http://sathfilms.wordpress.com/2007/05/24/for-the-sake-of-meaning/ who knows anything Tue, 13 Apr 2010 19:48:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ http://sathfilms.wordpress.com/2007/05/24/for-the-sake-of-meaning/#comment-1012 PymnEngange Fri, 11 Dec 2009 04:20:53 +0000 http://sathfilms.wordpress.com/2007/05/24/for-the-sake-of-meaning/#comment-1012 A lot of of people talk about this topic but you said really true words! A lot of of people talk about this topic but you said really true words!

]]> http://sathfilms.wordpress.com/2007/05/24/for-the-sake-of-meaning/#comment-218 Arnie Wed, 30 May 2007 11:41:38 +0000 http://sathfilms.wordpress.com/2007/05/24/for-the-sake-of-meaning/#comment-218 This conversation is still going on on <a href="http://sydspace.wordpress.com/2007/05/29/response-to-why-i-hate-religion/" rel="nofollow">Sydspace's</a> blog as well as <a href="http://escapedmentalpatient.wordpress.com/2007/05/29/responce-to-response-to-%e2%80%98why-i-hate-religion%e2%80%99/" rel="nofollow">Escapedmentalpatient's</a>. I have left a comment on Escapementalpatient's blog. This conversation is still going on on Sydspace’s blog as well as Escapedmentalpatient’s. I have left a comment on Escapementalpatient’s blog.

]]> http://sathfilms.wordpress.com/2007/05/24/for-the-sake-of-meaning/#comment-187 Absolutely Useless and Relatively Tiring « Sathfilms Mon, 28 May 2007 22:57:41 +0000 http://sathfilms.wordpress.com/2007/05/24/for-the-sake-of-meaning/#comment-187 [...] you for giving me the link to your blog, and the post above which was in response to this post which talked about religion for the sake of meaning, as opposed to escapedmentalpatient’s [...] [...] you for giving me the link to your blog, and the post above which was in response to this post which talked about religion for the sake of meaning, as opposed to escapedmentalpatient’s [...]

]]> http://sathfilms.wordpress.com/2007/05/24/for-the-sake-of-meaning/#comment-185 sydspace Mon, 28 May 2007 16:01:56 +0000 http://sathfilms.wordpress.com/2007/05/24/for-the-sake-of-meaning/#comment-185 http://sydspace.wordpress.com/2007/05/29/response-to-why-i-hate-religion/ http://sydspace.wordpress.com/2007/05/29/response-to-why-i-hate-religion/

]]> http://sathfilms.wordpress.com/2007/05/24/for-the-sake-of-meaning/#comment-147 Arnie Fri, 25 May 2007 02:11:32 +0000 http://sathfilms.wordpress.com/2007/05/24/for-the-sake-of-meaning/#comment-147 Thanks for the reply. I wasn't arguing for or against you. I was discussing the matter of being close-minded, and also how religion doesn't have to be bad, but, as you say, it definitely can be. I was suggesting that one can be close-minded and not even consider other possibilities even if they are atheist - aren't you 100% sure that there ISN'T a God? Aren't you reaffirming that every day? You may be Atheist but you still hold a belief in something surely - a belief in yourself and a belief that you're free to live your life as you choose? Being so sure that religion is useless and that there is no God, isn't all that different to a religious person believing there is God and then getting stronger in their faith as time goes on. Yes, they are following a scripture but that is because they have the faith; you are living your life in a particular way because you don't have that faith - but nonetheless you would both think that you are correct and that the other person is thus incorrect. My problem stems from the frustration of people telling each other that "you're wrong" when these beliefs are personal, subjective and impossible to completely prove. I have no problem with you, I am merely stating that you appear to be as closed as a fundamentalist Christian, and if you're not, please explain. Obviously people who believe that their religion is 100% accurate cannot believe in a relative truth, and I'm not actually suggesting that (i think) - I will write a post about that - so people are going obviously think that others are wrong etc. but I don't have to like it and I don't think it's right. My second issue with what you were saying is that you seemed to suggest that morality wouldn't exist without religion and superstition - please re-read my last post for my thoughts on that. Referring to your post: If you corrected me on an error and I realised it was an error I would surely thank you, but in matters such as this, it's not so simple - if it was, we would all have the same faiths, or have no faith at all. I have no idea how you can compare religious beliefs to street directions and think it's a valid comparison. You also state the obvious that belief is a powerful motivator. Yes, it’s the most powerful motivator, but then why is it bad if it is causing good things in the world? There a whole lot of good things occurring based on beliefs (helping the needy, reducing discimination, education and so on) not just the stupid narrow-minded stuff that causes death and hatred. People may organize their lives without a shred of evidence, but some would argue that the scriptures are the evidence – written documents of the proof. Nonetheless, that is not the point, people have these beliefs to give themselves meaning. Why are we here? What do we do? For me personally, I find it hard to believe that I just exist and that’s that. What gives you meaning? Why do you live your life as you do? Whatever that is for you, religion is that for others. I’m not saying you’re right or wrong, I’m just saying religion doesn’t have to be a bad thing although so many idiots turn it into something harmful because of an “absolute truth” hence that person is the only correct person. Believing in such absolutes makes me cringe, but that’s me and many will argue on logical terms based on their oh so accurate scriptures. Addressing your final paragraph, please go to that link I posted in my last post with the famous scientists who had faith in something more than just humanity. They were curious, and they definitely studied the universe. Some people might take it to extremes and put everything in hands of God and seemingly remove the reason for their very existence from the world. Their only reason to live is their relationship with God and the rest will be planned out. Others may believe in God because otherwise existence and the big "WHY" questions becomes something very difficult to answer. Yet, even if there is a God, and a person believes in it, they do not have to accept every inch of prescribed faith that seems ridiculous. Why is God restricted to certain religions? So, I feel it comes down to the individual to make sense for themselves. And even with a belief in God, a person can question why, and study the universe if they don't simply believe that God will live their lives for them. You can argue with me as much as you want regarding your last paragraph, but the fact of the matter is, so many intelligent people believe in God and still study themselves and the universe (and obviously there are so many intelligent people who don't believe in God and study themselves and the universe). I think you're talking about fundamentalists, and then you're hating all religions and belief systems based on a possiblity of God because of the fundamentalists. Thanks for the reply.
I wasn’t arguing for or against you. I was discussing the matter of being close-minded, and also how religion doesn’t have to be bad, but, as you say, it definitely can be.
I was suggesting that one can be close-minded and not even consider other possibilities even if they are atheist – aren’t you 100% sure that there ISN’T a God? Aren’t you reaffirming that every day? You may be Atheist but you still hold a belief in something surely – a belief in yourself and a belief that you’re free to live your life as you choose? Being so sure that religion is useless and that there is no God, isn’t all that different to a religious person believing there is God and then getting stronger in their faith as time goes on. Yes, they are following a scripture but that is because they have the faith; you are living your life in a particular way because you don’t have that faith – but nonetheless you would both think that you are correct and that the other person is thus incorrect. My problem stems from the frustration of people telling each other that “you’re wrong” when these beliefs are personal, subjective and impossible to completely prove. I have no problem with you, I am merely stating that you appear to be as closed as a fundamentalist Christian, and if you’re not, please explain.
Obviously people who believe that their religion is 100% accurate cannot believe in a relative truth, and I’m not actually suggesting that (i think) – I will write a post about that – so people are going obviously think that others are wrong etc. but I don’t have to like it and I don’t think it’s right.
My second issue with what you were saying is that you seemed to suggest that morality wouldn’t exist without religion and superstition – please re-read my last post for my thoughts on that.
Referring to your post: If you corrected me on an error and I realised it was an error I would surely thank you, but in matters such as this, it’s not so simple – if it was, we would all have the same faiths, or have no faith at all. I have no idea how you can compare religious beliefs to street directions and think it’s a valid comparison.
You also state the obvious that belief is a powerful motivator. Yes, it’s the most powerful motivator, but then why is it bad if it is causing good things in the world? There a whole lot of good things occurring based on beliefs (helping the needy, reducing discimination, education and so on) not just the stupid narrow-minded stuff that causes death and hatred. People may organize their lives without a shred of evidence, but some would argue that the scriptures are the evidence – written documents of the proof. Nonetheless, that is not the point, people have these beliefs to give themselves meaning. Why are we here? What do we do? For me personally, I find it hard to believe that I just exist and that’s that. What gives you meaning? Why do you live your life as you do? Whatever that is for you, religion is that for others. I’m not saying you’re right or wrong, I’m just saying religion doesn’t have to be a bad thing although so many idiots turn it into something harmful because of an “absolute truth” hence that person is the only correct person. Believing in such absolutes makes me cringe, but that’s me and many will argue on logical terms based on their oh so accurate scriptures.
Addressing your final paragraph, please go to that link I posted in my last post with the famous scientists who had faith in something more than just humanity. They were curious, and they definitely studied the universe. Some people might take it to extremes and put everything in hands of God and seemingly remove the reason for their very existence from the world. Their only reason to live is their relationship with God and the rest will be planned out. Others may believe in God because otherwise existence and the big “WHY” questions becomes something very difficult to answer. Yet, even if there is a God, and a person believes in it, they do not have to accept every inch of prescribed faith that seems ridiculous. Why is God restricted to certain religions? So, I feel it comes down to the individual to make sense for themselves. And even with a belief in God, a person can question why, and study the universe if they don’t simply believe that God will live their lives for them. You can argue with me as much as you want regarding your last paragraph, but the fact of the matter is, so many intelligent people believe in God and still study themselves and the universe (and obviously there are so many intelligent people who don’t believe in God and study themselves and the universe).
I think you’re talking about fundamentalists, and then you’re hating all religions and belief systems based on a possiblity of God because of the fundamentalists.

]]> http://sathfilms.wordpress.com/2007/05/24/for-the-sake-of-meaning/#comment-144 escapedmentalpatient Thu, 24 May 2007 18:43:24 +0000 http://sathfilms.wordpress.com/2007/05/24/for-the-sake-of-meaning/#comment-144 http://escapedmentalpatient.wordpress.com/2007/05/24/why-i-hate-religion/ http://escapedmentalpatient.wordpress.com/2007/05/24/why-i-hate-religion/

]]> http://sathfilms.wordpress.com/2007/05/24/for-the-sake-of-meaning/#comment-143 Why i hate religion! « Escaped Mentalpatient Thu, 24 May 2007 18:42:29 +0000 http://sathfilms.wordpress.com/2007/05/24/for-the-sake-of-meaning/#comment-143 [...] did an article on freedom without religion a while back, this has sparked other posts Sydspace and Sathfilms their responses are to long to be practical in the comments [...] [...] did an article on freedom without religion a while back, this has sparked other posts Sydspace and Sathfilms their responses are to long to be practical in the comments [...]

]]> http://sathfilms.wordpress.com/2007/05/24/for-the-sake-of-meaning/#comment-132 Marcus Thu, 24 May 2007 07:32:27 +0000 http://sathfilms.wordpress.com/2007/05/24/for-the-sake-of-meaning/#comment-132 i am exhausted with this topic of religion. Religion has nothing to offer me. i am exhausted with this topic of religion. Religion has nothing to offer me.

]]> http://sathfilms.wordpress.com/2007/05/24/for-the-sake-of-meaning/#comment-128 Krista Dominguez Thu, 24 May 2007 04:32:22 +0000 http://sathfilms.wordpress.com/2007/05/24/for-the-sake-of-meaning/#comment-128 You might be interested in this post http://minds2mentes.wordpress.com/2007/05/22/absolutely-relative-the-paradox-of-the-declaration-of-relative-truth/ as well as other things written on my blog. We talk a lot about the questions of faith and reason and meaning. I hope you find it helpful. You might be interested in this post http://minds2mentes.wordpress.com/2007/05/22/absolutely-relative-the-paradox-of-the-declaration-of-relative-truth/ as well as other things written on my blog. We talk a lot about the questions of faith and reason and meaning. I hope you find it helpful.

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