Philosophy

» pink101 - Kierkegaard

In response to Kierkegaard posted by pink101:
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Whoops, I just noticed the other thread. Sorry about that.
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I guess the article will be linked to this thread?
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-- posted by pink101

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» RLSharp - Kierkegaard

In response to Kierkegaard posted by pink101:

I'm not sure how the linking is working right now. There seem to be some kinks, but 2 threads isn't a big deal.

Existentialism puts existence before essence. I should have explained that more clearly in the article. What that means is that we exist BEFORE there is any determination of what we will be. That gives us the ultimate power to create our own selves, since nothing is predestined, at least ethically speaking. Obviously we still need to eat, sleep, etc. But our values are up to us in existentialism. This is not, however, subjectivism. Instead, it's a freedom to be the authors of our own beings. If we do not use that freedom (or if we lack the power) then we will have to follow someone else's vision for life. There is no God to create a check to this, even in Kierkegaard (who is one of the few theist existentialists). For K, God is possibility, not necessity. That's very different from the Judeao-Christian view.

-- posted by RLSharp

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» pink101 - Otto Rank

In response to Kierkegaard posted by RLSharp:
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I remember some forty years or so ago when I was introduced to Otto Ranks, The Trauma of Birth.
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The idea that we are now travelling down the birthing channel to the place where we will be born again is almost lost on most people as far as I can see.
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When Jesus spoke to the Temple Ruler telling him that in order to see the Kingdom of God he had to be born again, it blew the ruler away. What was his name, Nicodemus?
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That's an extremely important point of existentialism unless I'm mistaken. And, it comes from Jesus some two thousand years ago.
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It's not an easy process to give up one's most profound beliefs. It can be extremely traumatic.
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To die to the self--to be resurrected anew.
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That's got to be existential.
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-- posted by pink101

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» Brian Tubbs - Nicodemus

In response to Otto Rank posted by pink101:

It IS indeed Nicodemus, and the conversation can be found in John 3. Nicodemus apparently became a Christian convert, because he speaks up for Jesus in the Jewish assembly as Jesus' opponents are closing in on him. And is present with Joseph of Arimathea to request Jesus' body after the crucifixion.

Of course...Jesus wasn't calling Nicodemus to an open-ended existential epiphany. The summation of Jesus' challenge to Nicodemus can be found in the most famous verse of Scripture in the Bible.

"For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life." -John 3:16

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» pink101 - Nicodemus

In response to Nicodemus posted by BrianTubbs:
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I guess we have to come to grips with what Jesus meant by talking about "everlasting life".
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A cursory explanation would mean that the person would take possession of an unending life.
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Are there any other meanings that you know of?
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-- posted by pink101

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» pink101 - To Partake

In response to Nicodemus posted by pink101:
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To partake of something can mean to have a share of it.
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-- posted by pink101

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» pink101 - To Partake

In response to To Partake posted by pink101:
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Everlasting can be another word for eternal.
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Do you experience a sense of eternity, Brian?
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-- posted by pink101

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» RLSharp - To Partake

In response to To Partake posted by pink101:

The existentialist experiences eternity in a moment of becoming. Christians take eternity more literally (as a rule). I'm not sure there's a difference, to be honest. Eternity is eternity...it's timeless.

-- posted by RLSharp

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» pink101 - A Stage of Existentialism

In response to To Partake posted by RLSharp:
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My point is that we are able to experience our existence within the parameters of eternity. I think that is a certain stage in the existential view of one's own existence.
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-- posted by pink101

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» pink101 - Or Not?

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We got a discussion here or not?
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-- posted by pink101

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