Re: virus: Religion

Eric Boyd (6ceb3@qlink.queensu.ca)
Sat, 24 May 1997 22:12:06 -0500


David McFadzean wrote:
> > Just before I go on, I'd like to mention that I've been thinking a lot
> > lately about religion and God and "The meaning of life" and have passed
> > what I beleive is the first hurdle... I've decided that "to travel is
> > better than to arrive" and this places me firmly against God and his
>
> That reminds me of some thoughts I had on the topic of success,
> namely that success is the *process* of achieving your goals, not,
> as most people seem to think from the way they talk about it,
> the act of achieving those goals. If I could somehow spread that
> meme I think it would do a lot of good. Most people would suddenly
> realize that they are already a success, instead of worrying about
> how they are going to get there in the long run. Maybe not most
> people. Sometimes it seems that most people haven't even formulated
> their own goals, let alone figure out how to achieve them, let alone
> actively work toward that end. Which is another reason why more
> people should read Richard Brodie's books.

Now that's a cool application I had not thought of... you are right, of
course: success is a process, because you can never actually acheive
it. Maybe this is why Bill Gates doesn't stop, eh?

> > cohorts. Of course, it also makes me realize that my journey has just
> > begun and can never really end.
>
> Unless, of course, you die... right? I mean, you're not implying life
> after death, are you?

That issue is way down on my list of things to think about... but for
now, I'll say you are right, my journey will end when I die. It sorta
makes sense that way... if the purpose of life is "to travel" then death
is obviously a ceasing of the journey.

> > With this in mind, I'd life to say that I've really been rather
> > dissapointed with list... I joined hoping that there would be alot of
> > talk about religious issues and "what" one should beleive (with, of
> > course, the reasons "why") And all the talk has been about memetics!
> > You've also talked alot about "the self," and how it relates to
> > altruism, empathy and the superorganism (see, if you pound hard enough
> > even forgetful people like me will remember!) Why?
>
> You only had to bring it up. (Let this be a lesson to other lurkers :-)

Damn! Caught in the memetic trap, eh? You won't catch me next time

> > What is the meaning of life?
>
> To answer that question you will first have to tell me what you mean
> by "life". Whose life? All life in the universe? Life on Earth? Human
> life? Your life in particular?

Well OK, I'll split the question into two parts:

1) What is the meaning/purpose of all life in the universe?
and
2) What is the meaning of life on a individual scale? (ie Why am "I"
here?)
-- (answer first person)

> Once I know that much I will be able to apply the CoV definition
> of "meaning" and enlightenment will soon follow!

Hot damn, you make it all sound so easy!

ERiC

"By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is
noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by
experience, which is the bitterest." -- Confucius