Comments on: Do Things Even Matter?

By: Michael Suede

Michael Suede — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:55:00 +0000

Thanks for the great information.

I’m no theological expert, I simply call it as I see it. It’s nice that you provided some additional background for contemplation.

By: PKP

PKP — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:50:00 +0000

I’ve been silently watching with interest MS’s philosophical journey from plasma cosmology and economics into ontology and meaning of life. I can see you headed towards the teachings of Buddha. There is a lot of similarity between the teachings of Buddha and Jesus (not mainstream Christianity which are man made religions, but following Jesus which is a way of life). However, there are some huge differences that become apparent quickly. Buddha tried to answer the question of “why is there suffering” and said that it is because of selfish desires. Hence the Buddhist monks were prescribed mendicancy, but beggars are actually dependent on others in society or the state to provide for them. Notice that all Buddhist societies devolved into totalitarianism or Communism. Hinduism (the root that spawned Buddhism and Jainism) answered the same question with the answer that suffering is caused by man not knowing his inner divinity and when he does he stops reincarnating. Notice that Hindu societies have castes, people under repression, superstition, backwardness, etc. which exist today in India (my home, mostly impoverished) and Nepal (the only Hindu nation which is very impoverished and also has a sizeable Marxist uprising) and this came about after the periods of initial debauchery and hedonism of ancient Hindu kings led to their decline, leading to foreign takeovers. Both of these religions claim there is no truth (which invalidates their own statements) and that everything is a “maya” illusion. Notice that this is an epistemic condition for economic and scientific backwardness.
However, Jesus is the only one who proclaimed that there is truth, that we can know the truth, there is meaning and purpose to life, value for human life and practiced proactive love for one’s neighbors. This and other epistemological foundations provided only by a Christian worldview is why the Reformation gave rise to the Scientific Revolution in Europe. You may already know Max Weber’s thesis “The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism” (which describes how the Reformed church “invented” capitalism.) If you would like to do a comparative study of the religions, their ontology and epistemology, then please check out the works of Dr. Vishal Mangalwadi at http://www.revelationmovement.com. He wrote a book entitled The Book That Made Your World: How The Bible Created The Soul of the Western Civilization. You can listen to his mp3s or read articles on these subjects for free at the above site. It will be worth your time. Peace. (John 14:27) Jesus said “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

By: Cmcmahon

Cmcmahon — Fri, 04 May 2012 21:05:00 +0000

I would say many of the “things” people peruse these days are not needed. However at the same time many “things” could make life much easier for the common man. I see the establishment deny inventions to people just because it doesn’t work for the government. Look up 78MPG cars in Europe. They exist now but are not sold in the U.S.

I think most of the problems we are facing are created by spoiled children, masquerading as grownups, in positions of power. They want to socialize the wealthy and capitalize the poor. The idea that made this the greatest country in the world was in a word competition. If you want to stay on top you have to constantly innovate. We have become a nation that stifles invention in favor of the status quo.

The only way to fix our current situation is peace. Without war the establishment looses all power. That that one to heart.

By: Nelson007

Nelson007 — Thu, 03 May 2012 19:50:00 +0000

very zen Buddhist of you Michael!

agreed.

By: Akagaga

Akagaga — Thu, 03 May 2012 12:57:00 +0000

A nice, thoughtful piece, Michael. I discovered what “I need” about thirty years ago when I started backpacking. Everything I really needed (and some things I didn’t) fit neatly into a pack that I could carry anywhere. That was a revelation that made material things far less important, and I learned to be in the world but not of the world.

We do disagree on a couple points, though. While some wars are born out of fear, some are born from an evil desire for power. Evil and good do exist in this world, and I cannot write off our souls as a “a fundamental component of the universe” rather than a reflection of the God who created us.

“But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, ‘DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:54-57)