Hi Mark. Hi John, > Interesting that you would use a theistic concept to dismiss theism. > If atheist is the belief that there is no deity, it cannot exist > without theism, thus approving of it. It is maybe like two sides > of the same coin. What about the coin itself? >
Good point Mark. I first was put wise this "coin" concept in the dichotomy between hedonism and puritanism - both relying upon the coin of sensual pleasure to derive the goal of existence, the hedonist in affirmation, the puritan in abjuring. Each in his own way affirming the ultimate value of the "coin." So I get where you're coming from. To get where I'm coming from, please keep in mind that I've been a theist most of my life, and thus to test the waters, I have to jump into the other pool - intellectually at least - and see if I can still swim. So its in that vein that I'm testing the pool of atheism. > > Perhaps being a deist is a better explanation for your beliefs > than atheist. That is if you believe in Quality. How would you > describe yourself (in a nutshell). I know what you are against, > what are you for in terms of belief? > Ultimately I hold out for true experience and intellectual honesty. I feel that with those two understandings fundamentally under my belt, I should be able to either derive or understand anything else I need. Thus it would be best in a pursuit of truth, not to assume deism or atheism but to keep an open mind and find the patterns that work best. Something I "feel" or comprehend from your communications that you are searching for as well. That even though you've been raised atheistically, you would like to open yourself to all the possibilities of of potential intellectual patterns without prejudice or preconception and it is this attitude that I concur and heartily recommend. Searching for what pragmatically works, that is, promotes and foster a good life. If there is more than this, I don't want to know or care about. And in this search for patterns of quality, we are helped by others in their searches, their investigation, their discovery. The comparison and interpretation of experience leads to a realization of, if not the "good" life, the best life possible. Hoping you formulate yours and are helped by my formulations as well, John Moq_Discuss mailing list Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org Archives: http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ http://moq.org.uk/pipermail/moq_discuss_archive/
