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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!akgua!sdcsvax!sdcrdcf!hplabs!hao!woods
From: woods@hao.UUCP (Greg Woods)
Newsgroups: net.singles
Subject: Re: thoughts on desperation
Message-ID: <973@hao.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 21-May-84 15:56:35 EDT
Article-I.D.: hao.973
Posted: Mon May 21 15:56:35 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 23-May-84 19:38:46 EDT
References: <706@pucc-h>
Organization: High Altitude Obs./NCAR, Boulder CO
Lines: 39


  Jeff, I think you need to realize that just because religion is the answer
for *you* (judging from your articles in this group) does not mean it will
work for everyone. I don't want to start a discussion here that really belongs
in net.religion, but let's face it: in order for religion to be of some help
to you, you have to be able to believe many very important things for which 
there is absolutely no hard scientific evidence (that I can see), solely on
the word of other human beings.  Lots of people with analytical minds (like me) 
have a great deal of trouble with this. (If you want to continue this argument
with me, let's do it by private mail, since this really doesn't belong here. 
However, I think I'm justified posting this one article since you have stated 
your views here several times.)

  I don't know about you, but when I get lonely, one thing that makes me get
"desperate" is just plain old biology. I have a sex drive (surprise!), and when
it goes for long periods without satisfaction, I become unhappy both physically
and emotionally, just as I would if deprived of food or sleep.  Human beings
also have emotional drives (in this case, for love and affection), which are
less well understood, but nevertheless real. I submit that it is these
physical and emotional drives that cause people to become "desperate". The
Christians are really into guilt trips, it seems to me. Everyone is bad,
we are all sinners. I just don't believe that, and I believe it is a *very*
destructive way to think. Guilt is *not* the only motivation, nor is it
even the primary one, at least for most of the people I know. I think love
and hate are *far* more powerful, and biology (hunger, sex drive, etc.)
more powerful still. I believe it is those who have strong feelings of guilt
about something that turn to Christianity (and other religions; no need
to pick exclusively on the Christians) because it promises the ultimate
relief from guilt. I don't really intend to put down Christianity here;
if it makes *you* feel better to believe it, great. Just try to remember
that not everyone feels as guilty as you do or looks at the world the same
as you.

			 GREG
-- 
{ucbvax!hplabs | allegra!nbires | decvax!stcvax | harpo!seismo | ihnp4!stcvax}
       		        !hao!woods
   
   "Will we leave this place an empty stone?"