Current Opinions On What's Important...

[amzolt]

Alex found a survey about what people think is most important to focus
on...

Do you agree?

Do you think any of these should be in our "What Is The Earth's Worst
Problem?" thread?

Here's the survey page: http://people-press.org/report/584/policy-priorities-2010.

[Lin Taylor]

Dealing with moral decline would solve many of the issues on that list, now wouldn't it?

[amzolt]

Well, Lin, you've hit on one of the most intriguing aspects of why I
need to communicate with earthlings!

Our trials and travails on the Worlds of Angi did come down to various
aspects of moral decline...

I asked Alex to supply a couple definitions of "moral" here...

Here's the one he said is the most common:

"Concerned with principles of right and wrong or conforming to
standards of behavior and character based on those principles"

Then, one that's used a lot but not *enough*:

"Psychological rather than physical or tangible in effect" --- the
example Alex gave is "giving a friend moral support"

Aspects of spirituality enter the equation with that "flavor" of
morality...

And the noun use:

"The significance of a story or event"

So, even earthlings have decided that a story can be told for right or
wrong reasons...

Very interesting............................................

[Lin Taylor]

I believe that the moral fabric (what holds civilizations together) of a people will deteriorate with the waning of their acknowledgement of God.     

[amzolt]

Again, Lin, you nail it by bringing up "acknowledgement of God"...

I want to pose a couple questions to you; mostly because, in my talks
with Alex (and my sensing of the various "flavors" of human thought),
I've realized a tension in your World that our Worlds also had to face
and resolve...

Question 1: If there is a Creator, why do so many people act like
there isn't?

Question 2: If there isn't a Creator, why do so many people act like
there is?

Question 3: Why don't Science and Religion get along?

You may feel that last question is a bit weird but we Angians had to
face it, desperately face it, since (before the 500-year InterWorld
War) Anga was almost completely "Scientific" and Anla was almost
completely "Religious"--both were acting like "Fundamentalists"--those
who close their minds and hearts to the reconciliation of apparent
"Opposites"...

I hope you'll take my three questions very seriously because, besides
helping me understand humans, your answers could help a few humans
understand themselves.........

[electrobleme]

Good questions.

Q1 and Q2 - brainwashing/denial or they know the truth

Q1 would mean having to do something about your lifestyle and the
choices you have made in the past and the future.

Are there certain types of people that are predestined to be either
religous or athiest?

Sena, have your worlds both now accepted one or the other answers? any
converts to either idea/world? do people have to leave one world for
another, give up things?

Q2 most humans like to know that someone/something is in charge and
knows what they are doing. they like a bit of choice to pretend they
are free. if they were not sheeple then they would protest about the
societies they live in.

Sena, how do your planets rule themselves or each other?

Question 3: Why don't Science and Religion get along?

depends on which religion you are talking about i guess?

i think this stems from the idea that if scientists could explain the
universe then it may be found that there was no need for a god or that
if everything was accounted for then he might not exist.

Sena, any lessons we can learn from your peoples?

[amzolt]

> Are there certain types of people that are predestined to be either
> religous or athiest?

I don't believe so...

> Sena, have your worlds both now accepted one or the other answers? any
> converts to either idea/world? do people have to leave one world for
> another, give up things?

Anga and Anla used to be opposite/complement Worlds--Anga
materialistic, Anla spiritualistic--but that was before the 500-year
InterWorld War. Now, both Worlds have learned from the other and the
World Angla is a perfect blending of the best of both Worlds.

> Sena, how do your planets rule themselves or each other?

It used to be either "corporate" rule or "clergy" rule--before the
War. Now, we have a rational/caring system--bottom-up election of
ruling councils for cities and countries and a very special elected
body for Worlds' issues.

> Question 3: Why don't Science and Religion get along?

I feel it's primarily because each is too fundamentalistic--not broad-
minded enough--closing themselves off from the other half of knowledge-
gain...

> Sena, any lessons we can learn from your peoples?

Many! Believe me, we've been there--through every crisis you're
having and quite a few more.........

I do hope my Book can help your people--Alex and I are fleshing out
the outline and should begin first draft with about a month.