My personal Philosophy on life

[Lusted]

I've been meaning to make a thread like this for a while, just to explain my own personal philosphy by which i live my life. Eveything here is my own views, and im sure some amy agree with some of them, but disagree with others. If i mention some religons more than others or use some religons as examples it is only because i know more about them, and so use thme as examples.

Firstly, as a few people know i am an atheist, which is key to my views. Without a God, deity or omnipotent being having a divine plan for me, i make my own plan, i choose my own choice in life. I feel that the chances of me, or anyone else being alive on this planet is so mind bogglingly huge that we should enjoy our too short time on this planet, and live our lives how we want to, trying to enjoy every moment we have, and live a happy life. I find having no God and no predefined divine plan very liberating, as it means i am making the choices for my life, and i do, i make choices every day relating to my life, and i am ready to accept the results of those choices whatever they may be. This does not mean i am without morals though, even though i am not religous i feel i have very high moral values: everyone is equal regardless of race, gender, religion or sexuality; theft is wrong; murder is wrong, though i am pro volutnary euthanasia and pro-choice in regards to abortion; war should always be the last resort; we should protect the planet; we should treat other people how we would expect to be treated.

Whilst i am an atheist, i have no problem with most religions, the fact there are billions of people of different faiths around the world shows that religion must give something to people for it to be so widespread. I only have a problem with religion in its extremist forms, for instance creationism, evangelicasism or islamic fundametalists for example. When a book is taken to be the literal or only truth, or is used as the sole reason behind a war, then religion can become dangerous. I also have the problem with many religions getting people to live, for instance, sinless lives so they will be rewarded in the next. I feel this only detracts from enjoying this one life we have, which is far too short a time to live on this wonderous planet. But like i said i have no problem with most of religion, and it can be a very good thing.

We live on a truly outstanding planet which is awe inpsringly beautiful. Our planet is part of a universe so complex and amazing it staggers the mind. Why do we need to be sinless in this life to get into paradise in the next.

We are living in paradise, this planet andniverse we live in is paradise enough for me.

Thank you for reading this, feel free to post whatever you want to say in response, i just wanted to explain my personal philosophy on life.

[Tostig]

From the second paragraph I assume that you're familiar with Satre
It sounds quite reasonable, although I disagree on the subject of religion.

[Lusted]

Yes i do know of Satre, though disagree with him on a few things. And yes i expect very few people to agree with my views on religion.

[Oldgamer]

This is an interesting thread, Lusted. Your personal philosophy of life is well thought out, at this stage in your life, and your willingness to accept people of faith is consistent with my general experience of atheists.

I agree that this planet is a paradise for us. Look at where we live. It's a garden. But drive 2 miles or 20 miles from where you live, and you will find people who haven't experienced the beauty of this world the way we have. Much of the world is far from a paradise, and I've been there ... seen it with my own two eyes ... I may have even made life harder for some of these people. Life is about nothing more and nothing less than survival, finding the next meal, finding someone who will help with medical problems, digging the hole that will serve as a child's grave.

This is why I am a Christian. I find in my faith ultimate truth, but more importantly, ultimate justice. Justice for those millions ... Billions? ... of people who haven't experienced the beautiful garden that we have.

This places quite an onus on you, sir. Since you don't believe in this ultimate justice, the next phase in the development of your personal philosophy of life should have to do with discovering the general quality of life for humanity, and trying to do something about it.

I don't help out in a local shelter for battered women, the Olive Branch mission for indigent people in Chicago, or the local food pantry because I think it will earn me some merit for heaven. I know that it will not. I do these things because they are right. My Bible tells me, "Inasmuch as you have done it to the least of these, my brethren, you have done it unto me." Now, this is Truth!

You will have to find your own way of creating justice in our world, and I wish you all the best for your search and your personal journey.

[Lusted]

I already do volunteer work for Oxfam, try to buy fair trade wherever possible, and intend to dontate lots to charities throughout my lifetime. I also buy Big Issues whenever i see people selling them(the big issue is a magazine in the UK that homeless people can sell to help give them some income). I also read the New Internationalist, a magazine that details the reality of life for many in the world, and i inted to travel and see this reality for myself.

I intend to help those less fortunate myself, and campaign for justice and equality all my life.

[Oldgamer]

I already do volunteer work for Oxfam, try to buy fair trade wherever possible, and intend to dontate lots to charities throughout my lifetime. I also buy Big Issues whenever i see people selling them(the big issue is a magazine in the UK that homeless people can sell to help give them some income). I also read the New Internationalist, a magazine that details the reality of life for many in the world, and i inted to travel and see this reality for myself.

I intend to help those less fortunate myself, and campaign for justice and equality all my life.

Some of the most generous, moral, and compassionate people I've known in my life were atheists. There's this idea floating about in space ... especially, cyber-space ... that atheists and theists have to hate each other, and work against each other. I don't believe this for a second.

I see more of Christ in what you've said above, than in many of my fellow-believers (some of whom are concerned only with personal salvation and getting to heaven).

You mentioned travel ...

From a human standpoint, one of the most terrible places on earth is sub-Saharan Africa. Find a country that is relatively stable, and go there to meet the people. It will change your life.

[Lusted]

Like i said Oldgamer, i respect religion as it can bring out the best in people and can be a good thing. I deeply respect you because you have shown yourself to be a great caring person. I agree that there is a view on the internet that atheists are bad, or don't work together etc.

I was thinking about visiting Burkina Faso, i hear it is relatively stable. Though this will not be for a few years as i am a student at the moment.

[Ummon]

I find having no God and no predefined divine plan very liberating, as it means i am making the choices for my life, and i do, i make choices every day relating to my life, and i am ready to accept the results of those choices whatever they may be.

It's a false impression that you are freer because there is no divine plan. In truth, this is an entirely subjective perception. Your freedom doesn't increase nor decrease because of the presence or absence of God. And honestly, most of the times, your impression of freedom is only an illusion.

I will explain this more precisely.

If by existentialism [a] is the object as you perceive it, and [A] the real object outside your perception (in reality), in truth you have absolutely no relationship with the [A] object which is the only real one, but only with the [a] one. That which has a relationship with [A] is as Lacan properly pointed out, your unconscious.

If we deny the existence of the unconscious (which Sartre does not), in any case how many of your choices can you relate to your free will?

This obviously not taking into account hunger, thirst, fear, anger, need for money, desire for love, etc. These, are items entirely independent or semi-independent from your will, which obviously have a conditioning effect on it.

[Garbarsardar]

We live on a truly outstanding planet which is awe inpsringly beautiful. Our planet is part of a universe so complex and amazing it staggers the mind. Why do we need to be sinless in this life to get into paradise in the next.

We are living in paradise, this planet andniverse we live in is paradise enough for me.

Part of me wishes that I could think like this when I was your age; on the other if that was so, probably I would not post this now...

As, a better man than I, put it:

You're an interesting species, an interesting mix. You're capable of such beautiful dreams and such horrible nightmares. You feel so lost, so cut off, so alone, only you're not. See, in all our searching, the only thing we've found that makes the emptiness bearable is each other.

Lusted, you are doing fine.
Garb.

[Lusted]

Ummon, my post is not very deep philosophically, i am fully aware of the whole debate related to free will and yes we are not trult free, but we can make choices for ourselves, i was referring to free will in the manner that we do not have a God guiding our actions, we do have an unconscious and other factors guiding them, but we also have the freedom to choose in many circumstances.

Garb, that is very well put, we have the dreams and the nightmares, and everything inbetween, it helps having others around, and to know what you want from your life.

[Primvs Sextvs Loverlord]

Where's this philosophy bit? So you're negating the Religious View of human nature but, at the same time, you're saying that man's relationship with God tends to being out the best in him at times.

Anyway, if this is your personal view on life, I am also an athiest but I believe that religion, in many cases, is so inter-twined with culture that it's hard to tell sometimes which category something belongs in.

[Lusted]

I am saying than religon can bring out the best in people, but it is not necessary though. The thread is my personal philosophy even though it probably doesn't qualify as one.

[Oldgamer]

Lusted,

I went to a CIA site, that I still have access to ... shock! ... to get some of the latest information on Burkina Faso, and you are right to say that it is a country that is relatively stable. It's a country of about 13 1/2 million people, with a moderate rate of serious diseases, and a moderately-high rate of HIV/Aids. About 50% of the people are Muslim, 10% Roman Catholic, and about 40% indigenous religions. The CIA believes the government to be stable, but recent problems in the Ivory Coast and Ghana have caused high unemployment rates among people who migrate to find work. I think this might be a good place to go, after making landfall in Ghana.

Ohter people visiting this thread should realise that this is about Lusted's personal philosophy. Personal philosophy is not the same as formal philosophy, though it can contain elements of it. My own personal philosophy is part religion, part upbringing and culture, and part Phenomenology.

[Lusted]

I was thinking of Burkina Faso because New Internasionalist visits a village there every 10 years to see how things change, so it said it was quite stable, and a good place to see the problems facing many people, but also seeing how technology and other things are helping people.

[Farnan]

You have a great personal philosophy Lusted. I would like to say, though I am a religious extremest according to Lusted (a creationist), I have absolutely no quarrels with Atheists, just Anti-theists (you know the type, the people that claim religious people are stupid and religion is the cause of all the world's problems; not simply those who try to disprove religion).

My own personal philosophy comes from my deep religious convictions (love thy neighbor), my own personal experience, and an overactive conscience. I believe in helping people help themselves. Guiding people and helping them along the way.

About going to Africa, I am thinking of going to Africa myself after I leave the military, but what I'm thinking of doing is different from what you're thinking of doing (Clue: Oldgamer is one my inspirations and see my beliefs about Darfur).

[Lusted]

Well, the very fact we do get along in staff shows that even if you are creationsits etc, it doesn't mean i dislike you, it eans im just gonna debate a lot with you! I agree that anti-theists do go to far in saying all religious people are stupid. Whilst religion can cause problems, by far and large it is a good thing. Whilst i do not understand other people's belief in god as i do not believe myself, it does not mean i will ridicule them.

Whilst i would be interested in going to Darfur, i feel it is too unstable to go there, but i can understand your reasons for wanting to go.

[Farnan]

Well, the very fact we do get along in staff shows that even if you are creationsits etc, it doesn't mean i dislike you, it eans im just gonna debate a lot with you! I agree that anti-theists do go to far in saying all religious people are stupid. Whilst religion can cause problems, by far and large it is a good thing. Whilst i do not understand other people's belief in god as i do not believe myself, it does not mean i will ridicule them.

Whilst i would be interested in going to Darfur, i feel it is too unstable to go there, but i can understand your reasons for wanting to go.

By the time I leave the military after college (7-20 years) I seriously hope its over and hopefully the African massacres will be over. But that hope is unlikely to be fufilled, so I'll do my best to help the civilians.

[Lusted]

In 7-20 years it should hopefully yes, i presume you are interested in going there to see the after effects of what happened?

[Farnan]

Read my edit please.

[Lusted]

Ah, it is as i thought then. Good luck to you when you do go there, i am sure you will help people as best you can. And i am also sort of surprised a religious extremist(i don't mean it offensively) is so complimetary of my personal philosophy, but then i realise i shouldn't be really.