Hey, John, how about that? You sign off and a bunch of new people show up!
Nah, just teasin' you. Thanks for your thoughtful reply, and by the way, although I am often prickly, in the case of that one remark about maybe you'll attract some new blood, I was being sincere. You seemed like you were butting your head against the wall (everybody was) and not getting anywhere as far as understanding or convincing, and that's also what I meant by "I'm pulling for you all" -- I was looking forward with pleasure to some sort of breakthrough in understanding, either of self or of others, while still enjoying the conversation as it is. Like I said, monitoring this thread has been like watching a suspenseful movie in which I want all the characters to come out well.
It's not your objections and your skepticism, I think, that have people feeling resisting you. Lots of people here have objected and been skeptical, including myself. Maybe you'd be surprised to know that I share much of your skepticism, just not about the power of deliberately thinking thoughts that feel good (which is how I consider the LoA).
Rather, I feel it's your propensity to make others wrong and need to be right that leaves people resisting you, and I think it may be a big part of the addictive nature of this thread. And I'm quite sure that me noticing this means this issue is mine, too.
D'oh! I hate that. In other words, it's not your message, which is sound; it's your delivery.
Your making people wrong, by telling them that if they don't share your (non)-belief they are mentally ill or foolish, or you mock (your mocking often comes across as pretty bitter to me -- buy maybe you mean for it to come off more light-heartedly?), generates a space of no-freedom and no-love, which is absolutely fine, you're under no obligation to do otherwise, and I wouldn't change you. I'd just like to suggest that if you'd like to accomplish your aims in a place like this, generating freedom and love simply works better.
Skeptical materialism is accepted as part of the rich tapestry -- have you seen my earlier posts about a personal interventionist god?!? -- it's the "you're wrong, I'm right" stuff that's repellant. You can be an argumentative old bastard and still fit right in, but my wish for you is that you find a way to be who you are and still get what you want*, and I believe that you can let go of making people wrong and still retain your inner curmudgeon, if you'd like.
And anyway, whatever you do, whether you go or stay, whether you generate freedom and love or not, what you've said here has led to insights for people. There is no need or preference for you to retreat -- quite the opposite. You are a contributor, in the bigger sense of the word, I mean, not just here.
And that's all I have to say about that.
Lots of love to you, John,
Angela
*sincere, not snark, in case you are mulling.
