Questioning Religion, Failure, Karma, Science, Feelings, and Sayings

 

“For those who believe in God, most of the big questions are answered. But for those of us who can't readily accept the God formula, the big answers don't remain stone-written. We adjust to new conditions and discoveries. We are pliable. Love need not be a command nor faith a dictum. I am my own god. We are here to unlearn the teachings of the church, state, and our educational system. We are here to drink beer. We are here to kill war. We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well that Death will tremble to take us.”

-- Charles Bukowski

Why can't science become a religion?

It is, for a segment of atheists.

How can one determine if their soul belongs to God?

There is no determining. All souls belong to “God,” so He can do what is needed during life, and after death. 

What are some emotional needs that wives may have from their husbands?

Understanding.

The doctrine of Hell scares me so much and depresses me so many times that instead of drawing me nearer to God, it's driving me away. Why?

Good question. The one entity that can help you, you run away from. Makes no sense. It isn’t hard to be on the side of righteousness. Just be good. No one commands you to go to church. Believe in your own way. The only rule - is that you have to be good and selfless. It isn’t that hard, and it wasn’t supposed to be.

How do we extend human life?

Daily diet and exercise, and be truly happy always, and in all things, regardless of your circumstances.

What does a machine need to feel like a human?

A brain.

“Humans were still not only the cheapest robots around, but also, for many tasks, the only robots that could do the job. They were self-reproducing robots too. They showed up and worked generation after generation; give them 3000 calories a day, and a few amenities, a little time off, and a strong jolt of fear, and you could work them at almost anything. Give them some ameliorative drugs and you had a working class, reified and coglike.”

-- Kim Stanley Robinson

Do you know most people fail not because of a lack of ability or intelligence but because of a lack of direction, dedication, and discipline? Astrology helps you to create an action plan.

Most people fail because life is a learning experience, If you don’t learn you need to work harder, just like in school. You really need to have direction, dedication, discipline, and the desire to succeed. It is life, and you are supposed to live it.

Is everyone saving nature?

Oh, hell no.

Why does nature add pleasure to procreation?

Because you are supposed to like to procreate. Really like it. Procreation is what keeps us going. Pleasure is our reward for getting down and “doing the nasty.” God bless nature!  

Why do some people choose to be failures in life?

They don’t understand why they are here. It would be better if everyone understood that they are here to learn as much as they can. You die and download everything you have learned. Then, you are reborn to do it all over again. In every rebirth, you come closer to nirvana, You will stop being reborn and live forever. Your “hard drive” is retired.

How can the soul of a person who does not believe in God or has never had a spiritual experience be described?

An atheist.

Why is my attitude in life always boring because I did everything?

For one thing, you haven’t done everything. So, your boredom is self-created. You need to get off your ass and find out what you haven’t done, which is a lot. You really aren’t all that.

“The certainty of life is beautiful, but the uncertainty of life is exciting and amazing. It is more exciting to live an uncertain life than it is to live a boring certain life.”

-- Debasish Mridha

Do you believe in karma?

Absolutely. But, don’t look for it to impact an asshole immediately. Karma works at its own pace.

What strategies can you implement to develop emotional awareness, to become a more resilient leader? 

You need to know the job better than everybody else. You need to be aware of problems before they occur and take the steps to head problems off before they become unmanageable problems. These are the traits that “upper management” is looking for in leadership. And, if you’re in politics, “upper management” are the people who vote you in. Politicians tend to forget this.

Would Plato put modern philosophers in a Boston crab and make them cry out for mommy, while Diogenes made fun of the clothes they wear? They don’t seem particularly creative or philosophical whatsoever. Are they stuck in the cave of their delusions?

Maybe... 2500 years ago. Remember, we have learned so much since that time, including their philosophy.

What is the definition of an argument? What are the different types of arguments? What makes an argument sound convincing?

The definition has to do with divergent opinions. An argument is an argument. Some are disagreements and others are heated. What makes the argument sound convincing is when one side voices the facts. An argument is only as good as the facts presented. Most arguments don’t rely on facts, more than stupidity. It is a “human” thing. 

Describe the importance of ethics in organizations. What are the central ideas to focus on?

You can answer the importance and the central idea of good “ethics” in one word: Honesty.

What skill did you learn from a teacher that positively impacted your life?

Understanding. You can go off the deep end or try to be understanding. One teacher in high school taught me the importance of being understanding. I took that “understanding” with me to the Air Force. It was credited with me being a good trainer, supervisor, and manager.

“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.”

-- Marie Curie

Is science based on belief or evidence?

Science is based on evidence. But, the evidence is proved by dissecting beliefs.

What is the highest level of kindness you have ever seen in your life?

During the disaster of 9/11. Strangers comforting total strangers, and both were crying. The kindness during the NY disaster, between total strangers, was unbelievable. We should show that kind of caring always.

What's a recipe for food with children's teeth as the main ingredient?

That is sick.

What is the relationship between science and religion? Why do some scientists believe in God while others do not?

Science constantly proves the omnipotence of God. Atheists, however, see the facts in another way. 

Do you feel bad for being suck at math?

No. I excelled at so many other things. I served 23 years in the Air Force, and another 17 years as a corporate liaison and a manager for a multimillion-dollar corporation. My skills in higher math did not hold me back.

Is it possible to find happiness without religion, god, spirituality, etc.?

Of course. It is a choice.

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

-- Abraham Lincoln

Why do I get guilty feelings that I am feeling so great after distancing myself from my brothers and especially my father, despite the fact they are being disrespectful towards me?

Family is a difficult group to handle. They might mature, or they might not. Your guilt is probably the love you suppress.

When was the last time you beat your wife?

Contrary to what my ex-wife would say, the only time I hit her was when she hit me first. It was back in the 90s, I think. She would hit me and I would slap her. It wasn’t my finest moment, and I regretted it immediately after. It was a reflex response I have managed to control since. I almost crippled my hands by hitting cinderblock walls to prevent slapping her ever again.

I have been a longtime member of Quora, and have asked many intelligent and thoughtful questions, but no one has answered any of them yet. How can I get answers to them more easily?

Ask me a typical question you have asked.

How can you determine if someone is afraid of you? What could be the reason for their fear?

If someone is afraid of me, they are ignorant of my abilities. I am a lover, not a fighter. Your persona can put people off. If you sound angry or look angry, it can make people afraid to approach you. If you are always the “happy camper”, why would someone be afraid of you? I have been trained to kill, but most of my friends think I’m incapable of violence. I’m not incapable, I choose not to exercise my abilities. It is a choice, in a civilized society.

How do you respond to questions that were not directed towards you?

I don’t, at least not out loud. I keep my response to myself. 

Will good or evil win out in the end?

There must be balance in the universe, or there will be no winner. If evil wins, human life will cease to exist. If good wins, evil will continue to exist. There is no winner.

“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

There is this stupid, and I'm so angry a way I can't remember who wrote it, but if a woman wants to commit suicide she will aim at her heart, and if a man wants to he will aim at his head. Who is the idiot that said this?

Probably not an idiot. Most likely a mystery writer.

Is having a good vocabulary more important than being smart?

If you don’t have to communicate with other people what would be the point of not hiring the smart person? Being “smart” is why you were hired, not for your communication skills.

How would the world be different if everyone had a good vocabulary?

No, but the entire world would be speaking properly. A good thing that could from it.

What is the difference between the words "stupid" and "idiotic" and why do some people use one over the other?

Not much that I can tell. Both words are overused in society. The better address for them would be “ignorant.” Since the “stupid and the idiotic” can be trained to not be, they are “ignorant” of what they could know.

What is a suitable name for someone who lacks intelligence?

Ignorant.

In what ways can pleasure be a reason for living?

Pleasure is a choice, therefore, unless you choose to be a miserable person, pleasure is a great reason, and choice, for living life to its fullest.

"Poor is the man whose pleasures depend on the permission of another."

-- Madonna Ciccone

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