Without Discoverable Beginning (The limitations of science)

by dhw, Wednesday, January 18, 2012, 21:47 (4691 days ago) @ xeno6696

MATT: The important aspect for me in regards to religious literature is that it often forces you to be creative, and yes – you can come away with something different every time, but isn’t that the true power and beauty of all poetry?

Yes indeed, but as you know all too well, it’s the creative talents of the exegetes that lead to so much division, prejudice, repression and bloodshed. On the other hand, your comment reinforces my impression that deep down you are far from being a nihilist. No nihilist (according to my understanding of the word) would talk in terms of the true power and beauty of poetry!

As regards NDEs, you write: “I think I’d be better off planning for the void and be pleasantly surprised.” Precisely my own feelings.

MATT: To be clear here…I just wanted to be sure that YOU didn’t think I was condescending. I did NOT want to insinuate that upon you.

Yet another classic misunderstanding! I thought you had taken the first two lines of my doggerel to be ironic, which they were not. You write: “I never want anything I say to harm”, which is also my own greatest fear on this forum, particularly when dealing with people who have deep-rooted beliefs. In some cases, I suspect they leave because they regard all opposition as a sign of stupidity, but I’m sure others opt out because our discussions can become too destructive. Those are the ones I feel bad about. If anyone does come across as “overbearing” (you don't), experience suggests that those who remain are quite capable of defending themselves!