Runaway Ambitions

“Some things are better than others. We should have preferences that lead us into one future over another. But when those preferences drive us too hard or too fast because we have over estimated the difference between these futures we are at risk… When our ambition is unbounded it leads us to lie to cheat to steal to hurt others…” –Dan Gilbert

This is not encouraging us in any way to aim low in life. Rather it is teaching us to bridal our passions.

Consequentialism would have one believe that the ends always justify the means. In reality when one sees the gross acts of people involved in things like the holocaust or the extermination of the American Indian, realizing that the men orchestrating and executing these atrocities really did believe that the ends would be preferable, one can see those ends did not justify the means.

Adam Smith stated that ambition unchecked will lead to, “remorse for the horror of our own injustice,” in pursuit of the thing.

Acts like the aforementioned undoubtedly cause me to lean more toward a utilitarian way of thinking. When shooting for lofty goals one should not only ask if the ends be good for the individual but if the ends be good for the whole of the population. If the ends will decrease the suffering of the majority then the goal is a worthwhile pursuit.

A bridal puts pressure on the corners of a horses mouth causing the horse to obey the riders commands. Passions when left unchecked are the unbridled horse - powerful, driven, and dangerous to the rider and those close by. As I clearly stated in the paragraph above men with unchecked ambition have and will lie, cheat, steal, kill and commit genocide to achieve the object of their ambition. If the goal calls for the suffering of others to increase, the goal should be abandoned.

Suffering is caused by desire. [our economy is driven by desire]
If one can eliminate desire one can eliminate suffering.
- Buddhism

Bridal all your passions, that ye may be filled with love.
- Christianity

Both ideas support what has been stated. Wish I knew a better Christian reference to stand as strong as the Buddhist one… I am frustrated when Christianity falls short of my expectations. I am comforted only by the words, “If there is anything virtues, lovely, of good report, or praiseworthy we seek after these things,” allowing for other good ideas to be adopted by the Christian who remains tolerant.

Once again this does not mean one should not set their aims high, if one feels it is ones moral obligation to use ones talents to do an ambitious work that will alleviate some of the worlds suffering.

And watch the video you lazy buggers!

Watch the video Jon posted below before reading my post.

Watch the video Jon posted below before reading this post.

I wrote a paper in college 5 years ago and used some statistics on buyer’s remorse that support the same idea, less options and an inability to changes ones mind will lead to less regrets and therefore more happiness (To read a good paper not written by me on this see here).
Applied to romantic relationships this idea may contribute to the higher success rate associated with arranged marriages.

The point made about happiness being tied to “bounded ambitions” vs “unbounded ambitions” reminds me of the scripture, “Bridal all your passions, that ye may be filled with love… ( Alma 38:12 ).” It is a rewarding way to live ones life, it allows us to make room in our personal agendas for tolerance and mercy towards others.

Although I agree with the speaker I also feel there is more than just limited choice that contributes to overall happiness. I will list a few I have been thinking about:

Meaningful emotional relationships (love)
Physical attention from others
Attachment to a grand purpose (not always religious in nature)

There may be more…

Happiness

This video is to be the jumping off point for future posts on a new subject, happiness. It's kinda long, and a few years old, but we both found it worthwhile.

Alone

Alone
Waiting for a ring
Waiting with my phone
I'm crippled with out my phone
Cut off
Alone
Stranded
But I wait with it in hand
A text
A call
Something will come
But it's not
She can't speak
She can't move
She was muttering jibberish
Studderings that did not fit context
She said yes then no
Then threw a punch
A loose fist
No strength
A thin arm
Too thin
Skin hanging as long sheets on a chair
She is bleeding
We can't help her
She can't tell us what's wrong
I have to leave her side
I have to go
I'm bound by obligations
Obligated to stuff
Silly stuff
Useless stuff
Stuff I felt I needed but knew I didn't
So I go
Before I walk away
I lean over her
I hope she can understand
I'm leaving
I've got to go back to Utah
Get out of the way
Move damn it
Talk sweety sweety to me shit
Her eyes closed
Still bleeding
Mom I've got to go back home
I'm leaving
Silence
I love you mom
I... love you
Barely a breath
Less than a wisper
But decernable
I kissed her
Kissed her sunken cheek
Her blue lips
Her closed eyes
She loves me
She loves me
She really does
I'm home
Reality
Friends rally around me
Support me
Destract me
It's hard but it's harder for dad
Don't want to be selfish
Don't want attention from family
Don't want to be weak in thier lives
I'll be strong in their lives
In my friends lives I am weak
I cry in the dark
In my room
They destract me
They are gone
Places to be things to do
They are all gone
I'm allone
I go see the girl
She sits
Poorly lit room
Watching comedy
To destract the girl no doubt
Excapism
I choose not to excape
I'll write it down
Re live it
Rub salt in it
Pick at it
But let the family think I'm ok
Be steady in their lives
Not upset
For the girl I am cold
It's too much
This too
Is it important
Isn't it
I want it
I miss the girl
I feel I need the girl
But is the girl there
Or is the girl one sided
Is the girl thinking of me
Is the girl thinking of mom
Does the girl try
The girl said she is trying
But still the girl pushes
Even now
The girl will not let go
Is the girl afraid to let me go
Is the girl sad
The girl sits
The TV is on
The girl is sitting
I come in and the girl sits
Watching comedy
Am I selfish
Is the girl selfish
We are all selfish
We can be selfless from time to time
I need a friend
I have none here
This place is home and I have no one
No one to love me
No friend
The girl will hold me
The girl does not want to be my friend
The girl does not like my friendship
The girl is leaving
I am leaving
I am leaving
I am leaving
I need to get back
Back to where I am loved
Where I am held as a friend
Safty and affection with no stipulation
No expectation
No game
No tugging
No prodding
No pressure
It is low
It is unimportant
One is a permanent loss
One is a temporary unpleasantness
Unpleasantness I can't cope with
Not now
It's not about the girl
Life is not about a girl
It's about her
She is everything
She is mine
She loves me
In her darkest days she loves me
Unaware she loves me
Confused and angry she loves me
No one will love me the same
No girl will meet her again
I have no room for girls
I have no life for girls
I am strong for family
Happy
Jovial even
But can't do it for friends
Don't want to
Don't need to
She loves me
My heart is full
She says it
She is leaving
Half gone already
Half way down the hall
The great hall
With tapisties and pillors
Windows and stones
Light and shadow
She is half way gone
Hardly recognized 
Face has changed
Hands have changed
Voice has shanged
Laugh has changed
But she loves me
And I'm alone
Alone at home
I am alone waiting with my phone
They will call or text
And I will know
She will have left
Down the hall
Far far away
Hidden
Gone
Alone

Are you genuinely happy?

Happy?
Anxiety
Stress
Uneasyness
Unmotivated
Downtrodden
Beat
Restrained
Tight
Constricting
Down
Discurraged
Unhappyness prevails

Capitalism

The law of consecration

Capitalism: lobsters in a pot
Communism: elevating each other (stand where you are and lift)

Not to be selfish with our gifts and talents. Teach others and give freely of infomation and power. 

Elder Ballard stated "All competition is prideful" capitalism is bassed on the principles of competition. Therfore capitalism is prideful.  

Engaged in a posative persuit

Engaged in a positive pursuit

Can one be happy without a purpose in life? It is an aristocratic idea that all individuals can and will accomplish greatness. Every person wishes to elevate their current position. Did the janitor dream of being a janitor as a child?

There will always be a working class. There will always be haves and have nots and the haves will always want more just the same as the have nots want more. Whether the "more" that is wanted is esteem from colleagues and friends or a better quality of life the desire is there.

It's a question of motive. One can claim whatever motive they want but that claimed motive may be an attempt to gain esteem from others therefore can not be trusted. Discovery of true motive requires much inward meditation and exploration. Motive is not arbitrarily chosen, picked out in a whim. Motive runs deep and is nearly unchangeable.

Motive to survive.

What motivates me?

The esteem of others is a large contributor in all my actions. I want a successful career to tell mom and dad I have done good and can take care of them so that my friends and family will see that I am one of the greats. To feel a cut above the rest.

Why read the scriptures? Do I believe reading them will help my quality of life.

We only do things when we believe they will be of benefit to ourselves. Nothing we do is selfless. We may choose to do things because it is selfless but our motive in that case is esteem from others. We are selfless so others will see our selflessness.

Do we read our scriptures so others will see us read and see our spirituality.

Self preservation fear and pride. These are my motives. These are not moral motives.

Everyone has an angle

Motivation
Love is the only pure motive
Fear is not a virtuous motive
Guilt is not a virtuous motive
Pressure to please another is not a pure motive
The ease of the way is not a pure motive
Personal gain or acclamation is not a pure motive
What should I love?
All that is praiseworthy and good
All should be nurtured and preserved
I should love all natural life- all life
I should love humanity and work to preserve them
The things I want to express are too long too lengthy for a painting or series of paintings
I need to become more brevitous
Brevity
Intelligence is the most precious life
It should be preserved above all else
It is what I love and value most

god is not great

All the dictionaries i found had two main definitions for miracle.

1.	any amazing or wonderful occurrence
2.	a marvellous event manifesting a supernatural act of a divine agent

I hear more and more people denying the second definition and claiming all miracles described in scripture and by clergy fall within the realm of the first. That is, all miracles are amazing natural phenomena. This is what I also believe to be true. What is never clarified to me is why god is evoked when talking about these miracles. Natural phenomena have natural causes. A sky god would have to be supernatural to even exist in the form described by any mainstream religion. God doesn't seem to be as great as the hype would lead you to believe.

It seems that god is used as a drug to some. Something used to get artificial good feelings. A religious experience is a nice high but there are other, less destructive, ways to get it. If denying homosexuals equality, lying about the effectiveness of condoms, artificially linking religious dogma with charity (as many christian charities do), and any number of the other atrocities are what it takes to get that high i will gladly find alternatives.

I agree with Jon. Many times natural emotion or hallucination is mistaken for revelation and inspiration. And in these cases when the revelation turns out to be false or to bring about negative outcomes the revelation is written off as "a trial." The person thinks God wanted them to do the wrong thing to teach them a lesson. This is a false idea that religious people should put out of their minds. But it is not easy or pleasant for the person to admit that the alleged revelation was not valid in the beginning.
"Science is about seeking to explain the world around us. For him at least, it can co-exist with faith." Stated in Jon's first reference Last sentence last paragraph (see here).

This is what I believe as well. I maintain the idea all miracles fall within the natural laws of the universe.

But the sensation Jon posted about was not what I was referring to when I described my desire to have a "religious experience." I was referring to the unity one can feel with their peers. The experience could be had in many different non-religious settings. I use the term "religious experience" to describe a wide range of experiences that may be better associated with a different term.

One of the points I was making is that I do not need to wade through all the phony rehearsed dialogues at a church in order to have the feeling I am seeking.

A "religious" experience

This is hardly a subject with a whole lot of room for opinion. "Religious" experiences are actually biological reactions to external stimulus. (see here, here, here, and here. Wikipedia here) To claim otherwise is to put more importance on unfounded and religiously biased claims than on actual observations made through extensive research.

How many times do we have to discover the natural causes behind previously presumed supernatural phenomena? We must assume that unexplained phenomena have a natural cause. This is the only way to be intellectually honest with ourselves. There is no reason to believe that anything exists outside of the natural word.

If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck don't assume it's a unicorn.

A Religious Experience

While sitting in church a few Sundays ago I asked myself why I go. I have a bad attitude at times while listening to shallow whiteness being born with a lack of authenticity or convincing power. And while pondering this bad attitude I asked myself, 'Why do I come here?' I found myself composing a lengthy explanation in my head that I wrote down...

I come for a religious experience

Religion: a body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices

Experience: an accumulation of skills and knowledge as a result of participation in applicable activities.

Religious experience: betterment of ones self as well as true knowledge gained through the participation in and observation of group activities among persons sharing particular beliefs and practice.

One can participate in a religious experience in schools, among peers, at a concert, watching a film, reading any book, and even among atheist colleagues. God as a topic of discussion is not a prerequisite in the endeavour to have a stimulating religions experience. The only prerequisite is that one be open enough to the topic at hand to enable that individual to find common beliefs or practices with the other individuals involved.

Individual religious experience: to resolve in ones own mind a conflicting principal or principals that have never before been resolved in the persons mind. The person is finding common ground within their own mind. They have found truth or at least truth that is true in their own personal perception of the reality we all exist in.

There may be a more universal term for the experience described here. But for the purpose of my use of the term "religious experience" the explanation given here most clearly defines the term.

Time

The theory of general relativity tells us that time itself is relative. That is, time passes at different rates depending on the position of the observer (See Wikipedia entry). If we apply this, admittedly a bit inappropriately, to our everyday lives it puts things into an new perspective. From this perspective we find less importance in the speed with which we accomplish goals and can, instead, focus on the quality of those goals. We can focus on advancing our own intellect, and the overall intellect of humanity, instead of racing to jump through the hoops of a prescribed life. I think it's time to strive to be the proverbial tortoise, instead of the hare.

Time

Time is a temporal measurement of temporal activities that have no relevance in the eternal existence of our soles. The only activities that matter are the activities that contribute to the refinement and development of our intelligence. Our intelligence is the part of our existence that uniquely defines us as individuals. Intellectual, moral, and social development are the only worth while pursuits. The TIME it takes to progress in life's pursuits is bass and inconsequential in comparison to the actual progression. The question to focus on is not how fast we accomplish things but if we are purifying our beings at any rate at all. Location, activities, and acclamations developed and perpetuated by our own acknowledgment of self-acclaimed, unmerited, certificates of completion are not relevant. Are not real. Are below me and my existence.

Salad Bar Christianity

JonD has stated, "Either the scripture is the word of god or it isn't."

I fear that many mainstream Christians fall into this same type of dichotomic logical fallacy (see Wikipedia Article). And many of these Christians deal with the conflict by stating that ALL scripture found in the Holy Bible is flawless, literal and directly from God. (This is at best anecdotal on my part, I have no statistics on the number of Christians who believe this or who do not.)

If we are to reject a portion of a single book in the Bible, say The Song of Solomon, then the whole book should be thrown out of the cannon. Sounds a lot like what King James had done back in the early 17th century by going through all available script written about Messiah and comparing them to the first five books of Moses omitting books that disagreed. The Bible is a compilation of books written by many different authors it would be silly to decide the cannon is false or true altogether based only on the writings of one author.

Having been compiled in this analytical way should at least lend to the individual Christian the same write to omit what they will.

But Jons real question is, "If you have the sense to decide what is best, independent of the doctrine, then what is the purpose of scripture?" This is a good question that all Christians should keep in mind as they study.

If I know the law of Moses has been fulfilled by Christ then what is my purpose in studying it. As well as if I know and recognize the discrepancies in the gospels Mathew, Mark, Luke and John, and recognize that they were written by finite men who have faulty memories then what is the purpose of my reading their accounts?

This puts scripture in a new light, we see and recognize the hand of finite men in the scriptures, and the scriptures ability to be flawed.

Salad Bar Christianity

All judeo-christian religions have a doctrine that is said to be the infallible word of god. Why is it that so many believers will point out which passages in scripture are to be taken literally and which are to be interpreted differently or thrown out all together? (absurdities in the bible and book of mormon) Ignoring the parts of the bible that don't fit with what one believes shows, with no uncertainty, that it is to be taken as the fallible work of man. After all, a true christian would never ignore the word of god.

So, are we to consider an inaccurate, contradictory, poorly supported group of arbitrary documents as the sole proof of the existence of a supernatural sky god? Why is the bible considered more accurate than the masses of other books that claim to be divinely inspired? If we have the ability to decide what is best, independent of the doctrine, then what is the purpose of scripture at all? Either the scripture is the word of god or it isn't. Either god is omniscient (see here) or he isn't. Either god exists or he doesn't. There is no gray area.

"God created man in his own image. And man, being a gentleman, returned the favor."
-- Rousseau

On morality

There are two main elements in the process of evolution. First is mutation, a small chance that a generation will be genetically different from the previous. Also there is natural selection, some individuals will be better suited to reproduce therefore passing their genes more readily on to the next generation. This process also applies to the passing down of learned behaviors as well. Richard Dawkins calls these learned behaviors "memes" (more about memes here). A meme that allows an individual or group to reproduce more readily is more likely spread more quickly and be maintained longer. The meme that will be discussed here is the one we call morality.

Since morality is a meme and memes are spread through communication we see that morals are different in different groups. The more restricted the comunication one group has with another the more differences we can expect to observe in their morals.

Natural selection tells us that the morals that most increase the chance for reproduction are those that are most probable to be kept. You can no more abandon your morality than you could your sexual desires. Both morality and sexual desire are major forces in our ability to reproduce so succesfully. Obviously natural selection favors those who protect their own needs above all, but, without others to reproduce with nothing will be passed on at all. So it can be said that morality is a natural way for all living beings to protect their own genetic line.

There is much more to be said about the evolution of morality and morality today. A book that explores this and many other aspects of the gene-centered view of evolution is The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins (1976).

Your comments and questions are greatly appeciated.

Man Pleaser

Man Pleaser

Pleaser: pleasing entertainer

Man: the natural or uncivilized man who pursues first his basic needs and wants. Starting with breathing, homeostasis, water, sleep, food, excretion and sex. (Maslow's Hierarchy Of Needs)

To please the natural man may be the act of trying to please our own natural man or the natural men around us. Mankind not a singular man. To be a man pleaser is to go through life simply satisfying the most primal needs of ourselves and those around us. to focus only on gratification and comfort of existence. Looking only for the esteem of our friends and neighbors. Not working to lift those around us instead looking to receive praise and reward.

Man pleasers. Peculiar term.