In this episode I play some clips from The Joe Rogan Experience and discuss whether or not we can be better people, war, morals, random childhood information, how to raise your children, religious people make non-religious people nervous, and consistency. Click here to download this episode and here for past Rosscast Episodes. Enjoy!
That was a very thoughtful discussion you incorporated from the Joe Rogan Experience.
ReplyDeleteI especially liked the idea that as a bunch of recently-evolved monkeys, we're doing ok. I was lucky enough to go to an event where Terry Pratchett, one of my favourite authors, was talking, and he spoke about the tension between the idea of humanity as fallen angels, cast out of Eden to suffer the horrors of life on Earth, and the idea that we are rising apes, inventing and trying to live up to impossible ideals like justice. Like Terry, I'd much rather be a rising ape than a falling angel. But I think we can aspire to be angels.
So I have hope for humanity too, not because of any rose-tinted glasses, quite the opposite. I think the hope lies in the way we still strive despite the shit we're capable of.
I don't know what to say about your current situation. It takes courage as well as ethics to choose to do the right thing, and I really do hope that things work out for you, not just because obviously I don't want you to lose your home, but also because this is the kind of shit that makes decent people become selfish and cynical. For all the use as I am as a friend in this situation (that is, none) I am hoping this works out ok.
God, I have had the exact same thoughts about talking to your kids. I see how my friends talk to their little ones and I am shocked at how they treat them as human beings, with actual feelings and needs. I can at least say that my parents did their best for me where they could though.
As for religious people, if you use God as justification for extreme behaviour, you're a fanatic, and fuck you. On the other hand: http://naytinalbert.blogspot.com/2010/06/i-hugged-man-in-his-underwear-and-i-am.html
I was just listening to a previous episode with Joe Rogan where he was talking about how we aren't supposed to be experiencing the world on a global scale, but a village scale. Like, we're not supposed to be able to look at a box (TV) and see millions of people suffer since we cant compute it. Very good thought.
ReplyDeleteI think we're closer to monkeys than anything else. Not because of the smart things monkeys can do, but the way we see humans act when they're upset. We're just one really bad day away from flinging our poop at each other.
I was having a conversation last night about the job stuff and my friend had a lot of good things to say. Made me feel better. I have no useless friends so don't think that you are.
I checked out that link and it was cool. I almost want there to be a god just so the people that do terrible things in that name get the biggest bitch slap ever. "Did you really think that's what I wanted you to do?!"