Creation & EvolutionForum for the discussion of this important topic. This forum is open to non-believers. There is a Christians-only forum in the Christians-only section too.
Virii are not alive, so how can they be opportunistic? They do not feed and have no ambition. They aren't even technically parasites.
That's just semantics. They exist and they reproduce. They have no brains, so they don't have "ambition." You can call them parasites or not. But you can't argue about whether or not they do exist and they do reproduce in the human body. It's a fact. Because they are able to.
__________________ Well the lush separation unfolds you --
and the products of wealth
push you along on the bow wave
of the spiritless undying selves.
And you press on God's waiter your last dime --
as he hands you the bill.
And you spin in the slipstream --
timeless -- unreasoning --
paddle right out of the mess.
That's just semantics. They exist and they reproduce. They have no brains, so they don't have "ambition." You can call them parasites or not. But you can't argue about whether or not they do exist and they do reproduce in the human body. It's a fact. Because they are able to.
Plants are even more of an "ambitionless" entity. They are the product of Earth's virus. They live and consume and reproduse without any control. They are like a bunch of chain reactions. But, aren't animals with brains about the same way? These are just more complex, and we sympathize because we have the same functions. But, if we can seperate ourselves from our flesh, we can take these feelings as utterly deceptive. Reacting to them would be unnecessary, and flinching at pain is stupid. We would eat, not because we were hungry, but because we would decide to sustain our presence in a mortal body. We would choose to sleep, choose to breathe, and choose to blink. You'll never have free will as long as you don't have self control. It will require a complete indwelling of the spirit man.
Free will, through self control, is trully freedom. If you are a slave to sinful desire, you are not freeing yourself of control. Rather, you are becoming powerless to choose. For Christians: Do not let people make you think you are missing out on life's experiences. Instead, realize that the freedom you have is life's fullest. They may not have a God controlling them (as they bost they are independant), but they are slaves themselves. Slaves to pointless, foolish, meaningless, nothingnesses.
Terminal cancer is indeed painful, however most people with terminal cancer are under so much medication during the last remaining weeks they dont know what's going on. My uncle passed away after a 6 month fight with liver cancer, during the last two months he didnt know what was going on. Granted it was terrible to watch, he most likely didnt feel any pain or had any idea what was going on.
I'm sorry to hear that. I watched my sister and my father go through the same thing before they died...cancer is a simple fact of life in our family (thanks to genetics). My sister had metatstatic cancer for more than 12 years...but in the end, her body gave out (and like you say...its not nice to watch). What amazed me was how it turned her spiritual life around (as she would call it).
Originally Posted by Halruaa
Yes, you are right. All I am is a physical body, however good can come from suffering. It can make people more open to others when it comes to suffering. I personally have a connective tissue disorder, that will leave me with a lifelong chain of heart problems in the future, and because of this I feel im a better person.
If you have come to a place where you see that, then you and I are not so different after all. I hope (and pray if you don't mind) that your life does *not* physically turn out the way you expect. Still...you have a *very insightful* attitude about it.
Originally Posted by Halruaa
I know that im not as lucky as others, and I treat people with the respect they deserve. However, this disability also makes me more harsh towards those who abuse their bodies (like drug users..). I get really angry when I see drug users abuse themselves, because they dont know what its like to not live normally. They take their health for granted, and I feel they don't deserve it. Pain has already found me, and i've accepted the fact that when im in my thirties i'll have terrible heart and lung problems.
Don't be too hard on drug users. Their addiction may seem self inflicted (and I suppose it is to some degree), but once addicted they are nearly as helpless as someone with terminal cancer. People like this need more support and understanding than most...and often their lives are wasted (by anyone's standards)...this is truly tragic.
Originally Posted by Halruaa
How do you explain people who suffer more than others? There are people who go through life with no medical problems, live to be 80 and die happy. Then you have people like me, who will suffer much physical pain, and will experience countless health problems in the future. Im only 19 years old, and I chances are will suffer more than a lot of people here. My suffering however, is nothing compared to those with terminal illness, cancer ect. I am very happy to be as 'healthy' as I am.
Ironically, you are answering your own question here. Someone who never has health problems may never apprecieate *the important things* in life. You have an illness, and yet you have come to apprecieate the value of your life....you don't seem bitter or downtrodden about it (a very enlightened attitude). My sister was thankful for every day that she lived. She wrote 'thank you God, for this chemotherapy day' in her journal (days where she was often horribly sick). All of us *healthy* people stood humbled by her attitude.
Christian theology calls this 'the great reversal'. Often when people are at their worst, it brings out the very best in them. Have you ever wondered why that is? This is why you get 'the last (on earth) will be first (in heaven)' and 'blessed are the poor', and 'it is hard for the rich (not just money) to enter the kingdom'. As I said, if you have health and money (the riches of this world), they can blind you to the spiritual existence. Maybe an atheist would interpret it like this: 'why don't they appreciate what they have'? If you can see that...then like I said...You and I are not so different after all.
Thanks for sharing such a personal message Halruaa. I believe God has blessed you...whether you see it or not. I also believe that God can save and redeem you, again...whether you realize it or not.
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