Dear Atheists...

[WonderBeat]

How do you measure that? what units do you use?

-
The quality of 'goodness' is self-authenticating is it not?

- What is your natural sense?
+ I suppose the "units" I would use would be degrees of consciousness. To what extent does a person manifest goodness ("sattwa") to the utmost extent? To what degree do his actions contribute to transcendence?

Are they indistinguishable from non-existant?

- God only reveals certain things to those he cares about through love.
+ To elaborate: some things you need to figure out on your own. When your mind is prepared, then God graces you with His understanding. I am fortunate enough to have but an inkling of this understanding.

 

[Davian]

How do you measure that? what units do you use?

-
The quality of 'goodness' is self-authenticating is it not?

- What is your natural sense?
+ I suppose the "units" I would use would be degrees of consciousness. To what extent does a person manifest goodness ("sattwa") to the utmost extent? To what degree do his actions contribute to transcendence?

Gibberish. You've moved on to 'transcendance' and you've never defined 'spiritually enlightened'.

Are they indistinguishable from non-existant?

- God only reveals certain things to those he cares about through love.
+ To elaborate: some things you need to figure out on your own. When your mind is prepared, then God graces you with His understanding. I am fortunate enough to have but an inkling of this understanding.

Would it not be easier to type "no"?

 

[Davian]

There are a number of contextual clues. First off, a new age has been predicted in the works of many, including Christians. For instance, the book of Revelations states that God's Kingdom will descend onto the earth and it will be a completely changed world.

Secondly, I have already listed a number of indicators that we are in a time of transition (the increase of floods, hypocrisy of politicians, general global turmoil, and also global revolutions in lifestyle, beliefs, practices and so on). All these things indicate we are at the cusp of a changed world, not necessarily for the better, but change nonetheless. One fact that brings me hope is that ideology in its most egregious forms has been proven not to work, so people will attempt to look at life less through rigid ideologies ("denominations" as Acharyaji states) and more in the form of practical, integral applications to life and the world around them.

Thirdly, both the Mayan and Vedic chronologies predict this age to come into existence, as well as the Tibetan Book of the Dead. Because of this conglomeration of facts, we should definitely be on the look out for something to occur. IMHO.

"...be on the look out for something to occur. IMHO."

You are really going out on a limb with this prediction, lol. Could you possibly be more vague?

 

[Gadarene]

"...be on the look out for something to occur. IMHO."

You are really going out on a limb with this prediction, lol. Could you possibly be more vague?

When I post this post, we will shift one year into the future!

It will take approximately 12 months!

 

[WonderBeat]

Gibberish. You've moved on to 'transcendance' and you've never defined 'spiritually enlightened'.

The more subtle a thing is, the less liable it is to define.

I will say one thing: "chit."

Would it not be easier to type "no"?

No....

 

[WonderBeat]

You are really going out on a limb with this prediction, lol. Could you possibly be more vague?

Well, the war on drugs is on the tipping point of coming to an end in a few short years, humans have never been more connected by the likes of facebook, and Americans are waking up to the political sham that is government.

Can you not at least admit that society is at a major transition point?

 

[Eudaimonist]

Well, the war on drugs is on the tipping point of coming to an end in a few short years

Yes, hopefully.

humans have never been more connected by the likes of facebook

True, but the Establishment Presidential candidates still got virtually all of the votes. There still exists the deeply ingrained tactical mentality of voting for the lesser of two evils.

and Americans are waking up to the political sham that is government.

Only a small number. Most Americans are happy with big government and can't even imagine one that is much smaller. Many Americans would be pleased with even more government.

America, if anything, is following the path of Western Europe.

Can you not at least admit that society is at a major transition point?

I hope that it is, but I doubt that it is, unless you count an end to the war on drugs as "major" all by itself. I think that the trend is actually the opposite overall -- towards even more government.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[madaz]

and the topic of this thread is...??!

 

[GrowingSmaller]

The OP:

It is your love of morality that sends you to Hells and the Animal Kingdoms. This is because you think that by being moral without God you are perfecting your lives and those around, but what you are really doing is becoming self-centered ("self-righteous" as the Christians say) and thinking that morality revolves around such petty things as "kindness" or "empathy." Notwithstanding these lies, you cannot encompass true morality because for that you need some measure at least of faith, devotion, and surrender (not to mention humility in the light of these great things).

That is my thought. Hope it was constructive.

It is this kind of bullying abuse of what is good and esteemable in man that gives religion a bad name. If you want to preach about the evils of the world there are better targets than sincere ethicists. IMO faith gorups ought to recognise the likes of Sam Harris and other constructibe thinkers rather than hand wave sanctimoniously. What is at stake but the stability of collective consciousness as it tries to make it's way in life? IOW as the Jews say don't throw stones into the well you get your water from.