Feeling Stupid. . . . . .

[_Holy Ghost]

Does something have to be true to believe it, or could you believe it just for the effect of believing it?

When the lights go down, the projector starts and the movies flickers on the screen we are all facing, the suspension of disbelief starts creeping into my mind until it pushes out my other thoughts. The feeling of 'belief' in what I am watching supplants my normal critical processes. Many movies would give a good feeling, some a bit of euphoria. There was a time I was addicted; I would go to the movies weekly in hopes of re-experiencing it. I was, for a short time in the theater on an evening believing something just for the effect of believing it. Yes.

[_SPG]

I was, for a short time in the theater on an evening believing something just for the effect of believing it. Yes.

Carl Saigon once said, "We are stardust that has taken control of our destiny." or something like that.

Most religions imply that we are "more" then just the player, that we come from a "higher" place. But basically, that is what watching a movie is. You come from a "higher reality" but enjoy for a time the illusion provided for the bargain price of about $14 a ticket.

With religion, you get a bigger illusion, a deeper connection, and you experience fellowship, love, family, purpose, and intentionally practice ideas like respect.

But none of it is true. Your parents, siblings, neighbors, all just blobs of bacteria pretending to be people. They only exist because between you and them, you believe that they do.

[_Holy Ghost]

I was, for a short time in the theater on an evening believing something just for the effect of believing it. Yes.

Carl Saigon once said, "We are stardust that has taken control of our destiny." or something like that.

Most religions imply that we are "more" then just the player, that we come from a "higher" place. But basically, that is what watching a movie is. You come from a "higher reality" but enjoy for a time the illusion provided for the bargain price of about $14 a ticket.

With religion, you get a bigger illusion, a deeper connection, and you experience fellowship, love, family, purpose, and intentionally practice ideas like respect.

But none of it is true. Your parents, siblings, neighbors, all just blobs of bacteria pretending to be people. They only exist because between you and them, you believe that they do.

I close my eyes, only for a moment, and the moment's gone
All my dreams pass before my eyes, a curiosity
Dust in the wind
All they are is dust in the wind

Same old song, just a drop of water in an endless sea
All we do crumbles to the ground though we refuse to see
Dust in the wind
All we are is dust in the wind

Now, don't hang on, nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky
It slips away
And all your money won't another minute buy
Dust in the wind

[_Holy Ghost]

I was, for a short time in the theater on an evening believing something just for the effect of believing it. Yes.

Carl Saigon once said, "We are stardust that has taken control of our destiny." or something like that.

Most religions imply that we are "more" then just the player, that we come from a "higher" place. But basically, that is what watching a movie is. You come from a "higher reality" but enjoy for a time the illusion provided for the bargain price of about $14 a ticket.

With religion, you get a bigger illusion, a deeper connection, and you experience fellowship, love, family, purpose, and intentionally practice ideas like respect.

But none of it is true. Your parents, siblings, neighbors, all just blobs of bacteria pretending to be people. They only exist because between you and them, you believe that they do.

The movie will begin in five moments
The mindless voice announced
All those unseated will await the next show

We filed slowly, languidly into the hall
The auditorium was vast and silent
As we seated and were darkened
The voice continued:

The program for this evening is not new
You've seen this entertainment through and through
You've seen your birth, your life and death
You might recall all of the rest
Did you have a good world when you died?
Enough to base a movie on?

[_candygal]

I do not feel stupid...refuse to. I built my conscience,morals and principles around what was TAUGHT to me! I was made to feel guilt, shame for not being quite good enough..this is not on me. My only claim to stupidity is after my returning to church only to ask if I was paying enough tithing. But no....this is not our fault people!

[_Dr. Shades]

That depends. What is the effect of believing it?

Purpose, world domination, understanding of the universe

I think you're referring to pretending to believe.

Name it, belief could makes it yours.

That's not quite correct. Believing in Santa Claus won't make him real.

[_SPG]

I think you're referring to pretending to believe.
I'm suggesting that is all that there is. Are we really on an Earth, or a world, or is it just a rock with moisture? Do we have a sun, or just a burn ball of gas emitting dangerous radiation? Everything could be something, but we name it to be what we pretend that it is.

Believing in Santa Claus won't make him real.

Didn't it? How many movies do we have about Santa? How many stories are told? How gifts are given in his name?

If Santa isn't real, what is real about America, or humans, or humanity? It's all just consciousness pretending to be something that it's not.

[_SPG]

I was made to feel guilt, shame for not being quite good enough.

I'm just going leave this here.

"Pain is the birth of consciousness."

Guilt is built into consciousness, learning to do deal with it was mission of Christ.

[_Lemmie]

I think you're referring to pretending to believe....

Believing in Santa Claus won't make him real.

Didn't it? How many movies do we have about Santa? How many stories are told? How gifts are given in his name?

If Santa isn't real, what is real about America, or humans, or humanity? It's all just consciousness pretending to be something that it's not.

Personally, I don't think they should have remade Stephen King's "Pet Sematary". That movie was way too real the first time. I hear that if they recreate the 'Sematary' just one more time, the power to revive the dead will become real in every Cemetery across the country, just like Santa. I don't think we would survive that zombie apocalypse.

[_SPG]

Personally, I don't think they should have remade Stephen King's "Pet Sematary". That movie was way too real the first time. I hear that if they recreate the 'Sematary' just one more time, the power to revive the dead will become real in every Cemetery across the country, just like Santa. I don't think we would survive that zombie apocalypse.

You have never had a pet come back to you? Sad.

There is a new movie coming out with Dennis Quaid about a dog that is reborn to him many times. I agree, apparently the return of the pets is becoming an issue.