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My ex-wife (who was with me for decades) tagged me as an existentialist early on, and I guess it was true. I don't really understand how we can see the universe

by adamc 5y ago

My ex-wife (who was with me for decades) tagged me as an existentialist early on, and I guess it was true. I don't really understand how we can see the universe another way, without lying to ourselves: bad things happen, and nothing is done about it. What Christian theologians have called "The Problem of Evil" leads me to see the universe as uncaring, indifferent. The only way out of it that has worked for me is to care about other people (and animals, etc.) -- to focus on the small things I can try to make better.

jgrowl 5y ago
> I don't really understand how we can see the universe another way It has been eye opening to me to view the universe as a dualism. It will certainty strike you down without a second thought, but at the same time we are provided a space in this time to flourish. If we act good, then good gets multiplied. This is the Egyptian idea of holding a whip in one hand and shepherd's crook in the other. The universe is both a punisher and a Sheppard king. Which is very apt considering your solution to take care of others.
warent 5y ago
It's interesting that many atheists seem to argue that the only two choices are either a Christian god, or a basically meaningless universe, and a keystone for Christianity to be the wrong option is the problem of evil. But there are so many other philosophies that have resolved this. For example, some Hindu schools explain that god is the only one that experiences anything. The paradox of its infinite nature means the only way it can experience its own goodness is to play hide and seek with itself in a land of illusion that appears evil. In Buddhism, it's a beginningless tangled web of karma. The meaning is to untangle and extinguish it. In Hawaiian mythology, you have Kane, Lono, and Ku. There is no concept of an infinitely good infinitely loving god. This isn't to say atheism/nihilism is necessarily wrong, but the problem of evil always seems like the weakest argument in its defense.
- dsego 5y ago
  > but the problem of evil always seems like the weakest argument in its defense. I can't understand why anyone would see religion or philosophy that says that some poor child deserved bone cancer because of karma or some balance of good and evil in the world as anything but despicable and disgusting. What is gained from any of them, what value do they bring?
  - warent 5y ago
    The words "deserve" and "not deserve" are very common misunderstandings of karma. I think it's not about deserving, more like being tossed around a terrible stormy sea with a terrible rudder. That's the point of Buddhism, is to be free of it. It's not considered a desirable thing.

by adamc 5y ago

jgrowl 5y ago

> I don't really understand how we can see the universe another way It has been eye opening to me to view the universe as a dualism. It will certainty strike you down without a second thought, but at the same time we are provided a space in this time to flourish. If we act good, then good gets multiplied. This is the Egyptian idea of holding a whip in one hand and shepherd's crook in the other. The universe is both a punisher and a Sheppard king. Which is very apt considering your solution to take care of others.

warent 5y ago

It's interesting that many atheists seem to argue that the only two choices are either a Christian god, or a basically meaningless universe, and a keystone for Christianity to be the wrong option is the problem of evil. But there are so many other philosophies that have resolved this. For example, some Hindu schools explain that god is the only one that experiences anything. The paradox of its infinite nature means the only way it can experience its own goodness is to play hide and seek with itself in a land of illusion that appears evil. In Buddhism, it's a beginningless tangled web of karma. The meaning is to untangle and extinguish it. In Hawaiian mythology, you have Kane, Lono, and Ku. There is no concept of an infinitely good infinitely loving god. This isn't to say atheism/nihilism is necessarily wrong, but the problem of evil always seems like the weakest argument in its defense.

dsego 5y ago
> but the problem of evil always seems like the weakest argument in its defense. I can't understand why anyone would see religion or philosophy that says that some poor child deserved bone cancer because of karma or some balance of good and evil in the world as anything but despicable and disgusting. What is gained from any of them, what value do they bring?
- warent 5y ago
  The words "deserve" and "not deserve" are very common misunderstandings of karma. I think it's not about deserving, more like being tossed around a terrible stormy sea with a terrible rudder. That's the point of Buddhism, is to be free of it. It's not considered a desirable thing.