Questioning Understanding, Pleasure, Old, Atheists, Questions, and Perfection

 

“Any fool can know.

The point is to understand.”

-- Albert Einstein

How does understanding become knowledge?

If you don’t “understand” what is “knowledge” then you acknowledge that you lack understanding. When you do “understand,” you have taken the “knowledge” of not understanding to the next level, the level of knowing and understanding what you didn’t know before. My head hurts.

Why is everyone boring except me?

Sounds like you’re a legend in your own mind.

Why does everyone in the world waste my time except me?

Oh, it’s you… again.

Why do I doubt my own potential for greatness?

Maybe, you don’t want to try and end up failing. Greatness is a “gold ring” that you really have to stretch to grab hold of. You might fear falling off the carousel.

Can I answer "What's up?" with "Good"?

No. It makes no sense. 

What are the methods to control a conflict situation?

The person with the most experience, or the most rank, is in charge. The object of the person in charge is to defuse the conflict.

“Never have a battle of wits with an unarmed person.”

-- Mark Twain

Can a few seconds of pleasure be the worst mistake of your life?

Only if she gets pregnant. But, it takes more than a few seconds.

What sets "1st things 1st" apart from other prioritization tools?

The “first things first” is an opinion of priority. Defusing a bomb in a building is the priority, but getting the people out of the building is “first things first.”

Why am I getting 6-year-old questions in my feed?

Why does an adult let a six-year-old ask questions?

Author's comment:  Haha! Do you know what I mean? I mean questions from six years ago.

My reply:  I know. I just wanted to shake your tree.

I'm so tired of the "submission was automatically declined" messages flooding my notification box and preventing me from seeing more important messages like answers and comments. Is there a way to disable this junk?

This just pisses me off. You take the time to answer a question and it is declined for one reason or another, and the “automatic” decline is the worst. If you aren’t going to consider the answer, don’t ask for it. These people have courtesy.

If you are wondering, why I, James Holden, gets insulted by the Right, it's because they can't prove me wrong in religion or politics and I insult them because they literally lie about everything from God to the Constitution/2nd Amendment.?

Okay… you’ve made a statement. Is there a question in here, someplace, Mr. Perfect?

I'm 27 years old and still living with my parents. Am I a loser and a failure?

Well, I try not to be critical of people’s lifestyles… but, damn. You better be going to college and working on your Ph.D. But, then, you wouldn’t be considering yourself a “loser and a failure.” I have a better answer: What do you think?

“Maybe the truth is, there's a little bit of loser in all of us. Being happy isn't having everything in your life be perfect. Maybe it's about stringing together all the little things.”

-- Ann Brashares

Do you like being old?

I am 70, and I’m not looking forward to turning 71. I will be older. But, it is inevitable, considering my health. My banker says I should take a vacation, but I have a 19-year-old cat at home, so that’s not going to happen for a while. God bless the military for keeping me in pretty good shape. I still get wood. If my dad is any evidence, I will last past 89. I plan to piss everyone off and crawl my way to 100.

Whatever happened to, "knowledge is power"?

Nothing. It is still valid. All “firepower” gives you is a fleeting feeling of power.

Can gaining knowledge lead to a loss of faith or belief in God or religion?

Gaining knowledge could also lead to a confirmation of faith or beliefs in God or religion. The problem here is that neither atheists nor theists have incontrovertible proof for their faith in their beliefs. So, upon death, they will both find out who was right. If the atheists are right, everyone is permanently dead. If the theists are right, there is more room in the afterlife. It all depends on your belief.

What does it mean when your boss assigns you a task?

You still have a job.

Do the sins of others provide a legitimate excuse for other sins? Does past sins of a political party make our own political party immune from responsibility when they do something immoral? Why do people make excuses for their own?

The sins of others don’t provide a legitimate excuse to sin. When you mention “political party” and “immoral” in the same sentence, you are correct. And. people make excuses for their own because they are ignorant.

Do you have to not have a soul to be an atheist?

We all have a soul. How we invest in it is the better question.

“The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts.”

-- Marcus Aurelius

Is it possible to be an atheist without any other beliefs, principles, values, or morals?

It is easier to be an atheist without all of that than to be a theist. 

How do you know when a woman wants sex?

When she says, “You and me, right now, big fella.” And then she grabs your package. That would be a pretty clear message that she needs an “infusion” of sorts.

Is clothing evidence of God?

No. Clothing is evidence that it was fricking cold.

Are there any benefits to not telling lies?

Yes. People can always believe what you say. I have no filter, and that means that I say what is on my mind, regardless of the consequences. This may not be the best tactic in life, but it is honest and everybody knows what I think.

What do you do if you don’t want to get old but already in your 50s?

Wait until you’re in your 70s.

Why do women think that men hate them?

The women I know don’t think that, at all. They are pretty sure they’re going to get lucky if they say, “You and me, right now.” I think they know men are all talk, but when it comes to getting laid, men are “putty in their hands.”

“But that is how men are! Ungrateful and never satisfied. When you don’t have them they hate you because you won’t; and when you do have them they hate you again, for some other reason.”

-- D.H. Lawrence

What question are you reading?

Uh… this one? If I’m reading this one, which one do you think I’m reading?

What questions do I ask an individual to better understand them?

“Why?” has always been my go-to question. It knits the brow, creates other questions, and gets you the “dumbfounded” look. But, you can learn much from someone’s reaction.

How serious is this website? Every time I ask a silly question I get answers acting like I’m being serious.

Most of us don’t expect “silly” questions from adults.

Why has evil been normalized more than good in the world? Do humans find doing evil and amoral things more common if it brings them comfort and income? How do we stop this from spreading like a virus to future generations of children?

From a religious standpoint, we are separating the wheat from the chaff. Those who will move forward and those who will stay behind. The more evil that is done, the more room in the afterlife for everyone else. Evil makes their bed, and they like sleeping in it. Evil brings you comfort and income, but does it make you truly happy in life? Probably not. The best thing we can do is teach our children and slow the "virus" down.

How can I get trolls to stop answering my questions?

Ignoring them is the best you can do. I find they get bored after a while.

Why am I bad at everything? I have no talent. It doesn't matter what I do or how long I do it. I am always messing up. People say practice makes you better but it doesn't, not for me anyway.

You are not bad at asking questions. You seem to have a talent for it. So, what else are you not bad doing? We seem to criticize ourselves for no good reason, other than we haven’t given ourselves a chance.

“Remember, you have been criticizing yourself for years and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens.”

-- Louise L. Hay

Who was the perfect man in the world?

Adam was most excellent, and then he fell from grace. There is no "perfect" being.

Why can’t people succeed in a short time?

You can succeed in life in a very short time. It is a simple choice to be truly happy always and in all things, regardless of your circumstances. Everything else is just attaining goals.

How do you handle a situation when you may not know how to complete a task?

Ask questions. Not all of us know everything.

How can you determine if what makes you happy is morally acceptable?

I assume that most of the things that make me happy are not morally acceptable. I would start with this premise, and then critically judge what you think makes you happy. It is your choice to continue doing it.

What is the meaning behind saying that something is impossible for God?

The fact that no one knows if anything is impossible for “God” would mean you lied.

What do you call God?

God.

“We don't name God; God reveals His name to us. We don't have the right to exercise authority over God. God copyrights, He trademarks, He patents His name.”

-- Mark Driscoll

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