Sunday, January 05, 2020
A Mania for Creating Worldviews!
I suppose I am really hung up on writing down all aspects of
my personal worldview. After dwelling on it for some time, I stumbled into a
novel idea: why do I do this? What has caused me to spend countless words and
sentences on the concept of a worldview? Why hadn't I asked this question long
ago? Mea culpa!
Turning my attention to this fundamental question that ought
to have been asked earlier, I came up with the following rationale:
1. Writing down my worldview is a very satisfying discovery
act of what I believe and what I should be able to articulate,
2. This effort assures that I work through and cover just
about all of the main issues in life that concern me in a systematic way,
3. The written version then acts as cut-in-stone memory of
my thoughts at a given time,
4. As things in this world evolve, the writing provides a
framework with which to integrate the changes of my views in a logical manner,
and to assess the impacts of changes more systematically across the spectrum of
ideas,
5. One other significant use is to evaluate the candidates
in an election by comparing their statements with my own ideas: of course, the
closer to my ideas the better!
6. Finally, it is a worldview I can share with others as
appropriate, and even use it to compare platforms of political parties, both
with my worldview, and with those of the main parties to each other, given
sufficient data.
The second question is, of course, what subjects should a
well formed worldview cover to meet the above uses, and to what depth? (I will
leave the issue of depth until later) Here is my basic list of subjects:
Theology
Philosophy
Ethics
Biology
Psychology
Sociology
Law
Politics
Economics
History
Health & Welfare
Education
Defense
Culture
Government
Finance
Natural Resources
Science, Engineering & Technology
Environment
Infrastructure
Land, Sea, Air & Space/Cosmology
Foreign Nations
The UN
NATO
Other Treaties
The Media
The issue of depth is a bit harder to define. In a way it is
up to the writer to determine what depth he is satisfied with to meet his uses.
I certainly want to cover the main ideas within each subject to a level that allows
me to understand their impact on my life, but not so far as to write myself to death!
Truly, each of the above subjects can demand many books to cover them in an accurate
and complete manner. I simply want to address the highlights and opinions of importance,
and leave the details to the books that exist on each subject in my library.
I suppose I am really hung up on writing down all aspects of
my personal worldview. After dwelling on it for some time, I stumbled into a
novel idea: why do I do this? What has caused me to spend countless words and
sentences on the concept of a worldview? Why hadn't I asked this question long
ago? Mea culpa!
Turning my attention to this fundamental question that ought
to have been asked earlier, I came up with the following rationale:
1. Writing down my worldview is a very satisfying discovery
act of what I believe and what I should be able to articulate,
2. This effort assures that I work through and cover just
about all of the main issues in life that concern me in a systematic way,
3. The written version then acts as cut-in-stone memory of
my thoughts at a given time,
4. As things in this world evolve, the writing provides a
framework with which to integrate the changes of my views in a logical manner,
and to assess the impacts of changes more systematically across the spectrum of
ideas,
5. One other significant use is to evaluate the candidates
in an election by comparing their statements with my own ideas: of course, the
closer to my ideas the better!
6. Finally, it is a worldview I can share with others as
appropriate, and even use it to compare platforms of political parties, both
with my worldview, and with those of the main parties to each other, given
sufficient data.
The second question is, of course, what subjects should a
well formed worldview cover to meet the above uses, and to what depth? (I will
leave the issue of depth until later) Here is my basic list of subjects:
Theology
Philosophy
Ethics
Biology
Psychology
Sociology
Law
Politics
Economics
History
Health & Welfare
Education
Defense
Culture
Government
Finance
Natural Resources
Science, Engineering & Technology
Environment
Infrastructure
Philosophy
Ethics
Biology
Psychology
Sociology
Law
Politics
Economics
History
Health & Welfare
Education
Defense
Culture
Government
Finance
Natural Resources
Science, Engineering & Technology
Environment
Infrastructure
Land, Sea, Air & Space/Cosmology
Foreign Nations
The UN
NATO
Other Treaties
The Media
The issue of depth is a bit harder to define. In a way it is
up to the writer to determine what depth he is satisfied with to meet his uses.
I certainly want to cover the main ideas within each subject to a level that allows
me to understand their impact on my life, but not so far as to write myself to death!
Truly, each of the above subjects can demand many books to cover them in an accurate
and complete manner. I simply want to address the highlights and opinions of importance,
and leave the details to the books that exist on each subject in my library.
Wednesday, December 18, 2019
Gun Controls
Gun Control Legislation
Several law changes appear to be favorites by legislatures, including: 1) Banning
semi-automatic weapons; 2) A maximum of
10 rounds in Magazines; 3) Specifically banning rifles and carbines in the
popular AR-15 configuration; 4) deeper background checks with Red Flag steps;
and, 5) Restricting purchases of weapons to one per month.
There are a number of objections to these projected laws:
·
It is the
kliller at fault, not the weapon he uses.
·
The
police cannot respond fast enough to a threat.
·
Cities with
the most restrictive gun control laws have the most gun crimes.
·
Suicides
will continue regardless of gun restrictions, simply by changing the method
used.
·
Citizens,
especially the elderly, will have fewer capabilities to defend themselves, in
particular against the common type of breakins by an armed two or three-man
team. In the rush to defend, many more rounds are needed simply because most
citizens in panic mode cannot hit their targets accurately, using up their
available ammo if restricted to ten rounds.
·
Deeper
background checks will not be supported by the medical profession broadly and
effectively, and a number of Red Flag events will become a tool of revenge,
setting in motion false efforts.
·
Criminals
will acquire and use banned guns despite all laws.
·
Then, of
course, there is the Second Amendment to the Constitution, which seems to be
ignored.
One component of these efforts seems to be blind fear of
guns instead of more rigorous logic in applying the laws.
Gun Control Legislation
·
It is the
kliller at fault, not the weapon he uses.
·
The
police cannot respond fast enough to a threat.
·
Cities with
the most restrictive gun control laws have the most gun crimes.
·
Suicides
will continue regardless of gun restrictions, simply by changing the method
used.
·
Citizens,
especially the elderly, will have fewer capabilities to defend themselves, in
particular against the common type of breakins by an armed two or three-man
team. In the rush to defend, many more rounds are needed simply because most
citizens in panic mode cannot hit their targets accurately, using up their
available ammo if restricted to ten rounds.
·
Deeper
background checks will not be supported by the medical profession broadly and
effectively, and a number of Red Flag events will become a tool of revenge,
setting in motion false efforts.
·
Criminals
will acquire and use banned guns despite all laws.
·
Then, of
course, there is the Second Amendment to the Constitution, which seems to be
ignored.
Sunday, August 25, 2019
What do we require of a president?
Two dozen attributes
most of us hold to be true of our candidate!
1.
Judeo-Christian Belief System: God, Jesus. the
Holy Spirit
2.
A Command Presence
3.
Intelligence and Quick Learning
4.
Guts and a Thick Skin
5.
Business Experience
6.
International Experience
7.
Firm Grasp of the Constitution and Derivative
Laws
8.
Well Informed about the Political Opposition
9.
Must be a Gifted Orator
10.
An Honest, True and Patriotic American
11.
A Great Memory
12.
Keen Knowledge of Modern Technology
13.
Sufficient Knowledge of Economics and the
Financial System
14.
Has Knowledge of Our Massive Government (Over
1,250 Agencies)
15.
Approachable and Friendly Attitude Towards All
16.
Is a Proven Leader of Men and Excellent Judgment
of Others
17.
Major Executive Experience
18.
Can be a Father Figure for Those Who Need it.
19.
Truly Loves to Travel by All Means
20.
Rejects the Entire Spectrum of Collective
Government Concepts
21.
Has Extensive Name Recognition in the Nation
22.
A Background Free of Any Sins
23.
Fundamental Knowledge of Good and Evil
24.
Has a Well Thought Out Plan for Governing
We are blessed if we can find someone with a majority of
these attributes!
I believe that Donald Trump scores well on the most of these
attributes!
Two dozen attributes most of us hold to be true of our candidate!
1.
Judeo-Christian Belief System: God, Jesus. the
Holy Spirit
2.
A Command Presence
3.
Intelligence and Quick Learning
4.
Guts and a Thick Skin
5.
Business Experience
6.
International Experience
7.
Firm Grasp of the Constitution and Derivative
Laws
8.
Well Informed about the Political Opposition
9.
Must be a Gifted Orator
10.
An Honest, True and Patriotic American
11.
A Great Memory
12.
Keen Knowledge of Modern Technology
13.
Sufficient Knowledge of Economics and the
Financial System
14.
Has Knowledge of Our Massive Government (Over
1,250 Agencies)
15.
Approachable and Friendly Attitude Towards All
16.
Is a Proven Leader of Men and Excellent Judgment
of Others
17.
Major Executive Experience
18.
Can be a Father Figure for Those Who Need it.
19.
Truly Loves to Travel by All Means
20.
Rejects the Entire Spectrum of Collective
Government Concepts
21.
Has Extensive Name Recognition in the Nation
22.
A Background Free of Any Sins
23.
Fundamental Knowledge of Good and Evil
24.
Has a Well Thought Out Plan for Governing
We are blessed if we can find someone with a majority of these attributes!
I believe that Donald Trump scores well on the most of these attributes!
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
Elements of
Patriotism
Love of Country Without Conditions
A Love That Comes from the Heart
Our Constitution That Has Held Up for Over 230 Years: 2019
-1789
The Declaration of Independence: 1776
Freedoms We Cherish: Speech; Religion; Assembly; Movement
Inalienable Rights Conferred on Us
Tradition, Looking Back At A History of Patriotism
Obligation, Looking Forward: Keep Building That Shining City
on a Hill
Thankfulness To be Born in America
Pride in All We Have Accomplished
Countless Graves of Patriots, Real Heroes, Here and Overseas
They Are An Unwritten Debt That Can Never be Repaid
Elements of Patriotism
Love of Country Without Conditions
A Love That Comes from the Heart
Our Constitution That Has Held Up for Over 230 Years: 2019 -1789
The Declaration of Independence: 1776
Freedoms We Cherish: Speech; Religion; Assembly; Movement
Inalienable Rights Conferred on Us
Tradition, Looking Back At A History of Patriotism
Obligation, Looking Forward: Keep Building That Shining City on a Hill
Thankfulness To be Born in America
Pride in All We Have Accomplished
Countless Graves of Patriots, Real Heroes, Here and Overseas
They Are An Unwritten Debt That Can Never be Repaid
Thursday, May 30, 2019
A Brief Outline of Secularism
or the Secular Humanism World View
Today we are seeing a rising interest in variations of
socialism that are not quite the full bore version, but are much further down
the road than we are now. Yes, we do spend over 65% of our government revenue
on various forms of entitlements and social benefits to groups is some
particular need, but we have not proceeded to nationalize our private
industries or any major part of them as required by socialistic theory and
practice.
There are, however, significant segments of society that are
flirting with how to go well beyond the current 65% and are pressing towards a
minimum salary for everyone, along with reparations(!) and, if you follow the
green plan. more trains and less cars and airplanes among the inexplicable and
unaffordable excesses that are supposed to help cure the CO2 menace forthwith.
This is like trying to shoot ducks with a 16-inch battleship cannon---a maximum
effort for almost no return.
One of the systems the Democrats are flirting with is called
Secular Humanism (SM), and it generally satisfies its adherents that they have
found Nirvana, and their rewards are substantial, at least until the money runs
out (which it inevitably will!). We need to understand just what SM adherents
want for a world view, since many forces are aligned to attempt to bring some
of these goodies to the public, however watered down they end up being.
The Secular part immediately implies the demise of religion
as a driving force in society, and the Humanist approach harkens back to
"Man is the measure of all things, especially in society." There went
our Constitution! The Rule of Man would replace the Rule of Law.
Used here is a relatively well-known outline of the major
aspects for a world view championed by Meyers and Noebel*. The simple World
View of Secular Humanism is as follows:
Theology ==> Atheism
Philosophy ==> Materialism
or Naturalism
Ethics ==> Moral
Relativism or Utilitarianism
Biology ==> New
Darwinism
Psychology ==> Self Actualization
Sociology ==> Personal
Autonomy
Law ==> Legal
Positivism (morality ignored)
Politics ==> Progressivism
Economics ==> Economic
Interventionism or "Socialism Light"
History ==> Social
Progress
If one really understands the elements of this world view,
which should be satisfactorily defined by the reader for himself, you can reach
several conclusions:
1. Under this Utopian scheme, all of Christianity and its
moral absolutes would be ignored.
2. The entitlements would expand enormously, perhaps as far
as 80%, paid for by nationalizing key industries.
3. The predilection
of Democrats to tax and spend would have free reign.
4. This would be a waypoint to full Socialism and eventually
Communism.
5. America as we know it would disappear as would the
American Dream.
6. So would our automobiles, and planes disappear, and who
knows what else?
7. The idea that children should be raised separately from
their parents in order to brainwash them into good little Humanists or
Socialists is part of the thinking of Secular Humanists. This idea was removed
from their Manifesto, but remains in their game plan.
8. There would be three classes of citizens: the Elite; the Military; and the rest of us.
The Democrats are serious about SM, especially as it comes
close to Socialism, although they cannot lay it out as has been done here.
*From "Understanding
The Times" by Jeff Meyers and David A. Noebel, Summit Ministries, 2015.
A Brief Outline of Secularism or the Secular Humanism World View
Today we are seeing a rising interest in variations of socialism that are not quite the full bore version, but are much further down the road than we are now. Yes, we do spend over 65% of our government revenue on various forms of entitlements and social benefits to groups is some particular need, but we have not proceeded to nationalize our private industries or any major part of them as required by socialistic theory and practice.
There are, however, significant segments of society that are flirting with how to go well beyond the current 65% and are pressing towards a minimum salary for everyone, along with reparations(!) and, if you follow the green plan. more trains and less cars and airplanes among the inexplicable and unaffordable excesses that are supposed to help cure the CO2 menace forthwith. This is like trying to shoot ducks with a 16-inch battleship cannon---a maximum effort for almost no return.
One of the systems the Democrats are flirting with is called Secular Humanism (SM), and it generally satisfies its adherents that they have found Nirvana, and their rewards are substantial, at least until the money runs out (which it inevitably will!). We need to understand just what SM adherents want for a world view, since many forces are aligned to attempt to bring some of these goodies to the public, however watered down they end up being.
The Secular part immediately implies the demise of religion as a driving force in society, and the Humanist approach harkens back to "Man is the measure of all things, especially in society." There went our Constitution! The Rule of Man would replace the Rule of Law.
Used here is a relatively well-known outline of the major aspects for a world view championed by Meyers and Noebel*. The simple World View of Secular Humanism is as follows:
Theology ==> Atheism
Philosophy ==> Materialism or Naturalism
Ethics ==> Moral Relativism or Utilitarianism
Biology ==> New Darwinism
Psychology ==> Self Actualization
Sociology ==> Personal Autonomy
Law ==> Legal Positivism (morality ignored)
Politics ==> Progressivism
Economics ==> Economic Interventionism or "Socialism Light"
History ==> Social Progress
If one really understands the elements of this world view, which should be satisfactorily defined by the reader for himself, you can reach several conclusions:
1. Under this Utopian scheme, all of Christianity and its moral absolutes would be ignored.
2. The entitlements would expand enormously, perhaps as far as 80%, paid for by nationalizing key industries.
3. The predilection of Democrats to tax and spend would have free reign.
4. This would be a waypoint to full Socialism and eventually Communism.
5. America as we know it would disappear as would the American Dream.
6. So would our automobiles, and planes disappear, and who knows what else?
7. The idea that children should be raised separately from their parents in order to brainwash them into good little Humanists or Socialists is part of the thinking of Secular Humanists. This idea was removed from their Manifesto, but remains in their game plan.
8. There would be three classes of citizens: the Elite; the Military; and the rest of us.
The Democrats are serious about SM, especially as it comes close to Socialism, although they cannot lay it out as has been done here.
*From "Understanding The Times" by Jeff Meyers and David A. Noebel, Summit Ministries, 2015.
Thursday, May 23, 2019
One View of Atheism
Some time ago, as I developed my worldview in diagrammatic
form, I realized that the belief system I was creating based upon my view of
God, very clearly separated that Godly belief from a belief in various forms of
morality, virtue, right reason, truth, freedom, and just about everything
having to do with The American Way; in short, it included atheism. What was
left out, of course, was the belief in the Bible, the life and death of Jesus, resurrection,
salvation, and heaven after death.
What this could mean for atheists then is the view that this
life was all there is, and there is nothing to look forward to in an afterlife.
The mark they leave on the nation, good or bad, and the world too, is the only possible
legacy of their lives.
Of the many ways an atheist could express himself, I selected
three obvious possible types:
Type 1) He merges into the general public virtually
indistinguishable from all others, except he doesn't go to church and he tends
to socialize with his kindred spirits on the Left and likely accepts some form
of Natural Law. He does not represent a threat to the nation;
Type 2) He very loudly proclaims his atheism and argues
incessantly with Christians and others over the issues he holds against
religion, but he is a true American despite his lack of belief in God and his left-thinking.
A very annoying sort, but not a threat to the nation;
Type 3) He is not
only an atheist, he readily turns to support various forms of Leftward Collectivity,
such as Progressivism, Socialism or Communism, quite largely in the belief that
he and his kind are more intelligent, more attuned to the world, and better
able to direct the lives of the rest of us than under our so-called outdated
and rickety Constitution, our economic system, and our wildly unpredictable
political system. His mindset has been shaped by outside influences to believe
he is most definitely in the right and the most rational of people.
He, too, is destined to argue not only against our American way
of life, but also our government, our political system, our economic system, and
our Christian religion. Most probably he hates Trump and most other rich people
with a passion.
He downplays the many outstanding historical failures of atheistic
Collectivism, attributing the failures to the vagaries of mankind that he and
his compatriots would be able to master if only they had the power. Then too, they
believe they are smart enough to run the complex economy we have using
computers for the better good of the citizens.
Finally, he believes in shaping the mindset of our citizens
to become adherents to the new Collective way over time. This type is indeed a
threat to the nation. Some radicals of this type champion the Marxist idea of
destruction of the nation in order to rebuild it in the Communist way.
Do these types resonate with any of the denizens we know? It
would be wise to identify very carefully the 3rd types in our society and keep
them in clear view, as well as recognizing their small and large efforts to
convert our citizens to their way of thinking.
Some time ago, as I developed my worldview in diagrammatic form, I realized that the belief system I was creating based upon my view of God, very clearly separated that Godly belief from a belief in various forms of morality, virtue, right reason, truth, freedom, and just about everything having to do with The American Way; in short, it included atheism. What was left out, of course, was the belief in the Bible, the life and death of Jesus, resurrection, salvation, and heaven after death.
What this could mean for atheists then is the view that this life was all there is, and there is nothing to look forward to in an afterlife. The mark they leave on the nation, good or bad, and the world too, is the only possible legacy of their lives.
Of the many ways an atheist could express himself, I selected three obvious possible types:
Type 1) He merges into the general public virtually indistinguishable from all others, except he doesn't go to church and he tends to socialize with his kindred spirits on the Left and likely accepts some form of Natural Law. He does not represent a threat to the nation;
Type 2) He very loudly proclaims his atheism and argues incessantly with Christians and others over the issues he holds against religion, but he is a true American despite his lack of belief in God and his left-thinking. A very annoying sort, but not a threat to the nation;
Type 3) He is not only an atheist, he readily turns to support various forms of Leftward Collectivity, such as Progressivism, Socialism or Communism, quite largely in the belief that he and his kind are more intelligent, more attuned to the world, and better able to direct the lives of the rest of us than under our so-called outdated and rickety Constitution, our economic system, and our wildly unpredictable political system. His mindset has been shaped by outside influences to believe he is most definitely in the right and the most rational of people.
He, too, is destined to argue not only against our American way of life, but also our government, our political system, our economic system, and our Christian religion. Most probably he hates Trump and most other rich people with a passion.
He downplays the many outstanding historical failures of atheistic Collectivism, attributing the failures to the vagaries of mankind that he and his compatriots would be able to master if only they had the power. Then too, they believe they are smart enough to run the complex economy we have using computers for the better good of the citizens.
Finally, he believes in shaping the mindset of our citizens to become adherents to the new Collective way over time. This type is indeed a threat to the nation. Some radicals of this type champion the Marxist idea of destruction of the nation in order to rebuild it in the Communist way.
Do these types resonate with any of the denizens we know? It would be wise to identify very carefully the 3rd types in our society and keep them in clear view, as well as recognizing their small and large efforts to convert our citizens to their way of thinking.
