Do you believe reality must conform to your desires?

[PsychoSarah]

I am sure many people believe everything should conform to their desires, despite the rhetoric to the contrary (perhaps claiming to come from a more noble position, or out of dialogue.) There are a forums on here devoted to the development art of that expectation.

How do I know? Scoffing, incredulity and ridicule take care 75% of the lot. The rest is a mix of people maliciously and disingenuously deigning sincerity.

*shugs* at the end of the day, a disagreement is two realities that conflict. Human nature; some are fine with it being just that.

Do I wish the world would conform to my desires? In a sort of weird way I suppose, although my desires still include people disagreeing with me and there being mystery in the world rather than the more childish perspectives many people use as examples of that. Honestly, the world I desire might still be vastly different from the reality, but it isn't one in which I am correct in everything, especially not theological matters. Whether or not I think the world should be as I desire doesn't really matter though, because I am well aware that it won't be.

 

[PsychoSarah]

Many people do think that the bearded nut wearing the bedsheet with the sign "World Ends Tomorrow" represents all of religion.

I think you overestimate how many people feel that way about religion. It doesn't help that the people with that extreme point of view tend to figuratively and literally "scream louder" than the majority who do not.

 

[CryOfALion]

Do I wish the world would conform to my desires? In a sort of weird way I suppose, although my desires still include people disagreeing with me and there being mystery in the world rather than the more childish perspectives many people use as examples of that. Honestly, the world I desire might still be vastly different from the reality, but it isn't one in which I am correct in everything, especially not theological matters. Whether or not I think the world should be as I desire doesn't really matter though, because I am well aware that it won't be.

Well, you wouldn't fit the OP. There is a difference between a general ego that is attracted to a world centered around it, and a person demanding that the world revolve around them - especially when they use mechanisms of rhetoric and activity to try to substantiate themselves, and their hegemony.

 

[PsychoSarah]

Well, you wouldn't fit the OP. There is a difference between a general ego that is attracted to a world centered around it, and a person demanding that the world revolve around them - especially when they use mechanisms of rhetoric and activity to try to substantiate themselves, and their hegemony.

I don't think I could handle the level of attention that would be given to me by a world that worked like that honestly. It probably is a product of people tending to think in terms of immediate rewards, neglecting to consider long term consequences. Life in eternal god mode, so to speak, would get old as fast as it does in video games. Instant gratification without effort all the time isn't very pleasant for very long. However, tinkering a bit so you have unlimited ammo so you don't have to scavenge and save while retaining the challenge otherwise can be entertaining indeed, going off of this video game reference.

 

[CryOfALion]

Ha, that's a pretty good analogy. Sure, the cheat codes for unlt ammo and even invulnerability may even out some impossibilities. But, the cheat code to skip every level is over kill, so to speak. Everyone has an ego, and tries to dial in a few "life hacks" here and there. But, it does tend to take a self centered, narsicistic, self-serving personality to think reality must, or even should confirm to self.

Reality is huge. That is a grand expectation. And yet, I know of many people that expect the planet to be served to them with haste and happiness.

 

[PsychoSarah]

Ha, that's a pretty good analogy. Sure, the cheat codes for unlt ammo and even invulnerability may even out some impossibilities. But, the cheat code to skip every level is over kill, so to speak. Everyone has an ego, and tries to dial in a few "life hacks" here and there. But, it does tend to take a self centered, narsicistic, self-serving personality to think reality must, or even should confirm to self.

Reality is huge. That is a grand expectation. And yet, I know of many people that expect the planet to be served to them with haste and happiness.

Or, in realizing that that's not happening, awaiting the apocalypse

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

I used to think this line of reasoning ...... Do you feel reality has to conform to a rosy picture you have in your mind?

there are potentially a few posters in the last ten years who know reality.
if they post very much, they get stopped. (silenced/excommunicated).
no group can accept them.

since Yhvh holds life and death in His hands. seek Yhvh. in Yeshua, the only way to Life.

 

[CryOfALion]

Dp

 

[PsychoSarah]

there are potentially a few posters in the last ten years who know reality.
if they post very much, they get stopped. (silenced/excommunicated).
no group can accept them.

since Yhvh holds life and death in His hands. seek Yhvh. in Yeshua, the only way to Life.

Is that a variant of YHWH/Yahweh? Or something else?

 

[Colter]

Some may benefit from this philosophical teaching regarding Deity and Reality as relates to mans approach to the incomprehensible infinity of reality and our creation of conceptual frames in which to think.

Paper 105 - Deity and Reality | Urantia Book | Urantia Foundation

 

[OldWiseGuy]

I used to think this line of reasoning was found only in religious moderates, and that fundamentalists rejected this.

Essentially the reasoning I'm talking about goes like this:

Religious moderate version:

"How can you fundamentalists believe in a God who condones horrific atrocities?! I want there to be a loving God, so He must be loving (or actually be love)!"


Fundamentalist version I recently stumbled upon:

"How can you religious moderates/atheists possibly believe in evolution?! The theory promotes a random, meaningless, mindless, purposeless and directionless creation."


​

To see the absurdity in this line of reasoning, consider these examples:



Person X: I like the color pink. Therefore, there are probably pink cats in the world.

OR​

Person Y: I believe there is a diamond the size of a refrigerator buried in my backyard. I know some people see this as absurd but...I just couldn't live in a universe that didn't have a diamond of that size buried in my backyard. It gives my life meaning and purpose.

OR​

Person Z: Oh my goodness! How can you believe that people actually get raped in real life?! What a horrible belief to hold! Why don't you just believe what I believe instead: that people are all nice to each other and just hold hands to sing Kumbayah all day?



Do you recognize these arguments as absurd? Perhaps you don't. If you don't, why don't you? Do you feel reality has to conform to a rosy picture you have in your mind?

It occurs to me that the 'reality' of which you speak is a rhetorical reality that exists only in the mind. I prefer my reality out in the open where I can keep an eye on it.

Taken as a whole this visible, material, reality is a mess.

Would I change it if I could?

In a heartbeat.

Would my changes affect the inner reality that people hold?

Probably not.

But the world would be more orderly (people would put their shopping carts away more neatly, wouldn't drive like brainless idiots, etc.).