The strange dance of perception and reality

Exactly - good old charlie - he once or maybe twice was heard to say - "I never said man/woman evolved from apes" - there is a great dvd/utube thingy around by a great uk comedian who went and travelled around darwins travels and told the story very evocatively - I think he is still alive - the comedian that is not darwin!! - I thought he put it into good perspective and simple minds understanding - now who is that guy again?????
 

bobcat48 said:
Perhaps you're right, and that our personal perception is all that really matters in the long run, but I also think that sudden epiphanies and realizations can change a person's beliefs and even life direction. Many people don't get into deep thought because it can be a rabbit hole, but sometimes observations can revolutionize how we view life. Charles Darwin was almost afraid to publish his findings because the ripples of that new theory could, and did change our understanding of how humans, and all other life forms came about.
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You're correct, of course. But while I don't think I'm stupid, I'm not on Darwin's level. I don't have amazing insight, only opinions based on my personal experience. The world is both large, and infinitely small. I've thought about the world, the universe, and God. Decided the world was too diverse, the universe too big, and there is no God. Where does that leave me? :D

Of course, people with more insight exist. But these days, it's a major achievement to just feel, you know? I've made mistakes, hurt some people, been loved by others, but which one of them is ultimately right? We all pass on, and the world is left to others.
 
My apologies for my emotional outburst previously. My beliefs are based on 75 years of existence. I believe in God and the resurrection of his son to atone for our sins. I believe that you either believe as I do or you believe that you are in charge of your own destiny. The difference is that whereas I prostate myself before God and ask for forgiveness where,
quite frequently I find myself,
or I ignore him and continue on my own path,in which case i eventually have to face him.

I cannot deny God influence on me, nor can I deny my need to hear his voice. I don't know why, but if he ceased to talk to me I would be lost.
it is what it is!
 

rbtvgo said:
My apologies for my emotional outburst previously. My beliefs are based on 75 years of existence. I believe in God and the resurrection of his son to atone for our sins. I believe that you either believe as I do or you believe that you are in charge of your own destiny. The difference is that whereas I prostate myself before God and ask for forgiveness where,
quite frequently I find myself,
or I ignore him and continue on my own path,in which case i eventually have to face him.

I cannot deny God influence on me, nor can I deny my need to hear his voice. I don't know why, but if he ceased to talk to me I would be lost.
it is what it is!
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Hello, RB!

As someone without a faith, I come from the opposite side. But while I have my own truth, I accept you have found your own too. It just happens to be a different conclusion. I saw an article today about the opinions Americans have of Atheists, and it was quite nasty. Yet in the UK non-believers now outnumber believers. In other words, culturally it matters, which is a fascinating aspect all of its own!

Still, all we can ask for others is to be kind, non-judgemental, and empathetic. I don't at all mind you have a different belief, and I'd never try and change your mind. In my mind, if someone looks down on you because you hold a different view, then it a character flaw in them, not me. You carry on being you!
 
Ah palides I can see where you are coming from or seeing from with that comment - seeing other objects or forms or creatures in nature is called pareidolia ; well in fact not just nature I see them on walls and floors too! yes you have seen the "bigger picture" so to speak and now you have described it I can see it also but before no never seen that and I look at it twice a day usually = morning coffee time and - evening beer time!! and my own eyesight and perception is still better than the camera I took that with! if you just sorta slice the pic in half and then just look at a bottom half - what do you see now ?
 
I think your all nuts, but I say that in a loving way.
I enjoy the dialogue and the difference in opinions.
I am in New Jersey and you folks are scattered all over the globe so the differences are truly amazing yet we share common beliefs about a lot of things.
I had to go up to see what this topic was "the strange dance between perception and reality". Hmmmmmmm!
My reality is that God controls the universe and that all that happens is either allowed by him or not.
I am not going any deeper into this because it would be a waste of time.
Perception has a bearing on reality which translates to our understanding of the world we live in, but it does not provide all the truths that we need to add to our understanding.


I think I will stop right here.
to all a happy weekend
rbtvgo
 
Whatever our views, there are common absolute truths that flow between them.

A couple examples:
If you step off a roof unaided you will fall.
If you put your hand in a fire unaided you will get burned.

Could these be called laws of nature and what enforces them?
 
ohioboy said:
And the common sense perception is, Mercury is the hottest planet, but it is not.
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:) Venus is the second planet from the Sun and Earth's closest planetary neighbor. Even though Mercury is closer to the Sun, Venus is the hottest planet in our solar system. Its thick atmosphere is full of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, and it has clouds of sulfuric acid. --NASA Solar System Exploration
 
Gardenlover said:
Whatever our views, there are common absolute truths that flow between them.

A couple examples:
If you step off a roof unaided you will fall.
If you put your hand in a fire unaided you will get burned.

Could these be called laws of nature and what enforces them?
Click to expand...
I would think the principles themselves are the enforcer, however, how they came to be is a matter of much mystery.
 
This is the most confusing forum I have ever encountered. Perception and reality I believe.
I live in a town and there is a shooting in the street. Perception says "oh crap! the whole city is going down. Reality is that it was one shooting in one place at one time. It does not mean the city is out of control or that the wacko's are taking control. It simply means that something happen, out of the ordinary.
The problem for all of us is social media, its presents, it's influence and it's ability to cloud our understanding. The more you rely on it, the more distorted reality becomes.
Go out to dinner, go to a movie. Great time at the restaurant, movie was so so but it was enjoyable. Come home, go on social media and find all the horror, pain and suffering and brutality that was going on around the world while you were out having dinner and just trying to relax.
Two % of this world get 80% of the headlines. Perception or reality??
 
rbtvgo said:
This is the most confusing forum I have ever encountered. Perception and reality I believe.
I live in a town and there is a shooting in the street. Perception says "oh crap! the whole city is going down. Reality is that it was one shooting in one place at one time. It does not mean the city is out of control or that the wacko's are taking control. It simply means that something happen, out of the ordinary.
The problem for all of us is social media, its presents, it's influence and it's ability to cloud our understanding. The more you rely on it, the more distorted reality becomes.
Go out to dinner, go to a movie. Great time at the restaurant, movie was so so but it was enjoyable. Come home, go on social media and find all the horror, pain and suffering and brutality that was going on around the world while you were out having dinner and just trying to relax.
Two % of this world get 80% of the headlines. Perception or reality??
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The city was never in control. The people are out of control, and oh crap! We're going down, and I'm staying home, thanks anyway..
 
We are not going down. Your perception is the issue. Relax and take a deep breath. The reality is that one issue does not equate to all problems or issues. It is simply one issue.
rbtvgo
 
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