Is anyone else an atheist with BC besides me?
Comments
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Washington is a right to die state. I have talked to my family doctor about it. She would prescribe and has done it in the past. She thinks one person used it and the other two didn't. I don't see the difference between that and stopping eating and drinking if it is done to achieve the same end.
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I don't mind if someone says they'll pray for me, if I respect the person. At least they are thinking about me.
I was once a Catholic but left long ago. I still like the meditative aspect of repeating a phrase, a poem or a prayer for that matter. And sometimes I invoke the goddess, in whatever form she may take - a tree, a cloud, a mountain.
I wouldn't label myself an atheist or a theist, although I do value the spiritual domain. It's true that in Canada, religion is largely a private matter and people rarely proselytize.
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Wren, glad to know that WA is a right to die state...my youngest son moved up there..
I have had the conversation with my doctor here in San Diego regarding quality of life versus length of life. I told him that now that I am over 75, there is an end point, so let's deal with things a little differently.
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Yūgen (幽玄) is an important concept in traditional Japanese aesthetics. The exact translation of the word depends on the context. In the Chinese philosophical texts the term was taken from, yūgen meant “dim”, “deep” or “mysterious”. In the criticism of Japanese waka poetry, it was used to describe the subtle profundity of things that are only vaguely suggested by the poems.
Yūgen is said to mean “a profound, mysterious sense of the beauty of the universe… and the sad beauty of human suffering”.
Yūgen suggests that beyond what can be said but is not an allusion to another world. It is about this world, this experience.
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Thank you Ananda. Yugen is a beautiful concept. I had never heard of it before. It does capture the transcendent feeling I find in the natural world, without need for labelling or attribution.
As for right to die, I am glad we have it here, although apparently it is complicated to get approvals.
Thanks for this philosophical thread. May we find peace and comfort by sharing our ideas and feelings.
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"I believe that when I die I shall rot, and nothing of my ego will survive. I am not young and I love life. But I should scorn to shiver with terror at the thought of annihilation. Happiness is nonetheless true happiness because it must come to an end, nor do thought and love lose their value because they are not everlasting. Many a man has borne himself proudly on the scaffold; surely the same pride should teach us to think truly about man's place in the world. Even if the open windows of science at first make us shiver after the cosy indoor warmth of traditional humanizing myths, in the end the fresh air brings vigour, and the great spaces have a splendour of their own."
BERTRAND RUSSELL, "What I Believe"
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I love Bertrand Russell. I am rereading one of his books.
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Right to die (death with dignity) states include VT, DC, CO, HI and entire left coast. But have to be a resident. Am going to have to look into that.
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murfy-thanks. Even though I feel terrific it's important to look towards the future.
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Checking out the local Hospice is a useful tool. Our local Hospice is a non-profit so there are never any bills for the family even if the person is uninsured. The professional staff is well trained, kind and compassionate. The volunteer staff is as well and there is over 150 volunteers to assist families with medication pick up, shopping, and patient sitting. The program covers care in a 12 bed facility and patient services in their own homes.
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I’ve been reading this discussion of how to address the “pray for me” issue. I am a Christian and I am from the South. Here, people say they are praying for you all the time- it’s basically a figure of speech, like “bless your heart.” I have completely appreciated my friends who have said they are sending me positive thoughts and good vibes and everything other than prayer. I love their honesty and I respect their beliefs. I also believe their positIve thoughts are helpful to me. I would never want my friends to feel they have to pretend with me. Isn’t that the opposite, somehow, of sending positive thoughts?
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Bless your heart can mean many things, from good to your a total doofus. I’ll pray for you means just that.
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SuQu31, gosh, I would never go on to one of the many many many many Christian pages available here to beliefsplain something. Bless yer heart. 😈
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Thanks, Alice. I am familiar with your usage of the phrase as well, and I deserved it. Sorry if I offended you or anyone else, it was not my intention. And I appreciate honesty, which was the message I was attempting to convey, apparently unsuccessfully.
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Wow Alice. You're going to give atheists a bad reputation on more than one level. Looks like you owe an apology
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What is happening here? I welcome SuQu's input. Did she not just state that it is ok not to say "I will pray for you" but to instead be honest and say "I am sending positive thoughts"? In my opinion, her honest and kind approach that accepts all beliefs is just what this world needs.
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Yes I did not find Su Qu's comment offensive either
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Just as a solid rock is not shaken by the storm, even so the wise are not affected by praise or blame. ---Dhp 81
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I guess that could apply to a wise rock.
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SuQu - I did not find your comments offensive, but neither do I find Alice's reaction upsetting. I too live in the South and I hear 'bless your heart' used more often as a sarcastic & cutting comment than as a benediction.
I do find it annoying that JoE still seems to be attempting to start trouble.
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MinusTwo, I agree that drive by posting can be a little strange. It makes one wonder about motivation.
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Please define drive by posting.
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It is sometimes called "hit and run" and refers to a tactic where a poster enters, makes a post, only to disappear immediately after.
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I often provide input, support or advise and then move on. I do not "join" any board. So I too would be hit and run and find this to be very offensive.
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You make not only comments but contributions to this thread. An occasional poster who makes contributions is not a hit and run.
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I am sorry if I offended anyone. I am new to these boards and found the discussion to be an interesting one, so I attempted to express my thoughts. I respect every person who has to deal with this horrible disease and wish all of you the best
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I've been called many names but a "hit and run or drive by" is a new one. I follow many threads and have commented and contributed to almost all but have never felt welcomed by several here. I find the majority of members open and even tempered but there are those who forget this is an open forum on a breast cancer site. I can't imagine what "causing trouble" means unless it is when I speak up when remarks are directed to someone that are unkind and lack tolerance and compassion. I have not espoused any belief nor have I attempted to challenge anyone's choice of nonbelief. The use of the term "tactic" is meant to demean and give a slap on the hand. Point taken, but I'll continue to glean interesting grains of thought and philosophy and others canthrash away at the chaff. Jo
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it's important to have open dialogue.
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All I wanted was to find one small religion-free corner in the BC world. I'm sure if I had gone to any of the Christian threads and tried to speak athiest to them, I'd have gotten an earful in return. A Christian coming here is like crashing a party and then asking for the house decor to be changed. No matter how nicely you ask, it's still out of line.
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Alice, Although my family is devout, my friends are devout, I want one place free from god talk so I agree with you on that point.
JoE777. There is a way to block my posts. Click on my name. A screen will pop up and half way down will be the phrase "block user" just click on that.
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