Re: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] [RELIGION] creation myths

[Mike Miller <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

On Fri, 2 Dec 2005, Stephen Montgomery-Smith wrote:

> Mike Miller wrote:
>
> > I get plenty of meaning and purpose from my family and my work.  I have 
> > other projects too, like making music and arguing with you.  I think 
> > that arguing with you about these kinds of things is very important. 
> > I think I'm correct on every point on which we disagree, but I know 
> > that the majority of Americans would agree with you.  One of my goals 
> > in life is to change that pattern, but to do it in a good way so that 
> > we retain the good things that people must be taking from religion 
> > (there almost has to be something good or they wouldn't be doing it! - 
> > maybe sense of community, purpose, that kind of thing) while removing 
> > the bad parts (the zealotry about mystical beliefs, animosity toward 
> > infidels/heretics, closed-mindedness about science, etc.).  I'm not 
> > just talking about Christianity here.  That gives me purpose.
>
> I can see that many of your activities (such as those that you list 
> here) are motivated by altruism.  That is why when I talk about the 
> universal desire to perform altruistic desires, I think that you 
> understand what I mean.

Things that we do for family members may be motivated by altruism in the 
way that Hamilton described -- kin selection.  Animals that eat all of 
their offspring quickly go extinct.  So that is hardly altruism in the 
sense you are thinking of.

Working - that isn't altruism.

Music - not altruism either, I don't think, but that depends on what you 
do with music.  I'm not doing a lot of free public recitals, so there 
isn't much altruism there.

Arguing with you and wanting to change people's religious ideas - that 
could be seen as altruistic because I am trying to help people.  On the 
other hand, I'm trying to improve the people around me so that they can 
provide a better world for me any my family to live in.

Mike

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