Spirituality
30 May 11
02 Jun 11
Originally posted by rwingettI dispute that there is any such thing as 'natural order'. Every living thing interacts with its environment. That interaction is necessarily a two way street. In some cases the environment is affected significantly - for example plants are responsible for the high oxygen content in our atmosphere. To label significant effects 'unnatural' is unwarranted.
Mankind ceased being a part of the natural order of things around 10,000 years ago. Since then he has fashioned a decidedly unnatural relationship between himself and nature.
02 Jun 11
1 edit
Originally posted by rwingett
Of course money is abnormal. The commodification of all of nature is abnormal. All of human civilization, for that matter, is abnormal. Mankind, in his effort to tame the earth and refashion every element therein as a commodity for his personal use, is destroying it at an ever accelerating pace. The Fall, if anything, represents mankind's alienation from na ...[text shortened]... s adoption of a decidedly unnatural and pathological lifestyle as embodied by "civilization."
Of a truth rwingett.
But why does this condition exist? Why does everything have to be abnormal? Nature, or evolution, seems to tend toward equilibrium, but man, a product of nature, is at variance with everything in his path.
I see an irreconcilable conundrum.
02 Jun 11
Originally posted by twhiteheadPremeditation is the key. Mankind is the only animal that consciously tries to alter the whole environment to suit his desires. This desire to dominate and control nature for his own ends has resulted in his profound estrangement from it. Instead of evolving with nature, he is steering it into oblivion.
I dispute that there is any such thing as 'natural order'. Every living thing interacts with its environment. That interaction is necessarily a two way street. In some cases the environment is affected significantly - for example plants are responsible for the high oxygen content in our atmosphere. To label significant effects 'unnatural' is unwarranted.
02 Jun 11
Originally posted by rwingettOnce again, I dispute that 'nature' is an entity or that man can be 'estranged' from it.
Premeditation is the key. Mankind is the only animal that consciously tries to alter the whole environment to suit his desires. This desire to dominate and control nature for his own ends has resulted in his profound estrangement from it. Instead of evolving with nature, he is steering it into oblivion.
Nor are we 'steering it into oblivion'.
So why is 'premeditation' the key? Why is it 'unnatural' if you wipe out all the tigers through premeditation, but entirely 'natural' if you do it for food without really thinking about the consequences?
02 Jun 11
Originally posted by rwingettFascinating!
Premeditation is the key. Mankind is the only animal that consciously tries to alter the whole environment to suit his desires. This desire to dominate and control nature for his own ends has resulted in his profound estrangement from it. Instead of evolving with nature, he is steering it into oblivion.
Too bad we don't agree on the root cause.
02 Jun 11
Originally posted by Rajk999I give scripture and thoughtout reasons why I disagree, I do not just say
Some 'relationship' you have with Christ.
Everytime someone quotes what Christ said you disagree.
if you are rich you are sinful, loving money or even the things of this world
is not limited to the rich. The heart condition is what matters, those that
strive to be rich over the needs of the others do not have the love of God
in them.
Kelly
02 Jun 11
Originally posted by rwingettReally, you think we are abnormal, apart from the rest of nature, man is sort of
You obviously fail to comprehend what I'm saying.
Mankind ceased being a part of the natural order of things around 10,000 years ago. Since then he has fashioned a decidedly unnatural relationship between himself and nature. Homo Habilis first appeared around 2 million years ago. Homo Sapiens have been around for some 250,000 years. For the vast majorit ...[text shortened]... evered any healthy, sustainable relationship between himself and the natural order of things.
different than the rest of life? I know why Christians think that, why do you,
because as near as I can tell we are still just doing what we have always done,
we are just better at it now.
Kelly
02 Jun 11
Originally posted by rwingettIn your kingdom maybe.
Charity is only necessary in a social system that is inherently unjust. And charitable giving may have the paradoxical effect of prolonging unjust social relations by blunting their worst excesses and making them appear more tolerable. Far better to alter those unjust social relations and thereby make charity unnecessary. Make no mistake, there will be no charity in the kingdom.
Kelly
02 Jun 11
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Originally posted by KellyJayOnce again you've avoided the salient points/questions of my post. No matter how painstakingly detailed the points are or how pointed the questions, you avoid them. Do you think there is any intellectually honesty in making an extremely vague (and false) claim to very specific points as you have here? It's yet another example of avoidance.
I did address your points, I just disagree with what you are claiming is the
truth of the matter as you see it.
Kelly
Evidently the truth so scares you that it renders you incapable of discussing this matter in an intellectually and forthright manner. If you had any integrity at all, you would have at least attempted to do so.
02 Jun 11
Originally posted by KellyJayI give scripture and thoughtout reasons why I disagree...
I give scripture and thoughtout reasons why I disagree, I do not just say
if you are rich you are sinful, loving money or even the things of this world
is not limited to the rich. The heart condition is what matters, those that
strive to be rich over the needs of the others do not have the love of God
in them.
Kelly
Scripture? What scripture? Please provide each verse that you've specifically cited thus far to back up your points.
02 Jun 11
1 edit
Originally posted by Rajk999Not sure what to make of him. Sometimes I think he just has real difficulty in expressing his position, but there are so many contradictions across his posts that it seems that his position is fundamentally incoherent. From what I can tell, he has too much pride to admit it, so he resorts to avoidance and making false claims.
LOL .. this KJ guy is a real piece of work.
02 Jun 11
Originally posted by twhiteheadCreatures which adapt to their environment are natural. Creatures which adapt their entire environment to themselves are unnatural. Or, rather, they have fashioned an entirely unnatural environment for themselves.
Once again, I dispute that 'nature' is an entity or that man can be 'estranged' from it.
Nor are we 'steering it into oblivion'.
So why is 'premeditation' the key? Why is it 'unnatural' if you wipe out all the tigers through premeditation, but entirely 'natural' if you do it for food without really thinking about the consequences?
02 Jun 11
Originally posted by josephwYou want to believe that there is something fundamentally wrong with mankind, but that simply isn't so. For the vast majority of mankind's existence, he got along just fine. All of the social evils which currently afflict mankind are not a result of his being fundamentally flawed, but, rather, are the result of his being placed into an excessively unnatural and pathological environment. Animals, when removed from their natural environment and placed into an alien one, will exhibit an increased incidence of pathological behavior. That's why modern zoos try to make more 'natural' surrounding for them. The same is true for human behavior. When placed into congested cities, working stultifying jobs, as mere cogs in a dehumanizing market economy over which they have no control, it is small wonder that a great many of them go off the rails.
Originally posted by rwingett
Of course money is abnormal. The commodification of all of nature is abnormal. All of human civilization, for that matter, is abnormal. Mankind, in his effort to tame the earth and refashion every element therein as a commodity for his personal use, is destroying it at an ever accelerating pace. The Fall, if anything, represen ...[text shortened]... of nature, is at variance with everything in his path.
I see an irreconcilable conundrum.