Questioning Dreams, Bullies, Cults, Dislikes, News, and Cruelty

 

“Folks are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be.”

-- Abraham Lincoln

What kind of dreams would be the most valuable?

The dreams that show you how to be truly happy always and in all things, regardless of your circumstances.

To be honest, where do we come from?

Our mother’s womb.

Why is 2 thirds of the world thick as pig sht.U.s.a.being the most gullible?

For those who can’t make sense of this question, I will interpret it: “Why are two-thirds of this world thick as pig shit? The “USA” demonstrates as being the most gullible of all.”

Well, for one thing, grabbing “two-thirds” out of the ether is a little egotistical of you, even though the majority of the world is rightly defined as “thick as pig shit.” I also see that more than half of the USA can be seen as “gullible” after electing Joe as their President, and they are paying for that mistake along with the rest of us.

Author comment: 1 less thick as pig shit in my eyes now. You see the world for what it is. Well done you.

Someone once told me "If you feel like the smartest person in the room, you're in the wrong room." Do you agree with this statement?

If you’re the smartest person in the room, it sucks to be everyone else.

Why is giving up the easy way out? I believe that once someone gives up God had a plan for those people, even if you do give up God probably decides what to do.

If one chooses faith in a creator, God gives mankind control of its destiny. This means that we have the choice to move forward or not. God no longer decides what to do for mankind. We are on our own. We can be good, or we can dabble in bad. It is our choice. This choice also decides whether we continue our journey to “nirvana,” or if we have forsaken God and given up the right to the next life and the many lives after that. It is a choice the creator gave to us.

What is the critical definition of the word wisdom?

Try this:

“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.”

-- Socrates

 

What advice can you give to a bully and a person being bullied?

Tell the bully to stop being an ass, and tell the victim to stand up for themself.

Why am I so stupid sometimes?

Everyone is stupid sometimes, and quite a few people are stupid most of the time. Don’t be so hard on yourself. You're only human.

How do the eyes make the world so curious and jealous?

Any senses can make us curious or jealous if we are more than interested in what we sense.

Do you think when people say humans were born to run, that is a lie? Do you think they should say humans are born to walk?

It’s a lie. People are born, that’s it. Whether they run, walk, or sit in a wheelchair, they are born. What they do after birth is up to their ability, not to some person’s opinion.

How do I make learning as engaging as watching anime?

Because you’ll be learning, which is more than watching anime can do for you.

What are the most unexpected lessons you've learned from a failure, and how did it shape your future success?

Failure, if understood, is a "lesson" that life presents to us. We can learn from it or not. If we don’t choose to learn, we waste the moment. We risk repeating the failure. No lesson can be unexpected. Life prepares us for what comes next, if we care to learn the lessons.

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue, that counts"

-- Winston S. Churchill

 

My colleague converted to atheism and is trying to sell me knives and some cologne that increases your evolution index or something. Should I buy it or tell him he joined a cult?

Ignore him, and yes, he joined a cult. But, so did all the theists.

Do humans mate because our instincts tell us to?

Humans mate because our instincts tell us it feels fricken good. Proliferation of the species is a side benefit.

Is evil sometimes better than good, and other times, it isn't?

Evil is only better than good if you tell yourself it is so you can dabble in evil. It may satiate an evil yearning, but you will pay for it, down the road. Better that you just be good, and deal with it.

Where do I learn about societal desires?

If you’re a member of society and have legal desires… ta-da! You've learned about them.

Some people are so stupid it really makes me lose my patience. How do I deal with this feeling when I'm so stressed with everything else around me?

Being stressed with everything around you puts you into the “stupid” category making you lose your patience. It would be better to let “stupid” people go, take a breath, and let the stress go with “stupid.” If you come up against “stupid,” you can always walk away from it. Or, you can wallow in it. If it were me, I’d let it go.

My neighbor will be visiting his family all summer. If I use his boat to go fishing, is that rude if I clean it before returning it?

You might ask permission first.

"Showing a lack of self-control is, in the same vein, as granting authority to others: 'Perhaps I need someone else to control me."

-- Criss Jami

 

Are there infinite reasons to dislike somebody?

No. It is impossible to come up with “infinite” reasons to dislike someone.

A recalcitrant ruler fears nothing so much as the awakening of the people this is right?

A recalcitrant ruler fears nothing, especially the people. They rule with an iron fist and if the people don’t like it, the prisons aren’t full enough.

People want you to succeed in life, but not better than them. Is this true?

I’m 70 years of age, so for me to “succeed in life” hit the top rung about 5 years ago. What is true, ever since, is that I have strived to be truly happy always and in all things, regardless of my circumstances. I accomplish this daily, and I’m a happy camper. What other people want is of no concern to me. 

Who truthed humans?

According to the Bible. God did. But, then, the devil offered up some fruit, and humans have been trying to catch up ever since.

What is it like being able to communicate? You say things with no problems and no worries.

I say things without a filter. I don’t give a fig what other people think. I think before I speak, and then I speak the truth. To do anything else is not “good” communication. Because I think before I speak, I have few problems or worries. If people "think" I have problems or worries, I don't. It is all about not having a filter.

Does love make you obsessed?

It can, if you’re weak-minded. If a possible partner says, “No,” it probably means, “Look elsewhere.” 

"I desire to be with you. I miss you. I feel lonely when I can't see you. I am obsessed with you, fascinated by you, infatuated with you. I hunger for your taste, your smell, the feel of your soul touching mine."

-- Jack Llawayllynn

Does reading good news improve one's mental health?

It beats reading bad news.

What makes us scared of change and exploring the unknown?

The answer is in your question: Fear. People are very comfortable with what they know. Change and the unknown are things that they would rather not dabble with lest their lives get wonky.

Is it evil for someone to troll (online) the family and friends of someone who died?

Yes, but the real question… is “trolling” evil, regardless?

How much does ethics cost?

It costs you your unethical behavior. To have “ethics” means you have to give up the behavior that prevents it.

If you picked a single word to describe God, what would it be?

God. It's worked since the beginning.

How would you feel if you had to study again to change your job and career in your 30s?

It is what it is. If you like the company you’re with, you change or you can find new employment.

“It’s only after you’ve stepped outside your comfort zone that you begin to change, grow, and transform.”

-- Roy T. Bennett

Why are most people cruel?

I can’t confirm your statement. I don’t hang with cruel people, and if you do, I recommend changing who you hang out with.

How do I stop being lazy? I have severe depression and it causes me to be really lazy.

Fix the depression and you might stop being lazy. Pharmaceuticals that can help. 

Why does nobody like greedy people?

Greed is what “greedy people” choose to focus on. I focus on “good” people. Good people focus on people, more than what they can get. It is a choice that most people should consider.

Do you have a challenge for withdrawal?

Don’t. 

Do you ever hear publicized explanations of things that happen in the world and think "That's boring", and then you craft a better, more intriguing, and more interesting explanation and adopt it instead because the alternative is so dull?

All the time, and it is usually caused by the ignorance of people they are reporting on. Most people are ignorant when it comes to due diligence. They will take the money and do what they are asked to do, instead of considering what is right. Or, they will believe the “news” when they hear it without thinking it sounds too stupid to be true. Consider the current President of the United States.

What exact quote from a famous author, artist, statesman, philosopher, teacher, or important figure most closely expresses this thought: "People don't value what comes easily."?

Try this:

“Heroes are not only those who are ready to die for their countries but also those who are ready to die for their principles.”

-- Fady Asly

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