I'm not a zealous Catholic myself, but I personally think agnosticism is the better approach. Who says there isn't anything beyond what we can see? Who says there is? No one will ever know for sure. But as my mother, who *is* a devout catholic, would say...who or what was the source of the big bang then? It must've all come from somewhere. I personally think that's not too bad a point.
No disrespect darlin' to you or your mother, but in my view nature and physics and biology regulate themselves. There's no purpose, no guiding hand, just a series of reactions.
The argument about the big bang and its causes is interesting, but I could never believe in the concept of a higher being making sentient decisions. It's a difficult one because we all like the idea of beginnings and endings in life, and infinity isn't easy to grasp.
I'm an atheist and an anti-theist, in that everything I've read and experienced about the premises of religious faith leads me to the conclusion that God is a human construct, inches away philosophically from myth, and fuelled by the same basic desire that humans have to make sense of their existence.
Life is to an extent an accident. There is no plan.
Live well, be kind to others, accept your mammalian ancestry. If I needed a credo, that would be it.
Series of reactions, yes, but how did they come about? I sometimes have trouble believing myself that they just appeared out of thin air. Like I said, I'm not a devout catholic, but mostly, I reckon, because I don't care enough to be one. Like you say, how you treat others must come from yourself and not be regulated by a higher being. That's what we should aspire to and at this point in my life, I honestly don't give a toss if God exists or not. I've other things to worry about. But that doesn't mean that it *can't* be true. I just leave my options open.
I always saw something in deism as well, though. God who created the universe and then took a step back to watch us make our own mess? Voltaire et al might have had a point.
changing the subject againcuissesdeferJanuary 10 2006, 07:34:43 UTC
Btw, I recently read BBM again and got a way better grasp of the dynamic there. You can even see it in your icon where Ennis seems fifty times more apprehensive than ol' Jacky-boy, who seems to want it fairly badly. I mean, damn, Jake, if that's not enough to make me want to explode in a shower of confetti, what the damn hell will?
Re: changing the subject againwe_love_smudgerJanuary 10 2006, 21:46:38 UTC
Aw no! Come back!
Darling firstly and for speed, I do hope your rear is soon returned to fitness, as it appears you have barbecued it. If that's how it's spelt. Northern hemisphere y'see? Not really my metier.
And yes. You have it exactly. Jack's gagging for it in the sweetest way imaginable. Ennis is all "what the fuck" and "oh the shame."
Until of course.....well, I won't spoil the suprise, but it does involve straddling, and we all know the power of straddling, don't we. *g*
Which does over-simplify things, so apologies. When you have seen the film, let me know pronto, si? We will have MUCH to discuss....
Re: changing the subject againcuissesdeferJanuary 11 2006, 03:02:06 UTC
Yes, you have spelled barbecue correctly and that is indeed what I have done to me poor old tuccus.
It makes me want to shake Ennis terribly, but then I suppose if they were both without angst it would be both unrealistic and lacking it's charming and harrowing wibbleness.
Straddling? STRADDLING?! Dammitt now I wish I could make time fly faster! Damn you Australian release dates!
I believe hours must be spent discussing its hotness once I have seen it, yes. *giggles*
I see what you mean love, nil desperandum. Dawkins' view is that religion is poisonous, as it discourages thought and curiosity, and is becoming, in many parts of the world, anti-science. Tsk. As if the Dark Ages were times we should opt to revisit. I like enlightenment, I do. More please, I yelp excitedly.
I am quite enamoured of your family background I must say. I was dragged through the Church Of England system until I was ten and started wailing about the sheer stupidity of it and became a social embarassment to my poor Mama. *g*
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The argument about the big bang and its causes is interesting, but I could never believe in the concept of a higher being making sentient decisions. It's a difficult one because we all like the idea of beginnings and endings in life, and infinity isn't easy to grasp.
I'm an atheist and an anti-theist, in that everything I've read and experienced about the premises of religious faith leads me to the conclusion that God is a human construct, inches away philosophically from myth, and fuelled by the same basic desire that humans have to make sense of their existence.
Life is to an extent an accident. There is no plan.
Live well, be kind to others, accept your mammalian ancestry. If I needed a credo, that would be it.
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I always saw something in deism as well, though. God who created the universe and then took a step back to watch us make our own mess? Voltaire et al might have had a point.
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Oh man, now I need to look at footballer and gay cowboys until I feel Teh Happy again! Hmmm, your icon will do! *perves hugely*
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Sorry I'll leave now XDD
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Darling firstly and for speed, I do hope your rear is soon returned to fitness, as it appears you have barbecued it. If that's how it's spelt. Northern hemisphere y'see? Not really my metier.
And yes. You have it exactly. Jack's gagging for it in the sweetest way imaginable. Ennis is all "what the fuck" and "oh the shame."
Until of course.....well, I won't spoil the suprise, but it does involve straddling, and we all know the power of straddling, don't we. *g*
Which does over-simplify things, so apologies. When you have seen the film, let me know pronto, si? We will have MUCH to discuss....
*hugs*
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It makes me want to shake Ennis terribly, but then I suppose if they were both without angst it would be both unrealistic and lacking it's charming and harrowing wibbleness.
Straddling? STRADDLING?! Dammitt now I wish I could make time fly faster! Damn you Australian release dates!
I believe hours must be spent discussing its hotness once I have seen it, yes. *giggles*
*hugs back*
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(The comment has been removed)
(The comment has been removed)
I see what you mean love, nil desperandum. Dawkins' view is that religion is poisonous, as it discourages thought and curiosity, and is becoming, in many parts of the world, anti-science. Tsk. As if the Dark Ages were times we should opt to revisit. I like enlightenment, I do. More please, I yelp excitedly.
I am quite enamoured of your family background I must say. I was dragged through the Church Of England system until I was ten and started wailing about the sheer stupidity of it and became a social embarassment to my poor Mama. *g*
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