Questioning God, Plans, Goodness, Salvation, and Science

 

"I devoted a significant portion of my academic training on Holocaust studies and yet, I had no idea that Bayer was the original name of I.G. Farben. And, I certainly didn’t know that I.G. Farben, as a corporate name, was replaced by a rebirth of Bayer I.A... 

...Bayer did not make reparations despite the fact that it was part of the corporate punishment. That’s not okay with me. I am dismayed that major corporations (then and now) continue to exercise power and privilege over people who are powerless to stop them or to insist that they are held responsible for the havoc they inflict on others. There is precious little any of us can do about it but at least if we are aware of who they were/are we can make choices about using their products. How we stand on these issues today may reflect where would have stood in 1939."

-- Rosemary Huskey

Why do you need God to change your life?

I don’t. God gave me everything I need, before I was ever born, to make changes in my life. It is up to me to decide if I do it morally and ethically, or not.

How can you prevent yourself from making bad "in the moment" decisions that lead to long-term consequences?

Very seldom do decisions need to be made in the spur of the moment. A good deal today will be a good deal tomorrow. Cars go on sale every year, and the last one on the lot can be reordered. Take time to think before you act. Ask friends and family. Gather all the information you can to enable you to make the best decision. It isn’t foolproof, but you will look the fool so much less often. 

Are people often say that the dropouts are quitters who can't draw a line between success and failure?

Define success. Have they, after dropping out, attained any personal goals? Have they been truly happy always while doing it? If they have attained the goals they’re after, and are truly happy, for them they are very successful.

How can you show justness and sincerity in the performance of your work?

I stand by my code of personal ethics. If you develop a good code of ethics you can always stand by, you will find it hard to waver in the justness and sincerity of anything you do. As far as “showing” it, I don’t do it to show. I do it because it is the right thing to do. If you’re looking you will see it, if not, well, there’s nothing I can do to make you pay better attention. This is who I am, and those who know me, know this.

How can I get motivated to do something I don't want to do?

If you’re not getting paid, you have a choice. Do it, or not, it’s all up to you. If you choose to do it, then put all of you into the project, or don’t do it. A life that is “kind of” is no kind of life.

“It’s only after you’ve stepped outside your comfort zone that you begin to change, grow, and transform.”

-- Roy T. Bennett

What is plan implementation?

It is when you implement the plan. Is this a trick question?

What do you do to help others and make a difference?

If they ask for help, I’m there for them. I also purchase food and supplies for the local church soup kitchen when I have the funds. Whatever you do, make sure you do it selflessly. I never expect anything in return for doing what’s right.

Is the saying “right off the bat” or “back”?

Bat. 

How will the civil servants be accountable for their actions?

Through good management and supervision. If they are voted in, they can also be voted out. If they are assigned, those who chose them can bear the brunt of misery for their choice.

What does a 60-year-old really look like?

Ta-da!  I was 60 in 2013, when I started the started this blog.

For those who have achieved it at a satisfactory level, if you were to recommend a reading list for someone down on their luck to turn their finances, relationships, happiness, and health around from scratch, what books would you include in the list?

Almost any book that deals with the philosophy of those subjects, and the collected works of Leo Buscaglia for more on relationships and happiness. If you’re down on your luck, most of this can be found in your local library, or online. Reading ability is terrible to waste, so exercise it constantly.

How likely is it that someone is doing the same thing as me right now? 

No matter how immoral it may be, yes, it is likely.

Is a good citizen always a good person? Is a good person always a good citizen?

No. One has nothing to do with the other. Politicians are the worst for this. One can only hope that everyone is a good person and a good citizen. It is difficult enough to find one, much less both. 

Do you believe in luck over deliberate actionable projections?

No. I believe in knowledge, hard work, and perseverance. When I’ve run all of that to ground, I can, then, hope that everything I’ve done is enough.

Who takes care of you when your job is to take care of others?

I do. If you rely on others, they will probably disappoint. I am the only one I can trust to support me 24/7/365. in 50 years of my adult life, I haven’t failed me… yet. Even during my messy divorce, I was always there for myself. I am the only one who determines when I need assistance.

“Self-care is never a selfish act - it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer others. Anytime we can listen to true self and give the care it requires, we do it not only for ourselves but for the many others whose lives we touch.”

-- Parker Palmer

How are you living before death?

Constantly happy and without unwanted drama. I need to fish more.

You can't stop your opponent from doing whatever he wants unless you know the precise moment when he would next strike. Do you agree or disagree?

This is situational. A violent criminal should be shot at the first opportunity. Why wait? Shooting him stops him in his tracks, so no more worrying about his evil ass.

The second point, if he is your opponent, why isn’t he worried about where you’ll strike next? This becomes a two-way street when you’re opponents.

The third point, and most important, is that he has to sleep sometime. Figure this out before your opponent does. Gerber survival knives are a godsend.

The fourth, and optional, become very familiar with the M24 sniper rifle. It helps the situation if your opponent knows you can reach out and touch him from almost a mile away. He might just choose to bother someone less lethal.

What are the hindrances to salvation?

Sin. In particular, the cardinal sins. Aren’t they all?

What makes you matter in life?

I live. If I died, I would no longer matter, except for those people to who I mattered. So, for everybody’s benefit, I live. The alternative, to my way of thinking, simply sucks. Any day on this side of the dirt is a good day. 

What did you request help for, and did it help come?

When my dad had his strokes. God bless the first responders, they were here in minutes.

“Answer the urgent call. Help when tragedy strikes. And do it for free.”

-- Isabella Koldras

Science is good, yes, but what are some of the evils and ways that science has made human lives difficult?

Bayer Pharmaceuticals was doing research for the Nazis. They had an endless supply of “volunteers” to experiment on. It would be hard to believe they didn’t make human lives difficult. I have included some research: Bayer - Wikipedia

What is the best definition of ‘exigence’?

An “urgent need or demand” for something. — Oxford Languages 

How do we know that someone is trying to embarrass us?

When what they’re doing or saying has the real possibility of embarrassing you. Personally, I find it humorous that they would think it says more about me than it does about them. I let them head on and, then, when the moment is right, drop the hammer and have it backfire in their face. It is hard to embarrass people who could really care less.

When should we judge the past by the standards of today?

Never. The past is what it is. Learn from it. Try judging today by the standards of the past.

Absolute power corrupts absolutely. But why? You worked hard and have more toys to play with now. Is it that simple?

“An observation that a person's sense of morality lessens as his or her power increases.” — Dictionary.com

How hard you work for power and toys is a measure of your morality. Adolf Hitler was a prime example of this quote. And, yes, for all intents and purposes, it is that simple.

“Absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

-- Lord Acton

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, finally, a senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, Western 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 the lead chaplain at a regional medical center.

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