The Nature of Nature

[triad]

Something that I find funny about mankind is we are easily dumbfounded by nature. That sentence can be interpreted in two ways, but if you are following me here, you might get the point of this thread.


If you stand in front of the ocean, and you see this massive body of water to which your eyes can not perceive it's end, what emotions does that provoke? Happiness? Fear?


Are we afraid of that which is exorbitant? Does the fact that this body of water exceeds the surface area of the land on our earth fill us with bewilderment?

Is it our astonishment in the existence of existence that evokes god? Is that why our brains default to a supreme order?


Then why do some (like me) question and out right deny this "supreme being" and just accept nature as nature?

What makes me different from someone who looks at the ocean and sees god? I look at the ocean and respect it for what it is and admire it's dominant presence. Things of nature do leave me in awe, but never do I feel like god is responsible for it. Why do other people?


Is there something I am missing? Or is there something that believers are missing?


Question:

What is the cause of two animals of the same species to reason so differently that it would split them into an Atheist and a Religious follower?

The array of different ideas is part of the beauty of mankind, but why does the question of our existence create such extreme differences in opinion? Its so weird.

[Dadoo]

Triad-
My experience has lead me to understand that we are, in essence, Input-output algorithms of thought. Varieties of experiences, which include the apprehension of opinions and viewpoints from without generally form our individual estimations of environment and it's meanings. I certainly grasp what you are pointing toward, and in my own way, I comprehend. Yet, even in agreement, my views are "tainted" by my experiences, and in this way, individuality is expressed.
Were we to remove the drama of opinion and affected perspective, society would be a completely different animal. I have heard it said that there is no such thing as pure objectivity, only myriad degrees of subjectivity. This, for now is celebrated as individuality, liberty and freedom of thought. Ultimately it may be the root of our bondage to misunderstanding, disagreement and disharmony.
To be blessed with a unifying view is a rare thing. It is a freedom to look upon other's ideals and opinion as interesting yet possibly meaningless in light of the grand design. What is will be, regardless of how it is ascribed and what opinions are held in judgement before it.

Dadoo

[Jack]

What is the cause of two animals of the same species to reason so differently that it would split them into an Atheist and a Religious follower?

Perception.

To go further, when looking at the ocean, an oceanographic-aware person may see an environment rich with life and dynamic interactions, a weather man may wonder what storm generated the waves, a physicist may be entertained at the thought of how separate water molecules can create something we see as a waveform...

No two people will look at the same thing and share exactly the same perception of it.

The natural/god dichotomy is one of many. As Dadoo says, where you've been in the past will color how you see the present. Your perceptions are determined by every experience you've ever had, by every thought you've ever entertained, by everything you've ever learned and believed. It would be difficult for someone else to appreciate what makes a person perceive reality as they do. Why do some people see poetry in a sunset while others marvel at the movement of stars through space?

Perceptions are mysterious and personal. Many people can't even account for their own perceptions.

[Osborn F Enready]

Well said Isherwood.

[Kuldeep]

Quote by: triad Is there something I am missing? Or is there something that believers are missing?

Absolutely, nobody is missing any thing !!

I would say, The thread should be "Properties of Nature" rather than "Nature's Nature"!! What you are perceiving is true as per your understanding and natural gifted senses. Again, theist type of person like me, thinks all right sea is just an existence in nature as you thought but, is one of the infinite properties of SOMETHING which you can name as God !!!

If, Somebody else thinks due to his knowledge of faiths that sombody very powerful, God has made it. Then question to scientific minds comes up... How so ??? Debate goes on and on..without definite reply !!!!

[Technosoul]

If someone else looks at your mother they might just seen another little old lady and not think much about her is awesome.

But the child might see their mother as awesome, and even sacred. Some rednecks would snuff you out if you said something bad about thier mothers.

The ocean is the mother of life, we know that scientifically, and so it seems to me that we would view 'her" as something in a spiritural way, as we would our mother earth.

Perhaps when we grow up we find out that our mothers and fathers are just people like everyone else. But when we 'become as children" we see them as we would gods and goddesses, and we honor them with the highest respect possible.

And that is called "getting spiritual" about it in our perceptions.

Nature in all her beauty and splender is the power and the glory, and can be seen as a kind of Great Spirit. The source of life and death is in it's hands.

It is not really invisible, when we open our minds and let it all in at once, it is truely mindblowing. The all-ness is amazing and under the massive sky we are humbled and become aware that we are only tiny specks in the greatness of time and space.

Mother Earth and the Sky above is our God, although we should just call them mom and pop, because we are part of the family also.