the dichotomous reality

one topic i have been pulled into talking with my friends about is the nature of reality. most of the people i talk to believe reality as being the world inside one's head, thus reality is subjective to the observer of that reality. although i can accept this subjective reality as being "truth," there is always the parts of this subjective reality that overlap in several individuals' realities. so for the purpose of categorizing these overlaps, is there another form of reality that can be considered the "objective" reality? if so, how many subjective minds have to perceive something in order for it to become "objective?"

i bring this up because i came across an interesting fact earlier today. the Japanese have two words for "reality" (though it isn't exactly in the context as i have put it in the past paragraph): 'tatemae' and 'honne'. 'tatemae' is defined as the "official, public, socially required reality" or the reality as outsiders see it, reality on the surface. 'honne,' however, is the "informal, personal reality in disregard of social parameters," the reality under the surface, the reality of things with in-depth knowledge of all circumstances and factors. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A571565)
the Japanese see no problem in calling both of these things "reality," and see them as existing hand in hand with each other. personally, i guess i am more attuned to look for absolutes, so i consider them to be mutually exclusive, and i consider 'honne' to be the more "true" reality.
if 'honne' is indeed the true reality, then do i need to rethink my position on subjective reality itself? does it matter what is observed and taken in by the subjective observer, if the more "honest" reality is the objective reality? what do you think of the Japanese notion of having two 'realities' that exist simultaneously, and possibly even in opposition to each other at times?

poster: BAB

Re: What is Right?

i agree with you, MRM, that we can't trust anyone who tells us that they are privy to some special knowledge of god's intentions that we are not privy to. i also totally agree that we have all the evidence of how to live right here in the reality we consume ourselves with; it is a code written into our experiences and our perceptions. the reason that it is tough to ascertain is because our we filter everything we perceive through our mind.
so, how are we as human beings to live in order to affirm our life and all life around us?
first, we are talking about "right living," or "how to act with full respect to others and yourself at all times every day." the only way i see it working is by being as fair and just with yourself as you attempt to be to others.

Poster: BAB

What is right?

Do you feel bad for doubting the existence of God? How do you view God? Is it the christian God; is it the Muslim one; is it the Hindu God? Does it matter?

Is there an afterlife that I am supposed to put all of my effort toward. Won't that, in effect, turn me into a beast of burden? For those who do not believe in an afterlife, the question of working for an afterlife seems absurd.

I am of the opinion, since we don't have any evidence, that the God (if there is such a conscious being) of this reality is not here to make us obey any rules that are not life affirming. If there is a creator God (who cares about us), then any instruction he would give would be to help us, to further our life and being. Why? For what purpose? To live better; not to live worse today for a better life after death.

So, a loving caring God would want us to live to the best of our ability in the way that we are supposed to live? How, then, do we figure out how to live? Since there is no evidence of a God, I am not going to blindly follow any "words of God." Instead, I think that we have evidence on how to live correctly. This evidence is found in life itself and the way that life works best.

Life is natural, despite what some of "divine" texts tell us about our inherent human nature. Objectively, without religious influence and with reason, how are we as human beings to live in order to affirm our life and all life around us? That is the question I think we should all be trying to answer. What is right?

Poster: MRM