A bit about myself

[Ross_videosprint]

I thought I'd tell you a bit about myself - I'm avoiding starting an essay at 4.17am. So I'm Ross, I was raised in a wealthy part of the UK (although my family isn't so prosperous in comparison). There's a large upperclass presence in my town and I have grown to resent materialism, consumerism and all the other greedy things I constantly see people filling their lives with. I guess, like most British people I can be a cynic - but I am also pretty optimistic.

I am currently studying Philosophy in my first year at Leeds University. Leeds is a top city and I really enjoy the course too. I've grown up in a liberal Christian background. I've had a great experience of 'religion' and in fact grew up to learn that organized religion was, as a rule, a pile of bollocks. As a result my experiences have been much less dogmatic than many others'.

Evangelism was never in your face but focussed on service to the community around. We would do things like paint people's houses and sort their gardens out for free because they were unable to do it themselves (this was a town-wide project involving a couple of hundred young people each year). I don't say this to make myself or these people look good but simply to emphasise that the experience of Christians and the faith that I had was one of selflessness, generosity and a lot of other things that you wouldn't associate with fundamentalist Christianity. My Dad works for a youth movement that focuses on creative prayer. The guys involved are all really cool, interesting and intelligent people. (As a youngster my Dad was a Bible smuggler haha. He used to drive some hi-tech transit van with hidden compartments and deliver Bibles to Christians behind the iron curtain. I don't whether it's cool or sad. the stories sound exciting though.)

I don't really know what I believe to be honest. I'm not a raving atheist. I'm not really an atheist. I just refuse to believe crap and find this forum an interesting hub of characters and ideas. The fact that my experience of Christianity was good doesn't make it true. I have for 2 or 3 years now questioned my faith - whether what I thought was an experience of God really was one. At this moment in time I fail to find anything personal that can convince me that the God I've grown up to believe in is really there. There are other experiences that some of my close friends have had that lead me to believe that there is something 'out there' but I haven't really got any idea formulated of what that is. I trust these people incredibly and know they wouldn't lie about such things.

Their experiences are beyond 'feelings' or 'pictures' or 'voices' but are of real circumstances which are completely beyond rational explanation - it is not simply that the explanation hasn't been found - I mean really ridiculous, irrational, highly improbable things. I guess they're always going to be subjective as they are experienced by one person alone so I wouldn't expect a story from a friend to convince any of you of anything. I don't mean that badly. I wouldn't believe your mates either haha.

This isn't really enough to convince me though so I wander 'in between' not out of laziness but lack of experience/knowledge. A lack of wisdom you may say. I am extremely eager for knowledge and as soon as a question pops into my head I'm straight on wikipedia learning about some kind of new topic. I was never great at science but I am in awe of the natural world. The sheer magnitude of the universe, evolutionary process and the ideas we have about them amaze me.

I'm a big thinker. This sometimes creates problems as I can be quite ruthless when it comes to emotional situations so i try to be as sensitive as possible. I respect religious belief in someone who has journeyed to that point. I don't respect those who accept beliefs blindly without testing, exploring and doubting them. It's a waste of time asking someone for an opinion based on such a small life experience.

I don't care what you have to say about me - I'm just here to learn. I'm interested in what you have to say and I will argue my points if it's worth it.

I'm really into music and play in a band. This is doing alrite so it's a pretty big part of my life.

I need to do this essay on Descartes but I don't know which question to do. But I'll try.

I hope that was of interest to some people. If you have any constructive advice about how I can structure my exploration into... everything then please let me know.

[Professor Chaos]

I, for one, am always interested in other members' backgrounds. :thumbsup:


I am currently studying Philosophy in my first year at Leeds University...

I need to do this essay on Descartes but I don't know which question to do. But I'll try.

You're at the right place. Talk to Rhinoqulous, who's an invaluable resource for all things philosophy. (Just not Lily, who's unvaluable.)

[Sternwallow]

That was a very nice intro. You seem to have a refreshingly reasonable approach to life and religion. Perhaps we can learn from you as well. I suspect, from the tone of your post, that you may be a calming influence on the forum (in these troubled times).

Welcome.

I suppose you are off now, writing that essay, but I am curious which of the odd Cartesian ravings you are writing about.

[Ross_videosprint]

That was a very nice intro. You seem to have a refreshingly reasonable approach to life and religion. Perhaps we can learn from you as well. I suspect, from the tone of your post, that you may be a calming influence on the forum (in these troubled times).

Welcome.

I suppose you are off now, writing that essay, but I am curious which of the odd Cartesian ravings you are writing about.

It's the famous one, the cogito which I'm going with. Kind of picking it apart as an argument - it's pretty dull actually, it's hard to form a well structured opinion on it really. Maybe it's just cos I haven't put the hours into properly studying it enough. The first year of Uni in the UK doesn't count towards the final degree, you only have to pass it to continue into the important 2nd and 3rd years so it's easy to get lazy!

Thanks for the kind predictions!

[Rhinoqulous]

Don't know if I ever formally welcomed you Ross, so welcome! Hope you find some enjoyment philosophy before you realize 90% of high-octane bullshit...

As for the cogito, it's the one piece of knowledge you can be sure is true ('cause if you doubt the cogito, you prove the cogito true).

[Ross_videosprint]

I thought I'd make this interesting and post some of these irrational and highly improbably experiences. Again I don't expect subjective evidence to sway your opinions but it's something to have a think about isn't it.

I have a friend who is married with 2 kids. This story is about how her and her (very nice) husband met. She's an extremely easy going person who I know wouldn't lie about such an experience and yet I can't find a reasonable explanation.

I'll use their first names, they won't mind.

Steve and Biz (short for Elizabeth) were both relatively new Christians excited by what the holy spirit could do in their lives. Biz really didn't give a shit about being in a relationship - last thing on her agenda. Steve prayed that when he met the woman he was going to marry that God would give him 'a sign'.

Anyway, they were both invited to a dinner. Steve was sat down but Biz arrived late. She wasn't staying but thought she should make an appearance so as not to appear rude. As soon as Steve saw her he felt a massive jolt in his stomach. He was convinced he was going to marry her. So he asked her out that night. She said no. She didn't fancy him. He was weird. She'd never even met him.

Steve was still convinced. He turned into a bit of a stalker. He would turn up at the house uninvited which really pissed Biz off. As far as she was concerned he was a weirdo and she was in nooooo way interested (rightfully so. he was acting like a complete weirdo.)

After a while Steve began to think that he'd probably got it wrong. Maybe the jolt was just something else. Maybe his brain made the jolt cos he liked the look of her and wanted the sign. So he set up a 'fleece'. In the Bible Gideon tested God to see if it was really him speaking to him. He put a fleece on the ground and asked God to make the grass around it wet but keep it dry and he did. Then he asked for the opposite and he did. So Steve had a test. He's a bit of mathematician and so he decided to devise the most difficult code he could. In this code he would write what he felt. Something like 'I love you, I want to marry you blah blah blah'. If Biz could crack the code he would know it was God after all. If not he'd leave it.

So he was walking up the street with this coded letter and Biz had just left the house and spotted Steve. With no where to go she said hello and he handed the letter and left. Walking down the street she read the letter. In English. Of course she just thought he was being a bell end again so she left it. A while went by - obviously Steve assumed his 'fleece' had failed. And then Biz showed Al, her best mate the letter,

"Oi look at this stupid letter Steve wrote me. He's a nutter"

"Er Biz... it's complete rubbish. It makes no sense"

"Oh that's weird... before it was him saying he loved me etc etc..."

It wasn't for a while that Al then got really angry with Biz because she was convinced she loved him. Biz wasn't - she still thought that he was a weirdo. But then she felt God speaking to her and saying that actually she did. So they went out. Now they'e been married for 14 years and have 2 kids.

They named their firstborn by going to separate rooms in the house and asking God what to call their son (God had told them it was gonna be a boy you see). They both came back with exactly the same first name and middle name (these are rare names but I won't say his name cos the internet is scary)

I could spout out a few other stories about these guys that come from living 'by faith'.

The only thing I can't rationalize is the letter (which apparently still exists thought I haven't bothered asking to see it - I'll make sure I do!).

Obviously you will just think the story is bollocks but I wanted to explain why there's still some of me that holds onto the idea of God... I trust these people with my life and no matter how hard I try I can't believe that they are lying. And I can't rationally explain it. Tough one...

[Rhinoqulous]

"Everybody lies." - Doctor Gregory House

[Ross_videosprint]

Haha yeah I know. That keeps popping into my head. Damn you House and your cynical ways! But they wouldn't lie... about that...

House - "Whatever. Everybody lies."