The fact that we're in an ugly present because there isn't a critical discussion of beliefs? I wouldn't say 'Humanity has done alright' in the slightest.

Time to refill your glass my friend. Life has never been better for humanity. Quality of life and length of life are only getting better. I'm interested in learning why you think it's an ugly present and what you're comparing that to. There's lots to be improved but overall I'd say humanity has never been better.

I've had an idea that made sense to me. I've come across it in various places. It's more philosophical than scientific, but it still holds significant weight, I think.

When I worked at Barnes & Noble, I checked out a woman's books at the front counter and saw that she was buying various material about mediums and spirit communication. I looked up at her nonchalantly, curious, and saw that she was wiping her eyes and crying. I asked if she was all right, and she flat out said, "My son died last week. I'm not doing well."

Same thing with returning WWII veterans. Just as some returning WWII veterans started dabbling in spiritualism and religion after the war, this lady at Barnes had the burning desire to reach her son after his death.

My main point is what is this knee-jerk reaction to death? This desire?

The rational mind will explain it away as the irrational need to come to terms with death and permanant departure. They'll deduce that the grief is so overwhelming that people will resort to wants and needs that are just not possible in fulfilling. There is no soul. You will never see that person again. Period.

But what is important to point out is that the grief and desire is not instilled in someone by any teaching. You don't learn it. It's natural. Like I said, it's a knee-jerk reaction. When we're thirsty, we want water. When we're hungry, we want food. Why then would nature betray us if we have a natural, universal desire that comes out of grief? Why wouldn't it find us water when we're parched? Why deny us that salvation?

This is my point though; it all depends entirely what you mean. Is humanity OK? I don't think it is, at all, but that's my opinion; if it's about how full our glasses are (merely metaphor), then both hypotheses are valid. I'll admit we've done well in the evolutionary stakes, if world domination is looked at as the most desirable objective.

Well, I think we're pretty good at war and killing each other. The original context that spun off this conversation wasn't about whether humanity was 'doing OK' in an evolutionary sense; it was about whether the human race can go on mindlessly blowing each other up rather than being in dialogue about our differences. I said no, I'm not sure why that's wrong. But hey, never mind, we can disagree.

I don't feel that the human race is being mindless about blowing each other up. There's obviously an intention behind it. I guess I always figured we have been in dialogue about our differences. Unless the reps at the U.N. only sit and stare at each other rather than hash things out?

At work we have a vendor from India that visits us once every 10 days or so. He's a Muslim. As our business relationship has become more routine and more comfortable he has opened up to us about why the U.S. is hated by the middle east. He said it has nothing to do with religious differences. At the core of the problem is the fact that when we leave a country after military action or installing a regime we don't actually leave it in better condition than when we arrived.

There is absolutely nothing mindless about the wars we wage. We wage war because we can and because it benefits us is some way.

I can think of a bunch of wars that occurred/are occurring on the African continent that are pretty damn mindless.

px, what's the motivator behind your posts?

Not that any of this matters; all wars can be blamed on religion.

Not that any of this matters; all wars can be blamed on religion.

Capitalism is our main religion, friendo