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At 11:55 PM 2/17/2006, S. wrote:<br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">On Feb 17, 2006, at 12:25 PM,
The Avantguardian wrote:<br><br>
> Allow me to tempt you further. I'll see your heaven on<br>
> Earth and raise you a diaspora across the stars. I<br>
> have been thinking much along these lines for quite<br>
> some time. Transhumanism is already viewed by the<br>
> masses as some kind of cult. I don't see what there<br>
> would be to lose. I can think of much to gain. Think<br>
> about the potential. A cult based upon empiricism,<br>
> philosophy, and rational optimism where we canonize<br>
> the likes of Plato, Darwin, Neitszche, and Einstein. A<br>
> religion that actually imparted immeninently useful<br>
> truths upon the faithful that were of consequence in<br>
> the HERE AND NOW and not some illusory afterlife.</blockquote><br>
It is unfortunate that society places value on religion rather than
philosophy<br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">I have thought, as you know,
along similar lines often enough. <br>
Humans have all of this spiritual/mystical leaning wiring that is
<br>
some of the most accessible and motivational available. It might
be <br>
necessary and prudent to avail ourselves of these aspects of
reality <br>
in order to maximize achieving our goals. Of course that breaks
down <br>
if these aspects contain such deep inherent problems that they self-
<br>
sabotage what we hope to achieve.</blockquote><br>
Good points.<br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">> A seamless blending of
ancient wisdom from around the<br>
> world and cutting edge science. After a life time of<br>
> scientific enquiry and spiritual seeking, I literally<br>
> have faith in the potential for humanity to transcend<br>
> its limitations.<br><br>
Sure. But the "seamless" bit seem nearly impossible to
achieve. <br>
There is too much nonsensical baggage that has adhered to
"ancient <br>
wisdom".</blockquote><br>
Even in the arts where we try to achieve seamless results; it is
virtually impossible. There is always a space in-and-between the
various elements. <br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">> And why should we not? We
alone of<br>
> amongst the creatures of the world have any concept of<br>
> the scope of this vast universe and how little of it<br>
> we have explored. Why would we be able to discern it<br>
> at all, if we were not meant to explore it?<br><br>
Pointless speculation that assumes some higher power whose
permission <br>
we need to seek or be assured of. Insidious isn't
it?</blockquote><br>
Only if that "higher power" is our voice of reason.<br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">> Whether the gods created us
in their image or we<br>
> created them in ours, we are nonetheless CREATORS. Why<br>
> should we not then strive to create a future that is<br>
> to our liking and embrace that future?<br><br>
Of course we should or not "should" but can and must to reach
our <br>
maximum potential. Yes I am assuming that is a Good Thing.<br><br>
> Unless and<br>
> until Fermi's Great Silence is unequivocally broken,<br>
> then we alone are the avatars of the sentient living<br>
> universe. It is time we started acting like the<br>
> godlings we are. To paraphrase the Buddha, "In all of<br>
> heaven and earth, I alone am holy."<br><br>
Hmm. I am all for taking ourselves seriously but
"holy"? I got out <br>
of that sort of thinking/feeling and I am not sure I see any good
<br>
reason to go back. I found it dangerous to my rationality and
sanity.</blockquote><br>
As much as I honor Buddha and the followers, I
agree.<br><br><x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
<dl>
<dd><font size=2><a href="http://www.natasha.cc/">Natasha
</a><a href="http://www.natasha.cc/">Vita-More</a>
<dd>Cultural Strategist - Designer
<dd>Future Studies, University of Houston
<dd>President, <a href="http://www.extropy.org/">Extropy Institute</a>
<dd>Member, <a href="http://www.profuturists.com/">Association of
Professional Futurists</a>
<dd>Founder, <a href="http://www.transhumanist.biz/">Transhumanist Arts
& Culture</a>
<dd>Honorary Vice-Chair, <a href="http://transhumanism.org/">World
Transhumanist Association</a>
<dd>Senior Associate, <a href="http://foresight.org/">Foresight
Institute</a>
<dd>Advisor, <a href="http://alcor.org/">Alcor Life Extension
Foundation</a><br><br>
</font>
<dd><font face="Times New Roman, Times"><i>If you draw a circle in the
sand and study only what's inside the circle, then that is a
closed-system perspective. If you study what is inside the circle and
everything outside the circle, then that is an open system perspective.
</i>
<dd>Buckminster Fuller<br>
<br><br></font>
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