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Huan Yi
Member Ascendant
since 2004-10-12
Posts 6688
Waukegan

0 posted 2005-07-18 08:12 PM



A priest, a pastor and a rabbi
are discussing when life begins.

The priest says: “Life begins at conception.”
The pastor responds:  “Life begins after a period of a few weeks.”
The rabbi replies:
“Life begins
after the children have graduated from college . . .”

So then, when does human life begin?


© Copyright 2005 John Pawlik - All Rights Reserved
Essorant
Member Elite
since 2002-08-10
Posts 4769
Regina, Saskatchewan; Canada
1 posted 2005-07-19 01:13 PM



Below, in mathematical sophistication, is the tale of the whole history and evolution of the universe:


1 = 1


Human life begins forevermore within that 1.  


Baba Michi
Junior Member
since 2005-12-07
Posts 40
Southern Germany
2 posted 2005-12-14 10:24 AM


Essorant,

  I found your comment especially interesting.  Maybe we should start a new thread!  Also, I came across this page the other day, is worth sinking your teeth into:
http://www.integralscience.org/sacredscience/SS_spiritual.html

Baba

Stephanos
Deputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Elite
since 2000-07-31
Posts 3618
Statesboro, GA, USA
3 posted 2005-12-15 11:27 PM


quote:
To reduce all philosophy to such mathematical form, to take all specific content out of it, to compress it (voluminously) into mathematics- this was the ambition of this new Pythagoras (Bertrand Russell) ... It (Mathematical philosophy) is a splendid game for those who like it; guaranteed to "kill time" as rapidly as chess;  it is a new form of solitaire, and should be played as far as possible from the contaminating touch of things.  It is remarkable that after writing several volumes of this learned moonshine, Bertrand Russell should suddenly come down upon the surface of the planet, and begin to reason very passionately about war, and government, and socialism, and revolution,- and never once make use of the impeccable formulae piled like Pelion upon Ossa in his Principia Mathematica.

(From 'The Story of Philsophy', by Will Durant)


and ...

quote:
"There is a sense in which two and two are four… the plane of ledgers and cashbooks, on which these propositions are approximately sound. But if you rise from that plane to a loftier one, you will find at once that they are untenable. . . . it is obviously untrue that half-a-baby and half-a-baby make a baby. Let the sword do its deadly work. The two halves of a baby make no baby at all. On this higher plane of human sentiment and experience, the laws of mathematics collapse completely. When a man distributes his wealth among his children, he gives to each a part; but when a woman distributes her love among her children, she gives it all to each…No man who has once fallen in love will ever be persuaded that one and one are only two. He looks at her, and feels that one plus one would be a million…No happy couple into the sweet shelter of whose home a little child has come will ever be convinced that two and one are only three. Life has been enriched a thousandfold by the addition of that one little life to theirs. And I am certain that no pair from whose clinging and protecting arms their treasure has been snatched will find comfort in the assurance that one from three leaves two. In the great crises of life one's faith in figures breaks down hopelessly.

(F.W. Boreham - from the essay 'Solomon's Sword')



Mathematics are good, but not divine.  


Stephen.  

Essorant
Member Elite
since 2002-08-10
Posts 4769
Regina, Saskatchewan; Canada
4 posted 2005-12-16 01:34 AM


I think math is overcomplicated, cold, and unemotional when you make it and approach it that way; and that holds true with many other things too.  But if you approach it and inspire it with spiritual influence, then it really may have a strong spiritual signifigance as well.
  

Stephanos
Deputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Elite
since 2000-07-31
Posts 3618
Statesboro, GA, USA
5 posted 2005-12-16 10:17 AM


quote:
if you approach it and inspire it with spiritual influence, then it really may have a strong spiritual signifigance as well.


Oh, I agree.  Spiritual influence is something that all of our disciplines need.  But making math the mystical "ALL" always becomes a regrettable reductionism.  It's nothing new really.  It goes back to Pythagoras.  And that kind of approach is what I was referring to.  


Stephen.

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