@secondson saidPeople need to approach life with the purpose of obtaining "this world's goods" so they can raise their families.
It depends on what one is striving for.
Meaning, one can approach life with the purpose of obtaining this world goods, which will perish, or one can strive to obtain those things that have eternal value.
@fmf saidObviously!
People need to approach life with the purpose of obtaining "this world's goods" so they can raise their families.
"What place does striving have in your approach to life?" That was the question you posed in your OP.
And now you're going to try and tell me how people "need" to approach life and with what "purpose".
You've rocketed off into space, changed the tenor of the discussion and started an argument.
My reply to your question in the OP was only to express my view relative to "striving" by delineating between two opposing world views, which is, by all rights, the fundamental nature and purpose of this forum.
In the aggregate, in my opinion, my "approach" to life, in the sense of "striving", is twofold. In one sense I strive to work hard to procure the material things necessary for physical wellbeing. That is the practical approach. It's a given, but it is temporal.
On the other hand, and where we part company, is the striving for those things related to the spiritual and eternal.
The discussion relative to the division between the material and spiritual is where you short circuit cognitively because the spiritual, or supernatural, doesn't resonate with the mentality of what the Bible calls the "natural man". 1 Corinthians 2:14
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
@secondson saidIsn't it a bit silly to treat a topic like this in such an 'it's either this or it's that' kind of way?
My reply to your question in the OP was only to express my view relative to "striving" by delineating between two opposing world views, which is, by all rights, the fundamental nature and purpose of this forum.
@secondson saidSo you agree that people - many people, most people, almost all - need to approach life with the purpose of obtaining "this world's goods" so they can do things like providing food and shelter families, educate their children etc., right?
Obviously!
@secondson saidYou said "It depends on what one is striving for" and then offered a black and white dichotomy. I seem to have nudged you into being a bit more sensible.
In the aggregate, in my opinion, my "approach" to life, in the sense of "striving", is twofold. In one sense I strive to work hard to procure the material things necessary for physical wellbeing. That is the practical approach. It's a given, but it is temporal.
@secondson saidHow would you categorize striving to be better at one's job [for example] in cases where more money was not the aim or outcome - and instead, promoting the wellbeing of others is the motivation? Say an educator or as a nurse or doctor, or as - say - a human rights advocate?
On the other hand, and where we part company, is the striving for those things related to the spiritual and eternal.
@secondson saidWhat do you believe is the nature and substance of that kind of "striving"?
the striving for those things related to the spiritual and eternal.
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@fmf saidYou strive against anything that does not conform to your own perceived needs and desires.
OK, but what place does striving have in your approach to life?
This means striving against man, God, nature, and your own will to conform it to others or to God when needed.