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Post by hikerjer on Sept 8, 2015 18:40:12 GMT -8
Without getting into a deep theological discussion, I would add that the one thing almost all the major religions of the world have in common is the teaching that material wealth doesn't lead to happiness. Too bad so many of their followers and non-believers as well, don't adhere to that belief. Guess we're all guilty of that to a certain degree. It's pretty hard not to have some degree of a materialistic spirit - backpacking gear is excepted, of course - in the world today. Human nature I suppose.
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desert dweller
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Post by desert dweller on Sept 8, 2015 20:18:20 GMT -8
Without getting into a deep theological discussion, I would add that the one thing almost all the major religions of the world have in common is the teaching that material wealth doesn't lead to happiness. I'd say that most of the world's religions were started by men wondering in the desert. Again the message being, to get outside more.
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toejam
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Post by toejam on Sept 9, 2015 4:59:23 GMT -8
the authors of the article seem to be assuming from the outset that nature can be a spiritual resource I think we are all inately religious. So many of our beliefs are based on emotions and how we think the world should be. We have such an overload of "facts" these days you can strongly believe anything you want to. Politics, atheism, environmentalism - all based more on faith & emotion than anything else. These days my primary source of spiritual inspiration is my beautiful surroundings - but that doesn't make me not religious.
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Post by Lamebeaver on Sept 9, 2015 6:10:21 GMT -8
For Native Americans, nature and religion were one and the same.
Personally, I find it hard to deny the existence of God when surrounded by natural beauty.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Sept 9, 2015 7:00:01 GMT -8
Without getting into a deep theological discussion, I would add that the one thing almost all the major religions of the world have in common is the teaching that material wealth doesn't lead to happiness. Too bad so many of their followers and non-believers as well, don't adhere to that belief. Guess we're all guilty of that to a certain degree. It's pretty hard not to have some degree of a materialistic spirit - backpacking gear is excepted, of course - in the world today. Human nature I suppose. There has been at least one study (sorry, don't have the reference--just another thing floating in the mess that I call my brain) that suggests that money does provide happiness--up to a point. That is, once you have about as much as your neighbors do, more money doesn't make you happier. Meeting basic needs and not feeling deprived compared to what those around you have is plenty. Having significantly less makes you feel poor, and having tons more, surprisingly, doesn't make you any happier. I haven't tried having lots more than others around me (well, except when doing world travel in a few places), but I have tried having a lot less, and having about the same, and I'll agree that the latter is quite satisfying. Not sure that means anything much for religion, just thinking about the money-happiness equation.
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amaruq
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Post by amaruq on Sept 9, 2015 7:34:16 GMT -8
There has been at least one study (sorry, don't have the reference--just another thing floating in the mess that I call my brain) that suggests that money does provide happiness--up to a point. That is, once you have about as much as your neighbors do, more money doesn't make you happier. Meeting basic needs and not feeling deprived compared to what those around you have is plenty. Having significantly less makes you feel poor, and having tons more, surprisingly, doesn't make you any happier. I haven't tried having lots more than others around me (well, except when doing world travel in a few places), but I have tried having a lot less, and having about the same, and I'll agree that the latter is quite satisfying. Not sure that means anything much for religion, just thinking about the money-happiness equation. I've heard excepts from this study as well. There was some mention of $75,000 being the magic number for annual income if I recall correctly. Not sure if it was CDN or USD. While having excessively more money than those around you may not make you feel any happier, spending it on those others or to help those others certainly will. Using one's excess to help those who do not have enough will always lift one's spirits, I guarantee it. ...plus, good karma.
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Post by hikerjer on Sept 9, 2015 10:05:12 GMT -8
I guess I'd agree with the above posts. It's going to be hard to be happy, contented, at ease, whatever you want to call it, in our society if you don't make a certain income. Constantly scraping by and living from day to day in a crisis setting without knowing if you're going to make is extremely stressful and doesn't lend itself to being happy. But having so much, whatever it is, certainly won't guarantee happiness. But then I guess nothing does. Reminds me of quoyue from J.P Morgan when he was asked how much money he neede to be happy. He replied, "just a little bit more." He was the wealthiest man in the country at the time.
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Post by Lamebeaver on Sept 9, 2015 11:33:07 GMT -8
I'd say that most of the world's religions were started by men wondering in the desert. Again the message being, to get outside more. I think you may be on to something there DD. I've also noticed a lot of monasteries are located in the mountains. Several religions also have sacred mountains or several important events happening on mountains.
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ecocentric
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Post by ecocentric on Sept 9, 2015 14:55:59 GMT -8
It is enough for me to walk with a quiet mind, allowing all of my senses to embrace the nature that surrounds me. I don't need to come down from the mountain with any answers, insights, or inspired mission. It is enough to have experienced the mountain.
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