liveonearth: (Default)

 

"...growing up in church desensitizes you to logical inconsistencies, and that opens up large numbers of people to manipulation tactics employed by individuals and institutions keen on controlling groups of people for their own self-serving purposes."

 

—Neil Carter in How Faith Breaks Your Thinker 

APRIL 10, 2018

SOURCE: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/godlessindixie/2018/04/10/how-faith-breaks-your-thinker/

Excellent resource on logical inconsistencies:
https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/

liveonearth: (Default)
I am a lover of what is, not because I'm a spiritual person, but because it hurts when I argue with reality. We can know that reality is good just as it is, because when we argue with it, we experience tension and frustration. We don't feel natural or balanced. When we stop opposing reality, action becomes simple, fluid, kind, and fearless.
~ Byron Katie
liveonearth: (Default)
What I Have Learned So Far

Meditation is old and honorable, so why should I
not sit, every morning of my life, on the hillside,
looking into the shining world? Because, properly
attended to, delight, as well as havoc, is suggestion.

Can one be passionate about the just, the
ideal, the sublime, and the holy, and yet commit
to no labor in its cause? I don’t think so.

All summations have a beginning, all effect has a
story, all kindness begins with the sown seed.
Thought buds toward radiance. The gospel of
light is the crossroads of — indolence, or action.
Be ignited, or be gone.

~ Mary Oliver
liveonearth: (Default)
So when I say, as the subtitle of my book, that I think religion poisons everything, I'm not just doing what publishers like and coming up with a provocative subtitle, I mean to say it infects us in our most basic integrity. It says we can't be moral without Big Brother, without a totalitarian permission. It means we can't be good to one another, it means we can't think without this. We must be afraid, we must also be forced to love someone who we fear, the essence of sado-masochism and the essence of abjection, the essence of the master-slave relationship and that knows that death is coming and can't wait to bring it on. I say this is evil. And though I do, some nights, stay at home, I enjoy more the nights when I go out and fight against this ultimate wickedness and ultimate stupidity.
--Christopher HItchens
liveonearth: (Old man)
One of the best things about my sweetie is that he is at least 73% grown up.  He's 62 years of age, and he's neither an early or later bloomer, he's just a man.  I credit his wives and life with educating him, and him with making the effort to become a decent human being.  It doesn't happen to everyone.  The mankind project helped.  He really is kind, generous, and thoughtful.  He is a very hard worker.  His word is better than his memory.  He's trying.

Unfortunately, he still leaves dirty dishes in the sink.  I've been working on him to realize that this is important to me but he persists in thinking that I am unreasonable in asking him to do it differently.  When we have partners that we care about, it is wise to concern ourselves with their desires, even if they seem irrational.  Doing what we want to do for them is different from doing what they want us to do for them, or just in general.

So I just ran across this article by a man who confesses up front that he was a terrible husband.  He's so awash in authenticity and willingness to work on himself that I'd be surprised if his ex-wife doesn't want him back.  If she doesn't, someone else will.  Guys who are sincere and have integrity rule.

Here's the guy's blog.  It's awesome.
http://mustbethistalltoride.com

And the article about leaving things in the sink:
http://mustbethistalltoride.com/2016/01/14/she-divorced-me-because-i-left-dishes-by-the-sink/
liveonearth: (endless_knot)
BE IMPECCABLE WITH YOUR WORD
Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

DON'T TAKE ANYTHING PERSONALLY
Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.

DON'T MAKE ASSUMPTIONS
Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama.

ALWAYS DO YOUR BEST
Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.
liveonearth: (pope headslap)
If you don't stick to your values when they're being tested, they're not values: They're hobbies.
--Jon Stewart
liveonearth: (moon)

http://personalliberty.com/difference-ron-paul-rand-paul/
This article says what I have been noticing.....but not saying. Young Rand has not yet hung his hat on any particular values, he is simply playing the political game. That doesn't mean there is no hope for him. There is hope. One can develop integrity in the course of life. But he is not yet the statesman that his father is, and he has no guarantee of getting votes from the principled voters that have supported Ron Paul all these long years.
liveonearth: (trek jive)
American men have a variety of handicaps, not the least of which is that ruggedly independent badass image they try so hard to live up to. But it does them a disservice when it prevents them from really being close to others. There's no guarantee that they'll have or develop the ability to really connect deep down .... so it's something to celebrate when it happens. It turns out that age 80 is not too late to develop emotional intelligence. =-]

WORTH READING:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/06/opinion/brooks-the-heart-grows-smarter.html?smid=fb-share&_r=2&
liveonearth: (business dance)
Truth is Treason in the Empire of Lies
--Ron Paul
liveonearth: (endless_knot)
‎A creative man
is motivated by the desire to achieve,
not by the desire to beat others.

--Ayn Rand
liveonearth: (Default)

Laughter Filled Voices

How terrible to love what can perish
All that you care for, treasure and cherish.
How tormented, lost and sickened you’ll be
For all that is gone, no longer to see.
We clutch to our breast and pray it will last
Future uncertain, too soon it is past.
What value we place on things that we prize
Too often, how much and what is the size?
When all of these things are really a joke
Reality made of mirrors and smoke.
Memories, love, laughter in stitches
Intangible things make up life’s riches.
These will survive never die or expire
Enduring and timeless, sure to inspire.
Everything you touch, clutch or hold on to
Will all pass away, matters not what you do.
Think with your heart when making your choices
Don’t pass up love and laughter filled voices.

--D.S.Knight
liveonearth: (Default)
I solemnly pledge to consecrate my life to the service of humanity.
I will give to my teachers the respect and gratitude that is their due.
I will practice my profession with conscience and dignity.
The health of my patients will be my number one consideration.
I will respect the secrets that are confided in me even after my patient has died.
I will maintain by all the means in my power the honor and the noble traditions of the medical profession.
My colleages will be my sisters and brothers.
I will not permit considerations of age, disease or disability, creed, ethnic origin, gender, race, political affiliation, nationality, sexual orientation, social standing or any other factor to intervene between my duty and my patient.
I will maintain the utmost respect for human life.
I will not use my medical knowledge to violate human rights or civil liberties even under threat.
I make these promises solemnly and freely and upon my honor.
liveonearth: (Default)
I just keep getting more impressed with Carter's work. I am excited that he went to speak with Hamas, in spite of Shrub and Israel. Hamas was elected by a majority vote, after all. Even if Shrub says they are terrorists, the Palestinian people chose them in 2006. Aren't we supposed to be spreading Democracy around the world? http://therealnews.com/web/index.php?thisdataswitch=0&thisid=1382&thisview=item&renewx=2008-04-23%2B09%3A03%3A15#

Today, after his victory in North Carolina, it became pretty much clear to me that Obama will be the democratic nominee. I feel comfortable that McCain can't beat him, and that we may have our first black president. Certainly he has been privledged, but that is no reason to discount his blackness, or his ability to know the hearts of people. I look forward to a day when America stands for truth and honor again, when I do not have to disown my government while traveling.

I didn't catch Obama's whole speech today, but I did catch part on NPR and part on therealnews.com. It appears to me that Obama knows he has the Democratic nomination sewn up. He conceded Indiana to Clinton in a way complimentary to both her and Indiana. He is trying to make peace. He sounds as if he is already the president.
liveonearth: (Default)
According to Msgr. Gianfranco Girotti in the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Catholics now have some new instructions beyond avoiding the Seven Mortal Sins. A review for those of us not fully indoctrinated:

Seven Mortal Sins
pride
envy
gluttony
greed
lust
wrath
sloth

The new instructions are to avoid the Seven Modern Vices, which are based on violating the "basic rights of human nature". I didn't find an explanation of the rights, but here are the vices:
polluting
genetic engineering
being obscenely wealthy
taking drugs
abortion
pedophilia
causing social injustic

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