Do you ever wonder why you are here?

Originally Posted by idi banashapan

Not at all. My meaning is that I would rather be kind to others and inquisitive because in my opinion, that is the right way to behave, rather than do it because otherwise I may be judged by a higher being. Why would one not be just as concerned about what one’s peers feel as a result of one’s actions?

I don’t feel the need to behave in a certain way to appease a prophet or deity - I’d rather do it because I want to. Because I can be a benefit to fellow people, even those I don’t know. Because I might be able to make better someone else’s day. I won’t ask for anything in return. I won’t do it because I fear any kind of eternal damnation. I simply do it because it is simple to do, and costs me nothing at all.

Which rather illustrates my point. What you’ve provided here is a set of prejudicial assumptions. Tweetiepooh didn’t say any of these things. None of them are necessarily implicit in the post in question either. You are absolutely free to construct an ethical scheme of your own choosing of course. But you are patently failing to live up to it. Your reply was not kind and it was not inquisitive - had it at least been inquisitive you could have dismissed it based on a disagreement over what it actually is, rather than what you assume it is, which would arguably have been at least somewhat kind. But a brief dismissal opening with “Yeah.” ?… not so much.

I will add more later on the importance to European civilisation of the ethical scheme that does actually arise from what Tweetiepooh posted.

[idi banashapan]

I am dismissive of this line…

Man’s chief end is to glorify God, [a] and to enjoy him for ever.

…Because I do not agree with it.

Like I say, being kind and inquisitive does not mean I must agree with everything others say or believe. Being inquisitive is less about the belief itself, but more about the motivation and reasoning as to why that belief is held. They are very separate things. So yes, I can be dismissive of the belief, but as you should well know by now from the many years on the forum, I am very interested in why someone believes something. Please try not to confuse the two.

Originally Posted by idi banashapan

I am dismissive of this line…

Man’s chief end is to glorify God, [a] and to enjoy him for ever.

…Because I do not agree with it.

Like I say, being kind and inquisitive does not mean I must agree with everything others say or believe. Being inquisitive is less about the belief itself, but more about the motivation and reasoning as to why that belief is held. They are very separate things. So yes, I can be dismissive of the belief, but as you should well know by now from the many years on the forum, I am very interested in why someone believes something. Please don’t confuse the two.

After many, many years on the forum you’re quite right, I’m not letting you get away with retconning yourself like this.

I know you don’t agree with Christian theology and certainly don’t expect you to pretend to agree fpr the sake of argument. But in the light of what you claim your ethical framework to be, that unfortunate slip into internet slang “Yeah…” really does undo you somewhat. It was dismissive and unkind. You then followed up with a bar-room caricature of religious faith that is truly absurd and underlines why being kind, inquisitive and mindful would actually be a good thing on your part. You will never, ever, understand the overwhelming majority of your fellow human beings if you refuse to engage with what drives them.

[Stephen]

Being kind and inquisitive isn't enough on its own. You need to be able to listen and understand other people as well. There is a lot to learn from Christian ideals whether you agree or believe in it or not.

[idi banashapan]

I’m not denying it was dismissive. It absolutely was, because I do agree with that line. That does not mean it is an undoing of my principles in any way. It means I have an opinion that differs. I certainly wasn’t rude. I didn’t ridicule. I wasn’t abusive. I was dismissive.

The tone it may have been received in is down to the individual- you have taken it as being unkind. Others may have too. Some may not. Tone is very hard to convey in written form. Intent and perception are not always aligned. My intention was not to be rude - let that be clear, my intention was to clearly show I did not agree. I think that judging by your responses, I was successful! I’m failing to see why my use of ‘slang’ undoes my reasons and motivations for behaviours.

And you’re right. I want to know what drives them, as I stated in my last post. I may not agree with their belief, but it’s not the belief I necessarily care about, it’s the motivation and reasoning that got them to that position.

---------- Post added at 21:21 ---------- Previous post was at 21:17 ----------

Originally Posted by Stephen

Being kind and inquisitive isn't enough on its own. You need to be able to listen and understand other people as well. There is a lot to learn from Christian ideals whether you agree or believe in it or not.

To understand other people, absolutely. And so I would, and have on many an occasion here alone, been inquisitive about people’s motivations and drives. However, in this example, the line I disagreed with is a statement. It is not a question or an explanation to anything. It’s written as an instruction. One I am not aligned with myself.

If anyone agrees with the statement, I would live to hear why. As I have said, the statement is not of interest, the reasons why someone gets there is.

[Stephen]

It's merely a suggestion rather than an instruction.

[idi banashapan]

Originally Posted by Stephen

It's merely a suggestion rather than an instruction.

I guess this proves my point about intention and perception being quite different

[Dude111]

Originally posted by SnoopZ
What do you mean that HIGH? You said you were born in 1969 which makes you ages 54.

Well I mean mentally im around 8 or so they tell me,that might help you understand how I am

I dont want to make anyone mad,I just want friends!!