I believe that there are no spiritual powers and no spiritual realm. I believe there is no life after death; this world and this life are the only ones we ever get, so we have to do our best here and now. I believe we are part of this earth and this universe; when we die, our bodies return to the world from which they came, and maybe one day, billions of years from now, fragments of the earth will become part of a new star; we are all connected to each other in the mystery of existence.
I find that an interesting philosophy, if rather sad from my own belief. I see so much misery in this world and can only yearn for the next where everything will be made right. Even a person who lives a good, happy life goes through misery and troubles at some point, does bad things. I also don't understand how this idea reconciles with your disgust over the loss of the Talking Animals' 'souls' in TLB, since you do not seem to believe in a spiritual world from which a soul comes. Or perhaps, you have a different definition of soul?
I believe that good is whatever helps another person, that sin is whatever harms another person, and that we should ask other people whether they've been hurt or helped instead of assuming we can judge for them. I believe that community is sacred, that learning is sacred, that there are infinite paths to wisdom and love, and that everything that leads to greater community and understanding is holy.
While it does make sense that good is whatever helps someone, can't it get confusing? What is your definition of 'help'? Help them be happy? What is happiness, then? What if, in helping someone, you hurt someone else? And I agree that working for a better community and understanding between people is a good thing, but do you truly think it is possible in this world? And what is your definition of holy? (I'm not being facetious with these questions, I truly want to know and understand).
Those beliefs can, of course, be abused, just as Christian beliefs can be abused and turned to hatred instead of the love Jesus preached.
Oh, most definitely. Which is why I like to believe that there will be an eternity where we can fully understand and be able to do as Christ instructed us to do, which isn't possible in this world. Even the best person in this world does something bad at least once, and probably thinks or contemplates evil more than they admit.
I believe that questions are sacred while answers are dangerous and not to be lightly accepted.
This confuses me. How are questions sacred (and what is your definition of sacred)? And how can questions be good and answers be bad? What is the use of questions without answers?
The point is to have reverence and respect for the universe and to live in such a way as to help people rather than harm them.
Those are very good values, can't dispute that. I just wonder what your basis for that is? Is there some basic truth behind why you believe that respecting the universe and helping people is a good thing. Again, it's an honest question. I am curious to understand your belief system. And please, feel free to ask me about my own faith if you want to know. I welcome any questions/problems you might have about my faith, because it makes me examine it more thoroughly and forces me to ask myself why I believe what I do.
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Re: on theology, ethics, and authorial intent, part 5
Date: 2009-05-12 04:55 am (UTC)I find that an interesting philosophy, if rather sad from my own belief. I see so much misery in this world and can only yearn for the next where everything will be made right. Even a person who lives a good, happy life goes through misery and troubles at some point, does bad things. I also don't understand how this idea reconciles with your disgust over the loss of the Talking Animals' 'souls' in TLB, since you do not seem to believe in a spiritual world from which a soul comes. Or perhaps, you have a different definition of soul?
I believe that good is whatever helps another person, that sin is whatever harms another person, and that we should ask other people whether they've been hurt or helped instead of assuming we can judge for them. I believe that community is sacred, that learning is sacred, that there are infinite paths to wisdom and love, and that everything that leads to greater community and understanding is holy.
While it does make sense that good is whatever helps someone, can't it get confusing? What is your definition of 'help'? Help them be happy? What is happiness, then? What if, in helping someone, you hurt someone else? And I agree that working for a better community and understanding between people is a good thing, but do you truly think it is possible in this world? And what is your definition of holy? (I'm not being facetious with these questions, I truly want to know and understand).
Those beliefs can, of course, be abused, just as Christian beliefs can be abused and turned to hatred instead of the love Jesus preached.
Oh, most definitely. Which is why I like to believe that there will be an eternity where we can fully understand and be able to do as Christ instructed us to do, which isn't possible in this world. Even the best person in this world does something bad at least once, and probably thinks or contemplates evil more than they admit.
I believe that questions are sacred while answers are dangerous and not to be lightly accepted.
This confuses me. How are questions sacred (and what is your definition of sacred)? And how can questions be good and answers be bad? What is the use of questions without answers?
The point is to have reverence and respect for the universe and to live in such a way as to help people rather than harm them.
Those are very good values, can't dispute that. I just wonder what your basis for that is? Is there some basic truth behind why you believe that respecting the universe and helping people is a good thing. Again, it's an honest question. I am curious to understand your belief system. And please, feel free to ask me about my own faith if you want to know. I welcome any questions/problems you might have about my faith, because it makes me examine it more thoroughly and forces me to ask myself why I believe what I do.