What would we blame for our actions if we didn't have 'beliefs'?

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   kirstenblogposted 14 years ago

   I am just wondering what we would blame for our destructive actions if we did not have religion v atheism v other religions to blame? For that matter what excuses would we make up for going to war and other acts of killing if we did not have the whole religion issue to fuel our destructive natures?
   
   Is it possible that humans would be able to take responsibility for the destructive part of our nature? Could we be honest about our desire to be superior to others?

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      TMMasonposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Most likely, the lack of a belief system. And I am not so sure wanting to be, "Superior", is inherrant. That seems to infer we are all racists, or something close to that.
      
      We all have a bad side, and we must learn to control it regardless of if we have a system of beliefs or not. So?

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      Rod Marsdenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I think John Lennon had the answer and he was killed because he had the answer.
      
      
      

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      tantrumposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Atheists don't blame any God for their actions. We don't need that. We're fully responsible of our actions and its consequences.

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   Sufidreamerposted 14 years ago

   hehe - A bit of peace.
   
   Only an opinion, but I believe that any society under threat tends to polarise, whether it be religion, politics or other ideology. Once people occupy the extremes, there is little room for compromise and that is a dangerous path

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      EmpressFelicityposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Yeah. What he said LOL. 
      
      The trouble with ideology of any kind is that it encourages people to adopt an end-justifies-the-means attitude.  Thus you have Simon de Montfort slaughtering the Cathars while saying "Kill them all - God will know his own", or Stalin and Hitler engaging in mass murder/genocide because they thought it was justified in the light of their particular ideology.  It's the same impulse in both cases, and transcends the question of religion/atheism.

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         Sa Toyaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         That is so true. If destruction is based on the belief in religion etc. Then without it we would blame our lack of belief in religion etc.
         
         And nicely put- the same impulse does apply to both

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         Sufidreamerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Agreed - ideology is fine as long as you are prepared to accept that humanity is much more complex than placing people into a little box. I work upon the principle that I know nothing and disbelieve anything that the media portrays as truth, at least until I have verified it for myself.
         
         I have friends who are staunchly Orthodox Christian and friends that are Atheists - both 'sides' get along wonderfully and have interesting and deep philosophical debates. They are always prepared to look at the other view and use it to challenge their own beliefs, making adjustments to their world-view, if necessary
         
         I stay away from blind extremism - it makes for a much happier life, IMO

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      kirstenblogposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I kinda think we would find something to blame for our fighting
      My video games are better then your video games and I will fight you to prove it!
      Sci-fi is better then Rom-coms and I will go to war to prove it! Mwhahaha

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         Sufidreamerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         I like sci-fi, but that should not get in the way of a good fight
         
         Sci-fi games are the tool of satan or something

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            kirstenblogposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Shall we start the church of Sci-fi video games? We can then break up into smaller sects that worship role play sci fi games and first person shooter sci fi games etc. then go to war over which is best.

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   Sa Toyaposted 14 years ago

   Ha we just might be able to admit the we choose to mess things up because we like being the best at things.
   
   Maybe it's human nature or nurture that many of us have a superiority complex.
   
   We seem to polarise or form cliques from early ages-school/high school. It's all a damn joke but this learned behaviour means we divide and try to conquer or destroy.
   
   I think religion/beliefs are used as excuses to create havoc. Without it all we have is the above I guess, our need to flock with birds of a feather....who knows
   
   

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4. 59

   kessposted 14 years ago

   Men are self seeking by nature,
   And anythings can be the reason for their wickedness.
   
   For those who serve the same God right against each other as well as the atheist and those who serve different Gods.

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   Mishaposted 14 years ago

   I always blame Sufi when I screw up

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      Sufidreamerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Sadly, 'tis true - everything is my fault.
      
      I am to blame for the world economic crisis, too. If only I had drunk less Ouzo before sharing a cigar with Bill Clinton, things may have been different.

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         Uninvited Writerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Damn you!

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            Sufidreamerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Not quite everything - Paris Hilton is nothing to do with me

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      kirstenblogposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Thats probably very wise Misha

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         Sufidreamerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         It works for my missus - everything is my fault
         
         Now, submit to the Church of the Holy Third Person Sci-Fi Gamists or die

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            kirstenblogposted 14 years agoin reply to this

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               Cagsilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

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                  kirstenblogposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  Hey Sufi, I think we got a convert!

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                     Cagsilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                     And, who do you plan to convert? To what are they converting to? Also, how much will it cost to be 'saved'?
                     
                     Please do tell? 

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                        Sufidreamerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                        Just give us all of your worldly possessions, for 'purification' purposes. in return, we will give you a large and knobbly stick of smiting to deliver divine justice to all of those foul first-person gamists

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                           Cagsilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                           Oh, I see....you're one of "those" kinds of extremists?
                           
                           Well, interesting to see.

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                           kirstenblogposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                           Now you see the deception in his words! A knobbly stick! Come to my gaming church and I will give you this!

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                              Cagsilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                              kirstenblog wrote:

                              
                              
                              Now you see the deception in his words! A knobbly stick! Come to my gaming church and I will give you this!

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                                 kirstenblogposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                 Cagsil wrote:

                                 
                                 You are a wise follower, for you see the gaming gods speak through me!
                                 
                                 (by the way your check has not cleared yet?)

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                                    Cagsilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                    kirstenblog wrote:

                                    It might be because I haven't sent it, your holiness? And, I'm not like to send it...

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                                       kirstenblogposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                                       Cagsil wrote:

                                       
                                       You risk this

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            kirstenblogposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            I shall reveal this great infidel! Submit to him and this is your reward!

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               Sufidreamerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               You're just jealous because I have more followers than you, O unclean one. You are the Jah-Jah Binks of Sci-Fi religions
               
               
               
               The real Kirstenblog

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                  kirstenblogposted 14 years agoin reply to this

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   Uninvited Writerposted 14 years ago

   I'm all for taking personal responsibility for everything you do.

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   Aya Katzposted 14 years ago

   If it weren't for people at the extremes, how would anybody know where the middle is?

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8. 76

   Sufidreamerposted 14 years ago

   Tell him to send all of his money to the usual place so that he can be truly saved

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      kirstenblogposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I am liking this, the usual place being my bank account right

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         Cagsilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         That's too funny!

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         Sufidreamerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         OI!!!! - it is supposed to be to my bank account.
         
         Looks like we have our first schism

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            kirstenblogposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            To all true followers, beware this man for he is truly the anti-gaming-3rd person- sci fier! Mine is the only true word of the gaming gods! Make no mistake, sending this demon your money will damn your soul to game over hell! You have been warned!
            
            (you can make all checks payable to kirstenblog, the only true gaming messiah)

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               Cagsilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               

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               Sufidreamerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               Book of Bollox 4:19 Trust not the temptress, however cuddly the avatar, for she will lead you astray and make you partake of the forbidden M&Ms
               
               4:20 All eternity will be spent in sci-fi hell, otherwise known as a Star-Trek convention.

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                  Cagsilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  That was cool and funny.

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                     kirstenblogposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                     Beware Cagsil you risk losing your immortal gaming soul! Return to the flock my son

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   ncmonroe1981posted 14 years ago

   Isn't it a bit limited to suppose that simply because someone maintains a belief system, they are unable to (or don't) take responsibility for their own actions?
   
   My belief system happens to include personal responsibility. *shrug* I don't know about anyone else's.

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      kirstenblogposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I can see that a belief system can incorporate the lesson of taking responsibility for our actions and I have a lot of respect for individuals who do incorporate this as a part of their beliefs
      
      I do not respect when people use their beliefs to avoid responsibility and I sadly see it happen often

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         ncmonroe1981posted 14 years agoin reply to this

         I can second that kirstin:) There does seem to be a lot of lack of responsibility going around these days.

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            Cagsilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Ya think?

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10. 70

    Cagsilposted 14 years ago

    Hey Kirsten,
    
    Did you happen to start this thread after reading my Hub?

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11. 70

    Cagsilposted 14 years ago

    Sometimes I wonder what this world is coming to?

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    kirstenblogposted 14 years ago

    This has been fun but I suspect it would be easier to make a buck by writing a hub!

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       Cagsilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       That might be true?

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13. 76

    Sufidreamerposted 14 years ago

    Likewise - It has been fun but it is my turn to cook, so I had better make a start.
    
    Have fun and be good...

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       kirstenblogposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Hope you are enjoying a nice dinner We shall have to be silly on the forums again sometime. I really shoulda been working on my hub

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          Sufidreamerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          Lovely Spinach and Rice, thanks - being silly was great fun but, sadly, it made much more sense than many of the other posts

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             kirstenblogposted 14 years agoin reply to this

             Silliness usually does make the most sense to me

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             Cagsilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

             That's true enough.

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    lyricsingrayposted 14 years ago

    ourselves.

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    prettydarkhorseposted 14 years ago

    People acts in general or behave not because of cultural influences like religion or value system, but they act accordingly because they like it, the reasons can be obscure, sometimes because of anticipated blessings they get from the act, or they just act selfishly because they love themselves, eevrybody loves themselves,,,,,thats why when you interact with other people you try to show your best, or the true you, or not the true you...
    
    so in short blame yourself, not others,,,,HEHE

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    Stevennix2001posted 14 years ago

    that's very hard to say as nobody really knows what would happen if we didn't have religion in our lives.  i guess the world might be like it was at the beginning of the film, "invention of lying."  however, even that's up to interpretation as well. 
    
    i know statistically speaking, there would be a lot less wars and death counts as it's already proven religion is the number one reason for war.
    
    however, the problem with humanity is we're all idiots, period.  even if we didn't have religion, that still wouldn't cure other factors that cause us to lash out and discriminate.  there would still be rape, murder, and stealing, as those having nothing to do with religion.  although, there are some that use that an excuse though.

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