Inner peace. This is the mechanism for peace on earth, something i'm sure everyone can agree is worth working for.

We can debate the semantics of how to achieve world peace over and over; but the fact is spiritual consciousness helps me to achieve inner-peace, how can that be a bad thing?

I would say the platform for inner-peace is insignificant, as long as people are engaged in searching for inner peace rather than looking for peace for peace beyond the self.

You can conceptualize that world peace is possible through inner-peace?

Although inner-peace is not transferred between people it is something that all people can realize; maybe an entire world were people realize this is a dream- but certainly we should be encouraging this kind of thing.

Inner-peace is the only mechanism to which world peace can be achieved, because applying an authoritarian approach to peace and life in general is the source of destruction to peace.

This is rooted in consciousness itself.

Nobody can know anothers consciousness, it is exclusive to the self.

So instead of being linear ( that is if you do not use this approach i.e. you evaluate everything based on "evidence" ) try this.

If you disagree; tell me why peace on earth would be such a bad thing?

Of course we need define what peace, inner peace and world peace and how these are linked before we come to this realization, i realize our definitions may be different.

For you atheists : I am curious as to how Atheism achieves inner peace and peace on earth.

Yes i realize religion can be a source of destruction against peace.

We should not be pushing our realization of inner-peace onto others, due to the nature of consciousness that is not possible.

We should encourage to realize inner peace within their own consciousness.

When we come to this understanding we realize that peace itself cannot be seen, tasted, touched, smelt or heard.

Therefore inner-peace and world peace is something innately spiritual; we all have our own inner peace, we know everyone is conscious even though we cannot detect it with our material senses.

A lot of fundies would call me an atheist, since I reject the narrow and meanspirited protrayal of God in the Bible. Inner peace is in no way contingent upon religion--for many, one sure way to inner peace is simply to be forgiving and accepting of others--doing so is not contingent upon belief in any deity, but it helps if one has a degree of humanistic unity consciousness, the awareness that we are all one, and that it is simply common sense to do unto others as we would have it done unto us.

Do so not in hopes of heavenly rewards (heaven is a myth) or hellish punishments (hell is also a myth), bt simply because it is the intelligent and prudent thing to do.

If everyone ( or even a slight majority) would act as if we are all one, the world would be healed overnight. There would be no more war or hunger or hatred.

A lot of fundies would call me an atheist, since I reject the narrow and meanspirited protrayal of God in the Bible. Inner peace is in no way contingent upon religion--for many, one sure way to inner peace is simply to be forgiving and accepting of others--doing so is not contingent upon belief in any deity, but it helps if one has a degree of humanistic unity consciousness, the awareness that we are all one, and that it is simply common sense to do unto others as we would have it done unto us.

Do so not in hopes of heavenly rewards (heaven is a myth) or hellish punishments (hell is also a myth), bt simply because it is the intelligent and prudent thing to do.

If everyone ( or even a slight majority) would act as if we are all one, the world would be healed overnight. There would be no more war or hunger or hatred.

yeah i agree with that.

In summary when im talking about inner-peace im talking about understanding ontology.

If we understand our own and other ontology then we can understand there reality and our reality better.

Rather than evaluating there reality we should evaluate their ontology. But its such a difficult task; especially when no-one else is making this effort.

I agree as well..........religion is not the path to world peace.

To be fair, there is no path to world peace, b/c world peace is a myth. There will always be conflict, violence and war. Someone will always want what another possesses, or disagree with another. There is no overcoming this, ever, as long as humans have free will.

I agree as well..........religion is not the path to world peace.

To be fair, there is no path to world peace, b/c world peace is a myth. There will always be conflict, violence and war. Someone will always want what another possesses, or disagree with another. There is no overcoming this, ever, as long as humans have free will.

Thank you for your constructive feedback!

I dont think world peace will ever happen either, but inner-peace is certainly feasibly and we can certainly increase the amount of peace in the world.

So if there is no overcoming this as long as humans have free will, then would removing humans free will bring peace?

That is the concept of heaven in a broad sense.

P.s BP: would you like to outline how Atheism can bring more peace to the world, or inner-peace to an individual?

P.s BP: would you like to outline how Atheism can bring more peace to the world, or inner-peace to an individual?

Atheism simply means without theism, but if more people were simply without theism.....

Perhaps we would not be engaged in a holy war.
Perhaps none of the holy wars would to have happened, and future ones averted.
Perhaps we would not have to have had relearned during the Renaissance what the church's subverted and science could have progressed much faster....meaning things like the black death need not have been as devastating.
Perhaps nobody would know what "will she float or drown" was used to determine.
Perhaps none of us would know the name of Jim Jones, or David Koresh, or future cult leaders who will do it again.
Perhaps Bush would not have been elected.
Perhaps nobody would get what a catholic priest joke about altar boys means.
Perhaps Israel and the rest of the mid-east would be prime vaction land.

Perhaps.....

Though, I wouldn't rule out the very real possibility that the vile nature of few human beings would not have found another reason for us to kill one another, so that they may profit.

I do think we would have many, many, many, many less reasons to kill each other, without religion.

I would like to find out, for sure, considering religions have had their shot at it for thousands of years and have mountians of bodies and blood on their hands to show for it.

The expression shit or get off the pot, doesn't apply, as it seems religions have already shit, and shit, and shit, and simply refuse to up the pot.

Atheism simply means without theism, but if more people were simply without theism.....

Perhaps we would not be engaged in a holy war.
Perhaps none of the holy wars would to have happened, and future ones averted.
Perhaps we would not have to have had relearned during the Renaissance what the church's subverted and science could have progressed much faster....meaning things like the black death need not have been as devastating.
Perhaps nobody would know what "will she float or drown" was used to determine.
Perhaps none of us would know the name of Jim Jones, or David Koresh, or future cult leaders who will do it again.
Perhaps Bush would not have been elected.
Perhaps nobody would get what a catholic priest joke about altar boys means.
Perhaps Israel and the rest of the mid-east would be prime vaction land.

Perhaps.....

Though, I wouldn't rule out the very real possibility that the vile nature of few human beings would not have found another reason for us to kill one another, so that they may profit.

I do think we would have many, many, many, many less reasons to kill each other, without religion.

I would like to find out, for sure, considering religions have had their shot at it for thousands of years and have mountians of bodies and blood on their hands to show for it.

The expression shit or get off the pot, doesn't apply, as it seems religions have already shit, and shit, and shit, and simply refuse to up the pot.

Ok thankyou, i noticed that the examples you gave are things that you consider of dis merit (a reduction in things of dis merit).

Could you please also state the things of merit (an increase in these things) that Atheism posses in and of itself that would help inner peace and peace?

Shanti, shanti, shanti.

Hoping for peace? Optimism. Masturbation.

Accept life for what it is. A battle.

Shanti, shanti, shanti.

Hoping for peace? Optimism. Masturbation.

Accept life for what it is. A battle.

That's a bit of a spurious generality.

I dont understand the argument against optimism?

I dont see any negative aspects to optimism.

If i masturbate more, so what? i like fapping

masturbation jokes aside, obbe hit the nail on the head, life no matter how you put it life is a battle.

what is the action taken during a battle? struggle

what is the opposite of struggle? death

what is the opposite of death? life

what is life? struggle.

the circle continues.

and optimism would be, IMHO (like this whole post), somehow breaking this cycle.

how? thats why optimism in this case is futile (IMO)

masturbation jokes aside, obbe hit the nail on the head, life no matter how you put it life is a battle.

what is the action taken during a battle? struggle

what is the opposite of struggle? death

what is the opposite of death? life

what is life? struggle.

the circle continues.

and optimism would be, IMHO (like this whole post), somehow breaking this cycle.

how? thats why optimism in this case is futile (IMO)

Thats the pessimistic view; so of course your going to reject optimism.

If you could holistically say that all of life is battle then i would be pessimistic; but the fact is i am personally happy most of the time- i dont see the struggle in being happy.

All these negative connotations are only one side of the coin; but that doesnt mean there is no evil on this planet; there always will be as long as we aer unrealized and trapped in the consciousness that creates this "struggle".

in a way we are the cause of and solution to all of our problems, or at least the solution is within us.

Shanti, shanti, shanti.

Hoping for peace? Optimism. Masturbation.

Accept life for what it is. A battle.

"I came not to bring peace, but a sword."

death is not the opposite of life, but rather the lack of anyone to live it

Optimism is as much delusion as pessimism. What is wrong with acknowledging that some things hurt, others please; sometimes things go well, and sometimes go to hell? When you have two options on an individual level spread over billions, both will be made and both sets of consequences suffered. This is realism; the synthesis of optimism and pessimism. Expect nothing from others, hope for the best from everyone, do your part. No delusion necessary: People make mistakes, hope for learning, admit your own and do what you can to mend them. Sitting around fantasizing about world peace doesn't help achieve it, neither does fantasizing about inner peace. Likewise, fantasizing about world doom doesn't cause it, nor does fantasizing about personal damnation. Get off your ass and get to work bettering your own life and doing what you can to assist those around you if you want to make a difference, if not, continue as you are.

Peace, I've got work to do.

no teachings / no teachers / nothing taught

Optimism is as much delusion as pessimism. What is wrong with acknowledging that some things hurt, others please; sometimes things go well, and sometimes go to hell? When you have two options on an individual level spread over billions, both will be made and both sets of consequences suffered. This is realism; the synthesis of optimism and pessimism. Expect nothing from others, hope for the best from everyone, do your part. No delusion necessary: People make mistakes, hope for learning, admit your own and do what you can to mend them. Sitting around fantasizing about world peace doesn't help achieve it, neither does fantasizing about inner peace. Likewise, fantasizing about world doom doesn't cause it, nor does fantasizing about personal damnation. Get off your ass and get to work bettering your own life and doing what you can to assist those around you if you want to make a difference, if not, continue as you are.

Peace, I've got work to do.

You see thats your opinion; as soon as your telling me what do do (if i stand up for myself) peace is being disturbed because that is not how i see it.

That is your inner-understanding not mine.

How dare you tell me i am not bettering my own life or trying to assist others; all of this can be done whilst i am on my ass.

Look at how most people are educating themselves, go to the fucking universities when they study they are on their ass.

Fools and ignorant rascals wonder around doing activities engaging their senses but never sit on their ass to contemplate or meditate on their existence.

Ok thankyou, i noticed that the examples you gave are things that you consider of dis merit (a reduction in things of dis merit).

Could you please also state the things of merit (an increase in these things) that Atheism posses in and of itself that would help inner peace and peace?

Again, I don't think there can be world peace, whilst humans have free will.

That being said, atheism itself possesses nothing positive, other than ridding oneself of mental garbage. Again, atheism is simply without theism, so any postives gleaned from it, would be the negatives lost by abandoning theism.

I just feel that theism has a had go at attempting to enrich the world and human lives for the better part of a few thousand years now, perhaps it is something else's turn.

Insanity after all is doing the same things and expecting different results.

If I had my vote it would be to get rid of theism and adopt secular humanism.

Again, I don't think there can be world peace, whilst humans have free will.

That being said, atheism itself possesses nothing positive, other than ridding oneself of mental garbage. Again, atheism is simply without theism, so any postives gleaned from it, would be the negatives lost by abandoning theism.

I just feel that theism has a had go at attempting to enrich the world and human lives for the better part of a few thousand years now, perhaps it is something else's turn.

Insanity after all is doing the same things and expecting different results.

If I had my vote it would be to get rid of theism and adopt secular humanism.

Well as an educated guess i would say theism/religion/spirituality whatever has never dominated in totality; i think your overlooking culture and its diversity. From a biological perspective evolution takes a long time and really we have no greater intellectual capacity now than we did back then; as for environment thats debatable. Some people are well off but most people are fucked over just like 1000 years ago; and IMO capitalism isn't helping out Africa much more than Catholicism.

There are great lessons in history- not only mistakes to learn from, but successes to learn of.

Your view of the past seems very linear.

I study anthropology so this is my area of expertise.

Well as an educated guess i would say theism/religion/spirituality whatever has never dominated in totality; i think your overlooking culture and its diversity.

Since you have studied anthropology perhaps you could tell me of an ancient culture (let's say before 1000 A.D.) in which religion did not play a large part in governence.

There should be an offbrand unimportant ancient culture out there who did not allow religion to govern.

However...

When I think of the major players of the ancient world, the ones that dominated, the ones that conquered others and forced their views upon them, the ones who created philosophy and concepts still in use to this day (such as the Greeks, Romans, Hebrews, and Arabs) and I can't think of a single one who, prior to the age of reason, forbid religion to assist in governing.

These were the power players, this is what I am talking about when I suggest theism had it's chance, and failed.

I think it is time we move past primitive beliefs and come together, secure in the knowledge that all we have is each other, that there are not angels, demons, gods, devils or spirits to assist us, and that we all rise together or fall together, based on OUR interactions with one another, not what some priest deems, or a church madates, or a God demands.

That is my humanistic view, though I don't believe World Peace is obtainable, I do agree that peace can be increased, I just happen to feel a new method for that is in order.

Again, insanity is doing the same things and expecting different results.

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Some of the most violent places on Earth, are the places that lack science, or allow religion to dominate their lives (Africa and the Middle East).

Since you have studied anthropology perhaps you could tell me of an ancient culture (let's say before 1000 A.D.) in which religion did not play a large part in governence.
.

Samkhya. Its a sub culture but a culture non the less.

Samkhya. Its a sub culture but a culture non the less.

Samkhya is a school of Indian philosophy.

The nation of India, where this culture was formed and existed, most certainly allowed religion to assist in governing.

ancient culture (let's say before 1000 A.D.) in which religion did not play a large part in governence.

There should be an offbrand unimportant ancient culture out there who did not allow religion to govern.


Aroi.

There are no unimportant cultures, at least not according to anthropology/sociology/ social sciences - basically the experts.

Unknown to many Roman/Greek/Egypt arent really ancient empires there more classical, civilisation was around far before then for example civilisation (numerous) on the sub-continent of India date back over 100,000 years and are recorded in the Vedas.

If introspection is a fairly recent capability of the human animal, then it is no mystery why religion appears throughout human cultures. It was created out of hallucination, just like mathematics and logic were. These things are only creations.

I see world peace, in the absolute sense as something impossible. Everyone will always disagree with something. If everyone does not disagree than their is uniformity. If their is a uniformity in the world than we might as well live in a dictatorial government. Where is the peace if you are not free though? Being that you may not want the peace if you are not free to choose to have the peace. Ultimately, the only way I see "world peace" as something becoming a reality is, if you make peace with the world for yourself. In other words make find your own sense of peace with all conflicts around you, both those in your control (the ones you start) and those out of your control. If their small conflicts than minimize their damage and appearance and in time it ends itself. If they are big conflicts get people together to reach and agreement in a peaceful manner. Violence should be the last means, if violence must ensue than be the peaceful and just warrior do not take advantage of others who lost or who are weak or who have surrendered.