Not buying it. Probably should take it over to PARF.

Thank you for this thread. I have been too caught up in the world. I used to study the Tao, and it was a calming influence in stressful times. I need more of that right now. Time to worry less. It wil all work out.

Take color.

People agree on colors, but do we see colors the same?

Is the way my mind processes different colors make them appear to me like they do to others?

It is an assumption of faith that this is so.

I can point to red.

You can point to red.

That doesn't prove we both perceive red the same way, just that we separate that wavelength and call it red.

How my mind processes the wavelength of purple may be how you see the wavelength of red. We have no way of knowing this, yet our mental "reality" is colored.

People inherently seem to assume by faith that everyone sees the colors in the same way. How does it effect you to be challenged that this might not be so? You and I have no way of proving it one way or the other.

People have faith about a lot of things without ever realizing it until challenged, even then many chose to close their eyes to it choosing to believe in what can only be a "higher empirical power than their own existence"(Without acknowledging it as such).

The more you learn, the larger grow the surrounding bounds of what you don't know.

The realization that you don't know something is an opportunity to expand the bounds of what you know, and it also simultaneously expands the bounds of what you don't know even larger than they were before.

When someone appeals to "reasonable solutions", what defines reasonable if not a higher power they are attempting to conjure to take sway in the discussion that transcends the listener?

People are faith based in every thing as the brain is a filter of inputs. Some can recognize it, making it easier to correct errors and inconsistencies in their thinking process. Others refuse and prefer to stay close minded.

My last two post were not about religion, but rather cognitive process.

We are presented with inputs, ideas, feelings, etc, then choose our own "reality".

Take a recent thread where Superman contested a different meaning of Introvert and Extrovert than nearly all of the rest of the posters in that thread.

You could confront him with a dictionary, and he'd stick to his belief.

He processed the inputs, and chose his own reality.

As do we all; about everything.

Like it or not, I see human intelligence is based on faith.

Why else do people when confronted with the same set of information claim different things about it?

Here is yet another shocking statistic:

The mortality rate in America is 100%! :eek: 1 out of 1 person eventually dies. And it gets worse! 50% of doctors graduated in the bottom half of their class. Hmmm. Maybe the two are connected? :p

If not all med school graduates become doctors...how does that change your latter statistic?

But you have to have faith that the action or road you are on will make it happen for yourself or bear fruit. In the darkest of night you have to have faith that the action taken will lead to the light.

Sounds like Trump. :D

I suppose this gets into semantics. The first time you rebuild an automatic transmission, you don't have to have faith in your Chiltons manual. If you follow the instructions carefully, your transmission works when you are done. Then you rebuild another and another. Over time, it becomes obvious that the instructions were correct. It doesn't require faith. It only requires that you take action, and carefully follow instructions.

For me it was giving my life to Jesus Christ last spring. After pursuing every high and adrenaline rush since I was a kid, none of it moved me anymore at 58.
- I had cheated death more times by age 24 than most people do in their entire life. At my current age I began to realize that there is some other purpose, a mission while I'm still alive. I had also began to 'feel' that there is a higher calling, if you will.

Now, I'm more at peace. I've been moved from within to give back - time, money, other resources and my skills to those who are in need. Part of this is sharing my automotive / restoration / engineering skills with adolescent boys and young men from my church family.

You see, I've failed my only son when he was very young - and now as a 28 year old, has been in and out of jail. But there's still time to heal from that.

I would like to see a published statistical analysis which refers to one of ts cohorts as “stupid.”

This would give me contentment.

Dude, lay off the meds.... or get back on them.

Tabs is just more of an intellectual troll than anything else. Now where is that grain of salt?

Remember guys the best way to avoid the undue influence of others is to truly know yourself. Contentment can be found there.

As for me contentment is not that complicated. Every night I go to sleep with someone I understand and love...me.

This ain’t intellectual - it’s idiotic.

werd.

that third glass of wine at a good meal with good friends.

(from my long ago past) a cigarette on the porch with coworkers during a break.

napping on a sunday afternoon with my infant son or daughter also napping on my chest.

an unexpected hug or kiss from my wife.


contentment has got to be one of the greatest feelings I've experienced.



Contentment is a very worthy goal and I think the secret to much happiness.

Those are some hard words to read.

Our kids are their own persons and will be who they will be. if one time taking in the view on the wrong side of the bard doesn't teach you then I don't think it's likely much else would have.

How do you physically measure intelligence? :rolleyes: It appears you need to drastically reduce that "99" number above...

Interesting thread subject, though.

At 61 and contemplating retirement I find myself looking back and lamenting all the years I wasted living like a wild man.

The most discontent people
.....are those who are obsessed with other peoples' level of contentment or ignorance.

That is my hat size...I have a very swelled up head, cause I is so smart...