Questioning Logic, Evolution, Transforming, Life, Atheists, and Perfection

“I mean, you could claim that anything's real if the only basis for believing in it is that nobody's proved it doesn't exist!”

-- J.K. Rowling

What should a person do if “how they are” and how they “process the world” (with ‘common sense’ challenges) comes at odds with someone who is more logical and does things the “right way”? What if that person is often frustrated and furious at them?

Logic isn’t always the way to go. It is logical, but not necessarily right.

Why should it be about eliminating the sick, the elderly, the weak, the ugly, the uneducated, and the poor, when it is easier to eliminate your complaints?

Why should it be, and who said it should be? The “sick” teach us how to be well. The “weak” teaches us how to be strong. The “ugly” shows us a sense of humor. The “uneducated” show us where we failed. The “poor” show us how to be truly happy always, and in all things, regardless of our circumstances.

Author's comment: Yet, are we not capable of teaching ourselves these things?

My reply: We are. However, few of us are willing to learn.

Two hundred people are interviewed about what fruits they like and all of them say they like oranges over apples, one of them has to be lying right, there’s no way everyone out of that many people likes oranges better?

It shows they are willing to work for the fruit. You can simply bite into an apple. No muss, no fuss.

Are humans innately evil or inherently good?

Inherently good, but many humans forget this. We find ourselves fixing problems we got ourselves into. The majority of humans walk the straight and narrow. Some of us, take a short detour into a bit of evil we think we can extricate ourselves from. The lesson is handed to us, and most of us learn a good lesson.

How do I deal with small problems?

With the least energy, and then, let them go. They aren’t worth the time you’ll give them.

How do you know God is perfect?

I don’t. But, I have faith, and “faith” is a belief for which there is little or no proof. I have much “faith” that God is perfect, regardless of what the Bible says.

“Expectations and faith can go hand in hand or they can run counter to each other. It all depends on where our expectations are placed. Are they placed in the outcome or are they placed in who He is? You see, if our expectations are anchored in the outcome, we will be disappointed and lose faith when the outcome does not match up with what we expected. God’s goodness will come into question, and we will be in danger of losing faith in Him.”

-- Mark Allen Moore

Why would a person not want to go to a better place and evolve?

They are truly happy with who and where they are. Why "evolve" just to be miserable?

Can a person freely decide to do something if they are standing at a crossroads or are deeply conflicted about something?

Contrary to popular belief, a person’s mind is free and, therefore, can do whatever it's capable of. If a person standing at a crossroads, or is deeply conflicted, make a free decision and carry on.

Can one succeed in life without a driving license?

Many successful people live in New York City and utilize mass transit.

Are there truly stupid questions? I mean, are there questions that you should not ask, or people would immediately label you as stupid?

There are no "stupid" questions if you don’t know the answer. I ask “stupid” questions all the time. But I preface the question by saying, “This might seem like a “stupid” question, but I have to ask…”

How do I cure intellectual arrogance? I can’t seem to change my beliefs even when I’m wrong. How do I change that?

Understand that it makes you look stupid. Do you want to look stupid?

Why do we lose our train of thought whenever walking by someone unknown?

She has a great set of legs and a nice butt. That will derail my train of thought for several minutes. Then, I have to remember what the train of thought was. It wasn’t that important, so remembering was not as crucial as thinking about her ass.

“Inside the human mind, an idea is a mental spark that occurs as a response to the challenge of a train of thought.”

-- Eraldo Banovac

How do I transform from a skeptic to a believer?

Validate the truth. When you have validated the truth, your denial would make no sense.

How do I deal with stupid people at the workplace? I mean, so stupid that it is annoying.

Letting stupid people annoy you, shows you are losing and “stupid” people are winning. It is one reason why I ignore the League of the Perpetually Offended.

Who is the greatest person ever?

Buddha.

Do people, who aren't part of any fandom, act like they know everything about every fandom?

I’m not, and I couldn’t care less. There are more important things in the universe than knowing everything about fandom. Some people need to get a real life. 

Do you think rich people get away with pedophilia?

Money speaks in whispers. It isn’t right, but do the kids love money as much as the rich?

Are there billions of people just like me?

No. You are a singularity, like everyone else. No two people are just like each other. Even “identical” twins are not perfectly identical. From a microscopic perspective, nothing is the same. They may look the same, but they aren’t.

“Being human makes us one. Being uniquely ourselves makes us individual."

-- Nancy S. Mure

What if I can't do this life thing anymore?

Then, there is only one option… and it sucks… for a short period. “If you can’t do this life thing anymore” then you probably haven’t lived life to the fullest or understood what you have lived… so far. Life is full of glorious lessons… and some that suck. For the most part, we are here to learn. If you can’t do this thing anymore, you’ll end up right back where you are again, and again, and again, until you understand the purpose of life. Better that you tough it out and try to make the best of it. 

Do you agree celebrities lie through their teeth when they say go after your dreams when really they should be telling people go after opportunities and play to your strengths only?

"Opportunities" might not include your dreams. Sometimes, the opportunity is what your dreams make.

What do you do if you've just realized you've been living life too seriously?

Lighten up.

Can you explain the concept of "nothing exists but mind"?

I can explain the concept by calling it bullshit. If your mind doesn’t exist, my mind will continue to recognize what reality looks, feels, and sounds like. Everything exists if it’s in the "physical" realm. To say that nothing exists but the mind is delusional.

What do you do if the idea of one life to live really bothers you?

Live longer.

Why in marriages is the groom mostly older than the bride?

It stems from the older man being the moneymaker and the younger woman wanting him as a husband. This is going away, however. Women are becoming the moneymakers, and the men are trying to catch their eye. Men are becoming the “golddiggers” that some women used to be accused of being. Oh, how the tables have turned.

“Now, I believe it is time for the groom to get ready." He points toward the back pew. "Suit's in the bag there. Private room is just a little ways down the hall. Go get pretty--but take it easy on the lipstick this time.”

-- Nicole Fox 

It makes me uncomfortable that there are atheists. What should I do?

Ignore them and pay attention to theism.

Why is society set up to give more than receive?

Because giving is so much better than receiving. If you’re receiving you are lacking, and no one wants to be known as lacking, for anything.

Does God use signs?

We assume so. We just can't prove it.

I am single and I am looking for a girlfriend. What should I do?

You’re supposed to be looking for a girlfriend, not cruising this site for info. Rule #1: Go out and look for a girlfriend. When you find one, ask her out for a date. If she’s the one, everything else will fall into place. Trust me. If she isn’t, try, try, and try again. Finding a real girlfriend isn’t that easy.

My mom talks about God a lot. What do I do?

Pay attention.

As an atheist, who's guiding your life?

I’m a theist, and I guide my own life. I thank the omnipotent creator of everything for giving me this chance to live a glorious life in paradise.

“Faith.

It is the unwavering belief in the unseen.

A guiding light that illuminates our journey

Through the shadows of uncertainty.

Keep it.”

-- Monika Ajay Kaul

How can we know if God is perfect?

Have you taken a critical look at mankind? 

I have two friends and one of them is lying about the other. I don’t know who though. What should I do?

Confrontation. Get them together. Tell them, that one is lying about the other, and it just pisses you off. Let them work it out. The liar is not your friend, so no worries about losing them.

How can one determine if they are asking for too much from God?

You can’t ask too much from God. Whether God pays attention, though, is another matter.

What should we believe in, if anything at all?

You should believe in yourself, first and foremost, and then you can start working outward to other people and things. If you can’t believe in yourself, how will it be to believe in anything else?

I love to masturbate. What should I do?

Aren’t you doing enough?

What do you do if God has full control of your body?

If God, the omnipotent power in the universe, has full control of my body, there is little this piss-ant human can do about it but wait until He lets me go.

“The legitimacy of something is not dependent upon my ability to explain it, for my inability to explain something often evidences the legitimacy of that which I seek to explain.”

-- Craig D. Lounsbrough

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