Thursday, November 3, 2011

Are theists more mentally humble? I have this thought...?

Clearly you are a philosopher. Asking questions is what philosophers do. There aren't any broad, all-encomping answers to any of these questions. Neurologists are getting closer to understanding how religion works in the brain, but I'm also getting closer to being a trillionaire with every penny I put in my piggy bank. We both have a long way to go. I'm glad that you postulated these questions in such a respectful manner, and I hope that I can contribute to this discussion in the same spirit of seeking truth. And I hope I can use plain wording that is easy for everyone to understand as I do so. The enemy of intelligence is ignorance. I think that intelligent people consciously choose to believe what they want to believe. Ignorant people do as they are told or refuse to consider the other options in beliefs. An intelligent person has the ability to understand another person's point of view without adopting that point of view as their own. How wise is it to understand why another person believes the way they do, and respect the beliefs they have even when the other person doesn't understand their beliefs as deeply as you do? Perhaps that is where wisdom comes in. Perhaps wisdom is having the ability to strengthen or destroy another person's beliefs, and choosing not to, but rather choosing to let them continue to learn and grow in their own time. A wise person sees all people as equals, no superior, no inferior, but equals. Each person comes into this world with handicaps and phenomenal abilities. No two people are the same. Each will contribute to society in their own way if they choose to. Some will try to take the advantage of another who is highly skilled at mathematics but handicapped in negotiation and sell them a car for a higher price than the actual value of the car. Someone with great ability in physical strength will use that ability to help and protect those who are handicapped in strength. Not everyone will choose to do the same thing all the time, and those who once helped us may end up hurting us later. I think the movie Crash is a good example of how people are. No one is exactly the way another person judges them to be, because who can know the mind of another person? First you must understand your own mind, and then you can learn the mind of another. I never met anyone who could take another person and fix their mind. I have met several people who help others find the pathway to fix their own minds. Is there a God? Is there not a God? I don't care. What I care about is when I leave this world will people be glad to be rid of me, or will they be sad to see me go? And how will I be remembered for using my great abilities and overcoming my handicaps?

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