We'd be better off if we were. They understand the value of cooperation over competition when their numbers get large.<<<Pat
Really? http://www.myrmecos.net/antfight.html http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VN6w1rIt1wk I guess that in order to ingest your excerpt one would naturally have to accept your theistic premise. I do remember eons ago, your intent to meld science into the fabric of religion. It's still a stretch of the imagination unless there is the acceptance of your foundation. The thread so far is mostly engaging responders who share your religious beliefs, so when you insert biblical reference it is already understood as being a plausible platform on which to view the whole of it. A problem might be that a reference to Jesus confines scope, establishes exclusivity in belief as pertaining to the presentation. In other words, how would your exegesis stand with a Hasidic Judaic council. Are concepts of unity with God consistent with Kabbalah and other metaphysical theologies. Is acceptance into a Divine realm through individual righteousness, maxims of moral conduct not valid precepts. Do we follow through with the ideas of a Christ, a Savior, Redemption, Resurrection, Second Coming, and other rapturous references? I still find it unnecessary for a God who is omniscient, a creator of heaven and earth, the universe the galaxy to resort to humanity, a fairly ignorant one at the time, to express thoughts and issue commandments and to incarnate, be tortured and murdered for the sake of "paying" for humanity's sins. Considering that the beneficiary of all this is humanity, that much of the result of all of it is guilt by reason of someone paying your way, that a process has been formed where each makes monetary restitution via tithing it doesn't seem to transcend humanity at all. However, aside from all of that, I am aware that I am, I do see the sun and moon, the earth turns and the stars shine etc, unfortunately there is no apparent existence of any Deity in any religion that exists beyond the human imagination. Note this is not an AvC post but more so a illuminating view of the thread from my perspective. Black holes, space time continuum, quantum physics and such all remain, aside from enigmatic, fodder for research, development and the continuing controversies within the scientific communities. On Aug 27, 8:23 am, Pat <[email protected]> wrote: > On 27 Aug, 13:44, Ian Pollard <[email protected]> wrote: > > > I suspect that some of the subtleties are lost on me after a single read, > > but you've left me feeling that vanity is the highest and most noble human > > virtue of all. By your reckoning, thinking "I" is a defining act of the > > individual and is antithetical to your notion of "oneness". You didn't > > explain how this is anything other than a good thing. > > > On another note: Denial of the self, the "I", to me, seems like no realistic > > basis for the furtherance of human morality. It might be easy to describe a > > mode of morality where the individual's desires and foibles are glossed > > over, but it's unworkable... and thank goodness for that! We're not ants, > > Pat. > > > Ian > > We'd be better off if we were. They understand the value of > cooperation over competition when their numbers get large. As I said, > I wouldn't expect everyone to agree with me. Far from it. And, to be > fair, a reasonable insight would tell me that it's a very good thing > to have opposing views, even if they are incorrect, as they give us > things to weigh. It is a workable system, but we (every "I") have to > work at it. Denial of the self, too, is different than denial of the > Self. As you deny the Self, I would expect you to feel that way, > given your paradigm, it only makes sense. It would have been good for > you to read the section on damnation. Don't worry...according to my > system, YOU have nothing to fear; unless you entertain doubts. ;-) --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups ""Minds Eye"" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/minds-eye?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
