• Welcome to Religious Forums, a friendly forum to discuss all religions in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:
    • Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
    • Our modern chat room. No add-ons or extensions required, just login and start chatting!
    • Access to private conversations with other members.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!

Are Humans Their Own Worst Enemy?

Deeje

Avid Bible Student
Premium Member
Looking back through their history both secular and religious, it is very apparent that humans are poor examples of how to lead the world and each other in the right direction.

Looking at today’s world and seeing the advances in technology and science and the decline in religious practice, what conclusions can we come to? Is science the more intelligent way to go? :shrug: Is the seeming demise of religion what the world needs to move forward?

For every advancement that science makes, the planet is paying for it in some way. We, as supposedly the most intelligent inhabitants of this planet seem to throw caution to the wind when implementing things that will save us time and money. All focus seems to be on the here and now, but little attention is paid to what consequences may come from such a short sighted view.

What are some of the upsides and opposing downsides that you can think of where humans could demonstrate more responsibility for the environment?

I’ll start off with the one thing that humans invented that is now choking the world.....plastic pollution.


Plastics became popular in the 1960’s and were originally a boon to every household and an accumulation of plastic containers and gadgets flooded the market with “must have” implements and storage containers with lids. But here we are 6 decades later and we are drowning in the stuff because we failed to see how long this product would take to break down like natural products do.

What would you offer as a solution? Should we get rid of plastic and substitute a more environmentally friendly product like hemp? If so what do we do with all the existing plastic that is clogging our landfill, oceans and rivers?

images


Should we make the manufacturers more accountable?

Thoughts....?
 

Spirit of Light

Be who ever you want
Looking back through their history both secular and religious, it is very apparent that humans are poor examples of how to lead the world and each other in the right direction.

Looking at today’s world and seeing the advances in technology and science and the decline in religious practice, what conclusions can we come to? Is science the more intelligent way to go? :shrug: Is the seeming demise of religion what the world needs to move forward?

For every advancement that science makes, the planet is paying for it in some way. We, as supposedly the most intelligent inhabitants of this planet seem to throw caution to the wind when implementing things that will save us time and money. All focus seems to be on the here and now, but little attention is paid to what consequences may come from such a short sighted view.

What are some of the upsides and opposing downsides that you can think of where humans could demonstrate more responsibility for the environment?

I’ll start off with the one thing that humans invented that is now choking the world.....plastic pollution.


Plastics became popular in the 1960’s and were originally a boon to every household and an accumulation of plastic containers and gadgets flooded the market with “must have” implements and storage containers with lids. But here we are 6 decades later and we are drowning in the stuff because we failed to see how long this product would take to break down like natural products do.

What would you offer as a solution? Should we get rid of plastic and substitute a more environmentally friendly product like hemp? If so what do we do with all the existing plastic that is clogging our landfill, oceans and rivers?

images


Should we make the manufacturers more accountable?

Thoughts....?
First of all i agree fully with what you write in your OP.

Yes humans is to blame for how the world have become (polution, wars, hatred,racism,and so on) But humans do also good things in this world, so not everything is dark.
If we are able to go from plastic toward hemp that would be really good (hemp products is very good by the way)
 

Samael_Khan

Goosebender
Looking back through their history both secular and religious, it is very apparent that humans are poor examples of how to lead the world and each other in the right direction.

Looking at today’s world and seeing the advances in technology and science and the decline in religious practice, what conclusions can we come to? Is science the more intelligent way to go? :shrug: Is the seeming demise of religion what the world needs to move forward?

For every advancement that science makes, the planet is paying for it in some way. We, as supposedly the most intelligent inhabitants of this planet seem to throw caution to the wind when implementing things that will save us time and money. All focus seems to be on the here and now, but little attention is paid to what consequences may come from such a short sighted view.

What are some of the upsides and opposing downsides that you can think of where humans could demonstrate more responsibility for the environment?

I’ll start off with the one thing that humans invented that is now choking the world.....plastic pollution.


Plastics became popular in the 1960’s and were originally a boon to every household and an accumulation of plastic containers and gadgets flooded the market with “must have” implements and storage containers with lids. But here we are 6 decades later and we are drowning in the stuff because we failed to see how long this product would take to break down like natural products do.

What would you offer as a solution? Should we get rid of plastic and substitute a more environmentally friendly product like hemp? If so what do we do with all the existing plastic that is clogging our landfill, oceans and rivers?

images


Should we make the manufacturers more accountable?

Thoughts....?

Are Humans Their Own Worst Enemy?

Yes.
 

Samael_Khan

Goosebender
For every advancement that science makes, the planet is paying for it in some way. We, as supposedly the most intelligent inhabitants of this planet seem to throw caution to the wind when implementing things that will save us time and money. All focus seems to be on the here and now, but little attention is paid to what consequences may come from such a short sighted view.

Wisdom and intelligence are two different things. Although scientists are the ones who are telling us about the bad state of the world and providing us with warnings to change our habits. The problem is that most of society are either ignorant, conspiracy theorists or don't care about humanities future, so they indulge in their own lives. But this is no surprise since the inequality gap is so big that the majority on the lower end of the spectrum are too preoccupied with surviving that they cannot afford to think of the bigger picture.
 
Looking at today’s world and seeing the advances in technology and science and the decline in religious practice, what conclusions can we come to? Is science the more intelligent way to go? :shrug: Is the seeming demise of religion what the world needs to move forward?

The sciences are a set of tools and methodologies to help us understand aspects of the world we live in.

Religions are systems of meaning, value and ritual.

Religion and science are not analogues, the analogues of religion are other ideologies and belief systems.

Creating "team science' and "team religion" is counterproductive. It also disguises how 'religious' and even evangelical many scientistic worldviews are today.

For every advancement that science makes, the planet is paying for it in some way. We, as supposedly the most intelligent inhabitants of this planet seem to throw caution to the wind when implementing things that will save us time and money. All focus seems to be on the here and now, but little attention is paid to what consequences may come from such a short sighted view.

People tend to overstate the impact of he formal sciences and understate the impact of technology.

An expression sometimes used is the techno-social-legal time gap.

We invent a new technology and 'release' it before we understand the consequences of it. Society and our environment are too complex, and humans are nowhere near intelligent enough to consistently understand the impacts in advance.

Eventually, the social (or environmental) impacts become apparent and cause a response among the people. The technology is often adapted to take this into account.

If consequences are significant, we create laws to limit or change the technology's impact, but this is a slow and reactive process that often comes up against resistance from those who benefit from the tech.

Humans really need to identify technologies that create systemic risk (those which can 'destroy' rather than harm systems and thus cannot be repaired) and exercise extreme caution before 'releasing' them into the environment.

Humans are hubristic though and, collectively, we always think we are smarter than we are leading to our own downfall. This is something that was commonly taught in ancient mythologies.

I would feel much better about the future of humanity if the secular faith in Reason and Progress was tempered by the classical tragic view of human nature.

But we don't learn from our mistakes, so we are our own worst enemies.
 

Deeje

Avid Bible Student
Premium Member
First of all i agree fully with what you write in your OP.

Yes humans is to blame for how the world have become (polution, wars, hatred,racism,and so on) But humans do also good things in this world, so not everything is dark.
If we are able to go from plastic toward hemp that would be really good (hemp products is very good by the way)
Can you name me some of the good things that have no downside?

Everything I think of has negatives attached to it.....:confused:

I was watching TV the other night and the subject of space junk came up.....another thing with a terrible down side.

In the last 60 years we have also dumped our junk in space!
NASA claims there are an estimated 5,00,000 pieces of space trash orbiting the earth!


Is this what the Creator is seeing? It offends us, so I can't imagine how he feels when he sees this.....?
 

Spirit of Light

Be who ever you want
Can you name me some of the good things that have no downside?

Everything I think of has negatives attached to it.....:confused:

I was watching TV the other night and the subject of space junk came up.....another thing with a terrible down side.

In the last 60 years we have also dumped our junk in space!
NASA claims there are an estimated 5,00,000 pieces of space trash orbiting the earth!


Is this what the Creator is seeing? It offends us, so I can't imagine how he feels when he sees this.....?
Everything in life has an upside and downside, it is just how we experience it that say if we can only like it or dislike it ( in my view)
 

viole

Ontological Naturalist
Premium Member
Looking at today’s world and seeing the advances in technology and science and the decline in religious practice, what conclusions can we come to? Is science the more intelligent way to go? :shrug: Is the seeming demise of religion what the world needs to move forward?
Well, I come from Sweden, a country in which 80% do not believe in a personal God, and the ones who do include Muslims.

I don't know if abandoning archaic beliefs is detrimental for the environment. Personally, I do not see a clear connection between the two; actually, it reminds me of the FSM association between pirates and global warming.

But what I know, is that I would never jump in time machine to bring me back to the time when religion was in control. Only a masochist would do that.

Ciao

- viole
 
Last edited:

1213

Well-Known Member
Looking back through their history both secular and religious, it is very apparent that humans are poor examples of how to lead the world and each other in the right direction....

That is why I think people should be independent, without any earthly governments and make decisions only in their own life.

...Is science the more intelligent way to go? ...

“Science” is only as intelligent as humans are. And as we can see, the history of “science” is full of errors.

...What are some of the upsides and opposing downsides that you can think of where humans could demonstrate more responsibility for the environment?

I think best way would be that people would not be greedy. If people would settle to that what is enough, it would help them to keep this planet in better condition.
 

Nimos

Well-Known Member
Looking back through their history both secular and religious, it is very apparent that humans are poor examples of how to lead the world and each other in the right direction.

Looking at today’s world and seeing the advances in technology and science and the decline in religious practice, what conclusions can we come to? Is science the more intelligent way to go? :shrug: Is the seeming demise of religion what the world needs to move forward?

For every advancement that science makes, the planet is paying for it in some way. We, as supposedly the most intelligent inhabitants of this planet seem to throw caution to the wind when implementing things that will save us time and money. All focus seems to be on the here and now, but little attention is paid to what consequences may come from such a short sighted view.

What are some of the upsides and opposing downsides that you can think of where humans could demonstrate more responsibility for the environment?

I’ll start off with the one thing that humans invented that is now choking the world.....plastic pollution.


Plastics became popular in the 1960’s and were originally a boon to every household and an accumulation of plastic containers and gadgets flooded the market with “must have” implements and storage containers with lids. But here we are 6 decades later and we are drowning in the stuff because we failed to see how long this product would take to break down like natural products do.

What would you offer as a solution? Should we get rid of plastic and substitute a more environmentally friendly product like hemp? If so what do we do with all the existing plastic that is clogging our landfill, oceans and rivers?

Should we make the manufacturers more accountable?

Thoughts....?
Im a pessimist or a realist depending on how one look at it, when it comes to the environmental crisis. I think it is to late for us to solve it and that we are now at a point where it is about trying to save as many animals as possible, before we lose the majority of them and start a final collapse of the ecosystem, which will radically change the world.

Not only as you say the huge issue with plastic pollution, overfishing and in general the systematic extermination of nature is equally as huge issues.

I do not however blame science or technology for it, but rather the lack of unity and leadership in the world or said in another more simple way, human stupidity.

Having created and encouraging a system of living based on consumption in a world with massive environmental issues, where there are limited resources and everything is either killed or destroyed in the process in order to maintain this system is the main issue. To me it is a self destructing way of living, we know that there is an issue, in order to solve it we need money, as nothing really gets done without it, but to generate money we need people to consume.

As long as that is the way things are done, I don't really see any solution. Even if we manage to solve the plastic issue, which I have no idea how we would do, the fact is that almost all animals needed to maintain the ecosystem or balance in nature are on a path to going extinct, and is not something that can easily be solved, as it will take a long time for them to recover, given that we give them the space they need while at the same time leave them alone long enough for them to recover, which is not likely.

I think the only solution to this problem, is for all countries to come to an agreement and somehow change how this economic system we have become slaves of works, and find a new system which allow for all people to live good lives, but which have a minimum impact on the environment as primary concern and driving force. We need to make and consume things intelligently, if we want any hope of solving these issue. Science and technology are the tools which could help make this transition in my opinion.
But I honestly think the human race is to stupid to come to terms and solve the issue and therefore it won't happen. Whenever anyone questions how we do things now, an army of people step forward and praise how good it is, when it is obvious that the only path it can lead to is a collapse.

Whether you are religious or not, is irrelevant in this case, unless God himself come and solve the issue, which seems unlikely, so we have to solve it ourselves and hope that the two remaining brain cells left in the human race can somehow collide with each other and come up with something intelligent... but it seems very unlikely unfortunately, as I see it.
 

danieldemol

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
Are humans their own worst enemy?
Well considering the devil/demons don't exist, and nothing else in the animal kingdom comes close, I would have to say a resounding yes :)
 

stvdv

Veteran Member: I Share (not Debate) my POV
Looking at today’s world and seeing the advances in technology and science and the decline in religious practice, what conclusions can we come to? Is science the more intelligent way to go? :shrug: Is the seeming demise of religion what the world needs to move forward?
Science has been used to cause human suffering, and perverted religiosity has led to destructive fanaticism
Science is good for the material world and Spirituality is a must to ensure that Science doesn't go in the wrong direction
Only when Science is linked with Spirituality, the results of science can be fully harnessed for the good and elevation of mankind
 
Last edited:

stvdv

Veteran Member: I Share (not Debate) my POV
Looking back through their history both secular and religious, it is very apparent that humans are poor examples of how to lead the world and each other in the right direction.
I agree, and to be more precise "male human" has been usually messing up most, ruling the world/others
(not saying women would have done better though; but they might)

All focus seems to be on the here and now, but little attention is paid to what consequences may come from such a short sighted view.
Exactly. Very true. Again, its because of lack of love, spirituality. IF the only goal is to appease our senses, destruction is our heritage
 
Last edited:

stvdv

Veteran Member: I Share (not Debate) my POV
I’ll start off with the one thing that humans invented that is now choking the world.....plastic pollution.

What would you offer as a solution?
Corona masks might be our self inflicted karma due to ungrateful abuse of God given resources .
I used my mask for like 3 month now (1 mask), but I wonder what the average lifetime of a mask will be.
I need 1 shower in 2 weeks, most people shower more than they need. Why waste water?
When I wake up, I never wash my face, I just rub my eyes with my hand, and I am ready
 

stvdv

Veteran Member: I Share (not Debate) my POV
For every advancement that science makes, the planet is paying for it in some way.
Due to greediness and 'lack of love'. I am an engineer and always said "the washing machine is a great invention, it save households lots of hard work", but anything beyond that, might turn out disastrous in the end

I don't have a washing machine though. Still washing by hand

If so what do we do with all the existing plastic that is clogging our landfill, oceans and rivers?
Best first step would be to stop using plastic

Should we make the manufacturers more accountable?

Thoughts....?
NO.

Its all humans' faults. IF humans don't buy THEN manufacturers don't produce. Immediate effect, unsold stuff is bad for business
 
Last edited:

ChristineM

"Be strong", I whispered to my coffee.
Premium Member
"It is a sad thing, observed Victor Hugo, to think that nature speaks and that mankind does not listen to it. "

I give you back what is yours.
Regards,
The sea

FB_IMG_1618136063676.jpg
 
Top