u/anticommunistjohn117

A lot of people seem to think Utilitarianism's weakness is "A Utilitarian would murder a child to save two," but that's only true as long as you don't view murder as something that is hurting the murderer as well. If the act of murder damages both murderer and murderee, then 2 people are being hurt to help one, and Utilitarianism's silver bullet is nullified.

The problem is, at that point, it kind of seems like you're right back to non-consequentialism, but with extra steps, because you've probably decided that murder hurts the murderer based on a religious or spiritual consideration, a consideration which is generally considered to be non-consequentialist.

With that in mind, I began wondering if Utilitarianism has to have some kind of non-consequentialist basis to it. Can you objectively say that pain is bad, love is good, or even that life is worth something? I believe all those things, but I haven't always, and I credit my religious background with changing my view. Is there anything that can be objectively considered good without any input from non-consequentialist philosophy?

Thoughts?

My mission experience sucked. Part of it was my fault, part of it was an objectively toxic missionary subculture (btw, if you haven't served, each mission has its own culture, sometimes it's constructive and sometimes it's not,) and part of it was some very uncharitable companions. I ended up coming home early and honestly, I was a little bitter for a while. People would say things like "Oh, wasn't the mission the best experience ever?" or "The mission is a constant spiritual high," and I would feel robbed of what I thought the mission experience was supposed to be. I remember one time I was sitting in Sacrament Meeting, half-listening to the speaker, wishing I was anywhere else, and I thought the words "Gospel of Happiness indeed!"

Here's the thing though. There is no scripture that will tell you that missionaries are super happy all the time. There is no scripture that says one's mission experience will be the best time of their life. There is no scripture that says a mission will give one a sense of purpose or direction. There are, on the other hand, plenty of scriptures that say "life sucks b*lls." (D&C 121 is the big one, but I would also submit 1 Nephi 16, the entire book of Job, Isaiah 14, and Moses 5:10-12.)

Sun Tzu said "Throw your soldiers into positions whence there is no escape, and they will prefer death to flight." I was faced with a personal catastrophe that threatened to destroy my testimony, my spirit, and my will, and I took it as an opportunity to rediscover the gospel, and rediscover my relationship with Heavenly Father.

The difference between me now and me pre-mission is night and day. I think back sometimes and I wonder how I ever lived like I did. I think back and see a dead man walking, while now I look in the mirror and see a man so alive on the inside. I don't regret anything.

If you are thinking of leaving the Church, that is your choice. However, if you feel like you have to leave the church because "I didn't have these experiences I was promised," or "I just don't fit in," please reconsider. That is a false choice. The Gospel is for everyone, not just people who hit the "right" plot points.

God bless you all!

My mission experience sucked. Part of it was my fault, part of it was an objectively toxic missionary subculture (btw, if you haven't served, each mission has its own culture, sometimes it's constructive and sometimes it's not,) and part of it was some very uncharitable companions. I ended up coming home early and honestly, I was a little bitter for a while. People would say things like "Oh, wasn't the mission the best experience ever?" or "The mission is a constant spiritual high," and I would feel robbed of what I thought the mission experience was supposed to be. I remember one time I was sitting in Sacrament Meeting, half-listening to the speaker, wishing I was anywhere else, and I thought the words "Gospel of Happiness indeed!"

Here's the thing though. There is no scripture that will tell you that missionaries are super happy all the time. There is no scripture that says one's mission experience will be the best time of their life. There is no scripture that says a mission will give one a sense of purpose or direction. There are, on the other hand, plenty of scriptures that say "life sucks balls." (D&C 121 is the big one, but I would also submit 1 Nephi 16, the entire book of Job, Isaiah 14, and Moses 5:10-12.)

Sun Tzu said "Throw your soldiers into positions whence there is no escape, and they will prefer death to flight." I was faced with a personal catastrophe that threatened to destroy my testimony, my spirit, and my will, and I took it as an opportunity to rediscover the gospel, and rediscover my relationship with Heavenly Father.

The difference between me now and me pre-mission is night and day. I think back sometimes and I wonder how I ever lived like I did. I think back and see a dead man walking, while now I look in the mirror and see a man so alive on the inside. I don't regret anything.

If you are thinking of leaving the Church, that is your choice. However, if you feel like you have to leave the church because "I didn't have these experiences I was promised," or "I just don't fit in," please reconsider. That is a false choice. The Gospel is for everyone, not just people who hit the "right" plot points.

God bless you all!

One time in my game I saw a superevent about Japanese Imperial Restoration, yada yada purges, yada yada authority centralized in the emperor. It was like right at the end of the game and I haven't seen it since, so I assume it is a rare ending kind of thing. Anyone know how to get it? Is it still available? I can't find a path guide for it anywhere.

I had a fairly sheltered childhood, so I didn't get a chance to see the "dating game" until adulthood Or maybe I did and just ignored it, also possible.

I went to a bar with friends once and saw "the game" which consisted of women flirting with men to get free drinks (including one of my friends who was a gold card lesbian.) The men fully understood they were being manipulated for drinks, but passed out drinks like halloween candy in an attempt to get the women drunk enough to go home with them. This game was not only played openly, but described in exactly the same terms as I just did, almost verbatim.

I see dating advice on the internet that more or less boils down to "pretend to be interested in what the girl is interested in and she will be more likely to sleep with you." I saw another post that joked about pretending to believe in astrology for the same reasons.

Even worse, I have seen close friends stay in highly damaging relationships, more or less just staying for the sex.

Most of the time when I tell people about my religion and desire to wait until marriage I am congratulated, even told I am making the decision they wished they had.

I'm not naive, I know that there was tons of extramarital sex before the 1970s, but still, so much of the romance culture nowadays is sad, cold-hearted, and not something I would ever want.

I just got back from my first National Guard Annual Training recently. White space training plus field training. Even after just two weeks away I am really struggling to readjust back into the real world. From an outsider's perspective I probably look like I am going through withdrawal of something serious. I am legitimately tweaking. I itch all over, I am chewing on my lips and hands, my hands shake uncontrollably sometimes, and my appetite is oscillating to extremes. I am frustrated, restless, bored, and angry all the time. The world looks dull and boring, even things that I really like. All I can think about is the field and when I will be going back again.

Has anyone ever experienced something like this? I've never heard about this kind of thing. I have heard stories about cold war mercs getting addicted to combat, but this wasn't even a particularly high adrenaline situation. It was just a regular AT, basically a glorified camping trip.

I have an active social life, so this isn't a loneliness issue. I've been working out outside, so this isn't a fresh air issue. I haven't changed my diet, hydration level, sleep schedule, etc. I don't have any relationship issues that I am trying to run away from, so this isn't a distance from home issue.

Any advice is welcome.

P.S. if there is a better subreddit to post this in, let me know