Theists: how do you account for psychopaths?

[Wyrd of Gawd]

Why do you wish you didn't exist Ed?

Because of how much I will suffer in the future one day when I die or have the worst day of my life (which is probably yet to come).

That's the Job lament.  Job chapters 6-7, chapter 10.

[Edwardo Piet]

I don't have a job or a bible

[Amarok]

I'm not a pessimist. But i see where they are coming from .

[Edwardo Piet]

I'm not a pessimist. But i see where they  are coming from .

That's cool. I have my optimistic moments

But 99% of the time I'm a pessimist that enjoys life despite how shitty it is

Because there can be beautiful moments amongst the crap. In fact, even most of life can be enjoyable, if you're a lucky cunt like me (I think I might be the happiest person I've ever known. Although that could be because I can't empathize with people enough to recognize their happiness. How happy do I seem to you on the whole? It's misleading because I'm enjoying myself even when I come across as angry Venting frustration is fun. And I'm always deadpan when I'm on the internet. Either that or smiling or laughing on occasion. But my intense happiness I believe comes from (a) My enjoying the present moment and not worrying about the future or regretting the past and (b) My not having any unfulfilled goals in a Buddhist sort of way. I don't tend to have that 'Once I achieve X then I will be happy' mindset. I'm happy now and I want for nothing besides my next meal, wank, AF post, game to play or conversation.)... I still doubt I'll think it was worth it once my worst day comes though.


You may find this podcast interesting:

[Silver]

Boyfriend doesn't know how we're together. He's "Dorothy singing 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow' positive" and I'm always "there's too many goddamn problems in this world for anyone to reasonably accept living in it without going insane".

[Edwardo Piet]

I really think positive thinking is usually a recipe for unhappiness as it seems to be more about denial and false hope (which leads to frustration and disappointment) than anything. Pessimism is about accepting how crap stuff is and just making the most of it.

You may say "That's not pessimism. That's realism."

But what I'm saying is... if reality really is shit as pessimism claims then pessimism is realism and a more optimistic outlook isn't.

Here's some ideas:

[Silver]

Completely agree.

[The Grand Nudger]

Yall need zen.

[robvalue]

I'm also anti-birth. I wish I hadn't been born, and I wouldn't wish existence on any human or animal. That's just the nature of this shithole God has made. I don't consider pleasure and suffering to be in the same currency.

By the by, if he couldn't create all this without the monumental amount of suffering being a part of it, then he shouldn't have created it at all. At some point he has to take some fucking responsibility. I think the moment a religious person finally allows this reality to gently tap against the baseless presuppositions that are taught about "God", it dawns on them that it's not merely a story, it's a story that can't be true.

I think that part of it has to do with coping. The mind would like to think there is some purpose for all this suffering. But the stories end up producing a creator that is either monstrous, inept, bound by endless conveniences, or completely self-contradictory. In truth, any actual creator is far more likely to be mundane and oblivious to us.

[The Grand Nudger]

I'm also anti-birth. I wish I hadn't been born, and I wouldn't wish existence on any human or animal. That's just the nature of this shithole God has made. I don't consider pleasure and suffering to be in the same currency.

By the by, if he couldn't create all this without the monumental amount of suffering being a part of it, then he shouldn't have created it at all. At some point he has to take some fucking responsibility. I think the moment a religious person finally allows this reality to gently tap against the baseless presuppositions that are taught about "God", it dawns on them that it's not merely a story, it's a story that can't be true.

-and that's where you'd be wrong.  We have examples of such religious people here on the boards.  They accept all of that, fall to their knees, and exclaim that god is great.

Some people are willing to accept, say, or do anything in order to get the imaginary punch and pie.  If the world -weren't- full of suffering, but god commanded that it be so...they would work to effect it. They -do- work to effect it.

I think that part of it has to do with coping. The mind would like to think there is some purpose for all this suffering. But the stories either end up producing a creator that is either monstrous, inept, bound by endless conveniences, or completely self-contradictory.

Nah, they want the punch and pie.  They don;t give a fuck if you suffer if they get their punch and pie. The good reason™ that you suffer......is, in fact, their punch and pie.