Things I Hate

[Lejuan]

What is good then?

At some point humanity determined that survival was something best done co-operatively. In this respect co-operating with someone else might be seen as a selfish act - ie done for no reason other than one's own benefit. 'Good' and 'moral' are survival strategies.

 

[a-dev]

I don't require there to be a point. Life just is. And even if we look at it from an objective survival of the fittest POV I don't think going around killing people would be in my own interests, I'd be inviting retribution on myself. Rather I think treating others as I would like to be treated is more likely what's keeping me alive. And no I don't think the bible has exclusive ownership of that notion.

 

[DiFabio]

Not necessarily. The idea that a non-believer will be punished for his non-belief is itself just a belief which could be mistaken.

True, but most religions have that. You don't believe, no salvation (and whatever that entails).

Christians, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, etc. I'd like to think we all believe in the same God but in our own way (what our culture has taught us).
Most of them dictate that those that don't have faith are "punished". Whether that punishment means a sort of hell, banishment or what have you remains unknown.

Is it a fear tactic created by humans? Maybe. But like I said, we won't know until we're dead. Can a person that thinks and cares about these type of things deal with that? Well, that's up to them. Maybe your non-belief is blinding you from a "righteous path" and life after death? Maybe my belief doesn't really exist and I'm blinded by a false fate. Which is more dentrimental though? If you don't believe and there is something, you're ****ed. There's a chance there. If you don't believe and there isn't anything then it's a non-issue because you don't exist. So then you ask yourself to take the chance, rest your laurels?

For me, I believe. It's tough but that's part of faith and putting your foot out into the unknown. The way I see it, if what I believe is true, great, there's something waiting for me. My faith is rewarded. If there isn't anything however and I'm just a decomposing corpse in the ground or dust in the wind, I'll never know that I was a fool in believing in something that wasn't real. I won't have a say in the matter, i'll just be dead. Seems like a win-win. "I was wrong about my beliefs and faith", oh well, I'm dead! Better than being caught with my pants down and being "punished" and/or banished from good stuff and salvation. I'm not talking clouds and harps, but you know. The fullfillment and answer to that mystery that's more than, "I lived then died".

 

[Lejuan]

So you're not really down with The Lord, you're just hedging your bets

 

[Solidus]

At some point humanity determined that survival was something best done co-operatively. In this respect co-operating with someone else might be seen as a selfish act - ie done for no reason other than one's own benefit. 'Good' and 'moral' are survival strategies.

I wouldn't say that it's just a collectively-driven survival strategy to do "good". Like I mentioned before, you have to take human conscience into consideration; which will either reward or condemn your actions in relation to others. Most people would want to do good, because it makes them feel good about themselves.

 

[DiFabio]

So you're not really down with The Lord, you're just hedging your bets

No, I'm down. If it was just about a bet, I wouldn't really be a believer would I? If I had a gun to my head and some dude was like, "yo dawg I hate Catholics. Say you're Catholic and I'll pull the trigger", I'd say "well I am, shoot me bro".

I'm just saying, if we religious folk that put our faith in something are wrong and there is truly nothing after this existence, what's the consequence? I won't have a say in the matter. I won't even have a conscious or a mind. Oh well, I guess I'll never know it. Sure, in reality I would have put my faith in something that wasn't real and that is disheartening, but disheartening and "reality" mean nothing to someone that is no longer thinking and just decay.

That's not my reasoning, it isn't a bet or a game, but that's either outcome. I'll either be right and have some kind of ascension, a life after death OR you're right and I'm nothing more than the cycle of life, aka, worm feed turned soil. We won't have the realization of the latter.

 

[a-dev]

Yeah, I can't believe in something 'just in case'. And I think an omnipotent god would see through me if I played that game.

 

[Lejuan]

I wouldn't say that it's just a collectively-driven survival strategy to do "good". Like I mentioned before, you have to take human conscience into consideration; which will either reward or condemn your actions in relation to others. Most people would want to do good, because it makes them feel good about themselves.

Outside of things punitive or retributive, here's my rationale for doing 'good': either on point of principle - ie if everybody picked up their litter instead of leaving it on the ground the world would be more like the world I personally would like to live in; or with some expectation of reciprocity - ie if I let this motorist in here, some other motorist may let me in when our positions are reversed.

I'm not suggesting there is no such thing as altruism. I'm suggesting that notions of 'moral' and 'good' are determined largely by evolutionary mechanisms linked to group dynamics.

 

[DiFabio]

Yeah, I can't believe in something 'just in case'. And I think an omnipotent god would see through me if I played that game.

Yup, exactly. It just wouldn't work. You got to feel the thing you believe in. Not just religion, but work, family, etc.

If you're not and you're simply "faking" then that whole idea of faith and believing is essentially thrown out the window. Gotta be in it to win it so to speak. You either believe or you don't.

 

[KitFisto]

Yeah, I can't believe in something 'just in case'. And I think an omnipotent god would see through me if I played that game.

That would be correct. You either have faith in Him or you don't. There is no half in, half out.

 

[Lejuan]

I hate that it's 4am. It's getting to the point where no matter how far into the morning my kids let me sleep in - and it won't be all that far- it won't be enough to stop me feeling dopey all day.

 

[a-dev]

Yup, exactly. It just wouldn't work. You got to feel the thing you believe in. Not just religion, but work, family, etc.

If you're not and you're simply "faking" then that whole idea of faith and believing is essentially thrown out the window. Gotta be in it to win it so to speak. You either believe or you don't.

So if some religious people are right in their very particular beliefs I am ****ed

Oh well. What can ye do.

 

[Lejuan]

So if some religious people are right in their very particular beliefs I am ****ed

Oh well. What can ye do.

There would be a lot of interesting people in hell. And they'd have the best disco in the universe.

 

[DiFabio]

It's always fun going to work on an hour or so of sleep. That kind of groggy, ****ty feel that a morning shower doesn't help relieve.

 

[a-dev]

There would be a lot of interesting people in hell. And they'd have the best disco in the universe.

The fear-mongering hyper-religious hell-obsessives would probably tell us that we'll never meet those people, we'll each be alone or something, alone and burning forever. And if you say something like 'Hey I don't mind being alone' - they'll amend with ''Well you won't really be alone - you'll be tortured by horrific demons and ghosts''. And then you'll say ''oh cool! I've always wanted to see a demon or a ghost, I am not afraid!'' and then they'll go

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPOb3DlB7WA[/ame]


They always try to amp it up like that

 

[Lejuan]

It's always fun going to work on an hour or so of sleep. That kind of groggy, ****ty feel that a morning shower doesn't help relieve.

It is kind of fun. It feels decadent.

But sadly no work for me. Just hours and hours of Saturday to spend with two wide, wide-awake children. Aghast. It's a quarter past. I'm almost ready to say, "stuff it" and play GTA til the buggers wake up.

 

[DiFabio]

So if some religious people are right in their very particular beliefs I am ****ed.

Oh well. What can ye do.

Man, that'd be some bull if there's something we're not told and God gave non-believers second chance wait list options to be redeemed.

I can see it now. God having a sense of humor and out stretching his hand to a-dev proclaiming, "come with me if you want to live" with a wink.

 

[Lejuan]

The fear-mongering hyper-religious hell-obsessives would probably tell us that we'll never meet those people, we'll each be alone or something, alone and burning forever. They always try to amp it up like that

one of my students did a version of hell for a CG course. I was looking at his crowd simulation and I realised each and every one of the figures in his hell were versions of himself

 

[DiFabio]

It is kind of fun. It feels decadent.

But sadly no work for me. Just hours and hours of Saturday to spend with two wide, wide-awake children. Aghast. It's a quarter past. I'm almost ready to say, "stuff it" and play GTA til the buggers wake up.

GTA V?

That's always fun at about 3 in the morning. In fact, it's the only time I'm sleep deprived and don't feel like crap.

Must be something about being engaged in gameplay than doing lame stuff at work or around the house.

 

[Lejuan]

Right, that does it. Potato chips, check. Bottle of cola, check. Tub of ice-cream, check. Pillows, cushions, blankets... GTA V here I come. If I'm not back in twelve hours look in the beanbag.