NationStates Jolt Archive

So, what is your world view? How do you see this life, the after life etc. Here is mine.

I believe that there is a higher being, whether you call him God, Allah, Yahweh, etc. However I think that this higher being is something that we as humans cannot comprehend. Because it's on a higher level of thinking and being than we are. I believe that there are Good and Evil forces in this world. Sometimes they are man made, other times they are part of the spiritual world. I believe that how you act in this life, determines your reward or punishment in the next. I have a hard time believeing that God would choose a path where 2/3rd of mankind is already condemned to Hell. That just doesn't sound logical. I do believe in the concept of Heaven and Hell. I also believe that there are ghost and demons. Ghost are here for various reasons (too much to list in here) and Demons are basically evil Ghost.

I live my life according to The Golden Rule. I believe in praticing non-violence (I'm trying to be non-violence), but at the same time, I believe that if another person infringe upon your rights, or property then you have a right to defend yourself. You should only kill in the upmost extreme cases. I believe that many of the world's problem can be fixed in better ways beside War. Like take the ME problem. If you cut off the money (oil) then you cut off their life line. That why I am a big supporter of alternative fuels technology. I also believe in live and let's live, as long as we respect one another.

So share us your world view!

Traditional Christianity is the way to go: in all aspects of life. The closer to Reformed Christianity (traditional definition) the better. That basically sums it up.

How fluffy.

I am a through & through relativist, there is no good and evil there is only difference, cultural, religious, and ethnic.

Traditional Christianity is the way to go: in all aspects of life. The closer to Reformed Christianity (traditional definition) the better. That basically sums it up.

one part about christianity that I don't like: how can a serial rapist/murderer, repent on his deathbed and then recieve the same reward mother teresa got in the afterlife. Sounds like moral irresponsibility to me

one part about christianity that I don't like: how can a serial rapist/murderer, repent on his deathbed and then recieve the same reward mother teresa got in the afterlife. Sounds like moral irresponsibility to me

I never got that either. Also, why would he be repenting on his deathbed? Is he truly sorry and want to change, or is he just afraid of what will happen in the afterlife.

The thread isn't about discussing world views. You post your own then you leave.

Actually, that why most people have these threads, so they can discuss them...

one part about christianity that I don't like: how can a serial rapist/murderer, repent on his deathbed and then recieve the same reward mother teresa got in the afterlife. Sounds like moral irresponsibility to me

I think the idea is that God can tell the difference between a genuine repentence and someone covering their ass. Repentence includes a spiritual as well as a physical (speech) dimension.

Your relationship with your God(s) is of secondary importance to your actions; it doesn't matter what religion you follow as long as it leads to living morally and doing good on Earth. Piety and respect is important, but ultimately it will be your actions towards others that matters; if our lives in this world didn't matter, there would be no reason for us to exist.

I think the afterlife you end up in depends on what you do, not what you believe; after all, everyone takes their religion on faith and mystical experiences have been experienced by adherents of all traditions, so it's impossible to say which one is valid because they all are. The only religions that aren't valid are those that seek to harm, decieve or manipulate those who adhere to the system in order to benefit the clergy of the religion.

I think following the Golden Rule, managing all of your desires in moderation, attempting to do good and respecting the natural world are all necessary to guarantee your place in the afterlife. Even if the afterlife doesn't exist, by adhering to these rules you will make your life in this world as close to heaven as possible. Not following them makes it as close to hell as possible.

one part about christianity that I don't like: how can a serial rapist/murderer, repent on his deathbed and then recieve the same reward mother teresa got in the afterlife. Sounds like moral irresponsibility to me

First, repentence isn't merely the act of saying your sorry: it's turning away from your sin and toward God.

Second, they are getting the same "reward" and they aren't. Mother Theresea (sp?) will receive more crowns than the man who repented on his death bed. But everyone casts their crowns at Jesus' feet. So, we don't keep our "reward".

I'm Buddhist. 'Nuff said.

one part about christianity that I don't like: how can a serial rapist/murderer, repent on his deathbed and then recieve the same reward mother teresa got in the afterlife. Sounds like moral irresponsibility to me

I believe God only forgives those who actually attempt to follow the commandments. Serial killers are usually sick, twisted little fools, who look at the world and say "Hah! What a farce!". So I don't think they would exactly be forgiven.

At least that's my view on God.

I believe God only forgives those who actually attempt to follow the commandments. Serial killers are usually sick, twisted little fools, who look at the world and say "Hah! What a farce!". So I don't think they would exactly be forgiven.

At least that's my view on God.

"Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Note that calling out and calling on are two different things.

I believe that the only thing in this Universe I can positively verify is my own existence and the fact that I experience some things as "pleasing" and others as "non-pleasing." Since anything else I experience may or may not be real, my personal pleasure is the only thing that I can consider in my actions.
Further, to have the right to lead people, you must know what is best for them by empathizing with them. However, since empathy is impossible (remember, I can only know things by how "pleasing" they are to me, personally), no one has any right to arbitrary authority of any sort. This means that all government (including those that claim to democratic or representative) is an unjust tyrrany.

Primarily a materialist individualist, with strong democratic (as in the system, not the party) leanings. Also a realist. Also quite personally conservative.

I'm Buddhist. 'Nuff said.

Thats not enough said at all! :)

Are you Mahayana, Theravada, Tibetan, Zen, or none of the above? Do you hold strictly to just what Siddartha Gautama taught, or do you believe that karma gives things supernaturally to you, and that there are set animals you will turn into at the end of this life? Can a normal person achieve enlightenment in this life, or must he devote himself for lives to come? Do you have any faith in there being a God or not? Is Buddhism a big or small part of your daily life? There is so much variation in Buddhist teaching that saying you're Buddhist can mean many many things.

As for the point of this thread, I consider myself Buddhist, too; however, sometimes I believe things are different depending on my mood. I either think there is no soul, no God, and that we all will eventually return to nothing, possibly to return as a result of the universe repeating somewhere along the line, or that what I thought is emptiness is our soul and God, and so we are just an extension of him. Either way, a sentient God does not govern our actions, and we cannot pray to him, but we can look inside ourselves and find it. Direct observation is the only way to find the answer to anything.

Basically, everything is subjective. And you live, die, push up daisies, mold away and plants use your nutrients to grow. More or less.

I identify myself as a homosexual, atheistic, subjectivist nihilist.

Traditional Christianity is the way to go: in all aspects of life. The closer to Reformed Christianity (traditional definition) the better. That basically sums it up.
Traditional, a la Jesus Christ our Lord, or traditional Cromwellian Christianity?

one part about christianity that I don't like: how can a serial rapist/murderer, repent on his deathbed and then recieve the same reward mother teresa got in the afterlife. Sounds like moral irresponsibility to me
God will know that he's just bullshitting.

Doesn't this post contradict your relativist post? Mother Teresa isn't better than a killer, she's just different. :rolleyes:

God will know that he's just bullshitting.

Doesn't this post contradict your relativist post? Mother Teresa isn't better than a killer, she's just different. :rolleyes:

I don't know, I think Mother Theresa would get a better reward than a killer.

I believe that God is best defined as an unknowable essence, the Creator of all existence, all life. I believe that all created religions are the product or creation of that unknowable essence. I believe that all of the Founders of the worlds religions are sent by God to continue to share the message of God with His creation. Each of these Messengers is part of God's divine plan to educate humankind. I believe that heaven is nearness to God's spiritual plan. Hell is to be far removed from what God's intent is for humankind.

God will know that he's just bullshitting.

Doesn't this post contradict your relativist post? Mother Teresa isn't better than a killer, she's just different. :rolleyes:

I thought about that myself, i consider myself a religious and cultural relativist, there are universal ethical standards....like murder o_o

Im still searching for a my correct or at least best perspective from which to view and ponder the world at large. Ive had a few comfortable ones and some distressful ones but none answered all my questions or needs. Maybe it is the path that counts and not the destination after all.

Im still searching for a my correct or at least best perspective from which to view and ponder the world at large. Ive had a few comfortable ones and some distressful ones but none answered all my questions or needs. Maybe it is the path that counts and not the destination after all.

It seems to me that if there is a God ( and i believe there is) then God must have a plan for humankind. God must have an intent to show creation the correct path, the destination must be a part of that plan. What good is to create humanity and then not have a plan?

Traditional, a la Jesus Christ our Lord, or traditional Cromwellian Christianity?

Ithink the Puritans had a lot of good stuff, but Jesus Christ our Lord over rules that.

What good is to create humanity and then not have a plan?
It's like Seinfeld, but on a much grander scale. The Ultimate Show About Nothing, as it were.

Why does everyone seem to think that they matter? Compared to the whole of the human race, you're so weak, small and temporary as to be insignificant. When compared to all living creatures of Earth, humanity is so weak, small and temporary as to be insignificant. When compared to all the non-living physical phenomonon (stars, planets, blackholes, etc.) in the Universe, the living population of Earth is insignificant. When compared to the vast empty spaces between them, the tangible objects of the Universe are so rare and stretched out (like the alcohol content of American beer) as to be insignificant.
That means that (completely disallowing the existence of alien life), humanity is 3 levels of importance below a whole lot of empty space.

For all intents and purposes, the existence of anything that can not be objectively observed is utterly dismissible. Morality and ethical values do not originate from a higher power. They exist to hold society together. Nothing more, nothing less.

Why does everyone seem to think that they matter?
It makes them feel good. Also, most people are not capable of dealing with oblivion, so we require such ideas to prevent general anarchy and severe apathy.

Nothing anyone does matters, people suck, they need to die, and there is no God, or afterlife of any sort.

Nothing anyone does matters, people suck, they need to die, and there is no God, or afterlife of any sort.

But that doesn't mean you can't be happy.:)

But that doesn't mean you can't be happy.:)

True enough. But I prefer to be very, very angry on a constant basis. It is more fun.

It makes them feel good.
I actually felt better when I quit playing at greatness. There's so much effort and stress involved in thinking that it really matters.
Also, most people are not capable of dealing with oblivion, so we require such ideas to prevent general anarchy and severe apathy.
It isn't that people can't "deal" with oblivion, people just can't imagine a world in which they don't exist because the all the knowledge which they have of the Universe is about how the it acts in relation to them.
Asking someone to imagine a world in which they don't exist in any shape or form is like trying to build a sky scraper without the bottom 10-stories.

True enough. But I prefer to be very, very angry on a constant basis. It is more fun.
Whatever works for you.

I actually felt better when I quit playing at greatness. There's so much effort and stress involved in thinking that it really matters.
Hey, whatever keeps you from going on a killing spree.
It isn't that people can't "deal" with oblivion, people just can't imagine a world in which they don't exist because the all the knowledge which they have of the Universe is about how the it acts in relation to them.
Asking someone to imagine a world in which they don't exist in any shape or form is like trying to build a sky scraper without the bottom 10-stories.
That's what I meant.