Books that have changed my view of life

[outwoodclaret]

I am going to pick two; one written by a Christian and one by an atheist. The first is Religion and the Rise of Capitalism by Professor RH Tawney which was given to me by my history tutor at Portsmouth Grammar School. Both he and this book were major influences on the way I view the search for truth and gave me a deeper understanding of the world I live in. The second is Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughter House 5 a simply colossal work of the imagination woven around his own wartime experiences as a prisoner of war in Dresden. I was brought up a Christian, rejected that as a youth and became an atheist before returning to Christianity as an adult. Surprisingly perhaps I would say that Vonnegut’s visionary work was as instrumental in shaping my faith as it was in revealing his personal battle in dealing with the horror of what was going on around him. If I was to select a third book it would undoubtedly be Candide by Voltaire.

[1959_60]

I have been on a similar journey as you Outwood.

Baptised a Catholic, I lost my faith in my early ****s.

Then I regained a belief in an overarching force when i started studying the sciences.

The known universe was created 13.8 billion years ago by the Big Bang.

Out of this utter chaos something as intricate as the human body has happened. I have read explanations for it, and accept most of it, but if you look at the human cell for instance, it seems inconceivable to me that it has somehow evolved from the aftermath of the Big Bang without any guidance.
A good book to read on this, a very easy and entertaining read, is Bill Bryson's "A Short History of Nearly Everything"

So I now believe in a driving force behind nature, but not necessarily a single "creator" and I believe that somehow we are all plugged in to it.

I would ask at this time that if God is "All loving and the creator of everything", then why the hell has he given the world coronavirus?

[The Bedlington Terrier]

Pushing religion down anyone's neck is not my forte, but I just need to read the New Testament and most of the answers I have ever looked for are found within it.

For you 59er, "I would ask at this time that if God is "All loving and the creator of everything", then why the hell has he given the world coronavirus?" Matthew 28.20 "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age".

[sinkov]

Two books had a massive influence on me in my early days,

Soledad Brother: The Prison Letters of George Jackson, and Solzhenitsyn's One Day In The Life Of Ivan Denisovich.

Both books about men wrongly imprisoned and their fight to survive their incarceration. Whenever I felt life's inevitable problems getting me down I took inspiration from these two books, whatever my problems they were as nothing compared to a ten year spell in a Siberian Gulag or being a black prisoner banged up in a 60s US jail. I simply could not read either book and feel sorry for myself.

[Balanbam00]

59-60:
''The known universe was created 13.8 billion years ago by the Big Bang.''

A milk bottle was standing on a table it fell off , the cause is not the milk bottle falling ,the cause is something that caused that table to shake or the bottle was knocked off the table?

As in the Big Bang ,if nothing existed, how could the Big Bang form? What caused the gasses to be compressed and the result after that, we know? Likewise if there were gasses ,how did the gasses form ,out of what substance?

[Balanbam00]

''I would ask at this time that if God is "All loving and the creator of everything", then why the hell has he given the world coronavirus?''

In a very short answer: He is changing the world !Capitalism is on the way out ,after that Religion will go.
The world will change from Dogma-centred philosophy,Self-centred philosophy, Material centred philosophy's to God centered Philosophy.

[Balanbam00]

People who follow dogma-centred philosophy believe in dogma, wrong sentiments and foolish ideas. In the past Religions are dogma-centred, but in fact all religions are dogma centred. That is why no religion can tolerate any other religion. People who follow dogma-centred philosophy exploit others in the name of providence for their own self-interest. For example, the proponents of dogma often claim that they have been blessed with divine revelation. They say that they had a dream in which God appeared before them and commanded them to do particular work, and on this pretext they exploit others to the full.

People who follow matter-centred philosophy want to enjoy anything and everything for their own interest. The atom bomb is the creation of matter-centred people. In matter-centred philosophy, enjoyment of material objects is the main motive, as in Marxism. The proponents of matter-centred philosophies often resort to brute force to exploit others when it suits their purpose, as do the followers of dogma-centred philosophies.

The followers of self-centred philosophy do everything only for self-interest, self-pleasure. In this case, as in the previous two, the psychic radii may vary. A big radius means that one thinks about oneself in each and every sphere of life. In self-centred philosophies, individual selfishness is the motive, as in capitalism.

[Deadlydave]

People who follow dogma-centred philosophy believe in dogma, wrong sentiments and foolish ideas. In the past Religions are dogma-centred, but in fact all religions are dogma centred. That is why no religion can tolerate any other religion. People who follow dogma-centred philosophy exploit others in the name of providence for their own self-interest. For example, the proponents of dogma often claim that they have been blessed with divine revelation. They say that they had a dream in which God appeared before them and commanded them to do particular work, and on this pretext they exploit others to the full.

People who follow matter-centred philosophy want to enjoy anything and everything for their own interest. The atom bomb is the creation of matter-centred people. In matter-centred philosophy, enjoyment of material objects is the main motive, as in Marxism. The proponents of matter-centred philosophies often resort to brute force to exploit others when it suits their purpose, as do the followers of dogma-centred philosophies.

The followers of self-centred philosophy do everything only for self-interest, self-pleasure. In this case, as in the previous two, the psychic radii may vary. A big radius means that one thinks about oneself in each and every sphere of life. In self-centred philosophies, individual selfishness is the motive, as in capitalism.

"None Self Centred Philosohy" lets have a look how that's gone then. Over 100 million body bags and counting . Society where you don't matter fails to promote freedom and liberty; these constructs are not aspects promoted in socialism of any kind. I would rather live in a small government free society with free markets than any model of government chosen from me by the political class. Funny is'nt it how democrats in America are the richest members of government and they are leftists and want to tell you how to run your life and what you can own. They need to cling to identify politics and intersectionality as they have No policies that really matter. (Democrat economic policy in November other than spend spend spend waht is it??? God forbid we should all find out we are able to adapt and get on together irrespective of race, gender or ***uality. If that happens it's game over for our believers in socialism that's never worked anywhere and never will. Socialism = tyranny and body bags; people are starting to catch on now with China's CCP actions over the Wuhan CCP virus. No human govt system is perfect but better more freedom than less. No Socialism thank you very much.

[sinkov]

" I would rather live in a small government free society with free markets than any model of government chosen from me by the political class."

That'll do for me as well Dave.

[Balanbam00]

''Do you think we'll bounce back?''
As BT says, (and I know nothing about economics!) Where if so many small businesses can not bounce back what will happen,where will they get an income? Then if thousands are struggling ,who will be buying goods etc ? If money is not flowing we will end up in a recession. I am not sure but already some countries are almost in a recession. Germany,two consecutive quarters of negative growth?

So again ,''''Do you think we'll bounce back?''
I do not think so. The time of business as usual is at an end. Now the world is changing! It has to change. How can it be that :

In 2019: the world’s 26 richest people own the same wealth as the poorest half of humanity?
In 2018: The super-rich accumulated 82% of the wealth created the year before – the poorest half of world got nothing.
In 2016: World’s richest 62 people as wealthy as half of the world population.

We need to look at things differently and be less exposed and more resilient to climate change and the instability of capitalism. Business as usual says it’s okay for a handful of rich people to wallow in luxury.
Business as usual says it’s okay for single mothers being asked to pay $**** a week/month to rent.
Business as usual means a continuation of the top down control exercised by global corporate interests, leaving regional economies dependent on the whims of shareholders living on the other side of the planet.

I have, near London Bridge, given out food to the homeless, I could feel the men there some cast away like no one wants them ,yet to see them putting their hand to take bread ,feeling they must take ,but perhaps inside feeling a sense of a lost dignity, perhaps somehow forced out into the streets? Is that a world which you want? Today you want this political class ,who are they Tom, Dick and Harry? Chosen because of some position they have held ,in Law ,Business etc. But they turn out to be an 'elite' set of glorified plebs! Once holding that position they show no effort or motivation,these educated and intelligent people to properly used their acquired knowledge for the collective welfare. This is the mind set of an apathetic and 'elitist' class that will not move from their privileged position for the well being of the common people.