Questioning Belief, Opinions, Sin, Love, Character, and Punctuation

 

“If you ask a stupid question, you may feel stupid; if you don't ask a stupid question, you remain stupid.”

-- Tony Rothman

 

What do people who claim "there's no such thing as a stupid question" really believe?

That there is no such thing as a stupid question, as long as you don’t ask it more than once. At that point, the question might not be as stupid as the person asking it.

Do Jews really control the porn industry?

Who spreads this shit?

Why do some people call love evil?

I’ve only heard that from people who have been hurt by love. I was hurt by love, but it didn’t prevent me from falling in love again. But, then, I’m a glutton for punishment. All things can be described as “evil.” It depends on how you look at them. Babies are evil because when I try to change them, they pee all over and then giggle. It all depends on how you look at it.

I’m 16 and terrified of death. Is there an age where you would rather hang up the boots than keep living?

As a man of 70, I am terrified of dying. I will try to hang on as long as I can before I cross over to the next great adventure. 

I have a guy friend who's depressed, and as a friend, I was there for him the whole time looking after him. He confessed to me that he fell in love with me. What should I do?

Thank him. If you’re interested, so be it. If you’re not, then let him know. This is a drawback to being there “the whole time looking after” people. Smile and be honest. I’m sure he realizes he put himself out there. Let him know that you only want his friendship.

Could you attack somebody by lying about them?

Yes, but why would you want to? Karma has enough to do without dealing with your crap. You need a good, moral “code of ethics” you can adhere to.

"As hypocrisy is said to be the highest compliment to virtue, the art of lying is the strongest acknowledgment of the force of truth."

-- William Hazlitt

Why do people's opinions on political leaders seem to change based on who is in power?

Usually, if the leader is older than dirt and doesn’t know where he is at any particular minute.

How can someone be ignorant without realizing it? How would one know if they are unaware of their ignorance?

How? Because they’re ignorant. How would one know? They say that “ignorance is bliss” for a reason. There are times in my life when I wished I were ignorant, but, unfortunately, that has not been the plan for me.

Is loving someone who doesn't love you "lust" or really love?

If your love is unrequited, it is still really love to you, but not to the person you love.

Does ignorance excuse moral failure?

True ignorance might. But, just to say you were ignorant, well, you will damn yourself by lying. We all know the difference between good and bad. Good is moral, and bad is failure. So, to choose bad over good is a moral failure. We all can do better than that, just by choosing good over bad.

How can someone say he or she is a Christian and still believe in ancestors?

What does being a Christian do with believing in your ancestral heritage?

Why do so many women believe men oppressed women when the truth is we emancipated women?

Why did we emancipate them? Were they oppressed? By whom? Don’t think too hard about the answer. It was called by many the Women’s Liberation Movement.

“The women's liberation movement created a global awareness of patriarchy and sexism.”

-- Wikipedia

Why are you proud of your sin?

No, but it is what it is until it isn’t.

How many times should one forgive someone who keeps on sinning against him/her?

As many times as it takes for them to realize you’ve been forgiving them. I might require you to stop hanging around them.

Do all religions have to be controlling?

No.

Why do people believe in something fake like god?

To say “God” is fake is one side of a controversy for which there is no proof, either way. Both sides have faith that they are right, but neither side has any proof, and faith is a belief in something for which there is little or no proof.

What makes theology hard?

Proof.

How do we convince homosexual atheists to stop loving men and give all of their love to Jesus instead?

How do you convince homosexual theists to stop loving men? This discussion will piss them off, regardless of belief. This is a decision they must make for themselves and, for a loving God, their fate is in His hands, not yours.

“I've had to learn how to separate what I have known and learned of God personally from what other people have done to me in the name of God.”

-- Amber Cantorna

Can you ever love a fat girl?

Indeed!

What can one learn from being absolutely broke?

True happiness. If you aren’t truly happy being broke, how will you ever be truly happy being rich? Strive for true happiness always and in all things, regardless of your circumstances.

Do you think it is cowardly when you make a response and disable replies?

Yes. I have the right to ignore ignorance, I don’t have to disable replies. 

All men love women with big butts and big boobs. So why would a man love a woman with a flat ass and small tits?

Not all men love big butts and big boobs. I simply love women. What they look like has little to do with my love for them.

How can I become your passionate student?

Be passionate, and study.

As a Christian man struggling with homosexuality, sin is what led me to homosexuality. I wasn’t born gay. What should I do?

If you are serious about sin, ask God for forgiveness, then go and sin no more. To “sin no more” is a tough row to hoe. Your faith will be tested constantly.

"Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death."

-- James 1:15

Y’all be so quick to spread rumors about people and try to destroy their character! What ABOUT YOU?

Indeed! The author brings up a good point. What about you?

What book inspired you to do better in life?

Tao Te Ching, by Lao Tsu. I was young and didn’t understand it. I took it with me, into the military. After a while, I started to understand the concepts of the philosophy. 50 years later, I still have a copy within arms reach, along with about 40 other texts concerning philosophy, religion, spiritualism, physics, and poetry.

How could we differentiate a creativeness of thoughts to a person through personal viewing of things and a formulated of an opinion through other people's question?

What?

How many problems can you face?

I thought I could face a plethora of problems, but then my Mother died and the fiscal side of my family inundated me with the intricacies of a family trust. It has been almost 9 months, and I’m just starting to get a handle on all of it. Knowing you can face many issues can be a wake-up call when the issues are not part of your wheelhouse of knowledge. At 70 years of age, I am still learning.

People are taking pictures of me at school over some misunderstandings and me sounding cocky. I'm a smart student. What should I do?

Ignore them, be who you are, and move on. Oh, and smile for the pictures.

How does one shut off their capacity for guilt?

Stop being guilty, is the best way. Guilt reminds us that we know what good and bad is. It reminds us to be better than we’ve been. The only way to shut it down is to be better in life.

“I've got a bad case of the 3:00 am guilts - you know, when you lie in bed awake and replay all those things you didn't do right? Because, as we all know, nothing solves insomnia like a nice warm glass of regret, depression, and self-loathing.”

-- D.D. Barant

Why im forgetting to think it doesn't come automatically anymore thinking is very important now I just emotionalize everything and have random uncomplete thoughts my intuition is broken I can't think Logically I lack reasoning it wasn't like this?

It is interesting that you also forgot to punctuate, at my count, six sentences. You did remember the question mark, however. "Spell check" is another valuable tool.

Was Marshal Antonescu a hero?

Being the reason for a Holocaust in your country is not a reason for heroism… unless you happen to be a Nazi. Being a Nazi is not a reason for pride. There are enough people in the world calling for another Holocaust because Hamas attacked Israel. Misplaced bloodlust is a sad reflection of an enlightened society. Very sad for those involved.

No offense but why are people on here so confused?

No offense taken. But, this is a site for asking questions, some of them on subjects that might confuse.

Why do 99 percent of people on Earth lack openness?

They value their privacy. There is so little in life that we have control over, but our privacy is a choice we can make. We don’t have to open up our entire life to inspection by strangers.

Why do most people blame God for every atrocity in the world?

They have little understanding of God giving us the ability to think for ourselves.

Why do people live their lives by believing in things? Things either are or they aren't. Trusting a pilot not to crash isn't faith. It's looking at their track record of successful flights and going by that.

Interesting. Faith is a belief in something for which there is little or no proof. Having said this, a pilot’s track record has no bearing on the worthiness of the aircraft’s engines. Do you "believe" your statement to be fact?

“Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away.”

-- Philip K. Dick

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 in 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