Mother Teresa And The Suffering For Jesus

[Kailoa36]

He's talking the Oracle of Delphi and it was a University of Louisville professor who discovered that on an archeology dig at Delphi.

[lennydale92]

only in America there is such a thing as a Athiest convention meeting shit...

meanwhile here inEurope we dont really care... we either believe or not and most Athiests here dont carry on about being Athiest and instead do what any normal person would... get on with their own lives.

[auroraman56]

@lennydale92 Come over here to America, and when you see all the batshit crazy religious people we have here that are trying to force their morality on rational people based on a book that they were indoctrinated to believe is true and will not use reason in anyway to see that their religion is bad, THEN you will see why we can't just sit back and do nothing. If everyone here could just sit back and go about things normally, then I would love that, but considering us Americans ... it won't.

[lennydale92]

@auroraman56 In my mind having such devotion to Atheism is just as bad as being uber religious.... ignore them.. you live in a free country so live your life the way you want and prosper, Smile at the shallowness of people who feel the need to devote their entire lives on such belief either religious or not.

[auroraman56]

@lennydale92 I don't think there's anything wrong with having a devotion to your own reality and your ability to think rationally about things, but if I go out and attack people for not doing it as well, then that's a different story. I understand what you're saying. If everyone just keeps their religious beliefs to themselves, then there wouldn't be any problem. And as well, I live in a free country, but sadly religion does seep into our government's policies and attitude.

[lennydale92]

@auroraman56 I agree, I have beliefs but I wouldnt want to force them on people, they can after all make up their own decisions. To me these people feed off all the attention Atheists give them. Like the West Borou baptist church (sorry if spelt wrong) They love all the attention people give them.

[SirGriefALot]

The church also made a saint out of the priest who tortured Galileo for saying that the earth was not the center of the universe.

[Eriance]

"Evil Harpy" hahaha. XD

[Tarynus]

You know who the REAL saints are? The Comedians who rip the hell outta religious dogma

WE MUST CANONISE GEORGE CARLIN IMMEDIATELY!!

[Thatmakessense356]

Missionaries need to hand out birth control instead of bibles. Instead of "You get to use the church well after bible school." it should be " You get to use the well after you get a vasectomy. Free vasectomies that way. ->" If all the starving people got some birth control, you'd stop them from starving within a generation. After the population stabilizes, education becomes feasible. The people who send food to Africans are just increasing suffering and irresponsible procreation.

[jackywong]

I disagree with this hence I am a believer of God. Suffering is a large part of life and that is what makes life so precious. Do people really want to avoid all kinds of suffering in life? Really? If there's a happiness pill that would put you into a permanent coma but in this coma you would have thrilling dreams, you would have uninterrupted happiness surges, you would have pleasure, delight and joy forever. You would have never-ending happiness. No suffering, no hurt. Would you take that pill?

[ABevs1]

@jackywong Why is the choice only between suffering and a coma??

[jackywong]

@ABevs1 No, I never said that, but you would avoid the coma, wouldn't you? Can you tell me why? Because you like to suffer? No, there is something about life that despite all the sufferings we love it and we want it.

[ABevs1]

@jackywong No if I were god I would avoid the suffering without putting someone in a coma. I don't get what a coma has to do with anything.

[jackywong]

@ABevs1 I'm so glad that you're not God in this case. Of course I don't like suffering, as you wouldn't like it too. God wouldn't like us to suffer. But only through sufferings we learn and grow.

[ABevs1]

@jackywong Umm he could find some other way to help us learn and grow. Suffering isn't a requirement. Your god is pathetically weak if its only option is to make us suffer. If suffering is a requirement to learn and grow (which it isn't) then you probably would let someone suffer even if you could help them. You are a sick and twisted individual.

[TheOmegajuice]

@jackywong There is a big difference between struggle and suffering.

If a goal is difficult to achieve then it is more rewarding when you achieve, that is struggle.

Suffering is just pain or depression, the things I gain when I suffer, or others suffer are completely inconsequential compared to the amount of suffering that they face.

I don't look at a person dying from cancer and feel good in the knowledge that I don't have it, I suffer as a result of their suffering (but far less of course)

[HeyHeyHarmonicaLuke]

yessss like 8 and a bit minutes in he was trying to think of an author of a pro christianity book, and JUST before Matt Dillahunty said "Lee Strobel", I did :D :D

I exploded into cheering trivia victory celebration hoots for my co-watchers

[alienlifeform11]

@thatamazinggeek Someone that reads ladies and gentlemen!

[Whatever4690]

Had a women once tell me you needed to make a boy suffer to make him a man,i wonder how many women share this view,and no she was talking to me not about me.

[13Heathens]

Footnote regarding the temple gasses - They were volcanic gasses, and the "prophet" was The Oracle of Delphi.. unless they're talking about a different case.

[fallbread]

ya the mother was a nut case

[Domodeath]

This is an abomanation...

[tarryarah]

HI GUYS I HAVE A LOT TO SAY TO YOU ABOUT GOD BUT WHAT A WASTE OF TIME . YOUR ARE DESTENED TO HELL GOOD LUCK

[anyrock22]

@tarryarah hahahahahaha your so loving :)

[owainmeurig]

@tarryarah Destined?

[Anon11674]

@tarryarah

Another loving christian. Thank you for continuing to show the true face of your religion.

[AmericanGayAtheist]

@tarryarah You are a delusional asshole who wishes to believe in the tooth fairy and santa claus. No matter how much you try to believe, a delusion can never be real!

[nowayout001]

@AmericanGayAtheist Oh, but the reverse is also true, whether one believes or disbelieves, the fact does not change because of what you believe in or not believe in. Tooth fairies may well exist haha!

[bfgray]

@tarryarah YOU ARE SUCH A GOOD SPOKESMAN FOR CHRISTIANS EVERYWHERE!!! How so you ask? Your stupid, uneducated, brainwashed and probably retarded. But most of all you are small minded enough to actually enjoy the notion that someone whom is far smartter and BETTER than thou will suffer unimanginable torture and injustice JUST BECAUSE THEY DISAGREE WITH YOU!

[bfgray]

@tarryarah YOU ARE SUCH A GOOD SPOKESMAN FOR CHRISTIANS EVERYWHERE!!! How so you ask? Your stupid, uneducated, brainwashed and probably retarded. But most of all you are small minded enough to actually enjoy the notion that someone whom is far smartter and BETTER than thou will suffer unimanginable torture and injustice JUST BECAUSE THEY DISAGREE WITH YOU! BAD 'LUCK' WILL SURELY FIND YOU. Cheers!

[LouSaydus]

Mat has started trying to clone himself! oh my god!

[zeldagoblin]

@LouSaydus haha you're right! Those evil atheists have messed with nature!!! What bastards!!!

[fungipie]

They look like bald-headed, goateed twins! Creeeeppyyy....Love the show though.

[boomtao]

Mother Theresa did not suffer as people like to believe, that was a marketing gimmick! She was a marketing machine!

[jackywong]

@boomtao One thing is for sure, if you are against Christianity, having a go at Mother Teresa isn't the best strategy. What have you done in your life to talk about her in the way you are doing now?

[kamijisaca]

@jackywong this is not a go against christianity, it a go against a women that perpetrated horrible things, and was considered a saint, one thing I would love to know is where the money went, certainly it wasn't used in the death houses in India where people went to die in suffering and with no medical help. she was a twisted person obsessed with suffering, her religion doesn't matter to me, her actions do.

[jackywong]

@kamijisaca No, you're wrong, do you really know she's done, she's not obsessed with sufferings. Please, if you have any facts then by all means show it. She's only delight that people die with a sense of dignity. She cleaned up the wounds of the dyings. She gave people the respect they didn't have in their lifetime. Are you serious? Accusing that she's perpetrated horrible things? Get the facts straight before talking this way.

[ABevs1]

@jackywong You are sick. Wow she cleaned their wounds. What a saint. Maybe she should have actually tried to help heal people instead of just giving them a bed to rot in. She was a disgusting individual.

[jackywong]

@ABevs1 Here you are on youtube saying that she's a disgusting individual. Have you done a tiny thing worth comparing to her? I'm sick? "Wow she cleaned their wounds"?????????? I mean wow, I can't believe people can talk this way. It's understandable to say that she's sick that she's delusional or something, if you look at the wrong evidences and at least I could understand a bit, but how could you possibly attack her for cleaning the wounds for people who are dying?? Are you serious?

[ABevs1]

@jackywong There are endless testimonials of the abuse and neglect that go on at her places. She is not a friend of the poor. She is promoter or poverty who stood against planned parenthood and modernized equipment. She could have saved countless lives but instead let people suffer. She wants people to suffer because she thinks it's a sign of a loving god. She should not be revered but reviled.

[jackywong]

@kamijisaca In fact Mother Teresa and jesus had some similarities facing their death. They are not happy facing it. They had this silence from God. She's not twisted, she did not like sufferings as what you claim here. But she knows that it's God's plan. Jesus knows too.

[kamijisaca]

@jackywong And you are giving a good example of bad things religion does to people: turn a blind eye and give excuses based around god(s), so you don't face that your religion is doing bad things.

There are a lot of people that do a great job as missionaries, some are my friends, and I know they do it for the people, not like mother Teresa, that did it for religion and here twisted ideals.

[vanda3138]

Please consider the following two logically sound claims:

A) The total number of past events within the universe is finite.

B) Something cannot be produced from absolutely nothing.

We can combine A and B to produce C, which is:

C) Whatever created the very first event within the universe is eternal and uncaused.

The word "God" is simply used to represent this uncaused eternal cause. From here, we can debate the characteristics of God through a forum of ideas and reasoning.

[DorianGrayism]

Except that C is contradicted by B since you have already said that something cannot be produced from nothing.

[DevilsFan973]

But it cannot be a contradiction if it happened. There had to be something always here or otherwise we would not be here.

[DorianGrayism]

Yes, it is a contradiction. He just said something cannot be produced from nothing and yet the first event its.

[Drweavil]

It is not logically sound to have an assumption like "absolutely nothing" in there. You don't know what there was, no one does. To make such a fantastic claim requires fantastic evidence... where's yours ?

[h3ll0xzx555]

get a degree in physics then talk

[MrSigma]

Where do I get this full song? I want to sing this in front of religious people and play it in may car too!

[porterwake]

you've never heard of R.E.M???

[MrSigma]

I am not from the US. Now that you said it, I checked it and realized that its a very famous song. But the most famous things in your country may not be know to people from other countries just as you may not be knowing the superstars in other countries.

But the song is great!

[superustipak]

just search "losing my religion" and you'll find it anywhere. it's a popular song, you shouldn't have a problem getting the mp3

[drakkensprincess]

I knew this whole idea that suffering is a virtue must have come from a stupid source. Now I know it comes from religion. I was right.

[adzug]

i think there is achevement thru struggle. its not easy to do certain things maybe even fear of failure in trying to fight the struggle, but there can be great joy in overcomming

[allanchrist]

well she did not know to do anything beside this ...did she?

[wryinslayer]

athests FTW! lol =)

[hpholland]

It's not a theory, it's a hypothesis.

[Guardian1223]

Read, ... "Padre Pio:The True Story" by C. Bernard Ruffin

[MilesB1975]

It's like a heroin addict or alcoholic, the more destitute and painful they feel, the more the feel justified getting their next hit of their Holy spirits.

[nowayout001]

@MilesB1975 But not all Holy Spirit experiences are caused by substance abuse, not all of such experiences are induced, they can be spontaneous and natural.

[cr4yv3n]

@MilesB1975 more like a sort of masochism O.o

[DirectInjected]

@MilesB1975 Great. Just great. Because of that, I need to start a distillery that makes alcohol called Holy Spirit. You've just totally altered my future. Thanks.

Just kidding, it's totally awesome.

[jackywong]

@MilesB1975 Haha, true, and if you can't tell which is good/bad between Mother Teresa and a drunkard/druglord I feel pity for you too, it's your life, not any one else's.

[bootymanager]

Mother Teresa a saint? A cunt, more like. Evil scam artist. Religious devotion is ultimately selfish, anyway. All this devotion is about what? Trying to get to heaven. What? 80 years of hanging out with lepers so she can have an eternity of joy in heaven. It's selfish, isn't it? Suffering so we can get closer to god? What the fuck is that shit? She should have used all that stolen money to build a fucking hospital, so people wouldn't die. What a piece of shit.

[KaseyAkira]

Actually, all suffering in the world is caused by us. We, the people, cause our own suffering. And far be it for God to follow us around with a pooper scooper for all eternity cleaning up every mess we make.

The next time you cut someone off in traffic because you need to pick up a quart of milk and get back to the house before the game starts, you're causing the kind of suffering God isn't going to intervene on. And its not because he's unable or just plane mean.

[a68rebel]

Yes, god can not cause suffering because he does not exist.

[kunkuno]

no but his followers can and do cause suffering

[EebstertheGreat]

What a bullshit response, Kasey. ALL the suffering in the world is caused by people? Nobody suffers due to disease, drought, floods, blight, natural disasters, fires, accidents . . .

The millions of people who die from cancer each year are causing their own deaths?

This is absurd.

And even if that were true, why would God be so lazy as to ignore the harm people cause each other? If he were truly loving and omnipotent, he would get off his ass and help, regardless of who is to blame.

[KaseyAkira]

Its called "karma".

Point, set, match, game.

[EebstertheGreat]

So people are punished for sins they cannot even remember? Why would a loving god delay punishment until it is too late for it to be just? How can anyone be held responsible for actions from past lives they cannot remember? How can these even be considered the same people?

Besides, it is clear people commit crimes against other people. In these cases, if the cause is bad karma, then God is forcing people to commit the crimes to fulfill the just punishments, which is itself unjust.

[EebstertheGreat]

And the phrase is "game, set, and match." Games are much smaller than sets or matches.

[KaseyAkira]

1. No, you can remember the "sins", just as easily as you can remember what you were doing right at this exact time of day (or night) 3 weeks ago on the dot. That includes what you were wearing, who you were talking to, what you were talking about, what you were thinking, etc. Of course some individuals can remember both, 3 weeks ago, and 1 lifetime ago.

2. Because there is no God. Karma and rebirth are natural processes, just like particle physics, which happen independently of a God.

[KaseyAkira]

3. In the same way your actions as a child have influenced where you are right now in life, even if you cant remember the actions you took as a child, and even if you are not the same person now as you were then.

4. They are not the same people. We are always in a state of flux: always learning, growing, changing, etc. You've learned something now you did not know 2 minutes ago. You're not the same now as you were before you started reading this.

[KaseyAkira]

5. We do commit crimes against other people. Right now at this moment, you have the choice to cause harm or joy to someone. Anyone in the world. Every moment that passes you by is filled with endless opportunities and possibilities.  Its your decision to bring either harm or joy to yourself or to others. Out of this, karma is created. God never enters the picture.

6. Then I better watch out, cuz the EXPRESSION NAZIS ARE WATCHING!

Understand now?

[EebstertheGreat]

1. There is no evidence of anybody remembering "past lives." Until I see convincing evidence, I have no reason to believe this is possible. Also, I do not believe anybody should be punished for their actions as young babies that they cannot remember. Do you?

2. If you believe there is no god, you are, by definition, an atheist, and you don't fundamentally disagree with this video on that front. You mentioned God in your post, so I assumed you were a theist, but I gather that I was mistaken.

[EebstertheGreat]

3. See 1. I am not responsible for actions I took that I cannot remember and cannot continue to influence me or others (aside from this imaginary system of "karma" Buddhists have come up with).

4. One can acknowledge change and fluidity without sacrificing identity. Identity is a necessary and useful concept for all social endeavors, regardless of its basis. Identity is best defined, in the instance of responsibility and therefore punishment, by continuity of memory or conscious.

[EebstertheGreat]

5. If this is true, I certainly wish there were no karma. It sounds like "nature's police force," doling out good and bad as it sees fit, according to absolute standards hidden from the majority of humanity. It does nothing to actually improve the quality of one's life who is suffering at the hands of another; rather, it punishes the transgressor, and leaves the victim drowning in his tears. In terms of crimes, it is universally violent; good deeds, universally good. This is not a just system.

[EebstertheGreat]

It is this last point that is ultimately the most important. Convicting a felon does nothing to reverse the felony committed. The importance of punishment lies in the deterrence of future crime. But karma does not deter crime, unless the criminal buys into the Buddhist worldview. It only seeks revenge, and this is not conducive to improving the individual or society.

So if karma is not good, and there is no evidence for it, why believe in it? The natural world is so much more satisfying.

[KaseyAkira]

Final point: See points 3 and 5.

[thedayitriedtodie]

KaseyAkira:

u are fresh air here :)

glad to know there is still inteligencia around here.

[KaseyAkira]

3. You seem to think Karma is this conscious force that follows you around and punishes you for things. It is not. It is a consequence of past actions.

If you smoke all your life, then you hit your head and cant remember smoking, you'll still get lung cancer even if you stopped smoking after you hit your head and "turned over a new leaf". The natural consequences of past actions (and past life) lead you to your current situation (and current life). Karma works like this.

[KaseyAkira]

5. See point number 3. Karma is not a consciousness following people around and punishing them. It is a natural set of consequences. If you go around in life being a total asshole to everyone, in a few years, no one will want to hang out with you, or hire you for a job, or help you when you're in trouble. The entire world that you created for yourself will be a terrible one.  Karma is just this concept applied to a larger scale.

[KaseyAkira]

5 (again) - if you had studied just a little about this topic before you began, you would have understood these ideas already without me telling you.

The idea of karma works as follows (I'll be using analogies, NOT to be taken literally. Dont start trolling this thread).

When you cause suffering, you add negative karma (NK) to a "bank account". When you remove suffering or bring joy, you add positive karma (PK) to the same account. Its tallied up, and constantly changing (cont to 1...)

[KaseyAkira]

(... cont from 1) When you do bad, you gain NK. When you do good, you gain PK.

When you experience suffering, you lose NK.

When you experience joy, you lose PK.

This constant state of flux interplays with the vast universal system of cause-and-effect.  The Romans through Christians to the lions. The Christians were reborn as Nazis, the Romans reborn as Jews. The Jews reborn as Americans, the Nazis reborn as Iraqis. The cycle goes on and on and on.

[KaseyAkira]

2. I believe in the _*possibility*_ of God. Its very possible that there is some form of life in the universe, that we as of yet do not understand, that is capable of feats we would consider "god-like", be it through evolution or technology. I think its far more unlikely that some form of all-knowing consciousness created the universe, but then we'd be talking about what you would consider a "god" and whether or not he's involved with celestial middle-management in our everyday lives.

[KaseyAkira]

4. Your original question was "how can these even be considered the same people". My point was, over time, you've learned enough that you gradually become a different person. The point at which this would happen is an entirely different subject.

[KaseyAkira]

1. Evidence be here: watch?v=_EWwzFwUOxA and here watch?v=hZhMDU9GcVg.

Dont get "evidence" mixed up with "proof". Evidence by itself doesn't PROVE anything. If I accuse someone of murder and bring a bloody knife to court as evidence, that doesn't prove the defendant killed anyone. Only when I have an overwhelming preponderance of the evidence (finger prints, eye witnesses, DNA, etc), all suggesting only one possible explanation, would I have "proof".

But you did want evidence so there it is.

[EebstertheGreat]

The question ultimately will come down to the question of evidence. Your comments seem to indicate that 1) you are an atheist, but do not reject the idea of (e.g.) aliens so powerful they are godlike, 2) you believe in both karma and reincarnation, and that they are natural forces, and 3) that you think there is sufficient evidence for these to justify this belief.

(1) I tend to agree with, but I would not call these beings "gods," since they are really just living organisms, more like humans.

[EebstertheGreat]

(2) and (3) I obviously disagree with, but the reason I disagree with (2) is because I disagree with (3). So that is the source of conflict.

You presented two youtube videos of stories on reincarnation you consider "evidence." If all your evidence comes in this format, it cannot possibly be sufficient to justify belief, regardless of the quantity of it. It is so easy in these cases to make a mistake, lie, exaggerate, or simply consider only one possibility. This is not controlled or repeatable.

[EebstertheGreat]

While I understand you are not claiming proof in these regards, that does not mean you should believe anything you feel like because you can find some people claiming it is true. When there is literally no scientific model that could explain the hypothesis, and it seems contrary to all studies performed to this point, it should require TREMENDOUS evidence to cause even doubt regarding reincarnation.

When I say that this contradicts studies, I am referring to the duality of mind and spirit/soul.

[EebstertheGreat]

This is essential for a belief in reincarnation, because in order for someone to be reincarnated as someone else, there must be something shared between the two, something with detectable consequences; otherwise, they are simply entirely different people.

But the fact is, no thoughts or emotions sufficiently studied have been shown not to derive from neuronal impulses in the brain. I challenge you to find evidence people can think or act without using their brain.

[EebstertheGreat]

Now clearly, the memories you believe are sometimes transferred would eventually be mental in nature. So to demonstrate this, you would have to show that memories entered the brain from some source other than the sensory organs or the brain itself. Perhaps you could show compelling evidence of somebody knowing information he could not have known. Instead, you have shown me two videos of people claiming to have had vague dreams and recollections that resemble real events, outside of experimental

[EebstertheGreat]

conditions. I don't even have a reason to trust that these people are not lying, let alone that they are competent to determine whether this is compelling evidence of reincarnation. Furthermore, there are MANY historical examples of hoaxes of this sort perpetrated, yes, by children, and even more by adults. So there is good reason to believe these stories could be false, but no good reason to believe they are true, or that they are even possible. And that is where I draw the line.

[KaseyAkira]

h t t p : / / w w w . google . c o m . my/#hl=en&source=hp&q=case+stu­dies+of+reincarnation&btnG=Goo­gle+Search&meta=&aq=f&oq=case+­studies+of+reincarnation&fp=33­3385fe20a3267

My computer has advertisement virus and wont let me click on any search links from google. When I do, I get redirected to some other page, usually wanting me to buy a ring tone. I was about to spend 20 mins or so picking out a list of links demonstrating various case studies, but I cant. So there's the search link...

[KaseyAkira]

"So to demonstrate this, you would have to show that memories entered the brain"

◘ We do not have any such technology to do this. It may one day be possible. Getting into superstring theory, quantum physics, the non-locality of sub atomic particles, etc - we can speculate on a wide range of things, and it may be a while before we can test any of those. I think reincarnation is an excellent explanation, and I'd bank on it, or some version of it, being the final answer to the question.

[KaseyAkira]

We cannot currently explain the process.

If you had a child who could say he lived before, and said he drove a red truck... ok thats nothing.

But if the child gives you the goddam license plate of the truck he drove, the address where he lived, the first middle and last name of his wife, the spot where crashed his truck and died, and EVERY ONE of those facts checks out - yes, there are plenty of explanations for how this could happen. But reincarnation sits among them.

[KaseyAkira]

"that does not mean you should believe anything you feel like"

◘ My understanding is that there is sufficient evidence to suggest a strong possibility that reincarnation happens. I may be wrong, and the entire theory / hypothesis may one day be proved DEAD wrong, but if I had to bet on which way I wanted to explain the numerous case studies into this subject, the idea of reincarnation fits just fine right now as I see it.

[weepaul666]

Tell me why you think reincartion happens. This should be a laugh...

[KaseyAkira]

I dont know why it happens.

[OneStonedBastard]

which theory / which hypothesis? Gonna back that scientific jargon up?

[KaseyAkira]

The youtube videos I provided were just 2 out of thousands of thorough case studies. I was hoping you'd draw that conclusion on your own - given the number of related videos in the side bar you could view as well. There are more than enough case studies with more than enough evidence to make reincarnation a sufficient possibility. No one's saying we can PROVE it, and yes there are still other ways to explain the evidence at this point, but it remains a possibility supported by evidence.

[EebstertheGreat]

The problem, Kasey, is that a large quantity of crappy evidence does not equate to good quality evidence. There is a lot of "evidence" for bigfoot, but none of it is legitimate. Therefore I cannot conclude there is good evidence for reincarnation unless I actually see it.

But it's more than that. You concede we have no explanation of how it could happen, which means it doesn't rank among equally likely explanations for surprising phenomena. It is more of a "last resort" idea.

[EebstertheGreat]

To quote Thomas Payne (somewhat out of context): "Is it more probable that nature should go out of her course or that a man should tell a lie? We have never seen, in our time, nature go out of her course. But we have good reason to believe that millions of lies have been told in the same time. It is therefore at least millions to one that the reporter of a miracle tells a lie."

Reincarnation is a miracle, being supernatural and inexplicable. And I would need overwhelming evidence to believe it.

[lothrazar]

either god cant eliminate suffering, meaning he is not god, or he WONT, in which case i want no part of his sadistic theology.

[GBart]

The woman with the gas he was talking about was the Oracle of Delphi.

[TheAtheistPaladin]

Even with all this medication, there are still too many sycophants.

[BionicDance]

I've often said, the basis of much of religion appears to be masochism, a perverse desire to suffer and/or be thought worthless. Humility is just a form of masochism when you get right down to it, and what do most religions preach...? Yeah.

[KaseyAkira]

I believe the original intention may have been "the right view of self" (I'm Buddhist).

On the one hand, a lion who thinks he's an elephant may need some humility, as this wrong view of one's self will never bring peace of mind. On the other hand, a lion who thinks he's an ant will also never find peace. One needs humility, the other needs encouragement. There's a middle way to all things.

[BionicDance]

But who is to say what the right or wrong view of oneself is...but oneself?

Granted, there are physical realities to consider; of course there are. But if one limits one's thinking to, "This is what I am, this is what I will always be, and that is the way it should be," who would ever achieve anything, ever?

Religion is stagnation, and to no good purpose.

[KaseyAkira]

Getting in touch with reality is the first step. Knowing reality takes effort and focus. One has to remove the ego, and in Buddhism meditation is recommended to help augment this. Otherwise, you'll always be making excuses or blaming others because you value your ego too much to ever admit fault.

But once you've acknowledged reality, you can understand your own potential. Some people beat themselves up, others put themselves on a pedestal. Some need pride, others need humility.

[BionicDance]

Meditation does nothing for me; it's just sitting, and usually in a REALLY uncomfortable position. I'll meditate the instant they find a way to spice it up and make it more fun and action-packed.

...I blame the ADD.

[spotlitkiss]

yeah - but what's the incentive to be that way?

[BionicDance]

You need incentive? A good deed can't be its own reward...? Or do you think religion is required for that? And if so...why?

[spotlitkiss]

no. i was just wondering what lies behind the masochism? - just in general - on a biological level. and thought maybe you'd have an idea. just a throwaway comment from me....

[BionicDance]

"People are weird."

Best I can do. ;)

[mppos1]

endorphin, maybe?

[mppos1]

endorphins*

[spotlitkiss]

yeah maybe. lol thanks

[nowayout001]

@BionicDance You are only partly right, for humility is not necessarily a form of masochism.

[WilltheAtheist]

These guys looks quite alike.

[BionicDance]

I was about to say... "Look, everybody! Clones!" Heh.

Ya beat me to it, ya rat bast'd! ;)

[WilltheAtheist]

offtopic but Matt also looks quite like my Father

[BionicDance]

Har! He looks NOTHING like mine.

...so far as I know; I'm adopted. But my adoptive dad...not a thing. :)

[Yarcofin]

I think everyone had the initial "clone" thought when they saw this :P

[xXAkridXx]

Hey guess what? Take another 5/5

[CousinoMacul]

Another reason that she stayed in the slums even if she didn't believe would be that she felt stuck. (Firstly, though she worked in the slums, she didn't live in poverty herself.) How many people become successful and 'renowned' at what they do only to begin doubting their career choice? How many of them actually make the change? Changing is hard and takes courage.

[Neilsama]

This idea that suffering is a good thing kind of reminds me of a really funny Peanuts cartoon...

Lucy: "Adversity builds character. Without adversity a person could never mature and face up to all of the things in life!"

Charlie Brown: "What things?"

Lucy: "More adversity!"

[spotlitkiss]

there's a quote from somewhere.

they say pain is wisdom. it's just pain.

i'm totally paraphrasing

[Yash241]

I subscribe. Keep going!.