Regardless of reality, (page 4)

cognizant dissident

When I say, "the truth is out there", I mean that there is an absolute truth as to where matter/life began, how it began,
and by what/whom it began.

Then, I would say that, at present, "the truth" about those facts is unknown and unknowable. Is the search for the future answers to those questions futile? Again, impossible to say at present. The answers will either unfold in the future (helped along by greater scientific minds than mine), or they will not. So, it is not absolutely futile to search for the answer to such questions but absolutely futile to become attached to getting a particular answer. If we pin all our hopes on a future that may never come, we will miss the present that exists right now and is ours for the having!

Cog

journey-on

Well said, Cog.

Your key phrase is: "at present"

As I said, I believe it is innate in man to search for meaning and for answers.

So, it is not absolutely futile to search for the answer to such questions but absolutely futile to become attached to getting a particular answer.

Not futile, indeed, to search, but futile, indeed, to become attached to an answer that cannot (as yet) be proven.

What disturbs me is the 33.33 percent that says: who cares?

John Doe

If we pin all our hopes on a future that may never come, we will miss the present that exists right now and is ours for the having!

Interesting thought, but I can't help thinking of people with no retirements who are stuck with big credit card bills. ;-)

cognizant dissident

What disturbs me is the 33.33 percent that says: who cares?

Not everyone is deep like we are Journey-On! LOL!

cognizant dissident

If we pin all our hopes on a future that may never come, we will miss the present that exists right now and is ours for the having!
Interesting thought, but I can't help thinking of people with no retirements who are stuck with big credit card bills. ;-)
Living in appreciation of the present without striving after unknowable "certainties" does not preclude prudent planning for the future. Being "present" also means being aware of the true nature of our present life. As I said earlier, the only thing that is certain is that we will grow old and retire and then die, barring any unforseen, untimely accidents or illnesses. So knowing this "truth", the wise course would be to make provisions for ourselves in our retirement and old age.
It is precisely because so many people are in denial about this fundamental truth that they live beyond their means and do not put away for their future. On some level they know, but they live their lives as if they were unaware of it. They act as if they will be forever young. There is a famous quote, I can't remember who said it, but the gist is this: "One of the greatest mysteries of man, is how we can watch everyone around us growing old, getting sick and dying and yet never believe it is going to happen to us!"
Don't JW's just personify this mentality to the maximum? At least every other religion teaches that we will die, but there is some sort of afterlife. JW''s must be the only religion in the history of the world that teaches it's members they may actually never die! They take the prize for extreme denial of reality!
I am middle-aged and have no retirement savings at all or even a paid for house because I bought into this delusion when I was young and spent my time slogging mags for free instead of working for my financial future. That is the price I will pay for wising up too late. Karma is a bitch. Cause and affect. I am very appreciative I live in a social welfare country such as Canada so that I will not be on the street begging when I retire.
Cog

Hope4Others

At least every other religion teaches that we will die, but there is some sort of afterlife. JW''s must be the only religion in the history of the world that teaches it's members they may actually never die! They take the prize for extreme denial of reality!

What a cost that's brought to many... not preparing for the future. Even the Ant prepares for the winter.......how many times did we read that scripture?

h4o

journey-on

I am middle-aged and have no retirement savings at all or even a paid for house because I bought into this delusion when I was young and spent my time slogging mags for free instead of working for my financial future. That is the price I will pay for wising up too late. Karma is a bitch. Cause and affect. I am very appreciative I live in a social welfare country such as Canada so that I will not be on the street begging when I retire.

How is this accomplished?

jwfacts

I don't think there is any religious organization that provides a logical answer about reality. Athiesm, or Diesm seem most real, but don't provide very satisfactory answers.

Possibly the religion with the most satisfying answer is now Anglican, which since 2000 says that no matter what, everyone will get resurrected to heaven for a second chance.

cognizant dissident

That scripture immediately came to my mind also H4O. My husband who is still a JW and 12 years closer to retirement than I am, still refuses to take any responsibility for his finances. He has no idea how much money he makes, how much he spends or how much he owes. Magical fairies (me) take care of all of this for him. He has to believe Armageddon is coming any day and Jehovah will bail him out and he wil never have to face reality of his poor financial choices. Good thing, because if he woke up to reality now, he would realize how screwed he is and probably kill himself!

Cog

jwfacts

He has to believe Armageddon is coming any day and Jehovah will bail him out

I have known a few JWs like this. They get into massive, growing debt, because it soon want matter. So life becomes ever harder because soon never arrives. The other Scripture that applies is Ecc 12 "expectation postponed is making the heart sick".

Regardless of reality,

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