(June 15, 2014 at 2:37 am)psychoslice Wrote:

(June 15, 2014 at 2:26 am)Cthulhu Dreaming Wrote: True. I think that dovetails nicely with what I was saying earlier - that people seek answers that provide them purpose.

Yes and that's what I feel we all really strive to, to have some purpose in our lives, and why not, it makes life a lot more easy, but, its when we believe our own purpose is the only purpose, that we stuff it all up, for ourselves and others.

That would depend entirely on what we decide our own purpose to be, yes? If our purpose were selfish, sure - I can see that. But if our purpose were to make the world a better place, then not so much.

(June 15, 2014 at 2:47 am)Cthulhu Dreaming Wrote:

(June 15, 2014 at 2:37 am)psychoslice Wrote: Yes and that's what I feel we all really strive to, to have some purpose in our lives, and why not, it makes life a lot more easy, but, its when we believe our own purpose is the only purpose, that we stuff it all up, for ourselves and others.

That would depend entirely on what we decide our own purpose to be, yes? If our purpose were selfish, sure - I can see that. But if our purpose were to make the world a better place, then not so much.

Yes to make the world a better place sounds great, but really we only want a better place for ourselves, we really don't give a shit for anyone else.

(June 15, 2014 at 2:58 am)psychoslice Wrote:

(June 15, 2014 at 2:47 am)Cthulhu Dreaming Wrote: That would depend entirely on what we decide our own purpose to be, yes? If our purpose were selfish, sure - I can see that. But if our purpose were to make the world a better place, then not so much.

Yes to make the world a better place sounds great, but really we only want a better place for ourselves, we really don't give a shit for anyone else.

Correction: I want a better place for myself and for others I care about.

(June 15, 2014 at 3:04 am)Irrational Wrote:

(June 15, 2014 at 2:58 am)psychoslice Wrote: Yes to make the world a better place sounds great, but really we only want a better place for ourselves, we really don't give a shit for anyone else.

Correction: I want a better place for myself and for others I care about.

But what about the ones you don't care about ??>

(June 15, 2014 at 3:06 am)psychoslice Wrote:

(June 15, 2014 at 3:04 am)Irrational Wrote: Correction: I want a better place for myself and for others I care about.

But what about the ones you don't care about ??>

It's not going to hurt if there is a better world for them as well. I just won't have a feeling of attachment towards them, that's all.

(June 15, 2014 at 3:08 am)Irrational Wrote:

(June 15, 2014 at 3:06 am)psychoslice Wrote: But what about the ones you don't care about ??>

It's not going to hurt if there is a better world for them as well. I just won't have a feeling of attachment towards them, that's all.

So you are selfish in a way ?

(June 15, 2014 at 3:10 am)psychoslice Wrote:

(June 15, 2014 at 3:08 am)Irrational Wrote: It's not going to hurt if there is a better world for them as well. I just won't have a feeling of attachment towards them, that's all.

So you are selfish in a way ?

Maybe, but that sort of selfishness does not negate good wishes for all. I sure don't like to see people (including strangers) suffer. Plus, it's absolutely human to be selective of who you are attached to. It would be impossible to be emotionally attached to everyone. And often unwise (even if it was possible).

Religion shouldn't vanish because people have a right to hold onto their beliefs even if they are wrong.

(June 21, 2014 at 4:29 pm)Arthur123 Wrote: Religion shouldn't vanish because people have a right to hold onto their beliefs even if they are wrong.

The issue is whether or not people should believe dumb things, and if the world would be a better place to live if dumb things weren't so commonly believed--whether or not they should be allowed to believe dumb things is not the issue.

Understood. Well, on this front religion can give people hope and a purpose that may otherwise not have any. Let's say the world was going to end tomorrow and only the government knew. I could see morally permissible reasons for them withholding information in this case