Search for reality .

[MikeyDB]

TomG

You are of course entirely free to recant what you like, and I feel it prudent to have invested less energy in meeting someones grandiose expectations of who I should be and what I should say and what I should believe....

For the record, I'm not a shaman or a priest, I don't pretend for a moment to commune with god or Allah or the toothfairy. I've never suggested that my interpretation of "divine intent" or "god inmbued morality" should be embraced by anyone. That my studied indoctrinated and sculpted perceptions and understanding of "god" ought to be substituted for anyone elses beliefs perceptions and understanding. I've never enslaved or killed another human being in the name of "god" and I've never molested a child or anyone else because I enjoyed the freedom of insulation provided by my "church". I've never accompanied conquistadors to loot civilizations and sanctioned slaughtering millions and raping millions while I destroyed cultures and pillaged. I've never enticed millions to send me their money so I could afford air-conditioned dog houses or buy prostitutes and drugs between my stints on podiums before cameras that broadcast my piety to millions. I've never luxuriated in wealth among priceless tapestries with golden artifacts surrounding me while millions hungered and died and watched as their children died from hunger while I flew around the world preaching kindness and forgiveness to throngs of people whom I told to go forth an multiply without regard for their own ability to feed and educate. I've never rallied millions to kill anyone who didn't subscribe to my vision of life and the afterlife and the attendant mythology of that afterlife. I've never punished those who've been raped for their being raped and I've never suggested to anyone that killing the non-believer was assurance of entry into "heaven".

You recant till you're blue in the face TomG, it's just too bad that your a fly caught in the amber of your own ignorance.

 

[TomG]

What occurred earlier above is equivalent to a street swarming, and done through the anonymity of Internet. Nobody ever deserves such behavior. I mentioned two posters particularly because I had held them in some esteem, but all who piled on participated. It seems an extension of the smug clubby environment that developed here since the retirement of number one. All gang behavior is smug and clubby.

You must apply your own labels, but I call it cowardice, I do tolerate such behavior in myself or anything that I associate with.

 

[Pangloss]

China: I live exactly as far away from you as you do me. . .and I also work very long days (yesterday: 0800 until today at 0100 - a seventeen hour span).

However, when I start a thread, I pay attention and out of politeness, I try to respond. As, I'm sure, do you.

But hey, don't do anything because I or anybody else says so. . .

Pangloss

 

[jimshort19]

TomG, "There is an expression in China that goes something like ‘A person who has finished building their house dies.’

This is a constructive saying. I read nothing constructive in China's original post. How do you come up with this?

China never resorts to the possibility of God or any other foundation or value, meaning, purpose, motive or objective upon which to justify action, and building is action. China suggests that the truth is unknowable, therefore give up.

And what is central to a proposition that we and our efforts are a vanity, and can only be a vanity? Who wants to adopt such a view? Who cares if it's as true as the next view when the next view is prettier? Must we denigrate beauty as well? What is left of value?

I wouldn't pass on this pointlessness to anyone. I see no value in it. It comes to nothing better than idleness and depression. This could only appeal to a superloser.

 

[karrie]

What occurred earlier above is equivalent to a street swarming, and done through the anonymity of Internet. Nobody ever deserves such behavior. I mentioned two posters particularly because I had held them in some esteem, but all who piled on participated. It seems an extension of the smug clubby environment that developed here since the retirement of number one. All gang behavior is smug and clubby.

You must apply your own labels, but I call it cowardice, I do tolerate such behavior in myself or anything that I associate with.

It happens often Tom. And it is always saddening to see that one or two simple comments are what start it. A couple honest criticisms can launch a flood of ignorance. It leaves the author of such comments hanging their head in shame at what was to follow (and yes, you will see my criticisms at the beginning of this thread).

It always saddens me to see a forum pile up against one member, unless of course it is to drive a clear and obvious troll from their midst. And that china is not.

I apologize for what I have added to this china.

 

[Pangloss]

Karrie and Tom:

I must respectfully disagree with you. This thread is in the "Philosophy" forum, and in this arena, the strongest argument wins.

If China had placed this in the "religious" threads, the context of discussion would have required a different response. The culture of that section gives some credence to a supernatural world view (and some wooly-headed thinking) - philosophy doesn't have to.

From my experience (BA Phil - UBC - Jurassic era) in philosophy, if an argument is vulnerable to evisceration, it is eviscerated. The loyalty is to truth and elegance, not the writer/speaker. We address the subject, not the author.

I am pleased when my arguments are proven to be wrong - this means I get to toss out inaccurate hypotheses for ones that are less inaccurate. The measure of truth in my world view has just been increased.

If you cannot stand back and dispassionately assess your critics evaluations of your position, stay out of philosophy.

This is not to be hostile, but to point out the protocol and culture of philosophy and philosophical examination.

Pangloss

 

[darkbeaver]

The sober,humourless puritins, is there anything more tedious? Mickey lied to me about the tooth fairy. click:lol:

 

[china]

Gonzo
Does that mean you have to be dead ?

Yes Gonzo .

 

[Constantine]

what are we seeking for?

what are you seeking for ? for God? or the Truth? Seek Him first and then Truth of every aspect of your life will come out. Everything in life has a purpose..if we keep on searching for truth then nothing will happen....

 

[Pangloss]

Constantine:

One, you're wrong.

Two, what has this to do with China's original post?

Just so I don't threadjack here, perhaps you could start a new thread outlining your argument on how everything in life has a purpose.

And another on how "if we keep on searching for truth then nothing will happen." I'm not even sure what that quote of yours means.

Pangloss

 

[jimshort19]

Pangloss, "Two, what has this to do with China's original post?"

What has anything got to do with China's original post?

But while in a bad mood, there's nothing I'd like better than to pummel Constantine with blows to the spirit.

What useless thread-jacking jerk would ask a dumb-assed question like that? In the event that it was not a question, what kind of stupid thread-jacking jerk would not ask a dumb-assed question like that?

 

[china]

China never resorts to the possibility of God or any other foundation or value, meaning, purpose, motive or objective upon which to justify action, and building is action. China suggests that the truth is unknowable, therefore give up.
__________________________________________________________________________

How childishly incorrect.

 

[Pangloss]

jimshort19:

How about a strongly presented argument, bulletproof reasoning, and flawless logic instead of these schoolyard tactics of the Internet Tough Guy?

Why would you want to pummel Constantine, anyway? Hardly seems fair sport.

And if you're in a bad mood, perhaps you should stay away until you are in a good one - it appears to make you write really cranky posts.

Pangloss

 

[china]

Constantine

what are you seeking for ? for God? or the Truth?

First , what is God /Truth ?
So far these words have something in common ...they are words .
Can your mentality (no insult meant) allow you to go beyond words.

 

[china]

talloola

I don't believe 'to seek the truth is to deny it', I think we should seek truth all through
our lives, and that just means be open to the truth , and you will recognize it, have an
open mind.

The Truth is what is ,now , in the present ,ever changing from moment to moment .Searching "for truth " means to avoid facing it or denying it .

 

[talloola]

talloola

The Truth is what is ,now , in the present ,ever changing .Searching "for truth " means to avoid facing it or denying it .

You missed my meaning of 'seek' the truth, BE OPEN TO THE TRUTH, and you will find it.
I'm happy with that, and I believe that.

 

[Pangloss]

China: so you do have time to engage in sophistry, but not enough to answer those of us who took you seriously enough to address your original post with substantial answers?

Of course.

Pangloss

 

[china]

talloola ,

BE OPEN TO THE TRUTH, and you will find it.

Thanks for the post talloola. My point is that there is nothing to find ,truth is now what is ,in the present ,from moment to moment, the present is the only "moment" that you can "live" the truth, be part of the living truth .
got to ho

 

[talloola]

talloola ,

Thanks for the post talloola. My point is that there is nothing to find ,truth is now what is ,in the present ,from moment to moment, the present is the only "moment" that you can "live" the truth, be part of the living truth .
got to ho

OK, then I will reword, 'Be open to the truth and you will see it all around you'.

 

[china]

China: so you do have time to engage in sophistry, but not enough to answer those of us who took you seriously enough to address your original post with substantial answers?
Of course.
Pangloss

I will have the time to answer your post(s) ,now I have to be out of the hotel in 10 min.