dimreepr

Since I haven’t mentioned Buddhism in this thread, perhaps you should read again and maybe think again, before deciding what opinions I have.

http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/70827-this-is-rather-as-if-you-imagine-a-puddle-waking

There’s a huge disparity between creating a government and choosing one; just because the question is simple doesn’t mean the answer isn’t complicated. I think perhaps you’re confused as to the intent of that quote; does the right of a society/country to self governance equate to an individual’s right to it?

Then why join the debate? Did you expect us to all fall at your feet without question? Or do you think an ad hom is a valid argument?

More than you it seems, given this rebuttal.

Time won’t change the reality but it will change our understanding of it. The truth won’t change but, over time, the letters might. See above. The two are fundamentally apposed, more knowledge will only further our understanding of that simple truth. TBH I don’t think science really cares. The only real point of reference is philosophy and both science and, to some extent, religion have, more or less, left that behind.

I think eventually it must, when a case can be made, and won, for expensive cosmetic surgery (not included: as a result of injury or birth defect), then a collapse seems inevitable; even the NHS can’t last if they always live beyond the budget. So maybe that conversation would be not so much interesting as excruciating.

Nice post. The founding fathers IMO set up an almost perfect system for that time and culture; we need to understand why and apply the wisdom to the modern world (a task beyond me but I’m sure it can be/needs to be done).

Don't try to understand too quickly, now you've read them go back to what you do understand and build on that, remember understand the lesson you're on before you move to the next. As to the topic question All you really need is passion so yes. This site is very good place to start on your journey, just ask and the kind members here will be happy to help. Enjoy...

Very good question and a little tricky because there are rules and people have used them to lord it over others but then all societies have those problems. I don’t think the two can be resolved as a whole, sure you may be able to find a convoluted way to reconcile two aspects and marry them and maybe even a few threads intertwine. The biggest obstacle to any meaningful reconciliation is the texts are out of their time and culture. So the only practical way to satisfactorily tackle the question is emotionally not easy without cognitive dissonance.

Yes but it hurt.

Protection from the wacko’s with easy access to guns is easier access to bigger guns.

Cognitive dissonance seems to be playing a major part in this question.

I couldn’t agree more but I wonder which ones would make a better world and which hinders a better world. For instance does my right to a pension supersede an African villager’s right to clean water? Or does my right to free healthcare, for petty issues, harm my children's right to free life saving surgery? That’s not so much a right as an instinct, that’s like fighting for the right to breath. Ownership is far from being a fundamental human right; “Arguing over who owns the land is like two fleas arguing over who owns the dog” - Crocodile Dundee

I didn’t expect such a question from you but, OK, let me ask you this, if not for emotional stability/tranquillity what is religion trying to teach?

Agreed. Sorry folks I had intended to provide links in the OP. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-33533264 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oskar_Gr%C3%B6ning

IMO I don’t really think a literal reconciliation is possible, empirical doesn’t relate to emotional even when the study is of emotional responses; all you need to reconcile the two is cognitive dissonance.

No one deserves to die, outside of Hollywood.

What do you think?

I don’t believe god has anything to do with the bible but I do believe many of the lessons, in the new testament (plus many other texts), are worth learning.

Not to mention how you position a satellite to deliver the transmission on demand.

But some do. For me an afterlife was more intended for those that didn’t understand either.

But they can both be productive, one empirically and one emotionally.

Sometimes the hardest thing to do is forgive yourself, you should try it.

Indeed, I'd be furious if I we're a Greek that voted "oxi".