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Spirituality
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This is a bit hard to try and descirbe....
Years ago I lost all faith in religion (I was a Christian) after a series of events made me question my beliefs. I had not thought about it for the last 10 or so years, until recently.
I do not want to 'find' religion again but I do feel as if there is something lacking. How do you define Spirituailty and how do I gain it? Sorry if that is really vague, but I hope you get the gist of what I am asking.
Years ago I lost all faith in religion (I was a Christian) after a series of events made me question my beliefs. I had not thought about it for the last 10 or so years, until recently.
I do not want to 'find' religion again but I do feel as if there is something lacking. How do you define Spirituailty and how do I gain it? Sorry if that is really vague, but I hope you get the gist of what I am asking.
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Hello pitstopbunny,
Within life there are many labels attached to ways of being,ways of thinking and unfortunately sometimes these labels(names) can never really define what the "something" is we're ultimately looking for. When there is loss of those dearest to you we strive to find meanings, peace of mind and comfort but honestly these answers can only be found within yourself. Whatever way you choose to attain a feeling of contentment, whether through reading a book(the bible) or other literary pieces, help from family or friends, counsellors, meditation etc; All these can only contribute to your sense of well being but you must find your own path, be it following a belief or other method,the peace you seek will come in time.
Within life there are many labels attached to ways of being,ways of thinking and unfortunately sometimes these labels(names) can never really define what the "something" is we're ultimately looking for. When there is loss of those dearest to you we strive to find meanings, peace of mind and comfort but honestly these answers can only be found within yourself. Whatever way you choose to attain a feeling of contentment, whether through reading a book(the bible) or other literary pieces, help from family or friends, counsellors, meditation etc; All these can only contribute to your sense of well being but you must find your own path, be it following a belief or other method,the peace you seek will come in time.
I agree with Mibn, although I wish Mibn would make his her philosophy more accessible.
We are all exceptionally lucky to be here. The odds of each one of us being here, a living, thinking, empathising human, are astronomically long. The simple pleasure that we (for most of us) get to spend much of our life with the people we love and meet new people along the way is more fortuitous still. The way forward after a set back is through practical steps and breaking up your rehabilitation (from your setback) into easily digestible chunks. Spirituality is an abstract concept. I think what you are really looking for is contentment.
We are all exceptionally lucky to be here. The odds of each one of us being here, a living, thinking, empathising human, are astronomically long. The simple pleasure that we (for most of us) get to spend much of our life with the people we love and meet new people along the way is more fortuitous still. The way forward after a set back is through practical steps and breaking up your rehabilitation (from your setback) into easily digestible chunks. Spirituality is an abstract concept. I think what you are really looking for is contentment.
Dawkins, My personal philosophy is largely modeled on an assimilation of the philosophy of Objectivism which I attribute to its author Ayn Rand.
Objectivism (as I understand it) is a largely misunderstood and widely criticized philosophy that insists upon an individuals willingness to accept the inescapable responsibility they have for their own life and happiness in this one life we have here on Earth. Although, as a creation of human understanding, Objectivism has many questionable and debatable components, I find its basic premises very useful in integrating a world view that serves me well in choosing how to live my life.
As an introduction to Objectivism I suggest reading and assimilating �Philosophy, Who Needs It?�, by Ayn Rand. If you than have a desire to examine the nuts and bolts of the philosophy of Objectivism, I recommend �Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology� by Ayn Rand or �Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand� by Leonard Peikoff.
Assimilating Objectivism for me has been a slow, sometimes painful but necessary (having been "raised" and presented with an unworkable belief system) and very rewarding process. To be useful it must be understood in its entirety and incorporated into your own observations and experience with reality. Simply taking my, Ayn Rand�s or anyone else�s word for it will not serve you well. Talk about your dangerous books, Christianity or any other religion is in jeopardy from those who insist on a personal understanding for what they choose to believe.
Objectivism (as I understand it) is a largely misunderstood and widely criticized philosophy that insists upon an individuals willingness to accept the inescapable responsibility they have for their own life and happiness in this one life we have here on Earth. Although, as a creation of human understanding, Objectivism has many questionable and debatable components, I find its basic premises very useful in integrating a world view that serves me well in choosing how to live my life.
As an introduction to Objectivism I suggest reading and assimilating �Philosophy, Who Needs It?�, by Ayn Rand. If you than have a desire to examine the nuts and bolts of the philosophy of Objectivism, I recommend �Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology� by Ayn Rand or �Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand� by Leonard Peikoff.
Assimilating Objectivism for me has been a slow, sometimes painful but necessary (having been "raised" and presented with an unworkable belief system) and very rewarding process. To be useful it must be understood in its entirety and incorporated into your own observations and experience with reality. Simply taking my, Ayn Rand�s or anyone else�s word for it will not serve you well. Talk about your dangerous books, Christianity or any other religion is in jeopardy from those who insist on a personal understanding for what they choose to believe.
Mibm, again whoosh going over my head with your lofty concepts.
Just because people tend to have selfish tendencies it doesn't follow that selfishness is ideal. Cooperation may suit self-interest but altruism wouldn't exist. If there was no overall benefit in acting selflessly from time to time. Genes are selfish; individuals don't have to be too. Arguing that capitalism must be left to flourish unabated is incredibly myopic considering the mess the environment is in after what, 200 years?
Just because people tend to have selfish tendencies it doesn't follow that selfishness is ideal. Cooperation may suit self-interest but altruism wouldn't exist. If there was no overall benefit in acting selflessly from time to time. Genes are selfish; individuals don't have to be too. Arguing that capitalism must be left to flourish unabated is incredibly myopic considering the mess the environment is in after what, 200 years?
Dawkins, Your opinions probably all have some merit but do not offer methods for discrimination between the good and evil.
Selfishness does not objectively follow when it implies sacrifice of others to ones self any more than one should be forced to sacrifice themselves to others. Caring about the welfare of others is not excluded in Objectivism, only the use of force to demand that we �care� for each other (as defined by the wielder of force). Objectively, selfishness is personal responsibility and if a person is blind to how caring for others is not in their own interest, the lose is their own.
Capitalism does not offer anyone a blank check on responsibility for the consequences of their actions, unlike many governmental blank checks offered to polluting industries that supposedly �serve the common good�. This is a typical result of governmental involvement in the economic realm. It is the purpose of a properly functioning government to insure that all peoples rights, (including the right to breath air that has not been contaminated), are protected.
As I noted previously, Objectivism is widely misunderstood, perhaps even somewhat by its author. Like science, it offers a method for arriving at truth beyond the apparent surface, but must be applied in its entirety.
A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.
Don�t throw out the baby with the bath water.
Selfishness does not objectively follow when it implies sacrifice of others to ones self any more than one should be forced to sacrifice themselves to others. Caring about the welfare of others is not excluded in Objectivism, only the use of force to demand that we �care� for each other (as defined by the wielder of force). Objectively, selfishness is personal responsibility and if a person is blind to how caring for others is not in their own interest, the lose is their own.
Capitalism does not offer anyone a blank check on responsibility for the consequences of their actions, unlike many governmental blank checks offered to polluting industries that supposedly �serve the common good�. This is a typical result of governmental involvement in the economic realm. It is the purpose of a properly functioning government to insure that all peoples rights, (including the right to breath air that has not been contaminated), are protected.
As I noted previously, Objectivism is widely misunderstood, perhaps even somewhat by its author. Like science, it offers a method for arriving at truth beyond the apparent surface, but must be applied in its entirety.
A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.
Don�t throw out the baby with the bath water.
Dawkins, Thanks for sharing those words of wisdom, the validity of which I can appreciate from personal experience; two pitfalls I as well have hopefully learned to avoid.
It is easy to be blinded by the light and in being so afflicted to forget to look where we are going. I am reminded of the legendary bike ride of Albert Einstein, eager to return to the lab, his mind filled with the immense beauty of his newly conceived theory of relativity, completely unaware that he had neglected to put on a pair of pants. Beware lest we be carried away with our spirituality or, heaven forbid, begin to take ourselves 2cweusly.
My apologies to pitstopbunny (the creator of this thread) for trespassing but on behalf of dawkins' request I needed to acknowledge a major contributor to my philosophical roots.
It is easy to be blinded by the light and in being so afflicted to forget to look where we are going. I am reminded of the legendary bike ride of Albert Einstein, eager to return to the lab, his mind filled with the immense beauty of his newly conceived theory of relativity, completely unaware that he had neglected to put on a pair of pants. Beware lest we be carried away with our spirituality or, heaven forbid, begin to take ourselves 2cweusly.
My apologies to pitstopbunny (the creator of this thread) for trespassing but on behalf of dawkins' request I needed to acknowledge a major contributor to my philosophical roots.
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