Questioning Questions, Mmm, Make Money, Fear, Mind, and Morality

“Have patience with everything that remains unsolved in your heart. Try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books written in a foreign language. Do not now look for the answers. They cannot now be given to you, because you could not live them. It is a question of experiencing everything. At present, you need to live the question. Perhaps you will gradually, without even noticing it, find yourself experiencing the answer, some distant day.”

-- Rainer Maria Rilke

What type of questions do you think are worth asking?

Any question is worth asking for which you need to know the answer. But, if you ask the question more than once, you are either not a good listener, or the answer, well… was not what you wanted to hear.

Why do you do mean things on purpose?

Hah! Never in my life have I done mean things, purposely, or not.

I want to cast a revenge spell but a lot of them involve candles and ashes. I'm scared of getting burnt or messing up. Can you do revenge spells without candles or ashes? Or without any ingredients at all?

So, you want karma to take time out of it’s busy schedule to damn you for revenge? Spells, candles, ashes, yadda, yadda, yadda, is of no consequence. Revenge is what “karma” will be focussing on. Whoever you want to get revenge on, know that “karma” will handle it for you, now or after their death, they will pay for what they did.

Is it possible to live your life doing nothing?

It is, but your life will be very short, doing nothing.

How do you become more confident when life hits you hard?

It is my life. If I am not confident, regardless of how hard life hits me, I would have learned nothing from life in the past 70 years. If life hits me, I hit back harder. It is what it is.

What is your opinion on the statement 'Life is Art' or 'Art is Life'? Why do you agree or disagree?

Life is art. If you make enough money to live off your art, art is life.

“Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen.”

-- Leonardo da Vinci

Mmm

Is that the “Mmm” of satisfaction, or the “Mmm” of something else? 

Author's comment: I have no idea what that was for, to be honest.

My reply: Lol… You make me laugh! 

Can you explain the distinction between "art" and "life"? What criteria determine whether something is considered an experience of "art" or just "life"?

Without life, you don’t have art. Life is what it is, and art is created by living beings. There is a “criteria” to determine good art from bad art, but art is in the eye of the beholder. So, the “criteria” sucks.

How do you define the essence of life?

Learning.

Can you define wisdom and wisdom skills?

According to Wikipedia, “Wisdom is the act of using one’s depth and breadth of knowledge and experience to do good by oneself and others. Wisdom is the interpretation and understanding of knowledge that leads to greater insight (e.g., common sense). Wisdom is a pragmatic kind of “praxis (process)" where one is constantly using metacognition.”

When you earn wisdom, and then use your wisdom, those will be the “skills” that wisdom gave you.

What are 3 things that you cannot live without?

Food, water, and shelter. 

"It is necessity and not pleasure that compels us."

-- Dante Alighieri

What do you use to make money? Is it wisdom or skills?

Skills. Wisdom would tell me not to make money. Counterfeiting is illegal.

What is more valuable, knowledge or wisdom?

Wisdom is gleaned from knowledge. Knowledge, then, is more valuable, if you know how to use it for wisdom.

Is the world worth including yourself in?

I hope so. Where else would I go?

How bad is lust?

It depends on if you act on it. I can lust for many things, but I know I can’t afford them. If my lust drives me to steal or rape, then I have crossed the line into crime.

Can you provide some examples of things that have value but are not considered "real" money?

Gemstones and art.

Is it correct to say wisdom precedes age, or what's the right way to put it?

Wisdom comes with age, usually. It is the odd occurrence when a young person demonstrates wisdom, repeatedly.

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

-- Socrates

Who should we fear?

Kamala Harris. She has done nothing meaningful during Joe’s presidency. Before that, she helped California commit suicide. All she will do is lead us down the same road to ruin that Geriatric Joe had us on.

Is there a term that describes consistently being kind as a way of life?

Consistently “selfless” toward others.

What is the difference between truth and wisdom?

Wisdom will drive you to the truth. Without wisdom, the facts become fuzzy and the truth becomes anybody’s guess.

If ignorance is bliss, isn't it to be desired?

Ignorance can “hide” the truth that no one wants to hear.

What is a common thought or action that people are afraid to admit due to fear of judgment from others?

The truth. Mass media lies through their teeth, to get a candidate elected by weak-minded voters. They vote for fear their friends will ostracize them for not voting for the “party” candidate.

Do you agree with Harrison Butker's assertion that "truths know no politics"?

Indeed. More for one party, than the other.

“Reader, suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.”

-- Mark Twain

I have a mind of my own. What should I do?

Share it. I have no filter, so I share my thoughts constantly.

What is a story from your life that represents the essence of who you are?

As a supervisor, they put a “loser” under me, so I would be blamed for getting him out of Intelligence. The people in charge didn’t understand who I was. I told the troop what was going to happen if he didn’t shape up. I worked with him for a good month, and he came around nicely. I left the service 17 years later. He called me when I was retired, and he was getting ready to retire. He thanked me for straitening him out, and for his decorated service. It was who I was, and I have not changed.

Why don’t people hate rich people?

What makes you think we don’t?

Is age typically associated with wisdom? What factors contribute to wisdom in individuals?

Age… and knowledge and human traits. Knowledge says a deal will go the way of facts. The “human” factor says the deal will fall flat due to greed. Wisdom will sort all this out, facts be damned.

What is the single best philosophical question in your opinion of the 21st century?

“Why?” And “because” is not the answer.

What is the purpose or essence of existence?

Learning. What we learn in this life we take with us to the next. If we don’t learn enough, we will be reborn right back here, until we learn. Tough love when you can’t be reborn into the “next great adventure.”

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”

-- Mahatma Gandhi

How can morality be defined without using the word 'good'?

Morality is what it is, If it is bad morality, it will be defined by the word “bad” or “questionable.” But, just saying “morality” defines it as good.

How can one understand and accept morality?

Yes. It isn’t rocket science.

What are the consequences of a lack of honesty?

No one will believe anything you say. Lack of trust. Lack of quality friends. A criminal record and jail time. Honesty sounds pretty good.

I find no meaning in my life. How about you?

I find much meaning in life. I start by learning, anything new, everyday.

How do I write down my thoughts?

Start writing. I write all the time. When you have a great thought, write it down, so you don’t forget it. Pretty soon you will fill a book, that you might think of publishing.

What does it mean when you can’t necessarily put it all together and are confused? Does that mean you need wisdom in every way?

What you need is knowledge to help you put it all together, without confusion. If you can do this, you are on your way to wisdom.

“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.”

-- Aristotle

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