Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Joshua Bagby on June 25, 2012 at 7:39pm

Margaret, I would be among those who decided not to watch TV violence (or for that matter, most TV period.) I am cognizant of watching my mental diet. However, I do not think that the average person raised in our society even thinks of doing that unless through some enlightened moment or circumstance realizes that this stuff is bad for one's spirit and morale. 

Permalink Reply by Jan Lazo-Davis on June 25, 2012 at 8:08pm

I watch my mental diet very closely. Twin Peaks gave me fits and I only saw one episode. From that moment on - no more!!! 

Permalink Reply by Margaret Sue Turner Wright on June 26, 2012 at 1:11pm

I have gone thru various phases of watching my mental diet too and am in another mental diet now as well! I couldn't even find any good movies anymore on the on demand station and finally just gave up! Of course I have seen a plenty and probably got mental indigestion which inspired my new mental diet!

Permalink Reply by Joshua Bagby on June 26, 2012 at 1:22pm

Margaret, same with me. I have become very selective even in movies that I watch. I have found that YouTube offers some nice viewing options by searching on keywords that are of interest. Of course, there's a lot of junk on there, too. I have also found for me that writing a novel that takes place in heaven creates a good way to feed my mental diet. 

Permalink Reply by Margaret Sue Turner Wright on June 26, 2012 at 1:07pm

Very true Joshua. At least there is hope for some enlightened moments for us all!

Permalink Reply by Ron Lombardo on July 9, 2012 at 10:38am

Is it not possible that the only justification for evil is to define and depict good. Without evil how would anyone understand what good is?  If one is congratulated for doing a good job, the conclusion would be they didn't do a BAD job.  EVIL is that reference point that enables us to define GOOD.

Permalink Reply by Brian Baruch on July 9, 2012 at 10:54am

Perhaps a more nuanced way of explaining it is that the highest currency for meaningful expression is FREEDOM. If one is not truly free in their expression then there is not much meaning to the expression and not much of an accomplishment of individual expression.

Evil provides a contrasting subtext to render authentic choice meaningful; it provides the contrasting choice/  that canvas of freedom for authentic actualized expression of a choice to be loving.

Permalink Reply by Marshall Barnes on July 9, 2012 at 1:39pm

Ronald:

I couldn't disagree with you more. Doing good does not require evil as a comparison because doing good is different than doing nothing. If a person walks past an old lady waiting to cross the street, they're not being evil. If they walk her across the street, they're being good. If they push her in front of an oncoming truck...I think you can get the picture... 

We don't need evil in this world for anything...

Permalink Reply by Ron Lombardo on July 9, 2012 at 6:56pm

Marshall-

I think you're not giving the logic a chance.  Everything in the universe consists of opposing forces.  Matter and anti-matter,  nature possesses such heartwarming beauty and cold-blooded cruelty, there's day and there's night.  We can go on and on and anything that exists has an opposite.  The way we learn best is from our mistakes and quite frankly I feel God allows evil to exist so we learn that way as well. 

 

Permalink Reply by Marshall Barnes on July 10, 2012 at 12:38pm

Ronald:

You ignored my very obvious example, to give me a mini lecture on logic and physics. You say that everything exits has an opposite. Really? If the floor is the structural opposite of a ceiling, what is the structural opposite of a wall? What is the opposite of a horse? What is the opposite of an umbrella? What is the opposite of a cloud? The opposite of a platypus?

Maybe you learn best from your mistakes and maybe your god needs to use evil to teach you lessons. In that case, I just glad I'm not you...

Permalink Reply by Ron Lombardo on July 10, 2012 at 1:31pm

Marshall-

We all have our own beliefs and no one is certain enough to mandate others to conform to their way. You and I have obvious differences on the subject and that's okay but you do get a bit militant and overbearing with your opinion.  You might want to open your mind to others thoughts a bit. 

Permalink Reply by Marshall Barnes on July 10, 2012 at 6:32pm

Ronald:

That's a cop out. I noticed you didn't bother to answer any of my questions so I'll have to assume that I made my point. As far as being certain about things, that's cop out as well. I'm not mandating that you conform, I'm just pointing out that you were wrong.  I'm certain you have a full color photograph of what appears to be a man that you use as your icon. I am not certain that that man is you, however. I am certain that rain doesn't fall up, that snow is always cold, that children like candy. I'm also certain that you didn't like being shown you were wrong. The old lady example is not a belief system, it's a fact. Ask anybody. How God uses evil is a belief. That I don't care about. What I do care about is when people want to use the idea of having an open mind as an excuse to insist that any nonsensical calp-trap be accepted as having some kind of validation. Everything in the universe doesn't have an opposite. That's a fact. It's not an opinion nor a belief, or a mandate. I offered my proof of it, which you let stand, for obvious reasons.

If you think that's being militant, well perhaps it is. It's also pretty sad commentary, that pointing out obvious truths is considered militant.

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