Questions of Ethics and Processes

“Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil.”

-- C.S. Lewis

What principles do you believe and have proven to save you from adversity?

Adversity happens, and there’s not much one can do to prevent it. However, you can mitigate the adversity by putting faith in morally ethical principles and a constantly happy disposition. This is a two-prong attack on adversity. If your morally ethical principles don’t do the trick, then laugh in the face of adversity and continue to be happy always! The alternative simply sucks.

How important is the credibility of the process (science, scholarship, or journalism) to overcoming resistance to conclusions (preexisting cognitive biases)?

If there is no credibility in the process, how in God’s name do you expect to overcome resistance to your conclusion? Credibility occurs after the process is repeated numerous times, preferably by numerous people, arriving at the exact same conclusion each time. Credibility, even from an ethical standpoint, is beyond important if one wants to be taken seriously.

How can you keep your moral character strong in the presence of poverty? Will reducing your needs, to the bare minimum, help?

Moral character is a conscious choice, not driven by wealth or poverty. If anything, poverty would be the test of a person’s moral and ethical character, not to mention whether they can truly be happy always. Reducing needs to the bare minimum? By definition, what we “need” is the bare minimum. What we want, then, is anything else. When you realize you have made the good choices for your life to be happy always and to have constant faith in your good moral character, even in the face of adversity, you will have attained some modicum of wisdom. If you can do this and remain humble, you have stepped onto another path.

“Moral obligations versus Legal obligations. Legally, you must abide by the laws of the land or face the consequences of being fined, imprisoned, or both. Moral obligations tend to lean more towards a spiritual nature of a person. Some people perform immoral acts because legally there are no consequences. Morals birth in the heart of the individual. Moral characteristics are developed at an early age and continue into adulthood. It's a disgrace to neglect having good moral character.”

-- Amaka Imani Nkosazana

What are some examples of something being legally right but ethically/morally wrong?

Bending or suspending your ethical principles is legally right, yet it can be seen as ethically wrong. Certain acts of sexual gratification, though fun and legally right, for the most part, are deemed by many to be morally wrong. And, some folks still have not accepted same-gender relationships, though legally right they see them as morally wrong. The list, I’m sure, can be added to, but you get the gist.

What moments make you really feel the absurdity of life?

When I watch hundreds of people absurdly enduring a long wait in line to register for a Jeep rally, missing all the food, drinks, and fun, knowing the military could make this operation so much smoother. I find it absurd that so little planning and thought was put into this operation. It was also absurd that no vendor thought of walking the line and selling water, soda, or beer, to those poor souls baking in the heat.  One reason I don’t do these kinds of events, I suppose. 

If anybody thinks your own answers are wrong, do you accept anybody’s refusal to change their own opinions?

If I have a differing opinion than someone else, and neither one of us thinks we’re wrong, so be it. It is just an opinion and, as such, does not necessarily represent facts. I constantly run into this with the League of the Perpetually Offended who rarely let me have my own opinion about a topic without chiming in to chew me out, call me names, or condemn me to hell. The latter happens infrequently because, and it’s just my opinion, most of the LPO that have attacked me seem to have theist issues.

I was attacked just the other day for answering a question using my divorce as an example. This woman seemed to have been wronged by some man in her life so I became the target of her hatred, even though she had no idea of what specifically went on in my situation, but this is typical of the LPO.

Everyone has an opinion, and we should respect the cogent opinions that are asked for, whether we agree with them or not, by giving cogent answers or simply thanking those who address the questions. I’ve actually had someone ask for my opinion and then hammer me for what I gave them. Questions on this forum should not be used as bait for attacking people. Everyone is entitled to give their opinion without fear of vilification.

"Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."

-- Steve Jobs

Is money the ultimate motivator of most decisions people make?

If most of your decisions have to do with purchasing, yes. If I should walk downtown to my favorite cigar bar has to do more with the weather and my laziness than any money I might spend. I think as we get older, money becomes less of a motivator than, let’s say, good sense.

“Being the best is not good enough. Try harder. Just make sure having fun is a central component of striving for excellence” How will you reflect on the quotation above in your real-life situation?

We forget to teach our children the benefit of life spent striving for happiness. We forget to teach them how to deal with the dramas of life so this happiness can remain as constant as possible. As I approach 68 years of life in this realm, I strive to be happy always and bemoan the fact that I didn’t understand the benefits of doing this sooner. Keep drama from your life. This is easy to do because only you can accept it when it shows up. Life is all about making good choices and, if you fail, you can still make better choices by learning from your failure. This is “trying harder” when your "best is not good enough."

How can vulnerability be a sign of power rather than weakness?

Threaten the “vulnerability” of one who is powerful. I would hate to be the kidnapper of the daughter of someone who is borderline psychotic. Even the supposed weak have a line you may not want to cross.

"Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it's having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome. Vulnerability is not weakness; it's our greatest measure of courage."

--Brené Brown

Why does " Right " to someone become a complete "Wrong" to another, then what does "right" really mean?

Other than a legal standpoint, what is “right” is a matter of personal preference. Green is a good color for me as it accentuates my eyes, so it is "right" for me. But, blue might be a better color for someone else.

How did those who found direction after feeling lost in life do it?

After the divorce from a twenty-year marriage, I was totally lost. Luckily I had the support of family and really good friends. They helped me accept the reality of it, primarily because all of them knew it was over long before I did, especially the women, who were thrilled that a guy with prospects that cooked and treated women well, was finally available again. I had forgotten how much fun dating was.

If you aren’t happy or feel lost in life, get rid of all the drama you have invited into your life and strive to be happy always. Happiness is simply a choice each of us must make for our lives. Make a good choice for yours, and don't be afraid to ask for direction.

What are some situations and conditions when you will accept or reject such matters?

When my competency as a supervisor or manager is called into question. The VP of a company I worked for called into question my supervisory ability and wanted to send me to a week-long management class in San Francisco. I didn’t balk at it because I figured it was a lark since he had no clue about management or supervision of people. I went, was used by the instructors as to how a manager should look and act, and aced the course. When I returned, I put a stack of binders on the VP’s desk. He asked me what I learned. I smiled, told him they reinforced that everything I was doing was great, thought he might want to review the binders, and then I thanked him for the paid vacation. The next thing I knew, he had signed me up for an employment law seminar. I really hate paid vacation.

“Everyone pretends to be 'free thinkers', but few individuals pass the line into expressive territories that may be detrimental to their own social well-being.”

-- Criss Jami

Why don't I have any feelings or reactions to roller coasters? How can I be like everyone else as I’m basically a statue at them?

Jump out of a perfectly good aircraft with a parachute someone else has packed, then, on your way down, consider if the person who packed your chute had his mind on his job or his crappy marriage. Remember, the distance you have to fall allows you to scream multiple times.

Is it possible to live on $5k a month without lots of suffering and sacrifice?

Yes. I’ve done it almost my entire life. Jeeze! I’d have given my left testicle for $5k a month, although my ex-wife would have squandered it. You’re talking $60,000 a year, after taxes? Hell, yes!

I am curious about something and trust your opinion. Did you ever have difficulty saying "no" to people and find yourself doing something you ended up growing to resent the person you should have said no to?

No, and no. Why would I resent the person I should have said “no” to when it was my stupidity to take on the task? Life is about making choices, and you have to own the ones you make, not transfer the blame to someone else. Oh, and I would never trust the opinion of someone you don’t know. It is, after all, just a stranger's opinion.

“Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die. ”

-- Carrie Fisher

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with the United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, and wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as a chaplain at the regional medical center.

Feel free to contact Pastor Tony:  tolerantpastor@gmail.com