You realize we're discussing self-sufficiency in material resources here, not theology, right?

I realize that was in the details of my op,, but I was actually focused on the sentence

''Claiming self sufficiency in almost anything insults and ignores the mountain of shoulders we all stand on'

I'm sorry, I was talking to the other person who deviated to "Jesus gives me everything".

excuse me?? In my opinion, He does...you have a problem with that??

oh wait...nevermind you're an atheist...lmao...go figure, the world revolves around YOU! Got it..

No, the world doesn't revolve around me, but this topic doesn't revolve around God. Contribute to conversations, please don't change them so you may sermonize.

I didn't stray off the topic...my self reliance comes from God...you don't have to agree but I'll contribute my thoughts on the topic...don't get personal in the threads dude...just move along!!

Oh, yes, don't get personal. Let's see, how should we do this? Maybe you can show us how to converse in a civil and intelligent manner so as not make it personal? Lets look...



Oh, nevermind.

I do appreciate your honesty though. The above statement is a great reminder of the irrational bigotry that still exists in our culture.

If you wanted to stay on topic, how about saying what it is you DO to be self-sufficient? That would be contributing to the conversation. Or how about an opinion about how to BE or how to VIEW the idea of self-sufficiency? That is, after all, what the topic is about, not "who" gave you your traits.

If you merely saw this (and other threads, I would assume by your demeanor) as a chance to proclaim your love of Christ, then you're wrong. To use your own words, not everything discussed must REVOLVE around your love of whatever God you believe in. If that's what you want, there's a board specifically for religious discussion. Enjoy.

Just a quick blurb;

About Self-sufficiency:
If a thing is sufficient unto itself, there can be nothing outside the thing itself, on which it depends. I can think of nothing in the known, observable, universe that is utterly self-sufficient, can you?

About Self-relience:
the ability to independently and creatively utilize all possible resources for the best possible outcome, usually most beneficial to self first. Here, there may be calculated and even manipulated interdependency's but the truely self-relient NEVER lay blame for things gone wrong: They are too busy creatively utilizing all possible resources in their next move.

Well that's about all the time I have, which is more time than I had on all spring break.

I do pay attention, just don't have time to post - nice to hear all your thoughts - keep well and warm and keep working on that self-relience. Redy

Actually, any star is self-sufficient by that definition, as they do not require any energy or resources outside of what they already contain themselves. True, they eventually burn out, but in the meantime ... entirely self-sufficient.

And what about the matrix of spacetime in which the star took shape? Without spacetime or the strong force that works within it we would have no planets, no stars.

Actually, I wonder if the matrix of our universe itself (spacetime, dark matter, energy) what ever it is, is not also intradependent with other dimensions?

By the way, I should have congratulated you for your suggestion - it is a very good one as stars do seem to be self-sufficient. But they do dependend, for their formation, on some two or three elements which they did not create.

When you're considering RESOURCES, then yes, they are self-sufficient (including energy as you listed, since the energy in question is a self-sustained nuclear reaction based on the star's chemical composition and gravitational mass). I do understand what you're trying to say about space-time, but its not really about "resources" per say.

Dark matter is yet conjecture and yes, I have seen recent articles involving its "discovery" but it is yet to be fully embraced as law by the scientific community and therefore, also, cannot yet be classified in the category of "resource" as of yet, since the properties of dark matter/energy are the opposite of normal matter/energy and the complete effects are as yet not completely fathomable.

BTW, I love how this conversation took a more positive and intellectual turn again, suddenly. Thank you, Redykeulous.

..yes no need for my STUPID comments...what a jerk!!

Oh, I agree about dark matter, I was just exploring sort of out loud. I'm glad you responded again because I was thinking out your responce - a star as self-sufficient. A star is self-sufficient only as long as it's contents remain in viable proportions, in other words in order to be what it is, it depended heavily on outside influences. Once it took the journey into its unique self-sufficiency, it began a cycle it can not stop nor can it be maintained. It is of limited sustainability and while we consider that time frame quite huge, universally it begins and ends in the blink of an eye.

LadyLovely, let me see if I can get you back into this conversation, because I think you have a unique perspective that can be shared - IF OTHERS will respect that it is YOUR unique perspective.

Not long ago, I heard of a religious group (Christian) that had "broken the silence" and 'came out' in favor of environmentalism. I was enthralled by this information as I had never considered that it would be an issue. After all, wouldn't God want people to respect, protect, and leave the environments unharmed for future generations?

Apparently I was wrong. It seems that many Christian groups have a deep fundamental beleif that God could not allow humans to destroy the environment. In fact, to consider such a thing was a sign of weak faith, for certainly God made everything to work perfectly.

So my questions for you - were you aware that people felt like this? Do you feel that way? How do you reconcile your belief with what science is saying or how do your reconcile your belief with what the non-environmentalist Christians believe?

MsHarmony, was here earlier - please feel free to address this post as well. I may not be able to post again but I will read. thanks.

To reply or not to reply ...

To reply! So nice to see you can laugh at yourself. I didn't think you'd have it in you, that's a good first step. Now, if you can form some opinions that don't come straight from the Bible, I'll be impressed.

I'm sorry...did I quote something from the Bible??? Hmmm...nope I didn't! So what is your biggest problem ...is it that my thoughts included God....it must be because I was totally on the topic and my thoughts on it...so next time when that inner voice of yours says "reply or not to reply"...perhaps you can be man enough to just say no...now THERE's a thought.

Meanwhile, I will speak and continue to speak on any topic I choose and have thoughts on...

you're dismissed!