(August 20, 2013 at 11:20 pm)ronedee Wrote: Are these just pirated Christian "words"? Or do they have any meaning to you at all?
If by pirated Christian words you mean that Christians have been trying to hijack those words to put their own theological spin on it, then yes, they are. Regardless, they do have a meaning for us all.
(August 20, 2013 at 11:20 pm)ronedee Wrote: 1. Can you have Faith in anything/anyone (as an anti-?), or is it just a word? Is having Faith(in anything) always a let-down, as so many claim?
I can - meaning I am capable of holding a belief without evidence or contrary to it. But I prefer not to. It is not always a let-down, nor is it always a let-up, but it is irrational.
(August 20, 2013 at 11:20 pm)ronedee Wrote: 2. And Hope? Is that just another word like Faith, or does it mean something very different? Hope is very powerful to many people with, and w/o religion. Is it "false" hope that keeps them going? Or is it real in any sense?
It means something very different. Hope means a positive future expectation. Unlike faith, it can be reasonable or unreasonable. False hope would mean an unreasonable expectation which would, in all likelihood, turn out to be a let-down.
(August 20, 2013 at 11:20 pm)ronedee Wrote: 3. Love. What is that? Isn't it more than an emotion ....really? Is there any amount of words, phrases, adjectives that can truly describe LOVE, other than the experience itself? I mean, love can do so many things, on so many levels! And effect/affect us in so many ways! It's probably the strongest experience we will ever know besides death itself.
Nope - love is simply an emotion. A strong emotion - granted - but an emotion nonetheless. Yes, it can be adequately described in words. And no, since it is not an entity, it cannot do anything.
(August 20, 2013 at 11:20 pm)ronedee Wrote: Why are these: virtues/values/emotions/words etc. so important to everyone regardless of religion?
Is it logical to have these virtues; with the many things they spawn? Is it a function of social necessity? Or a tool to manipulate for personal gain and profit? Would we be better off w/o them? Would we be human w/o them. Where do they fit in your evolution of man? i.e. Did one day the "ape" wake-up and not want to eat its young?
Hope and love are important because they are one of the most basic and direct indicators of our fundamental needs as human beings. I don't consider faith to be important at all.
It is logical to have these "virtues" provided they function as virtues. It is a function of basic human psychology. They are indicators of of personal gain and profit - though not a way to manipulate it. The question of being better off without them doesn't come up - we wouldn't be we without them. It depends on what you mean by human. They fit in evolution as automatic indicators of our benefit alongside developing human psychology. And no - apes who did not eat their young at all were the ones who became our ancestors.
