RE: Logic tells me God doesn't exist but my heart says otherwise.
October 12, 2014 at 3:17 pm
(This post was last modified: October 12, 2014 at 3:21 pm by The Grand Nudger.)
(October 4, 2014 at 7:17 pm)bennyboy Wrote: I think this experience represents a fundamental truth, and one that is perfectly in accordance with the reality of the universe as we see it.But what if someone else didn't see it that way? What's this "we" business?
Quote: I'd say "all is one" is probably more factually sound than "I'm super-important, so get out of my way, asshole *honks car horn*."I don't know that either of those is more factual than the other. What about: all is not one, minus the superimportant-out of my way, asshole, beep beep?
Quote:It also has the advantage of bringing a sense of peace: if I'm just a part of the universe, just star dust, just dirt animated by the sun-- then what do I really have to worry about? I'll enjoy my life, make my mistakes, and then all the "stuff" that makes me will be released back into the universe.Some people could chill, sure, but an opposite and equally "peace inculcating" series of statements could be derived from stating that all is not one. We're talking about what might put some individuals mind at ease at this point...and that's some foggy ground - don't you think?
Keep in mind that even these "ancient wisdoms" are continually rehashed for the modern audience. Your appraisal of what those things "means" is not necessarily what they meant, or were taken to mean by the originators(or any specific group in time between the originators and ourselves) - and that's assuming a fairly accurate transmission of data to begin with (often not the case). It's might be a failure of cultural bias to rewrite some other narrative into our shorthand without needing to change so much as a single word.
I'm more of the opinion that our religious experiences represent anthropological barometers more than any refined truths. Not that this reduces the experiences importance, imo. They tell us where we've been, what was important to us - and yes, what may still be important to us...but really, is it important for any of the reasons mentioned in the texts - should we scour them for wisdom that may simply not be there? Meh, not so much, for me anyway.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
