Does the universe have a purpose ?

[Deleted]

"Handsome".....the word is handsome.

[Tosh]

Handsome".....the word is handsome.

Each to their own.

[Deleted]

My Momma told me so it must be true! ;D

[Opti]

I feel I know you well enough to be open and frank with you, do you really believe all this stuff ?

I know there are a lot of benefits to ones inner self in Buddhism, spirituality is an excellent form of self help, but is all this eternal soul stuff really necessary ?

I consider myself to be more spiritual than most, and I am a full blown atheist who discards the very notion of the supernatural and the soul.

Do I believe what I say? Absolutely otherwise I wouldn't bother saying it unless it was an acting role.
(Mr. DeMille?)

How in your opinion can you be spiritual and not believe in God and souls? This is something I haven't heard yet!

[Opti]

This message has been deleted.

ETD: Decided to stop feeding this thread.

[Tosh]

How in your opinion can you be spiritual and not believe in God and souls? This is something I haven't heard yet!

I am a Humanist, any philosophical position is compatible with spiritualism as long as it allows for a reality beyond matter, the concepts of purpose, meaning and significance that represent the nature of my existence are real to me and beyond matter.

I experience the same deep inner emotions as you, but for different reasons, we probably share the same feelings of being part of something bigger, however my feelings derive from the natural world and not the world of the supernatural.

I see beauty and feel awe at nature just the same as you, my love for my children and my empathy for humanity is no less than yours.

I get the same message as you, I just get it from a different messenger.

I live where life lives, the natural world gives me more than enough meaning, significance and purpose, I take my responsibilities towards humanity as seriously as any theist. Trust me accepting ones finiteness does not reduce ones spirituality, it enhances it.

Neither of us can claim that our spiritual feelings are better, they are just slightly different.

Peace.

[jemima]

Neither of us can claim that our spiritual feelings are better, they are just slightly different.

I agree with you, mate.

[Tosh]

I agree with you, mate.

Sorry ?

I must be dreaming, you must be softening your attitude to lovely Tosh.

Excellent.

[Tosh]

I watched the movie " Tree of Life ", it is a fascinating film that uses visual experiences to examine philosophical concepts such as the meaning of life and the nature of existence. It is a very arty and abstract film so it is not easy to watch but it is a very spiritual film about love, death and grief.

Before you watch it please read the synopsis of the plot to ease understanding as dialogue is very sparse, it is like watching someones memories, but you will still have to watch it 2 or 3 times to really get it.

[Deleted]

I like Tosh and I'm glad he decided to stick around.

[Tosh]

Beerwench,

Why thank you, I have no intention of deserting my fans, where would my darling Snicks be without lovely Tosh ?

Love you more.

[Deleted]

Nov 9, 2011 10:05:50 GMT -5 Lady Gaga Gaga Snerd said:

Yes, but he needs a good beerwench to get him off the straight and narrow!

LOL! Yes! What what that again.....plundering some booty, I believe!

[Deleted]

I've heard mixed reviews on Tree of Life.
A lot of people don't "get" it. C'est La Vie.

[Tosh]

I quite like Aristotles idea concerning the meaning of life and the purpose of existence.

Every skill and every inquiry, and similarly, every action and choice of action, is thought to have some good as its object. This is why the good has rightly been defined as the object of all endeavor.
Everything is done with a goal, and that goal is "good".

I would add that the greatest good is unselfish love.

[Deleted]

Nov 9, 2011 10:15:31 GMT -5 Tosh said:

I quite like Aristotles idea concerning the meaning of life and the purpose of existence.

Every skill and every inquiry, and similarly, every action and choice of action, is thought to have some good as its object. This is why the good has rightly been defined as the object of all endeavor.
Everything is done with a goal, and that goal is "good".

I would add that the greatest good is unselfish love.

There is no such thing as unselfish love.
All love is conditional, the conditions may not be known until tested but there are conditions.

When humans love, they fully expect something in return. To think anything less is to be delusional.

:)Good morning/afternoon.

[Tosh]

I've heard mixed reviews on Tree of Life.
A lot of people don't "get" it. C'est La Vie.

It will become in time a cult movie, it is filmed like a memory, our feelings are stimulated by visual experiences and the philosophical concepts it portrays are ambiguous, it leaves it up to your memory and your consciousness to interpret the meaning of life in an individual way.
It provides both religious and natural concepts as a framework for how we feel about life, loss and love.

It is not an easy movie, so watching it more than once is essential.

Not many movies make one feel and think about life as deeply as this one, it is a masterpiece of the consciousness.

[Tosh]

There is no such thing as unselfish love.
All love is conditional, the conditions may not be known until tested but there are cond.itions. When humans love, they fully expect something in return. To thin k anything less is to be delusional. Good morning/afternoon

Good day Joey,

mmm, I agree all love must have a cause, if the cause is unselfishness then the condition may be viewed as goodness.

Unselfish love for the purpose of goodness may provide a state of well being that some may describe as Amazing Grace.


"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me....
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.



T'was Grace that taught...
my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear...
the hour I first believed.



Through many dangers, toils and snares...
we have already come.
T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far...
and Grace will lead us home.



The Lord has promised good to me...
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be...
as long as life endures.



Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
and mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
a life of joy and peace.



When we've been here ten thousand years...
bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise...
then when we've first begun.



"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me....
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.

[Deleted]

Unselfish love for the purpose of saving ones self you mean? lol

You're funny.

[Tosh]

However, if you chased away Femme i will never forgive you. (not that forgiveness exists in your world). But she is my #1 Peep!

I do not believe I effect the moods of FF, and am distraught at the very thought that I do.

Why do you think that I can not forgive ?

[femmefatale]

GM Tosh...Yes I can forgive you Tosh, it's ok....HAGD! ;

[femmefatale]

Oh , didn't see you there Snerds. Hello to you too...

[Tosh]

Unselfish love for the purpose of saving ones self you mean? lol

Yep, it is the ultimate survival tool.

You're funny.

I know.

[femmefatale]

Sept 19, 2011 20:22:09 GMT -5 Opti said:

I feel I know you well enough to be open and frank with you, do you really believe all this stuff ?

I know there are a lot of benefits to ones inner self in Buddhism, spirituality is an excellent form of self help, but is all this eternal soul stuff really necessary ?

I consider myself to be more spiritual than most, and I am a full blown atheist who discards the very notion of the supernatural and the soul.

Do I believe what I say? Absolutely otherwise I wouldn't bother saying it unless it was an acting role.
(Mr. DeMille?)

How in your opinion can you be spiritual and not believe in God and souls? This is something I haven't heard yet!

[femmefatale]

Nov 9, 2011 10:57:55 GMT -5 Lady Gaga Gaga Snerd said:

Nov 9, 2011 10:33:15 GMT -5 Lady Gaga Gaga Snerd said:

However, if you chased away Femme i will never forgive you. (not that forgiveness exists in your world). But she is my #1 Peep!

See. I made Tosh see the Light! ;D

No you didn't.

[Tosh]

GM Tosh...Yes I can forgive you Tosh, it's ok....HAGD! ;

Good morning FF,


I am relieved, now lets get back to normal before I burst into tears. ;D

[femmefatale]

Nov 9, 2011 11:02:46 GMT -5 Tosh said:

GM Tosh...Yes I can forgive you Tosh, it's ok....HAGD! ;

Good morning FF,


I am relieved, now lets get back to normal before I burst into tears. ;D

That will be the day. ;D

[Deleted]

How in your opinion can you be spiritual and not believe in God and souls? This is something I haven't heard yet!

I'll wager a guess! Because he believes in something other than traditional religions. There's more than one way to find deeper meaning in one's world!

[Tosh]

How in your opinion can you be spiritual and not believe in God and souls? This is something I haven't heard yet!

Spirituality is a generic term for ones inner feelings and thoughts concerning the nature of ones existence, it has nothing to do with the existence of God or whether this spiritual feeling is an external entity that may or may not survive death.

[Tosh]

I'll wager a guess! Because he believes in something other than traditional religions. There's more than one way to find deeper meaning in one's world!

True, the causes may be different but the effect is much the same, love exists regardless of the supernatural.

[Tosh]

It's going to be a long day. yawn

Maybe your universe is lacking purpose or maybe I could spice up my message by promising you material rewards, who knows the mind of Snicks. ;D

Please make all donations out to " Lovely Tosh ".