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Was your experience due to the normal societal narrative, or did you truly ponder your action to the words? Was your dislike caused by a reaction or a conscious action?
S/he admitted to being an atheist earlier - which helps a bit. But I'm still a loooong way from fully appreciating the foundation represented by the epigraphs contributed to the forums.
originally posted by: Aphorism
Authenticity is almost impossible if we're not face to face in each other's company. So rather than build up a misconception of you in my mind based on your words, doing you a complete injustice, I work with what I have, and leave the rest up to the imagination.
Sorry to butt in on this word salad of a discussion, but something about your statement is coming across as contradictory on my computer screen... It could be that I'm just not following...
So referring to the bolded parts- you say you would rather not build up a misconception of someone in your mind based on just words, but then in the very same sentence you say that you work with what [words] you have and leave the rest to your imagination. (which would seemingly equate to forming a [mis]conception of that person in your mind, no?)
originally posted by: Aphorism
a reply to: Serdgiam
I mentioned the idea of the old prophets, who I like to believe were destroyers of the ideals laid before them so that they could create their own out of the rubble. We all possess the power to do this, and in a sense, we can be the living embodiment of their actions rather than the mere followers of their ideas, and products of our culture. They are examples of what each individual can become, regardless of whatever attributes of divinity we apply to them after the fact.
For much of our lives culture creates us, and maybe for that we should be somewhat grateful; but sooner or later, we discover we can change that very culture and create it. It's exactly like your signature says. It is a simple but powerful insight.
originally posted by: Aphorism
a reply to: AfterInfinity
And that is fair. But adjectives are still labels. Any word is a label, actually.
Not necessarily. Adjectives describe the things we label.
originally posted by: EviLCHiMP
originally posted by: AfterInfinity
originally posted by: EviLCHiMP
originally posted by: AfterInfinity
a reply to: EviLCHiMP
Divine love is not an empty concept. You just spoke of people seeing labels instead of the person behind them and just turned around and labeled my concept as empty. That is completely hypocritical.
Can you prove that divine love exists outside of our minds?
Divine love cannot be reduced to an expression of language because language is a label. I can show you divine love through my actions and self sacrifice. I cannot prove something to you that you do not perceive as being valid. Surely you understand what I mean by this.
That proves to me that it exists inside the mind. If it relies solely on my perception, that is.
May it be said that everything we perceive only exists through mind?
I have seen love kill, I have seen love lie, I have seen love strike fear in those it cares about, I have seen love destroy absolutely.
I only seek to be able to define myself before I let anyone else do it for me. I am still not there yet, and likely never will be.
The weakness though, is that there is still a personal search. It is not explicitly stated anymore, and infrequently taught, but it IS there. I have been wondering exactly what system will be used to replace it, that closes up that loophole.
That's what a label does.
So then why are you writing threads about spiritual realignment?
So your own words deceive you. If everyone is spiritual then spirituality is hardly exclusive.
In a literal sense, yes. Everything you experience is first an electrical impulse generated through stimulation. That electrical signal happens in the brain.
originally posted by: Visitor2012
a reply to: AfterInfinity
I have seen love kill, I have seen love lie, I have seen love strike fear in those it cares about, I have seen love destroy absolutely.
That wasn't love you were seeing.
originally posted by: Aphorism
a reply to: AfterInfinity
In a literal sense, yes. Everything you experience is first an electrical impulse generated through stimulation. That electrical signal happens in the brain.
What? An electrical impulse? Is that all I am to you After infinity?
originally posted by: Aphorism
a reply to: AfterInfinity
That's what a label does.
Maybe a label on a bag of chips does. I'm speaking of human classification.
It's the same general principle. Labels provide descriptions, and thus definitions, no matter what they are printed on or what they are attached to. That's why we call them "labels". And if you're going to continue splitting hairs, then there's no point continuing this supposedly honest discussion.
label |ˈlābəl|
noun
1 a small piece of paper, fabric, plastic, or similar material attached to an object and giving information about it.
• a piece of fabric sewn inside a garment and bearing the brand name, size, or instructions for care.
• the piece of paper in the center of a phonograph record giving the artist and title.
• a company that produces recorded music: independent labels.
• the name or trademark of a fashion company: she plans to launch her own designer clothes label.
• a classifying phrase or name applied to a person or thing, esp. one that is inaccurate or restrictive: my reluctance to stick a label on myself politically.
• (in a dictionary entry) a word or words used to specify the subject area, register, or geographical origin of the word being defined.
• Computing a string of characters used to refer to a particular instruction in a program.
• Biology & Chemistry a radioactive isotope, fluorescent dye, or enzyme used to make something identifiable for study.
2 Heraldry a narrow horizontal strip, typically with three downward projections, that is superimposed on a coat of arms by an eldest son during the life of his father.
3 Architecture another term for dripstone.