An eye for an eye for an eye....
If y'all wanna know what I think about crime and punishment, c'mon over to
http://hiddenblog1.blogspot.com/2005/07/hodge-podge-of-thoughts.html#comments .
I've been quite prolific, and I can't stand repeating myself.
http://hiddenblog1.blogspot.com/2005/07/hodge-podge-of-thoughts.html#comments .
I've been quite prolific, and I can't stand repeating myself.
posted by Jeanne at 22:23
14 Comments:
I can't personally see what one has a religion for at all. It doesn't change anything. We're all just trying to figure things out.
I hope you don't mean me. I've been throwing a few insults for being hypocritical.
You better answer quickly, because now I'm worried.
"More people have been slaughtered in the name of religion than for any other single reason. That, my friends, that is true perversion."
- Harvey Milk
"Of all religions, Christianity is without a doubt the one that should inspire tolerance most, although, up to now, the Christians have been the most intolerant of all men"
- Voltaire
I don't know what anyone means any more.
I am getting sad here. Of course there is only one truth. It is what is. I don't claim to know it. But what I do know, I know, and it would be wrong not to stand for it. Killing is wrong. Judging people is wrong, and impossible. Judging actions is inevitable. Punishing for them is debatable, and wrong in my opinion. People are good. If there's anyone who doesn't like me if they know I feel that way, there's not much I can do about it.
Steve: I never claimed to have the "One True Religion", but a sect of a relgion that advocates blowing innocent people up, I will call false. If you find that too judgemental and distasteful, hey, that's your right.
And Jeanne, I think Steve was talking about me, so don't worry. ;)
And no one in the discussion on my blog said they didn't like you. Remember to separate disagreement with how we feel about others.
Ok, Jeanne. Here's the thing. It's important that we focus on larger issues, like the ones that you've raised here recently. At the same time, we can't let the actions of a few taint our perception of the larger world. The good outnumber the bad by an incalculably large margin. By the same token, we need only look around with the eyes of a child to realize that the world is far too beautiful and wonderful to ever be sad for too long.
"The good outnumber the bad by an incalculably large margin."
Which world do you live in?
"By the same token, we need only look around with the eyes of a child to realize that the world is far too beautiful and wonderful to ever be sad for too long."
There is a bit of truth in this - but to use this viewpoint to squelch reality isn't great advice.
I'd rather not get into a pissing contest on Jeanne's blog, but let me reply to your comments.
In your second argument you speak of squelching reality, but that runs contrary to your first argument in which you (wrongfully) claim that bad people outnumber good. I'm curious as to how you come to this conclusion. We're constantly innundated by bad news, but think about the people you see every day. Would you classify the majority as "bad"? And even if the answer is "yes" it begs the question "by whose definition?"
Now before you go off on a tangent about me sympathizing with evil people, let me assure you that's not the case. However, there is a convincing argument to be made that these definitions are largely dependent on factors too numerous to list. It doesn't take a genius to figure that out.
As for the second argument, it's easily refuted. Viewing the world through unbiased eyes is reality. To do otherwise is to have each experience clouded by preconceived notions, our past experiences, the things we read and hear and choose to believe, etc, etc.
All of that said, reasonable people can disagree, and I respect your point of view. It's just that mine differs.
"I'd rather not get into a pissing contest on Jeanne's blog, but let me reply to your comments." - ditto
"In your second argument you speak of squelching reality, but that runs contrary to your first argument in which you (wrongfully) claim that bad people outnumber good. I'm curious as to how you come to this conclusion. We're constantly innundated by bad news, but think about the people you see every day. Would you classify the majority as "bad"? And even if the answer is "yes" it begs the question "by whose definition?""
Let's choose one independant of both of us. That way there won't be a bias...
"Now before you go off on a tangent about me sympathizing with evil people, let me assure you that's not the case. However, there is a convincing argument to be made that these definitions are largely dependent on factors too numerous to list. It doesn't take a genius to figure that out."
I wasn't about to - but thanks for the preemptive strike.
"As for the second argument, it's easily refuted. Viewing the world through unbiased eyes is reality. To do otherwise is to have each experience clouded by preconceived notions, our past experiences, the things we read and hear and choose to believe, etc, etc."
What worldview is unbiased? Such a thing doesn't exist. Even a child's worldview is biased towards their own interests. Reality is that bias exists in EVERY worldview.
Having studied culture, wordlviews and paradigms at the Masters level, I will argue that all three each are inter-twined and give rise to creations/modifications in the others.
Culture, wordlviews and paradigms are all experiential, perhaps not to an absolute degree, but all have their roots in experience.
The way you perceive is the way you learned to perceive. That learning is biased.
"All of that said, reasonable people can disagree, and I respect your point of view. It's just that mine differs." - ditto
Joe,
You may piss on my blog all you like.
Thomas,
How high can a master piss?
As high as he/she wants to ... just like every one else.
Why do you ask?
I don't think your level of education adds any weight to your observation. Let your words stand for themselves. We all have cultures and worldviews in front of our noses.
Steve,
Are you under the impression that I claim to have the one, true religion? I have no religion at all. I have life. It is what it is, regardless of what I believe about it. I was Christian at one point, though, and I believe I understand it quite well. I hate seeing the words of the bible being used to justify war and punishment. If people (you?) believe in these things for your own reasons, I am quite willing to argue, though quite unlikely to change my opinion. Just don't come and say it's Christianity, because it isn't.
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