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XVII. Balance, Compliments, and Synthesis

 

I believe a key to happiness is use of complementary ideas to balance emotional forces of the mind. I think of balance as being a state of equilibrium reached by cancellation of all forces by equal opposing forces. Force is the capacity to cause change. My thoughts, beliefs, and expectations, act as forces upon my emotions. My emotions, in turn, act as forces upon my body causing the release of hormones, increase or decrease of heart rate, shunting of blood flow and other physiological responses. I devote energy, space, and time, to ideas about the existence of one totality that balance the emotional forces of my mind. I balance the emotional force of any idea of limitation imposed by truth and knowledge of theory based on scientifically reproducible discovery, with the emotional force of an idea of limitlessness provided by myth and fantasy based on the existence of discovery and mystery. I balance the emotional forces of sorrow, fear, and anger, that follow from the truth of the fractal infernal quality and temporal longevity of my seed body and universe, with the emotional forces of joy, faith, and love, that follow from the myth of the divine quality and eternal longevity of my soul and spirit.

Soul and spirit are ideological constructs that follow from taking a love of healthy, agnostic, positivistic, nationalistic, spiritization of self and world to its' logical extreme. Thereby I arrive at and take as a rational default position a belief in a most optimistic myth about the existence of; things scientists can find; things theories predict; and everything else that enables us to have the highest esteem of the existence of one totality. Science has not discovered truth and knowledge of theory about quantities of energy, qualities of space, lengths of time, and denominators of continuum that may be characteristic of the existence of my soul and spirit. Because discovery of the existence of my soul and spirit is beyond the reach of science, I may imagine my soul and spirit in the realm of mystery to have whatever qualities and longevities that are deemed necessary to balance the emotional forces that are produced by the truth of the fractal infernal quality and temporal longevity of my seed body and universe.

Given the nearly limitless range of definitions possible, it is important to stop and think a moment. What meaning do I give the words soul and spirit? I intend to balance the emotional forces of one extreme; that of thoughts, beliefs, and expectations, arising from the discovery of the impending disease and death of my seed body; with the emotional forces of another extreme; that of the thoughts, beliefs, and expectations, arising from the mystery of the immunity and life of my soul and spirit. Therefore, I define my soul as the animating force and vital principle credited with ordering thoughts, feelings, and actions, that manifest as conscious will in the mind that is generated by my body. My soul exists as the divine eternal part of finite self. I define spirit as the animating force and vital principle credited with the creation and evaluation of the universe. Spirit exists as the divine eternal part of the infinite world.

If soul is the divine eternal part of finite self and spirit is the divine eternal part of infinite world, then soul spirit is a word meant to convey a sense of the indivisibility of soul and spirit, and the integrity of the whole. I understand soul spirit of self to be same as soul.  I understand soul spirit of world to be same as spirit. I believe that soul spirit is divine. Divine is an adjective that describes the noun soul spirit as being of a quality that is of the highest order. That is perfect. Soul spirit is eternal. Eternal is an adjective that describes the noun soul spirit as possessing longevity that is of the highest order. That is perpetual.  

The idea that we must accept the non-existence of soul spirit as truth because of our failure to be able to use our senses and perceptions to gather objective evidence that leads by valid logical deductive inference to the scientifically reproducible discovery that soul spirit exists is without merit; because the idea of the non-existence of soul spirit is itself a myth. Use of our senses and perceptions to verify that a myth is true makes no sense as a criterion for choosing a myth to believe; because myth is myth.

       If we recognize that the existence of discovery and the existence of mystery make possible an infinite number, diversity and variety of myths about the existence of one totality only limited by our creative abilities and powers of imagination; and we desire to use ideas that are both possible and imaginable to build a model of the existence of one totality in our minds that produces emotional balance conducive to happiness and health; then the logical valid choice for us to make is to believe in the one myth that enables us; to have the highest esteem of the existence of one totality. That is to believe in the myth about the existence of divine eternal parts of self and world that I call soul and spirit.

      Scientists say that we use our senses and perceptions to gather objective evidence that leads by valid logical deductive inference to the scientifically reproducible discovery that something exists and that is how verification of the existence of something is achieved. What happens if there is a failure to achieve verification of the existence of something because of an absence of evidence that leads by valid logical deductive inference to the scientifically reproducible discovery that something exists? Some atheistic negativists maintain that in the absence of evidence that leads by valid logical deductive inference to the scientifically reproducible discovery that something exists and until proven otherwise the rational default position to take is a belief in a pessimistic myth about the existence of only things scientists can find, and only things theories predict. The meaning of the word rational is logical, sane, and or consistent with or based on reason. The meaning of the word default is to fail to do something that is required. The something that is required by scientists is the verification of the truth of the idea that something exists.

      Let's review a few facts: The existence of one totality is equal to the existence of discovery plus the existence of mystery. The existence of discovery is equal to the sum total of all truth and knowledge of theory based on scientifically reproducible discovery. The existence of mystery is equal to the existence of one totality minus the existence of discovery. The existence of one totality may be infinite. Therefore the existence of mystery may be infinite. The existence of discovery is finite. Take any finite number to represent the existence of discovery and divide by a number approaching infinity to represent the existence of one totality and the result is a number-approaching zero. In other words, quite possibly we know next to nothing about everything! As anyone familiar with science is aware old knowledge of theory may be displaced by new knowledge of theory. So for some atheistic negativists to conclude that only things that scientists can find, and only things that theories predict exist is premature to say the least.

       The fact of the matter is: The presence of the universe is presence of evidence. This presence of evidence leads by valid logical inductive inference to an infinite number, diversity and variety of conclusions about the existence of one totality that we call myths. The idea that a belief in a pessimistic myth about the existence of only things scientists can find, and only things theories predict is a rational default position to take; merely succeeds in producing in the minds of some atheistic negativists a belief in a pessimistic myth about the existence of one totality. If some atheistic negativists want to call it a truth about the existence of one totality then they need to abide by the rules of deductive reasoning and eliminate all other possibilities leaving only one definite conclusion. Otherwise these atheistic negativists are invoking inductive reasoning to build their model of the existence of one totality and the result is a myth about the existence of one totality. The burden of proof IS on these atheistic negativists.

       This pessimistic myth leads those who believe it to have pessimistic thoughts, beliefs and expectations about the existence of one totality . Scientific research seems to affirm the theory that optimistic thoughts, beliefs, and expectations about the existence of one totality have a positive influence on our health. Our optimistic thoughts, beliefs, and expectations about the existence of one totality are believed by scientists to improve our various health behaviors, our immune functions, and our biochemical functions in ways that make our bodies more resistant to illness and better able to recover from existing disease. In light of such research, I have to ask myself: Is building a model of the existence of one totality that leads to pessimistic thoughts, beliefs and expectations about the existence of one totality really the rational thing to do?

 If I choose to take as my rational default position a belief in the one myth that enables me; to have the highest esteem of the existence of one totality; then all other myths that would lead me to have a lower esteem of the existence of one totality; are eliminated from consideration as possible default positions until proven otherwise. For example, the myth about self being divided by a spiritual conflict between good and evil; does not equate with the highest esteem of the existence of one totality; and therefore this myth is eliminated from consideration as a possible default position; until proven otherwise. The myth about the world being divided by a spiritual conflict between a good one in Heaven at war with an evil one cast down to and ruling over Earth; does not equate with the highest esteem of the existence of one totality; and therefore this myth is eliminated from consideration as a possible default position; until proven otherwise. The myth that we are all just animals after all; does not equate with the highest esteem of the existence of one totality; and therefore is eliminated from consideration as a possible default position; until proven otherwise. The myth that things scientist can find; and only things theories predict exist; does not equate with the highest esteem of the existence of one totality; and therefore is eliminated from consideration as a possible default position; until proven otherwise. You see? A default position that leads to the most optimistic thoughts, beliefs and expectations about the existence of one totality works exactly the same at eliminating from consideration other possible myths about the existence of one totality as does a default position that leads to pessimistic thoughts, beliefs and expectations about the existence of one totality but without the potential ill mental health effects, ill emotional health effects, and ill physical health effects.

      Some might wonder: How do I deal with the possible follow up assertion?: If I don’t accept a belief in the myth about the existence of only things scientists can find, and only things that theories predict; as a rational default position to take, then taking any default position can be valid. The beliefs of religious extremists would be valid as a default position. One meaning of the word valid is: producing desirable results. How could making the beliefs of religious extremists a default position produce desirable results? It is a lie to claim that myth is truth. An affirmation of an ability to know about the existence of a good one in Heaven at war with an evil one cast down to and ruling over Earth is a fraud that follows from the lie that myth is truth. Religious leaders who repeat the lie that myth is truth in defense of their fraudulent affirmations of an ability to know; make threats against the life and or afterlife of others. Thereby religious leaders who repeat the lie that myth is truth in defense of their fraudulent affirmations of an ability to know; extort tithes and offerings from communities of faithful believers.  Religious extremists act on those threats by making terrorist attacks.  The beliefs of religious extremists produce terrorist attacks in support of religious leaders that repeat the lie that myth is truth in defense of their fraud, threat making, and extortion. Production of terrorist attacks is not a desirable result; and therefore the beliefs of religious extremists are not a valid choice of default position. Some might argue that mendacity as a life style is justified in the interests of crime prevention; while failing to acknowledge that mendacity as a life style is itself a crime; and a cause of crime. The beliefs of religious extremists produce mendacity as a life style. Production of mendacity as a life style is not a desirable result; and therefore the beliefs of religious extremists are not a valid choice of default position .


       Truth is an idea or set of ideas that can be verified to be true by use of our senses and perceptions. I do not verify an idea to be true by claiming: "Oh I have sensed or perceived a good one in Heaven at war with an evil one cast down to and ruling over Earth that only I can sense and perceive; and everybody else has to take my word for it; because I am special; because of my prestige or status within society; and or because of the size of the army I can raise to force others to agree". I verify an idea to be true by using my senses and perceptions to gather objective evidence that leads by valid logical deductive inference to the scientifically reproducible discovery that an idea is true. If results I desire to produce are truthfulness as a lifestyle, then in the presence of evidence in the form of the universe and until proven otherwise the rational default position to take follows from an affirmation of an inability to know the unknowable based on the truth that myth is myth.

I agree with those who declare: It is not rational to make a fraudulent affirmation of an ability to know the unknowable based on the lie that myth is truth. Doing so leads religious extremists to make terrorist threats against the life and or after life of anybody that does not submit to the authority of religious leaders; and has led to the extortion of tithes and offerings from communities of faithful believers in exchange for a life long indoctrination in the lie that myth is truth. Our historical use of violence to resolve our differences over matters of faith has been and continues to be a tremendous source of conflict; and could play a role is precipitating the death of our global culture. The problem with the kind of pessimistic ideas that some scientists are promoting is: Many people find the emotional unbalance created by taking their rational default position unacceptable and so turn to religious leaders who affirm an ability to know the unknowable and claim this ability to know leads to a belief in the lie that myth is truth.

      Out of an infinite number, diversity, and variety of myths about the existence of one totality made possible by the existence of discovery and the existence of mystery, some atheistic negativists make the arbitrary choice to take as a rational default position a belief in a pessimistic myth about the existence of only things scientists can find, and only things theories predict; until proven otherwise. If the default position is nothing more than an arbitrary choice of one myth about the existence of one totality out of an infinite number, diversity and variety of myths about the existence of one totality made possible by the existence of discovery and the existence of mystery, then I should not settle for a choice of rational default position that leads to a belief in a pessimistic myth about the existence of one totality. If the rational default position is nothing more than an arbitrary choice of one myth about the existence of one totality, then I should not settle for anything less than a choice of rational default position that leads to a belief in the most optimistic myth about the existence of one totality; until proven otherwise. Out of an infinite number, diversity, and variety of myths about the existence of one totality made possible by the existence of discovery and the existence of mystery, I choose to take as a rational default position a belief in the one myth that enables me to have the highest esteem of the existence of one totality; until proven otherwise.


       I am going about the task of spreading the idea of the need for us to take a new default position. The old default position leads to a belief in the myth about the existence of only things that scientist can find and only things theories predict; until proven otherwise. This default position leads to a belief in a myth about the existence of one totality that produces pessimistic thoughts, beliefs and expectations about self and pessimistic thoughts, beliefs and expectations about world. The new default position leads to a belief in a myth about the existence of things scientists can find; things theories predict; and everything else that enables us to have the highest esteem of the existence of one totality. This new default position leads to a belief in a myth about the existence of one totality that produces the most optimistic thoughts, beliefs, and expectations about self and the most optimistic thoughts, beliefs and expectations about world.

      The old default position accepted and promoted by some atheistic negativists is: In the presence of evidence in the form of the universe and until proven otherwise the rational default position is a belief in the myth about the existence of only things scientist can find; and only things theories predict. This old default position leads by valid logical inductive inference to the conclusion that fractal infernal temporal parts of self and world that I call seed body and universe are all that exist. The idea that fractal infernal temporal parts of self and world that I call seed body and universe are all that exist leads those who take the old default position to have nothing to balance powerful emotional responses of sorrow, fear, and anger produced by the discovery of the impending disease and death of their seed bodies. Many people find the emotional unbalance created by the old default position unacceptable and so turn to religious leaders who affirm an ability to know the unknowable and claim this ability to know leads to a belief in the lie that myth is truth. The lie that myth is truth is the source of the conflict that leads to fighting over matters of faith. Our historical use of violence to resolve our differences could cause the death of the body that is our body consuming biosphere.

        The new default position I propose is: In the presence of evidence in the form of the universe and until proven otherwise the rational default position is a belief in the myth about the existence of; things scientists can find; things theories predict; and everything else that enables us to have the highest esteem of the existence of one totality. This new default position leads by valid logical inductive inference to the conclusion that divine eternal parts of self and world that I call soul and spirit exist. The idea that divine eternal parts of self and world that I call soul and spirit exist leads those who take this new default position to have powerful emotional responses of joy, faith and love; that balance the powerful emotional responses of sorrow, fear and anger; that follow from the discovery of the impending disease and death of their fractal infernal temporal seed bodies. I think, believe and expect; that many people will find emotional balance created by this new default position acceptable and so turn to spiritual leaders who affirm an inability to know the unknowable based on the truth that myth is myth; and claim a desire to be happy and healthy leads to a belief in the one myth that enables us that have the highest esteem of the existence of one totality. This would take the wind out of the sails of religious leaders who repeat the lie that myth is truth in defense of their fraud, threat making and extortion. Our historical use of reason to resolve our differences could preserve the life of the body that is our body consuming biosphere.

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