Posted by Dinah on July 3, 2009, at 6:14:04
In reply to Re: This may sound foolish., posted by Timne on July 2, 2009, at 22:00:12
I see no reason to use definitions that could put anyone down. Words have generally agreed upon definitions that all can agree on, but they also have personal meaning. We all can agree that "sun" is the star that is the center of our galaxy, or some other wholly factual description. But the sun may bring pleasant images of joy and warmth to some people, while to others it may bring up unpleasant images of intensity and heat.
I lost my belief in reincarnation or ghosts because what I would have considered the gold standard of proofs didn't occur. But I don't think any less of those who do believe in those things, and accept that they have had different experiences that would indicate different results.
These things are hardly so well studied that there are proper words for them. People trying to use totally inadequate words to explain their personal experiences of the universe are bound to use those words in slightly different ways. I think that indicates more about the inadequacy of the English lexicon to adequately express certain experiences than it does about the beliefs of the people using the words.
One day no doubt these things will be more fully explored, and we'll have a greater consensus of word useage.
poster:Dinah
thread:904378
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20090624/msgs/904694.html