I think the question of God's influence is over-rated as our behavior/ choices depend primarily on our society- starting with the family we are born into and expanding into the greater society- and the norms they have decided to impose. The primary motivator of both units is self-interest and if the Golden Rule pays off, so be it, or if thundering herds of conquering armies pays off, so be it. The justification and rationalization come later, if necessary, when there are stable forms of political and social control in place and operating. Also, we have a layered Will- i.e. we choose according to various circumstances- and most acts do not require the examination of whether or not they are Good or Evil for the majority of humans but pertain mostly to those who wield power over others and operate within an established system. To question this established practice may rise from a true sense of love and justice or envy/jealousy.
On Jun 1, 7:30 am, RP Singh <[email protected]> wrote: > We have one will , if we choose to follow the path of evil it is our > will and if we follow the path of virtue and humanity it is God's > Will. God is not going to come down and tell you His Will. > > On Wed, Jun 1, 2011 at 5:34 PM, [email protected] > > > > <[email protected]> wrote: > > Ahh Gabs this is where Pat and RP are likely to disagree with me. > > > God would not force Gods will upon us but asks that we choose instead > > to abandon our will in favour of Gods will. This is the will of God. > > > There can be no greater prayer than 'Not my will O lord, but yours'. > > > On Jun 1, 12:41 pm, gabbydott <[email protected]> wrote: > >> The con-science (this one is for you, Molly :)) that you introduce is not > >> merely a biological by-product of human evolution as can be seen in many > >> maturity processes, is it? If it is bound to the "I" factor, the way you > >> postulate you thesis, there must have been an active control setting > >> involved. Is this what you call the Will of God? Where does this leave the > >> early moral educators then? Where is their long term benefit? > > >> On Wed, Jun 1, 2011 at 4:54 AM, RP Singh <[email protected]> wrote: > >> > Man has such a thing as conscience which develops from early childhood > >> > , a man must do what is good according to his conscience whether it is > >> > an impulse or a matter of reasoning; most of the time bad impulses > >> > give only short time gains , if you sacrifice your instincts you gain > >> > long term benefits. > > >> > On Wed, Jun 1, 2011 at 2:25 AM, rigsy03 <[email protected]> wrote: > >> > > We need our impulses as much as we need our reasoning abilities. There > >> > > are good and bad impulses. There is good and bad reasoning. > > >> > > Who determines what is longterm or short term? History and lives are > >> > > replete with unintended consequences. > > >> > > We are not the only concern of God, you know! That would be hubris. I > >> > > read the other day that intuition is the remnant of animal instinct > >> > > since we have so dulled our natural senses. I also noted a stroll by a > >> > > mallard and his mate for a couple of evenings along my driveway that > >> > > was so sweet- as sweet as any human couple. He was very polite > >> > > waddling a few paces behind while she nibbled the seed casings fallen > >> > > from boulevard trees. They retired to the creek. > > >> > > On May 31, 12:31 pm, RP Singh <[email protected]> wrote: > >> > >> The Will of God is not visible and one's nature is not a single > >> > >> entity--good or bad , rather one's nature contains both good and bad , > >> > >> the super-ego and the id. It is in one's hand to follow the good > >> > >> prompting of his nature or the evil in him. It is your choice , do > >> > >> good in the interest of longterm benefit or the bad for short-term > >> > >> gains.As to the Will of God , He has made you a partner in His Will , > >> > >> you have to choose, act with reason or follow your impulses like a > >> > >> madman. > > >> > >> On Tue, May 31, 2011 at 10:00 PM, Pat <[email protected]> > >> > wrote: > > >> > >> > On May 31, 5:24 pm, RP Singh <[email protected]> wrote: > >> > >> >> Whatever a man does he is bound to do as the Will of God is > >> > >> >> supreme, > >> > >> >> but a person is not a robot. The " I " is an active agent and it is > >> > >> >> the individual who taking control over his nature does good in this > >> > >> >> world and on letting himself go does the bad. Strength of resolve > >> > >> >> is > >> > >> >> inherent in every person , some use it a lot, others let their > >> > >> >> impulses rule most of the time. It is in man's hand to keep his > >> > nature > >> > >> >> under control , and again in his hand to let it run amok. > > >> > >> > I agree with one exception. Actually, it's more of an inclusion. > >> > >> > An > >> > >> > individual must discover their nature before taking control of it. > >> > >> > Then the rest follows...good or bad. For example, I fully believe > >> > >> > that Charles Manson DID discover his true nature and STILL inflicted > >> > >> > great injuries against humanity. The same for Hitler. Sometimes, > >> > >> > knowing one's nature does not prevent one from doing evil but leads > >> > >> > them to do it. In other words, if it is God's will that X be done > >> > >> > and > >> > >> > X is perceived by most people to be evil, X will still be done, as > >> > >> > it > >> > >> > is the will of God.- Hide quoted text - > > >> > >> - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text - > > >> - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text -
