Questioning Consciousness, Lies, Atheists, Faith, Wisdom, and Suicide

 

"An altered state of consciousness is a change in one's normal mental state as a result of trauma or accident or induced through meditation, drugs, some foods, etc. The person is not unconscious. There are also many common experiences that create altered states of consciousness (ASC), such as sleeping or daydreaming, sleep deprivation, euphoria, or panic. Dream state, hypnosis, and meditation are also considered ASC. ASC is a relative state of mental functioning. The mind is still wandering (such as in a dream) or concentrated and focused as in meditation. A thoughtless stillness could be experienced, from time to time, that could take us beyond ASC."

-- National Library of Medicine

Mind movement or engaging with automated thoughts alters the consciousness state experienced. Do you agree?

If you buy into it, yes.

Author comment: You agree that mind movement affects the consciousness state experienced then?

My reply: If you buy into it, yes. (What part did he not understand?)

Author comment: Ok, so if you experience both the “in” and “out” of the moment consciousness states, then how can you be consciousness? You are merely aware of the vibratory experience of it.

My reply: And?

Why do I allow myself to be on this Earth with an entire population that I do not like?

That is your problem. As your problem, only you can answer it. If you can’t answer it, that is another problem. There is a way out of this, but, personally, I would try to get along with the population.

Why is it that humans struggle to make and keep money, when it's very important to have?

Christ lived off the charity of people. How “important” is this struggle?

Is it true that “All logical arguments can be defeated by the simple refusal to reason logically.” as claimed by Tadas Maurukas?

Yes, it is true. If you refuse to reason logically, there is no reason to communicate with you. It would be a waste of time and effort.

Reader comment: You are absolutely correct. I just didn’t expect that behavior from everyone who sees my proof. I think it must be mass psychosis that causes everyone to abandon reason.

If there was such a thing as the “secret or secrets to life” and you knew for sure that you discovered it/them (and you actually DID) after diligent searching, how would you expect that to influence how you see yourself and treat others?

I would smile. I would expect nothing. It is enough that I know.

Am I the only one who wishes that I was never born?

If you were never born, I couldn’t answer this question. If things in your life that make you feel this way, get rid of them. We allow “drama” to rule our lives. Get rid of the drama.

“Not to be born at all

Is best, far best that can befall,

Next best, when born, with least delay

To trace the backward way.

For when youth passes with its giddy train,

Troubles on troubles follow, toils on toils,

Pain, pain forever pain;

And none escapes life's coils.

Envy, sedition, strife,

Carnage and war, make up the tale of life.”

-- Sophocles

How can I be sure of what they lie about, and what they tell the truth about?

You can research the answers they give, but that takes time. The best bet is to surround yourself with people who speak the truth. If they don’t know, they will tell you they aren’t certain of what they say. 

Who do people think they are when claiming that something they do is not perfect?

They are perfectionists. Perfectionists want everything they do to be perfect.

If Satan designed atheism, why did he only limit its effects to the stupid?

They aren’t stupid. They may be ignorant. Either way, they don’t delve too deep. The “conscious” people take a look, and then they look several more times, just to be sure. The thing about theism is, we can admit that we really don’t know. That mystery fascinates us. Most atheists are too shallow to dig too far down. They don’t buy into it from the start, and that prevents them from ever thinking about everlasting life.

What is your go-to strategy for staying disciplined when progress feels slow?

Being disciplined doesn't require a "go-to" strategy. My discipline is what it is, disciplined. 

Why do we waste time rewatching movies or series we've already watched?

Because they are interesting. I have watched the “Star Wars” movies more than once because they are interesting.

Do you know how many important and positive things Scientologists do for society?

I try not to think about cult members.

"If Scientologists are happy in the church, I say God bless. Honestly, it's probably better for them to keep getting jerked off in the church because they will never experience that kind of validation in the real world."

-- Leah Remini

Do atheists look forward to being spiritually sodomized by Satan for eternity?

They don’t believe in God or Satan.

I think scientists are fools wasting their worthless time by “experimenting”. Why don’t they go do something useful with their pathetic little life?

Well, your statement says they are wasting their "worthless" time.  Their "worthless" time probably gave the major part of the world everything they needed to be free and healthy. Their experiments have given us medicine, electricity, sustainable crops, gasoline, healthy animals, healthy people, etc., etc., etc.  "Worthless time"? That's a hoot.

How are questions properly structured?

“Why?”

If you're kind and do the right thing, does DEI become increasingly unnecessary?

“DEI stands for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, which we define as follows: Diversity is the presence of differences in dimensions of human identity.” — City of Lebanon, NH.

If you are kind and always do the right thing, and you believe in diversity, equity, and inclusion, then what is the use of DEI to you? I just heard of this, and I stand for all of it.

What is the first event popping out from your memory, that made you suspect human integrity?

Lies. Nothing shatters human integrity like lying.

Can you love somebody who hates you?

I love my ex-wife, after everything she did to me over the 25 years of our marriage. I can’t live with her, but I still love her, after everything she did to me. She was acting immature, and I forgave her, but it took years.

“If you can love someone without the hope of ever being loved back, that love is real.”

-- Shikha Thakur, MBA

Is it acceptable to share one's faith with non-believers?

Only if they ask you, and only if they are honest with their question.

Why does God allow evil people to flourish in their lives?

God has nothing to do with it. God cut us loose. People will do what they will do, and if it is evil, they will pay for it, sooner or later.

What happens if you don't serve God's purpose in your life?

You will suffer the consequences.

What are some ways to help others and bring glory to God?

Help others. Whether you are poor or rich, helping others is the only way you can bring glory to God. You should not brag about why you are doing it. It is a personal task you have assigned to yourself. If you are asked, smile and you can say God has assigned you to this. The assignment is between you and God.

How do humans always know what they think about or what they know?

We have a reasoning brain. It isn’t always right, but it’s the best we have.

How can we understand death and where we go?

It is all supposition. Each person, organization, church, etc., has a theory. Maybe some of them have bits of it right. Most of my library is comprised of religious texts. I have a book of “World Religions.” It is 288 pages long. It is a “reference classic.” The point I’m trying to make is that it covers the seven major religions. It does not cover all of them or a person’s personal beliefs. What you want to understand about death… is up to you.

"Death smiles at us all, all a man can do is smile back."

-- Marcus Aurelius

Does wisdom need to be found on one's own, or can it be taught?

It can be taught, but it is better understood if you experience it on your own.

How do I know if I am living in God's purpose?

Are you truly good, honest, believe in God, always happy, and selflessly helping others? If you are, you are living in God’s purpose. You can only do so much.

Can I find a wife and get married?

You need to get looking or you’ll never find a wife to marry.

Are teachers ruining children?

If they are not teaching what the children need to know, they are ruining the children. Teachers need to teach the basics, and then the children can choose extra classes… if they have the time.

Read with comprehension, write effectively, and communicate successfully in a variety of ways and settings and with a variety of audiences; Know and apply the core concepts and principles of mathematics; social, physical, and life sciences; civics and history, including different cultures and participation in representative government; geography; arts; and health and fitness; Think analytically, logically, and creatively, and to integrate technology literacy and fluency as well as different experiences and knowledge to form reasoned judgments and solve problems; Understand the importance of work and finance and how performance, effort, and decisions directly affect future career and educational opportunities.

Can knowledge and ignorance stay together?

It happens all the time.

Is it possible for a religious person to be evil?

Indeed. One only has to look at clerics to see the possibility of evil. Nuns that whack knuckles with rulers, is my favorite. Priests who diddle children are another. There is always an opening, no matter religious or not, for evil to show its face.

“With or without religion, good people can behave well and bad people can do evil; but for good people to do evil - that takes religion.”

-- Steven Weinberg 

Why is our society intolerant to suicide? Why not let some people leave this world?

Whether they are tolerant or not, suicide happens, and people leave this life. It’s a choice.

Do I need a relationship seriously?

Define “relationship”? You can have relationships with your friends. If you are talking about being a hermit, you will still have relationships with people you bump into. Now, if you are talking about “sexual” relationships, many priests make this happen. So it would seem that you can make this happen.

Has the world become atheist?

Not a chance. Religion has a lock on belief.

Is there such a thing as a Christian atheist?

No. An atheist doesn’t believe in God.

Is it necessary to follow religion if everything is made up?

Prove it. There’s the rub. Nobody is knowledgeable about religion... until they die. So much for current knowlege. 

How does a secular moral differ from an atheist moral?

Good morals are good morals, religious, secular, or atheist.

"Your morals are your ideas about right and wrong, especially how you should act and treat other people. Most people would agree that thieves, murderers, and other criminals are lacking morals. A lot of people would say politicians could use some morals as well. Every person has a slightly different set of morals, and different cultures have their own morals as well. You probably get your morals from a combination of your parents, your teachers, your culture, and your religion."

-- Vocabulary.com, "Morals"

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