Have you gotten to the point in your life where you see all the unique differences that set you apart from other people as virtues?
If not then perhaps soon; after all, if you don't hang out with invisible friends you're already half way there.
When they become virtues there's no reason for self imposed guilt or shame over inconsequential details that keep people insecure enough to stay in religion. They fear their thought crimes might have consequences. Once no thought is forbidden you can find out exactly who you are and you might find out you still care about people, you still want to empower them, you still love. But this time it's just you, not a gift from God, a gift of your true nature. I almost find it spiritual because it evokes the same emotion I had when I was religious, but I see them for what they are now.
I know it's preachy, but I'm slightly inspired tonight.
Thoughts DO have consequences, it's just a question of whether you're considering the real-world consequences or the imagined ones.
So it follows that some thoughts ARE, if not really forbidden, dysfunctional or at least unhelpful.
To me it's not so much a matter of unfettered intellectual freedom as it is a matter of self-discipline, reason and where the responsibility lies for sorting such things out -- with the individual or with some external authority.
I have always known, was treated differently my whole life, bullied, outcast. Tried to hide it for years, just made it worse. Now I celebrate my weirdness & am like a flame to moths!
I spend a lot of time thinking about empathy. I believe much of the suffering the human race endures is borne of those who are devoid of empathy. I think about this subject all the time.
It could also be phrased as 'to share or not to share'.
Yes. Definitely.
Okay.
Lol...does that mean you don't agree? I have never thought about it like this...so I'm still processing...
@Freespirit64 Okay to me is like... I accept your entry and will file it without further review. But don't tell that to no one... I use it a lot here.
@GipsyOfNewSpain gotcha!