Questioning Perfect, God, Knowledge, Atoms, Scripture, and Intelligence

"God will help you be all you can be, but he will never let you be successful at becoming someone else."

-- Joyce Meyer

What would you say to a disabled person who says that want to be like their favorite celeb or a person in their school whom they deem to be “perfect”?

Nothing is perfect.  There is something to be said for wishing, however. But, there is more to say for doing. You need to stop wishing and start being the best you can be. Good advice, for many of us.

What is the psychology behind people who get scared of you because they realize that you aren't scared of them?

Awareness.  Awareness of their misplaced ego, and the inability to know whether I can kick their ass. We used to call this “common sense” but, being that common sense isn’t so common anymore, I like to call it “good sense.” 

Why does it hurt so much when someone ignores you?

Oh, please ignore me. I so do not need anyone’s attention.

What are some epic failures that might make you feel embarrassed?

The zipper on my pants, while I’m on a trip, through several airports, and their security checkpoints. That might make me feel embarrassed. Or, I might be trolling. You never know.

Can you speak to any "specific" achievements or contributions you hope to make in this role?

In what role?

Why do some people want to outsmart you and make you feel you’re so small?

One, if they outsmart me, I’m impressed. Two, I never feel “so small” for any reason. This would all be a big waste of their time better spent on something really important. And, that fact, might make them feel so small.

“When people change & make you feel small, I'll tuck you into my pocket & feed you cheese, until courage coaxes the tiger out of your rib cage.”

-- Curtis Tyrone Jones

Why do people need a "God"?

They don’t. Not anymore. Of course, there’s always the “next great adventure,” that you might miss out on by not needing God. It is a choice, and more than a few have made the choice. Choosing not to need God might make the afterlife, if there is one, less crowded for the rest of us.

In matters of faith and belief, do individuals have options?

Of course. They either can or not. It is a choice… or an option.

Is today's world all about money and power?

Yes, for all those who have bought into the concept of “greed.” For the minority of us, we strive to be truly happy always and in all things, regardless of our circumstances. It is a choice to enjoy the life we have been gifted.

Is it bad if I don't want to have sex with women who I'm not in love with?

Nope. You can choose celibacy over loveless sex till you find the right person. Your choice.

Do negative experiences with religion and God lead people to atheism?

Usually. People tend to miss the forest by focusing on one tree. They miss the point. Life is here to teach us lessons. If you fail, you try again. Failure is the best way we can learn. If you experience multiple failures, you are either a slow learner, or you might make bad choices and decisions. Blaming “God” for your lack of ability to learn is shifting blame from the real target, which is you. You were put here for the purpose of learning. 

What is a good motto to help us not lose motivation when we try hard but fail to achieve our goals?

Try this:

“I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.”

-- Thomas A. Edison

Can having too much knowledge be problematic for a person?

You soon believe you know more than everyone else. 

What would you say to someone who believes that evil is a byproduct of humanity's free will?

It is, and it isn’t a “byproduct” of free will, it is a product of free will, as is being good and righteous. Both are a choice that free will provides you. You have the free will to choose to be evil or not.

What do you personally care about and consider important to the world?

Peace. If we had world peace we could focus on a plethora of other issues, like hunger.

What are some things you don't know?

“Why?” Only that “because” just doesn’t answer it. Where did “sasquatch” come from? What is the truth behind Unidentified Flying Objects? If hauntings are real, what does that say about life after death? And, if there is life after death, what does that say about our spiritual beliefs? 

What is the fastest way to get rich without getting an education or doing anything illegal?

Well, that negates prostitution, for the most part.

Where does a person's sense of morality come from if they have no religious beliefs?

Morality doesn’t come from religious belief. It comes from the choice to do what is right. I am spiritual, but my sense of right and wrong is a moral choice. The fact that my choice falls in line with “religious belief” is coincidental. Most sentient beings have been doing right and wrong since the beginning of time, and religion has had little to do with it. A choice to follow a “rule of law” that was good and just was coincidental to what would become our religious beliefs. This will always be the argument of what came first, the chicken or the egg.

“I stopped believing there was a power of good and a power of evil that were outside us. And I came to believe that good and evil are names for what people do, not for what they are.”

-- Philip Pullman

If atoms can't be created, how are humans created out of thin air? Has science been propaganda all this time?

Atoms might be created. Everything might be created, at some point. If we’ve said they can’t, we don't know yet how they were. Science needs to learn how to couch ideas with an “escape” clause and stop assuming everything is absolute.

Why do we experience the fear of the unknown?

Because what is unknown might be the death of us.

Are there effective ways to cope with and overcome the fear of failure?

Understand what failure is. Failure is the best way we learn. Do you fear learning? Of course not. Why do we need to overcome the fear of failing, when failing is the best way we can learn? It makes little sense.

What role does goal-setting play in achieving a sense of purpose?

The only role you should set is when your purpose is to achieve the goal that you've set.

What is the point of having everyone believe in the same things?

Unless the “same thing” is belief in expanding human knowledge, we would become bored. Luckily, the majority of people believe in the expansion of human knowledge in everything. Lucky us!

Can you change your mind about everything?

If I discover incontrovertible proof that I’m wrong, I am open to changing my mind.

“People almost invariably arrive at their beliefs, not on the basis of proof, but on the basis of what they find attractive.”

-- Blaise Pascal

Did all the books that were not included in the Bible get destroyed?

No. You can find most of them in “The Lost Books of the Bible and the Forgotten Books of Eden”, Fount Books. It is quite extensive, and one of my reference volumes.

In what areas of your life can you demonstrate greater resilience?

Leadership, supervision, and training.

Why do most people take advantage when someone is vulnerable?

Greed. They like to strike when the iron is hot, vulnerability doesn’t compute. The “someone” is a hot meal, and they are hungry. These vultures piss me off. I have come to the rescue of a few people that were going to be taken advantage of.

Have you any knowledge that can help me?

That would depend on the knowledge you’re looking for.

Does the sense of accomplishment ever go away from making up your bed?

Nope. I’m 70 and still marvel that I know how to make it with military corners and tight enough to bounce a coin on.

What would you do if the Bible was considered a myth?

It’s not? I’ll be damned. Is the Bible the total of all "Holy" scripture?  No.  Many books have been shelved by the Councils of Nicaea, due to the "agendas" they operated under. Understand that God was no longer going to write things down. To wit, he gave us everything we needed to know across our hearts and minds. Knowing this, the following should also be known:

In a symposium of biblical scholars and theologians that was held in the Ligonier Valley in Pennsylvania in the fall of 1973, a joint team of scholars issued a statement on Scripture that focuses on the authority of Christ as the ground basis for biblical authority. This “Ligonier Statement” says:

"We believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the inspired and inerrant Word of God: We hold the Bible, as originally given through human agents of revelation, to be infallible and see this as a crucial article of faith with implications for the entire life and practice of all Christian people. With the great fathers of Christian history, we declare our confidence in the total trustworthiness of Scriptures, urging that any view which imputes to them a lesser degree of inerrancy than total, is in conflict with the Bible’s self-testimony in general and with the teaching of Jesus Christ in particular. Out of obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ, we submit ourselves unreservedly to his authoritative view of Holy Writ."

What are some indications that an individual possesses significantly diminished intellectual abilities?

They constantly screw up complicated as well as simple tasks.

How can God judge us on beliefs when beliefs are not a choice?

If you believe the beliefs, this is a choice. If you don’t believe the beliefs, this is also a choice. God will judge you on your choice of beliefs. I wouldn’t try to use your argument when it comes time for judgment. Better to believe in what is truly just and good.

What's the most unusual talent you possess that not many people know about?

I can make armpit farts.

Should you really stop masturbating, even if you're not addicted?

Certainly not, If it feels good, do it. Know, however, that I’ve heard there is an unwritten shelf life on our "stuff" regardless of gender. Now, I don’t know if the "shelf life" has to do with how much you use it, or some arbitrary date. Just saying.

Why can't everybody just follow me?

Maybe you’re just not that interesting. 

Why do people say that religion is man-made?

“Religion” is man-made. The philosophy behind it may be sent by the Almighty, but we created the religions of the world. I am a spiritual being, brought up in the Catholic religion. I have cast away my trust in organized religion, and practice my own philosophy with my own definition of God. It is not a “religion” as much as it is a good and righteous philosophy.

“Anyone who thinks sitting in church can make you a Christian must also think that sitting in a garage can make you a car.”

-- Garrison Keillor

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