Buddy's Comment 8: Other forms, as well as our current day culture, readily show the shortcomings of non-absolutes. From dictatorships to socialisms to theocracies (Islam?), (and including our current democracy), they prove the point that mankind needs governance, and the 'governors' need governance, by absolute standards. As much as this country has attempted to define what is 'good', 'right', and 'fair' for its citizens, our news media is filled with society's failures, as well as those of our 'governors'.
My Response to Comment 8:
I'm pretty sure this is a repeat, but lets see.... Why haven't we talked at all about moral victories? Are those not part of the equation too? Surely relative morality isn't so useless that no moral victories can be claimed in balance with the bad? Or are the good bits reserved soley for the agrandisement of the diety? It would seem, from your arguement, that all that is bad comes from man, AND nothing good comes from man either. This is not a simplistic point! The believer would say "well of course! God is all good!" But does that mean that man is all bad? If not, then some good MUST come from man! I want to hear that part! Go ahead! Say it! "Man is good!". Soup kitchens, adoption, nurses, international aid associations, the "Stay-puffed Marshmallow man" for goodness sakes!.... what could ever go wrong with him?
My point is, I've heard enough about man's failings and evil doings. If all you can see is corruption and despair in the works of man, then it should come as no surprise that you would want to shed your human skin as quickly as possible to get to that better place at the end. With each post, I see more clearly how much you despise your humanness and that of your fellow beings. You cannot enjoy (or even acknowledge) life as a journey because to you every day is evidence of your own fallibility. Gah! I can't imagine how you can hold in such low regard, the creation of your own God! Ach! If I were "He", and I met you at the pearly gates, I wouldn't let you in!
But!, I'm letting my emotions get the best of me, so I'll sign off for now. Phew!
?Stay-puffed Marshmallow man?? I missed that. What?? (never mind, I realize that was a pressure release valve for your emoptions.)
ReplyDeleteAh! another 'pro-homo' forensics tactic. In spite of the tone of my posts being so negative, I don't have as pessimistic a perspective as you assign to me. Yes, I will say, though not exactly what or how you wish me to, but I will say 'man is capable of showing great honor, mercy, love, self-sacrifice, grace, goodness, and perseverance. But, back to square one, again: why? Why does he do it? The answer, at its core, has to go back to what we started off about, weeks ago. Rewards. And not only 'rewards', but also, the concept that my/your fellow man is worth something. (again, WHY? Where does that come from?) Why is he worth dying for; Why esteem his life above my best interests, above the value of my life? And this concept is akin to 'rewards'. These both have the same origin. I've been down that path already. No need to repeat myself.
You can paint me with the broad stroke for seeming to have such a 'fatalistic' view of humanity. As for your understanding of my beliefs, about God and His creation, your brief incursion into reading a bible gives you nothing to base any opinion of my beliefs against, since I avoided using scripture to express them.
As for 'man is essentially good, vs. man is essentially bad', I think I've been down that road, too, already, enough to know repeating anything is not beneficial.
As for my understanding of what is ahead in my journey, yes! I definitely do await the end, the destination. I won't hasten it; I won't try to delay it. It will come. The consolation I, and all 'believers' (should) have is that this journey will be forgotten in the reality of that timeless time. And you can, (and have already) paint(ed) that 'pie in the sky' mentality as being more than 'foolish'. You'll never comprehend that, though.