h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hasslefree
I always think that everything happens for a reason, and that if we don't learn our lesson the first time around we are presented with another chance to learn our lesson, perhaps from a different perspective to make a greater and longer lastng impression. Your text seems to indicate a change in attitude at some time after the second occasion. When this took place, did you consider it an irony, or more of an AhHaa! moment?
Diversity

Diversity.
No I'm still making those same mistakes (not the adultary kind)
My life seems very ironic.
I suppose that's why I believe in reincarnation. As a 'repeat' offender (on all things ) I suppose I'm looking for other lives to 'get it right'
Practise makes perfect, or so they say.

Hey, Hass. Spose ya get it wrong the next time around. Bound to be more fun anyway. I hope you come back as a bloke. You'd have a harder time being good then.

Hasslefree
I just copied this from another thread
"Nature is not cruel, only pitilessly indifferent. This is one of the hardest lessons for humans to learn. We cannot admit that things might be neither good nor evil, neither cruel nor kind, but simply callous - indifferent to all suffering, lacking all purpose." Richard Dawkins
I think that is where I make the distinction between nature and god. God uses nature to show us different ways to find out whatever it is that we need to find out. I haven't burned my hand on a hot stove for a very long time, now...

Toxx
You are funny. there were men involved too !

Stove -hot; hot- burns. Fact of nature, not a fact of something else being illustrated by nature.

"Nature is...pitilessly indifferent...lacking all purpose."

FRED "What's the purpose of that rock?"
BILL "The purpose of that rock is to hold the map down so the wind doesn't blow it away."

Where is the purpose?

Why is Dawkins both right and, more subtly, wrong?

Noggin

Hiya Noggin!
What if, Bill replies to Fred:
B. Do you need that rock?
F. No
B. Then don't worry about it. I found it , it works for me. There are many other rocks, Fred, and if I can help you find a similar rock with my experience in rock finding I will be glad to. Would you like to look for a rock for yourself Fred?

Do you think Dawkins would be disturbed unless Bill offered to help him find a rock, also?
diversity

Ah yep Hass. I bet they just thought it was fun. Poor sad people, they felt no guilt at all. It's so hard to be good when you feel like that!

Nogg. I don't think that Dawkins is wrong at all. I suspect that you are reading too much into 'pitilessly'. Mistake by Dawkins too. Anything-lessly would do. The absence of things spans a large domain of things that aren't present. No point in singling out one or other property.

Well toxx that's a whole new ball game.

Nature is indifferent to our sorrows and joys, but they are both part of it.
Nature just provides the backdrop, the scenery for the 'play'
The rock may well be mineral bearing and therefore have purpose in another form

Oh and the play is a tradgi/comedy

'It is not God's function to create or uncreate the circumstances and conditions of your life. God created You in the image and likeness of God. You have created the rest.'

Hassel.. Thank You! From the bottom of my Heart, Thank You!!! For taking the time to post a real and candid thread. And you didn't have to quote the dead sea scrolls to do it! =) That made my day!....yeah, i'm a freak! =)

ALL: just because you think of something doesn't necessarily make it tangible. i can think of a 200 foot high purple monster with buck teeth and that /still/ doesn't make it real! Have we as human beings created God or is it the other way 'round??? Logic would tell us that outlandish clames need outlandish proof...where's the conclusive proof. Do we still hide in caves and pray to the spirit of the big yellow orb? Do we pray to the being who creates the thunder?.....sumtin' to ponder whilst i head back to work....


i wish you all sanity!....Diversity...thanks for the replies! =)

Hey I don't understand my own post! Am I trying to say Dawkins is mistaken but not wrong. That's garbage!

Noggin. Thanks for a great message. "Not a fact of something else being illustrated by nature" is a definite keeper. One for the memory banks.

As I said I felt guilty, sad and regretful but not ashamed about my percieved 'sins.'
If what happened hadn't happened there would be three less nice humans on the earth. And my kids are nice and respectful of their parents and that without any one putting the fear of god into them.
I spared the rod , if you like , and spoiled the child and they have never been any trouble to me, other than the normal


"Logic would tell us that outlandish clames need outlandish proof.."

I always think that whatever way is decided amongst all the ideas of creation it stills sounds outlandish.

Whose to say that somewhere in the Quantum Universe a bug eyed purple monster didn't suddenly pop into being at the very moment you 'imagined it'.

intereating logic

i suppose it is possable but now thair must be hundereds of bid purple monsters out thair

oh well at lest we know we cant be "alone"

That purple monster thang reminds me of a joke about an agnostic, dyslexic, insomniac....

...turns out to be someone lying awake at night wondering if there really is a Dog!

...heh heh...always liked that one.

Ta..

you could tell us the joke
i like a good laugh

Hi all, just thought I'd but in and say 'yea I always liked that joke too'
Have you read The Salmon of Doubt?
Eldendir.