What religon/belief......

[GateandGarden]

Originally Posted by Lux

I don't see how we could be significant.

How about on a small scale? Or does that not qualify? I'll assume it does for now. Are you not significant to any other human being. I'm certain that you are.

Originally Posted by GardenStateGirlie

So then what can be classified as wrong and what can be classified as right? I would agree but to be philosophical for a moment, if I may be, we're saying clinging to irrational faith is a sign of weakness but at the same token, we're then saying if we're incapable of any faith, it's a sign of weakness too. That's a rather large conundrum. How is any faith completely and totally 100% rational? Isn't all faith rather irrational but because we own it and hold on to it, to us, it is or does then become rational?

Just a thought.

I think this will come off shallow, but I think what's necessary is a happy medium. I think one needs to realize that we don't know any of it for certain, so to have so much faith that you can't see things any other way is foolish, just as refusing to have any faith whatsoever and therefore shutting the door is foolish as well. (IMO!)

[amber]

Originally Posted by GardenStateGirlie

So then what can be classified as wrong and what can be classified as right? I would agree but to be philosophical for a moment, if I may be, we're saying clinging to irrational faith is a sign of weakness but at the same token, we're then saying if we're incapable of any faith, it's a sign of weakness too. That's a rather large conundrum. How is any faith completely and totally 100% rational? Isn't all faith rather irrational but because we own it and hold on to it, to us, it is or does then become rational?

Just a thought.

I think that weakness is when you have all the scientific, logical, religious, statistical, first person, etc. (basically all the info in the world) available to you, and you do not take everything that is known into account to form your beliefs. Or to keep your mind open to the possibility that you could not possibly know everything. I think it is a weakness when you hold onto what you were taught growing up, without leaving room for all the other possibilities/beliefs that are out there. Basically, whenever you close your mind to possibilities, then you have a weakness. The hard part, of course, is sifting through all the information for the most logical, proven, etc., information.

[Brwn_eyes0511]

Roman Catholic!

[GateandGarden]

Originally Posted by Lux

Not particularly. What difference would it make if I weren't here?

For one, I would laugh a bit less when reading posts on this board if you weren't here. (And that's a compliment, by the way).

[dissention]

Originally Posted by Lux

Not particularly. What difference would it make if I weren't here?

Exactly the point I was trying to make in the other thread. We're all insignificant.

[amber]

Oh, I see this is one of those threads where everyone ignores my brilliant, ahead of it's time, theories.... Or maybe just doesn't understand what I'm saying? probably that last one.

[GardenStateGirlie]

Originally Posted by GateandGarden

I think this will come off shallow, but I think what's necessary is a happy medium. I think one needs to realize that we don't know any of it for certain, so to refuse to have so much faith that you can't see things any other way is foolish, just as refusing to have any faith whatsoever and therefore shutting the door is foolish as well. (IMO!)

Of course a happy medium would be excellent but much like politics, there are a lot of thinkers that don't subscribe to the theory that to see both sides is more enlightening than to see one side of the spectrum. People believe what is right and what is right are the standards and practices they've conformed to either by choice or by being born into it.

Okay, next question...do you think the refusal to have so much faith that you can't see things any other way and the refusal of faith totally is ignorance or fear? (or if you're like me and think that generally, ignorance is fear, run with that). It may not be either to some but again, something to talk about.

[amber]

Originally Posted by dissention

Exactly the point I was trying to make in the other thread. We're all insignificant.

yes, but not to other beings on this earth. In the cosmic sense, i totally agree. But we do not live in the cosmic sense, we live with other life forms.

[GateandGarden]

Originally Posted by dissention

Exactly the point I was trying to make in the other thread. We're all insignificant.

If I honestly believed that, then it's very likely that I'd kill myself. I thought about it a lot during my angst-filled teenage years and thinking that I'm insignificant would be enough for me to say that life is meaningless, perhaps.

[GardenStateGirlie]

Originally Posted by dissention

Exactly the point I was trying to make in the other thread. We're all insignificant.

In the grande scheme of things, we very well all may be. Some might find that comforting, others may not. Relativism...you sneaky little bastard, you!

[amber]

Originally Posted by Lux

Aw shucks. Still I don't think the fact that one or two people might grieve for a little bit makes me significant.

well, though, it does. You could alter our lives in many unforseeable ways. heck, the fact that I'm sitting here, instead of doing something else, could alter my life, and many others. I may have a different job, I may have different health, I may know different people, all because I am sitting here, talking to you, luxiemuffin.

[GateandGarden]

Originally Posted by GardenStateGirlie

Of course a happy medium would be excellent but much like politics, there are a lot of thinkers that don't subscribe to the theory that to see both sides is more enlightening than to see one side of the spectrum. People believe what is right and what is right are the standards and practices they've conformed to either by choice or by being born into it.

Okay, next question...do you think the refusal to have so much faith that you can't see things any other way and the refusal of faith totally is ignorance or fear? (or if you're like me and think that generally, ignorance is fear, run with that). It may not be either to some but again, something to talk about.

I agree with you in that I also think it's both ignorance and fear.

(OMG. I am SO going to have a headache before this night is through. And not just because I am drinking so much wine).

[GateandGarden]

Originally Posted by Lux

Aw shucks. Still I don't think the fact that one or two people might grieve for a little bit makes me significant.

I do.

[GateandGarden]

Originally Posted by amber

well, though, it does. You could alter our lives in many unforseeable ways. heck, the fact that I'm sitting here, instead of doing something else, could alter my life, and many others. I may have a different job, I may have different health, I may know different people, all because I am sitting here, talking to you, luxiemuffin.

Very true.

[GateandGarden]

Originally Posted by Lux

That's what I was saying earlier, that I think a need for faith and therefore reassurance in oneself and a greater plan is a sign of weakness. I accept that life is meaningless and that I'm insignificant. I don't think killing oneself is an answer to being insignificant, although it is an answer to alleviating some things that humans can't deal with, but insignificance in life is also insignificance in death.

If I thought that I didn't mean anything to anyone else other than myself, than I don't see what my life would be worth in that case.