tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5426424243157090434.post6444221219381152980..comments2013-04-01T05:18:58.162-07:00Comments on That Big A Word: Don't Be RidiculousMitch Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150656713929667509noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5426424243157090434.post-45290517046039859052010-03-28T19:59:43.979-07:002010-03-28T19:59:43.979-07:00Hi Mitch, in the main I agree with your comments a...Hi Mitch, in the main I agree with your comments about institutionalized religion. You've got to admit though that Dawkins can come across as a bit on the combative side. <br><br>Where I'm coming from is to highlight the dire need for our culture to decouple ASAP the search for higher meaning and purpose, on the one hand, from organised religion on the other. The two do not go hand in hand. Should not. Never did. <br><br>I think that many of the problems emerging in recent years/decades---eg rapidly accelerating destructive trends eg substance abuse, self mutilation, suicide, etc etc especially among young people---is absolutely and unequivocally the result of a perceived lack of meaning and purpose to life. This has arisen in my view because organised religion is no longer doing its job (if it ever was) and worse than that, is actively blocking pathways towards higher meaning and purpose. <br><br>It's very unpleasant to go through life believing that one is just a walking sack of blood and bone, no more no less. Who wouldn't be depressed if that were all there is to life. And I should know --- having spent forty years as a vicious, snarling, patronising, bullying and deeply troubled atheist. Until... I saw the light! and Lo and behold... Ha ha. Just kidding.<br><br>Well, actually not kidding. I experienced a spiritual awakening which changed everything for me. But, I hasten to add, my way is my way and is not necessarily your way or anyone's way. You know, people bleat a lot about "human rights". For me the number one, big kahuna, highest and biggest human right of all is the right to seek to understand the universe in ones own way. Without priests blocking and banning and prohibiting and what have you. <br><br>Part of the problem is that the words in which we have these discussions carry so much baggage. The word "god" for instance has been used and abused for so long and in so many different ways that it carries no intelligible meaning any more. It means so many different things to different people in different contexts---how can we have a meaningful conversation about something when the words we have to describe that something no longer carry meaning. <br><br>The funny thing is, if you really look hard at it, there is no substantive disagreement between believers and non-believers, as illustrated in <a href="http://cosmic-rapture.blogspot.com/2008/08/delude-this-richard-dawkins.html" rel="nofollow">delude this richard dawkins</a> in Cosmic Rapture.<br><br>masterymistery at <a href="http://cosmic-rapture.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">cosmic rapture</a> <br><br>Anyway, that's my little spray of the day.<br><br>Keep up the good work --- this is important stuff.<br><br>masterymistery at <a href="http://cosmic-rapture.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">cosmic rapture</a>masterymisteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15844831221838590812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5426424243157090434.post-73449580867497903872010-03-29T04:29:55.160-07:002010-03-29T04:29:55.160-07:00MasteryMistery, I am so sorry - I had a very long ...MasteryMistery, I am so sorry - I had a very long reply typed out for you, but when I hit post google swallowed it and it disappeared into the goddamn depths of the internet. I am rather incensed about the whole thing, and I'll have to respond in more detail at a later date.<br><br>My sincerest apologies.Mitch Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08493715536770452699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5426424243157090434.post-58284991121129719002010-04-09T18:43:16.765-07:002010-04-09T18:43:16.765-07:00Hey Mitch, no problem. Technology and I are not fr...Hey Mitch, no problem. Technology and I are not friends: I'm still grappling with the piece of crap called "Windows Vista".<br><br>Just wanted to suggest you have a look at the latest post at Cosmic Rapture, <a href="http://cosmic-rapture.blogspot.com/2010/04/living-arrangements.html" rel="nofollow">Living arrangements</a>. <br><br>One of the aims is to show how science and spirituality could and should be good friends. And that there is nothing in the scientific/materialist/reductionist world view that fundamentally rules out the existence of deity. <br><br>Cheersmasterymisteryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15844831221838590812noreply@blogger.com