Comment

Comment by Joan Denoo on December 23, 2012 at 4:54pm

If Nihilism means do nothing but what you want to do, “nothing is true, so nothing is real, so there’s no point to anything”, nothing is true except myself” then NO I am not a nihilist. No, I do not believe any of this, for “nothing is true except myself” negates all of existence.

I believe I am part of a very large universe that is only coming into view now with new technology and information. More will be coming and it only adds to my experience. I am part of a web of life, not more or less important or valuable; I am an individual that exists as part of a very grand whole. I can stand tall, strait, firm, confident that I am and I am who I am. So can you. 

Who I am depends on me; the same applies to you. My ancestry exists as part of it, my physical and mental condition influences me as does my environment and so do my appetites. The same is true for you. 

I wonder if the Tree of Life and a genealogy tree can be combined? No, there are too many missing links, but the concept of pinning a genealogy on a tree of life interests me. At least it would reveal our human origins as Africa. We are all related, even if ancient stories tell of good and bad lines. That nonsense needs to be put to rest as soon as possible.   

Comment by Joan Denoo on December 23, 2012 at 4:01pm

John Carey, how exciting and I very much like your logo. Do you have it available for use now? How will you use it? I am just so excited by the idea, I know it will proved a new dimension with which to look at events, time and space. Sounds like an addition to the faithful microscope and telescope, all tools to help understand complexities. 

Comment by Joan Denoo on December 23, 2012 at 3:52pm

Tom, Have you ever been around someone who is waiting for god to reveal his plan for him or her? One woman I know waited four years for a job because that task was supposed to be completed by her belief in her god. I don't know what she did to fill those four years, but I know what I did, I looked around, found a need, and took action to help solve that need. In the process life has turned out to be a tremendous adventure. I have known other people who stay loyal to their jobs out of duty, or obligation, or submission, or whatever. They appeared to me to be like persons in graves waiting to have it filled in by others.
I have known others that busily carry on their responsibilities of making flower arrangements for church, or planning and executing potluck dinners, or doing all the tasks necessary for holy days. The people who do these chores, appear always tired, feel anxious they aren't doing enough, or good enough, they seem to me to be busy with being busy. They pray for help, relief from stress, or that their football team will win. Their god is too small. It is as though they wear blinders and can't see the world around them, the joys and sorrows; political and economic issues give them no satisfaction, their religious duties tie them to duty and obedience ... for what purpose? And they don't ask or want to talk about the big issues, i.e. Is the Earth and universe 6,000 years old? Did god create Adam out of dust and Eve out of his rib? Did god promise them that spot of land? Did god order the murder of every living thing in villages of innocents? Did Noah save all air breathing things on Earth? Did god impregnate Mary? Did Jesus perform miracles? Was he crucified, died, and rose from the dead? Did he ascend into heaven? Are we created to love god and be obedient to him? Is our task to obey? Do the Bronze Age stories of desert tribal people apply to 21st Century homo sapiens? Did the church do you a favor by outlawing contraceptives or denying your mother effective family planning? Why to each one of these questions?

You can carp all you want to when I/we turn off our "brains and sweep with infinitely large brooms." Carping doesn't make you right in your assessments or us wrong in ours.
Just look in a telescope and microscope and describe what you see. Wake up to dimensions larger and smaller than you and just try to turn off your brain. It is all there for everyone to see who has a brain. Just look around you and see the joys and sorrows around you and describe what you see. Wake up to others, what they contribute, what they suffer, what they tend to, and then look at your own life. Do you have a broom with which to sweep?

Comment by Glen Rosenberg on December 23, 2012 at 3:30pm

Tom, you got a critique that isn't cute, funny, fresh?

Comment by JP Carey on December 23, 2012 at 8:11am

I know I keep saying it -but you guys will love Orderism. 

1. The nihilist view that there no is imbued purpose or meaning to life or us being here may be correct.  But now things have changed, we have minds and can ask the big questions, and can shape our existence.  Can a nihilist perceive beauty? -there's a small purpose there.

2. FRACTAL LIFE! Yes it seems that life is obviously a self organizing system WHICH tend to be fractal and exhibit "self similarity".  Continual refinement towards specialization.

single cell organism -> multi cell organinism -> specialized multi cell organism -> animal with nervous system

single person -> multi person (tribe) -> specialized multi person (town) -> global community with communications (small world)

I know that's speculative, but there are plenty of smaller examples of fractal life.

Sorry to drag that back up here. Joan, Bianka, and Tom -you folks inspire me.  I'm a bit of a web developer and I'm trying to bring Orderism.org (A Philosophy to Live By) online this holiday break.  

i may be crazy - i know

Comment by Tom Sarbeck on December 23, 2012 at 7:24am

All I know about you guys is what you say.

If you say there's no purpose in your lives, I'll figure you know more about your lives than I do.

I reserve the right to carp when you guys turn off your brains and sweep with infinitely large brooms.

Joan, you say there's no reason you were born, except for good sex. I hope you didn't waste your life doing something else.

I used to wonder if a birth control failure was the reason I was born. Then I learned that a couple of years before I was born the Catholic Church declared war on Margaret Sanger and birth control. Yeah, my dad was one of those.

Comment by Joan Denoo on December 22, 2012 at 6:51pm

Rosindell presents OneZoom at Paris workshop

OneZoom Tree of Life is a new way of viewing evolution over time and space. I have only just discovered it; it involves using fractals to tell the story of living things on Earth. If it is anything like Gapfinder, I am going to be busy all winter having fun. 

Comment by Bianka Bee on December 22, 2012 at 5:47pm

Joan Denoo.. absolutely right! No meaning, no purpose, no plan! Isn't that a lot more comforting anyway? There is nothing you HAVE to do, you just do what makes you happy!

Comment by Glen Rosenberg on December 22, 2012 at 5:27pm

Aint nobody arguing Joan. 

Purpose and meaning are human constructs and imply creator. At least for theists they do.

Comment by Joan Denoo on December 22, 2012 at 4:50pm

I must repeat, because I believe it so profoundly, even if others say something else. 

There is no meaning in life.

There is no purpose for life. 

There is no reason I was born, other than good sex, I hope.

There is no plan for my life; it is up me to define my meaning, purpose, reason and plan for my life.  

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