The Philosophy Discussion Forum

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Sun Jun 14, 2026 8:27 am Life is actually more enjoyable when the fear of death leaves us.

I think so.

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Sun Jun 14, 2026 8:27 amWhen I was a young kid, I had horrendous fears of death that gave me anxiety. Once in a while, I'll get a psychosis or get in a funk where the unnerving fear of it returns.

I'm sorry.

Is it like simultaneously not wanting to be here but being afraid of not being here?

Lacewing wrote: ↑Sun Jun 14, 2026 9:07 am

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Sun Jun 14, 2026 8:27 am Life is actually more enjoyable when the fear of death leaves us.

I think so.

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Sun Jun 14, 2026 8:27 amWhen I was a young kid, I had horrendous fears of death that gave me anxiety. Once in a while, I'll get a psychosis or get in a funk where the unnerving fear of it returns.

I'm sorry.

Is it like simultaneously not wanting to be here but being afraid of not being here?

When I'm having anxiety about death, I have an uncontrollable fear of it or discomfort in my mind. It unsettles me. It comes out of nowhere and eventually leaves into nowhere. Other times, I don't have a problem with death. I like not having a problem with it better than I do anxiety over it. I find that getting into the God stuff just makes me feel worse. I have an aversion to theology. It makes me feel worse when I think about it. Religion is beyond depressing to me. Life itself is depressing; religion makes it even worse.

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Sun Jun 14, 2026 9:16 am When I'm having anxiety about death, I have an uncontrollable fear of it or discomfort in my mind. It unsettles me. It comes out of nowhere and eventually leaves into nowhere. Other times, I don't have a problem with death.

Can you tell yourself, 'Okay, this is a temporary brain blip... it will pass as it has before.' And distract yourself with music or comedy or something that makes you laugh or feel happy. Just to get you through it.

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Sun Jun 14, 2026 9:16 amI find that getting into the God stuff just makes me feel worse. I have an aversion to theology. It makes me feel worse when I think about it. Religion is beyond depressing to me.

Well, I think we both think it's pretty messed up. It's toxic... it's creepy... it's crazy. I think: Go with what feels good and right to you... rather than struggling over some nonsensical idea that doesn't feel good or right. It may work for some people for whatever reasons... but it's like poison to others. Worst of all is how it spreads... suffocating reason and truth and clarity. I wish people would be more responsible and realize how it can be both light and dark... and many of them may be too intoxicated to know what they're spreading!

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Sun Jun 14, 2026 9:16 am

William Blake was a Christian.
That view enabled him to step outside of time and cause this link, which is closer to cause than God.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjfy-xv ... rt_radio=1

Lacewing wrote: ↑Sun Jun 14, 2026 9:46 am

Are you as concerned with what harm you may cause?

(continued)

Logically, God is first cause and you are not, therefore any cause is closer than God.

Experientially, you are first cause.

Walker wrote: ↑Sun Jun 14, 2026 12:14 pm

Lacewing wrote: ↑Sun Jun 14, 2026 9:46 am

Are you as concerned with what harm you may cause?

Of course. Do you see harm in challenging people to have clarity and honesty around religion and how they use it?

Do you think Christianity or any other religion is too sacred to challenge? What kind of people would give something that much unquestioned power, and for what foolish or self-serving purposes? Further, what would hide and operate within such a protected and unsuspecting space?

The only reason to deny that human beings are naturally divine is to control them. Tell them stories about a creator who speaks through certain sources which must not be questioned. Tell them what they must do to get as close to the divine as possible. And convince them that all others are wrong or doomed or, in some cases, it's justified that others must be killed. What kind of people do that?

If something is good and true, it should not only stand up to questioning, but welcome it! The goal should be clarity and truth, not drunken spew and nonsense that enable it to remain hidden in darkness and falseness. Religions should really want to know who/what is running their shows! (It doesn't look good or feel right.)

I'm a mental basket case.

Lacewing wrote: ↑Sun Jun 14, 2026 5:03 pm

Walker wrote: ↑Sun Jun 14, 2026 12:14 pm

Lacewing wrote: ↑Sun Jun 14, 2026 9:46 am

Are you as concerned with what harm you may cause?

Of course.

What harm have you caused that gave you more concern than your concerns over Christians believing in Christianity?

The latter gives you enough concern to write.

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Mon Jun 15, 2026 11:08 am I'm a mental basket case.

Never-the-less, you are responsible for attacking Christianity, and also responsible for the support of terrorism through inaction.

You're not so far gone that you anti-Islam demonstrate, or perform, in front of mosques, are you?

Lacewing wrote: ↑Sun Jun 14, 2026 5:03 pm

Walker wrote: ↑Sun Jun 14, 2026 12:10 pm

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Sun Jun 14, 2026 9:16 am

William Blake was a Christian.
That view enabled him to step outside of time and cause this link, which is closer to cause than God.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjfy-xv ... rt_radio=1

Esperanza* and the bass are one with Blake, in the link.

Perhaps Blake's fly has the hubris to condemn anyone or anything, based on assumed knowledge of the big picture? After all, it's just a little fly. How much of the universe can it hold?

* the name itself is a flourish



Note: The point

Any cause is closer to action, than God.

So, why does Gary's logic keep blaming God?

Walker wrote: ↑Mon Jun 15, 2026 12:50 pm

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Mon Jun 15, 2026 11:08 am I'm a mental basket case.

Never-the-less, you are responsible for attacking Christianity, and also responsible for the support of terrorism through inaction.

You're not so far gone that you anti-Islam demonstrate, or perform, in front of mosques, are you?

At least some of us have integrity and the ability to see ourselves. When are you going to admit you're a mental basket case, Walker? Or are you going to continue to pollute the Internet with gibberish and political BS?

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Mon Jun 15, 2026 1:12 pm

Obviously, I didn't make the font large enough. That's quite telling.

Self-proclaimed basket cases tend to miss a lot while seeing only what they come to see.

*

Note: The point

God is first cause.

Any cause is closer to action, than God.

So, why does Gary's logic keep blaming God?

Walker wrote: ↑Mon Jun 15, 2026 1:19 pm

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Mon Jun 15, 2026 1:12 pm

Obviously, I didn't make the font large enough. That's quite telling.

Self-proclaimed basket cases tend to miss a lot while seeing only what they come to see.

*

Note: The point

God is first cause.

Any cause is closer to action, than God.

So, why does Gary's logic keep blaming God?

Because people like you and me exist, Walker. With people like us in the world, sanity has no chance to operate as it should. Who do you blame for your mental deficiencies? Do you blame yourself, or are you the product of a creator? Who do you blame for a disease? A virus made by God that only does what it was designed to do, or the God who designed it?

Lacewing wrote: ↑Sun Jun 14, 2026 5:03 pm
Do you think Christianity or any other religion is too sacred to challenge?

The difference between an attack and an enquiry
Is the difference between a snarl and smile
Is the difference between coming to see what you want to see
And coming to know
The former assuming that the enquiree
Has a need for snarls, either verbal or dog.