What Gives You Hope?

Well, I think most people will be able to tell that I am going to go with science here, and I think I'll explain briefly why.

So, to me, there are only two things you can believe in, Science or God. And seeing as how God has been absent the last couple thousand years I'm going with science. Now I know some people believe in the human heart to do the right thing, but to me God seems more reasonable than that, and I don't believe God exists.

But to each his own, my views have been tainted by my lifestyle, and I know it was my own choices that led me to where I have been, just as they got me away from there to where I am now. It just seems that the world is full of so much suffering, and maybe it's because of my past that I see it this way, I don't really know. I've lost so many of my old friends, I'm 26 and I've had more friends pass away than my grandmother, and it just seems sad. They were driven to the depths of despair and died believing there was no way back out.

So yes, I put my hopes in technology, to improve the conditions in which everyone lives. I am still rather pessimistic but I haven't given up completely yet.


So what gives you hope, if you have any. I suppose if you don't what would it take for you to think things are going to turn out fine. And for those that only see sunshine and happiness how does one go about changing their perspective?

No one "believes" in science. It may be the basis of your "hopes" and your "dreams," but there is nothing to worship, to believe in, or to ask faith of. Science is the culmination of the best and worst that humans have been able to determine of the world around us. Science is our machines, our mathematics, our understanding of the world.

As well, one does not have to believe in anything.

With respect to you, it sounds like you put your faith in mankind to save itself through the use of technology (a noble pursuit). I think the positive aspects of mankind are what you base those faiths on, making you a philanthropist, and someone who sees the advancement of technology as a means of salvation.

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With respect to me, I'm a misanthropist. =) Sorry. I see personal enlightenment (and the salvation therein) as a possibility, but not that of everyone. So I guess if you have to define it with some relation to "hope" I put it in an individual's character, but not society's.

On a lighter note I'm hoping that Six, Arioche, and Seraphiel get their respective asses into gear and save the world before bed time.

(Or maybe they'll all just jump in bed? Here's to hoping.)

The prospect of time

Originally Posted by RighteousRob

Now I know some people believe in the human heart to do the right thing, but to me God seems more reasonable than that, and I don't believe God exists.

Oh wow. So you are saying mankind is less likely to take care of each other in the future, then there is to be a God? Technology will serve those who own or can afford it?

Originally Posted by RighteousRob

Well, I think most people will be able to tell that I am going to go with science here, and I think I'll explain briefly why.

So, to me, there are only two things you can believe in, Science or God. And seeing as how God has been absent the last couple thousand years I'm going with science. Now I know some people believe in the human heart to do the right thing, but to me God seems more reasonable than that, and I don't believe God exists.

Certain conservative sectors of society have misapplied "faith" or "hope" to science. Faith and hope are not needed to build objects that will fly people from point A to point B without crashing. I don't think it's fair to put science and god side-by-side to choose as the basis for hope.

I am not religious, but I will say this: even though god may be absent from your life, god is present for many people who genuinely believe... From an evolutionary standpoint, I think religion/god arose, evolved, and have stayed for good reasons: to heal hurts, lay down laws (good/bad), justify truly strange behaviors, promote sympathy and other good behaviors, bind communities, etc. To be fair, when we look at the bad side of religion, we also have to ask where it came from and why it is still with us today.

Originally Posted by RighteousRob

But to each his own, my views have been tainted by my lifestyle, and I know it was my own choices that led me to where I have been, just as they got me away from there to where I am now. It just seems that the world is full of so much suffering, and maybe it's because of my past that I see it this way, I don't really know. I've lost so many of my old friends, I'm 26 and I've had more friends pass away than my grandmother, and it just seems sad. They were driven to the depths of despair and died believing there was no way back out.

So yes, I put my hopes in technology, to improve the conditions in which everyone lives. I am still rather pessimistic but I haven't given up completely yet.

Maybe "taint" is not the right word. After all, "taint' implies that you have been badly affected. But the truth is, we have all been affected in good and bad ways.

I am sorry for the friends you have lost, as well as your grandmother. But I am also tempted to ask: what have you gained in those 26 years?

Originally Posted by RighteousRob

So what gives you hope, if you have any. I suppose if you don't what would it take for you to think things are going to turn out fine. And for those that only see sunshine and happiness how does one go about changing their perspective?

The beauty of life gives me hope. The evolution of life on this planet gives me hope. To see one species branch into many forms, to see life become more complex and adaptable -- all of that is beautiful to me, and that gives me a general hope that we don't need a higher purpose. Each thing is a thing in itself, good enough as it is. Beauty for beauty's sake.

This
NYC Team's Amazing Haiti Rescue

Or this
Landing hailed as 'Miracle on the Hudson,' probe begins - USATODAY.com

or this
Fireman dresses as Spider-Man to rescue boy - TODAY People

If people had no hope then we would all just stand in one place wither and die.

Knowing that I am in control of my own character and destiny gives me hope. Also I get along very well with others, so I know that everyone has a positive intention, it just varies on how it is shown. I believe human nature is fundamentally good, and those who seem to do bad acts are still human after all the mess.

I'm sorry that you have to ask what gives us hope, I've always had it, even when I'm down I know things will get better as soon as I make better choices and everyone who gets up for work each day is making the world a better place little by little. We are all in this together. If you don't have hope, then why do you wake up each day? Maybe that will lead you to something to believe in. I know the world isn't perfect through peoples choices, though there are tons of little rays of light that shine through, its just about spotting them.
I love children, so it always amuses me to see what they do and the thoughts they have. Children have a unique view that not every adult has.
Just by living my life I see signs of hope, a guy once randomly bought me a book once in a shop, he didn't even know me, but he liked me from a little discussion we had. I never saw him again, though he must of been moved in order to do that. So there are many things which for me is further evidence of what I already believe.
It seems to me you are looking for a reason to have hope, that won't work, you first have to have hope in order to start seeing it.

The unknown future gives me hope.

Change. To know that things will change. That nothing stays the same. That life can turn on a dime: for bad but also for good.

WARNING: Cheesy post incoming!

What gives me hope? Nature... When I look out my window and see the grass... And trees... And birds... And flowers... It's a constant reminder to me that every day is a new day. Storms...Reminds me how powerful energy is... And tornadoes... That energy (in a sense) can come out of nowhere sometimes... Rain... That sometimes things just need to be washed away...

Okay... Cheesy post over... I think I'm going to go lurk now.