Paul's Corner

But to "accept" ones future implies it is determined elsewhere.
I have heard people say "thing were ment to be"
One of those people is my Mother. I love her dearly, but she is dead wrong.
I don't have a lot of religeous beliefs but one I do hold to is free will.
Free will implies more that being able to do what we damn please.
Free will implies a random universe.
Free will means nothing is predetermined.
Free will means our lives are what we make of them and no one, not even God, gets to decide for us.

Don't we have to know the future to accept it?
We make choices all the time without any idea what those choices will bring.

Tomorrow, as they say, never arrives, and today
is all we have.

To accept what is possible in each bit of future,
and testing those ideas and self-imposed
limitations against different scenarios, well,
that is constructive introspection.

And a lot more fun than doing the dishes. ;)

hugs and smiles,
Sally

Dennis it was meant to be :) I never believed in fate or in predetermined destiny. However the older I get the more I wonder and perhaps the less I fight the idea.

I used to think I controled my universe and indeed I can make the choices to succeed or fail in my endevours but who or what brings to me the paths and presents to me the choice of choices I may make?

I am faced almost daily with having to make choices from a set menu determined by others (I can always walk away and make my own menus but at the moment that choice is not a positive outcome choice) so for now I live by the whims of others (and how I despise that necessary evil) mind you I do not believe in evil but that is another post.

And maybe the fact that you thought you controlled the universe is part of the problem. Nobody does (where did I just hear that).

It is a scandal, the people that appear to control your future. I don't think they are really evil, just very very stupid.

I haven't been reading much so I'm way behind, but naturally, whit has to put her two philosophical cents in:

I believe in potential destiny: a combination of freewill and all the possible outcomes of one's life. We have many ways to get through this "long strange trip", but they aren't infinite. Clearly there are some routes that work better than others and we have the freedom to choose at every moment, though the Universe might try to direct us. We can ignore it and do what we want. I believe it's never too late to move closer to the optimal paths. I think there can be many alternatives that work, but one surpasses all the rest and results in the most awesome kick-ass life which is naturally different for everyone. The confusion (and this is just my opinion) arises from the fact that an all-knowing god isn't restricted by linear time. This god has already seen our lives unfold and knows the choices we made. From a god's perspective our lives are a done deal because we've already lived them. It's only from our perspective that we live life minute by minute.

And as far as a heaven and hell are concerned, I believe that some people will choose hell. I just can't imagine a god that would predestine a person to go to what we envision is the most terrible place.

I doubt many people will read this post as this thread isn't the latest, but I felt compelled to express myself on this topic. I'm not trying to impose my beliefs on anyone, just share them.

Love,
Whit

Hi Paul!

I am actually not writing about your poem (which, by the way was exceptionally good). I'm sorry for whatever annoyance this might cause,but be assured I feel like a complete prat. I just wanted to ask, and I know this sounds stupid compared to these conversations you have been having with rocket-scientists, is Paul Mercurio your real name, or is it a stage name?