Life is, in its very essence and character, a terrible mystery

[mdmc]

-this whole business of living by killing and eating. But it is a childish attitude to say no to life with all its pain, to say that this is something that should not have been. j.campbell - the power of myth page.80

Do you agree with this statement?

[bryant69]

1. Hmmmmm

I don't know exactly what Cambell means here, but it sounds like he's saying wishing one had never been born is childish. I'm inclined to agree with that.

Keep Hope Alive!

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[mdmc]

4. kinda

he is saying that, plus, that life is nothing less then suffering. I find many of his passages worthy of discussion here at DU.

[Warpy]

2. I don't think Campbell is in a position to judge

anyone living in chronic, intractable pain.

Given the War on Drugs, suicide can be the only rational choice.

[Radio_Lady]

3. Life is, in its very essence and character, a beautiful mystery --

this whole business of the choice we are given -- to kill and eat -- or to grow and eat lower on the food chain. It is an alternative but clearly pessimistic attitude to say "no" to life with all its pain, to say that this is something that should not have been.

And so, I do not know or agree with:

j.campbell - the power of myth page.80

"To be or not to be...
That is the question."

from Shakespeare's "Hamlet"

[Finder]

5. Similar to the Buddhist and/or Hindu concept...

Life is suffering.

It is not a statement to accept or reject but one to explore...

[kiraboo]

6. There's pain, and then there's PAIN. I believe for each individual

there is a point of suffering beyond which life is intolerable. Sometimes this is a physical limitation, sometimes a mental or spiritual one. We have a right and responsibility to make use of all available resources to come to grips with, limit or control our pain. When these efforts fail it is not childish to wish for death.

[GeorgeGist]

7. Not really...

if life were a terrible mystery, j. campbell wouldn't know it's essence and character. Which of course he doesn't. Yes it's damn hard to try learn the meaning of life but what are the alternatives? Myths?

[lyonn]

8. This question is probably the reason I am an atheist/agnostic

No good answers to waaayyy too many questions.

[mdmc]

9. i can understand that

i love reading campbell...