Just As I Thought

Most of the readership of this blog will come from what I consider a Biblical background. So, discussing things of faith will have a certain framework from which most if not all will have. To call that a prejudice or bias I have no difficulty in accepting. One of the accusations that Christians receive is that they are narrow minded and not open to alternative ideas. Let's have some out of the box thinking, they propose. Well, as I see it, to think outside the box you have to a have a box to begin with. A reference point. And in the marketplace of ideas, every idea has to have a reference point. A prejudice, if you will, as a point of truth. An assumption.

Consider this quote from Richard Dawkins,

"The universe we observe has precisely the properties we should expect if there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil, no good, nothing but blind pitiless indifference."*
*Dawkins, Richard. 2005. God's Utility Function. Scientific America, 273:85.

Dawkins is a highly respected evolutionist and thinker. You would think a truly out of the box kind of guy. But Dawkins has a box from which he thinks. His box is, "there is no God and when you look around that is exactly what you see." As I see it this is what he says in the above quote, "When you get ready to look at the world around you; if you know what your looking for; then when you see it; it will be exactly what you thought you would see when you stop and see it for what it really is." Well, duh!

Or consider this quote from Charles Darwin,

"A man who has no assured and ever present belief in the existence of a personal God or of a future existence with retribution and reward, can have for his rule of life, as far as I can see, only to follow those impulses and instincts which are the strongest or which seem to him the best ones."*
*Darwin, Charles 1958. The Autobiography of Charles Darwin. New York: Norton, 94.

Apparently, God is so entrenched in the thought process of man that you have to start from God to disprove that he exists. And has following the "impulses and instincts which are the strongest" ever gotten you into trouble. You must temper that urge with, "which seem to him the best ones."

Which reminds me of a couple of Biblical imperatives:

Prov 25:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs and tries the hearts.

Prov 14:12 There is a way which seems right to a man and appears straight before him, but at the end of it is the way of death.

All of this really leads me to a conclusion, a prejudice if you will. Doesn't all thought process start with a presupposition. A point of view. Are Christians less scientific because they start from a basis of belief? Are Atheists that much different from Christians since both start with a set of presuppositions? After all if man is really looking for the truth can't there be openness in the marketplace of ideas? Or maybe a more pressing question, "Can man really recognize truth without some outside influence?"

Sharpen your swords. What do you think?

When Men Are Men

Some more of that mucho macho stuff.

The old west new what men were made of.

And in Spain real men test their courage against wild animals running in the streets.



Sometimes history doesn't record all the perils that those who settled the west faced.



And the truly macho ride bulls not horses.



And the little known fact that the Netherlands has Cowboys too.



There that should have taken the edge off some truly sharp men.
I prefer to think "blunted" not "dulled."

Dichotomy

Some of us remember "The Twilight Zone."  Rod Serling would sometimes start the show with the words, "for your consideration."   The following is for your consideration and hopefully for some enlightening dialog.  Please be advised that not all of the concepts expressed here represent the thoughts and ideas of the contributor.  But I would be interested in seeing what is thought about the divergence of ideas.  Make sure you see both videos before you comment.

For your first consideration:

And for your next consideration:

Now what do you think?

Share.

Duck and Cover

Some of us remember the special videos that were shown in the fifties to help ward off danger in case of enemy attacks. A little film called, "Duck and Cover" is presented to help you muscle up your courage in case of an all out attack. These were simple, effective rules to keep you safe during potential holocaust.



There and you thought you had forgotten those little films.

Lightin UP

Okay.  Okay.  At the risk of being too heavy.   And dang, I didn't know I was gonna have to think that hard I'm only a man.  Please quote the man's prayer; in parenthesis for those that can't remember.  (I am a man.  But I can change.   If I have to.  I guess.)

Here's some easy stuff:

What is your favorite color?

What is the greatest rock and roll song of all time?

What is the greatest rock and roll band of all time?

When were the 70's?

What is your favorite book?  (For those who don't know what a book is answer yes.)

What is the coolest thing you ever did and lived?

What is the coolest thing you ever did and lived that didn't involve a tool?

What is the coolest thing you ever did and lived but can't remember right now?

What did you want to be when you grew up?  (there's no time limit on growing up)

What is the average air speed of a coconut laden swallow?  (Trick question)

What is your favorite movie?  And why?  (Musicals will be accepted with long explanation)

Mom, do I have to answer all of these questions?  

There better not be a test later.

For extra credit, make sure your name is on the top of your paper.

GO!

What or Who?

After posting, "What is Man?", I received a question from an astute and keen mind.  That's the danger of dealing with you guys.  Your quicker than I am.  This astute inquirer wanted to know did I mean "What" or "Who?"  "In one place you asked 'What' in another 'Who' is that the same question or different questions?"

Well, there you go.  I really hadn't thought about them distinctively.  But a very good distinction was brought up.  If I ask, "What is man?", that question could be looked at more scientifically.  Man is a carbon based being...  If I ask, "Who is man?", that could be more metaphysical or spiritual.  "What is the essence of man?"

I really proposed the question as just one thing.  But after thinking culturally, we want to dissect and compartmentalize;  everything must have its place.   Really in the modern or (post-modern if you prefer) world we live there is little harmony.  You can have either Science or Religion.  The two cannot touch.  They are oil and water.  So, "What" and "Who" are valid questions.

We can thank the Greeks for these concepts, they sliced and diced all ideas down to their respective elements so that you sometimes forgot what you were talking about in the first place.  But you knew all the elements.

Originally I think philosophical thought was more unified.  The essence of man was described by the heart.  The heart being the most centralized and internalized organ of the body; it was thought of as the core of man.  The essence of man and all that he was could be summed up in the word heart.  Later as thoughts progressed,  Man was dissected into Mind and Body.  Then it became Mind, Body, Spirit.  With each of these entities starting to take on worth and value in and of itself.  As if they were independent of one another.  Man became fractured in his thinking.  His mind could think thoughts; while his body did something else.  You could detach from your body and soar through your spirit.

For me I think Man is whole cloth; not quilted together like Frankenstien.   But these are valid questions.  So,  is there a difference between

A.  Who is man?

B.   What is man?

Start your engines.  And share the distinction.

What is man?

There you go; there's a good first question.   In Psalms 8 the author asks that question of the creator.  What is man that you think on him?

 We probably have all asked ourselves at some time or another.  Who am I?  Darn good question.  And tough to answer.  Am I a husband?  Am I a father?  Am I a breadwinner?  Am I a joke?  Am I too serious?  Can I see myself in the mirror?  (For those of you who cannot see themselves in the mirror; we need to talk.  But not at night.   And not without some garlic and a wooden cross.  I digress.)

What makes me...me?  Is there something in man that needs to build monuments.  Raise statues.  Conquer lands.  Ride bulls.  Be macho.  Or at least read macho stories.  Or see macho movies.

I will assign the word, Significance.   Do we as men need significance?  If we do, how do we know when we get it?   It's easy to find out when we are not.   Everybody tells us so.  Especially those closest to us.

Here's a discussion starter to chime in on.  Let's see what you think.

Would you consider yourself

A.  Searching for significance.

B.  Living from significance.

The lines are open.  Sharpen.

Modern Blacksmiths

Proverbs 27:17 has long been a bible source for encouragement to men.  So, I can think of no better verse to base this idea upon.  Ironwerx is the name I have placed on a very simple yet profound idea.  Men sharpening and shaping one another.  

In our modern age, it is not always easy to meet in the woods and fell trees while stripping bears of their hides with bear hands.  I realize that is a horrible pun.  But this new electronic media does allow for us to contact and connect is ways never possible before.  So, I am trying to do just that.   I have to admit a prejudice.  I'm only inviting people I know.  And not all of you will know each other.  Yet, when I reflect upon the people I know and the divergence of wisdom and insight they possess it only seems a good opportunity to bring vitality into the lives of people I appreciate.

So, with that said.  My role, as I see it, is to introduce, facilitate, and spark a community of creative souls that I believe will be a blessing to those that join in.   The process can be both painful and rewarding.   For the iron, must be tempered to become steel.  And that's the idea; modern day blacksmiths enriching the lives of other men.

I hope all will participate.   I hope all will do so in love; even though there can be a variety of ideas and opinions.  My concept is to NOT make this a platform for political ideas; although I would be the first to admit that what we see in the marketplace affects our lives every day.  The implications of ideas carry considerable weight.  Some are to be fought or we loose value as humans.

Well let's see how it goes and where it will take us.  And whatever we do; may we bring strength and courage into the hearts and lives of other men.