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99.9%
Natural? Ever imagine that you can fly, like Superman? I think most of us have, those of us intrigued by the Superman stories. Yet, few of us actually believe we can fly, not like Superman, anyway. So, what's the difference, between imagining something, and actually believing in something? - - - Certainly, we all live within a realm of physical realities. Not to say they're all good, it's simply a matter of the physical nature of our existence. I know, for example, that if I fail to give my insulin shot this evening, having had a very lazy day, little exercise, my blood sugar level will drift upwards. I know, tomorrow morning, if I fail to give my insulin shot, and having no plans to exercise then, my blood sugar level will continue upwards. By then, I may get a little sick, and not be into eating. I know, as the day continues, and I go to work, if I don't give my insulin shot, I will continue having a high blood sugar, and, to make a long story short, at some point, if I continue not giving my insulin shot, I'll get sick. Might slip into a coma. Might die. - - - Perhaps, and life is quite complex, so I don't mean to over-simplify it in this post, but perhaps, the nature of physical reality is so strong in my case, and all of the religious promises are so apart from my own life experience, that's why I'm so able to state my case for a natural world, for living within the constraints of physical reality, in a manner so far removed from the 'breaking the laws of physics' that religion promises. I must admit, in all honesty, that living forever in a pleasant way, with friends and loving relatives and total bliss, is an *extremely* seductive fantasy. Really, it is, as demonstrated by the repetition of that fantasy in practically every religion ever believed in. - - - What does naturalism offer as a counter to that? Just the reality of a physically constrained existence in a world in which one's fate is simply a consequence of natural law. No seduction there, no promises, no pleasant immor- talities, no meeting up with deceased friends and rela- tives, no meeting up with the supposed creator(s) of all that is, just a mysterious journey through a physical reality, a journey likely to encompass many hardships, along with some pleasantness, but relative to all that is, scarcely a blip, from non-existence, to non-exist- ence, a blink of an eye in which all that can be done, must be done, for the likelihood of a pleasant contin- uance, or any continuance, is so remote as to be for all practical purposes, all-but-zero. - - - Could one paint a bleaker picture of all that is? Well, religions have tried to do so, with their many threats of immortal punishments for failure to jump throught the right hoops, but nevertheless, a natural world, that is the reality that, perhaps, up to 90% of Americans try to avoid with their beliefs in various religious ideologies. - - - I've yet to find a viable counter to that ultimate seduc- tion, that promise of a pleasant immortality. Certainly, doing all we can to make this one *certain* existence last as long and pleasantly as possible, for as many as possible, that has some appeal. After all, it transpires in a realm that we know exists. Certainly, not allowing a seduction for which no evi- dence of reality exists, not allowing that to become a central reason for being, -and- holding truth above faith, holding truth above seduction, holding truth above belief, that's got to be compelling for many, at least for 10% or so of Americans, if not more, for now. - - - Why only 99.9% natural? Well, I left .1% for human imagination, not that human imagination is unnatural, it's just that in human imagination, violating the laws of physics, the laws of space, the laws of time, are easily done. I suspect that it's in that .1% that all of religion was derived, only it's just that it's not called imagination when it comes to religion. Instead, it's called Truth, reality, faith, immortality, God, Allah, Shiva, Jesus, Mohammad, and much much more. Nevertheless, if I'm right, and religion is all imagina- tion, one must face the reality of whether it's better to imagine all that religion offers is real, or instead, whether it's better to face reality straight up, and to endeavor to do whatever we can to make this one and only *certain* chance at it the best it can be with respect for the natural law that constrains everything we can really do. - - - |
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