Category: Philosophy

  • Fixing Congress – Religion and Politics

    The solution to stopping official corruption is not simple, or one-size-fits all. That being said, one of the most reasonable answers may seem entirely counter-intuitive. Those putting the person in their position must choose people of character—folks who are generally immune to the corrupting influence of those who would peddle it to them. In short, if you’re a voter, cast your ballot only for people who will refuse to be bought. Then if you find at some point they’re corrupt, remove them from office.

  • This Location Permanently Closed – Religion and Politics

    Businesses should always remember, they serve at the pleasure of those willing to frequent their establishments. If you continually do things that run those people off, count on falling by the wayside. Heck, there’re times when you don’t even have to do that. A local branch of an at least interstate doughnut shop, went under just because others were in their market space and located nearby. As a result the competitors won the day. Never forget, the customer may not always be right, but their patronage is essential to your existence.

  • Bending the Knee – Religion and Politics

    It may be the mantra of many politicians to shift their tack based on the direction of the school of fish with which they swim. For me though, moving with the herd is not what keeps me oriented. Rather I seek to work to maintain an internal integrity that consistently improves. If you’ve spent your time following the crowd, maybe it’s time to break free, and seek to forge your own path.

  • Words Aren’t Action – Religion and Politics

    Once upon a time, there was a man known as Saul of Tarsus. In his younger days, he at least stood by and assented to the stoning of a Christian man (and it’s rumored, so much worse). That man later came to be known as Paul the Apostle. People can and do change. It may take some pretty extraordinary circumstances and events, but that’s how life is. Have you said and done things you probably ought not have put out there? I know I have. Will you admit that as well? I would hope so.

  • More on COVID-19 Responses – Religion and Politics

    This brings me to the point of my piece. Where people may argue that the difference between the death rate in a place like Philadelphia and one like Saint Louis was a result of mask wear, social distancing and lock downs, I’m not inclined to accept that’s as likely as they want you to believe. In finality, Spanish ‘Flu ceased to be a thing as a result of one simple fact, it ran its course. I for one, am not inclined to believe any of the things used to combat it were all that effective. My disbelief is equally strong where COVID-19 is concerned.

  • Basic Civics – Religion and Politics

    In the end, the point is, moving from a system of government that informed the creation of the newer systems of political management now found throughout much of the modern world, to another that has been tried many times, and consistently failed seems more than a little counter intuitive to me at this point. I submit we’d be far better off perfecting what we’ve had, than shifting to something that seems never to have functioned at all. All that I’ve said to this point matters little if people aren’t even willing to explore what was and what is, and what might be, in good faith.

  • The Equality Myth – Religion and Politics

    What is the main point of this piece? That as a rule, equality where people are concerned is mythical—it doesn’t exist—either in opportunity or outcomes. If you think about it, that’s not only an acceptable thing, it’s actually a good one. That it’s not bad is the more wonderful, based on its impossibility. So what’re most people actually desirous of? The simple answer is, “Reasonable liberty to try and gain or lose.”

  • Blaming the Victim – Religion and Politics

    The long and short of this is, we need to stop blaming the victims of various forms of malevolent activity, rather than the one doing the harm. I get that things the wronged one may have done and said might’ve contributed to or more correctly, detracted from the situation, but that’s not a reason to blame them for the evil visited upon them.

  • The Bleeding Edge – Religion and Politics

    If you’re wondering why there’s a push toward the Right by people who seem not to “fit the profile,” you might consider the idea that the folks on the Left (read here, “folks who support the Democrat Party”) are more likely than not to be authoritarians. You might also come to realize they have a desire to get more people into their bloc. Moving further into the weeds is how they attempt to do that. This is why so many are alienated, because Democrats have been shifting to encompass ever more radical perspectives.

  • Inhumanity – Religion and Politics

    Do you disagree with someone or someones? That’s totally fine. Does that make it reasonable to attack their person, to treat them in manners you wouldn’t appreciate, were you in their shoes? I submit that it doesn’t. Kindness is largely without cost. If you’re not working to be kind and nice as a rule, perhaps you should consider it.