Thoughts

[Cyrano]

Paying attention to the news is both exhausting and depressing. Covid, medieval Afghan thugs, medieval Republican thugs, Manchin and Sinema, increasing climate disasters, and so, so much more.

I suppose there are a couple of bright spots like Biden's Herculean effort to evacuate Afghans in peril, and Nancy Pelosi's ability to pull together the Democratic caucus. But for the most part, the world, at the moment, seems to be mostly doom and gloom.

Do you suppose humanity is a mistake? If some sort of "Supreme Being" exists, would He/She/It have created this? And if there is no supreme universal intelligence, are we just random atoms floating around in an indifferent vacuum? (Full disclosure: I'm a devout agnostic.)

Yesterday evening, I had a couple of drinks, turned off the TV and sat around for a while wondering if "God" was some kind of eternal version of Donald Trump. Then I picked up a good book I've been reading and escaped into a comfortable parallel universe.

[Irish_Dem]

1. I too have been questioning the nature and future of humanity.

It appears humans have not evolved much since medieval times.

Man's ruthless aggressive pursuit of power, control and wealth may have helped the species survive short term. But it doesn't appear to be a good strategy for long term survival of humans.

It doesn't matter if we are God created or random atoms. Either way we are flunking the test.

The test of morality or the test of survival of the species.

PS. I had to take a news break. Only watch fun TV shows or movies.
And just read the news here on DU. It is helping a lot.

[Cyrano]

3. I believe the survival of our species is in question right now

At least under the conditions in which we currently live. Given the global disasters we've seen over the past decade or so makes me believe we've pissed off Mother Nature, perhaps beyond repair.

Will our descendants be forced to survive in a post-apocalyptic world? Who knows. But I think we can be pretty sure they'll curse our shortsightedness, selfishness and stupidity.

[Irish_Dem]

5. I agree, the survival of the human race is at stake right now.

Mother Nature may cough us out of her eco-system at long last.

Humans are losing IQ points at a rapid pace. Our descendants are likely to believe whatever the powers that be tell them.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

7. I didn't know about the dropping I Q issue

I suspected it tho.

[Irish_Dem]

8. I was speaking anecdotally, but there have been studies documenting IQ score for quite some time now

I think it is due to the toxic soup we live in..... all the chemicals and pollution have damaged our brains.
Especially apparent in the old and young. Big increases in dementia and learning/developmental problems in children.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

10. Yep

We have been poisoned for a long,long time. And no one shuts down the polluting motherfuckers.

[Irish_Dem]

13. They make a lot of money poisoning us. So no one can stop them.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

14. Money..

I hope one day there is an end the zero sum games.

That people stop giving power to rich monsters.

[Irish_Dem]

15. Yep, worshipping wealth and power doesn't seem like a good long term human survival strategy.

[abqtommy]

2. I think that being able to post our thoughts here at DU is cheaper than paying a therapist

for advice and a pharmacist for anti-depressants. So I agree that the fact that you "had a couple of drinks, turned off the TV and sat around for a while wondering..." may just be the most productive
thing that any of us can do right now. And picking up a book is also a productive distraction.

[Beatlelvr]

4. That's why one of my bookmarked sites

Is The Good News network. I have to go there every once in a while to get a jolt of happy. Also flash mobs on Youtube. There ARE people doing selfless good deeds around the world. Sad part is you really have to seek it out.

I too am agnostic or as I tell people, a non believer. There's just too much evidence. Maybe we find the truth when we die. I don't lose sleep over the big questions: what does it all mean? How did we get here? Is there life on other planets or galaxies? etc
Since we are all we've got, no phantom in the sky handing out karmic justice, it behooves all of us to be the best human we know how to be. Because in the end, that's really all that matters.

[abqtommy]

9. Thanks for your insight. It's due to your reply that I've bookmarked this whole thread.

[HAB911]

6. The universe just doesn't care

I get comfort from that. It cancels the paranoia. It's not personal.

It is up to us to save ourselves and since we are but chimps with nukes, I don't hold out a lot of hope for the long term.

[H2O Man]

11. A failed species.

We shall not be here as long as Neanderthals, much less Homo Erectus.

[Mr.Bill]

12. As an Atheist, a supreme being doesn't figure into

Last edited Thu Aug 26, 2021, 12:01 AM - Edit history (1)

my thoughts. Humanity is not a mistake. Donald Trump is the mistake. The world will be better off when he is dead and gone. It could be worse. He could be 50 years old instead of 74.

[Celerity]

17. +1

[Celerity]

16. Humanity is not a mistake of gods, gods are mistakes of humanity.

[Mr.Bill]

18. I'm going to write that one down

and carry it around with me.

[Celerity]

19. The willing suspension of disbelief that is necessary to believe in a god or gods is the greatest

tragedy ever to beset humankind.

[Mr.Bill]

20. Well said. n/t