Is the human species screwed?

[Chief_Pedant]

@LonesomePolecat

I’ll just leave you with the following inspirational thought:

The universe is utterly indifferent to our existence. We are the creation of a meaningless flux of atoms, our every thought and action is controlled by the laws of physics and chemistry, free will is an illusion created by the complexity of the material world, our deepest values and highest aspirations are mirages, and all human suffering is meaningless and absurd. There is no God, no heaven or hell, no reincarnation or life after death, and we’re all going to die.

Have a nice day.

You were doing well until you threw in the “meaningless and absurd” bit. These terms require meaning and order to make any sense. Existence simply is. It is neither meaningful nor meaningless; neither purposeful nor absurd within the larger paradigm of the entire universe. Within the confines of our particular paradigm as a human species on earth, it can of course achieve great meaning and purpose.

And I did have a nice day. A wonderful, purposeful, lovely day, full of meaning for me. I hit some great shots on a spectacularly beautiful golf course, toured a desert sunset, had dinner with a beautiful wife and hope to top it off by getting even luckier later on. I do understand the universe did not care. Nor did I care that the universe did not.

[lekatt]

@GuanoLad

All it takes is a few people with too much power and not enough self control, and we’re toast.

You are right, that is why emotional/spiritual growth is badly needed.

[lekatt]

@LonesomePolecat

Near death experiences are hallucinations. I know 'cuz James Randi and Richard Dawkins say so.

Your people are out of touch with current events.

Stan Grof, M.D., researcher and author of Books of the Dead and Holotropic Mind, stated “The most extraordinary and fascinating aspect of NDEs is the occurrence of `veridical’ (verifying) out-of-body-experiences (OOBEs), a term used for experiences of disembodied consciousness with accurate extrasensory perception. Thanatological studies have repeatedly confirmed that people who are unconscious or even clinically dead can have OOBEs during which they observe their bodies and the rescue procedures from above, or perceive events in remote locations. Current thanatological research now focuses on confirmation of some preliminary observations of these experiences occurring with congenitally blind people.”
(excerpts from “Toward Heaven On Earth: Remembering Your Soul)

[Ravenman]

@Chrismoody

Could we make the human race… or at least some form of intelligent… something… get out?

In space, nobody can hear you mope.

[LonesomePolecat]

@lekatt

Your people are out of touch with current events.

I was being sarcastic.

[lekatt]

@LonesomePolecat

I was being sarcastic.

It’s OK, I’m cool.