One persons opinion can ruin the world but not change it for the better?
My 2 girlfriends and I have been discussing the inner workings of guilt and it's inherent beginings in religion. Now the three of us have differing view points. My first friend is the daughter of a presbyterian pastor. She is a very religious person, although not currently attending church. The other friend is fairly liberal, a lot like me in many views but has her opinions about religion and religious freedom. And then there is me. I am a proponent of believing in your own way, not someone else's ways.
Well we 3 have been in discussion for weeks about how we react to guilt based on society and how we are seen in society. Which again puts us with 3 different perspectives. The First friend is kind of a recluse, having jsut a few close friends and not in the market for any new ones. The other friend is very popular, extremely outgoing and has a slightly happier outlook on life. For my part I am somewhere in between. While i won't pass up the opportunity for new friends, I don't actively seek it out. I am the middle connective ground you could say.
So we are discussing guilt and it occurs to me that guilt, in so many causes, is self inflicted, not 3rd party inflicted. We feel guilty for eating a little extra cause we know we are on a diet. Not others specifically that are making us feel like we are doing someting wrong. Which is where society fits in. Most societies during ancient civilization times were based on religion. That was where the real power was. So the people who tell us what we should and should not do "according to God". My theory is "How do we know??" I don't believe anyone has a direct red phone to God. So how do we know. Which is why I am opposed to church. (if you REALLY wanna hear my views on church ask, ill give ya what I got).
Other people telling us what is right and wrong. Well this first friend bought me a book for my birthday, Ishmael. I started reading it, I m about 8 chapters in. Well so fr it is about a guy talking to a grown gorilla about society and how the gorilla sees US. Ok i know it is a metaphor but really :\ So the gorilla is the "teacher" the subject is captivity. I can already see where this is going. The book was given to me on the pretenses that it will change my life. As Im reading about this talking Gorilla I think this: Why do I have to change my life? What is so wrong with my life? and I think back to these conversations about guilt. Do they think I am doing something wrong with my life.
Now I like to read but I am not naive to believe everything I read. If i were, then I would ALSO believe that the end of the world will be on May 5th, 2005. Not too far but I don't see anyone else stocking up for the end of the world party or buying up property in the Rockies with caves on it, to outlast whatever is to come. I went to college for Environmental Science. Of my friends I keep in contact with I am 1of 2 that are still in this field. The others, about 15 in total are not using their degree at all 4 years wasted. One guy friend of mine gave up being environmental at all because he read a book that said that no one person can make a difference no matter how hard they try. Then where did the clean air act come from? Thin air (excuse the pun)? A few people with ides got together with a few other people and discussed what we can do better. Eventually it led to lower car fuel emissions and getting rid of many aerosol spray items. anything with CFC's. I can't imagine changing my whole outlook on life, all I have believed in since I was a child, what I spent 4 years learning in college because of one book.
I believe that a book or story can alter your perception (good or bad) but to change your whole way of life based on 1 other person's idea of the world can't be healthy, can it???
Someone prove me wrong, I would be seriously interested in your thoughts. I wouldn't mind a few different view points. You at leaast now have mine :)
Well we 3 have been in discussion for weeks about how we react to guilt based on society and how we are seen in society. Which again puts us with 3 different perspectives. The First friend is kind of a recluse, having jsut a few close friends and not in the market for any new ones. The other friend is very popular, extremely outgoing and has a slightly happier outlook on life. For my part I am somewhere in between. While i won't pass up the opportunity for new friends, I don't actively seek it out. I am the middle connective ground you could say.
So we are discussing guilt and it occurs to me that guilt, in so many causes, is self inflicted, not 3rd party inflicted. We feel guilty for eating a little extra cause we know we are on a diet. Not others specifically that are making us feel like we are doing someting wrong. Which is where society fits in. Most societies during ancient civilization times were based on religion. That was where the real power was. So the people who tell us what we should and should not do "according to God". My theory is "How do we know??" I don't believe anyone has a direct red phone to God. So how do we know. Which is why I am opposed to church. (if you REALLY wanna hear my views on church ask, ill give ya what I got).
Other people telling us what is right and wrong. Well this first friend bought me a book for my birthday, Ishmael. I started reading it, I m about 8 chapters in. Well so fr it is about a guy talking to a grown gorilla about society and how the gorilla sees US. Ok i know it is a metaphor but really :\ So the gorilla is the "teacher" the subject is captivity. I can already see where this is going. The book was given to me on the pretenses that it will change my life. As Im reading about this talking Gorilla I think this: Why do I have to change my life? What is so wrong with my life? and I think back to these conversations about guilt. Do they think I am doing something wrong with my life.
Now I like to read but I am not naive to believe everything I read. If i were, then I would ALSO believe that the end of the world will be on May 5th, 2005. Not too far but I don't see anyone else stocking up for the end of the world party or buying up property in the Rockies with caves on it, to outlast whatever is to come. I went to college for Environmental Science. Of my friends I keep in contact with I am 1of 2 that are still in this field. The others, about 15 in total are not using their degree at all 4 years wasted. One guy friend of mine gave up being environmental at all because he read a book that said that no one person can make a difference no matter how hard they try. Then where did the clean air act come from? Thin air (excuse the pun)? A few people with ides got together with a few other people and discussed what we can do better. Eventually it led to lower car fuel emissions and getting rid of many aerosol spray items. anything with CFC's. I can't imagine changing my whole outlook on life, all I have believed in since I was a child, what I spent 4 years learning in college because of one book.
I believe that a book or story can alter your perception (good or bad) but to change your whole way of life based on 1 other person's idea of the world can't be healthy, can it???
Someone prove me wrong, I would be seriously interested in your thoughts. I wouldn't mind a few different view points. You at leaast now have mine :)