A serious question for all faiths, non faiths and anything in between?

Question

feel the heart of todays problems is self centeredness. Its the answer to every question in here of "why do they act like this" or "why do those people do that". One answer: self centeredness.

Example. Some Athiests are so self centered he cant see that he practices what he is protesting....pushing an agenda. They only see it from their shoes.

OR

Christian is so self centered that they cant recoknize a non believer does not accept Bible quotes as reasonable answers. They only see it from their shoes, where the Bible is true and perfect.

Any thoughts at all???? Open to all faiths and non faiths.

BTW I am no exception, I look back at my most serious wrongs and they are self centered actions.

Thanks to all who respond in a respectful manne

Answer 1

I respectfully disagree, even though I find the approach commendable. Indeed there are atheists and believers who behave exactly the way you describe. But that that doesn't paint the whole picture. Consider your question itself. You are trying to bring reason to this forum. You would like people to step back from their preconceived notions and at least evaluate what the "other" is saying.

This has been successful in many areas of intellectual conflict or disagreement. But the key has always been that at no point will the parties resort to purely subjective or idiosyncratic premises. No dialog can go much further when one of the parties insists he or she is right REGARDLESS OF WHAT MAY BE PRESENTED TO THE CONTRARY. This banishes reason from the discussion.

Every single "theory" that I hold to be coincident with reality is subject to revision, or even outright rejection by me if evidence warrants it. My experience is that while faith-based arguments seek validation from reality, they reflexively reject any aspect of reality that calls it into question.

Answer 2

Like anything in life, there is no black and white, only infinite shades of gray. There are extremely self-centered people, and there are also very selfless people. There are people who act self-centered for large portions of their lives, and then turn around and help humanity with enormous gifts of charity.

My friend, there are no absolutes. Too much or too little of anything is never a good thing. Moderation is the key. Being compassionate and considerate is a good thing, up until you start neglecting yourself, and then experience the bitter feeling of being unappreciated.

The best you can do is try to treat others as you'd like to be treated. Leave people, places and things better than you find them when possible. Try not to hurt yourself, others, or the world at large. Contribute according to your talents and gifts. Be courageous and just, not only to yourself, but to the world around you. Understand the law of the harvest. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. Do what you love, and inspire others to do the same.

That is my advice to you.

Answer 3

I love your question, you actually have a brain!!!

Yes many r self centered...it is how the generation was formed. If people don't come together the world's resouces will be depleted at 2050.

The most common athiest are fools they stopped believing in god only for personal gain. But after all the partying or personal gain they will at some point crash and in desparation rejoin a new religion. The better athiest believes in " the golden rule" and just tries to live his/her life the best they can. Some people who believe in a higher more mysterious sense of god than a strict religion often are classified as athiests. Some athiests are similar to Buddhists trying to free their mind or of what some call "mental crutches" which many religions are. But everyone has a mental crutch, well almost.

Ah yes, it's all what u were raised on. Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists (well few, also in buddhism they have the choice to embrace a faith with buddhism), and Hindus are the majority and they all have their share of ignorant fools who believe their's is the one and only path. Also there are human flaws influenced in the Bible. They all equally believe in their faiths, whose to say who is right?

But heres the catch. Some people can respect all faiths with the current information so available, but with it some they just stop caring because of a somewhat overload of information and modern idols.

I hope that someday soon something will unite all people to work for the common good...perhaps a book or movie portraying our religious futures could snap them out...but like one "beatles" song about a utopia sadly that can never be gained, there will always be atleast one fool.

Everything is in a cycle; phsychoanalization (patterns of one's mind), the Bible (sin, disaster, repentance, salvation), kharma, reincarnation, nature, and Steven Hawkins theory (there have been many civilizations like ours throughout the universe, but at one point it detroys itself through over exhaustion of resources, or extinction (nukes)). There are ups and downs...your job is to make sure the next down isn't as low as the next one so eventually we will keep pushing upward.

My personal philosophy is follow the golden rule and embrace god. Of all religions i must say i respect buddhism the most, it brings people together like christianity was meant to do.

Hope I was of some help,
Until next time,
Yours truly,
Wranderer

Answer 4

It is extremely hard to see things from another's perspective: I am firmly convinced that the world would be a MUCH better place if only people would LISTEN to me and my infinite wisdom, because, of course, I know what's best for all people, in all conditions and places (g). However, that ain't gonna happen....

People that believe strongly that their "way" is the only "correct" way tend, in my experience, to evangelize/proselytize a lot. This is either because they're afraid others are going to lose out on the afterlife goodies....or because they are self-centeredly saying "hey, look at me, **I'm** on the winning team; nyahhh, you aren't!" (IMHO---your mileage may vary.)

Always have felt most comfortable with people who either don't believe in Deity (and don't really care if no one else does, either), or with Universalist and Pagan types who feel that the Eternal has some kind of place, and justice, for everyone.

Answer 5

Bingo!! Everyone has the potential to be a self centered jerk... some more than others but no one, including myself, is excluded. It has been since day 1 that self centered jerks have messed things up for others, it's not the fault of any faith or lack there of. Indivudual human selfishness is what causes all the problems.

Answer 6

Yes, people do respond from their own egos. It's is hard to put yourself in someone else's shoes, and it takes effort. Only very rare and special people have this gift. They don't hurt people.

I have a very dear friend who does try to see things from the other person's point of view. I asked him a serious question yesterday—I needed advice about something—and he took several minutes of deep thought before he gave me his opinion. I could tell he had thought about how I would feel regarding the question. That's why I treasure his friendship, because he is so rare.

We are both Christians and do our best to practice our faith.

Answer 7

I truly respect mostly everyone's religious beliefs except for those people who begin a cult only to brainwash their members & take advantage of them. I respect the rights of a person who doesn't believe in God.

It is very sad to me to see that so many people have become very materialistic & who do whatever it is that they want to do whether it harms others in some way or not.

Many people no longer attend religious services & they are raising their children w/o religious instruction. All it takes is one generation.

Given what's on TV its not surprising to me that our children have become self-centered.

Answer 8

Trust me, seeing from other peoples' shoes doesn't help the matter. I *can* see from other peoples' perspective and it only confuses my decisions. Most of the time I see their side but I see my side and I see the side of the fellow sitting next to me so I make answers that most align with most of what everyone sees.

Then comes the bit where you actually justify other peoples' actions based on their perception and it's not only creepy, the reasons behind some decisions and words are ridiculous and have only made me realise that the human race is more flawed than they like to admit.

Answer 9

That is a hugh problem in society. Today we have the "me" or the "I" generation. The individual is all that counts. It is not new just maybe more wide spread now. You use to see it mainly in business where all that counted was making money and success is how powerful you as an individual is.

Being more wide spead is the individual has all the answers..

Answer 10

Yes, atheists and non-beleivers often use "I" this and "I" that but that is what we are. We can only be what we are there is no other choice. Christians and other religious groups are just as self centered but tend to use "We" instead of "I" as they are a grouping of like minded people. I wear no shoes. I have no agenda to push but I do hate to see people lost to the joys of this life for beliefs that are but fairy tales.