my train of thought... not yours... get your own.
how is natural defined? who defines it?
Theologically speaking: Nature is humankind's natural state as distinguished from the state of grace...
but let us not get into that... suppose we take theology out of nature.
what would nature's purpose be? if we take Darwinism at its core - evolution, survival of the fittest...
then nature's purpose would be the perpetuation of itself. nature to beget nature. continued existence of the species, right?
so then any trait that would increase a species' chances to stay alive would be vital for the natural world to survive.
the strong or wily are able to spread their seed, therefore, those traits are passed. If traits are lost, then it was of little or no help in propagation.
Mutations occur first, then if that mutation was helpful, it is passed. If not, then it is useful.
If a species cannot pass traits, then those traits should eventually disappear, assuming mutations do not continually bring these traits back into the loop... but that is entirely possible also...
so would natural be doing anything that would ensure the ability to continue propagation?
if you agree with that, then suicide would be deemed unnatural, because it goes against evolution. if you self terminate, you cannot pass genetic information.
love and affection is natural, because it creates bonds, and bonds will increase the chance of survival, thus increase chance of reproduction.
in the same token, conflict is natural, though destructive. Limited means of reproduction (i.e. male to female ratio - or vice versa) will require the actual use of the traits that will allow certain genetic code to be sustained.
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again, this is all on the basis that nature's purpose is to continue itself...
a single requirement, without regard to philosophy, purpose, or meaning.
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but people are more than a species... we think, therefore we are... right? we have philisophy and art, mathematics and politics...
but (since we left theology out) how does that make us different from animals?
Just because we have named that which we use makes us superior animals?
beavers and birds instinctively use concepts of engineering when creating damns and nests. All animals have basic math comprehension - i.e. there were five eggs in the nest, and now two are missing. Insects have formed structured societies that organize millions of "citizens" which work together for the common good of the colony...
because we think and control our desires? is it not only humans that kill members of its own species for reasons other than mere survival?
or am I being naive.
what makes us special?
just because we can, does not mean that we should...
why do we find it necessary?
going back to the "natural" world, does not the criteria of nature make humans as a species "unnatural"?
we wage war and we slaughter the natural world for its resources. we have used our intellect to create technology capable of wiping us completely off of the face of this Earth.
With all of our brain power, you would think that we would have thought through that a little bit more.
Have you ever seen images of a many different species of animals sharing a water hole with no animosity? no one species claims it as their own, and no one uses more than they need at that time.
So what makes us different?
The answer is easy.
Which kind of makes me wonder why it is not apparent to everyone...
We have natural...
and we have supernatural...
So does theism gives us meaning?
Yes.
You can give arguments for or against the existence of God until you are blue in the face...
But I have my faith. Perhaps it is a gift. Perhaps I asked for it. In any case I have it.
Which is why I have so much trouble understanding atheism... how can you not believe?
for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction...
so, if this moved this, that that was moved by that, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera...
then what moved first and how did it move?
and let us assume that you do not believe in any god...
how is it possible, that through all of history to now and all over the world people as a whole have acknowledged a higher power of some sort? To explain the things they did not understand? So how do you explain the current existence of religion?
what? we still religion that to explain that which we do not understand?
whatever...
explain to me, then, your conscience, the sense of moral responsibility... how do we instinctively know what is right and what is wrong?
Innocence is lost through those that are no longer innocent...
ok...
train has come to a complete stop... please exit the ride...
the 7:30 show is completely different from the 9:30 show...