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Arkady Grudzinsky

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Should we feel gratitude for our life? To whom?

Gratitude is important feeling in interpersonal relationships. Gratitude encourages giving and giving encourages more gratitude, etc. On the other side, lack of gratitude comes with a sense of "entitlement" - they mutually create each other as well. Lack of gratitude discourages giving and creates a sense that the world "owes us" a living. "We are programmed to receive." Gratitude, in my opinion, offers an exit from that proverbial Hotel California and "programs us to give".

How about our life and other things shown in this video? Religious people usually thank God for these things. The camera shows a standing round of applause at the end of the video. I very much doubt that most people attending TED talks are religious, so the video must have stirred some emotion in believers and non-believers alike.

Do non-believers feel gratitude for these things? If yes, to whom?

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Topics: atheism gratitude interpersonal relationship religion
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  • Glenn Beaton

    • 0
    Dec 9 2012: Gratitude is of course a natural human emotion (it's not clear to me that animals are capable of it).

    But saying that it's natural to feel gratitude for our lives does not explain away the spiritual element at work. Rather, it focuses on it.

    So let's address the question -- to whom do we feel the gratitude?

    One facile answer is, to our parents. But that really just begs the question. The question is, to whom should we, and them, and all the rest of us, feel gratitude?

    For me, the answer is, God. It was God that created the universe. If not God, then whom? Scientist agree that the universe came into existence 14 billion years ago in a manner that is truly Godlike -- everything was created in an instant out of nothing.

    And so it is God to whom we owe it all.

    • Prakar Jeevan

      • 0
      Dec 10 2012: How do you say that the universe exist? I will say that the universe does not exist

      ==you say==
      Scientist agree that the universe came into existence 14 billion years ago in a manner that is truly Godlike
      =====
      Define Godlike
      What is the process behind godlike

      Also, Gratitude is not a human emotion, Dogs are more grateful to their masters than his maid will be.
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        Arkady Grudzinsky 50+

        • 0
        Dec 10 2012: When we define "godlike" and the process behind "godlike" it stops being "godlike". As we reveal a mystery, it stops being a mystery, doesn't it?

        • Prakar Jeevan

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          Dec 11 2012: Exactly, Also, If scientists (Humans) say something as " trully godlike" , then its not godlike, it should be humanlike.

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