We live by emotions, not by words. Our thoughts and beliefs drive our actions, but emotion rules. This does vary by individual but I believe it is a fair assessment. The good writer tries to convey emotions to support his ideas. The explaining of why is the goal. There are some subjects that there are no words for. That is when we hear, this doesn't make sense. This usually happens following tragic events, seldom after a fortunate one. Finding a reason for injury or misfortune is a very difficult thing. Our thoughts and beliefs drive our actions and when those thoughts or beliefs fail us we can formulate an explanation. The bottom line is living with the emotions. Anger and despair are the common emotions following a tragic event. Some seek retribution while others merely question why, and mourn. That feeling of helplessness is the worst feeling of all. When we are powerless to provide any answer whatsoever, even one to satisfy ourselves. For the pious that is the time they question their faith. Those are the times when we have to " give it up " to our God. It is beyond human comprehension.
This idea is portrayed by the character Spock in the Star Trek series. Logic should rule our actions is the message there. But Spock is half human and has emotions that he attempts to control. Emotions can cause bad decision making. The action taken doesn't make sense. Did the action make sense to the one performing that action ? Yes, you would have to say it did. But the person is mentally unstable and therefore unable to make sense. Using that logic, anyone that doesn't empathize with your own thoughts or beliefs are unstable individuals. So, just how do we define the boundaries ? There are two methods employed, sometimes in combination, sometimes not. First and foremost there are what we call the " natural laws " of man. They are best described by the words, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. They describe our rights as humans and define a boundary of minimum standards of conduct. And then there are the laws of man. These laws are prescribed by a society and the structure of that society. The laws are designed to influence our emotional responses. This is done in the form of punishment for incorrect actions.
It was in our Declaration that our society first expressed this idea of natural laws. The Constitution defined the method and scope of government. You might call it the logic behind the emotion. We mustn't forget it was emotions that drove the action that lead to that Declaration. It was the perceived injustice of another government that motivated these emotions. We used the belief that each man is equal and free to seek his own way in the world as the foundation for that declaration. We determined to establish our own society, define our own boundaries for living within that society, and the consequences of noncompliance. The premise that each citizen was to act in a moral and ethical fashion, as determined by the Christian tradition, was not written into those documents for a very simple reason. It was a universally accepted concept. The words written were to be taken in their literal sense.
"When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation." - This comes before the famous lines holding these truths to be self evident, that all men are endowed by their creator. You know the rest. And there it is, written in plain enough English that we can all understand their thoughts. We can empathize with the emotions. The laws of Nature and the Laws of Natures God. I don't believe there is any question about what God they felt was natures God. It was the Christian God although they did recognize that others may hold different views and went on later to express that those folks should be free to exercise their beliefs within the laws established.
We live by emotions , not by words. It was emotion that drove the founding fathers to that declaration. The declaration was based in faith. We cannot justify faith with logic. If our emotions are sustained by just actions, just results will follow as a natural consequence. Words alone cannot sustain us. Words are subject to interpretation. It is faith alone that sustains mans' actions. As Jefferson stated, we should " declare the causes which impel them to separation " and then went on to say, " We hold these truths to be self evident. " As I watch the news and see the current events I can not help but think about these things. Do we need another revolution ? No, what is required is a reaffirmation of the faith that inspired a nation.
This idea is portrayed by the character Spock in the Star Trek series. Logic should rule our actions is the message there. But Spock is half human and has emotions that he attempts to control. Emotions can cause bad decision making. The action taken doesn't make sense. Did the action make sense to the one performing that action ? Yes, you would have to say it did. But the person is mentally unstable and therefore unable to make sense. Using that logic, anyone that doesn't empathize with your own thoughts or beliefs are unstable individuals. So, just how do we define the boundaries ? There are two methods employed, sometimes in combination, sometimes not. First and foremost there are what we call the " natural laws " of man. They are best described by the words, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. They describe our rights as humans and define a boundary of minimum standards of conduct. And then there are the laws of man. These laws are prescribed by a society and the structure of that society. The laws are designed to influence our emotional responses. This is done in the form of punishment for incorrect actions.
It was in our Declaration that our society first expressed this idea of natural laws. The Constitution defined the method and scope of government. You might call it the logic behind the emotion. We mustn't forget it was emotions that drove the action that lead to that Declaration. It was the perceived injustice of another government that motivated these emotions. We used the belief that each man is equal and free to seek his own way in the world as the foundation for that declaration. We determined to establish our own society, define our own boundaries for living within that society, and the consequences of noncompliance. The premise that each citizen was to act in a moral and ethical fashion, as determined by the Christian tradition, was not written into those documents for a very simple reason. It was a universally accepted concept. The words written were to be taken in their literal sense.
"When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation." - This comes before the famous lines holding these truths to be self evident, that all men are endowed by their creator. You know the rest. And there it is, written in plain enough English that we can all understand their thoughts. We can empathize with the emotions. The laws of Nature and the Laws of Natures God. I don't believe there is any question about what God they felt was natures God. It was the Christian God although they did recognize that others may hold different views and went on later to express that those folks should be free to exercise their beliefs within the laws established.
We live by emotions , not by words. It was emotion that drove the founding fathers to that declaration. The declaration was based in faith. We cannot justify faith with logic. If our emotions are sustained by just actions, just results will follow as a natural consequence. Words alone cannot sustain us. Words are subject to interpretation. It is faith alone that sustains mans' actions. As Jefferson stated, we should " declare the causes which impel them to separation " and then went on to say, " We hold these truths to be self evident. " As I watch the news and see the current events I can not help but think about these things. Do we need another revolution ? No, what is required is a reaffirmation of the faith that inspired a nation.
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