that spiritual people would have from spiritual experiences.
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2012-06-22, 21:59 | Link #3300 | |
Obey the Darkly Cute ...
Author
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 66
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You can certainly retain spirituality no matter how science-oriented, agnostic, atheistic, or whatever you are. You just have to be willing to discard doctrine crapola your "faith of upbringing" is carting along with it.
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not a debate, philosophy, religion |
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