Hi Laura,

What I’m talking about is more or less frames of reference.  Life and
meaning looked at from a “nonreligious” (if there is such) viewpoint.
Perhaps if I said life was not “completely knowable,” “mysterious,”
always to be “discovered” and “explored,” you might have differently
questioned my not being bound by consequences to decisions.  The latter
is a dynamic and often dangerous, tempting, edge to being human.  And,
yes, there’s the potentially liberating energy.  My experience of nearly
six decades: every unbinding leads to another binding to be unbound (or
better left as is).  If everything were ultimately meaningless and
inconsequential we would not be having, or likely able to have, this
discussion.  There would be no reason and no communication.
Fortunately, except at birth and death we humans don’t reach ultimate
meaninglessness (though too often too many of us tend too close), so we
create meaning as we proceed.
I don’t turn to God because life is meaningless or assume the existence
of God to provide security, nurture, or meaning in life.  I usually take
to life as it is.  Sometimes confusion is bliss.  The attainment of
knowledge and understanding is arduous and limited.  Please: nothing in
what I write means I deny God or religions.  I respect your faith,
Trisha’s, everyone who respects mine.  (I’m at a stage in life where I
prefer quiet company to polemics.)
To say I found meaninglessness wonderful was to say I was not afraid of
my thoughts (or others)—not all the time.  I’m willing, if sometimes
reluctantly, to deal with consequences; the difficulty lies in taking
and assuming responsibility for decisions and actions.  That’s the full
time job of adulthood.  Sometimes confusion is painful.
Noted that you read closely.  You might say I’ve made millions of
mistakes.  This round I expect to make more and fewer.  And yes, o wee
rapt one, I’ve had my firsts.
S.
“Every day’s April Fool’s Day.”
Date:  Fri, 31 Mar 2000 12:07:04 -0500
From:  Laura Cleveland <[log in to unmask]>
<http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/CGI/wa.exe?A2=ind00>
Subject:            Re: Think Gods
<http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/CGI/wa.exe?A2=ind00>

Hey Steven,

Love that wry sense of humor and irreverence!
I am still not sure how to answer your first question, but will think
some more on it since you have enlightened me as to where you stand on
your view of life.
But, I do have a question for you. You said you find life meaningless,
and that was confusing, as well as wonderful. I am totally blown away by
that thought? Is it wonderful, because in the end, there are no
consequences to the decisions you make? Enlighten me oh, large brained
one—my teeny one is beginning to get itself wrapped around this
concept---grunt... argh..! BTW, at what age are you?
For me Christianity is certainly a system of beliefs, but it goes beyond
following a set of rules—do this, don’t do that---wear this don’t wear
that—go here, but not there. There is a personal componant with the one
true God. There are subjuective aspects as a result of this
relationship, but what’s more is there is empirical evidence out the
wazoo that Christianity—that is the Christianity of the bible is based
in. Not just mental ascent, but objective proof.
Don’t worry about the instant gratification—builds character!  And about
driving, writing or typing straight---dont sweat it. Next million? Have
already had the first?
Take care Steven,
Laura
BTW where is Trisha?