MovieChat Forums > General Discussion > Something to consider

Something to consider


A lot has been said about religion. And there a lot of opinions of what religion is. I believe that religion is a set of beliefs that people learn to help them through life.
Below is a set of beliefs that has helped me through life.
Now, I am not here to convert anyone ... but there might be some people who might find comfort in the following.
In this day and age, with all the hatred and violence around, we all need something to comfort and maybe give some a blueprint for life.

It's called Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

reply

Ten paragraphs about ‘God??’

That sick sadist was not worth one paragraph. Cancer kids, rape victims, arson, mass murders, armed gunpoint robberies, serial killers?

‘God’ is a fucking asshole. He has a lot of explaining to do.

reply

You are, of course, entitled to your opinion. But if you read it carefully, there is only one mention of God in the entire text, and it says "whatever you conceive him to be".
You conceive him to be an a$$hole.
That's your right, whether it's right or wrong.
Remember, according to the Bible, God gave man free will, to do as he saw fit. Not everyone has a good thought as to how to proceed and many take a dark path in life.
We all make mistakes. But every mistake (or failure) is an opportunity to learn. Some people never do.

reply

Do you prefer 'FREE WILL' or 'SLAVERY' ? I, myself, don't see any gray area inbetween.

Should we get mindless rampaging possible, or mindless forced worship?

reply

❓❓❓

reply

ah. I should have explained a little better....

LET'S PRETEND a God exists.... based on what we all mostly know about our life UNDER him/her/it, we were 'granted' to have FREE WILL... make our own decisions good or bad to DECIDE whether or not we chose to LOVE GOD.
The optional scenario is that he created a bunch of self reproducing SLAVES that are forced to do exactly as he says, and forced to love him unconditionally, with zero choice in the matter. Slaves.

So, in a world filled with random bad happenings (free will, self fail, faults - verses the exact opposite: slaves with no choice to do anything, perfection), would you trade it ALL to be a slave and not suffer bad things?

I'm presuming we are both assuming God exists based on your blaming him for bad things, and being an asshole - so that is what I am asking which way you would prefer to live. Because I can't possibly see ANY inbetween are there. With one, we don't have the other. With the other, we don't have the one.

What's it gonna be?

And if there is no God, none of that matters, so no reason to blame non-esistant entity. And your reply above, and my questioning is moot.

reply

If I ever meet it I’m gonna tell it what I think.

reply

Fair enough.

reply

TL;DR

reply

If there is a ‘God’ I’m grilling the asshole without mercy.
‘HE’ seems like a piece of trash.

Seven year old kids dying of cancer? God is an utterly worthless asshole.

Fuck him.

reply

Oh, you're on that kick again. Where is all this hatred and bitterness coming from? All of the ills of the world you mentioned have been caused by man. And btw, God is mentioned only briefly in the next to last paragraph.

reply

Have a coffee and wait for GOD to save you. You will be waiting until judgement day. It won’t work out then✌️

Follow a shithead that gives children cancer and inspires holy wars.


Load your rifles, fill the gas tank and grab a case of water.


We are on our own.


reply

I mentioned in another thread recently where I agreed with what another poster said about experiencing "divine intervention." I feel I have also, often in my life, because I've lived dangerously. I've referred to it here as, "... somebody up there likes me." Are you going to blame God for your recent deer hit also? Your final comment seems so negative, gloomy, defeatist and abandoned.

I remember a time on this board when you encouraged other men here to pursue churchgoing women. I just don't understand where this extreme, flip-flopping attitude of yours suddenly came from.

reply

You can assign all the labels to me that you wish, opinions vary😬

Marrying a church girl and disliking God are separate matters.

reply

Yeah, it's great, beautifully written. Used to have a poster of this on a wall in my house.

reply

Along the same lines..https://www.greenshinto.com/2014/03/15/circle-of-life/ I still have this poster hanging on a wall in my house.

reply

Does that pay your mortgage and your car payment?

Pretty pictures don’t mean shit to the bank man.

$$$!

reply

That's a really weak argument. It's not just pretty pictures. There's a powerful philosophy present in those words. One of the hardest jobs I ever had was pouring concrete during a heat wave in order to survive, pay the bills, and I did.

So that's what it's about, the almighty dollar bill. Well what's keeping you going then? Looks like hatred, bitterness and desperation to me.

reply

That’s not an argument, it is a fact.

Sadly you seem to be seeking an argument but I’m not taking the bait.

Have a good afternoon✌️

reply

Not at all. I've been trying to understand your radical change in attitude, which is really what's sad.

reply

What do you mean by ‘radical?’ My honesty about my personal religious feelings or my recent attempts to be more cordial with you?

No change has occurred in my religion. I love Jesus quite a lot but God is a jerk.

Those are my honest opinions and not fighting words.

reply

And I haven't been trying to fight with you either. I'm simply disagreeing and questioning where these somewhat recent rants against God are coming from. Even Kowalski pointed that out awhile back, ("where are some of these comments coming from?") and he expressed some concern about it. It's most definitely a radical change in attitude when someone you consider a buddy here notices it.

You mentioned your discontent with the church years ago, which I completely understand because I went down the same road, but this venomous raging against God has been going on for the past several months and seems to come out of nowhere. This thread for example, where I pointed out God is only mentioned briefly near the end of what the OP posted.

reply

Check PMs
I gave you an honest response, meant in good faith.

reply

You’ve written some thoughtful and genuinely encouraging things here. I am impressed and agree with many things you are saying

reply

I guess you've mostly seen my combative streak. "I'm a man with a heartbeat." It was a popular expression I encountered and embraced while in prison. I haven't seen it expressed since then in the free world.

reply

Thank you for posting this. I am not religious by any traditional definition, but there are words there that absolutely ring true to me. I can also tell that your intentions behind sharing this were honest and kind, and to me that is completely refreshing. Especially when we see so much judgemental negativity from so-called Christians here who use God’s name to demean and ridicule people for walking to the beat of their own drum.

Thanks again. I appreciate you.

reply

I've been seeing the exact opposite since the day I arrived here, a strong anti-God sentiment.

reply

Perhaps we are reading different posts. Take a look at any post discussing homosexuality and you’ll inevitably see God and the Bible used as a justification for ugly, spiteful statements.

In any case, I’d prefer not to dwell on negativity when the OP was promoting the opposite.

reply

I do more lurking and reading here than posting and again, I've been seeing the exact opposite. Contempt and ridicule for God (notice I didn't say religion) and anyone who might express a bit of a leaning in that direction. Those people are in a minority here.

reply

Okay, but again I don’t want to quarrel about it.

I like the post, that’s all I wanted to say.

reply

I don't either. Those arguments tend to be tedious and futile, accomplishing nothing.

I also like the thread. It's why I responded to it and I think the OP is bold and mature in bringing it here.

reply

Thank you.

reply

YOU SEEM TO BE A GOOD DUDE...THANK YOU FOR POSTING THIS...WE NEED MORE POSTS LIKE THIS.

reply

💯

This post made me check out his others and there’s some really great stuff there. His Vincent Price post gave me the warm and fuzzies big time. I hope he posts more too.

reply

I find much humor in the following:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Axyqk5ERKQ

Go placidly amid the noise and waste,
And remember what comfort there may be in owning a piece thereof.
Avoid quiet and passive persons, unless you are in need of sleep.
Rotate your tires.
Speak glowingly of those greater than yourself,
And heed well their advice, even though they be turkeys.
Know what to kiss, and when.
Consider that two wrongs never make a right, but that three do.
Wherever possible, put people on hold.
Be comforted that in the face of all aridity and disillusionment,
and despite the changing fortunes of time,
There is always a big future in computer maintenance.

Remember The Pueblo.
Strive at all times to bend, fold, spindle, and mutilate.
Know yourself. If you need help, call the FBI.
Exercise caution in your daily affairs,
Especially with those persons closest to you -
That lemon on your left, for instance.
Be assured that a walk through the ocean of most souls
Would scarcely get your feet wet.
Fall not in love therefore. It will stick to your face.
Gracefully surrender the things of youth: birds, clean air, tuna, Taiwan.
And let not the sands of time get in your lunch.
Hire people with hooks.
For a good time, call 606-4311. Ask for Ken.
Take heart in the bedeepening gloom
That your dog is finally getting enough cheese.
And reflect that whatever fortune may be your lot,
It could only be worse in Milwaukee.

You are a fluke of the universe.
You have no right to be here.
And whether you can hear it or not,
The universe is laughing behind your back.

Therefore, make peace with your god,
Whatever you perceive him to be - hairy thunderer, or cosmic muffin.
With all its hopes, dreams, promises, and urban renewal,
The world continues to deteriorate.
Give up!

reply

LOL! That's funny!

reply