Questioning Lies, Lots of God, Cheating, and Loyalty

 

“Above all, don't lie to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love.”

-- Fyodor Dostoevsky

I made up a stupid lie, what do I do?

Walk it back. Admit it was bullshit and don’t do it again. Let this be your lesson in humility.

Why am I too cowardly to end it all?

It is a tough call when you consider there is no going back. Death, for this existence, is permanent. If you commit suicide, why would God waste another life on you, if you couldn’t handle this one? Better to redefine “coward” to “good sense” and work to make this life better.

How do we learn anything fast?

Fail. Failing is the best way we learn. If you don’t want to fail again, and again, you will learn the lesson fast.

What is the best way to deal with someone who lies about everything, both big and small things? How can you tell if they are lying or telling the truth?

Assume they’re lying. They lie about everything, right? So, the assumption is valid.

Why did God give us so much potential, but not all of it?

It is up to each of us to be what we want to be. If He gave us all of it, where would be the impetus to do anything? God gave us just enough to whet our appetite for more. It is incumbent on each of us to reach for the golden ring.

What are the consequences of lying? Can a seemingly harmless lie turn into something harmful over time? If so, how and why does it happen?

Death. You make a stupid assumption, and tell someone, “The gun is not loaded.”

“There are three types of lies -- lies, damn lies, and statistics.”

-- Benjamin Disraeli

Can atheism explain why something is wrong (morally)?

They can. Atheism is just a disbelief in a “God” figure, not in what is considered right and morally acceptable. 

What does it mean if someone says they are "pro-God"?

They are not atheists and they believe they are spiritual beings created by God?

Why are atheists so dumb?

Considering neither side has any proof for their argument, atheists can ask the same question about theists. Both sides have “faith” which is a belief in something for which there is little or no proof. 

Do atheists get intimidated when someone starts talking about God?

As much as theists, when atheists start downplaying God. Neither one has any proof.  

Can atheists logically defend atheism?

No, and neither can theists. Both have faith that they are right, Faith is a belief in something for which there is little or no proof. 

What is the Christian view on asking God for proof of his existence?

What is the atheist view of asking no one for proof of non-existence? Neither side has any proof to back up their faith.

Do atheists truly lack morals and values, or is it just a facade they use to justify their godless beliefs?

A great number of atheists have good morals and values, they just don’t believe in a “God” figure.

Can a person be an atheist and also not care if other people are religious?

Can people be religious and just leave everybody else alone? One would hope people would choose a belief and keep it to themselves. But, we will go out and start shit because we think we’re right. The problem lies in the fact that neither side, atheist or theist, can prove their argument. “Faith” is a belief in something for which there is little or no proof. Both sides have faith that they are right, yet neither side has any proof to back up their claim.

Why don’t atheists worship God just in case they’re wrong?

Because they’re atheists. Agnostics have a better chance of life after death. 

Do atheists deny God because of their ego?

They deny God because the thought doesn’t make any more sense than a theist believing there is a God. Neither side has any proof, but both sides have “faith” they are right. The problem is that “faith” is a belief in something for which there is little or no proof. Both sides of this argument come up wanting. 

"Protestantism has the method of Jesus with His secret too much left out of mind: Catholicism has His secret with His method too much left out of mind; neither has His unerring balance, His intuition, His sweet reasonableness. But both have hold of a great truth and get from it a great power.

-- Matthew Arnold (1822-1888)

  Is it likely that your boyfriend will cheat on you if he cheated on his ex?

You can’t teach an old dog new tricks. A cheater cheats.

 What does it mean if someone says, "I'm not your enemy. I'm just not on your side."?

If I’m your good friend, but I don’t agree with you, I’m not your enemy, I’m just not on your side of the discussion. Emotion might make one think I’m a traitor when, in reality, I simply think you’re wrong.

Why is everything so false?

“Everything” isn’t. But, it would seem, you have to search for the truth.

What is the psychology behind blind loyalty?

Ignorance. You are hoping that your misplaced loyalty is not wasted on an idiot, like a President. 

Are the MAGAcultists beginning to understand just how stupid their candidates "think" they are?

Biden… nuff said.

Can the mind forget something even though it was witnessed by others?

Emotional trauma can cause us to forget an incident, whether it was witnessed or not. Our mind suffers from self-induced amnesia to block the memory so we don’t have to relive it.

“Right now I’m having amnesia and déjà vu at the same time. I think I’ve forgotten this before.”

-- Steven Wright

What causes people who have been friends to suddenly turn against each other?

Having the sex of a lifetime with their friend’s partner might do it.

Do people always believe everything that a man of God says?

Not if they’re smart. These guys are a “man” of God. As a man, he has all the appetites other men have. We can just look at the roll call of evangelists, priests, and ministers, to see how the mighty have fallen. I am a minister, but I preface that with the fact that I’m a self-professed hypocrite. Do as I say, not as I do.

What is the definition of "losing one's moral compass"?

Doing things that one used to believe were bad, and still are.

How can you respond to, "Why don't you believe?" without sounding defensive?

“Why don’t I believe…” what? How can I be "defensive" if you haven't explained your question? 

At what point did believing in God become more about fear than love for some people?

When “man” started writing scripture with certain controlling agendas in mind. According to this same scripture, God stopped handing down laws when man started bastardizing them. God wrote everything we need to know across our minds and hearts. It makes one think. So, why do we have “holy” scripture, written by man?

Why do you still miss someone who hurt you?

I can’t turn my love for her off, simply because she hurt me. She is the mother of my children.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”

-- Martin Luther King Jr.

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 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 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