Flame — HabitableZone

Flame » in reply to Quotes

Hawking
azstrummer — (archived)

I think the fact that he's an atheist impresses me the most. If there's anyone with this huge motivation to reject the physical life he's been "lucky" enough to be stuck with and yearn for some afterlife buzzing around on angel wings, it'd be him.

It's a very common thread that I've observed in life where people with severe handicaps are often extremely involved in the church. I in no way look down upon their choice because I can't even imagine what rationalizations I'd have to make to continue to want to live faced with the hardships they do. If religion gives them hope and courage to face their pain and disenfranchisement, more power to them.

Now, I also believe many of these folks are severely taken advantage of by the manipulative leaders of most religions. What better way to show your compassion and bolster your power than to surround yourself with people that naturally evoke sympathy in your flock.

I guess there's two ways of looking at being burdened with a severe handicap. You can jump into the rationalization game of religion where you put your condition as a part of "God's master plan" that of course is unknowable by mere humans. Certainly that puts some reason to the madness and all religions have some ideal afterlife involved that gives this hopeful end to the whole ordeal. I think that is probably the path most take.

The other is more the intellectual ability to just accept your role in the whole cosmic randomness. You just happened to be the unsuccessful lottery pick at birth. In ways I'll bet that's somewhat comforting too. There's no supreme being to get pissed at when you have a particularly bad day. You just accept it and move on figuring that the same random dumb luck that got you into the predicament has just as much potential to bring some good to your life from time to time.

Art

Log in or register to post.

The whole thread (148 posts)