Originally Posted by Charliegone

It really is. Why, because it gives us a false sense of superiority. The reality is perfection is unattainable. Would you agree or not? Come on don't be shy.

If you're speaking about humans attaining perfection in this fleshly incarnation, this goes without saying and means you are stating the obvious. What's the point of that exercise?

Nothing wrong with trying for perfection but one must be able to find satisfaction for it to be enjoyable.

Originally Posted by CUNxTime

Nothing wrong with trying for perfection but one must be able to find satisfaction for it to be enjoyable.

That is the goal of every believer in Christ in this life. We must decrease while He increases within us, but we also realize that no believer has ever attained it in this flesh. This doesn't mean either that we are expected to live in guilt or dissatisfaction with the journey since God understands our weaknesses and struggles with this fallen nature.

I'm just speaking as a believer mind you, I realize this thought process doesn't apply to unbelievers in the gospel which I live by.

Striving to be the best that you can be is attainable. Aspiring to an idealised concept of perfection can only be doomed to failure.

Originally Posted by Penfold

Striving to be the best that you can be is attainable. Aspiring to an idealised concept of perfection can only be doomed to failure.

Exactly. I think what I was trying to say is this. I was raised as a Mormon, the religion teaches you to reach for perfection. Not the best, not more, but perfection. The reason I emphasis this is because some people take it, literally. They just try to reach beyond what is attainable and end up in failure because their belief of perfection trampled not only on their humanity, but their love ones as well. I understand some people will not take it literally and that's fine, but I think one should take caution on how one uses it.

Here's another curveball for you guys. Do you think God (if there is one) is perfect?

Originally Posted by Charliegone

Here's another curveball for you guys. Do you think God (if there is one) is perfect?

That's the easiest curve ball I've ever seen. He IS perfect, and is the only perfect being in existance. That's why we don't always understand his actions.

Originally Posted by marc9000

That's the easiest curve ball I've ever seen. He IS perfect, and is the only perfect being in existance. That's why we don't always understand his actions.

Exactly marc, God is the definition of perfection. I mean, how can the author of life not be allowed to define all that it encompasses. And what does it say about those who would deny Him the right or authority to define it since He is the creator of it?

What does it say?

Perfection is a subjective term.

As such, it is attainable.


I achieved perfection in 1984.
Using 1983's standards of perfection.

Being young, I realized that such a concept, being subjective and ever changing, meant constant effort on my behalf to keep up with the moving goal.
Thus, I gave up.

I'm now highly content to be 'perfect' by 1983's standards.
Which is more than most can say.


This witty banter is HIGHLY useful in attracting the opposite sex...which typically tends to be one of the main reason why people strive for perfection...

SCORE!




Now...if only I could find the 'perfect' woman...by my current definitions of the word.

Man, I love Zar!

Perfection does not exist.

Originally Posted by Penfold

Striving to be the best that you can be is attainable. Aspiring to an idealised concept of perfection can only be doomed to failure.

I agree completely. And surprisingly the world has not exploded because of our agreement.
I would add that striving to be the best that you can be is also one of the best things you can do for yourself in life. Perfectionists will never be happy because nothing will EVER be 100% perfect.

I remember a quote once that sums this all up pretty nicely:
"Be what you can and be that well."
I can't remember who said it, but I always remember it.

Perfection is unattainable because of our human nature to be inquisitive.

Knowledge can be narrowly (and crudely) defined as the attempt to catalog every single bit of an object's characteristics. As we catalog the characteristics, we actually begin to stray from what the object is and only define parts of the object. The perfect way to define an apple is that it is an apple. You will never be able to describe it more perfectly than that, but the human race would never be satisfied with that definition. We can come close to perfection as we can come close to describing just nearly what an apple is by describing all of it's characteristics, but when you realize that all you have truly said is that an apple is an apple in so many words, you will realize you knew what it was all along.

The greatest part about science is that we stare the answers to the universe's mysteries dead in the face every day of our lives. Perfection is there, but we will never truly achieve what we cannot accept as enough. Ironic isn't it?

Perfection is unattainable .
Striving for perfection is admirable.