Looks like two connected questions to me. As I said perhaps he could clarify it, but that's how I read it and as jpol/paul (or whatever account) always say it's not what you think you say it's how it's read.
If it wasn't meant the way I read it then I am happy with the clarification. Even so the second part was not answered.
it’s an election with no Democrats, in one of the whitest states in the union, where rich candidates pay $35 for your votes. Or, as Republicans call it, their vision for the future.
No, that's not how it works.
animals evolve to make best use of their environment and the resources available. It is also a very slow process, and so requires a long period of time where their environment is fairly stable.
Now for some reason in prehistory, it became advantageous for a proto-human species to develop a big brain. We can speculate why this was, presumably it allowed them to visualise tools, and work as teams to capture larger prey.
This all took millions of years though. It's hard to comprehend the timescales involved.
The intelligence and self-awareness was basically a by-product of the big brain. As was the ability to adapt to swift changes in environment and climate. Without the big brain, humans would probably have all perished in the last ice age.
We are only here by sheer fluke.
Nice post, Barbie.
Given the context of this thread, I think it's a good idea to bring up what I believe to be a very important by-product of the big brain.
This is an acute realisation of our own mortality.
I believe that once prehistoric man got his big brain, he became so scared of dying that he invented the afterlife and the first of many gods. He couldn't accept that altho' he was master of his domain, he would still die and exist no more - just like the animals he hunted.
This concept made him feel better about his, ultimately pointless, existence.
I find it weird that altho' we have progressed so much in terms of self-actualisation, charting the world in which we live and the exploration of both outer and inner space, most people in the world still need this security blanket of an afterlife.
I respect the values that religion teaches. I don't think a person will go far wrong if they adhere to the 10 commandments their whole life - that person will be a fine, upstanding human being. I daresay the same is true of all of the main religions, it only goes wrong when scripture is interpreted in a skewed manner to justify nefarious acts.
What I don't have any truck with is magic.
Really? I thought you weren't religious ..![]()
Exodus 20:
2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
13 Thou shalt not kill.
14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.
15 Thou shalt not steal.
16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.
The commandments are just an example I provided of Christian values but I stand by what I said. If a bloke did adhere to them, he'd probably be a decent chap.
It's not a lifestyle choice I'd make but if a person did make it, then I reckon that person would be alright. Bit boring, maybe, but at least he wouldn't be looking to steal from anyone, wouldn't be looking to kill anyone, he wouldn't try to shag my missus, wouldn't lie to me or be jealous of what I have.
He would also do lots of weird stuff like keep Sunday holy but work of a Saturday, but to each his own.
That's the "Ethical Decalogue". The "Ritual Decalogue" is much more fun.
Originally Posted by Torah
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