In a troubled world. . .

[Gavin]

The world will always be chaotic and you cannot control it. All you can do is be kind to others. I try to do that but I’ve failed at it many times. Just do your best.

[Phil Lilley]

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and strength.  And love your neighbor as yourself.  Jesus said these were the greatest commandments.  Even if you're not "religious", it's not a bad place to start.  Even if you don't believe in a god, you still have to recognize creation, life and be thankful in some way.  And through that lens, we are to see that man is part of that creation, a very special part.  The Word says we are created in His image.  I'm not smart enough to parse that out... but compared to the rest of creation, humans are set completely apart, different.  So I guess what I'm saying is that if we have a reverence for the Creator and we recognize our fellow man as His special creation, then we should treat our neighbor as such.

[fishinwrench]

30 minutes ago, Phil Lilley said:

Even if you don't believe in a god, you still have to recognize creation, life and be thankful in some way

Absolutely 👍

[ColdWaterFshr]

15 hours ago, Phil Lilley said:

 I'm not smart enough to parse that out... but compared to the rest of creation, humans are set completely apart, different.  So I guess what I'm saying is that if we have a reverence for the Creator and we recognize our fellow man as His special creation, then we should treat our neighbor as such.

And as I respect that viewpoint 100%, but I'm not sure humans are set completely apart.  I think we still are adapting to be better versions of what we used to be.  More humane, but still from Apes.  

Humans didn't just arrive alone on this giant blue marble, separate from all the other critters, did they (we)?

No need to answer my question.  Ive heard it a thousand times in catholic mass.  "let us proclaim the mysteries of faith" 

[rps]

I was inclined to write someone incredibly offensive at this point just to hijack this thread and try to be funny. All of you were just being too nice and respectful.

Then I decided to wait and let someone else do it for me. 😁

[tjm]

I can't think anything that would offend them all equally, so ...