Questioning Evil, Strength, Schizophrenia, Growth, Trash, and Money

“If only it were all so simple! If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?”

-- Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

What do evil beings doubt, and why?

The omnipotent power of God. Evil thinks they are all that. They are not.

I want to give up my life as a sacrifice, a punishment for my sins. How do I do it?

You can give up your life to God, at the end of your time on this planet. I would recommend you clean up your act. If you work on making your sins right, you might not need the sacrifice, you are so eager to give.

Is it fair to say, a person's life gets as complicated as the person lets it be?

Indeed.

Have you ever made the right and honest decision, but, things still turned out bad?

Yes, and I apologized to the airman. I had no choice. I made the right decision. He shouldn’t have put me in the position to risk my rank.

How do you find peace, amid chaos?

If you ignore “chaos,” is it important to you? It's better to ignore chaos and focus on peace. 

How do I check, if I truly understand a concept or topic, specifically in studying?

Have someone ask you questions concerning the concept or the topic. Make sure you explain your answer. Having the answer is not knowing the answer. Explaining the answer makes you excellent.

“Any fool can know. The point is to understand.”

-- Albert Einstein

How did you find strength in your darkest times?

My belief in “God” is a big help. During my divorce, I thought my life was over. She hurt me to the bone, and I contemplated ending it all. I looked up at the ceiling and it disappeared. I found myself in a realm I cannot describe, but it gave me a feeling of peace. There was a ladder, and as I grabbed onto it I realized it was the way out. There is always a way out. I found myself back in the room, staring at the ceiling. I started to smile, and I never looked back. That was 24 years ago. I divorced the anchor, and have been happy ever since. Was it a message? Probably. I thanked whoever sent it.

Reader comment: I’m glad you found yourself a way out of the black hole you were in. I’ve been there after my first heartbreak. I was barely an adult when I met him and he damn near destroyed not only my life but me, so I get it. It takes strength, determination, and the hutspa to be able to say to yourself “I’ve suffered enough. I’m done. It’s time to get my big girl or boy boots back on and rebuild my life. I’ve felt sorry for myself long enough”. Kudos to you. I’m proud of you. I hope that you were able to find a woman who is more deserving of you.

My reply: Thank you. 

Why do I always end up getting hurt?

You open yourself as a target. If you don’t put yourself in a compromising position you, probably, won’t get hurt. Stay in the background.

Can a person be accused of lying if they are not in a position to know the truth?

No, but they need to qualify their answer, so people know they aren’t certain. 

Why don't some people not care about socializing?

They aren’t “social” people. They weren’t “trained” to socialize with other people. We call the majority of them, “wallflowers.” I don’t care about socializing, but it isn’t that I don’t socialize, I just don’t care. If people want to socialize with me, I am open to it. If they don’t, it doesn’t bother me. My parents made sure I could do the social scene, I just don’t care about it.

Has God ever failed any tests?

He failed in the Garden of Eden, several times according to Genesis. But, was that God?

If you have a tendency to act, without thinking first, does that make you stupid? Or, in other words, are "impulsive" people stupid?

No, they might be ignorant, though. Many people were not trained by their parents to take a minute to consider all the options. Some people let the shock of realization guide them in the wrong direction, instead of considering other choices. It is always good to take a minute to think before you act.

“A fool is made more of a fool when their mouth is more open than their mind.”

-- Anthony Liccione

Are religious people just schizophrenic people?

No. That is an atheist comment that holds little water. It would be akin to a theist saying that atheists are stupid. Neither side can prove their belief, so both sides need to shut up. Just saying.

What do you do if you have the mind of a maniac?

I will do “maniacal” things. Is this another trick question?

If you could erase one emotion from the collective human experience, both its positive and negative aspects, which one would you choose, and how would it reshape society?

Not one. Emotions train us to live life. Erasing one of the emotions will unbalance life. There will be mental issues with people. One needs to leave “balance” alone.

My 15-year-old brother does not like to take advice, even if you're speaking to him calmly. What should I do?

Let him fail. Life is all about learning, and failing is the best way to learn.

Yes, my father is smarter than me, but I do not care. I am more stubborn and need to do things my way. How do I tell him to stop meddling even if he is right?

Tell him that life is all about learning. His meddling is not helping you to learn the painful lessons. Explain this to him, and tell him you will come for his sage advice after you fail, several times, and can’t move forward.

What should you do if half of the world obviously wants you dead?

They need to bring it. I haven’t trained a large class in a while. It will be fun.

''When everyone wanted you dead, I kept you alive! And this is how you repay my love? You hurt me, brother, you hurt me.''

-- "Vikings"

When, in your life, were you concerned that you were not growing enough as a person?

Before I joined the Air Force. The Vietnam conflict brought reality into my 19-year-old brain. I grew up fast and served for 23 years. I loved the Intelligence field.

What would happen, if I know that you know that I know?

We will, in all probability, drink bourbon and discuss it.

The atheist in my class died. What should I do?

If you are a theist, pray for his soul. Atheists may not like us, but we are supposed to be above their dislike. Pray for the atheist. If nothing else, it will piss them off.

Reader comment: For the most part, atheists do not dislike theists. But since you’re the sort of theist who enjoys the idea of “pissing them (atheists) off”, they may dislike YOU.

My reply: They won’t be the first, and, likely, not be the last.

A Christian is drowning. What should I do?

What would you do if a non-Christian is drowning? You would do what is moral and right.

Is it stupid to apologize to the dead?

Apologizing to the dead is a declaration that you might have been wrong. It is growing past what you were into something more accepting of other people you might not like. It sounds a bit off, but, it is a sign of maturity to apologize. You might think of doing it while they are alive. It will mean so much more.

What can change your perspective about something that has happened to you or someone close to you in the past or present day?

When I learned that I was wrong. Learning is why we were born. I learn constantly.

“There is no end to education. It is not that you read a book, pass an examination, and finish with education. The whole of life, from the moment you are born to the moment you die, is a process of learning.”

-- Jiddu Krishnamurti 

Did you know, that you, the reader of this question, is a useless bit of trash?

No more than the author, and probably less. The author wasted time typing this tripe, as I did the answer.

How will you make your day better?

By not answering idiots trying to piss me off. I have had two this morning.

I did horrible things but hid it all because I wanted to be „secret“. I felt so good while doing it and thought I am in the right. Now 4 month later I remember everything I did. How do people change?

You become selfless in everything you do. You apologize to God for everything you did against true happiness. If you are sincere in your apology, you might be on the “right” track. If you are sincere, then the change has already occurred. You need to change everything you have done that is bad. Yeah, it is a bitch, but it is what will put everything straight.

What is it that you are really here for?

Learning. And teaching what I’ve learned.

What's the point of living if you're just going to die?

If you’re not one who believes this is the only life, then there are possibilities. If you believe that you’re going to die, and that’s it, then so be it. They will try to capture your memories, and you are done. But. if you believe in a life after this one…

Why doesn't my girlfriend want to tell me something that is important to her?

She believes you are shallow. Great in bed, but so shallow.

“Ignorance is the choice not to know what you don’t want to know, assuming that the absence of knowing causes the absence of the existence of that which you don’t want to know. Therefore, the belief in the ability of ignorance to achieve its goal is likely the greatest ignorance of all.”

-- Craig D. Lounsbrough

What is one thing better than money?

Gold, silver, and gemstones. Gold and silver have appreciated manifold, as have gemstones.

What causes people to switch from being nice to mean?

They assume fire must be fought with fire. If you have a large group fighting each other, a fire hose will work wonders. It is a waste trying to fight with fire. When does it stop?

How do you judge a book, if not by its cover?

By the story, it tells. It can have no cover, but the story is why you are reading.

Is it worth it trying to change this world better, for all humanity, or do we just give up?

It is worth it, to someone. If we all gave up, what would the world look like? It is grace that we have artists that make the world a prettier place. If we all made one thing better, we would see a great change in the world.

What is the meaning of life without pleasure and pain? Is it possible to live without experiencing any pleasure or pain?

You can, but you will not know about pleasure or pain. The point of our life here is to learn.

My mother said that if I were to let someone live rent-free in my head and waste my life thinking about someone who doesn't think about me, then the only loser is me. Is this true?

I think about people all the time. Most of them don’t know me. They usually have short skirts. I’m not a loser, because I appreciate my smile while I look. Your mother may be right, for you. Then again, she could be wrong. You are only a loser if you define yourself as one. I will continue looking at women in short skirts… and smile.

“Those skirts are crunchy toast! Santana Lopez bent over in hers the other day, and I swear I could see her ovaries.”

-- R. Murphy, B. Falchuk, and I. Brennan

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