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avoiding reality

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Q: Do you believe that theists are avoiding reality and comforting themselves with non-existent things?
I think theists are avoiding reality and comforting themselves with the ideas of heaven and eternal life, both of which do not exist, to escape from the idea of death and permanent non-existence.

What is your opinion on the matter?

A: I think that’s part of the allure of religion.

It also began as our species’ first, stumbling, clumsy attempts to explain the world around us. We were confronted by real dangers which could spell disaster at every turn. We had no idea why the tides came in and out, why the sun seemed to cross the sky every day, why sometimes it was sunny and sometimes there were thunderstorms. Part of our evolutionary psychology is our tendency to assign agency (intent) to things which have none. i.e. lightning hit the tree and crushed my house, therefore the lightning was trying to hurt me. We then assign an intelligence to the agent, and voila…a god of lightning.

As these ideas all become intermingled and passed from one generation to the next, they become enmeshed in the person’s sense of their own identity. If you disbelieve their gods, you are insulting them personally.

To be sure, one of the most powerful aspects of any religion today is the fear of non-existence. But I don’t think we should try to belittle this fear. I hold this fear myself, personally, even though I acknowledge that belief in permanent non-existence is the default position until something else can be demonstrated.

It is often tempting to belittle people who hold strong convictions in beliefs that are impossible to demonstrate (like an afterlife). But, I try to remind myself that we all have our own little superstitions. For some reason, I believe that if I talk bad about my car, it will be more likely to break down, even though I know that is a completely untenable position. I still don’t talk bad about my car. Given the right societal climate and enough time, you might just see a sect of animists who believe in being nice to mechanical and electronic objects. The human mind is a fascinating thing.

Q: Are people who won’t discuss cost of care for the dieing years avoiding reality?
A big percentage is already getting payed for by tax dollars and people with insurance — we are a broke nation and a dollar spent one place is a dollar not spent somewhere else — we may act as if there is no price on life but in reality their is — it seems to me that giving a person the option to take a pill makes since

A: To me, it is insane to pretend that financial concerns are not already a part of our health care decisions. Every health care decision, even the decision to wrap your twisted ankle in an elastic bandage, is based on a cost vs benefit analysis. No private insurance company is going to pay for a surgery when the patient is not a good candidate for surgery. In my work I have dealt with hundreds of people over age 75 and can only think of 3 or 4 who would have been good candidates for surgery. Why would anyone spend a year’s pay for Gramma’s surgery, when chances are she will not survive the procedure? There comes a time to let nature take its course! People who are squeamish about this reality need to grow up.

Q: Are you a sleep deviant avoiding reality so as to dream more?

A: What are you talking about?

Q: Poll: Are you a sleep deviant avoiding reality so as to dream more?

A: wow, what a great concept.
I have definitely been guilty of that

Q: When you think, or daydream, are you avoiding reality?

A: Some might call it mental masturbation and if you linger too long daydreaming your life away it is.

I think however a little bit of daydreaming is alright. It is a nice creative outlet and may give you insight about what is you seek in your life. Often you need to visualize something before you can help manifest it.

Another possibility is that it can help those who are in the creative writing are or film business. When I was younger I would read books and daydream their continuation. Then I thought to myself I could write books just as good as these if not better cause I was so much more thrilled with what I could imagine. The books just gave me the kick start.

And hence I started my dream to become a writer. Has it all manifested how I wanted it. No, not as expected but it has taken some nice turns and now I am into writing things of greater depth such as philosophical, self help, political, or more meaningful fiction.

Q: Death of a Salesman; How do they avoid reality?
In the play/book: Death of a Salesman each of the characters has a method of avoiding facing reality. How does each character avoid facing reality?

Willy? (Lies?)
Linda? (Choice to ignore the truth?)
Biff? (Lives in Past?)
Happy?

A: willy is the one who lives in the past
and biff lies
linda does ignore the truth
happy isnt really happy, he always tries to be noticed. like telling his dad he lost weight or that he’s getting married

it wasnt that great of a book.
the ending was badd.

Q: What reality are you avoiding when you spend hours on end debating other people’s reality?
This is not meant to be a judgemental question in any way, for I am gulity of it myslef.

A: I’m a Compliance Auditor. ’nuff said.

Q: Can someone become so deep in thought that he/she loses touch with reality?
Sometimes I feel that the harder I think about things, the farther I distance myself from the simple truth of the matter and from other people.
Sometimes I feel as if I’m avoiding reality by sheltering myself in my own thoughts.
Is there a reason why I’m doing this? Is this out of the ordinary?

A: Try this:
concentrate and go deep into that state of mind…Think about how existance would be if you no longer exist, picture space in your mind, feel empty.
Where would the body and soul connection be if you lost your senses and consciousness? If you were nothing, would you be aware of?
Thoughts can make us travel to places beyond logic explanation.

Q: What are you avoiding by pretending this(Yahoo answers) is reality?
Could you be avoiding possibly: reality itself, your children, your spouse, work, actual human interaction that forces you to face things in the physical world, your sad, sad boring life? What is it that brings some people to spend every waking hour here…asking questions that are not of the intended use of this service…only to defy it’s violations/suspensions? Just wondering.

A: good question.

i only come on here once in a while, but i know who youre talking about.

i dont know if im really avoiding anything except cleaning.. i think rather, im in search of the perfect answer to a question i dont or wont ever know.

something that is going to make the world understand? I dont know.

OH wait.. it’s REALLY VERY cold and windy outside. Im avoiding THAT.

Q: whats the best way to stop avoiding reality???

A: Get stoned

Q: How can I find a balance between my happiness and reality?
I am happiest when my head is buried in some book or movie.
I’m happy when I’m alone or with animals, around flowers, making music etc. I like living in my own world.

People have accused me of “trying to avoid reality”. Honestly, they’re right. I don’t like reality. I’m miserable when I’m surrounded by people and talking about things like politics, the economy etc.

I don’t think I’m a weak person. I can handle reality (sometimes) I just prefer not too.

A: I find your question brave. Many times I get the feeling that I’d rather be alone, doing my own thing, than having to socialize with people, I can’t always find much in common with.

As these feelings were getting stronger, I too started asking myself “is everything O.K. with me, or am I slowly becoming a recluse”. My questions and searching for answers lead me to start studying Kabbalah.

Here is a short paragraph that, for me, really sums up these feelings.

“What is love? What does it mean that I love someone or something? I love what brings me pleasure. This is clear. If something brings me suffering, I hate the source of my suffering. I draw closer to someone, or something I love, I desire to establish a connection with that person, or object, to be together. But the moment I discover that possibly, this is not so good for me, I start to cool off and move away. Therefore, Love is a sensation of pleasure from an object that gives me pleasure.”

This is taken out of a lecture by Michael Laitman that can be found on the following link: http://www.kabbalah.info/engkab/translated_lessons_(texts)/lectures_at_the_educational_center_nekuda_shebalev/12232004_unconditional_love.htm

Q: Is there something remotely bad if someone wanted to lose contact with reality on purpose?
Because I’ve seen people who actually do any thing and every thing to avoid reality. For example, some people watch television shows day and night and night and day. Not any real shows I mean fictional shows. Does that mean they are escaping from reality on purpose? I mean if they do NOTHING but watch shows and get like transported to the world of that show and forget about the on you’re in. I’m kind of confused. I do it sometimes too. Is it abnormal to want to lose touch with reality on purpose? Whether with a girl or not?

A: yeah there is, it’s seems like your trying to run away from your problems, worst idea ever, it says allot about who you are.

Q: Isn’t it impossible to avoid reality while living in reality?
No matter how much anyone tries, you can’t escape reality.

A: Last thing I remember, I was
Running for the door
I had to find the passage back
To the place I was before
‘Relax,’ said the night man,
‘We are programmed to receive.
You can check-out any time you like,
But you can never leave!’

Q: How much mutual backslapping do Republicans require to avoid reality?

A: Good to see your big Red Arrow again Hi !

I don’t know how much backslapping they require, but I’m ready to sign-on to giving them some major face-slapping next November !

Q: Why is it mankind avoids reality and desires to be mislead and told a happy story rather then the truth .?
This goes mostly for the delusional followers of the worlds politicians and religious leaders of all sects .

They prefer the happy ending of going to heaven as opposed to becoming fertilizer .
They seem to like it when politicians tell stories and refrain from speaking the truth and giving people the real facts .
Clinton redefined the word is and Bush redefined the meaning of torture .
Now which is actually worse . Having consensual sex in the white house or torturing prisoners .

A: When Clinton Lied no one died.

I don’t think it’s by choice that the public in misinformed…..

People don’t ‘prefer’ to be misled- they dont really have a choice, the govenment owns the media…. people only see what THEY want us to see…. Once you know the truth -it’s pretty hard to turn a blind eye-

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