Lost in the flood of beliefs

[Lacewing]

If it's such a simple answer, why can't you give a simple answer?

All my answers are simple.

I don't want to step-on fish while he's mulling over his response...

You also said you didn't expect him to answer. You can't step on him... you're just avoiding your own dumb question.

[Lacewing]

And I tend to act like an Arse when twats keep calling me an asshole.
That's how it works.

Excellent. That is how it works.

She should put on the brakes and write an essay to reach an understanding of why this is so, rather than try to be cute.

I wasn't even talking to him, so how is it my fault what he does?

Take some responsibility and go write your own dumbass essays about why you're like you are.

[iambiguous]

Pick a story...

1] God does exist. And with Him comes objective morality, immortality and salvation. This comforts and consoles you enormously.

And then all you have to do is to narrow your own leap of faith [wager] down to one of these: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_r ... traditions

2] God does not exist. And with that comes an essentially meaningless and purposeless existence that ends in oblivion. This disturbs and distresses you enormously.

On the other hand, there are those secular/ideological paths that can "here and now" give your life meaning and purpose. As long as you come up with a way of accepting that when you do die you become nothing at all other than on your way back atomically and sub-atomically to star stuff.

And then, as with Carl Sagan, this comforts and consoles you?

Why pick any story? Can't we function without a story?

No, not just any story. God and religion are deemed by many to be the story. In other words, all those who would function considerably less confidently and contentedly if they were not able to believe that the stories in their own rendition of a Scripture weren't there to assure them of moral Commandments on this side of the grave and immortality and salvation on the other side of it.

To witless:

I pick HIS_STORY ->> Je sus Christ.

[Walker]

If it's such a simple answer, why can't you give a simple answer?

All my answers are simple.

I don't want to step-on fish while he's mulling over his response...

You also said you didn't expect him to answer. You can't step on him... you're just avoiding your own dumb question.

Well if I said I didn't expect him to answer, I was mistaken, or likely made some typing mistakes, which I often do. I fully expect him to answer. He is intelligent, witty, and insightful.

I must not have thought it was dumb, whatever it is you're talking about, although by now I've forgotten the question thanks to your weaving, your bobbing, slippin' and slidin', twistin' and jivin.'

The question is, as I recall, is if can Age be other than what he has been, because Fish wants to know and he wants to see it demonstrated.

[Sculptor]

I tend to act like an Arse when twats keep calling me an asshole.
That's how it works.

Actually, nobody even needs to be talking to you for you to do it.

So when did I call you an asshole?

[attofishpi]

<<TYPICAL RAMBLING CRAP>>

I ignore 99% of your posts - I didn't read a word of the above CRAP. so why bother putting in so much effort with me?

Someone should take away your access to electricity.

You and I agree on this too.

I wonder who gave him access to electricity *bastards*

Maybe if like minded people on the forum were to donate money towards buying Age a HUGE box of lego, we could get rid of him for a while?

[attofishpi]

All my answers are simple.

I don't want to step-on fish while he's mulling over his response...

You also said you didn't expect him to answer. You can't step on him... you're just avoiding your own dumb question.

Well if I said I didn't expect him to answer, I was mistaken, or likely made some typing mistakes, which I often do. I fully expect him to answer. He is intelligent, witty, and insightful.

I must not have thought it was dumb, whatever it is you're talking about, although by now I've forgotten the question thanks to your weaving, your bobbing, slippin' and slidin', twistin' and jivin.'

The question is, as I recall, is if can Age be other than what he has been, because Fish wants to know and he wants to see it demonstrated.

My God man you are good at kissing arse! I shall now proceed to answer what you insist was requiring a simple YES or NO..

<<TYPICAL RAMBLING CRAP>>

I ignore 99% of your posts - I didn't read a word of the above CRAP. so why bother putting in so much effort with me?

Someone should take away your access to electricity.

Do you really think Age has a choice?

Answer with a simple Yes or No:

So.

Q1: Do I really think Age has a choice about bothering to put so much effort in with me?
A: YES

Q2: Do I really think Age has a choice about someone taking away his access to electricity?
A: NO

[Dubious]

Do we human beings just not raise our awareness long enough to recognize how much of our beliefs are built on endlessly recycled stories? The intent of many such stories being religious lures for the fearful. How many repetitions do we need to go through before we move on from it?

All of these reiterated stories from ancient to modern I see as nothing more than metaphors of power usually contained in paradigms of good and evil and the battles between them. All the superhero bullshit now so popular whether they be machine-like or inflated humans are simply an instance of these ancient archetypes. Its modern version is merely a derivative or lesser incarnation from a super-entity called god and its mandatory structured belief into a more subsidiary version of machines, AI and genetically modified humans

It's still the same old story only one was meant for serious and mandatory belief while its more current version is consigned to the nether regions of entertainment only. Such, I think, may for many even take the place of abandoned religious rituals in its effect.

[Lacewing]

Why pick any story? Can't we function without a story?

No, not just any story. God and religion are deemed by many to be the story.

I don't care what many deem to be the story.

People represent a small fraction of this planet's history. What was their supposed god doing all that time? They don't care. They're making up stuff to suit themselves... which doesn't suit everyone.

[Lacewing]

now I've forgotten the question thanks to your weaving, your bobbing, slippin' and slidin', twistin' and jivin.'

[Lacewing]

So when did I call you an asshole?

I don't think you did. You just acted like one, yourself... I guess because you're only happy and full of light when you're walking your dog.

[Lacewing]

I wonder who gave him access to electricity *bastards*

Maybe if like minded people on the forum were to donate money towards buying Age a HUGE box of lego, we could get rid of him for a while?

Count me in!

[Lacewing]

Do we human beings just not raise our awareness long enough to recognize how much of our beliefs are built on endlessly recycled stories? The intent of many such stories being religious lures for the fearful. How many repetitions do we need to go through before we move on from it?

All of these reiterated stories from ancient to modern I see as nothing more than metaphors of power usually contained in paradigms of good and evil and the battles between them.

Yes... and threats about what will happen to you if you don't stay in line.

All the superhero bullshit now so popular whether they be machine-like or inflated humans are simply an instance of these ancient archetypes. Its modern version is merely a derivative or lesser incarnation from a super-entity called god and its mandatory structured belief into a more subsidiary version of machines, AI and genetically modified humans

It's still the same old story only one was meant for serious and mandatory belief while its more current version is consigned to the nether regions of entertainment only. Such, I think, may for many even take the place of abandoned religious rituals in its effect.

Interesting.

I don't pay much attention to the super-hero phenomenon... probably for the same reasons I don't pay much attention to religion... or even, Age. Just a lot of people pretending to be uniquely superior. It's self-indulgent fantasy.

[iambiguous]

Why pick any story? Can't we function without a story?

No, not just any story. God and religion are deemed by many to be the story.

I don't care what many deem to be the story.

People represent a small fraction of this planet's history. What was their supposed god doing all that time? They don't care. They're making up stuff to suit themselves... which doesn't suit everyone.

Once again, all I can do is to iterate the entirety of my post:

Pick a story:

1] God does exist. And with Him comes objective morality, immortality and salvation. This comforts and consoles you enormously.

And then all you have to do is to narrow your own leap of faith [wager] down to one of these: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_r ... traditions

2] God does not exist. And with that comes an essentially meaningless and purposeless existence that ends in oblivion. This disturbs and distresses you enormously.

On the other hand, there are those secular/ideological paths that can "here and now" give your life meaning and purpose. As long as you come up with a way of accepting that when you do die you become nothing at all other than on your way back atomically and sub-atomically to star stuff.

And then, as with Carl Sagan, this comforts and consoles you?

You might not care what others think about the "God story", but even now events may well be unfolding in the Middle East that precipitate a catastrophic escalation in a conflict that revolves almost entirely around the God fanatics. And that it's the same God doesn't seem in the least pertinent to these extremists.

"US warns of 'elevated risk' of war spreading in Middle East" CNN

"Israel has 'crossed the red lines' in Gaza, which 'may force everyone to take action,' Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi said Sunday."

[attofishpi]

You might not care what others think about the "God story", but even now events may well be unfolding in the Middle East that precipitate a catastrophic escalation in a conflict that revolves almost entirely around the God fanatics. And that it's the same God doesn't seem in the least pertinent to these extremists.

"US warns of 'elevated risk' of war spreading in Middle East" CNN

"Israel has 'crossed the red lines' in Gaza, which 'may force everyone to take action,' Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi said Sunday."

If you had an ounce of intelligence you'd under_stand it's got very little to do with people(s) belief in God.