Glad to see you back and kicking, my friend!
Science IS fluid. Only the method is fixed; we agree to use observation,
deduction, and repeatable results to gain greater understanding, but the quest
for knowledge never ceases. As a human, we have many choices for systems of
belief; rationalism is one that is less likely to lead to self deception than
others, as it is based on axiomatic principles which our physical universe
operates on. It does leave one wanting in the realm of spirituality...but
that's only if one is wanting something from the realm of spirituality.
I've had people tell me they felt sorry for me as an atheist, that I must be
missing out on spiritual joy...and yet, I came to this place after a life
filled with spirituality. I don't feel in any way bound or held in stasis by my
world view. There are no trophies on the mantel...just a sense of understanding
of the mechanics of things, and new wonders everyday as new research is
published.
I'm amazed sometimes at how some people struggle with concepts they consider
ethereal, which science has fully explained to be physical. We do understand
much of the workings of the brain, how thought works, how dreams occur, the
mechanics of insanity, the neurochemistry of love, and hate. None of this does
away with the need for philosophy, however, because none of it answers the age
old question, the one that every toddler seems to know...
Why?
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I purely dislike the term evil. It connotes superstition and images
of eternal damnation which cloud our minds with satanic thought.
Religion is but a disguise for fear which teaches and allows us to
conjure demons and devils to blame for our own behavior or lack
thereof. Consider; we are the only species we know which dedicates
such a vast majority of our energies toward overcoming evil and
worsohipping religion as a panacea. The United States may be the most
religious (i.e., fearful) of all developed nations but humans are the
most religious of all species. In fact, as far as we know we are the
only species to develop religion. All species show fear but humans
are the only ones who turned it into a religion.
Notwithstanding congenital and physiological dysfunctions, most of
what we call evil is in reality irrational human reaction to fear.
Fear is what needs to be dealt with since it is the ultimate source of
almost all human ills.
Calling harmful and offensive behavior evil is to hide it away from
rational perception and thought and gives it a psychic power over us,
which is merely a perceived power given gravitas through belief.
The most powerful force we bring to bear upon ourselves is fear, most
of which we create within our own consciousness and apply heavy-
handedly across a broad spectrum of our thought and behavior.
If I had had a father who dispensed sage wisdom and advice, I could
imagine him telling me that the only people in the world I need be
afraid of are those who are afraid of me. This is a lesson I learned
the hard way. However, there is a familial model I relied on rather
young -- I was four or five the first time I heard it -- and although
it was quite dramatized by the circumstances of the time, the only
thing we have to fear is fear itself sums it up nicely and has served
me well over the years.
Slip, do you think learning not to fear will be that simple? Just a
realization! That would be exquisite but somehow I've a feeling it
will be learned hard and slow. Actually my preference for moral
judgments is good and bad. These are actually quantifiable terms that
can be applied rather accurately if we can leave religion out of the
mix.
Molly your perceptions are still accurate as always. Good and bad are
but judgments of our own consciousness and evil energy is merely the
superstitious label we put on what we don't like. Energy exists but
it is benign notwithstanding the uses creatures put it to. It is
human consciousness that characterizes the whole universe.
A non-human history, Archy? An interesting idea implying an alien
archaeological dig into an extinct species. However, I believe --
purely on the basis of the spontaneous irony that appears to exist in
nature -- that we are ultimately the culture we seek in the stars.
We're the top of the food chain everywhere. This more intelligent
alien species we want so hard to believe exists is us.
Pat, I like your idea that our judgmental perceptions are based on our
limited understanding of the entire chain of events, thus making our
judgments at best ill informed and quite possibly dangerous and never-
ending.
Chris, any fixed perspective has no alternative but to ultimately
fail. Our sciences and meditations have clearly shown time and again
the natural state of all things is fluidity. The more we try to fix
things the more we will fail. I think we have to flow with it rather
than taking it and making it a statue or trophy on the mantel.
/e
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