tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80054737949632198872024-03-18T18:43:06.159-05:00Two Catholic Men and a BlogFaith and ReasonJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13632007696351816323noreply@blogger.comBlogger200125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005473794963219887.post-20783907571534238772017-10-19T19:52:00.007-05:002023-09-19T19:47:16.058-05:00More Posts at The American Catholic<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Greetings and Salutations,<br />
I was accepted as a contributor for The American Catholic.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Thou shalt check it out!</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="https://the-american-catholic.com/2023/09/01/the-yin-and-the-yang/">https://the-american-catholic.com/2023/09/01/the-yin-and-the-yang/</a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNN0caNlFgYqCS2d6SxavlwB8yrxUZsoco2DXGARW6l03BJDT1xdIibjIQ3hWnvBzPF7mjwLGPD4IeqzHbsSGF4K3EuVPEsyXE_iaXCbWvCBKSSALdSbLuwkHSjW81g-xPAJH5EroBTj99/s1600/pic.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="500" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNN0caNlFgYqCS2d6SxavlwB8yrxUZsoco2DXGARW6l03BJDT1xdIibjIQ3hWnvBzPF7mjwLGPD4IeqzHbsSGF4K3EuVPEsyXE_iaXCbWvCBKSSALdSbLuwkHSjW81g-xPAJH5EroBTj99/s400/pic.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11953563578914140396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005473794963219887.post-87225469576415886192017-08-14T18:19:00.002-05:002021-02-03T14:11:25.941-06:00The Allure of Eastern Religions<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="border: 1pt none; color: black; padding: 0in;">There are times when those who
live secular lives in the West are allured by religions of the East,
such as any form of Hinduism or Buddhism. At the same time the same individuals may show
little or no interest in religions of the West, mainly any one of the many flavors
of Christianity. Remember The Beatles? They had everything the secular West
could offer in terms of outward abundance, but sought more from the East.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="border: 1pt none; color: black; padding: 0in;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqYQ83Jd-6oRHyu7LEK2IWw7n1M8uiZFWlOhfZrR3lGMu-NmmlucGhf8relDzDnKAznax6vnqw61agSOZm-BscJhP4i2j204w03cX2V88bzIY6puwjzRHVvAdarA7Ff4Q5208MBrkEilnN/s1600/1968-Beatles-yogi-new-610.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="245" data-original-width="610" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqYQ83Jd-6oRHyu7LEK2IWw7n1M8uiZFWlOhfZrR3lGMu-NmmlucGhf8relDzDnKAznax6vnqw61agSOZm-BscJhP4i2j204w03cX2V88bzIY6puwjzRHVvAdarA7Ff4Q5208MBrkEilnN/s400/1968-Beatles-yogi-new-610.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Help, I need somebody<br />
Help, not just anybody"<br />
- The Beatles</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="border: 1pt none; color: black; padding: 0in;">My impression has been that
Eastern Religions have a more relaxed and ambiguous moral code and set of beliefs
than Catholicism or even Christianity in general, so it might attract
those who claim to be spiritual, but not religious; those who like things loosey-goosey.
My thoughts expanded somewhat after reading <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="https://www.thecatholicthing.org/2017/06/29/that-vital-analogy-of-being/" target="_blank">THIS ARTICLE</a></i> from <i>The Catholic Thing</i>. The article touches on the confusion about
“being” itself.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="border: 1pt none; color: black; padding: 0in;"></span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="border: 1pt none; color: black; padding: 0in;"></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="border: 1pt none; color: black; padding: 0in;">Absolute Oneness</span></i></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="border: 1pt none; color: black; padding: 0in;"></span></i></b><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="border: 1pt none; color: black; padding: 0in;">In the West, absolute autonomy
is a key “dogma”; this relates to the belief that no one can tell you what is
right or wrong (for you). You need to figure that out for yourself and thus make your
own meaning to life. In essence you become your own god, and since humans
live in societies, you need to acknowledge the autonomous rights of others so we can
all live harmoniously as co-equal gods. As this kind of dogma tightens its
grip on us, we become</span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="border: 1pt none; color: black; padding: 0in;">self-centered instead of
God-centered and everything becomes intense and dramatic. I think this is most
evident in our present day political discourse.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="border: 1pt none; color: black; padding: 0in;"></span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="border: 1pt none; color: black; padding: 0in;"></span><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="border: 1pt none; color: black; padding: 0in;">Those who grow weary of the
intense drama found in a narcissistic culture may finally seek solace in some
sort of spirituality. But how can one hold on to absolute autonomy and still be
“spiritual”? In this case I believe it’s helpful to view God, or “being itself”, as something like “The Force” from Star Wars. The Force tends to be impersonal,
without a strict moral code; it can also be manipulated to do <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">our</i> will. At the same time, The Force seems
to be omnipresent and omnipotent and even has a will of its own according to Jedi
Knight, Qui-Gon Jinn (@1min, 24s).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FoVpSPXGCvc/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FoVpSPXGCvc?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="border: 1pt none; color: black; padding: 0in;">“Always remember…your focus
determines your reality.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="border: 1pt none; color: black; padding: 0in;">— Qui-Gon Jinn<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="border: 1pt none; color: black; padding: 0in;"></span><br />
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="border: 1pt none; color: black; padding: 0in;">The Judeo-Christian story
doesn’t sync well with the view of God as a “force”. Would an impersonal life
force ever concern itself with man and his little world, his cares or his sins?
Would it make covenants with us or become a man like us and die for us; would it
ever call us “children” and should we ever call it “Father”?</span><br />
<br />
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="border: 1pt none; color: black; padding: 0in;">In Eastern Religions <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nirvana (</i>in Buddhism) and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Moksha</i> (in Hinduism) speak of breaking the
cycle of birth, death and re-birth and reaching a transcendent state of bliss
as an ultimate goal. The tendency in Eastern Religions destines man to become indistinguishable
from the whole of being. Although many insist on absolute autonomy, being absorbed
into an ultimate state of bliss after death mirrors the idea of living in utopia
(or bliss) in this life as co-equal gods. In this sense secular Western
mentality is well-suited for Eastern Religion and the idea of “being” as
absolute oneness.</span><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="border: 1pt none; color: black; padding: 0in;">Absolute Otherness</span></i></b><br />
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="border: 1pt none; color: black; padding: 0in;">The opposite view is absolute
otherness. If we view God as simply one being among many, like a fairy in the
sky or a flying spaghetti monster, we might imagine him as a being that will
not embrace everything and everyone, or worse yet, some kind of competitor. </span><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="border: 1pt none; color: black; padding: 0in;">Compare this to two small fish
in the ocean debating the reality of water.</span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="border: 1pt none; color: black; padding: 0in;">Water
is so vast, penetrating and all-encompassing that it is invisible to the fish.
If we look for water in the ocean like we look for other objects, like a mermaid,
we’ll become confused at best, gravely deceived at worst. Generally, we do not
say there is water in the ocean. We are more apt to say the ocean <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is</i> water, but at the same time we know the meaning of "ocean" is not precisely the same as the meaning of "water".</span><br />
<br />
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="border: 1pt none; color: black; padding: 0in;">Islam also syncs with the view
of God as absolute other; he is the absolute master and we are absolute
slaves. Those who submit to the absolute will of Allah, as dictated through the
sacred books of Islam are in a kind of safe space. Those who refuse to submit
are not so safe in some Islamic circles—to put it gently. Man is really nothing
in himself in comparison to the absolute being of God and I think you’ll be
hard pressed to find a Muslim who calls Allah “Father”.</span><br />
<br />
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="border: 1pt none; color: black; padding: 0in;"><i>“It’s hard to say which of
these two denials of the analogy of being…do the most damage. In both cases,
there’s a tremendous cost in terms of the denigration of human dignity and
devaluing of the individual person.”</i>1</span><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="border: 1pt none; color: black; padding: 0in;">Catholicism</span></i></b><br />
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="border: 1pt none; color: black; padding: 0in;">In Catholicism there are
aspects of both oneness and otherness. God is God and we are not. The creation
can never be the creator and vise-versa. At the <span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">same</span></span><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"> time </span><span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="border: 1pt none; color: black; padding: 0in;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif">God</span> is defined by knowing and loving. We can be known, loved and adopted into
the family of the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit—and even have Mary as a
Mother! By calling God “Father” and “Almighty”, the Catholic Creed joins
together a loving family concept that relates more to “oneness” and the cosmic
power that relates more to “otherness”. This expresses accurately a main point
of the Christian image of God. It resolves the tension between absolute
distance and absolute proximity, absolute otherness and direct kinship, the
greatest and the least, and the first and the last. God is both-and, not
either-or. 2</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVxqOcygrVQ5M9gobk7dzwr8QHfIm57yiI5p4NlxcpKdxZkce56ZR2Ja56K1XrKeWZDAf3LXDc8yzfui7o3mpfxVMl82CyfInbiVOcuU7V7USRnvIChJavioqaBWe7ESH8WDw9dANwlep_/s1600/Catholicism-Got-Lr2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVxqOcygrVQ5M9gobk7dzwr8QHfIm57yiI5p4NlxcpKdxZkce56ZR2Ja56K1XrKeWZDAf3LXDc8yzfui7o3mpfxVMl82CyfInbiVOcuU7V7USRnvIChJavioqaBWe7ESH8WDw9dANwlep_/s320/Catholicism-Got-Lr2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You're kinda lost without it...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="border: 1pt none; color: black; padding: 0in;">Consider an analogy
from lay apologist Frank Sheed.3 Imagine God’s grace as an electric current and
an individual person as an old fashioned filament light bulb. With no electrical
current the bulb has no light. Increase the current and we can see some light
as the filament glows. Keep increasing the current and the glow intensifies
more and more. If the current is strong enough, the light can glow so bright that
we no longer can see the filament and surrounding bulb… all we see is light! Thus the
bulb and the light appear to be one, but we know the electric current or the light is not
the bulb and visa-versa. In the same way God’s grace can flow so strongly
through a person it gives the impression of absolute oneness, but the reality of
otherness remains.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">The Lord <i>"is always close, being at the root of our being. Yet we must experience our relationship with God between the poles of distance and closeness."</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">— Romano Guardini</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvitEmwpJcJ_TiC8jHQ7vDDOHZuHfWUXaISO8TW0b447DkMYm4VVnGWIexRPtsHiOanfHTd8zlL-VRN0WfsdH0nwt9XD62HtlirsZr1kNqRUP7baMpz1-kxrUqPwD1Plp99A9t9aR3Wyw/s1600/Bulb.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="251" data-original-width="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvitEmwpJcJ_TiC8jHQ7vDDOHZuHfWUXaISO8TW0b447DkMYm4VVnGWIexRPtsHiOanfHTd8zlL-VRN0WfsdH0nwt9XD62HtlirsZr1kNqRUP7baMpz1-kxrUqPwD1Plp99A9t9aR3Wyw/s1600/Bulb.jpg" /></a></div>
<span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="border: 1pt none; color: black; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span face=""calibri" , "sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face=""arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">1. Fr. Mark A. Pilon , <i>The Catholic Thing</i>
[Website], “The Vital Analogy of Being” (329 June 2017), Site address: <span face=""arial" , "sans-serif"" style="border: 1pt none; color: black; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://www.thecatholicthing.org/2017/06/29/that-vital-analogy-of-being/">https://www.thecatholicthing.org/2017/06/29/that-vital-analogy-of-being/</a></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black;">2. Joseph Ratzinger, <i>Introduction to Christianity</i></span><span style="color: black;">, (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2004) p. 148-149.</span><span face=""calibri" , "sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small; line-height: 115%;">3. Frank Sheed , <i>Theology and Sanity</i>, (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1993) p. 403.</span><br />
<span face=""calibri" , "sans-serif"" style="line-height: 115%;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></span> </div>
Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11953563578914140396noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005473794963219887.post-3840108601931702352017-06-30T08:00:00.001-05:002017-06-30T08:00:21.387-05:00Quote of the Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; color: #252525; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">This
speaks to the need for Catholic Faith & Reason in today’s world about as
well as anything I’ve ever read.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; color: #252525; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>“When
people say that in <a href="https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2017/01/theology-isnt-math-but-it-is-theology" target="_blank">theology 2 + 2 can equal 5</a>, or that we can’t rely on
Christ’s statements as they are recorded in the Gospels because no one followed
him about with a dicta-phone, we have a very foundational problem. If we can’t
trust scripture and tradition and we can’t trust reason, what have we left? The
subjective hunches or prejudices of the local ordinary?? Without the strong
foundations the whole system crumbles and we are left with a crude voluntarism.
Within such an order brutish power trumps reason and the sheep become confused
and scatter.”</i>1</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-z17tseKqpwckS6Bi867CZZsK_YLRVmDBG4HXZY8N67YMZgaB5bvVAtcykvgx-baLs8yHUqFWZIM3njnwBSxKCDkYUEEuTtyldtHUw_quzRUhVMzrUjWJ31yonK8lxtuijprmG_mS9k2/s1600/untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="140" data-original-width="361" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-z17tseKqpwckS6Bi867CZZsK_YLRVmDBG4HXZY8N67YMZgaB5bvVAtcykvgx-baLs8yHUqFWZIM3njnwBSxKCDkYUEEuTtyldtHUw_quzRUhVMzrUjWJ31yonK8lxtuijprmG_mS9k2/s320/untitled.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; color: #252525; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">1. Tracy Rowland, The Catholic World
Report [Website], “Tracey Rowland’s
Guide Through the Catholic Academic 'Zoo'”, (11 May 2017), Site address: <a href="http://www.catholicworldreport.com/Item/5635/tracey_rowlands_guide_through_the_catholic_academic_zoo.aspx">http://www.catholicworldreport.com/Item/5635/tracey_rowlands_guide_through_the_catholic_academic_zoo.aspx</a></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11953563578914140396noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005473794963219887.post-65869776628672514052017-06-01T07:47:00.001-05:002017-06-01T08:04:03.622-05:00What Would It Take to Convince You?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The last <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reason_Rally" target="_blank">Reason Rally</a></i> was held June 4, 2016.</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Maybe the novelty has worn off because I
can’t find a date for a 2017 Rally. Perhaps it will be every four years, or perhaps "reason" has left this Nation. In any case, the upcoming anniversary got me
thinking more about reason vs. atheism. I rarely go on YouTube, but I decided
to go ahead and browse some videos of atheists/agnostics debating believers about
the existence of God and also conversing with each other, such as this debate
between Richard Dawkins and Cardinal George Pell:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/y8hy8NxZvFY/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/y8hy8NxZvFY?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">And this conversation between Richard
Dawkins and Matt Dillahunty:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MNCzd6_ce0I/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MNCzd6_ce0I?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Since I have some experience
conversing (civilly) with atheist/agnostics on this blog and other forums, much of what I
heard was not new. As a case in point, I noticed an underlying premise in the videos
that I have also noticed in personal conversations. There is normally a fundamental
and possibly subconscious premise of “knowing better” about certain things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">For example, if there really was a God
who wanted to save us from sin, he surely would have come up with a better plan
than becoming a man and then sacrificing himself to himself. If I know better, then
I know that a real God would have come up with a plan I can agree with or at
least find sensible. It’s the same type of thing with the Old Testament. Why
would God first reveal himself to only the Jews (or the ancestors of the Jews)?
Why not all people at once? Again, if I know better, then I know a real God
would have revealed himself to the entire world and not just a chosen group of
people. I suppose—in their minds—this would have made things simpler?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">It’s a circular argument…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">➤ If it is senseless to me, then it
cannot be true<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">➤ It is not true because I think it
is senseless<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Something that <i>was</i> new to me was the question <b>“What
would it take to convince you that God exists?” </b>There was mention of very
clear empirical and sensory evidence that might convince them, like a giant
Jesus descending from the clouds for all to see, but for the most part the answer
was “nothing”. An answer met with enthusiastic applause from a sympathetic
audience in at least one of the videos.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFqOraVvbWdu4eeS96PXSXtZO1K07eC5HWEXkJ6bHTrpQM0TqEscg-V2ZSRAtkIW2fPouvO17wGzi7kKDbiQqmetRS4jxWtyHE_d0DhK-7CrUE0TxDzNbnWl8dmazBylo66Nrry9-UX2GJ/s1600/Evidence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="233" data-original-width="216" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFqOraVvbWdu4eeS96PXSXtZO1K07eC5HWEXkJ6bHTrpQM0TqEscg-V2ZSRAtkIW2fPouvO17wGzi7kKDbiQqmetRS4jxWtyHE_d0DhK-7CrUE0TxDzNbnWl8dmazBylo66Nrry9-UX2GJ/s200/Evidence.jpg" width="185" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Evidence is another interesting topic
in and of itself. Some atheist/agnostics I’ve conversed with came off as self-proclaimed
authorities of evidence. Only empirical/scientific data was valid evidence for them. Data
from metaphysics, philosophy, witness testimony, inferences and other modes of
reasoning were generally dismissed. This poses a problem when debating something
immaterial (non-physical). Do inalienable human rights exist? Do you have the right to life?
Do you have the right to choose? How do we prove these things? Empirically? If
we truly want to be objective, should we look at <i>ALL</i> the data or only the data
we like best?</span><br />
<i style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.peterkreeft.com/topics-more/20_arguments-gods-existence.htm" target="_blank">See 20 non-empirical proofs for the existence of God from the fabulous Dr. Peter Kreeft</a></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">It’s contradictory and smacks of
<i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientism" target="_blank">Scientism</a></i>…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">➤ Using empirical data is the only valid
way to prove something<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">➤ The above is a philosophical statement
that cannot be proven empirically<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Now, back to the question “What would it
take to convince you that God exists?” Atheist Matt Dillahunty argued that God would
know exactly what it would take to convince him, but God has not done so.
Dillahunty then concludes two possibilities (2<sup>nd</sup> video above, 45:50)…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">➤ Either God does not exist or…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">➤ God does not want him to know that he
exists<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">…and for either case it is of no concern
to him<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">I thought of a third option. Could it
be that God would want you to form your own conclusions? Perhaps God respects
your mind and does not want to force himself onto your thinking? Maybe there is
a fourth option too. There is a God and there is a reason, but we don’t know it.
Of course, this conflicts with the premise of “knowing better” as mention
above. If I know better, then I know there can only be two possibilities.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfsQTrOnYp1D-O7r705s2oWT_0hRik2nLiTmmLrBJthH9V5J2ENy834rPrqOXrsI0TnRIe4L1JmzV98Qz1QpUsIPbhvma4E8PUdxHm13km0EnNp6HqUX2B0ttVxpGee3Isf8gLC9E7wxhB/s1600/Joker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="215" data-original-width="235" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfsQTrOnYp1D-O7r705s2oWT_0hRik2nLiTmmLrBJthH9V5J2ENy834rPrqOXrsI0TnRIe4L1JmzV98Qz1QpUsIPbhvma4E8PUdxHm13km0EnNp6HqUX2B0ttVxpGee3Isf8gLC9E7wxhB/s320/Joker.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What would it take to convince you?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">In the spirit of fairness, I pondered
the opposite question. <b>What would it
take to convince you that God does <i>NOT </i>exist?</b>
I had to think about that question for a while. Since Catholics (and others) say
God is the ground of all being or being itself(1), we cannot answer the question
the way one would answer, “What would it take to convince you that <i><a href="https://www.greekmythology.com/Olympians/Zeus/zeus.html" target="_blank">Zeus</a></i> does
not exist?” God is not “one being among many” like Zeus would be and every
other being is. It's like asking “What would it take to convince you that
being itself does not exist?” or perhaps like asking “What would it take to
convince you that existence does not exist?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">In this sense, the question poses a contradiction
and contradictions are essentially meaningless. What would it take to convince
you that I can draw a square shaped circle? What would it take to convince you that
I’m a married bachelor? A square shaped circle or a married bachelor cannot
exist in reality. In a similar, but opposite way I do not see how the “ground
of all being” cannot be or how existence cannot exist.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">So as we approach the anniversary of maybe the last Reason Rally, and based on the logic above and the
Catholic understanding of “being”, I would have to "reason" that God cannot…<i>not </i>exist.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">I’ll end this post with a dangerous
picture that can cause brain damage. Study it briefly…but then look away!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzA8x7xN6QsVSqyqihgQb_Vl8xuB6VvHDSxqn-7XfNswUEXZE4WnSlTYiGZvF4xMeLEp7htwsiV65PIMKGpVIpvv_wiOcburd51L7SjFGoPTKXBk6PnwRUPAZJrXTJmnVWeMAregAYZLHr/s1600/contradiction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="177" data-original-width="284" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzA8x7xN6QsVSqyqihgQb_Vl8xuB6VvHDSxqn-7XfNswUEXZE4WnSlTYiGZvF4xMeLEp7htwsiV65PIMKGpVIpvv_wiOcburd51L7SjFGoPTKXBk6PnwRUPAZJrXTJmnVWeMAregAYZLHr/s320/contradiction.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8IFIoJcEL6o_xp0Z6Hb35dmEeHwIurvgg1uwqbVmb73Jpl8JKbkbTAJAyJy2G9RgjduFA-dN9AVn20GBGwHMdh65nCk2ifDYiETi3d0e3vfoZXF3sVQMMKOcVNxCER2Bz1yIf6cFmyz33/s1600/Brain+Freeze.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="113" data-original-width="141" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8IFIoJcEL6o_xp0Z6Hb35dmEeHwIurvgg1uwqbVmb73Jpl8JKbkbTAJAyJy2G9RgjduFA-dN9AVn20GBGwHMdh65nCk2ifDYiETi3d0e3vfoZXF3sVQMMKOcVNxCER2Bz1yIf6cFmyz33/s200/Brain+Freeze.bmp" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">1. Fr. Robert Barron, Catholicism: A
Journey to the Heart of Faith (New York: Image Books, 2011) p. 61-64.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11953563578914140396noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005473794963219887.post-24629453807688474292017-05-15T09:39:00.000-05:002017-05-15T09:39:31.196-05:00Imprimatur Granted!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRU7LG53SQgXQIDx1fT-tvNQ_12cr81QwlKtxJ5fSnSdBGt3MeNT9Pom3hUDlVnoxH63m2mz0MLPy7Y8x_fMKH2r1wYu1b7PqxUbXqRCB3B8DU1W7RNZW3iDfWdqBj43R1Fwc2Iej0h46V/s1600/Cover+-+Copy.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRU7LG53SQgXQIDx1fT-tvNQ_12cr81QwlKtxJ5fSnSdBGt3MeNT9Pom3hUDlVnoxH63m2mz0MLPy7Y8x_fMKH2r1wYu1b7PqxUbXqRCB3B8DU1W7RNZW3iDfWdqBj43R1Fwc2Iej0h46V/s200/Cover+-+Copy.png" width="134" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Good news! My book, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Faith-Good-Reason-Finding-Analytical/dp/0989969657/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474663929&sr=8-1&keywords=9780989969659" target="_blank">Faith with Good Reason</a></i>, recently received an imprimatur (or permission to publish) from our local bishop. A book imprimatur in
the Catholic Church is not an endorsement, but an acceptance or guarantee that something is
of a good standard, free of any moral or doctrinal error. I'll be working with
the publisher to have the proper verbiage printed in the book.</span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3v8b2Mrys2IJc53E-YhH3T8g2xdGtqIWRJ-wqhkC6pp1emPx1gIuCn4zQtY4a8Sr8-qVG7grlFB-v-l-Z4mxn4w5SFS2Bpr3-NexJRhzg3Hz7gn0tbhW2DyAnJI-RQePCiLodDWgGWOr/s1600/Pic.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3v8b2Mrys2IJc53E-YhH3T8g2xdGtqIWRJ-wqhkC6pp1emPx1gIuCn4zQtY4a8Sr8-qVG7grlFB-v-l-Z4mxn4w5SFS2Bpr3-NexJRhzg3Hz7gn0tbhW2DyAnJI-RQePCiLodDWgGWOr/s640/Pic.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Comment from the reviewing theologian…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">"Excellent work! I really enjoyed
the book. You have a gift for explaining ancient teaching with modern lingo and
examples that lose none of the depth of the teaching."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGTiOQHk49spaEX3QqEU4ZMELPqeHR6qF4y7rQjCtQY27lN02N2ho2LGL8jyw45ZYKBqMATCZ0Xclc-T2FdsnGOqbdlE-aJ-W7NL7bkHRoX5Wz3VjnR2NqgljnzfS12SNsEkWJopL_86Jm/s1600/Activity.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGTiOQHk49spaEX3QqEU4ZMELPqeHR6qF4y7rQjCtQY27lN02N2ho2LGL8jyw45ZYKBqMATCZ0Xclc-T2FdsnGOqbdlE-aJ-W7NL7bkHRoX5Wz3VjnR2NqgljnzfS12SNsEkWJopL_86Jm/s200/Activity.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">I'll now have more confidence proposing the book and concept to Catholic organizations, book
sellers, schools, etc. The concept itself is age-old in terms of Faith &
Reason, but I added what I feel is a unique twist that relates our Catholic
faith to elements of analytical problem solving and decision making.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Problem solving seeks to answer the
question “Why did it happen?” Decision making seeks to answer “What should we
do?” This relates strongly to how we think (the intellect) and what we do (the will).
Why do people firmly believe things they can’t prove? For example, does the Earth really revolve
around the Sun? Have <i>you </i>seen it?
Have <i>you</i> measured it? Or do you firmly believe it because it’s what other people told you?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Since what we think ultimately directs
what we do, it's imperative that we study what we think and why we think it. <i>Faith
with Good Reason</i> attempts to do just that and to do it for what is mentioned in
the Catholic Creed, which is no less than…“all things visible and invisible”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Please enjoy <i>Faith with Good Reason</i>
now available at all these on-line book sellers:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><b></b></i><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/faith-with-good-reason-ben-butera/1124675792?ean=9780989969659" target="_blank"><i>Barnes and Noble</i></a></span></b></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Faith-Good-Reason-Finding-Analytical/dp/0989969657/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474663929&sr=8-1&keywords=9780989969659" target="_blank">Amazon Books</a><o:p></o:p></i></span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Faith-Good-Reason/Ben-Butera/9780989969659?id=6937326090884" target="_blank"><i>Books a Million</i></a></span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.chegg.com/textbooks/faith-with-good-reason-1st-edition-9780989969659-0989969657?trackid=19a67690&strackid=49e6f993" target="_blank"><i>Chegg Books</i></a></span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.powells.com/book/faith-with-good-reason-9780989969659" target="_blank"><i>Powell's Bookstore</i></a></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4yl4l7vzNaCHeLfUMUaelF-Edlugy57QZBsdyiP9bF4_20XZGJYJT2e78Llp3_GFEQBmYKDw9xjc4olxK4SEQkYKFeG80Sh72HV0viCjJUvaz809rEaSEPe-1DQGS1d2dEcYg3L4mnnwx/s1600/untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4yl4l7vzNaCHeLfUMUaelF-Edlugy57QZBsdyiP9bF4_20XZGJYJT2e78Llp3_GFEQBmYKDw9xjc4olxK4SEQkYKFeG80Sh72HV0viCjJUvaz809rEaSEPe-1DQGS1d2dEcYg3L4mnnwx/s1600/untitled.png" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11953563578914140396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005473794963219887.post-14259391228338800572017-04-19T18:41:00.002-05:002017-04-19T19:45:17.599-05:00on Climate Change<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">I thought I’d look at the topic of
Climate Change through the lens of the <i><a href="http://www.kepner-tregoe.com/about-kt/" target="_blank">problem solving methodology</a></i> we use where I work.
Whatever you think about Climate Change, you might agree that people tend
to first form a conclusion and then look for data to support it…and, of course,
explain away or ignore any data that doesn’t support it. Why is that?
Politically speaking, if we can definitively tie Climate Change to human
activity (CO2 emissions), it’s a perfect opportunity for a power grab—to
control a whole lot of human activity. On the other hand, refuting the
aforementioned has the opposite effect if one wants to limit government
involvement in human activity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQYdWu9i21HiDYRNKK6ewlsGHY4djkrawxuzWfKtYeqNVXfpyEay2KhrVQSWmHvI7YxMzC9vWGJqY95SpMIFxtnx5OgQoOqURoYlxmK2s-mvyS9YfEy5PyRKGU8rJVMklerfsLhj9j9y3U/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQYdWu9i21HiDYRNKK6ewlsGHY4djkrawxuzWfKtYeqNVXfpyEay2KhrVQSWmHvI7YxMzC9vWGJqY95SpMIFxtnx5OgQoOqURoYlxmK2s-mvyS9YfEy5PyRKGU8rJVMklerfsLhj9j9y3U/s320/1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Before a conclusion can be reached for
a problem, a hypothesis must be reasoned. Before a hypothesis can be reasoned,
relevant data must be gathered & sorted. Before relevant data is sorted,
irrelevant data must be weeded out. Before any data is gathered, sorted or
weeded,</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">we must know if
there is really any problem to begin with. Before we can decide if there is really
any problem to begin with, the situation must be made clear. Before a situation
can be made clear any ambiguities and over-generalizations must be dealt with.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Beginning at the beginning, we can see
that the term “Climate Change” is ambiguous because “change” can mean too many
different things to too many different people. I went to a <i><a href="https://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/" target="_blank">NASA website</a></i> for clarification on what is changing. I found these:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">See levels are rising</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ice sheets are shrinking</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Arctic sea ice is declining</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Glaciers are retreating</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Snow cover is decreasing</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Oceans are acidifying</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Extreme weather events are increasing</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Earth and oceans are warming
(Global Warming)</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Whatta mess! Looking at one thing at a
time, we should look at the most serious concern first, which would be the concern
with the biggest current and future impact. </span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">I’ll
go forward with the premise that Global Warming is the highest priority concern
on the list above because it <i>could</i> <i>conceivably</i> be causing most of the other
things on the list.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">If my superiors at work were to ask
our group to look into the Global Warming situation, we would first look at
something called “The Should” and also something called “The Actual”. For this
case, “The Actual” would be the current average global temperature assuming we
can get a reliable measurement. “The Should” would be the Earth’s “normal” average
temperature range…the way it <i>should</i>
be. What would be the upper limit of that range and what would be the lower
limit? I can tell you that a huge difficulty we’d run into right away is
defining “The Should”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikahkzpQnm79dWPUIyTOmvG1kXx4s6dXrzuTnDaz88dgac-3Y6akISnm0kt34lw8DokmRXkcAk9yK-qXD71gnNogme5rJN8ghqW95QhyPhGbb9ClNgg2hpmZrQdflARfABmEKznkowYFS9/s1600/Should.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikahkzpQnm79dWPUIyTOmvG1kXx4s6dXrzuTnDaz88dgac-3Y6akISnm0kt34lw8DokmRXkcAk9yK-qXD71gnNogme5rJN8ghqW95QhyPhGbb9ClNgg2hpmZrQdflARfABmEKznkowYFS9/s320/Should.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">But why not just look at the rise in
CO2 since that is the presumed main cause of the warming? We could, but we’d invariably be back to the same questions about the Earth’s temperature. What
“Should” is good? I work for a large manufacturer of imaging products and we’ll
define “The Should” for a product or system based on</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">historical manufacturing records and
control limits and/or established industry standards among other things. There
are no such standards for the Earth’s average temperature range that I know of,
but we can look at history.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Let’s suppose we have about 200 years
of accurate global temperature data. My guess is that it is much less than 200
years because of the many years with no satellite temperature data from space,
but we’ll go with it. The Earth is about 4.5 billion years old, but I’d say the
climate 4.5 billion years ago is irrelevant data for humans living today. Let’s
go back an amount of time in which the first mammals were happily living on
Earth, breathing clean air and drinking clean water. </span><a href="http://darwin.bio.uci.edu/sustain/bio65/lec02/b65lec02.htm" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;" target="_blank"><i>Mammals go back about 200 million years.</i> </a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Keep in mind that 200 million years is only 4% of the Earth’s lifetime,
so it’s a relatively short period of time to look at, but we’ll go with it. 200
years of temperature data in 200 million years would represent .0001% of the
time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">To put this in context,</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">the Dow Jones Industrial average (DJIA)
has been around for about 120 years. .0001% of 120 years is about 63 minutes.
Suppose that something very bad were to happen in the world on the next trading
day causing the DJIA to dive 1000 points from 1:00PM to 2:03PM. At 2:04PM, should
we conclude a long term financial disaster and an urgent need for more industry
regulation? I’d say no.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizc0R3D8lB_Zx0NHvAWumEB0VZo-d43ig7DKD6YsGwxbCfSIJimmnKmRtSQ4_T7gh0dV895PJePwIDf_bHqf6eL9rLHHESk6gxn-tlT4U6QIARRNd7gLeHTILDyvOd5lkltp12towewMen/s1600/history_of_market_corrections2-hires.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizc0R3D8lB_Zx0NHvAWumEB0VZo-d43ig7DKD6YsGwxbCfSIJimmnKmRtSQ4_T7gh0dV895PJePwIDf_bHqf6eL9rLHHESk6gxn-tlT4U6QIARRNd7gLeHTILDyvOd5lkltp12towewMen/s640/history_of_market_corrections2-hires.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">For even more context, consider that 0001%
of ten years is about 5.3 minutes. Suppose you walk into a ten year old home
for the very first time with a family inside going about their business and you
begin measuring the temperature. You note a warming trend of about 1</span>°<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">C
after about 5.3 minutes and announce a domestic warming crisis and begin to regulate
the families’ activity. Seems like hysteria to me without more data.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">In either the case of the family home
or the DJIA, if you were to declare a crisis and an urgent need for regulation
you’d likely be on the receiving end of some blank stares.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZkW5DUAeTyNESMdKjYduJM3e-fCX0S46vpsdEw3o4NawGwM_ffXwbfh39nVBgGd_ylyPTBsGNLh0qTXA0LUiNoYsFMgXELKmzascm7ZXdcYlG5sXzr1700K_cHg0n8tjv04vQrjyWNOyE/s1600/blank-stare.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZkW5DUAeTyNESMdKjYduJM3e-fCX0S46vpsdEw3o4NawGwM_ffXwbfh39nVBgGd_ylyPTBsGNLh0qTXA0LUiNoYsFMgXELKmzascm7ZXdcYlG5sXzr1700K_cHg0n8tjv04vQrjyWNOyE/s200/blank-stare.gif" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">This does <i>not</i> mean there should be no concern for Global Warming. In my
profession I would need to report that there is not enough information to
define “The Should”, so we would likely move this issue away from a problem
analysis and into a decision analysis. Problem analysis focuses on the question
“Why did it happen?” while decision analysis focuses on the question “What
should we do?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">A good decision in this arena is above
my pay grade. But…</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">before
a decision can be reached, options must be reasoned. Before options are
reasoned, relevant data must be gathered & sorted for each option. Before
relevant data is gathered & sorted for each option, the decision objectives
must be clear. Before objectives can be
made clear, we need to clarify the purpose. Before we can clarify the purpose,
we need to know what we are trying to do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Whatever the decision, let’s be aware
of two opposing extremes…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">#1 Nature Worship<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The view that nature is “perfect” just
the way it is acts as a kind of secular “dogma”. With this as a base premise,
we can see the logic that concludes the following…any unnatural interference or
manipulation of nature for the benefit of man is a deprivation of nature’s
perfection, and a good definition of evil is just that—a deprivation of
perfection.1 Therefore, defending anything in nature against man is
intrinsically “good” and promoting man’s industrialization and expansion is
intrinsically “evil”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">#2 Nature’s Neglect<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Beware of any ideology that says man
can and should interfere and manipulate nature anyway we see fit. God wants us
to take care of the temporary dwelling place he gave us. “The Lord God then
took the man and settled him in the Garden of Eden, to cultivate and care for
it.” (Gen 2:15) So if we are to be good stewards of all the gifts God gives us,
including the Earth, should we not be trustworthy stewards? Of course we should! “Now it is of course
required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.” (1 Cor 4:2)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">St. Thomas
Aquinas, Aquinas’s Shorter Summa (Manchester: Sophia Institute Press,
2002), p. 125.</span><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
</div>
Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11953563578914140396noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005473794963219887.post-39580872409522505992017-03-14T14:39:00.000-05:002017-03-14T14:41:17.756-05:00I Think...Therefore I Do<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">I’ve been speaking at a few parishes
within my home diocese of Joliet, IL about my new book, <i><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/faith-with-good-reason-ben-butera/1124675792?ean=9780989969659" target="_blank">Faith with Good Reason</a></i>. During the talks, a general theme has come
up which is quite simple in concept, but perhaps sometimes forgotten; it’s the
fact that what we think ultimately directs what we do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjErTFrjucGddAvrP_eGtI1j1lrQiWzEX-LoTobJpE3azuX6dRtVCso9gEMiVFN6NM8CyPw1Ib5UZScb1qqg1JRw1IxgRrjTLee1EXAUQKnIwRiHa0g9mvNxnUUWFRncFKUnDC9zFdSuEAK/s1600/thethinker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjErTFrjucGddAvrP_eGtI1j1lrQiWzEX-LoTobJpE3azuX6dRtVCso9gEMiVFN6NM8CyPw1Ib5UZScb1qqg1JRw1IxgRrjTLee1EXAUQKnIwRiHa0g9mvNxnUUWFRncFKUnDC9zFdSuEAK/s200/thethinker.jpg" width="135" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Many might be familiar with the tragic
philosophy that says, “I think, therefore I am”. This makes the reality of our
being dependent upon our thinking; it also bodes very well for a narcissistic
society. With this as a base premise, one could see how believing in “yourself”
is the most important thing in the universe to believe in. It also explains how
bad things can happen in democracies in which the souls of the citizens are
ruled by their own desires.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">St. Augustine said something that
sounds similar, but might as well come from the other side of the universe; “I
believe, therefore I speak.”1 Perhaps St. Augustine got this from St. Paul who wrote,
“Since, then, we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written,
‘I believed, therefore I spoke,’ we too believe and therefore speak” (2 Cor
4:13). Both saints would acknowledge that their ability to proclaim Truth
ultimately comes from something outside of themselves…and that something is what
we call “God”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">If God is Truth itself, then “I think,
therefore I do” may be more accurate words to live by if put in the context of
the human soul. Our intellect thinks and our will does. Our will reaches for
what our intellect has understood.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJoqPpdb1JguNMXyM-QEfU0yltQsgbd76pE6egab7WFNTRmrhqytEfGr2wD6df_t7Ss3pHUPxCruxD9XhvwjqUawb92GDyDIzNAVlEklD0QKfllZ37EWOcXeqcr5QHWzYf6EJ6gZr-9zT/s1600/Cubs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJoqPpdb1JguNMXyM-QEfU0yltQsgbd76pE6egab7WFNTRmrhqytEfGr2wD6df_t7Ss3pHUPxCruxD9XhvwjqUawb92GDyDIzNAVlEklD0QKfllZ37EWOcXeqcr5QHWzYf6EJ6gZr-9zT/s200/Cubs.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Consider the importance of “thinking
& doing” in the following non-theological example: 2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">A World Series bat and ball signed by
some famous Chicago Cubs costs $1500.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The bat costs $1000 more than the
ball.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">How much does the ball cost?</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Let’s go forward with the thinking that says the
ball must be $500. Now suppose an individual offers you the same ball for $400
and you think, “Good deal! I can save a hundred bucks!”</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">If you were to pay the $400 you would actually be
losing $150 because the ball is only $250!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Breaking the problem down step-by-step,
we can see the reality:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: right 2.75in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> The
bat and ball cost $1500: Bat + Ball
= $1500<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: right 2.75in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> The
bat costs $1000 more than the ball: Bat
= Ball + $1000<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: right 2.75in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> We
now express the problem like this: (Ball
+ $1000) + Ball = $1500<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: right 2.75in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> How
much does the ball cost?: ($250 + $1000)
+ $250 = $1500<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; tab-stops: right 2.75in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">So the ball is $250 and the bat is $1250 for a grand
total of $1500.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> Why is
this important? <b><i>Because what we think directs what we do.</i></b> If we are thinking
wrongly (like thinking the ball is $500), then we will be doing wrongly (like
taking a bad deal).</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOqoexBi6xZn5WPbuFlgsdhLKYLN9hQm651uKoJg_l-74FZ2a5ZkwVIs_r-FozyWW1gF67ezS9DVvLszajcpyqmgBKGMZ108zC-DnEmoRqcbccPsY4RP9P1Lb_-3tkTUrdvxPBqoDVwD9p/s1600/hiddenTruth1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOqoexBi6xZn5WPbuFlgsdhLKYLN9hQm651uKoJg_l-74FZ2a5ZkwVIs_r-FozyWW1gF67ezS9DVvLszajcpyqmgBKGMZ108zC-DnEmoRqcbccPsY4RP9P1Lb_-3tkTUrdvxPBqoDVwD9p/s1600/hiddenTruth1.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Some of this logic can spill over into
the notion of “Love the sinner, but hate the sin”. This is an important idea
because we know we can separate an inclination we have from what we do
about it. I am a sinner, but it is not necessary that I sin. To internalize
this and make it real I need to understand what sin is and why it’s bad for me.
If I were an alcoholic it would not be necessary that I drink, but again, to
internalize this and make it real I would need to understand what alcohol is
and why it’s bad for me. Loving the sinner, but hating the sin also frees us to
love our enemies, since we are able to separate the two.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">But what if we go forward with the
thinking that says…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Who we are <i>is</i> what we do<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Our inclinations
define who we are</span></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">If this is true, then our actions are as
integral to who we are as our skin color or our gender. With this mentality
it’s easy to see why those who dissent from Catholic teaching in areas of human
sexually (the topic of almost all dissent) might hate the phrase “Love the
sinner, but hate the sin”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">For example, if some are inclined
toward same-sex attraction, that’s who they are—and who they are and what they
do cannot be separated, right? In other words, if you are gay, you should be
gay. It’s an immutable fact. Go out and start dating; try different things with
different partners. See what you like and what you don’t. Be who you are!
Furthermore, if anyone hates what you are doing, they must also hate you personally
since the two naturally go together. By the way, the exact same thinking can
apply to opposite-sex attraction in the context of fornication. Go out and
start dating; try different things with different partners. See what you like
and what you don’t. Be who you are.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">If we are thinking wrongly, then we
will be doing wrongly! If God is Truth, then objective Truth should be the
object of our intellect, which will in turn direct the will. If love is an act
of the will, then to love or discern something we need to know it. The primacy
of the intellect is important in order to act and love properly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSI96ttmBXTrAImZx3XmYinURkj1O7VU2wDoBDYT4l5eSEU0ZyRuSaL8pfu0UFufOYeLemMOTreuh_ASX4Jxp5x3FT45tWWsBTDX0is2k38_tvAiSxsx_vdkxhmCeR25bbDgMsqfK4VIPS/s1600/dinosaur+doodle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSI96ttmBXTrAImZx3XmYinURkj1O7VU2wDoBDYT4l5eSEU0ZyRuSaL8pfu0UFufOYeLemMOTreuh_ASX4Jxp5x3FT45tWWsBTDX0is2k38_tvAiSxsx_vdkxhmCeR25bbDgMsqfK4VIPS/s320/dinosaur+doodle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #252525; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">“The origin of all deviant practice is deviant
thought. The knowing why it is deviant is a function of mind based on a standard
of reason. It is the steady ‘knowing why’ that, before anything else, we are
missing.” </span></i><span style="background: white; color: #252525; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Saint
Augustine, Confessions (New York: Barns & Noble Books, 2007), p. 5.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Daniel
Kahneman, Thinking, Fast and Slow (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux,
2011), p. 44.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">James V.
Schall, S.J., Catholic World Report [Website], “Catholics and the Present
Confusion”, (9 January 2017), Site address: <a href="http://www.catholicworldreport.com/Item/5337/catholics_and_the_present_confusion.aspx" target="_blank">http://www.catholicworldreport.com/Item/5337/catholics_and_the_present_confusion.aspx</a></span><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11953563578914140396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005473794963219887.post-5634806489680934152017-02-24T16:42:00.000-06:002017-02-24T16:42:08.241-06:00Quote of the Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What should have primacy in our lives?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQtZ_7ln19xLiBjPVUYsorngV_MpgOWMqTSKlALwUAkXFqz5YIkvh7L2KZgMTYPa6HsSQcdHIuAaWObXWN1gcphYuY7C7I925z9dFQrBxVJsuSwuYN2_b48zxmNJX2qqyXs34I34D-4zgY/s1600/Thinker3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQtZ_7ln19xLiBjPVUYsorngV_MpgOWMqTSKlALwUAkXFqz5YIkvh7L2KZgMTYPa6HsSQcdHIuAaWObXWN1gcphYuY7C7I925z9dFQrBxVJsuSwuYN2_b48zxmNJX2qqyXs34I34D-4zgY/s1600/Thinker3.jpg" /></a>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Secular knowledge or spiritual
knowledge?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Science or Faith?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A magnetic compass or the Moral Compass?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Philosophy or Theology?</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All are important to be sure, but consider
this…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“<i>. . . one could live very well
without philosophy or without knowing that the earth revolves around the sun.
Man cannot live, however, without moral certainties, without being able to form
sure judgments about the behavior of others toward him.</i>”</span>1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheWlxZd04FoPvIAhX2YLvoJYer7fB8QmZfUjMsbmKW750nICRQqIInrRtQpcComNqtsFKMKaPkEFpnz0QfoJZCR0TQvcmL1cwgvHY35D6fi9oQBedDlZ3KO13NR0SmBEdk1UsQ537I57yN/s1600/imagesD12595EC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheWlxZd04FoPvIAhX2YLvoJYer7fB8QmZfUjMsbmKW750nICRQqIInrRtQpcComNqtsFKMKaPkEFpnz0QfoJZCR0TQvcmL1cwgvHY35D6fi9oQBedDlZ3KO13NR0SmBEdk1UsQ537I57yN/s1600/imagesD12595EC.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Luigi
Giussani, The Religious Sense (London: McGill-Queen’s University Press,
1997) p. 19.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
</div>
Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11953563578914140396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005473794963219887.post-17549801519286288642017-02-13T18:13:00.000-06:002017-02-13T18:13:08.653-06:00What's More Romantic Than Geometry?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My high school freshmen son had to write something for Valentine's Day as an assignment for <i><b>Geometry class</b></i>. Deserves an "A"...Don't ya think?!?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>A Geometric Love Poem...</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRzKkAi84M6Je-aOzugBOwU0Ap1UU4Dd0uHrEuprfdgpJhsfiytCY34g2g4b_geU6woa7FS-hh2Fd0StyjZf3T8AloUoKOq00cbpqBSfb59HQKWag-QWfs9v3Qv6lW2AfH_pGNtT4Ssxey/s1600/geometry270x113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRzKkAi84M6Je-aOzugBOwU0Ap1UU4Dd0uHrEuprfdgpJhsfiytCY34g2g4b_geU6woa7FS-hh2Fd0StyjZf3T8AloUoKOq00cbpqBSfb59HQKWag-QWfs9v3Qv6lW2AfH_pGNtT4Ssxey/s400/geometry270x113.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Without you my life would be like a circle, pointless. My love for you is like the length of a line, endless. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Describing my love for you is like when one tries to draw a point in real life, it's impossible. This love has no need to be proven like a theorem; it's like a postulate, with no dispute.</span></span></i></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>It is as if we are made for each other because we’re congruent in every way. We must have two congruent angles because I see how similar we are everyday.</i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>You and I must have two supplementary angles because when I see you I do a one eighty and head straight for you. Were you fifty degrees today? I thought that you were acute-y as my heart flew.</i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>And so I’m afraid I must interject; how I wish we weren't so parallel and could instead intersect.</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4IQYBWMACkX8_5ajaP-qRqmdByOiWBCDTmt27kplzAOUON6enJWJxKqYc4j8jlJc7gpzubC6FeNkaLRJo9K6OfXubMD40E28rHrFc4UmpfGUmxcGcop2OdvGWq-h-O0p4ip8BsgO3Ff6U/s1600/Water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4IQYBWMACkX8_5ajaP-qRqmdByOiWBCDTmt27kplzAOUON6enJWJxKqYc4j8jlJc7gpzubC6FeNkaLRJo9K6OfXubMD40E28rHrFc4UmpfGUmxcGcop2OdvGWq-h-O0p4ip8BsgO3Ff6U/s1600/Water.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i> </i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11953563578914140396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005473794963219887.post-73115234184730232502017-02-01T07:22:00.001-06:002017-02-01T07:22:49.827-06:00Passion, Politics and the Existence of God<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Could the
current political climate in this country be used as evidence for the existence
of God? Could we take the recent Women’s March and the Right to life March,
which both happened within a week of each other, and point to something
transcendent? How about President Trump’s executive order on immigration and
all the subsequent protests happening right now? Is there a path to God in such
a mess? I think there is and I’m reminded of portions of a book called <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Jacobs-Ladder-Ten-Steps-Truth/dp/158617732X/ref=sr_1_11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1485909963&sr=1-11&keywords=jacobs+ladder" target="_blank">Jacobs Ladder: 10 Steps to Truth</a></i> by Dr.
Peter Kreeft and excerpts from my own book called <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Faith-Good-Reason-Finding-Analytical/dp/0989969657/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474663929&sr=8-1&keywords=9780989969659" target="_blank">Faith with Good Reason</a></i>. Whether talking politics or religion it all
starts with “passion”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Of Passion...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipCBQGBvIPSmGOhFaA6LX_LHG8u-Qw9kMt8qWQaxJ2F9hbIjNjwU5w4xLmrqT7R2G7XwdqsucGafsriIS2-DTWw8Z0rZLBzS9c3bEokm5AI_xX7_fkInldaqhkxQ9bUgVkoR0CNEp1heb1/s1600/My+body2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipCBQGBvIPSmGOhFaA6LX_LHG8u-Qw9kMt8qWQaxJ2F9hbIjNjwU5w4xLmrqT7R2G7XwdqsucGafsriIS2-DTWw8Z0rZLBzS9c3bEokm5AI_xX7_fkInldaqhkxQ9bUgVkoR0CNEp1heb1/s1600/My+body2.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">There is no
doubt that one side of the political aisle can see the passion of the other
side. What the opposition is passionate about may be called wrong, misguided or
even evil, but the observable effects of their passion
remains factual nonetheless. Humans get passionate about things and I think we
all know the difference between true passion and just a passing interest. Many
are passionate about proper ethics, morals or justice (the Good). Others have
their passion in art, literature, music, dance, theater, athleticism or nature
(the Beautiful). Still others have a passion for technology, science, math or
discovery (the True). Many are willing to commit their entire lives to these
kinds of things, even unto death. This is also how we know we are different
than animals. Not even our closest animal relatives show evidence for having a
true passion for “the Good”, “the Beautiful” and “the True”. But passion alone
can ignite anything it touches. It’s like blind power. I’m sure Osama bin Laden
had passion for <i>his</i> cause.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Of Truth...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTiwWIJs79sVf2kEkKyonrv7Vwkx0Wj7GdPaSOxx5PDiO9NPsQ9WaN9p4ME_K95kQGcaN1zBFRNfBe5iKtYF3RXF3R3XYa9H1whdAyPIXkcO362i3OvmslrwW7Oh2cdeLxDQqTkAO5H1i_/s1600/Trump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTiwWIJs79sVf2kEkKyonrv7Vwkx0Wj7GdPaSOxx5PDiO9NPsQ9WaN9p4ME_K95kQGcaN1zBFRNfBe5iKtYF3RXF3R3XYa9H1whdAyPIXkcO362i3OvmslrwW7Oh2cdeLxDQqTkAO5H1i_/s200/Trump.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">If you are
truly passionate about a cause, it’s not a big step to accepting objective
truth as something that is real. Holding truths to be self-evident, as the
founders of this nation wrote, is different than a personal belief or opinion.
If you are truly passionate about a woman’s universal right to choose or a
baby’s universal right to live, you will not accept relativistic terms like
“it’s just true for me” or “it’s only opinion”.</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">If you are passionate about how much
you love or hate President Trump's executive order on immigration, you will not
think of it the way you might think of loving or hating chocolate ice cream.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Of Meaning...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Meaning is next. Once we consent to the existence of at least some
objective truth, the acceptance of some real meaning or purpose behind it all
is not a far leap either. All people desire lasting happiness and the truths
that we hold are meant to lead us to happiness. We use our heads and our hearts
in the pursuit of that happiness. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Of Love...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4IQYBWMACkX8_5ajaP-qRqmdByOiWBCDTmt27kplzAOUON6enJWJxKqYc4j8jlJc7gpzubC6FeNkaLRJo9K6OfXubMD40E28rHrFc4UmpfGUmxcGcop2OdvGWq-h-O0p4ip8BsgO3Ff6U/s1600/Water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4IQYBWMACkX8_5ajaP-qRqmdByOiWBCDTmt27kplzAOUON6enJWJxKqYc4j8jlJc7gpzubC6FeNkaLRJo9K6OfXubMD40E28rHrFc4UmpfGUmxcGcop2OdvGWq-h-O0p4ip8BsgO3Ff6U/s200/Water.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">So what is the meaning of life, which will bring us lasting happiness? If we are only physical beings, then only physical things are needed to keep us happy. Outward abundance and physical pleasure should satisfy us fully and bring lasting happiness, but they don’t. We seek more; we seek love; and love is not the same as “good feelings”. If it were, we could say that taking drugs, which result in good feelings, is what true love is all about. So what kind of love are we looking for? It’s unconditional, unselfish and sacrificial love. This kind of love involves more than feelings. It requires willing the good of others, so it requires an act of the will or a choice. So love is an act of the will and can bring lasting happiness to everyone and is thus the meaning of life.</span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Of Laws...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Humans live
in organized societies, which are guided according to certain principles, and
those principles are reflected in the laws.Good laws would support and be consistent with what is good for human beings and the <i><a href="http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/1955.htm" target="_blank">"Natural Law"</a></i> of love. Bad laws would undermine love and thus be <i>unnatural</i>. Of course, without God’s
Grace and with our own fallen nature the meaning of "love" and “good” are too easily
confused. What some call good is actually bad and what some call bad is
actually good; up becomes down and down is up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><a href="https://www.thecatholicthing.org/2017/01/31/the-great-peril-of-thinking/" target="_blank"><span id="goog_395569135"></span>"The peril is that the human intellect is free to destroy itself"</a><span id="goog_395569136"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">– G.K. Chesterton</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">But even with the chaos and muddled-thinking it all points to something…</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Of God...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrC1ra50a_3BT99JuHUimH3ymdUq_cJJaaXRoGfFosAFDH2gI0uqNhWuLqAH_nlVIfN2LpYKQMSHrcB-xkDVtb0A0wwS_HmZklpGUIiy9Osq4bc2eXYeVfZl0KUx3pFY0sqYMQ7Xv8IdQV/s1600/Sun+at+distance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrC1ra50a_3BT99JuHUimH3ymdUq_cJJaaXRoGfFosAFDH2gI0uqNhWuLqAH_nlVIfN2LpYKQMSHrcB-xkDVtb0A0wwS_HmZklpGUIiy9Osq4bc2eXYeVfZl0KUx3pFY0sqYMQ7Xv8IdQV/s320/Sun+at+distance.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">If there is
sunlight, there must be a sun. If there is electricity, there must be a generator. If love is from the will and is the meaning of life, there must be a first “willer”. If one has accepted even some objective truth or morals, then there must be a source
for it. If there is a natural or moral law that transcends human opinion, there
must be a “first cause” for it or a moral law-giver. A loving moral law-giver
reasonably implies something with intelligence and “intent” and one would </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">do
well to ponder what a curious thing that would be. Nothing in this post definitively
proves what Catholic theology would say about God, but to say that the truths
we hold as self-evident are only a delusion is wishful thinking for those who
wish to avoid the reality of the human condition and its passion.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">“Man
does not explain himself to himself without the odd suspicion that he is
missing something.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> – <a href="https://g.co/kgs/q2krcS" target="_blank">James V. Schall, S.J</a>. </span></div>
</div>
Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11953563578914140396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005473794963219887.post-91463770778169828992017-01-05T16:18:00.000-06:002017-01-05T16:18:15.983-06:00Proof of the Human Soul?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The Catechism
of the Catholic Church says that the human soul is the innermost aspect of man and
the spiritual principle that separates from the body after death. The body then
decays and the soul goes to meet God (CCC <i><span style="color: red;"><a href="http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/363.htm" target="_blank">#363</a>, <a href="http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/997.htm" target="_blank">#997</a></span></i>). But is it possible to prove that the
human soul exists?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU8wgDTFVZrpcJDIATJN3s8jGcdXgZC_NGJeya-yTzlJIoZCq0NX3c_oC7fvUib7HtyW1lETOjFeHupVyHkjqfHAb_N8BT8_jIzEFirXvUdRwqS1ZD9LBNqYJf8obP_cJvusjwj0-_Hku6/s1600/Soul.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU8wgDTFVZrpcJDIATJN3s8jGcdXgZC_NGJeya-yTzlJIoZCq0NX3c_oC7fvUib7HtyW1lETOjFeHupVyHkjqfHAb_N8BT8_jIzEFirXvUdRwqS1ZD9LBNqYJf8obP_cJvusjwj0-_Hku6/s200/Soul.bmp" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Whenever someone
asks for proof of something, especially something immaterial, I sometimes ask if it is possible to prove anything at all. This is not to be flippant;
it’s a serious question.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZTonAcBnBBMEv-hqpG7CMDumzGpRsmwARtf6OWrR1avxk7nsbgWDWHPE72JpDAjB0gDJ0VyXUL96GHkZVnrvnWJVg28NIbpQ0HiDNCL4h7oWlw0YvvJQ9s-jDdB84BKFQDCtX6Bph1rKL/s1600/Alien2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZTonAcBnBBMEv-hqpG7CMDumzGpRsmwARtf6OWrR1avxk7nsbgWDWHPE72JpDAjB0gDJ0VyXUL96GHkZVnrvnWJVg28NIbpQ0HiDNCL4h7oWlw0YvvJQ9s-jDdB84BKFQDCtX6Bph1rKL/s1600/Alien2.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Suppose you
were told that last night while you slept your brain was taken by aliens and
installed into an alien supercomputer. This supercomputer is now inputting all
the correct electrochemical impulses into your brain to precisely simulate the
world you are familiar with. You think you are reading a blog post right
now, but it is actually the alien computer inputting the data directly into
your brain—similar to the concept in the <i><span style="color: red;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Matrix" target="_blank">1999 movie “The Matrix”</a></span></i><span style="color: red;">.</span>
This might sound absurd, but you would simply have no way of proving that this
artificial reality is false. If all the data you have is only virtual data
being continuously streamed into your brain, you would have no outside system
to use as a relevant basis of comparison.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">For a less
fantastic example involving “proof”, consider our criminal justice system.</span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Have you ever been a juror in a
criminal trial? I have; it was quite a rigorous exercise in reason with a bunch
of perfect strangers—and it went on for two days. Proving someone guilty beyond a
reasonable doubt gets rather contentious when all twelve jurors cannot agree on
when the threshold for a “reasonable doubt” has been achieved. It seems to me
that when people try hard enough, they can always find a doubt that is reasonable…at
least to them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFKbT4pOZtnoBnuhiYaBUVmJeJVwSyKNfQy2j6BNtfW05au5EpPyLWW9B1-nfKRSlqZwea2O6lJfq9qDgdoY8qOblg_UGyncpBdd8dtTxAPFgIqoftxjJDAbhjxokHe8QcepAMxDE6f77D/s1600/Cat.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFKbT4pOZtnoBnuhiYaBUVmJeJVwSyKNfQy2j6BNtfW05au5EpPyLWW9B1-nfKRSlqZwea2O6lJfq9qDgdoY8qOblg_UGyncpBdd8dtTxAPFgIqoftxjJDAbhjxokHe8QcepAMxDE6f77D/s1600/Cat.png" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Here’s
another case in point; suppose you and I see a cat running across the street.
We agree that it was indeed a cat and we go forward with that premise. There is
no doubt that we saw a cat; it is an unquestioned fact. We later receive more
data that informs us that it was actually a funny looking raccoon. This is not
so different from observations used in science. Once something is
“proven” is the science settled forever? No; not if more data is found to
question the previous thinking. Consider that Isaac Newton and centuries of
Aristotelian logic held to the assertion that our universe and past time were
infinite. Today many accept the premise that time/space had a starting point or
Big Bang.1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">There are
many such examples about “proof” and I was reminded of these when discussing near-death
experiences (NDEs) with someone as evidence for the human soul. Of all the <i><span style="color: red;"><a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/site/feature/misc/webfeat/125th/" target="_blank">unanswered questions in science</a></span></i>, one of the biggest is “What is the biological basis of
consciousness?” The hidden assumption in the question is (of course) that there
<i>must</i> be a biological basis. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Consciousness
can only be a product of a working brain; which is essentially a “meat
computer” ultimately controlled by the universal and unchangeable laws of
physics and chemistry. Therefore, NDEs must be manufactured in the brain. They
are delusions produced by the brain under extreme duress, such as a lack of
oxygen or being under the influence of powerful drugs administered during a
medical emergency. Agreed?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie9dPaWOsk1PPuZeTUk-tWcZ7TC85g0z7-fyrRFWKghXGOLd6E1S9kxvlpnvdB-uMDrKe0S8xzLKEEj9QqVv4Hxhv92is81q2m1wbQhpU0ZFgQhJmKfpycgspKNZ_rBbMl50OZBoN82wdU/s1600/Brain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie9dPaWOsk1PPuZeTUk-tWcZ7TC85g0z7-fyrRFWKghXGOLd6E1S9kxvlpnvdB-uMDrKe0S8xzLKEEj9QqVv4Hxhv92is81q2m1wbQhpU0ZFgQhJmKfpycgspKNZ_rBbMl50OZBoN82wdU/s1600/Brain.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">For the
strict materialist the paragraph above might be a satisfying answer, but like
the example of the cat vs. raccoon, could there be more data to question the
thinking behind NDEs and human consciousness? I believe I found such data in an
<i><span style="color: red;"><a href="http://magisgodwiki.org/index.php?title=The_Human_Soul" target="_blank">article written by Fr. Robert Spitzer</a></span></i> when I searched the <a href="http://www.magiscenter.com/" target="_blank"><i>Magis Center for Faith & Reason</i></a> for NDEs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Now, it is
understandable to think that a priest writing something about NDEs could have a
non-scientific and manipulative agenda about the afterlife, but the very opening
paragraph shows the concern for scientific objectivity, “I cite the evidence of
near-death experiences with some trepidation, because there are many books
written on this subject which are not scientific…these nonscientific books have
rather manipulative agendas, and some are quite cultic in character.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The article
goes on to summarizes three separate scientific studies on NDEs: The van Lommel
et al Study, The Melvin Morse Study of Near-Death Experiences of Children and
The Kenneth Ring, et al Study of Near-Death Experiences of the Blind. For me, the
most interesting data that challenge the premise about consciousness being only
a product of the brain are as follows:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Flat EEGs:</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> People reported clear and lucid
consciousness during the time in which there was no
electrical activity in the brain cortex and no brain stem function either,
evidenced by fixed dilated pupils and absence of the gag reflex. How can lucid conciseness
continue when the brain is clinically dead?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Out of Body:</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> People experienced an out-of-body
state with sensorial capabilities. Out of body could even mean out of the room
where they laid unconscious, going through walls, seeing things and hearing
conversations which were later verified to be accurate. How does one experience
this without a body, unless their consciousness is somehow “non-physical”?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Blind from Birth: </span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Those blind from birth reported that
they could see. If all our memories and knowledge are stored in our brain and
our brain never received any visual inputs from our eyes, how does a blind person see during an NDE?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">NDEs and Children:</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> Wouldn’t it be foolish to believe a
child? Maybe sometimes, but if you’ve spent time with children you know they
can be very unbiased and matter-of-fact. Small children do not know what an NDE
is and are not motivated by cultural or religious agendas, so how likely are
they to purposely report data to help these agendas?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Low Percentage: </span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Not everyone reports an NDE. In the
van Lommel study only 18% reported an NDE, but 100% of them suffered a shortage
of oxygen, were given morphine-like medications and were victims of severe
stress. If an NDE is just a biological reflex of a dying brain, shouldn’t it be
closer to 100%? If endorphins were suddenly and unexpectedly released into the
brains of 100 people, wouldn’t about 100 of them report “good feelings”? <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwIOaMFa8kip8St8GvmdZ5iG5z4UnM36leAM4SDGR_NxeAIVh4-icXk41AbAXVIbCvWbxBuOfJ2IYKN9MRpYVOouvgTa5fM-0HTT3eA9IL3zNplt4woe4tj6vJXePfHzYupBujgl5oiPcp/s1600/Data.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="105" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwIOaMFa8kip8St8GvmdZ5iG5z4UnM36leAM4SDGR_NxeAIVh4-icXk41AbAXVIbCvWbxBuOfJ2IYKN9MRpYVOouvgTa5fM-0HTT3eA9IL3zNplt4woe4tj6vJXePfHzYupBujgl5oiPcp/s200/Data.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Do these
objective aspects of subjective near-death experiences prove the existence of
the human soul and the afterlife? Perhaps not, but beware of willful ignorance
and having qualms with an agenda. As in the criminal trail example above,
people are good at raising “reasonable doubts” for just about anything. Should consciousness without a physical brain be considered a real possibility? As
with the most basic principles of reason, when many clues point in a certain
direction, we do well to explore that direction seriously. In the grand scheme of reality
these studies are additional data points (and there are many) that concur with
the Catholic worldview.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">1. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Thoma</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">s E. Woods, How Catholic Church Built Western
Civilization (Washington D.C: Regnery Publishing, Inc., 2005), p. 91</span></div>
</div>
Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11953563578914140396noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005473794963219887.post-16377446762682337632016-12-19T17:10:00.000-06:002016-12-19T17:10:21.841-06:00Curious & Uplifiting<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Perhaps many of us are pleased to hear religious
Christmas music in all kinds of public areas and venues this time of year. Many
are praising the Lord publicly, but perhaps we see it as a kind of
empty praise with multitudes of earthly sinners crying out “Lord, Lord”, so to speak, deserving the response “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but not do what I command?”
(Luke 6:46)</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuEQTcHOy9QEVq1abrm3K9OwAUJIj2WvvX7w7SxV05TXj-xHhN87uLO9hMHCQUw6WEsIejbUY6TlY-3ztoWd2szgdq0oZiJ4c6_2QGgLKeNtjYW6GXEUukSD3IrEukgVHdC7HC2YiCz0TC/s1600/Cleansing+of+temple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuEQTcHOy9QEVq1abrm3K9OwAUJIj2WvvX7w7SxV05TXj-xHhN87uLO9hMHCQUw6WEsIejbUY6TlY-3ztoWd2szgdq0oZiJ4c6_2QGgLKeNtjYW6GXEUukSD3IrEukgVHdC7HC2YiCz0TC/s320/Cleansing+of+temple.jpg" width="296" /></a></div>
<br />
<o:p></o:p>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hypocrisy notwithstanding, prayerful music
accepted in public areas gives me hope for a future Christendom. My oldest son
is now a freshman at a rather large public high school where he joined the
choir; they had a concert a few months ago and the grand finally was the
song "Praise His Holy Name". You should see the lyrics. Here is a
sample...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“holy Jesus praise his name<br />
oh hallejuah praise his holy name” (x4)<span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><br />
Read more: <i><a href="http://www.metrolyrics.com/praise-his-holy-name-lyrics-whispers.html#ixzz4PFxBi8ql" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">Whispers - Praise His Holy Name
Lyrics | MetroLyrics</span></a> </i><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; padding: 0in;">No one seemed offended and there was thunderous
applause at the end. Remember this is a public school (nowhere near the Bible
Belt)! I found it both curious and uplifting to see a secular musical
ensemble shamelessly and loudly singing praises to Jesus, and all of it
happening in a secular environment. To my knowledge, no one called the
ACLU in protest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Along the same vein, a few years ago that
same son of mine was fortunate enough to have participated in the children’s
choir for a presentation of the St. Nicholas Cantata written by Benjamin Britten
(text by Eric Crozier).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Ow7nD4LLNMrGA6Zubkvs92DgBvpq6qsnV5qa4tII04LEtJ_iteVKE7ea2S_2izHBqQwc4JhaKZWmri9lB0CQXcTN_XYxqahdC2YanNlsGnn0kZxshOZfld5qZy4zgbipa5KB0IRRc7hq/s1600/St.+Nick-TWINKLE.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Ow7nD4LLNMrGA6Zubkvs92DgBvpq6qsnV5qa4tII04LEtJ_iteVKE7ea2S_2izHBqQwc4JhaKZWmri9lB0CQXcTN_XYxqahdC2YanNlsGnn0kZxshOZfld5qZy4zgbipa5KB0IRRc7hq/s320/St.+Nick-TWINKLE.gif" width="246" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Cantata means "sung" and is
derived from the Italian word "cantare”; it’s a vocal composition with an
instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a
choir. This particular performance involved a full orchestra, adult choir,
children’s choir and a tenor. This was not billed as a Christmas or Holiday
concert and it was not sponsored by any church or other religious organization.
It came from a state college/community music organization preforming in the
theater of a private secular liberal arts college.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Here are some of the insightful music lyrics from
the part of St. Nicholas; they read like biblical psalms. I don’t know if these
are actual quotes from the saint, but I thought I’d share them nonetheless,
since they seem as true today as they must have been in his time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">“Poor man! I found him solitary, racked<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">By doubt: born, bred, doomed to die<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">In everlasting fear of everlasting death:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The foolish toy of time, the darling of decay—<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Hopeless, faithless, defying God.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">“O God! We are all weak sinful, foolish men.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">We pray from fear and from necessity at death, in
sickness or<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">private loss. Without the prick of fear our
conscience sleeps,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">forgetful of Thy Grace.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Help us, O God! to see more clearly.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Tame our stubborn hearts.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Teach us to ask for less and offer more in
gratitude to Thee.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Pity our simplicity, for we are truly pitiable in
Thy sight.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">If all this wasn’t remarkable enough for a
secular event, the audience was encouraged to sing along with the following
hymn…and they did so gladly!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">“All people that on earth do dwell<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Him serve with fear<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">His praise forth tell,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">come ye before Him and rejoice.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">O enter then His gates with praise<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Approach with joy His courts unto,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Praise, laud and bless His name always,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">For it is seemly so to do.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">For why? The Lord our God is good:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">His mercy is for ever sure;<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">His truth at all times firmly stood,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">And shall from age to age endure. Amen.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Enjoy the holiday music while it lasts and wherever
it comes from; try not to dwell on any hypocrisy you come across along the way...and Merry
Christmas from “all of us” at Two Catholic Men and a Blog!</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ok-S-HU6m3wWG5gllkl6wbnxB54xJZiA4ym2aKMYXDhDa1jiWP64dJygBaUXH6SXrLdC4EyTek7m8mis1bjwOC95qTSMPB8NPv4-6D6Y9fvJeJJItCb2rv0PYNo3i6a8ksfyzIv8nm6T/s1600/Wisemen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ok-S-HU6m3wWG5gllkl6wbnxB54xJZiA4ym2aKMYXDhDa1jiWP64dJygBaUXH6SXrLdC4EyTek7m8mis1bjwOC95qTSMPB8NPv4-6D6Y9fvJeJJItCb2rv0PYNo3i6a8ksfyzIv8nm6T/s200/Wisemen.jpg" width="175" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wise bloggers still seek Him!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11953563578914140396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005473794963219887.post-59135473807720166302016-11-17T21:24:00.001-06:002016-11-17T21:24:32.675-06:00Why is the Dog Happier???<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkyJ8H8NcSsdlJ3DYbUUuMJ8C0T3RrEywA684b8coTab0bYgTbBWi0mVrrDls73LqJ3_LrqwOLOal_3EWEfOuZaoJgPFvfIe6UOa7uhsEBClexcqXtL3jVH3TMpL7NaMt3GDhv5ZuUETcP/s1600/15085729_1255777787834727_3095933288243482804_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkyJ8H8NcSsdlJ3DYbUUuMJ8C0T3RrEywA684b8coTab0bYgTbBWi0mVrrDls73LqJ3_LrqwOLOal_3EWEfOuZaoJgPFvfIe6UOa7uhsEBClexcqXtL3jVH3TMpL7NaMt3GDhv5ZuUETcP/s640/15085729_1255777787834727_3095933288243482804_n.jpg" width="624" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">St.
Thomas Aquinas tells us that good signifies “perfect being” and evil signifies “the
privation of perfect being”1, so when a thing lacks a perfection it ought to
have, we perceive the deficiency as an evil. When something is just how it
ought to be we call this “good”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The
dog is happy living in the present moment, just being with “the pack”, even if
the pack consists of only the dog and his master. This is “perfection” for the
mind of a dog. The human is besieged with worldly thoughts; he is not content just
being in the present moment. Being a child of God made in the image and likeness
of God does not satisfy, even if this “Good News” is made clear to him
as a Christian. The intellect dimmed by original and personal sin is obsessed
with earthly thoughts and is easily distracted from the source of true happiness.
This is an evil or a “privation of perfection” for the human mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We could speak of our lives in terms of two aspects,
secular and spiritual. Our secular side refers to all the practical and worldly
things we deal with and learn about to help us function in our communities,
homes, and jobs. We need to pay attention to secular things. The spiritual side
is about the Good, the Beautiful and the True and the meaning behind it all. If we
get these last things right, the rest of life falls into place. Our spiritual
life needs to be foremost in our mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQtZ_7ln19xLiBjPVUYsorngV_MpgOWMqTSKlALwUAkXFqz5YIkvh7L2KZgMTYPa6HsSQcdHIuAaWObXWN1gcphYuY7C7I925z9dFQrBxVJsuSwuYN2_b48zxmNJX2qqyXs34I34D-4zgY/s1600/Thinker3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQtZ_7ln19xLiBjPVUYsorngV_MpgOWMqTSKlALwUAkXFqz5YIkvh7L2KZgMTYPa6HsSQcdHIuAaWObXWN1gcphYuY7C7I925z9dFQrBxVJsuSwuYN2_b48zxmNJX2qqyXs34I34D-4zgY/s1600/Thinker3.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Where do your idle thoughts go? What would happen if you
put God at the absolute center of your thoughts? What we think ultimately
translates to what we do. Since the intellect informs the will, we would end
up doing the will of God. We would experience peace, become centered and "detached". Our spinning mind would no longer control us; no longer exhaust us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">In the end only
one thing is necessary. It is the “one thing” spoken of at the house of Mary
& Martha in Luke 10:38-42. Martha might think that she or Mary could love
God above all other things and at the same time be constantly preoccupied with worldly things, but Jesus made it clear that she could not do both perfectly;
imperfectly she could, but not perfectly.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">It
is the nature of the secular life to begin and end in our lifetime. Not
so, however, of the spiritual life; it begins in this life, but lasts without
end. The best is truly yet to come. As the Lord said to Martha, it is the part
that shall never be taken away; because that perfect moment of being which can
begin for us here will last without end in heaven.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">“God
wants us to live in the moment because we can only sanctify the present moment.
We can’t change the past or control the future. The chance to do good or bad
resides in the right here, right now.”2</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">St. Thomas
Aquinas, Aquinas’s Shorter Summa (Manchester: Sophia Institute Press,
2002), p. 125.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Karee Santos and Manuel Santos, The
Four Keys To Everlasting Love (Ave Maria Press, 2016), e-book, p. 15.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11953563578914140396noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005473794963219887.post-10314891635664455942016-11-09T18:46:00.001-06:002016-11-09T18:59:53.303-06:00Data Died on Election Night<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">No, not this Data…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZaG75ungSumVKKXUpZgwTLoM34UH8kAQXHpWUFPkdVvN-FZ4dnYjWEEndQAdSvFCKr5_owlxMeYaGOnIRmNTyVPBCWajMEgfTeVxke03BYiIRLpNAlNyfkYmKHQ_ckjkQug21goAIBs0t/s1600/Data.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZaG75ungSumVKKXUpZgwTLoM34UH8kAQXHpWUFPkdVvN-FZ4dnYjWEEndQAdSvFCKr5_owlxMeYaGOnIRmNTyVPBCWajMEgfTeVxke03BYiIRLpNAlNyfkYmKHQ_ckjkQug21goAIBs0t/s320/Data.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’m talking about polling data.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The <a href="http://2catholicmen.blogspot.com/2016/10/decision-2016-how-well-do-you-make.html" target="_blank">previous post</a> on this blog predicted that Trump would
lose at about the same margin as Mitt Romney did in 2012, even though the candidates
and the race itself were very different. No matter what electoral map you
looked at in recent weeks, it was not reasonable to think that a blue state
would magically turn red or a red state would magically turn blue. Even if
Trump picked up one or two blue leaning states, he still would have needed all
or most of the toss up states, which may have been about ten states depending on
when you looked and with what map. If a toss-up is truly a toss-up, then it’s
like flipping a coin. Flip a coin 10 times in a row and see if you get something
like 8-10 heads. It’s possible, but actually try it and see if it happens. I’ll
bet good money that it won’t.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRaTsip9iP3613uwGLCYRlVDXQnWjV3Iq8lRREyva7Z8TJifa2wKmjHN8CG97x9dYZDfPXYlbw01DGHNlC7crmdsRiedy8ygq5ktAZhkqTTEoqDgWBTlohPpXAQEYMYF4rExRGygvD3_tm/s1600/Trump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRaTsip9iP3613uwGLCYRlVDXQnWjV3Iq8lRREyva7Z8TJifa2wKmjHN8CG97x9dYZDfPXYlbw01DGHNlC7crmdsRiedy8ygq5ktAZhkqTTEoqDgWBTlohPpXAQEYMYF4rExRGygvD3_tm/s1600/Trump.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If the polling data is wrong, then a prediction that
flows from said data must obey the universal law of “garbage in, garbage out”.
There was obviously a large group of people more interested in just voting for
Trump than being polled about it. I suspect a lot of pollsters will be eating crow in the days to come with plenty of beaks and feathers to spare.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But can Trump make America great again? Depends on how we
define greatness and what we are comparing it to. Maybe the economy will get
better and the border will be less porous and maybe other nations and peoples around
the world will “fear” us more, but is this true greatness?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Doing God’s will on Earth is what the Kingdom of God on
Earth is all about and thus what greatness is all about. So what are the ways
in which we <b><i>do not</i> </b>do the will of God
on Earth? Most dissent from Catholic teaching involves something to do with
human sexuality and I’m afraid many of our newly elected or re-elected leaders care little about
such things or all the data that surrounds them. Maybe these issues are seen as nothing to do with politics, but deep down they must know that politics and life are joined at the hip.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Abortion, homosexuality, contraception, fornication, marriage,
divorce and remarriage all have an aspect of sexuality to them. Consequently, many,
if not most, of the ills in our society can be traced back to these points of sexual
confusion or dissension. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What is the data surrounding all the unwanted pregnancies
and the resulting increase in poverty and single parent homes? How about the
number of unborn children being killed and that will be killed in the future?
Think of the impact from broken homes due to divorce? Ignorance and dissent
about the true purpose of sex also brings us pornography, sexual addictions,
molestation, sexually-transmitted diseases and marriage confusion. The amount
of emotional pain due to fornication is probably not considered by most as
something that will impact the rest of the culture in any significant way, but
think of the huge number of people bonding and breaking up with different
sexual partners over and over again and how this impacts their character? How
then, does their character impact everyone else around them?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-KWE8u0-G-SZHXJHx7nwklXfFUCDRKj5-8y5BElvTb9VpVk9OydVnz0h_N5c3RG824Nb7E-otK73NASip3KKKVROgiaYdwR11og7ieFQMmcRQOetCirvxAye6P3CztjBzkxCbrBTQ-7t/s1600/gender-symbols.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-KWE8u0-G-SZHXJHx7nwklXfFUCDRKj5-8y5BElvTb9VpVk9OydVnz0h_N5c3RG824Nb7E-otK73NASip3KKKVROgiaYdwR11og7ieFQMmcRQOetCirvxAye6P3CztjBzkxCbrBTQ-7t/s320/gender-symbols.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The only way to make America great again, or great at all,
is to actualize the prayer we say at every Mass. “Thy kingdom come, thy will be
done on earth as it is in heaven.” So as the dust settles on this particular
election cycle, let’s continue to pray for that.</span></div>
</div>
Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11953563578914140396noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005473794963219887.post-3568320783331167172016-10-06T16:43:00.000-05:002016-10-06T16:43:29.367-05:00Decision 2016 - How Well Do You Make Decisions?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Imagine you had to make the following two decisions
simultaneously (and you had no moral objection to gambling).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Decision #1:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Choice
A: Sure gain of $240<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Choice B: 25% chance to gain $1000 and 75% chance to
gain nothing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Decision #2:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Choice
C: Sure loss of $750<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Choice D: 75% chance to lose $1000 and 25% chance to
lose nothing<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBFKrgE6m1W5EkseoUoLLEMNKvCs8bdM_o__r0IfDKTiFGP7QVuhWU_DZuofpbl0QcxsMwA60z7pcvtZbSo8d4wtbRZlbabaLd5sKZi9mG0aEizDsMWo7nIQp5yxlgePp-h6r7lzXFIK4/s1600/Homer+thinking.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBFKrgE6m1W5EkseoUoLLEMNKvCs8bdM_o__r0IfDKTiFGP7QVuhWU_DZuofpbl0QcxsMwA60z7pcvtZbSo8d4wtbRZlbabaLd5sKZi9mG0aEizDsMWo7nIQp5yxlgePp-h6r7lzXFIK4/s1600/Homer+thinking.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">If you are like most people, you’d probably choose A and then
D. No one in their right mind would pick C under any circumstances, right? Without
a doctorate in statistics, but with some slow and effortful thinking, we can
reason through the following if we focus on “the big picture”…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What do the following decisions taken together
really mean?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Choice
A and D = 25% chance to win $240 and 75% chance to lose $760<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Choice
B and C = 25% chance to win $250 and 75% chance to lose $750<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">(If you doubt it, go back and study it for a while)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Including choice C (a sure loss
of $750) with choice B is a better gamble.1</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3WYkP9AbcUA_dCS2ZiEJIQ6yz_FYCiN8N8TzwlmYDin_6av9tJEOhdjOJ_Et0nSeIORGMfaexxH_KsZ7Sgaor9uRdX6E9L5UmZSgc-nl2kSW9lUZn4Y7X9o_Lpe6SpzZZDBQ4cbbGQYTY/s1600/That%2527+not+in+Bible.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3WYkP9AbcUA_dCS2ZiEJIQ6yz_FYCiN8N8TzwlmYDin_6av9tJEOhdjOJ_Et0nSeIORGMfaexxH_KsZ7Sgaor9uRdX6E9L5UmZSgc-nl2kSW9lUZn4Y7X9o_Lpe6SpzZZDBQ4cbbGQYTY/s320/That%2527+not+in+Bible.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I know...it's hard to believe.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The
above is an example of a situation that is easily </span><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i>under</i> </b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">analyzed by the
average person, but </span><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i>over</i></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> analyzing can lead to bad decisions as well. I think the
current presidential election is an example of something currently being over
analyzed. With all the talk of tax returns, an pneumonia and even the current
president’s origin of birth, we easily get lost in the arcane details. How can
we look at the big picture of a complex situation without be sidetracked by all
the obscure and often irrelevant data?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The decisions about gambling shown above can be looked at
objectively; decisions about elections get much more subjective, but here’s a
way to look at it using a simplified version of a process we use where I work called
Decision Analysis—except that it’s done in terms of Faith and Reason. First,
some clarity on what’s most important…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What
is important?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Reality
is important.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What
is Catholicism?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">-<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A universal
way of seeing reality; a way of seeing in which we can best respond to the world around us.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyAinON-U5cFEkI987ivmhafFS1QeO5nJvZkIrIWdai3-ZGUdrfHqcqq6wliAAyGpndDMUvZWSRYLHjGqiKusHqsagMBNrBVvdbCyI9oApYUfMEayP3n3d2Bm7rDS_5xUQ4fmTZji4JjIK/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyAinON-U5cFEkI987ivmhafFS1QeO5nJvZkIrIWdai3-ZGUdrfHqcqq6wliAAyGpndDMUvZWSRYLHjGqiKusHqsagMBNrBVvdbCyI9oApYUfMEayP3n3d2Bm7rDS_5xUQ4fmTZji4JjIK/s1600/2.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now, what are the <i>specific</i>
ways in which government acts or has acted to undermine this reality (policy or
law contrary to the Catholic faith)? What are the trends?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Please Note:</span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> What follows is just an
example. You can make your own list of issues and follow each step using your
own input, but be specific. Things like “Life Issues”, “Social Justice”, “Religious Liberty” and even "Temperament" are too general.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Step
1: </span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">List
specific issues (as many as you want)<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Euthanasia</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Abortion</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Torture</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Marriage definition</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Unjust war</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">HSS Mandate</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Step
2: </span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Think
of the current impact of each issue and its potential trend<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-insideh: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-border-insidev: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 9.85pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="background: #002060; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 9.85pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .95in;" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Issue<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #002060; border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 9.85pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" width="162"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Impact<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17.2pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 17.2pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .95in;" width="91"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Euthanasia<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.2pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" width="162"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Legal in 4
states, trend increasing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17.2pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 17.2pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .95in;" width="91"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Abortion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.2pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" width="162"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1 million babies
killed per year (U.S.) and continuing unabated<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17.2pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 17.2pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .95in;" width="91"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Torture<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.2pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" width="162"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Currently no
reports of the gov. torturing people. Those in favor could reinstate it<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17.7pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 17.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .95in;" width="91"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Marriage Definition<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" width="162"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Adds to sexual
confusion/sin. Discrimination increasing for those holding a traditional marriage
view<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17.7pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 17.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .95in;" width="91"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Unjust War<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" width="162"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Dealing
with world-wide aftermath. Those in favor could
start a new war<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17.7pt; mso-yfti-irow: 6; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 17.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .95in;" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">HSS Mandate<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" width="162"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Law suits taking
time & money. Catholic Institutions closing or being punished.
Higher cost to government to fill the gap.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Step
3: </span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Find
the most serious issue and give it a 10 (there can be more than one 10). Compare
others to it and assign numbered weights by comparing to the 10. Remember that
this is only an example.</span></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-insideh: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-border-insidev: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 9.85pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="background: #002060; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 9.85pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .95in;" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Issue<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #002060; border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 9.85pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" width="162"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Impact<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #002060; border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 9.85pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .75in;" valign="top" width="72"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Weight<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17.2pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 17.2pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .95in;" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Euthanasia<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.2pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" width="162"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Legal in 4
states, trend increasing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.2pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .75in;" width="72"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">7<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17.2pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 17.2pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .95in;" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Abortion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.2pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" width="162"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1 million babies
killed per year (U.S.) and continuing unabated<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.2pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .75in;" width="72"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">10<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17.2pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 17.2pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .95in;" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Torture<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.2pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" width="162"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Currently no
reports of the gov. torturing people. Those in favor could reinstate it<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.2pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .75in;" width="72"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17.7pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 17.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .95in;" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Marriage Definition<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" width="162"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Adds to sexual
confusion/sin. Discrimination increasing for those holding a traditional
marriage view<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .75in;" width="72"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">8<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17.7pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 17.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .95in;" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Unjust War<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" width="162"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;">Dealing with world-wide aftermath.</span> Those in favor could start
a new war<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .75in;" width="72"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17.7pt; mso-yfti-irow: 6; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 17.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .95in;" width="91"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">HSS Mandate<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 121.5pt;" width="162"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Law suits taking
time & money. Catholic Institutions forced to close or be punished.
Higher cost to government to fill the gap.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: .75in;" width="72"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">7<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Step
4: </span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Compare
candidates<b>. </b>Score the best candidate
for each issue with a 10. Note that 10 does not mean “perfect” and there can be
more than one 10. Score remaining candidates (0–10) relative to the 10. Multiply
score x weight and add the weighted scores.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-insideh: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-border-insidev: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 9.85pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="background: #002060; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 9.85pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 68.8pt;" width="92"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Issue<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #002060; border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 9.85pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.05pt;" width="71"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Weight<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #0070C0; border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 9.85pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 62.5pt;" width="83"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Democrat<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #C00000; border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 9.85pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 70.1pt;" width="93"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Republican<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #FFCC00; border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 9.85pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 75.95pt;" width="101"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Libertarian<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #00B050; border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 9.85pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 54.9pt;" width="73"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Green<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17.2pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 17.2pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 68.8pt;" width="92"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Euthanasia<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.2pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.05pt;" width="71"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">7<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.2pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 62.5pt;" width="83"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">6x7=42<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.2pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 70.1pt;" width="93"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">10<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">10x7=70<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.2pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 75.95pt;" width="101"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2x7=14<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.2pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 54.9pt;" width="73"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">5x7=35<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 45.4pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 45.4pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 68.8pt;" width="92"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Abortion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 45.4pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.05pt;" width="71"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">10<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 45.4pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 62.5pt;" width="83"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2x10=20<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 45.4pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 70.1pt;" width="93"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">10<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">10x10=100<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 45.4pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 75.95pt;" width="101"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">6x10=60<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 45.4pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 54.9pt;" width="73"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">4x10=40<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17.2pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 17.2pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 68.8pt;" width="92"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Torture<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.2pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.05pt;" width="71"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.2pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 62.5pt;" width="83"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">10<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">10x3=30<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.2pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 70.1pt;" width="93"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">0<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">0x3=0<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.2pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 75.95pt;" width="101"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">9<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">9x3=27<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.2pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 54.9pt;" width="73"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">10<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">10x3=30<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17.7pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 17.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 68.8pt;" width="92"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Marriage Definition<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.05pt;" width="71"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">8<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 62.5pt;" width="83"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2x8=16<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 70.1pt;" width="93"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">10<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">10x8=80<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 75.95pt;" width="101"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">5x8=40<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 54.9pt;" width="73"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2x8=16<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17.7pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 17.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 68.8pt;" width="92"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Unjust War<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.05pt;" width="71"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 62.5pt;" width="83"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">7<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">7x6=42<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 70.1pt;" width="93"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2x6=12<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 75.95pt;" width="101"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">10<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">10x6=60<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 54.9pt;" width="73"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">7<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">7x6=42<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17.7pt; mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 17.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 68.8pt;" width="92"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">HSS Mandate<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.05pt;" width="71"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">7<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 62.5pt;" width="83"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">5x7=35<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 70.1pt;" width="93"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">8<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">8x7=56<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 75.95pt;" width="101"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">10<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">10x7=70<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 54.9pt;" width="73"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">4x7=28<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17.7pt; mso-yfti-irow: 7; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 17.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 68.8pt;" width="92"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="background: yellow; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 53.05pt;" width="71"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Weighted Score<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: yellow; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 62.5pt;" width="83"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">185<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: yellow; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 70.1pt;" width="93"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">318<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: yellow; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 75.95pt;" width="101"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">271<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: yellow; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 17.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 54.9pt;" width="73"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">191<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Please Note:</span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> At this point in the election cycle, carefully analyzing a third party candidate is like analyzing a
fantasy…interesting, but basically a waste of time.</span><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Step
5: </span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Asses
risk. Look at the candidate with the highest weighted score and ask, “If he/she
was elected what could go wrong?” </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Are we willing to accept the risk(s) to gain the benefit
of this choice? If yes, pick it. If not, repeat for the next best candidate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Now,
this is all very interesting, but let’s not kid ourselves; people won’t do this.
Thinking is very hard and we are very lazy, so we make quick decisions based on
intuition like choosing A and D in the gambling example above.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I try not to make decisions based solely on intuition,
but I will make a prediction. I predict the Republican running for president
will lose and at <i>about</i> the same
margin as the 2012 election (332 to 206 electoral votes). But Donald Trump and Mitt Romney are so vastly different in how they
present themselves; what makes me think the result will be about the same?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I think the “God Demographics” of society
are changing. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">What do I mean by God demographics? As a society moves
further and further from God, it must naturally gravitate more and more toward
sin (we won’t stay still). If sin is the root of all unhappiness, then more sin
means more dissatisfaction with life. If we are moving away from God, we must
find another “savior” to liberate us from what is wrong so we can finally be
happy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In general terms (there are plenty of exceptions I'm sure), I think the portions of the electorate
who are satisfied with life want less government involvement, fewer taxes, less
regulation, etc. They tend to lean Republican. Those dissatisfied look to government
as the ultimate source to make things right, just, fair, etc.</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">They
tend to lean Democrat. Other political parties never seem to gain ground either
way. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The current Republican presidential candidate is certainly
not your typical candidate, but I think the pattern in God Demographics
mentioned above will “Trump” everything else. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">We’ll see.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">For those looking for a simpler </span>analysis<span style="font-size: 12pt;">, I heard this on the <a href="http://www.dennisprager.com/" target="_blank">Dennis Prager radio show</a> not too long ago...</span></span><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Door #1 says "Man Eating Lion."</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Door #2 says "Perhaps Man Eating Lion."</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Which do you choose?</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_rq0Fo66Pu_Eu5-7fhyvKIFBK3jA1O_X0O85M8jgn9fGuFb2kQ52d5e4v4D5tiOdd6YnVISBwlbb5DkPimudwqA7hzl_iWE5VXyllJ__jRsi8bSx99drY3QjtJZUtkSl9h42ssdxpPdd_/s1600/Man+%2526+Beast.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_rq0Fo66Pu_Eu5-7fhyvKIFBK3jA1O_X0O85M8jgn9fGuFb2kQ52d5e4v4D5tiOdd6YnVISBwlbb5DkPimudwqA7hzl_iWE5VXyllJ__jRsi8bSx99drY3QjtJZUtkSl9h42ssdxpPdd_/s320/Man+%2526+Beast.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We await your decision.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'll take Door #2<br style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">BTW,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">Trump = Door #2</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJkJBhckq9Ygm-OoaFphyBeWlOjFrq8X5Yj_iRuj_we2uiC6wkRmQWE5-V1jjTx5Wt-nB8EcSy9h6xPr3u8u3peFt0itRdlSZbJoXUUSPPDXwYUEWtIgwb2plPSvGP4XJwYjoXKdAbAAn/s1600/wink2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJkJBhckq9Ygm-OoaFphyBeWlOjFrq8X5Yj_iRuj_we2uiC6wkRmQWE5-V1jjTx5Wt-nB8EcSy9h6xPr3u8u3peFt0itRdlSZbJoXUUSPPDXwYUEWtIgwb2plPSvGP4XJwYjoXKdAbAAn/s1600/wink2.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">1. Daniel Kahneman, <i>Thinking, Fast and Slow</i> (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2011)
p. 334.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11953563578914140396noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005473794963219887.post-44674922750610844512016-09-23T16:11:00.000-05:002016-09-24T20:03:11.629-05:00My Book is Now Available!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Buy the book based on the blog!!! </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">It’s
</span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Faith with Good Reason</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> and it’s now available
on Amazon Books. </span><b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Faith-Good-Reason-Finding-Analytical/dp/0989969657/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1474656854&sr=1-1&keywords=ben+butera" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>!</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I’m pleased that the release date is
September 23, the feast day of St Pio of Pietrelcina. In case you are not
familiar, St. Pio was a Capuchin Friar in Italy that had the stigmata. The wounds
of Christ were on his body for 50 years. He died in 1968, so this is not
something far removed from our own day and age. When I was a teen, I saw a
secular documentary about St. Pio (then Padre Pio) and it was the first time I
saw religion as not just "talk"; there was something physical
happening and it stuck in the back of my mind. It was the first time I saw a
clear connection between physical reality and</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">spiritual reality—the visible and the
invisible—which has a lot to do with the book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0989969657/wwwcampusboocom587-20" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbu0xwFkBCeaSZuMZ4_2e-kkzNHtr7rgpg3TPxqUYz9LmQTI7yQamKg9uYZr2ESxC4Vd0gfrWPUyI_T0dRw18qBf4Jj55xRac-UnAuh7tvdjVYSJQnQpyTZkaSECxnL8IcX_vgH2me2SxT/s400/Cover+-+Copy.png" width="267" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Book Description:<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“This
book is a practical look at faith, reason and problem solving for dealing with
the common realities we face, navigating the gaps between what we know and what
we don’t—for all things visible and invisible. Thinking means linking ideas.
Analytical problem solving is about finding “truth” objectively, regardless of
feelings, strong opinions, past experiences or intuition; finding truth even
when empirical evidence is lacking or impossible to obtain. No one sees reality
in its entirety, yet people firmly believe things they<span id="goog_1294401000"></span><span id="goog_1294401001"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a> can’t prove. We use base
premises to judge things, whether consciously or subconsciously. Like any good
problem solving situation, it’s important to drill down to the base premises of
our thinking and then ascertain where they come from and how reasonable they
are when pressed under deliberate questioning.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It’s ideal for those who…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Appreciate
rational thinking, but do not appreciate Catholicism or religion in
general.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Were
baptized and raised Catholic, but had no real connection between faith and
everyday life.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Might
struggle between choosing “Catholic” and “none” when faced with a survey
question about religious preference</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Lead
with their head, making reasonable and responsible decisions about how to
live and what to believe based on certain rationales rather than
emotion.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Are
neither gullible nor cynical.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Do
not jump to conclusions, but advance cautiously from one step of
reasoning to the next.</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Foreword
written by Stacy A. Trasancos, PhD. Author of<i> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Particles-Faith-Catholic-Navigating-Science/dp/1594716579/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1474656660&sr=1-1&keywords=stacy+trasancos" target="_blank">Particles of Faith: A Catholic Guide to Navigating Science</a></i> & <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Science-Born-Christianity-Stacy-Trasancos/dp/0989969614/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=2W7NJ886MZCAX369PBVA" target="_blank">Science Was Born of Christianity: The Teaching of Fr. Stanley L. Jaki</a></i>; also, professor of Science in the
Light of Faith at Holy Apostles College & Seminary.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNmpTrcdWkWfJQzfsDnsfs81lHsCT-5tnLsNN00O1Adr7b1fDO4A1O4UIiJEAiIzQ0MIVK506e52n700LMWRxqSfIPgr4y5peqCD9-mGr4UOijyPD_J_sQcQ7psFVFJIUj9aBiHfUC_Lo/s1600/imagesCACVL8J4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNmpTrcdWkWfJQzfsDnsfs81lHsCT-5tnLsNN00O1Adr7b1fDO4A1O4UIiJEAiIzQ0MIVK506e52n700LMWRxqSfIPgr4y5peqCD9-mGr4UOijyPD_J_sQcQ7psFVFJIUj9aBiHfUC_Lo/s200/imagesCACVL8J4.jpg" width="140" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">INTERESTING SIDE NOTE:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A significant amount of the royalties
will be donated to <a href="http://www.newmountcarmelfoundation.org/" target="_blank">these fine gentlemen</a> in the mountains of Wyoming to help
build their new monastery.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Enjoy <i>Faith with Good Reason</i>!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11953563578914140396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005473794963219887.post-15581216979207317102016-09-10T18:40:00.000-05:002016-09-10T18:40:43.161-05:00Contemplating the Particles of Faith<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I recently had the opportunity to review a new book <i>before</i> its release. The book is called <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Particles-Faith-Catholic-Navigating-Science/dp/1594716579/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1473525422&sr=1-1&keywords=particles+of+faith" target="_blank">Particles of Faith</a></i> by Stacy A. Trasancos;
it’s an ideal stocking stuffer (and it’s not too early to think about stocking
stuffers) for the college student who just left home for the very first time to
study the sciences, and perhaps, stopped going to church for the very first
time as well. Many struggle with how to reconcile faith and science. This book
will show you how science can only be <i>properly</i>
understood in the light of faith.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The author is a Catholic scientist herself, so who better
to write on the topic. Read it and learn all about…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Particles-Faith-Catholic-Navigating-Science/dp/1594716579/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1473525422&sr=1-1&keywords=particles+of+faith" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlk2KJjMLl6apIrrwSg8-bs98jYNYcrjF8sN7Uv-lN85aVYxoi7N8ZV41pcuEbjVwcadR8ZAi9FoOgPIR5uwinWDqYBmp2pbuFVCSQvKrSNeu1Hrw5JKlBrFGVZ4m8H_7ZM1rhGjGjANr9/s1600/Particles+of+Faith.png" /></a>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The chasm that
faces every scientist<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">How scientists
know very much about very little<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The “System of
Wills” and the interlocking system of reality<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Battleship
of Scientism: Can you trust a ship that does not know where it is going or
where it came from?<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">How the story of
evolution is itself evolving<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">How to answer
that question that annoys so many, especially in a big election year.
“When does human life begin?”<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">How leaves on a
tree, flapping mindlessly in the wind, helped bring a scientist to faith<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This book reminded me a lot of
something mentioned a few times on this blog called “The Weak Eye”1. It’s an
allegory I often elaborate on from lay apologist Frank Sheed. It goes like
this…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We have two physical eyes.
There are also “two eyes” when looking at life; a secular eye and a spiritual
eye. Our secular eye can refer to not only our bodily senses, but also all the
practical things we study and learn about to help us function in our
communities, homes, and jobs. This would include all the sciences as well. The spiritual
eye is about how we all ponder things like the Good, the Beautiful, the True
and the meaning behind it all. This eye is focused on spiritual reality. Many
Catholics end up with a weak spiritual eye simply because they don’t know or
exercise their faith.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgobfSvyA1frSBRKR52jA6hOqoTEizW2_4wLbATkLkLLmzuKlEzmN_qyKPFL0BICQTxvqCAkK8gpTh5Ki7VLVIuaaOL8nuTCeZFpNMQXWzr6j8k_EiWE1Gj-p-UeC55o4_1whuQDAVNVLDQ/s1600/Weak+Eye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgobfSvyA1frSBRKR52jA6hOqoTEizW2_4wLbATkLkLLmzuKlEzmN_qyKPFL0BICQTxvqCAkK8gpTh5Ki7VLVIuaaOL8nuTCeZFpNMQXWzr6j8k_EiWE1Gj-p-UeC55o4_1whuQDAVNVLDQ/s200/Weak+Eye.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What happens if we have one
weak eye? There is lack of focus; we cannot see reality clearly. This can
explain how those who are highly trained and educated in science can lack
spiritual common sense. We can even be educated out of our faith as the secular
eye gets stronger and stronger, while the spiritual eye is ignored and grows
weaker and weaker. No exercise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Once we find that reality
seems unclear, what can we do? We can either close the weak eye and forget it
entirely or exercise it and build its strength. But how? Think of a child that
has a condition sometimes called “lazy eye”2. A doctor might recommend a way
for the weak eye to start working harder. If this isn’t done, there is a good
chance one eye will always be weaker than the other eye. As a result, the brain
favors the stronger eye. The weaker eye tends to wander. Eventually, the brain
may ignore the signals received from the weaker eye. One eye will always be
blurry, one always sharp.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s the same thing in the
spiritual life as the author alludes to in her book. She began to follow what
the Church teaches (as an act of the will) by attending Mass, praying daily, consciously
pursuing virtue and avoiding sin, all of which gave her spiritual eye the opportunity
for exercise. If we don’t do these things, we will always favor the secular eye
due to poor vision in the other spiritual eye. The weaker eye will tend to
wander (spiritual wandering). Eventually, you may ignore the signals received
from the weaker eye. One eye will always be blurry, one always sharp. “Whoever
has ears ought to hear.” (Mt 13:9)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSaYP9b3zYSb0oLf4YC_wgX64qTVQufgFAmqPI8gihtZb73p3VfKQ2uTvtFBnICq8eYVD5RQZwHG_gOi-b0wmGDLeKNgm9v8nIwrl39pRhgjwcooGnYacUeCuDdlS3XaiJiU9_YKmsdNf4/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSaYP9b3zYSb0oLf4YC_wgX64qTVQufgFAmqPI8gihtZb73p3VfKQ2uTvtFBnICq8eYVD5RQZwHG_gOi-b0wmGDLeKNgm9v8nIwrl39pRhgjwcooGnYacUeCuDdlS3XaiJiU9_YKmsdNf4/s200/images.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In terms of proof, the
author tested the principles of the faith in the laboratory of her life and
found them to be true, but in the end aren’t all proofs like a glass of water?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“You
can purify that water and set it down in all the fine crystal you want, but you
cannot force a person to drink it.”</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">—Stacy
Transancos<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Particles
of Faith, page 69<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Particles-Faith-Catholic-Navigating-Science/dp/1594716579/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1473525422&sr=1-1&keywords=particles+of+faith" target="_blank">Pre-order your copy today!!</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Released date Oct. 10th<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Frank
Sheed, Theology for Beginners (Cincinnati: Servant Books, 1981) p. 185.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mayo
Clinic Staff, Mayo Clinic [Website], “Diseases and Conditions Lazy eye
(amblyopia) Definition” (3 July 2013), Site address: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lazy-eye/basics/definition/con-20029771<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11953563578914140396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005473794963219887.post-86694510939603098892016-08-25T07:20:00.001-05:002016-08-25T07:20:43.886-05:00The Dark Side of Dolphins<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Atheistic environmentalism seems to perpetuate the view that
nature is perfect just the way it is. It acts as a kind of secular “dogma”. With
this as a base premise, we can see the logic that concludes the following…any unnatural
interference or manipulation of nature for the benefit of man is a deprivation of nature’s perfection, and a good <i><a href="http://dhspriory.org/thomas/Compendium.htm#114" target="_blank">definition of evil</a></i> is just that—a deprivation of perfection. Therefore, defending
anything in nature against man is intrinsically “good” and promoting man’s
industrialization and expansion is intrinsically “evil”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQYdWu9i21HiDYRNKK6ewlsGHY4djkrawxuzWfKtYeqNVXfpyEay2KhrVQSWmHvI7YxMzC9vWGJqY95SpMIFxtnx5OgQoOqURoYlxmK2s-mvyS9YfEy5PyRKGU8rJVMklerfsLhj9j9y3U/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQYdWu9i21HiDYRNKK6ewlsGHY4djkrawxuzWfKtYeqNVXfpyEay2KhrVQSWmHvI7YxMzC9vWGJqY95SpMIFxtnx5OgQoOqURoYlxmK2s-mvyS9YfEy5PyRKGU8rJVMklerfsLhj9j9y3U/s1600/1.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">From a Catholic perspective, we live in a fallen world.
The harmony and order of creation has become disordered because of Original
Sin. I have always felt that evils like natural disasters, disease and even some
of the brutality of animals are the result of Original Sin. Paragraph 400 in the
Catechism says “Harmony with creation is broken: visible creation has become
alien and hostile to man. Because of man, creation is now subject ‘to its
bondage to decay’” Scripture also gives us a hint, “…that creation itself would
be set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the
children of God. We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even
until now;” (Rom 8:21-22). In the Catholic view, the evil found in nature
mirrors the evil in the human heart.1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Another atheistic, and perhaps environmentalist “dogma”
is that people are merely smart animals. Observed differences between people
and animals are only a matter of “spectrum”, meaning that any human behavior
can be found in the animal kingdom, albeit from a lower end of the evolutionary
scale. I have yet to hear a good Darwinistic reason as to why humans wear
cloths (even in the hottest climates), appreciate the arts, and have a longing to
worship something greater than themselves, but I digress.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">With humans fundamentally the same as animals as a base
premise, we can see the logic that concludes the following…any basic right to
life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness granted to people should apply to
animals too (intelligent animals at the very least). Also, if we truly want to learn
more about ourselves and understand what it means to be fully human, why bother
studying philosophy, theology or Church teaching? We must study animals; especially
intelligent animals that have never been corrupted by things like "religion".<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Consider dolphins. We all know how cute, smart and
playful dolphins are. Maybe we’ve seen or heard of shows like “Flipper” and movies
like “Dolphin Tale” or the kind of endearing antics dolphins do at SeaWorld and
other marine animal shows. Dolphins are undeniably and absolutely wonderful,
are they not? I thought this too until I saw a documentary about the dark side
of dolphins. Aside from some violent attacks on humans, I was quite surprised
to learn that male dolphins have a kind of “rape culture”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">Here is a clip (consider it PG-13):</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6xQk1vfqTIA/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6xQk1vfqTIA?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">These highly evolved and intelligent mammals will sexually
assault not only adult females, but under aged males and females as well. There
also seems to be a lot of kidnapping going on. Groups of males will work
together to keep a harem of females captive. The video called them “sex pirates”!! They also showed a team of two males trapping one female for themselves. They
take turns guarding and raping the female while the other hunts for food.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What does this have to do with us? Thinking means
connecting things and what we think leads to what we do. If nature is perfect
just as it is, and animals are part of nature, and humans are merely smart
animals, how can we present ethics in any coherent way? Can dolphins be immoral?
Do dolphins have rights? If yes, could we not argue for a moral obligation to protect
the innocent animals and punish or rehabilitate the guilty ones? If intelligent
animals have no moral culpability, how do we separate the dark side of dolphins
from the dark side of humans…and what makes it “dark” to begin with? After all,
boys will be boys.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Remember that defining our idea of “right” vs. “wrong”
depends on the beliefs we hold, and since we all believe things we can’t prove,
it’s essential to drill down to the base premises for those beliefs to clarify exactly
what they mean and where they come from. We seem to be forgetting that ideas have
consequences.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXbDQ7ry9Ryyhim32f1Sy9tY73nY-41O5pyjfAF-OT6VOAPwXOvTpvLwYbbUNiOLiS-8PVRtrncyLEXZTT92rnZbMJ1I2RDLgyfb2eV-UpCaEtVnVjHAFIdZhT5bUSYzMLkIT24rCNOCth/s1600/Thinking+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXbDQ7ry9Ryyhim32f1Sy9tY73nY-41O5pyjfAF-OT6VOAPwXOvTpvLwYbbUNiOLiS-8PVRtrncyLEXZTT92rnZbMJ1I2RDLgyfb2eV-UpCaEtVnVjHAFIdZhT5bUSYzMLkIT24rCNOCth/s1600/Thinking+2.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: x-small; line-height: 115%;">1. Fr. Greg Shaffer, CW Catholic Q&A [Website], “Natural disasters - from God or because of us?” (15 October 2010), Site address: <a href="http://gwcatholicforum.blogspot.com/2010/10/natural-disasters-from-god-or-because.html">http://gwcatholicforum.blogspot.com/2010/10/natural-disasters-from-god-or-because.html</a></span></div>
</div>
Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11953563578914140396noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005473794963219887.post-48568052205585405932016-08-15T08:10:00.001-05:002017-03-12T15:55:17.196-05:004 Big Bangs?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’m currently reading a series of e-books by Robert
Kurland, physicist and blogger at <i><a href="http://rationalcatholic.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Reflections of a Catholic Scientist</a>.</i> The latest installment, <i><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/science-versus-church-truth/id1142287137?ls=1&mt=11" target="_blank">Science Verses the Church</a></i>, starts with “ways of knowing” and
the limits of science, and continues on with a brief history of the Church and
science and then into topics of cosmology, anthropology, evolution and much
more. Each topic is presented with a plethora of perspectives from differing
scientist, including the author himself, and it’s all related back to the
perspective of the Church.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As is often the case, reading good books can trigger insights
and connections to other related items I’ve come across in the past. Case in
point is this video about 4 Big Bangs and the existence God.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIorXcloIac&t=10s">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIorXcloIac&t=10s</a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bang
1: The Cosmological Big Bang:</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is the one you might be most familiar with.</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Both
believers and non-believers might gladly agree that the universe began some
13.7 billion years ago and that every effect must have a cause, so if there was
a Big-Bang there must also have been some sort of “Big-Banger.” In other words,
something outside of the known universe that was a necessary condition for the
existence of the known universe. It might even be called a “creation event”.
Does this prove the existence of God? I think not, but I do think it is relevant
data to include in any discussion about a reality that is unconditioned by
time, space, matter and energy…and what a curious thing that would be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZpiqIGZddC0qcqKR_FtDZ3DJiANIPV9c-RD7kFa2gkvXNxX1fPRWaMmz_2MUHCOprhVmz7ER9T6__qquraOpyqgpRmBEL7mLoJ73aPlF_5-W5mARrzhutZQ1mQ4RVL3aWTVH4_fLjTGt/s1600/Universe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZpiqIGZddC0qcqKR_FtDZ3DJiANIPV9c-RD7kFa2gkvXNxX1fPRWaMmz_2MUHCOprhVmz7ER9T6__qquraOpyqgpRmBEL7mLoJ73aPlF_5-W5mARrzhutZQ1mQ4RVL3aWTVH4_fLjTGt/s320/Universe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In his book, Robert cautions that even if the physical
universe is infinite, it does not contradict Catholic teaching. </span><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“If
we believe God is the author of all, a First Cause, then He can create an
infinity of universes, as in the bubble universe hypothesis of Linde or in the
parallel worlds given by some interpretations of quantum theory. Economy of
effort is not required of God.”1</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></b>
<b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bang
2: The Abiogenesis Big Bang:</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">How did dead stuff become living stuff? No one really
knows. Robert was clear about this in his book. <i>“There are a variety of theories—one might better call them
speculation—but until a model is produced that can be empirically verified, it
will remain a mystery.”2<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiifdxEJ8JqlvemWN41J5M0lKrIumOcw1KJ_2CzhiUyGZgkbbjCpPqeIkvr_UwbPxRKSu3dVHXf4ldSjodYyiZqVcnzw-6HF8ahOXMCRR8F7ZGIR_nr1IoyR-TwDvhtR2PBMpGzKBtTbDwJ/s1600/It%2527s+Alive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiifdxEJ8JqlvemWN41J5M0lKrIumOcw1KJ_2CzhiUyGZgkbbjCpPqeIkvr_UwbPxRKSu3dVHXf4ldSjodYyiZqVcnzw-6HF8ahOXMCRR8F7ZGIR_nr1IoyR-TwDvhtR2PBMpGzKBtTbDwJ/s200/It%2527s+Alive.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">An evolutionary process of natural selection and/or
survival of the fittest cannot be used to explain how the first living thing
came to be. The very first cell (or proto cell) had no parent(s), no genetic
ancestors to evolve from; to say it came about through the random jostling of
matter and energy might be a kin to saying a running computer could come about
through the random jostling of electricity and electronic parts.</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Whether
a living cell or a computer, it’s not just a matter of the right parts being in
the right physical location; the parts need to be both integrated and
interdependent for anything meaningful to happen.</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There
is no reason for a keyboard, a mouse and a screen to be carefully integrated
together with software and electricity unless there was some intention behind
it. Could we not say the same for the parts of a living cell?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bang
3: The Biological Big Bang:</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is about the huge diversity of life on earth and why
are there such big differences between bacteria, plants, animals and humans. An
atheist might say “Evolution did it!” just as quickly and mindlessly as a Deist
might say, “God did it!” Neither answer is intellectually satisfying by itself,
but we can still draw some inferences from the facts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_rq0Fo66Pu_Eu5-7fhyvKIFBK3jA1O_X0O85M8jgn9fGuFb2kQ52d5e4v4D5tiOdd6YnVISBwlbb5DkPimudwqA7hzl_iWE5VXyllJ__jRsi8bSx99drY3QjtJZUtkSl9h42ssdxpPdd_/s1600/Man+%2526+Beast.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_rq0Fo66Pu_Eu5-7fhyvKIFBK3jA1O_X0O85M8jgn9fGuFb2kQ52d5e4v4D5tiOdd6YnVISBwlbb5DkPimudwqA7hzl_iWE5VXyllJ__jRsi8bSx99drY3QjtJZUtkSl9h42ssdxpPdd_/s1600/Man+%2526+Beast.png" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For example,</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">the human brain appeared on
the scene in a geological instant and it seems to be evolutionary excess in
terms of only needing to survive and reproduce. Bacteria, trees and chimps
survive just fine on this planet. There is no need for a life form to be so
much more intelligent than them, let alone a species capable of producing
individuals like Newton, Einstein and Shakespeare. So what’s the real reason? Is
it an intentional purpose or no purposeful reason at all?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bang
4: The Anthropological Big Bang</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Beyond being able to manipulate their environment better
than any other living thing, humans are self-reflective, have free will and like
to ask “why”. Besides the aforementioned, The Anthropological Big Bang is about
man’s moral and aesthetic sense about the Good, the Beautiful and the True. Can
all these traits be explained by merely seeking biological opportunities, or by
avoiding biological dangers?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN41S4rLL12NoVv23HOHq_TSfhYnjULJvp8d6rNr5B7bX_NiEhmArOJzZW8BFxiOd6DQXLmjCk78xyr5pZxC3XqW4bLTUNExbVjWTYM2h5e4FLeit5JyadkBhyPNFf0oA1CBYRnMj4kiwW/s1600/thinker+booth.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN41S4rLL12NoVv23HOHq_TSfhYnjULJvp8d6rNr5B7bX_NiEhmArOJzZW8BFxiOd6DQXLmjCk78xyr5pZxC3XqW4bLTUNExbVjWTYM2h5e4FLeit5JyadkBhyPNFf0oA1CBYRnMj4kiwW/s320/thinker+booth.png" width="262" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Chapter 7 of <i>Science
versus the Church</i> is called “Who Has a Soul?” and covers the relation
between soul, mind and consciousness. Perhaps one way to define having a soul
might be the capacity to wonder where we came from, what will happen when we
die, who or what made everything and why. Some philosophers take the materialist
position that the soul is merely the brain, and the brain is just a “meat
computer”.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The author takes the view of philosophers who believe that
consciousness is a phenomenon that can never be fully understood scientifically because
our understanding is limited by our own consciousness. There are things we cannot
experience or “know” in terms of consciousness. If we cannot know it, how do we
study it? If we’re born blind, we can never know what seeing color is really like,
even if we know all there is to know about the physical aspects of light reflecting
off matter and the physical process it would take to see it. An even better example
is from an article by Thomas Nagel called <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_Is_it_Like_to_Be_a_Bat%3F" target="_blank">“What’s it like to be a bat”</a></i>. Unless you are actually a bat, you can never have the
same experience as a bat using echolocation no matter how much you study sound waves
as a human.<i>3</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">According to the video linked above, none of these 4 Big
Bangs show evidence of gradual development over time. That’s why they’re called
“Big Bangs”. Since evolution does not explain them in terms of survival of the
fittest with slow changes over time, what can we say about them with intellectual
honesty? </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It doesn’t seem like a far stretch to say there must be
something beyond "the physical" which caused "the physical"
and that there is a purposeful design behind it. Even with no absolute
empirical proof and no faith, this becomes a reasonable and responsible
position to hold given all the data from all 4 Big Bangs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Simply put, the end
result is more than mindlessness can do for itself.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1. Robert J. Kurland, Top Down to Jesus Book 3, Science
verses the Church (Robert J. Kurland, 2016), e-book, PDF pg. 61.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2. Kurland, Top Down to Jesus Book 3, Science verses the
Church, PDF pg. 80.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">3. Kurland, Top Down to Jesus Book 3, Science verses the
Church, PDF pg. 105.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11953563578914140396noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005473794963219887.post-79023942538500215272016-07-29T16:00:00.000-05:002016-07-29T16:46:33.248-05:00Perhaps Pascal Was Right<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCwYJpA4_jJHp4d_N9VL1ByvA_2vws5g0TbwXV5Blw60tKZ_PlRIJnOhH7to9gm4FS28c0GcJKUcmxQClcZqYMiFF_UZP5rrI3b22ZaGvFKUeZzHCpvvx8uWOwJoqbAuki1ocbBrZm3Zb/s1600/Top+Down.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCwYJpA4_jJHp4d_N9VL1ByvA_2vws5g0TbwXV5Blw60tKZ_PlRIJnOhH7to9gm4FS28c0GcJKUcmxQClcZqYMiFF_UZP5rrI3b22ZaGvFKUeZzHCpvvx8uWOwJoqbAuki1ocbBrZm3Zb/s1600/Top+Down.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’m currently reading a series of e-books called <i>Top Down to Jesus</i> by Robert Kurland,
a scientist and blogger at <i><a href="http://rationalcatholic.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Reflections of a Catholic Scientist</a>.</i> Book 1 is called <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Top-Down-Jesus-Book-Pascal-ebook/dp/B01BYVSJZQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1469824803&sr=1-1&keywords=top+down+to+jesus" target="_blank">Pascal Was Right!</a></i> This first installment contains Robert’s road to faith, his ties
to Judaism as well as insights about his moral choices as a Catholic. He also explores
Pascal’s Wager in terms of contemporary decision making involving the gains and
losses for scenarios in which probabilities are known (like flipping a coin),
or not known (like how much will I earn in the stock market today). I highly
recommend the series; especially for analytical types who make a serious effort
to be impartial. Please note that being analytical and being impartial don’t
necessarily go together.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The discussion in the book on Pascal’s Wager reminded me
why I’m not a big fan of it. In my own words, the wager basically goes like
this: one should believe or behave as if God exists, since the reward if true
is infinite (heaven) and the punishment of believing and acting otherwise is
also infinite (hell). On the flip side, if it is not true, you can still have a
good life and, of course, you will eventually die either way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The wager seems to imply that we can “fake it until we
make it”, but God knows our hearts. Also, by what authority does Pascal declare
what will get us to heaven or not? Is intellectual belief enough? The demons do
as much. Is it by our works alone? Not according to Catholic teaching (see CCC
paras. 1996, 2005). Is it by faith alone? Not according to the Bible (see James
2:24). Do we simply declare Jesus our Lord and personal savior and ask Him to
come into our hearts? Is that in the Bible? It’s not. I have not read Pascal’s
original writings in detail, but I find it interesting that the wager does not
mention Jesus in any of the iterations I’ve seen. All this gets into the big
topic of Christian Justification, which I think is too broad a subject to be
handled by a bet.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONrws5WZ2-u-TSMh_Kj3DGT7utjS6a4gSGoASy3Ov6hMHPUcAfJ9iYeGEl5eP_gRwZESBGXNm-oywiaESRJIwtVT45CWnNYBjh9FJUjJ3VJccTyrI6qdbASR4S_K353HrlPu-KTp8k_g8/s1600/Doubt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONrws5WZ2-u-TSMh_Kj3DGT7utjS6a4gSGoASy3Ov6hMHPUcAfJ9iYeGEl5eP_gRwZESBGXNm-oywiaESRJIwtVT45CWnNYBjh9FJUjJ3VJccTyrI6qdbASR4S_K353HrlPu-KTp8k_g8/s1600/Doubt.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Although I’m not a big fan of Pascal’s Wager as an
evangelization tool, I do wholeheartedly agree with Robert’s final assessment
of it, provided one were to accept the wager and then sincerely, prayerfully
and diligently deal with difficult questions like the ones above.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“One can start off along the road to faith and believe
using reason as a road map; the deeper, in-the-heart faith which is the
destination will come with God’s grace. And thus the subtitle of this book.”1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Perhaps Pascal was right after all!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1. Robert J. Kurland, Top Down to Jesus Book 1, Pascal
Was Right! (Robert J. Kurland, 2016), e-book, Kindle location 400.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11953563578914140396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005473794963219887.post-70064771906177305662016-07-22T08:57:00.001-05:002016-07-22T08:57:45.644-05:00The Habits of Faith and Problem Solving<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The book I’ve written about faith, reason and problem
solving will be available at all major online book outlets, hopefully by the end of the
summer. It’s called <i>Faith with Good
Reason: Finding Truth Through an Analytical Lens</i> and the foreword is
written by <i><a href="http://stacytrasancos.com/about-stacy-trasancos/" target="_blank">Stacy Trasancos, PhD</a>.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The book is a practical look at faith, reason and problem
solving for dealing with the common realities we all face—for all things
visible and invisible. When I was chosen
to become the program leader and instructor for a specific kind of problem
solving and decision making process for my job, I began to see commonalities
between the rational processes I was learning and some of the reasoning of the
various Catholic thinkers I was reading. If you think about analytical problem solving,
it's about finding "truth" objectively, regardless of feelings,
strong opinions, past experiences or intuition; finding truth even when
empirical evidence is lacking or impossible to obtain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Although the book is already written, I continue to come
across aspects of problem solving that can relate to the spiritual life, such as <i><a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/3058770/three-habits-of-the-most-creative-problem-solvers" target="_blank">this article</a></i> about three habits of creative problem solvers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVEmRystpI-8BFOiqW5xsuBqaaHrVQ1d2KbaLheThU6ITDGDm3lTtCIVVoVGEg2NMJ4mwqn-_7DCYpiXMgBUClIG3ooF3WZLcZRroirdL3-1xcDw2Ct9U-4_FVr0A5QwnMOAebiMovljV8/s1600/8-Founding-CEO-Success-Habits-Photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVEmRystpI-8BFOiqW5xsuBqaaHrVQ1d2KbaLheThU6ITDGDm3lTtCIVVoVGEg2NMJ4mwqn-_7DCYpiXMgBUClIG3ooF3WZLcZRroirdL3-1xcDw2Ct9U-4_FVr0A5QwnMOAebiMovljV8/s400/8-Founding-CEO-Success-Habits-Photo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">HABIT
#1: THEY'RE COMFORTABLE WITH UNCERTAINTY<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You may think a method of analytical problem solving is only
about observable evidence. It is not. Most often it is physically impossible
for us to obtain all the data we need or want to answer all the questions we have.
In fact, I don’t remember a single instance at work when we had all the evidence we
wanted at our disposal, therefore we need to learn to be comfortable with uncertainty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Uncertainty can help us see things from a new
perspective, but without some comfort level with uncertainly, we can become fearful and
revert to a “fight-or-flight” mentality, which is detrimental to any critical
thinking process. For problem solving, the “fight” instinct might lead to irrational
thinking, jumping to conclusions and being overwhelmed by the scope of the
mess. The “flight” instinct might cause you to give up, pass the buck or waste
mental energy blaming others.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It can be similar with the spiritual life. Uncertainty about the future, all the evil in the world, all the conflicting opinions, what
we should do, or who to believe, can result in a “fight-or-flight” spirituality.
Fighting for your faith, or just fighting to keep your faith, without a clear
understanding of it can lead to irrational thinking, jumping to
conclusions and being overwhelmed by the scope of the mess. Flight from faith
can be just that…giving up with a bunch of poor excuses. If you take the time
to seriously study your faith, you will become more comfortable with uncertainty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Here’s a helpful tip from the article; create <i>certainty</i> in the rest of
your life. The more habit and ritual you create in your day to day life, the more
stamina you'll have when uncertainty shows up. Have a regular prayer time each
day, receive the Sacraments often (weekday Masses/confession), read spiritual
books grounded in Truth, and perform corporal/spiritual works of mercy
regularly. These spiritual habits will give you strength when faced with uncertainty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">HABIT
#2 THEY KNOW HOW AND WHEN TO </span><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">RE-FRAME</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> SETBACKS<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Failure results in negative emotions like shame, fear and
frustration. As a result many of us hide it. Hiding a problem, or a failed
attempt to solve it, can delay the solution and potentially make things worse.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A good problem solver will not internalize setbacks; they
will learn from them and perhaps use any new data from the failed attempt
for the next attempt. He or she is also humble enough to get others involved. Instead
of thinking, “I failed;</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">better make sure nobody knows” they will
think, "That attempt failed; let’s learn from it."—Big difference.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Catholicism and Christianity in general is a lot about forgiveness and second chances. We are to strive for holiness, but oftentimes we are more
interested in what we want than what is right or what is true, living more for ourselves
than for God. Sin is essentially a refusal to let God have His way in our life,
so we have setbacks. Re-frame your spiritual setbacks and learn from them. Don’t
think “I failed; better make sure nobody knows.” Re-frame it; only your <i>attempt</i> has failed. Ask for help.
Involve others. Go to confession. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">HABIT
#3: THEY BELIEVE THEY CAN KEEP IMPROVING<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The article refers to having a "growth
mind-set" rather than a “fixed mind-set”. A growth mind-set basically
believes that things can get better with effort, learning and help from others.
A fixed mind-set sees no way to continue. Don’t think to yourself, “I’m not
smart enough to solve this problem.” Instead think, “It is not solved yet, but
it can be, perhaps with new skills, knowledge or help.” Add the word
"yet" to your thinking. "There is no answer, yet." or
"I’m not sure what to do, yet."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The virtue of hope is needed in the spiritual life to
keep us moving.</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"I’m not as faithful as I should be, yet."
or "I’m not sure how to grow spiritually, yet."</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We
need a growth mind-set, but what effort are we putting forth for growth? What new knowledge
or skills do we require to improve? How will we seek the help we need?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Catechism says in paragraph 1821, “In every
circumstance, each one of us should hope, with the grace of God, to persevere
to the end.” We should take comfort knowing that it is always possible to grow spiritually if we understand the mystery of God as an invitation. The negative view of the term
“mystery” is that we can never hope to fully understand it or prove it and we will never
be perfect (fixed mind-set). The positive view says there is an inexhaustible
well of truth and love from which the soul can drink with the assurance that the
well will never run dry (growth mind-set).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCfp_Ug6qH907yGZhm1N8lBfLkcVa8BdmaalYseiZWmaFZqzoZO1Gqahdaxgua1wYeNWFjYW5FFW4k_y_8X19iHCV9EWiYhCcyrfHR8s8S4B8ZwnWV7J4vDZoOvH7nELvJL60SwFk6Dj5o/s1600/Baptism.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCfp_Ug6qH907yGZhm1N8lBfLkcVa8BdmaalYseiZWmaFZqzoZO1Gqahdaxgua1wYeNWFjYW5FFW4k_y_8X19iHCV9EWiYhCcyrfHR8s8S4B8ZwnWV7J4vDZoOvH7nELvJL60SwFk6Dj5o/s320/Baptism.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">"We first make our habits, and then our habits make us."</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.4px;">—</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">John Dryden</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11953563578914140396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005473794963219887.post-90821824769481329232016-07-18T08:29:00.003-05:002016-07-18T08:29:46.875-05:00Adopt a Terrorist Today<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The recent atrocity in Nice France and the ambush killings
of police officers here in the U.S. reminded me of <i><a href="https://frburke23.wordpress.com/2016/06/13/thought-for-tuesday-11th-week-of-ordinary-time/" target="_blank">this blog post</a></i> by Fr. Burke Masters, Director of Vocations for the Diocese
of Joliet, IL. It’s about a challenge to love as God loves and a call to
holiness by praying for our enemies and those who persecute us. The post goes
so far as to suggest that we spiritually adopt a terrorist. Perhaps it could be
a terrorist currently planning another attack in the very near future? Perhaps
we can even make it personal by giving him (or her) a name? During my morning
prayer discipline, I pray the Lord somehow reach them with the Way and the
Truth and the Life; to help them see how they are living out the precise
opposite—being <i>lost</i>, with <i>lies </i>and <i>death</i>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5OTvX4GwafNatmGrjazlgPO8UioJPYrR-UF5rcm7hUQ4KotDa5O5zxaoBqsij4ThuWeTK_-wcnwGeWFewWrSTeQgBWGiTypDWDvcqjrJdHQIdgSBDbzj63YWE59vJaG3c40rxi3TOTvdK/s1600/Jesus+arms+out.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5OTvX4GwafNatmGrjazlgPO8UioJPYrR-UF5rcm7hUQ4KotDa5O5zxaoBqsij4ThuWeTK_-wcnwGeWFewWrSTeQgBWGiTypDWDvcqjrJdHQIdgSBDbzj63YWE59vJaG3c40rxi3TOTvdK/s1600/Jesus+arms+out.jpg" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We may say this is all too hard. It’s not possible for a
human to love exactly as God loves or be perfect as God is perfect. There is truth to
that, but if we live by this negative attitude we forget that all things are possible
with God and blow off the whole idea. We then reject the challenge. We also
forget that being perfect as God is perfect is written as a command, not a
suggestion (see Matthew 5:48).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Challenges are good; they help us to focus and grow. Athletes
need to push themselves to improve and it’s painful and uncomfortable. Students
need to be challenged by their schools and instructors in order to reach higher
levels of learning. We are currently writing our goals</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">for
fiscal year 2016 where I work, and the challenges presented to us by our
superiors are a bit intimidating. If we are not pushed and willing to accept at
least some stress, we will not advance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDo0WeJUq8XSG3dfH3HfoIADS8OkP5naKcCovQprOvHcG2o6nYyC6V4F0H3cCQuZ4EXFzSnsTHuwLxUaFFvkZ1FwskqUHNoSx-2oOfebLhqM73Cy71Nw3msFs6RcYsbqwBJpdydPPZdgW/s1600/images1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDo0WeJUq8XSG3dfH3HfoIADS8OkP5naKcCovQprOvHcG2o6nYyC6V4F0H3cCQuZ4EXFzSnsTHuwLxUaFFvkZ1FwskqUHNoSx-2oOfebLhqM73Cy71Nw3msFs6RcYsbqwBJpdydPPZdgW/s320/images1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s the same in the spiritual life. We tend to pray for
the things we want and the people we like because it’s easy and comfortable.
While this is not objectivity wrong, we should challenge ourselves to remain
vigilant in asking God’s will and consider who needs our prayers the most,
regardless of our feelings. In this way we can ensure our prayer life is not
linked to our own selfishness.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Consider it like “fasting” from our favorite and most
comfortable prayers to try a narrower path. I’ve heard it said that it is
impossible to truly hate someone if you pray regularly for that person. Try it
sometime as an act of the will. Of course, we should pray for all the victims
of terrorism also, but this is not very challenging to do. Prayer for the
killers is uncomfortable, but being comfortable is not what Jesus promised us
and is not the purpose of our life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Our
salvation will come in the measure that we love our worst enemy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">—unknown spiritual writer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11953563578914140396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005473794963219887.post-25259392440990105982016-06-25T19:34:00.000-05:002016-06-25T19:40:19.379-05:00I Agree with Pope Francis<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Pope Francis recently said the following, “a great
majority of our sacramental marriages are null” (or “some of our sacramental <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">marriages are null” according to later Vatican editing of the text)</span><sup style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"> 1</sup><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">,
and I agree</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">—</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">in a certain sense.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ1vW_U5c9P2FAPO24IC18jdi4K47lZ-xdCqPp7Yxee_vnZZgRzrxeJijDhT8D8vUYP7k7jdWH2l2x9TLpgGev0HjZPV7vnjy32hiIPfcMPw_G8T73n-IY9xIU9u-2DYRcjjoce6fjeTRh/s1600/gender-symbols.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ1vW_U5c9P2FAPO24IC18jdi4K47lZ-xdCqPp7Yxee_vnZZgRzrxeJijDhT8D8vUYP7k7jdWH2l2x9TLpgGev0HjZPV7vnjy32hiIPfcMPw_G8T73n-IY9xIU9u-2DYRcjjoce6fjeTRh/s320/gender-symbols.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Technically, for a marriage to be <i>both</i> valid <i>and</i>
sacramental all the following criteria must be satisfied:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Both parties are baptized<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The spouses are free to marry<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">They have the intention to marry for life<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">They have the intention to be faithful to one
another<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">They are open to having biological children together<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Consent is given
in the presence of two witnesses and before a properly authorized Church
minister. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">But is it possible to have a valid marriage without a valid
understanding of marriage? I think it is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In the U.S. we become legal adults at age eighteen
and are treated as such under the law (with some exceptions like purchasing alcohol).
This is good since we need clear definitions to avoid endless debates about
what being an adult really means. But do all “valid” eighteen year olds act in
an adult manner? Does something instantly change about our mind, body or soul
on our eighteenth birthday? Could we not find some seventeen year olds that understand
what it means to be an adult more than any number of people over the age of eighteen?
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Whether defining marriage or adulthood, I think it’s very
common to meet a <i>quantitative </i>definition
without a <i>qualitative</i> understanding,
and I think this gap in understanding for marriage can be best expressed in
terms of covenant vs. contract.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The story of God and man can be spoken of in terms of
covenants. This is what many of the stories in the Bible are all about. In the
Catholic view, the Bible is not a science book or a history book; it’s more of
a story about a relationship between God and man. Simply put, covenants are
about God reaching out to bond with man over and over again. For example, Moses
was a covenant mediator for the nation of Israel that didn’t turn out as planned;
King David was a covenant mediator for the Kingdom of Israel that also had its difficulties.
In fact, every covenant of the Old Testament ended up less than stellar, but
the convents were valid nonetheless.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">For clarity, it should be emphasized that a covenant and
a contract are two different things that are worlds apart. A contract is a
promise you make binding <i>your name</i>,
often via a signature. It involves the exchange of goods or services, like
building a house for example. A covenant is swearing an oath invoking <i>God’s name</i>, and it involves an exchange
of persons, like marriage. So a covenant carries much more weight in terms of
blessings and curses. Hence the reason why people use terms like,
“I swear to God”, or “I’ll be damned”, when they are very serious about
something. <sup>2<o:p></o:p></sup></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><sup><br /></sup></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">How many understand the bullet points above, and at the
same time think of marriage as something that can be brought to an end and forgotten
with some time, money and lawyers? So one could be in a valid marriage, but
hold an invalid view of marriage as a social contract, and regrettably, I think
this wrongheaded approach is indeed the case for “a great majority of our
sacramental marriages”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbYiJsMJbPsJYqxguJWtJSBr8keMtnSdLO3r__J4QhKkmqfqOjJsTtqKXqvfO2sBm_ucRleu43IDGt72ZePdXWI3uI_ItNi3lal2sulq03cg1eglYD4hnLcAiTINm0yOqs2UqNzU7w7QWg/s1600/ring_finger2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbYiJsMJbPsJYqxguJWtJSBr8keMtnSdLO3r__J4QhKkmqfqOjJsTtqKXqvfO2sBm_ucRleu43IDGt72ZePdXWI3uI_ItNi3lal2sulq03cg1eglYD4hnLcAiTINm0yOqs2UqNzU7w7QWg/s320/ring_finger2.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Look!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">We are validly married!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Benedict Nguyen,
National Catholic Register [Website], “Are Many Marriages Today Invalid?”
(20 June 2016), Site address:<a href="http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/are-many-marriages-today-invalid/#ixzz4CJfI6j9J">http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/are-many-marriages-today-invalid/#ixzz4CJfI6j9J</a><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Scott Hahn, A
Father Who Keeps His Promises (Beacon Publishing, 1998) p. 24.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
</div>
Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11953563578914140396noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005473794963219887.post-44779382478514222016-06-17T16:06:00.000-05:002016-06-17T16:06:21.968-05:00Same Sex Anniversary Cards Now Available!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’m actually not sure this is new, but it’s new to
me. I was looking for a wedding anniversary card at a popular card shop and I
saw this:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMr_fZXNIpsbcivQMdS_6MyKtQgDSG9yHk1I7FVoE9zmj4TtBOuSQLdDwT_V-hSV9xLTBaCKIyyE30HUcGAmyRxw_cvXGhdplYN4ww0GQzl3HtZ_SHxCaGaFAOev5WPnyXFt_OEyqlyUnB/s1600/Photo-1+%252818%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMr_fZXNIpsbcivQMdS_6MyKtQgDSG9yHk1I7FVoE9zmj4TtBOuSQLdDwT_V-hSV9xLTBaCKIyyE30HUcGAmyRxw_cvXGhdplYN4ww0GQzl3HtZ_SHxCaGaFAOev5WPnyXFt_OEyqlyUnB/s400/Photo-1+%252818%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I was surprised, but then again, not so surprised. Once
passed my not-so-surprised-ness, I thought, “Why have a special section
dedicated just for this?” There is no special “opposite sex” card section. Many
of the anniversary cards are not specific about any kind of sexual preference.
They say things like, “To the one I love”, “For my husband/wife” or “For my
spouse”. The one I purchased in the “non-same sex” section said, “You’re the one
for me!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Why did I see this for the first time this June? Is it
because of the SCOTUS ruling last June? Maybe so, but suppose it suddenly
became legal in all 50 states for people over age 18 to marry people under age 18
without parental consent. Would we need a special under 18 anniversary card
section with cards that say things like, “For the special minor in my life…”?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A same sex anniversary card section is not needed for
someone to find an appropriate card, but it is certainly helpful in the ongoing
effort to normalize homosexual behavior. It’s the same with marriage rights. A
legally recognized civil union that grants the <i>exact</i> same rights as marriage laws is not good enough. It must be
called marriage just like heterosexual marriage. The same word <i>must</i> be used, even though it is not the
same thing. Using the term civil union in place of marriage is seen as
“back of the bus” stuff. Don’t forget about our public schools in the
normalization process. They need to teach our young and impressionable children
about what is normal and what is not, right?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf7AhsyO0XfliyPUmU1lL4liWz7EPlFk-VCHWb2B1H2EnfZ67ykCF8ouJpVoryeI8UWYN0N_svFC5EUGUF615j19c0m7OameudP5grY0ODEc_-hglUu4UMSLtFJ817jixThwoZHwSpyp99/s1600/Confusion2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf7AhsyO0XfliyPUmU1lL4liWz7EPlFk-VCHWb2B1H2EnfZ67ykCF8ouJpVoryeI8UWYN0N_svFC5EUGUF615j19c0m7OameudP5grY0ODEc_-hglUu4UMSLtFJ817jixThwoZHwSpyp99/s200/Confusion2.jpg" width="186" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Is homosexual behavior really normal? Is heterosexual
behavior really normal? What would make it normal? What’s the trigger or the
mechanism that says it’s normal? What can we use to judge fairly and accurately?
Consider “design”. If we observe the physical design of the human body in terms
of sexuality and then we note the facts about certain sexual acts (without
going into too much detail), we can say that some physical acts are deviant to
the design. It really does not matter if one believes we were designed by
almighty God or by almighty evolution. The same goes for things like infertility
or impotency. They too can be called abnormalities without any discussion about
morality or the intrinsic value of the person involved. To call these kinds of things normal is not only unreasonable, but also irresponsible. Remember that the first
step in dealing with any problem is to admit there actually <i>is</i> a problem.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So what will be next—a same sex section in the
family planning aisle of your local drug store? Probably not.</span></div>
Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11953563578914140396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005473794963219887.post-5652616156754894702016-05-09T18:49:00.000-05:002016-05-09T18:49:23.504-05:00Book Update II: The Contract!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And so…I now have a contract in hand from a Christian
publisher for the book based on the blog. There is still work to be done in
terms of revisions, formatting, cover design, title debates, etc., but I’ll keep
you posted (literally). I'm an "outsider" as a book author, so maybe I’ll be the Donald Trump or Bernie Sanders of Catholic
book writing. ;-)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The book is about Catholic faith and reason with a unique
twist. The twist I speak of relates to the rational process we use where I work
for problem solving and decision making. I'm also certified to teach the method
to our technicians and engineers. This kind of reasoning has helped to see the
clear thinking found in Catholicism and I wrote a book about it with this in mind.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Over the weekend I ran across the meme below, which reminded me
of the impetus for this project. What’s wrong with this picture?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjicNMBaWEFqY9DSSFUJJQdXQO7U56ci78GYrWp-cMGxp6Wqtsm8Plcrw_JMt84HaGs1QLGgMWTMUN4RqaNTFne8ZjefsOM9uXX_ROyr9zfQxABsuIBuYff4kQhQD723jXZ7cpKAw-cOJSL/s1600/quote-anybody-who-gives-you-a-belief-system-is-your-enemy-because-the-belief-system-becomes-rajneesh-54-2-0232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjicNMBaWEFqY9DSSFUJJQdXQO7U56ci78GYrWp-cMGxp6Wqtsm8Plcrw_JMt84HaGs1QLGgMWTMUN4RqaNTFne8ZjefsOM9uXX_ROyr9zfQxABsuIBuYff4kQhQD723jXZ7cpKAw-cOJSL/s400/quote-anybody-who-gives-you-a-belief-system-is-your-enemy-because-the-belief-system-becomes-rajneesh-54-2-0232.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Do you see it? ALL
people have a belief system or a “philosophy”, a set of values, or a world view.
ALL people believe things that they can’t necessarily prove, at least not
empirically or via a scientific method. Where do they get these belief systems
from? They come from other people. It doesn’t need to be from their parents necessarily.
It could be from their friends or teachers or community or others. It’s part of
the human condition, yet we can and should explore how reasonable the base
premises are for particular ways of thinking and how well they stand up when
pressed under deliberate questioning.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That’s what the book is about, and you will see how Catholicism
stands up rather well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11953563578914140396noreply@blogger.com1