The future will always bare some resemblance to the past because the past was the seed from which the future springs.
Suck on that Budda. :D On Wed, Apr 13, 2011 at 3:53 PM, the taoist shaman <[email protected]>wrote: > lee thats a good thought , the future doesnt have to be like the > past , > > [email protected] wrote: > > Heh I disagree. Ohh not with all of it but this bit in particular. > > > > 'I'm just not capable of viewing the universe any other way.' > > > > So this is your belife that you are not now and never will be capable > > of changeing your mind? > > > > Naaa I simply do not belive that. Based on what evidance? Have you > > the abilty to look into your own future? > > > > Based on the evidance of life, and please feel free to contemplate the > > same things for yourself, I have seen my father change his mind and > > indeed some of his ways as he ages. I am not the same man now that I > > was even three years ago and have no reason not to suspect further > > change as I both get older and read more and learn more. > > > > I'm willing to be you some serious money that you yourself have > > changed since your teenage years(assuiming you are at least in you > > late 20s by now?) > > > > > > Of course you are capable of viewing the universe in other ways, man > > why would you choose to restirct your future self in that way? > > > > On Apr 10, 1:41 am, Chuck Bowling <[email protected]> > > wrote: > > > On Sat, Apr 9, 2011 at 2:38 PM, malcymo <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > Yes the atheist has made the same leap of faith that the theist has > > > > made and only the agnostic is protecting his views with rational > > > > argument. > > > > > > > I suppose that the choice between theism and atheism will always be a > > > > leap of faith. For me it is just a matter of what seems most credible > > > > but could change. > > > > > > > The important question, I suppose, is whether or not, theism is, on > > > > balance good for nature or not. > > > > > > I would say that nature probably doesn't care. The real impact is on > society > > > and the individual. > > > > > > With individuals I think it depends on the person. Some people just > need to > > > feel like their belief systems are on a solid foundation irregardless > of the > > > fact that there is rot in the core - namely a flawed rationale. > > > > > > Some just can't accept that life is exactly what it appears to be and > so > > > ignore the shaky underpinnings of their beliefs in the hope that if > they > > > keep their eyes closed it makes the end of their existence unreal. > Others > > > reject the possibility of continued existence after death for fear of > > > retribution by a vengeful god. The reasons for theism and atheism are > many > > > and varied. > > > > > > My point is that to consider the good and bad of theism and atheism you > have > > > to consider their reasons and the impact that they have on the > individual > > > and society in general. > > > > > > I would say that for some individuals a belief system that supports > their > > > needs is a good thing regardless of the rationale that it is built on. > It > > > gives meaning to their lives and provides a crutch for them to lean on. > > > > > > Often I wish I could lean on beliefs like that. I personally struggle > > > through life trying to find purpose were there is none. For me there is > no > > > purpose in life other than the urge to spawn. That's a pretty > depressing > > > thought but unfortunately, I'm just not capable of viewing the universe > any > > > other way. >
