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Apocalypse (Almost) Now

Started by Beatnik, December 03, 2004, 09:40:01 pm

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oldfolkie

If only we could convince our fellow humans to go through the world with the basic principle "do no harm"...to themselves or others, or to the world we live in.

Sure, I dream of utopia; it\'s good to dream. I try to live the dream too, although I\'m pretty far from the ideal.

There are elements of good in all religions. Wouldn\'t it be wonderful if we could save those and dump the B.S.?

As for death, yes, it\'s inevitable, and we just had one recently in the family so I\'m mourning a loved one.  But I much prefer to focus on life, in the belief that this life is all we have, or all we know we have, and we should make the most of it.

...off soapbox  :-X
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity. ~  R.A. Heinlein

gkg

sometimes people try too hard to make something out to be a larger statement than it is.  my world view is simply this:

[glb]PEACE brings prosperity of the soul; LOVE brings prosperity of the heart. There are no other riches, man, just distractions.[/glb]

i am sorry for your loss, oldfolkie; you can soapbox any time you like.  peace and love, above all.

Peace.

image = <i>"Blue Velvet"</i> (front of 2-sided piece) (c) georgia k griffin - all rights reserved

caper

im so sorry to hear of your loss oldfolkie.  death is a piercing teacher.  spencer i hope you caught my reply earlier and id sure like to hear more about what you think :)  peace out
the map is not the territory

spencer

Buddhism is definately the most rational philosophy/religion.  I\'d really like to get into that more, or unitarianism, but that\'s just kinda.... well, that\'s what probably spawned those religions based on the lead singer of AFI (forget christians for a second.  THOSE kids are just freaking stupid) :-\\

Reincarnation is kinda comforting.  especially if it works in with karma to determine what you are in the next life.  it\'s very just, and rewarding to those who deserve it.

But, then again, it could be unfair to those who were taught that nothing will happen after death; life DEFINATELY doesn\'t go on.

this is what upsets me about religion:  contradiction. There are so many contradictions to statements made in the religious community which, if there were a heaven, i wouldn\'t want to miss.

Examples:
     If buckethead wasn\'t a devout christian (which i doubt he is), he would burn in hell, however, if i was a devout christian, i would be in heaven, but without buckethead, which would almost be hell.

     Also, someone i know went to a church group and asked how dogs can get into heaven.  the lady running the group said "Well, dogs don\'t have a soul, only humans do."  Not only do i think that\'s complete condescending bullshit, but if i ever got to heaven and didn\'t meet up with my first dog (who died tragically, but was the most kind-hearted dog you could ever hope to meet), i wouldn\'t be totally happy in heaven.

It\'s that crap that makes me think.  Sometimes I wish I was raised in church and brainwashed to "know" that there is a god, a heaven, and that i\'m going there if I don\'t have sex before the government and god tell me i have a bond with a woman.

I\'m way ahead of that one though; I won\'t be able to get any action until i find a girl willing to marry me, so i can be in a state of forced abstinence.  if that makes sense  ;D

What was I talking about again?  

Oh yeah, Buddhism=good.  Christianity=kinda silly at times, but still what i consider myself.  Contradictions in theory=Bad.

End ramblin\'.

oldfolkie

Thanks for the sympathy, gkg & caper.

My mother-in-law was a really special person & we will miss her every day. And it\'s appropriate to talk about her in this thread, too, because she was a constant resistor to apocalyptic forces in her daily life. She contributed to organizations doing medical relief in South American & Caribbean countries in need, raised 7 of her own children and hosted an adopted son from India, was invariably cheerful and good-humoured (although she had high standards and could take fools down a peg when necessary), and was bright, alert, and interested in the world until the very last few days.

We need more like her! She influenced me for 28 years, and if I can only be a little like her I will be proud. I celebrate her life, and so does my husband, who was very close to her always.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity. ~  R.A. Heinlein

gkg

spencer - the only absolute is that we don\'t know.  even those who swear they do.  the best answer to your fear is to read.  learn as much as you can.  read read read - then make up your own mind.

oldfolkie - people like your mother-in-law are too rare, and we should all cherish those few we get to know.  in emulating them, we pass on their light to the next generation.  you your mother-in-law, me my father (in my own fractured way).
Peace.

image = <i>"Blue Velvet"</i> (front of 2-sided piece) (c) georgia k griffin - all rights reserved

spencer

GKG, I\'m well aware no one knows.  i meant i wish i thought i knew, cuz then, well, i think i\'d be much much more relaxed, and hell, if it all ends, not like i\'ll have anything to say about it, right?

But i think my parents raised me right.  at least one adamantly believes in an afterlife, which i like, but the other is wary, much like myself.  i debate back and forth, meditate on the subject, and then put it in the back of my mind until it comes to context.

...Meh.

caper

QuoteBuddhism is definately the most rational philosophy/religion.  I\'d really like to get into that more, or unitarianism, but that\'s just kinda.... well, that\'s what probably spawned those religions based on the lead singer of AFI (forget christians for a second.  THOSE kids are just freaking stupid) :-\\

Reincarnation is kinda comforting.  especially if it works in with karma to determine what you are in the next life.  it\'s very just, and rewarding to those who deserve it.

But, then again, it could be unfair to those who were taught that nothing will happen after death; life DEFINATELY doesn\'t go on.

this is what upsets me about religion:  contradiction. There are so many contradictions to statements made in the religious community which, if there were a heaven, i wouldn\'t want to miss.

Examples:
    If buckethead wasn\'t a devout christian (which i doubt he is), he would burn in hell, however, if i was a devout christian, i would be in heaven, but without buckethead, which would almost be hell.

    Also, someone i know went to a church group and asked how dogs can get into heaven.  the lady running the group said "Well, dogs don\'t have a soul, only humans do."  Not only do i think that\'s complete condescending bullshit, but if i ever got to heaven and didn\'t meet up with my first dog (who died tragically, but was the most kind-hearted dog you could ever hope to meet), i wouldn\'t be totally happy in heaven.

It\'s that crap that makes me think.  Sometimes I wish I was raised in church and brainwashed to "know" that there is a god, a heaven, and that i\'m going there if I don\'t have sex before the government and god tell me i have a bond with a woman.

I\'m way ahead of that one though; I won\'t be able to get any action until i find a girl willing to marry me, so i can be in a state of forced abstinence.  if that makes sense  ;D

What was I talking about again?  

Oh yeah, Buddhism=good.  Christianity=kinda silly at times, but still what i consider myself.  Contradictions in theory=Bad.

End ramblin\'.

thanks for ramblin!  your words make me think spencer.  i know what you mean about heaven and buckethead and your dog friend.  that makes no sense.  it doesnt feel right either.  so i dont know.  religion has a lot of authority.  it is hard to question authority.  but sometimes you just have to.  i remember jesus did.
the map is not the territory

gkg

faith is just that - faith.  it\'s something that we humans use to give is a sense of peace - and it has that element of blind trust that is so hard for many of us to embrace.

i think what you\'re dealing with is a personal quest for what will give YOU inner peace and balance.  read and learn and in the end i think you will come to a place where you feel comforted.

peace, little brother.
Peace.

image = <i>"Blue Velvet"</i> (front of 2-sided piece) (c) georgia k griffin - all rights reserved

spencer

My sentiments on that subject can be best expressed  by a quote from simon birch:

"I have faith... I just need proof too."

 :-/
Hopefully someday I\'ll find peace in being, and that\'ll be a good day.