Jo,
I'm an atheist whose wife has encountered some of those same issues, going both directions... I'd caution against both clearing the plate and worrying much about what you were raised with. As per previous posts here, as well as in the experience of most of the highly rational folks I know...clearing the plate tends to clear off way way too much. In general, most of the old comes back later, and excessive plate clearing tends mostly towards intellectual/psychological drama.
I'd personally suggest that you worry less about the old positions you had...an...
Hopefully and Michael,
Whatever your current estimates of the probability of success, Eliezer here has a point that seems to have been missed.
His line is: There are reasons why one would legitimately be depressed. Unhappy relationship is one. Frequently those reasons underly claims that life is meaningless. We would need to assuage most such issues in order to have a legitimate case to consider whether life is meaningless
Some other legitimate depressors: obesity poverty lack of health lack of efficacy etc. and Fear of Death.
Since all of those could lead to ...
Eliezer,
Took a bit after reading your babyeater pieces to get my thoughts in order, but my general picture is that you're mis-representing the human condition, and that the whole of the story relies upon that misrepresentation. This is humanity you're talking about. While the readership of OB may match your profile decently, the human species, even extended into a moderately improved state does not hold the value-set you represent.
... (read more)Child-love/protection is (a) proximity-focused, (b) stronger than abstract value of reciprocity. Folks are much better at