xoder | The Affirmation Project

For those of you unfamiliar with my intention to produce the affirmation project, I recall you to "Affirmation" by Savage Garden, a simple list of beliefs. That is my goal. I wanted to have one comprhensive entry with all the requisite beliefs, but I don't think I can handle that, so I will use LJ's "memories" system to build an "Affirmation Database." Hope you enjoy the ride.

I believe that emotions are neither inferior or superior to reason, but rather, simply another tool that people have to help them make decisions.

He who hesitates is lost.

I trust people.

I try to believe that there are no "bad" people, simply people with values different than mine. Sometimes this is truly difficult.

I believe that if there is/are a/some (g/G)od(s), he/she/it/they clearly don't care to hear from us anymore. We should respect their decision.

I believe that faith in people (including oneself) is of utmost important, even if I have a lot of trouble with that parenthetical.

I believe, and try to imbue everything I do with it, that everyone is innocent until proven guilty.

I believe in balance. Practicing it is the hard part.

I believe in free speech.

I find it disconcerting that people will not allow themselves to think freely. There is no such thing as a thought crime. Therefore, feeling guilty for a thought that has had no consequence outside of one's own head is a ridiculous and self-defeating response.

I believe that love is the fifth elemental force in the universe.

I know that if you really want something, you have the power to make it happen. The issue is that generally one runs up against a wall of something that they do not wish to sacrifice for this thing that they want. This tells the person where their interests truly lie. Or at least gives them a better clue.

"Can not" is used too often. It takes the place of "must not" far too often. It is important to realize and reconcile the difference between what is actually impossible, and what action will result in consequences that one does not want.

The bible is a fascinating piece of literature. People forget this, either worshiping the book because their concept of God told them to, or demonizing it for the blind faith that it encourages.

I believe that humans are nearly sentient. Sentience requires a full knowledge of what one is and the abilities and limitations contained therein.

I will not eat primates or cetaceans.

I believe in giving people the benefit of the doubt, and I expect it returned.

I think people over-think to differentiate themselves from the unthinking masses.

PETER

This entry was brought to you by the Affirmation Project. If you would like to start your own Affirmation Project, feel free, and in fact, I'd probably be fascinated by what you have to say.
Disclaimer: This list is not intended to be, nor capable of being complete. Language is a slippery thing, so if I drop the soap, don't fuck me in the ass. I believe in giving others the benefit of the doubt, and I ask for the same.

Sorry about the lack of LJ-Cut. I'm feeling rather self-important today for a change.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I believe that if there is/are a/some (g/G)od(s), he/she/it/they clearly don't care to hear from us anymore. We should respect their decision.

why?

I'm not posting to attack your beliefs or otherwise flame - I just want to know, if you wouldn't mind talking about it.

Any godlike construct that may or may not have once existed is most certainly not here.

How long can one talk to a blank wall and remain sane?

As to why they departed? Well that depends on why they were here in the first place, if they ever were. And I have no way of knowing that, and anyone who says otherwise, is at best less than sane, and at worse, lying.

Any godlike construct that may or may not have once existed is most certainly not here.

Again, why?

I really am curious to hear the reasons why my friends who disbelieve the existance of God believe as they do.

I suppose, for lack of a better justification, its a point of faith. I have seen no evidence of an active god, and a completely powerful but absolutely passive one is worse than none, because he/she/it/they are/is there, but they aren't listening, which I think is an even more lonesome and pointless universe than one in which they don't exist.

There are those who believe that god has "talked" to them, in a sense, with out actually hearing voices in their head. You can argue that the deity makes his (her?) presence known in otherways then speech or blatant miracles.

I try to believe that there are no "bad" people, simply people with values different than mine. Sometimes this is truly difficult.

In that case, do you believe there are bad "values"? Such as, a person who's values are that it's ok for them to kill and steal to get what they want?

I believe that there are values which are harmful to society at large, such as those you mentioned. It is a society's job to determine what to do about these people. I believe that they can be reformed, or at worst, kept from causing further harm.

So doesn't "harmful to society" = bad?

I prefer to avoid words like "bad" because they are unclear and only manage to alienate people. Or when I'm dealing with a computer, and it has lots of weird stuff going on, then that is when I use the word "bad."

Also, "bad" and "good" imply a certain timelessness, which is not inherrent in the phrase "harmful to society."

The Affirmation Project

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