Rocket Lab catches rocket stage in mid air

[zzzz]

It's all over the news that it's being called a success.  It looks like a failure to me and to most people. I heard that Musk lost about $15 Billion recently.  He seems out of touch with reality.

[Coss]

I think that much like practising a golf swing, at the the driving range, it takes a number of shots, for one to be perfect enough, to pass muster.

The difference, is of course, you get yer golf balls back and even if one is destroyed, it doesn't cost more than, many towns.

[zzzz]

If a person is murdered, is that good because that person is in heaven now? If a rocket blows up soon after liftoff, is that a success because they can learn from their mistakes?

[Mekong]

4 hours ago, zzzz said:

If a person is murdered, is that good because that person is in heaven now? 

It’s amazing in this day and age grown adults still believe in “Never Never Land” manned by Sky Fairies.

[zzzz]

I’m actually an atheist.  That statement is hypothetical. There are still billions of Christians; therefore, it’s not so amazing as you state.

[Mekong]

It is amazing that people still do believing in any faith, Christianity or other, the concept heaven is not restricted solely to Christianity.

Since you are an atheist, do you not find it remarkable that people are still controlled by the opiate of the masses. 

[zzzz]

I interact with believers all the time so it's normal for me, not "amazing". Most people are NOT atheists. If you are amazed at what is normal...well, let's not go there.

[Mekong]

You are stating the percentages for the overall general public, and not taking into consideration the Social Economic of which we gravitate towards.

The group who I mostly associate with are fellow Engineers whom, if you believe Myers–Briggs Type Indicator are most likely to be INTP or ENTP which is also the groups with highest incidence of atheism.

When you work in foreign / non English speaking countries you don’t really interact much with the locals except the ones who you are working with and , given the nature of the work, are also likely to be fellow Engineers.

So to recap, whilst society o a whole maybe has more atheists, the sector of society I interact with, the Intuitive, Thinking and Perceiving people has more atheists overall than the general population.

Its like in the 80’s in my mind “Disco” or “Classical” did not exist, I listened to Rock Music, associated with other Rock Music fans, went to Rock Clubs and Rock Concerts, at the time I was in a minority group but it was a majority taste amongst my social circle.

I  could quite easily have said “I am amazed people don’t like Led Zepplin or Pink Floyd” as “I am amazed people follow Religion” 

 

[zzzz]

Have you been thinking in the toilet again, Mekong?

[Coss]

Further to Kong's post above -

I am an Atheist - and yet I identify as a Buddhist. For why?

The best I can do is that:  

I see MLG, her family and friends, indeed, seemingly the entire Lao population, adhering to the religious aspects of Buddhism with obsessive zeal. Not to mention Thailand.

This is of course, behaviour, that is not the same, as understanding and pursuing the philosophy (as distinct from the religious carnival), of Buddhism.

Whilst I think I understand the philosophy, of Buddhism and I am happy to attempt to conduct my self accordingly,  it is the understanding I have, for how absolutely sincere, MLG and everyone around her is, in their adherence to the religious aspects of Buddhism, that make me a Buddhist.

I understand, approve, have respect for and encourage, those who I hold dear, in their religious beliefs of Buddhism.

I myself don't believe in the religious carnival, but I have respect for those that do, as it's a good way to conduct oneself.

Explicitly - I believe that they believe - and that is the thing.

_____

 

Somewhat belatedly.

As most on this board, have triple digit I.Q.s, there comes point in intellect, where any religion, is effectively a crowd control system and depending on the goals and gains, should be encouraged or dissuaded.