Questioning Ethics, God, Religion, Everything, and Knowledge

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

-- C.S. Lewis

Are you supposed to be loyal in the talking stage?

It depends on whether you’re ethical or not.

What’s everyone doing today?

What I do most days in my retirement. I’m enjoying the gift of another beautiful day in paradise.

Is desiring a girlfriend to be happy a sign of weakness?

No, it might be a sign that you’re horney, though.

Have you ever realized by looking at someone that if you didn't have mre power, you wouldn't even look at them in the first place?

Nope. I look anyway. I’ve been caught looking at a beautiful woman. She asked me what I was looking at. Having no filter, I told her. She smiled. Honesty is, almost always, the best policy.

Why do people gripe a lot about changing back to standard time?

They have nothing more important to focus on.

Why do people think you can become successful with hard work?

Because “hard work” is usually what it takes to attain a goal. To be successful in life, however, all you need to do is choose to be truly happy always and in all things, regardless of your circumstances.

Reader comment:  I never understood why people think that. How can someone be happy when they’re starving? How can someone be happy when they’re homeless? I’m miserable when I’m hungry. And, I spent over 98,000 hours working towards a goal. The goal has altered about 4 times, so if you divide that equally, we’ll say each goal had about 24,500 hours of work dedicated to it. So, even my hard work didn’t accomplish my goals.

My reply:  You’re right. You don’t understand.

“Live the Life of Your Dreams. When you start living the life of your dreams, there will always be obstacles, doubters, mistakes, and setbacks along the way. But with hard work, perseverance, and self-belief there is no limit to what you can achieve.”

-- Roy T. Bennett

Do you believe that everything in this world has an explanation? If so, where does God come from?

Energy. Was, is now, and ever shall be. Energy makes the grade.

Which is more important, a good teacher or an engaging one?

How about a teacher that is both good and engaging? Of course, you’d have to be in a classroom that actually teaches something. A novelty these days.

Am I rude to "dumb things down" for certain people?

If that’s rude, then I’m so guilty. Certain people will tell you to “dumb it down” for them.

Why does my girlfriend want sex but I don't?

It isn’t all about you. Actually, it may become all about someone else, if you don’t pay attention to her.

Why are people so stupid that they actually believe life has meaning?

Why are people so stupid that they think it doesn’t?

What does it mean if someone is always trying to understand everything about everyone?

They have faith in a hopeless quest. They would be better served to try to understand themselves. That, alone, will be a lifelong quest.

"Youth is the period in which a man can be hopeless. The end of every episode is the end of the world. But the power of hoping through everything, the knowledge that the soul survives its adventures, that great inspiration comes to the middle-aged."

-- Gilbert K. Chesterton

Is religion pretending to know things that you don't know?

Always. But, I don’t put much stock in “organized” religions. They have too much control and have too many hidden agendas. For instance, they control trillions of dollars and the poor are still going hungry at the expense of “crystal cathedrals” and such. Very sad.

Do people generally dislike those who care about themselves more than others?

If you don’t care about yourself, how are you going to care about someone else? Please don’t like me. I have my hands full, right now.

Why is it wrong for men to wear what makes them happy?

As long as they don’t break the law, they can wear whatever flips their skirt.

What do you call a religion whose first tenet is that there is no such thing as religion?

For one thing, they aren’t a religion because they don't abide by it. But, “religion” is a sad fact. It does exist in its many forms. I prefer to express my beliefs in an omnipotent power with a “spiritual” sense. I do not have much faith in a formally “organized” religion that needs a “church” to worship in. Jesus preached outside to the masses. I like that.

Why do ignorant people always think they are right?

Uh… because they’re ignorant? The question answers itself.

What do you do when people are mean?

I ignore them… unless they’re being mean to someone else. Then I have to decide whether or not to intervene. Usually, they make that decision for me by stooping to violence.

“People try to say suicide is the most cowardly act a man could ever commit. I don't think that's true at all. What's cowardly is treating a man so badly that he wants to commit suicide.”

-- Tommy Tran

Why don’t I have the answer to everything?

You are not all that. Nobody is.

Do people with high GPAs tend to be smart or just work hard?

They are usually intelligent. Smart people work hard. Occasionally, you come across a person who is both intelligent and smart. They are an anomaly.

Can a person's negative energy be felt by others around them?

Yes, if you are aware. You have to be very good to hide it. 

Why do religionists think with their feelings?

Most “religionists” think with their brains. Feelings are emotions that tend to muck up the works.

Why do I not feel hurt by people anymore?

You’ve probably grown past them. You have either decided to ignore them, or you understand why they are being assholes. I used to think I understood them. Then, I realized that ignoring them was much easier than understanding them. I went with that.

What is artificial intelligence bad at?

Genuine human awareness.

“To deny humanity the lesson of consequences would be a mistake. And I do not make mistakes.”

-- Neal Shusterman

What should I be doing to acquire more and more knowledge and explore beyond the boundaries of everything?

Read, listen, discuss, and meditate. Live the life you have been gifted.

How many times have you seen something that isn't there?

As a paranormal investigator, it happens most of the time. What “isn’t there” is a matter of conjecture. What I believe is tempered by the evidence that is not fully understood.

What are the implications of seeing reality?

Having to live it. 

What is the full potential of human intellectual capacity and reasoning skills?

We haven’t reached that point in our evolution… yet, and we probably never will.

Why does it seem to be unacceptable to be happy being single these days?

Unacceptable to whom? The only person it needs to be acceptable to is the person living the life of being happy single. Other people have an opinion, which holds no water since they aren’t the person living single. We need to do what makes us happy, as long as it is legal, and being truly happy is very acceptable. The naysayers can go wallow in a pit of misery.

Can we blame fate?

Fate is what you make of it. So, you can blame yourself.

“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

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