My interesting philosophy...

[Tali]

Re: My interesting philosophy...

If enough people did have the guts, and starting doing things the government didn't like, at some people it would create a large conflict, which as you said would lead to a resolution. But if we don't have the guts, there is no resolution to the things we complain about!

Well, i think i wasn't clear. government was created by people agreeing to letting go of doing whatever they want. in return, they were given protection and rights of their property. thus they created what is right vs wrong rules by which all must abide. By doing this, we started the trend that never ends: organized civilizations. we are now born into it.

the danger about going to live outside of society and fend for oneself is tricky. because in our minds, this kind of social organization is what separates us from animals, including abiding by the laws of man instead of "the land". if you want to try a 'safer' min-version... try being truly eco-friendly. it's far more than just recycling - includes farming (though most start small scale).

I don't understand, I know your philosophy is not an organized religion, I'm saying that by contrasting ourselves from organized religion, we are engaging in this us (non-organized religion people) vs. them (organized religion). Is that what you disagree on?

i do not disagree that there is the element of us vs them, but as Odar demonstrated for me, it's not non-organized vs organized - it's "God-believing" vs everyone else (organized or not).

[KanadaHye]

Re: My interesting philosophy...

the danger about going to live outside of society and fend for oneself is tricky. because in our minds, this kind of social organization is what separates us from animals, including abiding by the laws of man instead of "the land". if you want to try a 'safer' min-version... try being truly eco-friendly. it's far more than just recycling - includes farming (though most start small scale).

If we wanted to be eco-friendly, we'd stop getting new computers, laptops, tv sets, cell phones, etc. every 2-3 years. Manufacturing cheap, disposable and wasteful products has taken its toll on the environment. The amount of trash that's created from cheap imports is piling rather high. It wasn't too long ago that appliances, furniture and gadgets were used for decades and even passed down generations. Now everything is so cheap that it's not worth repairing when it breaks.

If we take a look at modern society, animals have more rights than humans. In fact, domesticated animals are treated better than the sick, poor and elderly. I wouldn't mind being a dog for some bourgeois couple. Sitting around all day doing nothing and getting all the attention.

[Tali]

Re: My interesting philosophy...

If we wanted to be eco-friendly, we'd stop getting new computers, laptops, tv sets, cell phones, etc. every 2-3 years. Manufacturing cheap, disposable and wasteful products has taken its toll on the environment. The amount of trash that's created from cheap imports is piling rather high. It wasn't too long ago that appliances, furniture and gadgets were used for decades and even passed down generations. Now everything is so cheap that it's not worth repairing when it breaks.

That was precisely my point
Because we have such tendencies, it'll be rough enough on him to try to live truly "eco-friendly" without even having to leave his home and go to unowned land.

If we take a look at modern society, animals have more rights than humans. In fact, domesticated animals are treated better than the sick, poor and elderly. I wouldn't mind being a dog for some bourgeois couple. Sitting around all day doing nothing and getting all the attention.

Not all of them. Every 10 seconds in America alone, an animal is being beaten or abused, with over 10 million each year being euthanized.

[KanadaHye]

Re: My interesting philosophy...

Not all of them. Every 10 seconds in America alone, an animal is being beaten or abused, with over 10 million each year being euthanized.

Statistics... can make them up but can't prove them right or wrong I have, however, flushed my share of tropical fish down the drain.

[Tali]

Re: My interesting philosophy...

haha i wish i was making them up. I used to be a fundraiser for the Amercian Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Those were two statistics I was showed to try to guilt you into giving me more money :P

[Odar]

Re: My interesting philosophy...

Sounds a lot like Canada's Indian Affairs policy! Mow the grass whenever it needs to be cut and pull out troublesome weeds, and make a ritualistic "sorry"!

I was referring to the Natives' custom of shedding their own blood as compensation for the animals they killed for their own need... I guess it started as a magical ritual, a way to skip revenge from the dead prey's spirit (I won't venture into ascribing compassion to them), but probably even among them there was someone who considered it just an empty formality. What are a few drops of my blood against a whole herd of buffaloes?

Every 10 seconds in America alone, an animal is being beaten or abused, with over 10 million each year being euthanized.

Animal rights are in the same situation as human rights, much talk and very few walk. A few spoiled pugs sleeping on silk cushions (or a few zillionaires) don't change the much less rosy reality of the majority of animal and people alike.

Anyway, I admit it's easier to be moved to compassion toward a living being we instinctively perceive as inferior, especially when they look "cute" and harmless (puppies vs. mongrels rescued from the dog's house, toddlers vs. problem teens). A human being in distress is often as easy to handle as nitroglycerin.

[Armanen]

Re: My interesting philosophy...

Rather than trying to understand happiness through earthly pleasures and pursuits, now man is told to look upon them with guilt, because they are sins, and in essence, do exactly what their authority says will keep them pure if they hope to get into heaven.

I understand what you are saying, and don't disagree with the construct theory that you talk about, however, do you not believe that there indeed are earthly pleasures or pursuits that are bad or even evil?

[Armanen]

Re: My interesting philosophy...

and to think, that idea spawned from Buddhism and the idea of "Oneness"

Not so much spawned from Buddhism. There is but only One Creator, yet people have had different exposures to the Creator and therefore different facets have been highlighted while other aspects not so much. Perennialism.

[Tali]

Re: My interesting philosophy...

I understand what you are saying, and don't disagree with the construct theory that you talk about, however, do you not believe that there indeed are earthly pleasures or pursuits that are bad or even evil?

how about those that potentially could be? alcohol, drugs, sex (think of the human trade market...)

Not so much spawned from Buddhism. There is but only One Creator, yet people have had different exposures to the Creator and therefore different facets have been highlighted while other aspects not so much. Perennialism.

interesting. do you believe the One Creator is also Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit?

[KanadaHye]

Re: My interesting philosophy...

interesting. do you believe the One Creator is also Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit?

The one creator usually refers to universally recognized entity that created the universe.

how about those that potentially could be? alcohol, drugs, sex (think of the human trade market...)

Everything can be used for good or evil, it depends on how you use or abuse it.