Salutatio Mark!
04-Apr-98, Mark Bloss wrote to Richard Meic
          Subject: [1/3]
 MB> > >Richard Meic wrote to Mark Bloss about [1/3]
 MB>> narrows the scope radically as those who throughout history, only
 MB>> those whose faith has made them happy (eudomonial), have managed
 MB>> to adjust to the physical circumstances of an ardous fight for
 MB>> survival, and drive an evolution from microbe to Reflecters of
 MB>> Meaning; a symbol not just of Man, but of all conscious entities
 MB>> in the universe, whether we an see them with our eyes, or not.
 MB>> and that even our eyes we have learned are deceptive and tell
 MB>> lies.
 RM>> Here we go again.  Mark, it is not faith that makes people happy,
 RM>> it is satisfaction.  Which includes faith, success, simple
 RM>> enjoyment of things, etc.
 RM>> I am not hammering at your personal beliefs, but it seems rather
 RM>> narrow to say that only some silly belief in a god that may or
 RM>> may not exist can  achieve happiness.
 MB> I never once, ever said that a belief in a god was necessary.  I
 MB> said those "whose faith has made them happy".  
     
Okay, before we go ANY further you may have to give me YOUR definition 
of "faith", because I am going by the dictionary definition of faith 
(which has a lot of religious undertones) and it seems that you may be 
using a slightly altered version of that definition.
 MB> And whether or not
 MB> you think so, it is YOUR faith which has made you happy and
 MB> satisfied.  
     
faith in what?  Y'see, I tend to think that the reverse is true (ie. 
that it is the satisfaction that brings on a faith; I am satisfied with 
my new car so I therefore have faith in it, conversely if I was not 
satisfied with my new car I would not have faith in it).
 MB> It is _you_ I'm talking about - not just those whose
 MB> faith has led them to a belief in God, any god, or not.  But those
 MB> of _faith_ - and you are one.  Because you are satisfied.  If you
 MB> were not satisfied, it would be impossible that you would have
 MB> faith. 
     
Thus it is the satisfaction that brought on the faith.
 MB> And if you are satisfied, it is required that you do.  But
 MB> you don't have to believe in a god to have faith.  I never said
 MB> that.                                            
 
Okay, I assumed that much and you have my apologies.
 Dicere...
 email address (vrmeic@nucleus.com)
Richard Meic
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