I'll tell you what's ****, ****ing relatives sending

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Originally Posted by Monty92

Nope. Justice, compassion and love are all driven by our evolutionary instinct. How they manifest is of course socially and culturally constructed but the instincts are innate.

And there is absolutely no need to believe in anything supernatural for anyone to live their lives according to these innate instincts.

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I'm sure Mohammed Bin-Monty will thank you for your attitude one day. Probably save some money not buying him that bottle every year, now

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Originally Posted by Luis Anaconda

I'm sure Mohammed Bin-Monty will thank you for your attitude one day. Probably save some money not buying him that bottle every year, now

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:nono: Yusuf al-East-Finchley imo

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Originally Posted by Burney

:nono: Yusuf al-East-Finchley imo

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Mohampstead, actually

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Originally Posted by Monty92

Nope. Justice, compassion and love are all driven by our evolutionary instinct. How they manifest is of course socially and culturally constructed but the instincts are innate.

And there is absolutely no need to believe in anything supernatural for anyone to live their lives according to these innate instincts.

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And yet man has always sought a greater truth, which suggests that there is an innate instinct which leads to this pursuit and consequently to a belief system of some kind.

And you sound very much like a control freak, if you don't mind me saying so. That could very well be because of your OCD combined with your love for your children and concern for their well being.

But you're thinking about it too much, Monty. The children will become what they will become. As long as you and your partner provide a loving and caring environment and encourage them to do their best, you've really done all that you can, or need to, do. The rest comes down to human genetics and fate, neither of which you control.

So chill and enjoy them for what they are and what they become.

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Originally Posted by World's End Stella

And yet man has always sought a greater truth, which suggests that there is an innate instinct which leads to this pursuit and consequently to a belief system of some kind.

And you sound very much like a control freak, if you don't mind me saying so. That could very well be because of your OCD combined with your love for your children and concern for their well being.

But you're thinking about it too much, Monty. The children will become what they will become. As long as you and your partner provide a loving and caring environment and encourage them to do their best, you've really done all that you can, or need to, do. The rest comes down to human genetics and fate, neither of which you control.

So chill and enjoy them for what they are and what they become.

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Well you say 'greater truth', but what you actually mean is 'comforting lie'. And it's not 'instinct' that leads us to seek that, it's the fear of eternal non-existence - the chilling fact that the Universe will carry on without us and not give a fück. That's not an innate instinct, it's just solipsism.

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Originally Posted by Burney

Well you say 'greater truth', but what you actually mean is 'comforting lie'. And it's not 'instinct' that leads us to seek that, it's the fear of eternal non-existence - the chilling fact that the Universe will carry on without us and not give a fück. That's not an innate instinct, it's just solipsism.

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Thank you......

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Originally Posted by Monty92

Thank you......

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This doesn't mean I don't think you're being a bit of a dick about Santa, btw.

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Originally Posted by Burney

Well you say 'greater truth', but what you actually mean is 'comforting lie'. And it's not 'instinct' that leads us to seek that, it's the fear of eternal non-existence - the chilling fact that the Universe will carry on without us and not give a fück. That's not an innate instinct, it's just solipsism.

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I'm looking at it from their perspective. A perspective that I have no intention of dismissing as easily as you do, Burney.

And you could classify the search for a greater truth as being as much an 'evolutionary instinct' as any of the examples that Monty gave.

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Originally Posted by World's End Stella

I'm looking at it from their perspective. A perspective that I have no intention of dismissing as easily as you do, Burney.

And you could classify the search for a greater truth as being as much an 'evolutionary instinct' as any of the examples that Monty gave.

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Man invented god in order to elevate the status of man. The whole purpose is to suggest that - uniquely among the creatures of the earth - man is simply too special just to die and turn to yuck, so must therefore have a special place in the heart of the creator that entails us - guess what? - surviving death in some form.
it's not hard to see how it works. We invent stories to explain the things we don't understand and which frighten us. And, since death is the ultimate unknowable, terrifying mystery, we invent gods to give it meaning and take the edge off it. It's all a perfectly rational response in a sense - nothing to do with any instinct other than fear.

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Originally Posted by World's End Stella

I'm looking at it from their perspective. A perspective that I have no intention of dismissing as easily as you do, Burney.

And you could classify the search for a greater truth as being as much an 'evolutionary instinct' as any of the examples that Monty gave.

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The collorary of this point of view is that it's only our innate desire to pursue meaning where there is none that stops us from becoming nihilists. After all, if there is no greater truth, and if existence is meaningless, what is the point in being a kind, good, ethical person?

The point is that being a kind, good, ethical person is beneficial to us from an evolutionary perspective, and our instincts to be kind, good and ethical can very well come solely from these instincts, without any belief in anything greater.