Questions

I'm not really sure what this will be about nor am I concerned. This last weekend started pretty good but went down hill later. I am half owner of a boat and we were trying to get this hose hooked up but couldn't ever get the snap ring into place. A few phone calls later we found it will cost between 150-350 dollars to fix it. I figure we will end up doing it our selves but that will take time since we all work and not well versed in boat mechanics.

I have been reading a lot of blogs and find many of them helpful in being able to defend myself from the more religious of people. I don't know if it is good or not that I haven't had any real contact with someone I would say is to extreme in religion. The last person I had any contact with quit talking with me about religion because I always questioned his beliefs. He was probably the third or fourth person in the last 5 years that has told me I ask to many questions. I don't feel I ask enough and that I should be doing more asking. What causes people to think there are questions you shouldn't ask of them?

I think it is fear that causes people to avoid being around others that question their beliefs. There are times I get frustrated at the many questions people ask on other blogs but I don't run from them. I answer the ones I can and if it is an interesting question I will research it to find an answer. I do at times not respond to questions but those are ones that have been asked several times and answers have been given. It isn't my problem that the answer is what they want. If they really want an answer they should find it on their own until they are sure they have the correct one. That doesn't mean that they have the correct answer but one they can live with.

Should I be more forgiving to people who are christian? There is a post on http://www.atheistrev.com/2009/06/keeping-your-cool-when-confronted-by.html which will lead you to a story at rational moms website. I left a comment on it but have been thinking some about this. I am leaning more to the being left forgiving. Why should I be nice to someone who has no respect for me or my views. Someone that thinks they can impose on me because of their beliefs only deserves as much respect as they are showing me. I am lucky really, I haven't been confronted lately so it is kind of mute at this time.

Morals

I have been seeing other blogs talking about morals lately. I think one of the main problems with trying to explain morals, is everyone sees differently how we came about them. There are people that say all of our morals come from a deity and others say our morals have evolved. I don't believe either of these views are correct. I see how morals have changed for those claiming they come from a deity. The people claiming they have evolved seem to forget that earlier societies had some morals which was better for humankind but those morals are no longer there. I see morals developing from early childhood and being instilled each day for life.

How have some of the morals of those claiming they are given to us by a deity. Murder is a big one for most theist but when we study history we find that it is ok and not really as big a wrong as most claim it is. How many times have those in power used murder as a means of quieting others. If you think it is ok to kill to prevent others from hearing different views how can you say murder is wrong? A recent event that has cause some stir is the torture conducted by members of our government. Many of those with a fundie view of the world support it. I wonder what they would say if members of their churches were to be tortured? Would they claim it is ok if it is done because there is a chance good information might come from it?

What morals have gone to the wayside? Most of the morals that have went to the wayside aren't as important but still show how some have devolved. It use to be very common for people of youth to aid the elderly without having to be pushed into it. Now it is rare to see people helping each other without someone pushing for it. Look at how a stranded motorist will have to sit for long periods of time before someone stops to offer aid.

I see morals coming from society more then anything else. If you look at all the different societies you see they have similar morals but with small differences. In the more advanced societies you actually have some very manipulative type morals which aren't in the best interest of most within society. Look at how churches and cults are always trying to show mixing with those not of the group is wrong. I see this as a moral which is used to manipulate the members to avoid seeing things from a different view point.

Memories

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_of_the_Lost_(1974_TV_series) Today I turned my TV to the Scifi channel and noticed this show was on. I was around 10 years old when it first aired and I loved it. I made sure I watched it every Saturday morning and figure I had the hots for Holly. Yeah the special effects were terrible but when it was actually made they were the best they could get for the price they paid. I doubt they had a big effects budget since it was a Saturday morning kids show. I noticed while watching it today they used the dinosaur scenes over and over. It has actually been fun watching the show.

Intense Debate commentts added

I am doing this just to see if the new comment add on is working.

Should I be more vocal.

I have been reading a few of the blogs I like to follow and need to ask myself should I become more vocal locally here. As a single person I don't feel the benefits would out weigh the trouble. I have started to try and find others with similar views to get together with. I am thinking about being more active in the local government and feel that could be a step in the right direction. I am starting to look more into the laws and policy's before I go more into it. I don't think there is much that is done that truly affects me directly because of my beliefs. That could be because I avoid getting into situations where it could create problems.

I am hoping that I can find people who are around here that can help in bringing to peoples attention that their beliefs aren't set in stone.

To much time off.

I hate when it is to wet to work and figure at times others that don't even know me do also. When I am not working I spend a lot of time online usually making comments at other blogs. Since I am not the most educated person on any subject, I figure some just avoid my comments. I don't mind that because I am mainly making the comments to help me guide myself to a reasonable line of thinking.

I saw a comment by an atheist today that made me start thinking about what it means to convert others. People will make comments claiming they aren't trying to convert others but isn't converting others the main reason we discuss differences we have. I know sometimes these discussions go no where, while others times it leads to compromise. People may not think they are trying to convert people but isn't that what we are all trying to do from time to time. Yes there are times that we aren't really pushing what we believe on others like we are trying to convert them. If you are trying to get someone to change their view, even when it is just an opinion it is still a form of converting.

I am still working on the questions of morals and I feel people need to quit thinking all of this is new. People though out history have been having this discussion. Why do people change their morals? It varies for everyone but figure most change due to pressure from others. Some of the pressure can come from their religion, friends, family, and major events in their life.

Religion will force views that can go against what society sees as morally right or wrong. It doesn't happen this way often since the majority of society has a religious belief. Religion also causes there to be a wall between those with opposing religions. It has been known to create those walls between family and friends. I see any religion that places itself before family and friends as a weakness. If the only way you can maintain a belief in a religion is to put a wall between yourself and others then you are hiding from life.

Friends are one of the biggest influence for most peoples morals after they hit around 14 or 15. Families will still have an influence but many times the friends will use that as a means of showing how the family is holding them back. Friends, like any other influence, can be positive or negative. Most people call it peer pressure but it is still part of morals building.

Families are the first major influence for morals yet many times it can be in conflict with friends and society. How does family influence the morals? I see it mainly in their actions and what they allow their children to do. Since tv has become a big part of family life, what they view will also have some influence. Of course there is plenty of negative influence to go around but as long as the family insures that they know it isn't always the same in real life.

Major events can completely change not just the morals but the way people will live.

Should we judge a group by a small number of the members?

There are many times that people will say in comments on the other blogs I follow that this or that person wasn't a true christian. I think that we can base a lot of what we think of the whole group by this small number. I'm not talking about the ones that use the group they are in to hide their immoral activities but on the ones saying who is and isn't true to the group. What they show me is that to them, they must do everything they can to paint a picture of what christianity should be not what it is. Most of the christians I know only apply their beliefs when it is to their advantage or their groups advantage. One of the ways I point this out is to ask them if other forms of christianity are true christians. A few will say yes but most say that their form of christianity is the only true form of it. I then bring up if that is true then the numbers they claim to support their view that the USA is a christian nation are wrong. If you remove all the people they claim aren't true christians you end up with less then 23% of americans are actually christian. By their logic they should be saying we are a nation based on something other then christian beliefs. The 23% is because that is about what the catholic numbers are. When you break it down by denomination you find most are under 10%.