Fear Factor
Sep. 10th, 2004 08:12 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eggwardsI'm going to try not to over write (nee, overthink) this next statement (besides, I need to go to work!). If I get to deep, I might muck it up.
If the creator, God, whatever - I'm sort of noncommittal to any one religion, really wanted his creations to worship him day and night, he wouldn't have allowed free will. I'm personally of the opinion that the creator is sitting there watching the largest reality TV program, and only steps in when necessary. Is there a reward system? It's not made entirely clear. People have faith, people believe that there is a reason to stay in the "producer's" favor, but beyond that belief, there is little evidence that you'll win.
Good is good for society, of course.
Religion for too many centuries has been used to hold people in their current situation. Often Christianity was oriented to a past that included serfs, indentured servants, and lords. What better way to keep the serfs from overthrowing the lords than telling them that their true reward comes from staying in the faith, and not rocking the boat in this world. It's only after the Enlightenment of the 17th-18th centuries that you find the true revolts of the people.
When people take control of their own lives, people succeed. It's a tough statement for many. It's much easier to hope that a benefactor will come and take you away from where you are now, be it the state, Donald Trump, or the aforementioned creator.
To quote Nancy Griffith, channeled by Bette Midler, "God is watching us, from a distance"
If the creator, God, whatever - I'm sort of noncommittal to any one religion, really wanted his creations to worship him day and night, he wouldn't have allowed free will. I'm personally of the opinion that the creator is sitting there watching the largest reality TV program, and only steps in when necessary. Is there a reward system? It's not made entirely clear. People have faith, people believe that there is a reason to stay in the "producer's" favor, but beyond that belief, there is little evidence that you'll win.
Good is good for society, of course.
Religion for too many centuries has been used to hold people in their current situation. Often Christianity was oriented to a past that included serfs, indentured servants, and lords. What better way to keep the serfs from overthrowing the lords than telling them that their true reward comes from staying in the faith, and not rocking the boat in this world. It's only after the Enlightenment of the 17th-18th centuries that you find the true revolts of the people.
When people take control of their own lives, people succeed. It's a tough statement for many. It's much easier to hope that a benefactor will come and take you away from where you are now, be it the state, Donald Trump, or the aforementioned creator.
To quote Nancy Griffith, channeled by Bette Midler, "God is watching us, from a distance"
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50/50
Date: 2004-09-10 07:28 pm (UTC)I believe the higher power (whatever form that may be) places situations and opportunities in front of us constanly. As humans with free will, our responsibility is to see the opportunities, grab them, and run with them in spite of the risk. The HP is not going to spoon-feed it to us. That, in my mind, is taking charge of one's own life.
I believe that faith comes into play when the person trusts that they will still be OK even if the opportunity/risk degenerates into a not-so-stellar "growth opportunity." Faith, in my mind, is believing that the next opportunity will present itself exactly when it's ready to, and trusting in oneself's ability to recognize the opportunity and accept it.
Re: 50/50
Date: 2004-09-11 08:57 am (UTC)I expect to be surprised when I die no matter what. Pearly Gates, Brimstone or another round at the world....Who knows? I tend to think our karma has a say. Good gets good...Bad gets bad...in the end.
Your outlook of recognizing and taking advantage of opportunities is so lost on alot of the younger crowd. I see that some think that easy money, success and growth is around the corner waiting to discover them. I count less than a dozen people I know that always look for something better.
We can only hope for the future.