We chose to believe what we believe about the world due to inspiration or delusion...
The nature of the game is that you REALLY won´t know until the game is over...
Until that time, we accept that which we agree with, and resist that which is antithetical...
Our highest virtue is that we remain true to that which we believe, in spite of our faults and failings. We choose to represent the ideals that make us who we are. This is the nature of being human, to communicate; and to communicate that which we know the most about -- ourselves.
In the drive to discover ´what is Truth´, only a fool doesn´t see the pitfalls, diversions, and the counterfeit.
In explaining our views that make us what we are, by way of explanation, sometimes it´s easier to say what we are not. And since everything can´t be true, and world views can be mutually exclusive, people are going to find themselves diametrically opposed.
But until the final curtain, let´s allow the free expression of what we all stand for.
Expect challenges and calls to defend, explain, and illuminate our positions...
Weakness of character should not be indicative of incorrectness of position, nor incompetence in rhetoric be confused with illogic of belief.
Everything has become so entwined, that there is nothing that can be called a Pure belief, uncontaminated by all the other memes in human history...and as for the Origins in the mists of prehistory, we all take what we believe on faith.
No one has PROOF of anything -- we are all creatures of faith; and are reduced to sharing our individual visions of what that faith entails, and its implications.
What most seem to agree on is that the system as it is -- is completely rotten...but pointing a finger at an opposing world view and saying that if all were in agreement and all counter-views were surrendered, then all would be well, is not a cure-all...
It still dodges the question of evil, and the tendency for the hearts of humans to hurt and exploit each other (no matter the banner they advance under).
Now we can all sit down and say ´I´m not the one to do evil to another´; but if the whole world felt that way, then how do we find ourselves in this position of being opposed to so much that is wrong with the world?
So we all cycle back to the feeling that if everyone would just think the same things, evil would be cured.
Really?...
How many times have we had regrets over something done or said? Or wished to do over, or go back and correct? Or thought that a certain reaction wasn´t really us?
The root and core of things being wrong isn´t in what we believe...it´s in our day to day actions that fall short of what we believe; how often we let those ideals fall, or ignore the promptings to do the better thing rather than the expedient thing; to do the selfish thing rather than self-sacrifice; to know when to surrender and when to resist; to be mature instead of self-indulgent...the call to be true to yourself and what you believe is allowed to dim and recede...
So it´s easier to be distracted and throw blame at that which is not according to your world view...when it´s always YOU, the individual, that carries the weight of the world either being right, or being askew.
Isn´t it funny, that when confronted by a common foe, (like the DOS spammer), that we have no trouble being united, with the feeling that we´re one common family with different members, in this thing together?
Now the utterly immature that thrive on disruption and chaos, those given over to hedonism and complete license, and the absolute indifferent, I haven´t addressed; but I don´t think they would have the discipline to remain at any one thing any given length of time, so I´m not concerned over their response or participation in this forum.
But we should show tolerance to each other; those that are investing of themselves in searching for Truth...cut some slack, and translate what each is saying in their world view terms into yours...what sounds like condemnation in your terms, is concern in theirs...
If, as the majority of opinions on this forum seem to perceive, human history as we know it, is either drawing to a close, or beginning a phase of change, the differences we see may drop away as the nature of our development becomes clearer and more perilous...In that case, we need as many eyes as we can, to see our way through to the path that we should be on...