Quote Originally Posted by ~blue~ View Post
To gain happiness from a story can be a good thing. To try and make happiness from it is a completely different ideal. And to take a life from a story is not always a good idea.
Many followers of the Bible or the Koran would argue with you there.

We all build our lives on what we learn, whether from family, friends, religious leaders, or books. One of the great parts about the freedom we have is that we can pick and choose those philosophies which resonate within us, discarding those which offend us. Whether we realize it or not, we do this all our lives.

Where we run into problems is choosing only one source of inspiration, rather than many sources. By turning away from source of wisdom which may not exactly agree with that one source, we take the first steps on the road to fanaticism.

In the context of this discussion, I am quite moved by the statements of denuseri and goldendawn, among others. I don't claim to understand their reasons for embracing this philosophy, which seems somewhat alien to me, but I can at least understand that they are following their own hearts in this matter.