Frankly, you can call me whatever you want, and say I am or am not whatever you want. I honestly do not care.
And you obviously have to strive to not be a ****-head after accepting Jesus. Even if it's not possible to be perfect and never be a ****-head again, if you don't strive earnestly to not be a ****-head, how can you even claim to have accepted Jesus' sacrifice. If you say "I accept Jesus as my lord and savior" but still go around unprecedentedly sinning and being a raving ****-head, you're just deluding yourself.
Of course, no hard feelings my friend. I'd be something of a hypocrite to talk all this God talk and then hold a grudge over something so trivial.
I completely get what you’re saying man. It’s like Gandhi said, he thought he was being a good Christian by being a good Hindu. Personally, I have a hard time believing that God would send someone like Gandhi or the Dalai Lama to Hell, but we’re all entitled to our opinions I suppose.
I think the Stoics are a good fit here. They focus on explaining what is necessary for happiness and what’s in our control. Only our perceptions our in our control, not what others think or even what happens to us much of the time. If we focus on what is in our power, we can realize we have the power to be happy regardless or even in spite of our circumstances, not because of them. It’s all very logical and practical. I find you don’t really have to suspend your disbelief or get into abstract theology to understand and apply it.
I like how you said “accepting problems as a path to happiness,” not “looking for or creating problems as a path to happiness” haha. Epictetus said:
Was that necessary?
THANK YOU.
Dude, shut the fuk up.
This guy is the problem man. Read the thread.
What are you talking about? I was one of the first people to give a recommendation for some good books, as well as even posted where to buy them for a good price, and answered some questions about what to expect from the book and clarified that it's not a religious books and that it's not necessary to have any particular belief(s) to read and get something out of the books.
Thank you. This whole time I've stated I only have opinions and beliefs, and that I don't have the answers, and that I respect other beliefs. I don't understand binthereduntht; he directly asked me multiple questions, and now he's angry that I answered them? Is it because my answers didn't line up with what he wanted to hear? In fact, I haven't insulted anyone that I'm aware of, yet he's the "good Christian" sitting here calling me names and insulting me. Ok then...
HGP; the hero AM deserves.
As nice as raining whey sounds at first, when you really think about it, it'll get really sticky and start to smell after a while out in the sun.
I heard that some religious people are sane, could be rumors....
Cleared lol.
I don't see it as an attack. It's not for everyone. Like I said I like it, but it's not for everyone
Or you can just have no expectations regarding the outcome, which is admittedly very difficult to do. The Stoics (at least Epictetus), since they’re a good fit for OP’s needs IMO, say that the outcome of a situation is not in our control, only how we act. Since the Stoics say we should only focus on, and derive happiness from, what is our control, we should focus not on the outcome that isn’t in our control, but on our actions that we think are best to meet the goal while still preserving our good nature. If we get the outcome that is ideal, then that’s great, but if we don’t, it is in our power to not let it take our happiness, and it is in our power to still be good people and persevere.
Also, in the time leading up to the outcome of an event, the pessimist is by definition unhappy and/or apprehensive. Better to have no expectations, or at least not depend on the outcome for happiness.
So what your saying is a good outlook on life is that $h!t Happens.
Sort of. More along the lines of “I can be happy and a good person regardless of what happens, be it s**t or not.” Less riding the waves of pleasure and pain, relying on external pleasures for happiness, and then subsequently suffering pain when you are deprived of said pleasures, and more of being self-sufficient, depending only on what is in your power, on your decision to be happy regardless of your circumstances, not because of them.
I suppose it would help to know the Stoic definitions of good and bad lol. External things can neither be good nor bad; they simply are. This is much the same as the zen view in the parable. It is our perceptions and our thoughts that make a situation/thing good or bad to us. We can chose to, as the saying goes, make it a stepping stone or a stumbling block. We can try to be “good” by trying to act in accordance with our nature. I suppose that comes down to what do we think our nature is, and relates to Socrates saying that no one knowingly does wrong. The Stoics, and I suppose Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, etc, all say that man’s nature is good, that is to help others and not harm them. If however, one believes differently, then their view of food would be different. To this the Stoics say that it isn’t in our control how others think, but that believing that we are good, and can rely on ourselves for happiness instead of hurting others or sinking to any level to obtain pleasure, is it’s own reward, and that one who does bad makes themselves worse, which is its own punishment, while the paramount goal is remaining good, as that is all we can control. So if we can learn to be happy that we are good, and no one can force us to not be good, then no one can deprive us of our happiness, so we are free.
That’s the thing. I’m not saying don’t do your best to make money to pay your bills. You can try your best and not worry about the outcome. If you do what is in your power, do not worry about what is not, as you can’t change it. Worrying about what you can’t change is wasted energy. The Stoics would say learn to be happy regardless of what happens. If you try your best, and you have to sell your house, learn to be happy in your small apartment or car. Alternatively, the Stoics say that we all sell our soul at a certain price, and that we have no rights to complain that others get what we don’t if they are willing to give up what we are not. For example, if someone gets a promotion by kissing ass, we have no right to complain that we didn’t get a promotion if we weren’t willing to also kiss ass. What do you value more? The promotion and more money, or your dignity? It’s your choice, Epictetus just says don’t sell your soul cheap. Also, some people may be willing to turn to prostitution or theft in dire situations, but others would say that they would prefer to keep their dignity and be homeless than have a house but not their dignity. It’s all weighing out what you value most; it’s very logical. If you can learn to only value what is in your control as paramount, then no one or nothing can make you unhappy, as you are the one that controls what you depend on for happiness.
Quoting myself haha.