Quote Originally Posted by Oneironaut View Post
So, XeL; logically, one would have to assume that you don't think that (even in this modern/'civilized' age) people should be held accountable for their beliefs, and how their beliefs affect others?

I mean, people are killed/raped/abused/neglected/etc, over the irrational beliefs of others. You're saying that your disposition to that basically amounts to "so what?"

Your line of thought seems to be a popular one, but I don't think it holds up, under scrutiny.

People erroneously try to apply such a broad perspective of "everything is infinity" and "earth is insignificant, in the cosmic scheme" to such microcosms as everyday, human interaction. Living in society just doesn't work that way. There are immediate consequences for thoughts and actions. If there is anything in this universe that does "matter", it's how you treat other people - whether they be friends, family or strangers.

If you're in a grocery store with your infant - and you turn away from the cart to grab a steak off the rack - what do think about 'infinity', if someone comes along and snatches your child? Is it "oop. Oh well. Good thing we are all apart of infinity. Otherwise I might actually care that my child was just kidnapped"? Since we are all 'a part of infinity', do you view someone stealing your child as if you stole your own child? Exactly how does that work?

No offense, but I think the whole "it doesn't matter because of 'infinity/nihilism/etc' is a cop-out. It is a way to justify to oneself one's unwillingness to recognize any societal norms and mutual respects - though completely without foundation. In the end, though, it doesn't hold up, because when peoples' beliefs do affect you in some way, it because very real.
Great post.
I think he "believes" in infinity. It may be true, and he may be right, ultimately, but it is a cop-out because it is just a belief and not a knowing. If he knew that as the truth, he would also know that even the illusion and belief of relativity is part of infinity also, and that our limited human experience DOES matter, at least to us, even if we are infinity without knowing it. The right thing would be to care for all beings, not to let them suffer, to give himself entirely to ending all suffering he could possibly selflessly, exactly because "it doesn't matter".
If you know that your life doesn't ultimately matter because you are infinite, then give yourself to others who are lost in illusion and still suffering. Then you give meaning to the infinity you BELIEVE in.

It is not beliefs that matter, it is actions. You can have wrong beliefs, but right actions and that is fine. You can have right beliefs and wrong actions and that is just as bad as having wrong beliefs and wrong actions.
Everyone is free to believe whatever they want, but nobody should be free to override another's freewill without their consent. You can believe that you are Jesus Christ for all I care, as long as you love everybody and don't hurt anybody against their will.