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Komatsu's avatar
1dEdited

I appreciate this discussion. It is important, because fundamentally outsourcing moral formation to a religious body deprives the individual of ethical agency. This implies the institutions of faith are granted unchallenged dictatorship on human conduct. History and contemporary times clearly reveal the danger of this. It devoices critical reflection and discourages ethical evolution when necessary. An institute cannot allow for dynamic context as we meet the changes of time.

My humble view was reflected in your article. Human beings survive via interdependent tribal formation. The preservation of one's homeostasis relies on the active involvement of the other person. Therefore, as I am acutely aware of my own pathos, I may project and anticipate that pathos in other members of the tribe. I must be involved in the alleviation of their suffering, so that they will also be involved in mine. When I break the chain of interdependence, I shall consequently receive societal neglect. This is a biologically enforced empathy.

Now, as an "esoteric atheist" (a simple peaceful meditating man), I do believe a human being has a higher nature in addition to merely his primal aspect. I can at present not argue well for it, though. It remains but an intuited experience so far.

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Bosschaerts Study's avatar

Great essay! The endless chasm of right and wrong, good and evil—shifting depending on where one stands, and what one chooses to see, or search for.

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