Posts by sabastious

107

How do you keep your hopes up while in this doomed existence?

by sabastious in

jw
friends

coming from aguest's thread where she showed us the article that describes a "brain drain" that has been occuring for centuries do to "mutations" i can't help but be a little fed up with how much negativity comes from the land of science.

sure, facts are facts and they do not set out to sound good or bad, but instead of identifying the problems of doom, like our brains are devolving, why not focus on the solutions to those problems?

where are the hopes and dreams that our culture so desperately holds onto which actually provides the drive to progress towards them.

sabastious

Thanks flipper that is a very positive way to look at life and I will definitely strive to do the same. However, at this point in the game I think the common man has so much information at their feet that scanarios are naturally imagined in our minds. To demonize thought processes would be no different than the Watchtower thought police. Does this mean that ignorance is bliss? I think that what humanity has taught us is that ignorance is NOT bliss, it's only temporary bliss and anyone who seeks out ignorance is actually being immoral because they are purposefully avoiding information that could be used to help self and others.

Think about this for a few minutes: what if our moral actions directly determine our fate as a species? Aliens are out there Mulder says so. With that in mind those aliens are going to be more advanced than us if they are aware of us. So what would those species be doing in preperation for our space travel and ultimate intergration with their homeland? What if our planet is full of criminals that are still progressing scientifically. Would it be in the best interests of neighboring planets to keep a check on our progress? We are working on the quantum level now which means working with black holes could be coming which could affect neighboring gallaxies. We could be in THEIR backyard all of the sudden with the right technology with a weapon that could do some damage. This would mean that our basic morality that we show to each other would be a measurement stick for an advanced extraterrestrial life. If we don't show the proper respect for each other we won't for them when we grow to their point in the technological timeline.

I say this because most people argue that it's not healthy to think about things you cannot control. But the problem is that we really don't know HOW MUCH control we really have. What if earthquakes were created by immoral actions? What if plate techtonics are just a system of punishment to keep clean our population if we get to out of hand? What if one day our planet is gone because we were too much of a-holes and our neighbors realized that we weren't worth welcoming into the galactic family? How much effect do we actually have on the universe and it's storyline? This question has vast implications especially since there is a good chance their is advanced life out there, watching us.

-Sab

107

How do you keep your hopes up while in this doomed existence?

by sabastious in

jw
friends

coming from aguest's thread where she showed us the article that describes a "brain drain" that has been occuring for centuries do to "mutations" i can't help but be a little fed up with how much negativity comes from the land of science.

sure, facts are facts and they do not set out to sound good or bad, but instead of identifying the problems of doom, like our brains are devolving, why not focus on the solutions to those problems?

where are the hopes and dreams that our culture so desperately holds onto which actually provides the drive to progress towards them.

sabastious

Sab...are you trying to create the negativity that you are accusing science of doing?

This topic is on the subject of negative future circumstances, it's the point to create negative circumstance for the purposes of discussion. Having to leave earth is a plausible scientific scenario.

-Sab

107

How do you keep your hopes up while in this doomed existence?

by sabastious in

jw
friends

coming from aguest's thread where she showed us the article that describes a "brain drain" that has been occuring for centuries do to "mutations" i can't help but be a little fed up with how much negativity comes from the land of science.

sure, facts are facts and they do not set out to sound good or bad, but instead of identifying the problems of doom, like our brains are devolving, why not focus on the solutions to those problems?

where are the hopes and dreams that our culture so desperately holds onto which actually provides the drive to progress towards them.

sabastious

Visit a local cemetery to learn the fate of man.

Afterlife, friend, afterlife.

-Sab

107

How do you keep your hopes up while in this doomed existence?

by sabastious in

jw
friends

coming from aguest's thread where she showed us the article that describes a "brain drain" that has been occuring for centuries do to "mutations" i can't help but be a little fed up with how much negativity comes from the land of science.

sure, facts are facts and they do not set out to sound good or bad, but instead of identifying the problems of doom, like our brains are devolving, why not focus on the solutions to those problems?

where are the hopes and dreams that our culture so desperately holds onto which actually provides the drive to progress towards them.

sabastious

Let me give you all a scanario. One day we all wake up and the governments of the world announce that the species of humanity is moving to a new planet and that only 1% of the population is able to leave. The rest will die horribly. Now imagine that you and your family are NOT part of that 1%, would you simply agree with the ruling or would you feel you deserved to be part of that 1% who survive and colonize a new planet?

-Sab

107

How do you keep your hopes up while in this doomed existence?

by sabastious in

jw
friends

coming from aguest's thread where she showed us the article that describes a "brain drain" that has been occuring for centuries do to "mutations" i can't help but be a little fed up with how much negativity comes from the land of science.

sure, facts are facts and they do not set out to sound good or bad, but instead of identifying the problems of doom, like our brains are devolving, why not focus on the solutions to those problems?

where are the hopes and dreams that our culture so desperately holds onto which actually provides the drive to progress towards them.

sabastious

I am inspired to teach my children that they need not fear death. That this life is precious and we should value ours and others. That education is inspirational and achievable. And that helping others makes our existence worthwhile.

That's a nice idea, but you don't fear dying of radiation fallout from a nucular bomb? What about your CHILD experiencing it? Can you literally package all the horrible manners of which humans can die and tell a child to not fear it?

-Sab

107

How do you keep your hopes up while in this doomed existence?

by sabastious in

jw
friends

coming from aguest's thread where she showed us the article that describes a "brain drain" that has been occuring for centuries do to "mutations" i can't help but be a little fed up with how much negativity comes from the land of science.

sure, facts are facts and they do not set out to sound good or bad, but instead of identifying the problems of doom, like our brains are devolving, why not focus on the solutions to those problems?

where are the hopes and dreams that our culture so desperately holds onto which actually provides the drive to progress towards them.

sabastious

That is exactly what science is about. Science has brought you the health and relative prosperity that we all enjoy in the developed world. Its achievements are accelerating - your children will see things you can't imagine.

Well this is an encouraging thought, but like I said there is looming destruction just because we exist in the known universe. Without a global catastrophe I agree that properity is in the future. Do we all solute the night sky as our gallaxy collides with another?

It is science that will feed the world and cure the sick. Science will find cheap, pollution-free sources of energy. Science is how we get things done. The world is getting better and better.

Would you include political science in this "we get things done" statement? Because no matter how good the technology is without the political structure to apply it there is no use developing it other than providing security for a chosen elect.

Why worry about things you cannot change? Billions have lived and died.

Because if you think long enough you just might create a solution flipping the scanario from unchangeable to changeable. "Don't worry be happy" doesn't defend against solar flares.

I don't see science as a negative. It's more life affirming to me.

I don't see science as a negative either, but the proponents of it are often speaking about doom and gloom scenarios. This serves to discourage people I would assume, because it often discourages me. I want to hear the solutions not huge problems involving the fate of the human race that lack solutions.

-Sab

8

Did God invent the sword?

by Badfish in

in genesis 3, when adam and eve are kicked out of the garden, it says there is a flaming sword guarding the way to the tree of life.. this was before adam and eve had any children yet.. but metalworking and forging are not mentioned until tubal-cain -- adam's great great great great great grandson -- comes along.

not sure if it means he invented the forging of tools or if he was just a blacksmith, though.. but back to the main point.

if there was this sword guarding the way to the tree of life, does that mean god invented swords?.

sabastious

QB that's funny!

-Sab

107

How do you keep your hopes up while in this doomed existence?

by sabastious in

jw
friends

coming from aguest's thread where she showed us the article that describes a "brain drain" that has been occuring for centuries do to "mutations" i can't help but be a little fed up with how much negativity comes from the land of science.

sure, facts are facts and they do not set out to sound good or bad, but instead of identifying the problems of doom, like our brains are devolving, why not focus on the solutions to those problems?

where are the hopes and dreams that our culture so desperately holds onto which actually provides the drive to progress towards them.

sabastious

Coming from AGuest's thread where she showed us the article that describes a "brain drain" that has been occuring for centuries do to "mutations" I can't help but be a little fed up with how much negativity comes from the land of science. Sure, facts are facts and they do not set out to sound good or bad, but instead of identifying the problems of doom, like our brains are devolving, why not focus on the solutions to those problems? Where are the hopes and dreams that our culture so desperately holds onto which actually provides the drive to progress towards them. It's a defeating feeling for me to think of the earth being enveloped in a world destroying solar flare or a space rock coming and ending life as we know it. It seems to rob me of motivation and drive.

I have a 2 and a half year old whom I'm sure will be full of questions about his enviroment in his future. What happens if he gets discouraged about the idea that the universe and or earth is heading towards destruction? Michio Kaku says that the universe will eventually freeze over and life will cease to exist. Just because we cannot fathom a way out of the scenario NOW doesn't mean that we won't have a solution when it comes upon us. Why all the doom and gloom and how would you teach a child to remain positive while quite possibly living within a doomed existence. The universe freezing over is just one possible doomsday scanario, what about nucular or bio warfare? Did I have my child so that he would one day die of radiation sickness or from some terrorist grown pandemic? How do non believers keep their hopes up?

-Sab

8

Did God invent the sword?

by Badfish in

in genesis 3, when adam and eve are kicked out of the garden, it says there is a flaming sword guarding the way to the tree of life.. this was before adam and eve had any children yet.. but metalworking and forging are not mentioned until tubal-cain -- adam's great great great great great grandson -- comes along.

not sure if it means he invented the forging of tools or if he was just a blacksmith, though.. but back to the main point.

if there was this sword guarding the way to the tree of life, does that mean god invented swords?.

sabastious

This subject is compelling evidence that the Genesis stories were never meant to be a literal retelling of history. The sword is obviously a symbol that represents a deeper meaning. The same thing can be said for the characters of the story as well. Adam = ?? Eve = ?? The Serpent = ?? The Garden = ?? YHWH = ?? and so forth.

-Sab

233

Human Devolution? Interesting Article...

by AGuest in

jw
friends

are humans really getting dumber (may you all have peace)?

there have many positions on this for both sides.

saw an announcement on the news this morning and was intrigued: could it be true?

sabastious

Which one?

-Sab