(...)

That is something I have not learned to do. I have my own ideas and
opinions, and see arguing as a futile exercise as no one is going to
change. I am recognizing that some folks argue just for the "fun" of
it ... yet another alien concept for me.



V:



V writes:

I was Catholic for 50 years and changed.

(...)

That is something I have not learned to do. I have my own ideas and
opinions, and see arguing as a futile exercise as no one is going to
change. I am recognizing that some folks argue just for the "fun" of
it ... yet another alien concept for me.

(...)

That is something I have not learned to do. I have my own ideas and
opinions, and see arguing as a futile exercise as no one is going to
change. I am recognizing that some folks argue just for the "fun" of
it ... yet another alien concept for me.

V:

V writes:I was Catholic for 50 years and changed. But I was only able to change
by being a freethinker. I argue with no one. If I have the truth, I
keep it and use it and share it. If you do not want it that is OK, I
make no demands you adopt it. If I am wrong and you have the truth I
adopt it readily and now I have the truth as well. Wherever the truth
is - that is where I go.

Of course one has to be open to seeking truth. If not, one gets stuck
with ego and not truth.
It sounds like what you are speaking of is attachment...attachment to
ideas.

When we invest excessive time and energies in acquiring or building
attachments these attachments become veritable extensions of our being
and come to define us for ourselves as well as define who we are for
others. When these attachments take on this role we become susceptible
to pain via these extensions. If the person, place or thing we are
attached to gets rebuked it is a personal rebuke on us, if they get
damaged or defaced so goes the defacement and damage to our very being.

It is hard to become full detached to ideas, for if we did we would be
like a feather floating wherever the wind blew us and would pick up any
old idea with no firm grounding of what we perceive as right or wrong.
But, we can practice being open minded and look at ideas without
prejudice that we immediately hit ideas with. Learn to judge other
less. We especially do this with everyone we meet...they are better or
lesser than me type of thinking.

The part of this idea that helps me with anger and prejudice with
others is to remember we cannot tell others what is right for them. We
can make suggestions, but since we are not the "end all" in the
universe we just do not know. So, I try to remember this when I get too
judgmental. This middle path view can also be applied to the idea of
existence and non existence as well for those having trouble with this
concept.

Good Luck,

V (Male)

Agnostic Freethinker