Reality or theater (fiction)?
I'm a sucker for both. Actually, I'm a huge fan of goood literature, film and theater. Like many, I feel that what's "good" is what entertains and teaches me/us something. It has a message of sorts worth telling. Like the story, To Kill A Mockingbird.
On the other hand, I really dig reality. When I'm not anticipating a show, I mean, when I'm not watching a movie, film, play, musical or what have we, I like my life served real. I like the truth. I think the truth really does set one free.
So, I was chattin' with a buddy this morning and I asked him, "Is it better to lie and not offend, or offend with the truth?" He said, reasonably enough, "It depends on the importance of the truth." So, I replied, "...well if it has to do with the existence of a god or not." (we're both atheists) He asked, "Is your intention to hurt/offend or not?" I replied, definitely, that my purpose is never to hurt or offend. My purpose is to lift the veil so that we're all living in reality and truth, because I really believe that the truth really does set one free.
And so, we chatted about it for a while. The conversation fizzled out a little just because we both just got sort of bored with it and had things to do. So, we parted and went about our day.
Here's what we discussed, in brief.
I think that in order for there to ever really be peace in the world, the world must embrace reality and not the fiction of a god or the expectation of his/her existence. I think that this is our heaven and hell and we've got but one life to live. This is it. We've gotta love and be at peace now. Today. There's no reward in afterlife. This is all really controversial, of course, to many. I know. I myself was closeminded to the possibility that there is no god for a long time. I grew up in Christian households. Went to church, attentively. And even studied the bible, devoutly. Prayerfully. Wholeheartedly.
Then I went to college. I discovered the concepts of culture and psychology and what have we and many of my concerns and questions about religion and religious writings started to get addressed. Gradually, I realized the (unintentional perhaps) fallacy of religion. I realized my own cognitive dissonance and how to appease it. I realized why I had believed in a god and ultimately why I had a hard time not believing in the truth that there actually was not one. Whoa! It was harsh. I was hurting. I was depressed. I felt let down. Deceived. But later, I was at peace. I came to terms with the reality and with concept of spirituality. It was difficult and painful, but I did it. Perhaps it was like any battered housewife that must come to terms with the need to leave her abuser. Perhaps not and I'm out in left field. If I am, I'm sorry. I'm just looking for an analogy.
Speaking of which, analogies, I see religions as if they were those who believed that the world was flat, before some brave observant people admitted that the world was not. In a way, a religion sees the earth as a flat square, triangle, or circle (depending on the brand of faith) while the rest of humanity realizes otherwise and sees the world as the sphere that it is. Hey, I'm not a great philosopher or anything, so maybe my analogies could use some work, but this is me nonetheless.
My friend mentioned an interesting point however. That religion is a good salve to those that need it. It comforts and allows one to live, well, comfortably enough. And, he added, that perhaps there are those that could not handle the truth that there is no god and that this is the only life we get. Hmm. I though about this too, but came to the conclusion that such an idea may be selling others short. I mean, I got over it. I think others could too. If we were all on the same page and supporting one another, emotionally and cognitively, I think the truth wouldn't have to hurt so much. But, there lies to quandry, sort of. Is humanity able to live in the reality that there is no god, or do we go on living in theater instead. Because, religion is theater, in my humble opinion. Fighting wars in the name of gods that don't exist? Killing, ostracizing, banishing, abusing others in the names of gods that don't exist? Fuck. I hope not. Let's embrace reality and obtain true peace. Eventually, at least.
peace out, y'all!
I'm a sucker for both. Actually, I'm a huge fan of goood literature, film and theater. Like many, I feel that what's "good" is what entertains and teaches me/us something. It has a message of sorts worth telling. Like the story, To Kill A Mockingbird.
On the other hand, I really dig reality. When I'm not anticipating a show, I mean, when I'm not watching a movie, film, play, musical or what have we, I like my life served real. I like the truth. I think the truth really does set one free.
So, I was chattin' with a buddy this morning and I asked him, "Is it better to lie and not offend, or offend with the truth?" He said, reasonably enough, "It depends on the importance of the truth." So, I replied, "...well if it has to do with the existence of a god or not." (we're both atheists) He asked, "Is your intention to hurt/offend or not?" I replied, definitely, that my purpose is never to hurt or offend. My purpose is to lift the veil so that we're all living in reality and truth, because I really believe that the truth really does set one free.
And so, we chatted about it for a while. The conversation fizzled out a little just because we both just got sort of bored with it and had things to do. So, we parted and went about our day.
Here's what we discussed, in brief.
I think that in order for there to ever really be peace in the world, the world must embrace reality and not the fiction of a god or the expectation of his/her existence. I think that this is our heaven and hell and we've got but one life to live. This is it. We've gotta love and be at peace now. Today. There's no reward in afterlife. This is all really controversial, of course, to many. I know. I myself was closeminded to the possibility that there is no god for a long time. I grew up in Christian households. Went to church, attentively. And even studied the bible, devoutly. Prayerfully. Wholeheartedly.
Then I went to college. I discovered the concepts of culture and psychology and what have we and many of my concerns and questions about religion and religious writings started to get addressed. Gradually, I realized the (unintentional perhaps) fallacy of religion. I realized my own cognitive dissonance and how to appease it. I realized why I had believed in a god and ultimately why I had a hard time not believing in the truth that there actually was not one. Whoa! It was harsh. I was hurting. I was depressed. I felt let down. Deceived. But later, I was at peace. I came to terms with the reality and with concept of spirituality. It was difficult and painful, but I did it. Perhaps it was like any battered housewife that must come to terms with the need to leave her abuser. Perhaps not and I'm out in left field. If I am, I'm sorry. I'm just looking for an analogy.
Speaking of which, analogies, I see religions as if they were those who believed that the world was flat, before some brave observant people admitted that the world was not. In a way, a religion sees the earth as a flat square, triangle, or circle (depending on the brand of faith) while the rest of humanity realizes otherwise and sees the world as the sphere that it is. Hey, I'm not a great philosopher or anything, so maybe my analogies could use some work, but this is me nonetheless.
My friend mentioned an interesting point however. That religion is a good salve to those that need it. It comforts and allows one to live, well, comfortably enough. And, he added, that perhaps there are those that could not handle the truth that there is no god and that this is the only life we get. Hmm. I though about this too, but came to the conclusion that such an idea may be selling others short. I mean, I got over it. I think others could too. If we were all on the same page and supporting one another, emotionally and cognitively, I think the truth wouldn't have to hurt so much. But, there lies to quandry, sort of. Is humanity able to live in the reality that there is no god, or do we go on living in theater instead. Because, religion is theater, in my humble opinion. Fighting wars in the name of gods that don't exist? Killing, ostracizing, banishing, abusing others in the names of gods that don't exist? Fuck. I hope not. Let's embrace reality and obtain true peace. Eventually, at least.
peace out, y'all!
VIEW 3 of 3 COMMENTS
And I think it answers the question that you pose. Namely: How much does it matter to you that one specific person believe or not believe in a god? And how much does it matter to that person?
If the belief gives that person comfort and isn't hurting anyone else. and your motive here is the possibility that they might hurt other people in the name of religion, then it seems that the importance of their truth to them should outweigh the importance of your truth to you. What they believe is important to them and has a much lesser impact on what's important to you.
On the other hand, if the belief is being actively used as an excuse to hurt other people, then the answer might change.
thanks for the birthday wishes