Jared Perlman
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Jared Perlman commented on How do you contribute? on March 10, 2008, 9:58 PM
The only thing that decides what kind of life you led is the impact that you leave behind. Did you make the world a better place, or ruin it? Did you lessen human worth, or enrich it? Is the world better off for you being dead? These questions, or more importantly their answers, measure what kind of life you have led.
Jared Perlman commented on Are faith and reason incompatible? on March 10, 2008, 9:51 PM
Reason and faith, compatible? I think not. Their very definitions are antitheses of one another. Reason depends on rational logic while faith demands that you accept it without proof. To use a double standard in life would not be the most intelligent move one could make. As to his comments on peace, joy, and happiness, there are perfectly normal ways to experience them. If your unfounded belief gives you some kind of joy, then I believe you should be entitled to it, but for that to be the only fulfillment in your life, that is just plain ridiculous. Everyone should have the right to believe what they want, as long as that does not infringe on anyone else's rights to believe what they want. I will live my secular life and enjoy those pleasures that the world has to offer and you will live your life devoted to a being that you have no reason to believe exists besides indoctrination. As to science having limits and religion going beyond them, untrue. Science is currently limited, but is continually expanding. What we can do now we couldn't dream of doing a hundred years ago. Religion on the other hand is capable of anything the human mind wishes, as long as it doesn't ask for any real results. So go ahead, live your life. I won't stop you as long as you don't stop me. The second you try to interfere with my life, you just gave up your own right to live the way you want.
Jared Perlman commented on How do you contribute? on March 10, 2008, 5:58 PM
The only thing that decides what kind of life you led is the impact that you leave behind. Did you make the world a better place, or ruin it? Did you lessen human worth, or enrich it? Is the world better off for you being dead? These questions, or more importantly their answers, measure what kind of life you have led.
Jared Perlman commented on Are faith and reason incompatible? on March 10, 2008, 5:51 PM
Reason and faith, compatible? I think not. Their very definitions are antitheses of one another. Reason depends on rational logic while faith demands that you accept it without proof. To use a double standard in life would not be the most intelligent move one could make. As to his comments on peace, joy, and happiness, there are perfectly normal ways to experience them. If your unfounded belief gives you some kind of joy, then I believe you should be entitled to it, but for that to be the only fulfillment in your life, that is just plain ridiculous. Everyone should have the right to believe what they want, as long as that does not infringe on anyone else's rights to believe what they want. I will live my secular life and enjoy those pleasures that the world has to offer and you will live your life devoted to a being that you have no reason to believe exists besides indoctrination. As to science having limits and religion going beyond them, untrue. Science is currently limited, but is continually expanding. What we can do now we couldn't dream of doing a hundred years ago. Religion on the other hand is capable of anything the human mind wishes, as long as it doesn't ask for any real results. So go ahead, live your life. I won't stop you as long as you don't stop me. The second you try to interfere with my life, you just gave up your own right to live the way you want.
Jared Perlman commented on Why do we fear death? on April 13, 2008, 3:33 PM
The fear of death, an inherent part of the human mind. Actually, not just the human mind, but the mind of all living beings. It is so omnipresent that if it is absent, we consider it to be a sign of insanity. The fear of death, as I see it, has many layers. This is because it is, at the simplest level, a biological failsafe. It is to ensure the survival of the species. At this point in time, that doesn't have much power on its own. Then comes in the natural fear of the unknown. What we don't know frightens us. People like to know what is going on. It makes us feel safe. Not knowing makes us feel as if we have no control over what is going on. To address that fear, we have things like religion which assure us that only good things wait for us after death. But if we believe that, then why do we STILL fear death? That is where we begin to realize that death represents the loss of all things familiar, things we know, things we love. Loss is something people are automatically adverse to. In truth, the list goes on an on, but I believe you get the point.