Questioning Fate, Debates, Hope, Maturity, and Tolerance

“It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.”

-- William Ernest Henley

Which fate is shared by more than half of all humans?

Death.

Why would you be bored when you could be interested?

The only reason I can come up with is that a person loves to be bored. Personally, I’d rather be interested in anything than to be bored.

What quotes stand out?

“It is what it is until it isn’t.” 

At what point does blaming one party become unfair to another?

If one party is incontrovertibly guilty, then “fairness” doesn’t enter into the scenario. The “guilty” party may think it’s unfair, but, then, they shouldn't have done anything wrong to be accused of. If one party cheats because the other party cheats, they are both guilty of cheating. Two wrongs don’t make one right.

What is more important, goals or values?

Values. if one of your values is perseverance or hard work, then attaining a goal should be a no-brainer.

Do I have to trust my instincts all the time?

Nope. You can simply pay attention to the “WALK” sign at the crosswalk and ignore the “instinct” to look both ways to see if cars are stopping. Your life can be your own personal crap shoot. Feel lucky?

“Instinct is a marvelous thing. It can neither be explained nor ignored.”

-- Agatha Christie

What are some of the most popular debates on atheism?

Any debate on atheism must run up against any debate on theism. Both debates fall flat because both have faith in their belief, but neither has any proof proving their hypothesis. Faith is a belief in something with little or no proof, and this is exactly what both sides have - no proof.

What are your thoughts on the idea of "being doomed" to be forever alone by fate or something?

Fate is what I make it, so the only way I’d be “forever alone” is if I were the last person alive on earth.

If God doesn't exist, doesn't that make all believers schizophrenic?

If God does exist, does that make all disbelievers stupid? Theists and atheists both have faith that their hypothesis is correct, yet neither side has any proof. Calling names and labeling each other cheapens any discussion. There is no argument because there is no proof. Both sides have to wait to see if they’re right. For theists, there might be an afterlife, which is what they hope for. For atheists, there will always be nothing, which is what they hope for. For me? I like to pad my bet on the side of an afterlife.

Is the phrase "don't get mad, get even" good advice?

Only if you also want to deal with the karma you’ll bring down on yourself. Two wrongs don’t make it right.

What do you most want to achieve in life, and what steps are you willing to take to reach that goal?

I’d like to achieve my 100th birthday. At 69, I’m getting back in shape, and have already lost 10 pounds. I plan to lose another 40. I will reapply at the local gym for membership.

Why are we not to blame God for human suffering?

Human suffering is the fault of mankind, not God. God gave mankind all they need to mitigate human suffering, yet mankind is too greedy to use the tool God gave them before birth - their brains. What are the chances we are constantly aborting the infants that could save the human race? Greed is insidious.

"I'm only going to stand before God and give an account for my life, not for somebody else's life. If I have a bad attitude, then I need to say there's no point in me blaming you for what's wrong in my life." 

-- Joyce Meyer

What’s the scariest thing you haven’t done?

Parachute from a perfectly good aircraft.

How can a person who has lost all hope, start changing himself?

We never lose hope, as hope is always with us. We simply misplace it. If a person truly lost all hope, they wouldn’t be concerned with changing themselves. I would start by making the conscious choice to strive for true happiness always and in all things, regardless of your circumstances. If you can manage this simple choice, then change has already started.

What does it mean when your husband wants you to be more respectful towards him?

You get what you give. Someone needs to stop being an ass.

What role do consequences play in shaping a child's behavior and decision-making skills?

Good behavior, good consequences. Bad behavior, bad consequences. If you make the right decisions, you will probably get the right consequences. If you make the wrong decisions, you will probably get bad consequences. This is how a child learns to survive.

How can you make life a problem and a solution?

You don’t have to. Life is already rife with problems looking for solutions.

What are some reasons why people might want to avoid failure in life?

They have no reason to learn. Since failure and mistakes are the best way we learn, it stands to reason they don’t want to learn. If someone says they never made a mistake, I wouldn’t hire them. They have learned nothing.

“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.”

-- Maya Angelou

Is it better to be alone or with someone who doesn't want you? Why or why not?

Alone. Why invite the drama, of someone who doesn’t want you, into your life? Better to be alone.

What does it mean to be spiritually mature in Christ?

It means you’re listening to “organized religion” telling you what they expect of you, instead of having a personal relationship with the Savior. I never read in scripture where Christ said to be “spiritually mature” in Him.

Is it fair to blame a political party for every problem in a country?

No. We should blame the voters for being ignorant of the candidates they voted for.

When will atheists stop whining?

When they realize neither side has any incontrovertible proof and arguing without proof makes a person look stupid. Some theists are guilty of the same whining attitude and for the same reason.

What do you say when a parent tells their child to ignore you?

It depends on the size of the parent.

What are the signs that your parents don't really love you?

When you come home and your bags are packed and waiting on the front porch, and the locks have all been changed.

“Instead of treating your child like how you were treated. Treat them with the same love and attention you wanted from your parents while growing up.”

-- Jonathan Anthony Burkett

What is the biggest problem of your millennials and young working professionals nowadays in relationships in connection with morals and ethics?

Morals and ethics are elastic for the great majority of them. My girlfriend is almost 70, and her unbending morals and work ethic keep her in high esteem with her “big box” employer. The young people that work with her should learn from her, but… they don’t seem to care.

What is the most tolerant religion towards atheists?

Buddhism.

How do you deal with someone who has never had any success in life?

If they’d like, you can help them to find out why they have attained no goals. Their choices and decision-making would play a large part in this.

Why is it important to treat ourselves with the same respect that we would give our loved ones?

If you don’t truly love yourself, you cannot truly love another. If you don’t truly respect yourself, you cannot truly respect another. If you would murder a baby in the womb, an adult is fair game. What we do is who we are. There is no escaping ourselves.

What steps can one take to achieve both power and success?

Become selfishly greedy in your goals and perseverance. Take no prisoners.

What is the definition of good failure and bad failure? Can you give some examples of each?

It isn’t whether the failure is good or bad. Failure is a failure, but it’s what you do with the failure that matters most. You must critique why you failed, learn from what you find, and try again until you attain the right result. Failure and mistakes are the best way we learn.

“The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough. They’re there to stop the other people.”

-- Randy Pausch

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 view any more right or wrong than the other. Opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form their own opinions, 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.

I fervently 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 offered. After twenty-three years of military intelligence, I have come to believe that engaging each other in this manner, and in this arena, is a 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 United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. Following his service career, he spent 17 years working with the premier and world-renowned Western Institutional Review Board, helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. He also served 8 years on the Board of Directors for the Angela J. Bowen Foundation.

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 a weapon for his war on intolerance... he chose the pen. He 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 personal, spiritual path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as the lead chaplain at a regional medical center. 

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