Belief Statements - Robinrohan

I didn't think 'God' nor did I think 'accident'. Those thoughts never arose, But I did leave the ladder undistrubed for number of days - until the reverance at that wonderstruck reflection wore off and callous I became again.

Well, admittedly, that that spider could evolve to do that is mind-boggling. The whole theory of evolution is mind-boggling.

ABE: I hope you liked the automotive metaphor, iano.

Edited by robinrohan, : No reason given.

Outstanding post, messenjah of one. It deserves a thoughtful reply, and I will attempt that as soon as I can.

A false dichotomy. There are other "choices".

The only other choice is the religous choice.

bacteria are religious?

Oh, I thought we were talking about human beings.

Just following one's own inclinations isn't exactly finding a purpose is it? Or is it? Meaning is another thing, however. I did want meaning and couldn't find any of that either.

There's always some purpose involved. It can change of course.

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Beautiful! (The rest of your story as well.) You are a poet, Robin.

Thanks. I do ok if I'm narrating or describing something. THINKING is another matter.

But seriously, that was a joy to read. I don't know why really.

Yeah, I keep telling Faith that she should write a "spriitual autobiography," but the idea of talking about her past doesn't appeal to her.

I'll make another futile attempt of presenting what I see as an alternative to beliefs either religious or nihilistic.

Your posts are not futile at all. I enjoy them. My problem is that it's very difficult for me to think in "non-dualistic" terms(in your sense of the word). I can't imagine there not being subjects and objects, things and beings.

I believe it is one of the few bright points left of this website.

I don't know how "bright" it is, but thanks.

Have you thought about the validity of existentialism? Or does it seem to you that creating a purpose for oneself is foolish.

One might call my viewpoint "existentialism." The term just doesn't appeal to me much. And anyway it means a lot of different things. There's even such a thing as "Christian" existentialism (Kierkegaard). But you're right: a simple definition of "existentialism" is that you recognize the lack of purpose, and so you make up your own, with full knowledge that this is what you are doing. In such a case, one lives "authentically." I accept that.

Creating a purpose is not foolish: it's inevitable. A very common overall life purpose is to "get safe." It's impossible to achieve, but one can obtain relative, temporary safety. This is not an exalted purpose like altruism, but it's certainly natural.

Your reasoning may understandably be "All purposes are equal, because purposes are of a subjective nature due to value" (equally meaningless) which is truth preserving but the last sentence from my excerpt of my Argument segues into another important point of my beliefs.

Yes, that is my reasoning. Viewed objectively, all purposes are equal, whether it be collecting matchboxes or finding a cure for cancer. I'm not certain what you mean by "truth preserving."

I however probably would not last as you have

No problem. Just stock up on alcoholic beverages.

Altruism is the greatest of purposes IMO it rises above any other equally meaningless purpose.

That may be, but it's a rather tall order.

Edited by robinrohan, : No reason given.

Then don't think, just write.

Good idea.

Perhaps she just doesn't remember. She had a life BC, after all.

She is rather forgetful.

Many of the young men whom I talk with have reported to me that one of the main reasons they attend church is because of pretty women.

I see. A social club.

I doubt that Robinrohan actually believes what he claims to. I've seen many of his posts and he strikes me as a fundamentalist Christian creationist who's taking everyone for a ride.

No, I just object to a sentimentalized version of life as inaccurate and to moralism as inconsistent. Somebody will proclaim that all morals are subjective, and then the next moment he will be solemnly moralizing: the righteous do-gooder mentality.

The nondual teachings point to only consciousness existing

OK, what we are talking about here is an extreme form of philosophical idealism (everything is mental). I get that, but your version goes even further. Not only is there no physicality, there is no subject to be conscious. What we have is consciousness per se.

To me that's like saying there is nothing that is dead, but there is such a thing as deadness.

The question I have for you is where do beings come from?

From other beings.

where do they go at death?

They cease to exist.

Are you using being as a synonym for organism?

No, I'm defining being as that which possesses consciousness. That which does not possess consciousness, I call a thing.

And beings come into existence as a result of reproduction?

Yes.

You are not sure if consciousness is a quality of all life, including bacteria or have you arrived at a cutoff point? Like say oh worms maybe?

I don't think consciousness is a quality of all life. Only the higher animals.