Tree of life not real (Introduction)

by Balance_Maintained , U.S.A., Sunday, February 23, 2014, 01:51 (3904 days ago) @ dhw

DHW: Tony, that was a reply to David. You obviously didn't read his comment. In all these discussions, it's essential that we quote the comments we are replying to, and that each of us reads the quotes. Otherwise it's all too easy to get sidetracked. Later in the same post, you wrote: "I do not think I have ever said that ethics were the province of the godly." Same problem, and you will see that in his latest post David has graciously withdrawn his "poorly thought out off-hand comment".
>-I read his comment, but that part didn't jump out at me. My apologies for the misunderstanding.
 
>DHW: In fact, the only difference between us in this particular discussion, Tony, seems to be the implication that somehow things are different now than they used to be. You complained that education no longer "teaches how to think, but rather what to think". I pointed out that this is and usually has been the case in religious societies, and I'd go so far as to say that throughout history it's caused far more damage than that done by individual scientists pursuing their own careers. Eventually there is every chance that they will be exposed, but it's far more difficult to expose the falseness of religious fundamentalism (if indeed it is false, since nobody knows the mind of God, if he exists). However, that's no excuse for the culprits. I am as sickened by bad science as you are, but we should keep things in perspective, and I am heartened by David's more moderate comment that he is sure "95% or more of atheists and agnostics are honorable folks." I expect it's about the same with theists.-As I have said before, I think, generally speaking, people WANT to be good people, and mostly succeed to varying degrees. I won't lay any numbers on that comment, though. I think a lot of the problem comes from institutionalism, whether it is religious, secular, or political. The entire concept of institutionalizing something is to create a 'common framework' or 'common set of beliefs', and there in lies the problem. Once you have a 'common' anything, it is very, very difficult to derail it, and this is particularly true when the object that needs to be derailed is a 'thought' or a pattern of thinking.-
**Edit** This is particularly true when that pattern of thinking is supported by heavy investments in terms of time, money, or resources. Just look at how we cling to fossil fuels despite the abundance of 'free' energy.

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What is the purpose of living? How about, 'to reduce needless suffering. It seems to me to be a worthy purpose.