What does your world consist of?

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Robert_Sock said:
It’s a miserable and corrupt world. It’s a lower-world of existence where Satan has temporary reign.

My personal world consists of faith, hope and LOVE! I’m most eager for this life to come to an end whereby I’m able to enter Heaven.
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“Inasmuch as you did it to the least of these…”

There is much to be done in this world before we enter heaven…
 
Heuchler said:
I’m reminded of the last line of Se7en. “Ernest Hemingway once wrote, ‘The world is a fine place and worth fighting for.’ I agree with the second part.”
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The first part will be achieved by the second! 🙂
 
Sair said:
That’s a mightily open-ended question, if ever there was one.

Do you mean what is important to us in our day-to-day existence? The things we hope for and strive to achieve?

Or is this more of a metaphysical question about what kinds of substances we believe exist?

For the former, the things that are important to me are my family and friends (under which umbrella I include both human and nonhuman beings) and I strive to achieve tranquillity and quality of life for those within my sphere of care and influence - that is, those whose lives I am capable of touching, including my own; and I seek knowledge and understanding of the natural universe of which I am a part.

For the latter, as I’ve made known in many previous posts, I believe only natural substances and forces exist, and that the appeal to anything supernatural is a reflection of our lack of knowledge and understanding, not of the true and real state of the universe.
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The nature of reality is not dictated by our beliefs but revealed by our actions, aspirations and achievements!
 
tonyrey said:
in other words we obtain what we deserve…
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Whether we deserve the results or not is a subjective judgement. We reap the results of not just our own actions, but the actions of all others (both persons and impersonal things and forces) within whose field of influence we lie.
 
This sounds like one of those projective personality assessment tests which tap into the unconscious mind.

My world consists of more questions than answers. However, as they say in science, good questions already contain some of the answers within them. There is much wonder in my world; also searching, yearning, deep feelings, loving relationships, inner peace, joy, and sadness intertwined, faith and reason, nostalgia and hope for the future. I try to enjoy both the miracle and the pain of life and appreciate the simple pleasures, while being kind and empathic, and seeking wisdom throughout the journey.
 
Sair said:
Whether we deserve the results or not is a subjective judgement. We reap the results of not just our own actions, but the actions of all others (both persons and impersonal things and forces) within whose field of influence we lie.
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Our actions, aspirations and achievements have objective effects and consequences which bring us happiness or misery according to whether they are positive or negative. Selfishness leads to isolation, frustration and misery whereas love leads to harmony, fulfilment and happiness. If that is a subjective judgment so are scientific descriptions!
 
meltzerboy said:
This sounds like one of those projective personality assessment tests which tap into the unconscious mind.

My world consists of more questions than answers. However, as they say in science, good questions already contain some of the answers within them. There is much wonder in my world; also searching, yearning, deep feelings, loving relationships, inner peace, joy, and sadness intertwined, faith and reason, nostalgia and hope for the future. I try to enjoy both the miracle and the pain of life and appreciate the simple pleasures, while being kind and empathic, and seeking wisdom throughout the journey.
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Your world may consist of more questions than answers but it is a positive, rewarding world… 👍
 
tonyrey said:
???
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My world consists of a continuous stream of strange experiences. Objects with varying dimensions and aesthetic qualities participate in the visual collage that is normally referred to as existence. Although I can point to few brief moments of what might be classed as joy, I have spent most my life being consumed by the psychological disease and humiliation called unhappiness. Sometimes I dare to imagine the possibility of killing my self, just for the thought that the noise and despair of my experiences will cease. But that would be giving the devil the pleasure of seeing my demise.

And so…I continue.
 
MindOverMatter2 said:
My world consists of a continuous stream of strange experiences. Objects with varying dimensions and aesthetic qualities participate in the visual collage that is normally referred to as existence. Although I can point to few brief moments of what might be classed as joy, I have spent most my life being consumed by the psychological disease called unhappiness. Sometimes I dare to imagine the possibility of killing my self, just for the thought that the noise and despair of my experiences will cease. But that would be giving the devil the pleasure of seeing my demise.

And so…I continue.
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The world you describe is a strange contrast with your posts on this forum which so effectively defend Christian beliefs and values. Your mention of the devil leads me to believe you are paying the price for fighting against evil and injustice. You may not be a saint (perhaps you are in some ways!) but you are exposed to the same assaults on your faith and peace of mind as they were - and are. We cannot venture into enemy territory and expect to remain invulnerable…

The occupational hazard of a philosopher is to rely too much on our intellect at the expense of simplicity. I find the words of Jesus are the most powerful weapon against self-doubt. Try using them as mantra:

"“**Do not let your hearts be troubled. **You believe in God; believe also in me…

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid…

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you** protect them from the evil one.**”
 
tonyrey said:
Our actions, aspirations and achievements have objective effects and consequences which bring us happiness or misery according to whether they are positive or negative. Selfishness leads to isolation, frustration and misery whereas love leads to harmony, fulfilment and happiness. If that is a subjective judgment so are scientific descriptions!
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You are so quick to discount the times when selfishness leads to satisfaction and love to unbearable heartache - as I said, we reap the results of circumstances other than just our own actions and intentions. Sometimes generosity just leads to getting walked on; other times, anger and aggression yield positive results. Everything in life, it seems, is a matter of balance, of being able to read our environment and see what is required.
 
Sair said:
Our actions, aspirations and achievements have objective effects and consequences which bring us happiness or misery according to whether they are positive or negative. Selfishness leads to isolation, frustration and misery whereas love leads to harmony, fulfilment and happiness. If that is a subjective judgment so are scientific descriptions!
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  1. I do not discount the times when **in the short term **selfishness leads to satisfaction and love to unbearable heartache
  2. We do reap the results of circumstances other than just our own actions and intentions
  3. In the short term generosity does sometimes lead to getting walked on and other times anger and aggression do yield positive results
  4. **In the long term our positive actions, aspirations and achievements bring us more **happiness and fulfilment than our negative attitudes and destructive actions
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tonyrey said:
I admire your courage and honesty. 👍

Anger and confusion are the inevitable consequences of atheism.
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On what basis do you assert this? In my experience - that is, my own and that of others who have related their stories to me - anger and confusion have been the inevitable results of realising that the theistic worldview with which one has been raised is a fantasy. Understanding and embracing an atheistic worldview has brought a sense of peace and a deeper understanding and appreciation of life.
 
Sair said:
…embracing an atheistic worldview has brought a sense of peace and a deeper understanding and appreciation of life…
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Small print: …and also freedom from Christian responsibilities:hmmm:
 
tonyrey said:
  1. I do not discount the times when **in the short term **selfishness leads to satisfaction and love to unbearable heartache
  2. We do reap the results of circumstances other than just our own actions and intentions
  3. In the short term generosity does sometimes lead to getting walked on and other times anger and aggression do yield positive results
  4. **In the long term our positive actions, aspirations and achievements bring us more **happiness and fulfilment than our negative attitudes and destructive actions
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Again, whether our attitudes are positive or negative is related to circumstances. Certain situations call for behaviours that might be considered negative in other situations. You can’t simply generalise and say that one manner of behaving is going to suit all times and places better than some other manner of behaving.

And this actually does not imply that our aspirations play a more significant part in shaping our reality than the extent to which they are shaped by it. Our actions and achievements are directly affected by the circumstances in which we find ourselves. We can only operate on the basis of what we perceive to be possible at any given time.
 
MindOverMatter2 said:
Small print: …and also freedom from Christian responsibilities:hmmm:
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Of course you, as a committed Christian, would say so, since this seems to be the standard script to follow when not having an actual response to the claim that it’s intellectually and emotionally rewarding to reject supernatural religion. As far as I can see, rejection of Christianity only absolves me from responsibility to imaginary beings, not to my fellow humans and the other inhabitants of my real world.
 
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