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Xipe Totec

(44,558 posts)

130. Is God a Taoist?

Mon Jan 11, 2016, 11:03 AM

Jan 2016

Mortal:
And therefore, O God, I pray thee, if thou hast one ounce of mercy for this thy suffering creature, absolve me of having to have free will!

God:
You reject the greatest gift I have given thee?

Mortal:
How can you call that which was forced on me a gift? I have free will, but not of my own choice. I have never freely chosen to have free will. I have to have free will, whether I like it or not!

God:
Why would you wish not to have free will?

Mortal:
Because free will means moral responsibility, and moral responsibility is more than I can bear!

God:
Why do you find moral responsibility so unbearable?

Mortal:
Why? I honestly can't analyze why; all I know is that I do.

God:
All right, in that case suppose I absolve you from all moral responsibility but leave you still with free will. Will this be satisfactory?

Mortal (after a pause):
No, I am afraid not.

God:
Ah, just as I thought! So moral responsibility is not the only aspect of free will to which you object. What else about free will is bothering you?

http://www.mit.edu/people/dpolicar/writing/prose/text/godTaoist.html

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Highlight:

True or false..."You are the Master of your own destiny" nt [View all] clarice Jan 2016 OP

Mostly false. Tobin S. Jan 2016 #1

Just speaking for the contrarian view.... clarice Jan 2016 #2

I said mostly false. :) Tobin S. Jan 2016 #3

I would be interested in your further thoughts on the matter...... clarice Jan 2016 #7

That's if you're born in the right place, have the right upbringing, drm604 Jan 2016 #74

Couldn't have said it better myself. nt raccoon Jan 2016 #154

I've recently ejbr Jan 2016 #112

Very interesting... clarice Jan 2016 #143

Hard work, intelligence, dedication and a singleness of purpose drove George W. Bush rurallib Jan 2016 #11

My goodness.....The topic has nothing to do with politics. Why go there? nt clarice Jan 2016 #12

I haven't even been Master of My Domain since puberty. rug Jan 2016 #4

I have to think of Chaos Theory and things like the Extended Mind jakeXT Jan 2016 #5

Yes, my point exactly....and this realm of thought is not a new one... clarice Jan 2016 #6

ugh AtheistCrusader Jan 2016 #40

Please elaborate. nt clarice Jan 2016 #42

what for? AtheistCrusader Jan 2016 #43

I am interested in a more detailed synopsis of your opinion. nt clarice Jan 2016 #45

Mixing observations of the behavior of subatomic particles and AtheistCrusader Jan 2016 #46

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to step on one of your sacred cows. nt clarice Jan 2016 #47

There is no cow. AtheistCrusader Jan 2016 #50

Sure there is... gregcrawford Jan 2016 #65

A very moooooving observation, nt clarice Jan 2016 #70

Chaos Theory: The simple version... uriel1972 Jan 2016 #60

Garden variety postmodernist technobabble Orrex Jan 2016 #127

At least google is messing up our brain jakeXT Jan 2016 #129

I am the Master of my fate, I am the Captain of my soul...*click*...I am the Master... First Speaker Jan 2016 #8

I'm sorry, I don't know what you are alluding to. Please clarify. nt clarice Jan 2016 #9

Sorry...a poem by Henley, from the 1890s... First Speaker Jan 2016 #22

well done. nt clarice Jan 2016 #25

First Speaker SCantiGOP Jan 2016 #89

I would say it depends on who is there. BlueJazz Jan 2016 #10

Sorry BJ...you lost me on that one. who is where?. nt clarice Jan 2016 #13

I am the master of how I respond TexasBushwhacker Jan 2016 #14

But isn't it possible to shuffle the deal? Or demand to deal yourself? nt clarice Jan 2016 #15

There are certainly many things you can influence TexasBushwhacker Jan 2016 #16

Very true (and I am so sorry to hear about your Mom) clarice Jan 2016 #18

I think being willing to take risks has a lot to do with choices people make passiveporcupine Jan 2016 #66

Yes absolutely.... clarice Jan 2016 #67

I'm glad you were able to move away from your situation and heal yourself passiveporcupine Jan 2016 #73

Dealing with complex PTSD issues does complicate adulthood nightscanner59 Jan 2016 #92

I am so sorry to hear about your life journey passiveporcupine Jan 2016 #93

I suppose it us good to think you are. n/t TexasBushwhacker Jan 2016 #17

I think so too.nt clarice Jan 2016 #19

Yes. As has been said, the world can take everything from you but your attitude. kairos12 Jan 2016 #20

Well stated. nt clarice Jan 2016 #32

Interesting thread hibbing Jan 2016 #21

To your points.... clarice Jan 2016 #34

Do you believe in fate? hibbing Jan 2016 #58

this book NJCher Jan 2016 #23

I will look it up. Thanks Cher. nt clarice Jan 2016 #33

sorry for the cryptic reference NJCher Jan 2016 #39

#1 on my reading list...is it an older book? Or fairly recent...question. clarice Jan 2016 #41

To a large extent, I believe this is true mythology Jan 2016 #24

Myth...first...best of luck with the knee...good Karma coming your way.... clarice Jan 2016 #37

All the best with your knee! LeftishBrit Jan 2016 #148

Totally false... uriel1972 Jan 2016 #26

Determined by who? or what? nt clarice Jan 2016 #27

By no-one and nothing... uriel1972 Jan 2016 #28

Do you believe in pre-determination? nt clarice Jan 2016 #35

Not in the sense of a plan... uriel1972 Jan 2016 #54

Other than the screaming, I disagree...nt jonno99 Jan 2016 #29

You are free to do so... or are you?... nt uriel1972 Jan 2016 #30

Ok, if you're going to pin me down for an answer... jonno99 Jan 2016 #31

It was inevitable that you would write that sentence OriginalGeek Jan 2016 #36

Or not.lol clarice Jan 2016 #38

interesting read on physicist Roger Penroses's theory of "orchestrated objective reduction" clarice Jan 2016 #44

Penrose - wow SoLeftIAmRight Jan 2016 #110

Yes....one of the most visionary thinkers in our time...Interestingly though.... clarice Jan 2016 #113

several of the "thinkers" here have said... SoLeftIAmRight Jan 2016 #114

What I find interesting is..... clarice Jan 2016 #115

VEHEMENTLY disagree SoLeftIAmRight Jan 2016 #116

Nice to find a kindred spirit....have a great weekend. nt clarice Jan 2016 #117

Many thanks SoLeftIAmRight Jan 2016 #118

False. There is no "you" only "we." McCamy Taylor Jan 2016 #48

Artifex Vitae, Artifex Sui (Architect of life, Architect of Destiny) Xipe Totec Jan 2016 #49

That is absolutely beautiful Hestia Jan 2016 #99

I think this is mostly true, but with a big caveat. lark Jan 2016 #51

Yes.... a good point. nt clarice Jan 2016 #55

If we were... liberal N proud Jan 2016 #52

Yes but are you the Master of your own Domain? LynneSin Jan 2016 #53

Yes, I believe so. nt clarice Jan 2016 #56

For the last day or so NobodyHere Jan 2016 #76

If, and only if chance does not exist. LanternWaste Jan 2016 #57

False abakan Jan 2016 #59

So then you must believe in pre-destination? nt clarice Jan 2016 #64

waiting. nt clarice Jan 2016 #69

No, not really. abakan Jan 2016 #78

I agree. nt clarice Jan 2016 #84

Master? Flying Squirrel Jan 2016 #61

Imo easttexaslefty Jan 2016 #62

So then you must believe in pre-destination ? nt clarice Jan 2016 #63

I didn't know there was a time limit easttexaslefty Jan 2016 #71

I once thought we did. easttexaslefty Jan 2016 #72

waiting. nt clarice Jan 2016 #68

True for the most part, but unexpected stuff happens. Throd Jan 2016 #75

SNAP!!!!!!!! mackerel Jan 2016 #77

Mostly, false. Triana Jan 2016 #79

Generally true. (n/t) xenoturkey Jan 2016 #80

False HeiressofBickworth Jan 2016 #81

You nailed it, Heiress. bullsnarfle Jan 2016 #83

Our path in life is an endless series of choices randr Jan 2016 #82

Beautifully put. nt clarice Jan 2016 #85

Well said, and I have experienced that "near miss" type of situation ms liberty Jan 2016 #88

Neuroscientific research has suggested that even most of the decisions we think we make ... markpkessinger Jan 2016 #95

We can train our subconscious; ultimately then aren't we in one actually making decisions? Hestia Jan 2016 #100

What we do have is Choice OxQQme Jan 2016 #86

Yes, that is being a master, IMO, nt clarice Jan 2016 #94

I'd first have to be the master of my options. nt valerief Jan 2016 #87

I'd settle for being the master of my household SCantiGOP Jan 2016 #90

I chose what sails to hoist. I control the booms. I steer the rudder. Gore1FL Jan 2016 #91

Excellent analogy Hestia Jan 2016 #101

Who the hell knows anymore?? Blue_Tires Jan 2016 #96

I am not on enough drugs to have this conversation. Goblinmonger Jan 2016 #97

Shit happens. PassingFair Jan 2016 #98

This. ^^^ easttexaslefty Jan 2016 #102

"Master"? False Recursion Jan 2016 #103

I have a 4-acre sphere of influence. elias49 Jan 2016 #104

False sakabatou Jan 2016 #105

Binary thinking is very fallacious. Just drop it and get with reality. nt Bernardo de La Paz Jan 2016 #106

Which reality ? Sorry, I'm too busy making my own. nt clarice Jan 2016 #107

1. That was a Republican slogan. 2. Your reality is not binary. 3: Bernardo de La Paz Jan 2016 #108

why would you ever bring politics into a discussion of this nature? clarice Jan 2016 #109

You have an influence, but you are mostly a product of your circumstances. Ed Suspicious Jan 2016 #111

Our destiny is to be dust... Helen Borg Jan 2016 #119

"All we are is dust in the wind dude". Bill clarice Jan 2016 #133

another vote for almost false mikehiggins Jan 2016 #120

False. Chef Eric Jan 2016 #121

I agree with the other poster, mostly false silvershadow Jan 2016 #122

Conservatives really BELIEVE this.... Spitfire of ATJ Jan 2016 #123

I see your analogy... but I wasn't going anywhere near that extreme.... clarice Jan 2016 #134

They can help you deal with what life has handed you.... Spitfire of ATJ Jan 2016 #146

I don't believe. Holly Landry Jan 2016 #124

Is God a Taoist? Xipe Totec Jan 2016 #130

Very interesting. nt clarice Jan 2016 #140

True that..but I think that maybe..... clarice Jan 2016 #135

Nature, Nurture, and Luck, imho jomin41 Jan 2016 #125

I really expected this to be a thread about masturbation Orrex Jan 2016 #126

Then perhaps you consider yourself tossed by the winds of fate? nt clarice Jan 2016 #136

Well, I don't buy into fate Orrex Jan 2016 #144

lol.....peace. nt clarice Jan 2016 #145

the need and want of health insurance is the master of my destiny. nt Javaman Jan 2016 #128

Good luck with that..checked out the ACA site last month....outrageous rates. Good luck and be well. clarice Jan 2016 #137

i have health insurance... Javaman Jan 2016 #149

I understand completely, it sux. nt clarice Jan 2016 #150

If there is any such thing as destiny... gcomeau Jan 2016 #131

Ahhhh a semantics conundrum.............. clarice Jan 2016 #138

In that case... still false. gcomeau Jan 2016 #141

Yes agreed.."influence" Am I being graded on this? lol. Luv ya. nt clarice Jan 2016 #142

True - to SOME degree Rider3 Jan 2016 #132

Perhaps...but the list is long with people of "privilege" coming to a rotten end... clarice Jan 2016 #139

Definitely false... LeftishBrit Jan 2016 #147

Hello, your post is very meaningful and valuable of discussion. happy wendy Jan 2016 #151

I definitely value your opinion. Thanks Wendy. nt clarice Jan 2016 #152

Thank you! happy wendy Jan 2016 #153

Mostly true, although sometimes my destiny has a mind of its own Trailrider1951 Jan 2016 #155

Such a sad thread. CanSocDem Jan 2016 #156

I agree, but I also think that.... clarice Jan 2016 #158

I'm a newcomer. happy wendy Jan 2016 #157

Welcome Wendy... clarice Jan 2016 #159