by nvrgnbk 77 Replies latest jw friends
!Que me muerda El Zeitgeist!
LOL!
You've an intriguing mind Narkissos.
Thanks for remaining true to who you are, and being willing to express yourself.
We all learn from one another.
Thanks.
Now if only I could understand you! LOL!
I only got as far as high-school. I'm trying to figure some things out that's all.
Narkissos said:
As you may have gathered I don't think monism is any less delusional than dualism on the cognitive side, and I tend to prefer the concept of "faith" (or "belief," perhaps) over that of "spirituality" in a non- or post-theistic perspective... but I'm obviously out of tune with the current Zeitgeist.
Makes perfect sense! LOL
I would submit (to reiterate what I asserted above) that this is all viel wesens machen um about our individual weltanschauung.
Back at ya, nvr.
Lol... OK, I'll try to be clearer but I'll probably fail:
Imo naturalism kicks the theos ("god") of monotheism out but wants to keep the monos ("one").
No supernature (I agree so far) but one nature encompassing everything.
There is no more totalitarian concept than this one nature (or universe) when you think of it.
Think of all the different, antagonistic forces, beings, desires, wills, which are abstractly "united" to "make it up". And among them the astounding variety of human cultures, based on different languages, all artificially constructed to differ from "nature," each one in its own way. Now we would have it all subsumed into "nature," and meld into "it" "spiritually" on top of that? Isn't such "nature," by definition, a supernature? An "idea," an "idol," a "god"?
I find the notion of "faith" inasmuch as it relates to "others," imaginary or real, infinitely more respectful of difference than fusional spirituality which aims at making everything "one".
Interesting post. Thanks.
My take is that spirituality is possible without traditional faith.
To me, spirituality means transcending the demands of the amoral nature we are born with and reaching for our higher self and meaningful expression thereof.
To me, creating beauty artistically, opening ourselves and others to a wider range of experience, and contributing positively to the lives of others are all expressions of spirituality which do not require anything outside oneself.Regards,
SandraC
WOW, you blow my mind Sandra.
Your posts are extremely insightful and dead on!
I think you nailed spirituality on the head, just my opinion.
Thanks, eclipse. Does this mean I am making a positive contribution to someone somewhere? We can be a mutual admiration club because I think you are very insightful as well.,
Nvr: I just realized that that parenthetical "ahem" or whatever I put made me sound smug about having a different opinion about your previous post regarding inborn amorality vs. basic goodness. I meant to put a smiley after it, but failed to do so. This is how it works for me: The more "sure" I am that I'm right, the more likely I am to be wrong. So I hope you did not take offense at what might have been perceived as arrogance or smugness on my part.
Regards,
SandraC
So I hope you did not take offense at what might have been perceived as arrogance or smugness on my part.
Nvr.
I would submit (to reiterate what I asserted above) that this is all viel wesens machen um about our individual weltanschauung.
Hey ona honey, sweetums........you are in violation of Posting Guideline #8:
8. Posting in a language other than English.
Just thought I would add something intelligent to the conversation. It's just a weeeeeee bit over my head and my knoggin is hurtin' just thinkin' 'bout it! That and I have to listen to him talk like that all the time this was my chance, bwhahahahaaa!
Mum :
My take is that spirituality is possible without traditional faith. To me, spirituality means transcending the demands of the amoral nature we are born with (ahemmm!) and reaching for our higher self and meaningful (to me as an individual) expression thereof. To me, creating beauty artistically, opening ourselves and others (if possible) to a wider range of experience, and contributing positively to the lives of others are all expressions of spirituality which do not require anything outside oneself.Regards,
SandraC
Perfect definition Mum : To me It have nothing to do with faith but the kind of faith the bible is talking about (for instance) needs such spirituality.
I especially liked this quote:
The realization that I needn't have answers to the Big Questions, needn’t seek answers to the Big Questions has served as an epiphany. I lie on my back under the stars and the unseen galaxies and I let their enormity wash over me. I assimilate the vastness of the distances, the impermanence, the fact of it all. I go all the way out and then I go all the way down, to the fact of photons without mass and gauge bosons that become massless at high temperatures. I take in the abstractions about forces and symmetries and they caress me like Gregorian chants, the meaning of the words not mattering because the words are so haunting.
