Monthly Archives: June 2009
Proverbs 27:17
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. This is the ideal outcome of our blogs. We must, however, remember that blogs lack the tone of voice, facial and body expressions, and pats on the back that face-to-face encounters … Continue reading
Precious Human Life
Buddhists believe that beings are reincarnated — good animals are reborn as humans and bad humans are reborn animals (or ghosts). Of course to us atheists, this is a rather silly proposition. But if one looks generously at reincarnation not … Continue reading
Filed under Atheism, Buddhism, Consciousness, Myth, Philosophy, Religion
Hearing Voices – Remembering a Miracle
High School was over, University would begin in 3 months. My best friend and I would go to different Universities in different states. We were very tight, I actually only had two close friends in High School and he was … Continue reading
Filed under Christianity, Events, Personal, Religion
Being Zen vs. Being Japanese
I lived in Japan for seven years where I graduated from a Japanese University in Oriental Medicine and practiced Shorinji Kempo (kungfu) in a Zen Temple. During my first four years, I was fairly indiscriminant in my absorption of Japanese … Continue reading
Filed under Atheism, Buddhism, Christianity, Events, Personal, Philosophy, Religion
Skepticism & Atheism
Below are my posts concerning Atheists, Agnostics, Skeptics … Last updated August 2011 post Theist-Atheist Relations Sympathetic Atheists : The Atheist approach which does not totally condemn all religions Christian Culpability : I think many Atheists are, at times, too broad in … Continue reading
Comments Off
Filed under Atheism, Christianity, Critical Thinking, Philosophy, Religion, Science
Fart Logic
“He-RiKutsu” (Fart-Logic): Definition: (n) An argument which is deceptively false using disgustingly obvious faulty reasons. This Japanese word is made of three ideograms (KanJi) : The first character, “He” (pronounced the same as the “he” in “head”), means “fart”. … Continue reading
Filed under Philosophy, Religion
Reindeer Feet
I was in 2nd grade and it was Christmas Eve. Tonight, Santa would come on his sled pulled by reindeer with lots of presents. To celebrate, as we did every year, my parents fixed pretend, adult drinks of Seven-Up and … Continue reading
Filed under Christianity, Consciousness, Myth, Personal, Philosophy, Religion
My Worldview
Below are my posts written to explain my personal philosophy, values or worldview. Updated to and including my December 2010 posts My odd traits and stories Though I am an atheist, I have religious and superstitious tendencies. Atheists come in … Continue reading
Comments Off
Filed under Atheism, Buddhism, Christianity, Cognitive Science, Consciousness, Critical Thinking, Ethics, Evolution, Mysticism, Philosophy, Religion, Religious Dialogue, Science
The Problem with You
I was sitting at my desk wrapped in futile concentration stuck on how to finish my post. My office colleague, who I have recently taught to play WeiQi, had caught up on his work and said, “Hey, want a quick … Continue reading
Filed under Consciousness, Philosophy
My Mother’s Ghost
My mother was a gentle, thoughtful, well-loved third grade teacher. She had divorced my father and had lived alone in a condominium with a small courtyard. My mother had became very sullen and isolated in her last few years and … Continue reading
Many-Selves, No-Self
Do I contradict myself? Very well then, I contradict myself, (I am large, I contain multitudes). – Walt Whitman (Song of Myself, 1855 Leaves of Grass) I call my theory of self “Many-Selves, No-Self”. My theory is similar to insights … Continue reading
Filed under Atheism, Buddhism, Cognitive Science, Consciousness, Philosophy, Religion, Science
Buddha: Doubt vs. Belief
“O monks and wise men, just as a goldsmith would test his gold by burning, cutting and rubbing it, so must you examine my words and accept them, not merely out of reverence for me.” Shakyamuni Buddha “We are destroying … Continue reading
Filed under Atheism, Buddhism, Christianity, Religion
What makes Humans Unique?
NOTHING ! Unique vs. Superior Well, sure, we are unique, if by “unique” you mean that which puts any living thing in its own place on the shrub of life ! But then every creature is unique ! But that … Continue reading
Filed under Critical Thinking, Evolution, Philosophy, Religion, Science
A Time to Rend: Bible Literacy
A de-converted ex-conservative-Christian fellow blogger at “A Time to Rend” refreshingly and honestly discusses his transition, his compromises and his questions. I am taking this opportunity to educate those who don’t know where his Blog title comes from. It is … Continue reading
Filed under Christianity, Religion
Monkey vs. Cat Religions
The Question’s Caveats When a Theist asks me “Do you believe in God“, I could simply reply “No“, but that answer would be dishonest for three reasons — both centered on how I understand the workings of the human mind. … Continue reading
Filed under Atheism, Buddhism, Christianity, Consciousness, Hindu, Philosophy, Religion
The Hour of the Monkey
I was driving up a winding narrow road in the lush Japanese forest of pine and deciduous trees just North of Kyoto. It was the hour of the monkey1 and I was taking my new Japanese girlfriend up to see … Continue reading
Filed under Events, Personal, Philosophy
Mirror Neurons : Our Moral Imagination
I am reading Robert Wright’s excellent book on “The Evolution of God”. Over at “Liberty and Skepticism“, I wrote a short post on one of Wright’s recent essays — please go take a look.
Filed under Atheism, Buddhism, Christianity, Evolution, Islam, Philosophy, Political Philosophy, Religion, Science
Rules or Consequences
Today I was teaching yet another person how to play the amazing Asian strategy Game of GO. After several lessons, my student (a 44 year-old physician) ventured into philosophical speculations — a tendency that eventually joyfully befalls all serious GO … Continue reading
Filed under Atheism, Christianity, Cognitive Science, Consciousness, Mathematics, Philosophy, Science
Schizophrenia Saves Us
Humans have odd diseases that you’d expect to be weeded out of the genome over millions of years, but we have found that there is a mathematical advantage to genes which, in full (rare) version causes bad diseases but in … Continue reading
Filed under Cognitive Science, Medicine, Religion, Science
Reclaiming God
When my kids were younger, they would get asked by other kids if they believed in God. My bold kids would tell the kids “No, he is imaginary”. Well that led to all sorts of name calling, and eventually tears. … Continue reading
Filed under Atheism, Christianity, Personal, Religion
Truth & Beauty: Deceptive Abstractions
I love this playful, yellow stylization of the Chinese character for “Truth” — it is on wheels and has measuring devices and all that is grounded (The top “T” shaped symbol means “ground”). But “Truth” we should always remember, Truth … Continue reading
Filed under Critical Thinking, Philosophy
We are not Truth Machines
Humans are not truth machines. We are machines/organisms composed of many practical problem solving components/modules. Actually, many of these modules often work against each other. Our brains are not built to crank out truth. Instead, our brains are geared to … Continue reading
Filed under Consciousness, Philosophy
