How did you come to that conclusion? It doesn't have to mean that at all. The way I meant it is that everyone should ask themselves, "How can I live the right way?" What is right for them, aside from the obvious don't kill, rape, steal, etc. If everyone lived the way they wanted and the way they felt was right for them, and was accepted for it. This would be a much better scenario than the one we have now; a bunch of religions that bicker about who's right and who's more right, then occasionally bomb each other.
Well, see the way you have phrased it now - it makes sense what you meant. But in the context of the thread, and whether there is one right God, you putting the 'right religion' next to 'living right' made me think about people in general all living in the one right way. But, that said it can work both ways - what if the right way of living to someone was to rape and kill? Religion can prevent it, but as the world has shown it can also start it. I'm just being fussy
I'm also incredibly tired, so most of what I have been saying today has only barely just made sense to me
Not at all, your counterpoint is legitimate. I thought of that too. There are people in the world who have been taught that killing someone, or perhaps even raping someone can be right. For them to "live the right way" would be for them to continue this behaviour. Religion can not change this, always. There are some people in which this is ingrained to their person, almost like a disease, and they cannot be changed. Take for example all those catholic priets who have molested children over the past few hundred years. Their own religion in which they are highly esteemed has not saved them, because their mind is diseased (so to speak) with this behaviour of theirs.
True. To a lot of people - mentally ill or otherwise, they live everyday in a completely different reality to the rest of us. But, what makes us so sure that we are living in the true reality? Why are the people who claim to hear God talking to them automatically wrong? If it is right to them - from what you are saying, as long as they don't hurt anyone, that's how they should be living.
Sure, why not. The definition of "right" varies greatly. As long as they respect others and don't hurt anyone, who can say they are not living right? There are many different realities to human consciousness, subconsciousness and unconsciousness. None are any more 'right' or 'true' than the rest. For the times being this one is simply more 'real' than the rest. Who's to say that people who hear god are wrong? Who's to say that people who are religious are right? Who's to say that atheists are wrong? Why are the religious more right than the non-religious? No one can answer these questions. And those who do are incredibly presumptuous.
Well, there are two definitions for what can be said as right or normal - one being not hurting themselves or others, the other being a behaviour than greatly differs from the majority. So, it covers a vast amount - perhaps too much with the latter definition. So what about dreams? They could be your subconscious talking to you and might be just as 'real' as what happens in your waking life - but people ignore it. That depends on who you are asking. An Atheist will maintain that he is right, whilst a Christian will do the same. But, if someone believes that there are faeries at the bottom of their garden - they are insane! Presumptions perhaps. But is that always a bad thing? If someone believes in God and lives a good moral and kind life, does it matter that they are only presuming what is 'true'? I think it shows that people are way to concerned with the way other people are living their lives.
We were discussing 'right', not 'normal' Dreams are as real a part of the human experience as anything else. People shouldn't always ignore them. Of course not. As long as they aren't presuming that others are wrong.
Modern society considers this the normal way; Get a decent job Marry Have kids By a house Retire Die So is anyone who strays from this abnormal then? What's right for one isn't right for another. Many people live 'out of the ordinary' lives and live happily and well. Many live within that little box as stated above and live happily as well.
But, that's normal in a kind of different way - like it's the 'usual' thing to be doing - earning money, falling in love, getting too old to work. But, Nuns aren't abnormal, people who can't have children or don't want them aren't abnormal. Just as people who don't live to earn millions aren't abnormal. I've never felt any pressure from society to do those things. It's very hard to say what is 'normal' and what isn't. Just as it is very hard to say what is 'right' and what isn't. To the people who travel for their whole lives and don't get married, have kids or a job - that life is right to them and normal. Same with the people who all all those things. So it's often difficult to separate the two.
You and I are agreeing, just with different words. Exactly. So, despite not doing in life what is considered culturally normal, are people still living right? People can live by society's standards and live right (not murder, not rape, not hurt others, as we discussed) They can also have those things and do wrong. People can also live by their own set of standards and live right. Or do things that are wrong. As we've said, 'normal' can vary so much that one can't really define it but only for themselves. In these examples I've used what society likes to imprint in us as "normal."
I think it depends on what kind of normality you look at. I've never really wanted any of that but I don't consider myself abnormal and haven't ever been made to feel that way. It's all a matter of personal opinion - the people saying it's abnormal believe that because of the way they view life. Right to whose standards? There own yes, but perhaps not to others. So, if like you say people feel pressured in some way to conform to societies norms - can we all really live in the way we feel is right?
We should never live by the standards of others. No one is able to dictate the way we choose to live our lives. If someone is not hurting others, then perhaps they're living right. Yes. By not acknowledging the pressure they put up you, by choosing not to let them define you. By choosing to not be a part of that oppressive society. Or by living within it, doing what you want, and risk losing your freedom because you've done something that is against the law. (drug use, public nudity, etc.)
I agree that no one should have to. And, we are both lucky enough to be living in countries that aren't so extreme in the rules they force on people and we are able to live how we want. I have never been one to do what others tell me, or to really care about what people think of how I dress or anything, so maybe I see this from a different perspective. But, I have never seen society to be that oppressive - not here anyway. I have never seen anyone have to choose something so dramatically that it will completely define them. There are people who realise the vast majority of us are the same who strive to be different, and those who are different in some way - who strive to be 'normal'. But isn't that more to do with who they are inside, than society?
You location probably has a lot to do with it. In Canada I can walk up the street and smoke a joint if I want. I've known guys who were caught with a single roach on them in the states and they spent months or more in jail for it. That's pretty oppressive to me. Telling people the can't grow or use a certain plant. Not to turn this into a pot issue or anything.
if I was G-d my book would read like the sign in the back of th epolice car.. :sit back,behave, and wait for to see the judge:
Yeah, but that will then take this is a whole other direction. It a lot of countries it's illegal - whether or not you agree that it should be. So, we could start saying that raping your wife is okay, and being sent to prison for it is oppressive. Or smoking in front of a friend who hates it and wants you to not do it in front of them - is that oppressive? And, then is the right way of living just being able to do whatever you want?
