A Blessing and a Curse
The origin of human suffering is difficult to obtain. However, optimism has long been accepted as a successful way to increase self-esteem. More than this is the ability to like oneself. A student of Psychology explores the philosophy of self-belief and how to foster a zest for life.
The ability to think is both the blessing and curse of the human being. Driven by basic instinctual drives, the non-human animal gains no better satisfaction than the fulfilment of it’s nutritional, reproductive and sleeping requirements. But the human has an entirely separate instinct, based on its ability to regard itself as an existing mammal. I identify this as the need to regard itself as being ‘useful’.
It seems the insecurity of so many people that what they do isn’t worthy of other people’s expectations, or of a divine approval that is only obtainable by being a picture of perfection. Our curse is that we are able to ask these questions. Do I deserve to be here? Is there any point in my existence? Am I liked? People start to answer these questions in illusionary or pessimistic ways, such as deciding upon religion as giving the ‘answers’. It is an easy way out, to be told why you are alive and why you should be good to people. It is of course an illusion; belief in the divine is not a basic human instinct.
My argument against the existence of God is explained in this simple contrast: Humans have discovered the natural processes that govern life, and using this knowledge more lives can be saved through medical practices. Herein lies proof of God’s non-existence: Illnesses are not survived through divine intervention; a person with a severe condition will survive only when given the proper treatment or surgery. Even with 24 hour praying and blessings from the Pope himself, a virus will kill a human. It is us who decides who lives and who dies. After all, if a trip to Lourdes was ‘all it took’ and this was proven scientifically, healthcare would be a hell of a lot cheaper.
The curse also manifests itself in the form of pessimism. This is, of course, the polar opposite of optimism, and the assumption of the worst possible outcome from any given scenario. People with depressive personalities put special effort into exaggerating the negative aspects of their personalities or events of their life. This is unfortunate, as negative thinking patterns are often the cause of negative emotions and self-image.
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