Has the regeneracy arrived?

[Eric the Green]

(01-22-2017, 04:47 PM)TnT Wrote:

(01-22-2017, 11:36 AM)Eric the Green Wrote: That's a good question TnT. I myself think it MAY be possible for our population to co-exist with Nature, if we use energy sources wisely (phase out fossil fuels) and restrain ourselves from using up all the land other species need to survive.

We are the outcome of natural evolution (which I think is a creative and spiritual and not merely mechanical process; a growth from the inside out, all together with organisms and environment together). So although our behavior has been dreadful in many cases, I prefer to think we are a species relatively young and going through a learning process.

I certainly think a social and economic system which favors the population in general and not a few rich people is more compatible with Nature than the oligarchy we now have. What benefits the general welfare of the people is more compatible with Nature than allowing a few greedy robber barons to exploit Nature ruthlessly, as Trump seems to prefer.

So, we grow and I hope we learn sustainable behavior without too much destruction along the way. I'm sure there will be some.

As history buffs here on this site, we can look back over the known history of our species, its behavior towards others of its kind, towards other species and toward the earth which gave us all life and conclude that there is precious little of any admirable creative and/or spiritual processes at work that we can take credit for.

I'm reminded of a horrible anecdote I ran across some years ago ... it is said that as sunlight shines through the teardrops of a dead infant whose brains were dashed out by a Nazi concentration camp guard - that the rainbow formed is the same kind as that which we judge to be beautiful in the east after a late afternoon thunderstorm.  

There's a mechanistic thought for you to ponder, Eric.  A bit of a philosophical conundrum?

I don't disagree with the negative evidence, what with all the vicious wars, the tyrannies, the deprivation, the superstitiion and hate, and the abuse of our resources; but I can differ with your conclusion when I think of the tremendous dedication of the stone workers who built the beautiful monuments all over the world, especially in Asia and Europe, the wonderful artists who gave us paintings, music and cathedrals, the spiritual teachers who have blest us with wisdom that many follow and learn from, the movements for social justice and freedom who have brought us forward, the scientists who have allowed us to know so much we used to be in darkness about, tools we have which abuse the Earth but also enhance our abilities, and the peace we experience in so many parts of the world every day now despite what some have to go through, and greater prosperity for many than ever before. And our value is not merely what we have done and been, but the potential we know still lies within us. Not so long ago, all we had to conclude from about ourselves was hunting and gathering tools and maybe some cave paintings, but we surged forth anyway. We have imagination and spiritual connection with inner power, and what we are is eternal truth and not just passing conditions. We owe it to all of the life that has come before us, and made us, to keep on a-comin'

And, I don't know of too many afternoon rainbows that have killed little children. Maybe thunderstorms do, on rare occasions, but in that case, we might not think that is much more beautiful than the Nazi. If not, though, thunderstorms are beautiful too