Ultimate Judgement Lies Within (Week 5 Post 5)

Nietzsche criticizes herd morality, evident in many religions, especially inChristianity. We have created our own notions of good and evil, things worthy ofheaven or damned to hell and turned it from opinion to fact. Religion also takesthe responsibility for much of life and its occurrences out of the hands of theindividual and blames it on the heavens instead, even claiming that this code ofgood and evil was ordained and enforced by a supreme ruler. At some point inearly history we stopped taking responsibility for our own moral judgments.

Life Is Not a Dress Rehearsal (Week 5 Post 4)

Nietzsche insisted that we must redefine what we consider to be true values.Christian values were considered by Nietzsche to be "rehearsals" of true valuesso he argued for a transvaluation of vales, a reevaluation and reinterpretationto be carried out by those capable of doing so. He urged us to replace thevalues imposed by Christian morality, like humility, sympathy and unconditionallove with contrasting, empowering values like pride, apathy and strength. Hebelieved that Christian morality and its principles of humility and sympathyworked to suppress the will to power that he valued and considered a part of ournature and central to our advancement.

Same Product, New Look (Week 4 Post 8)

"The way to get income is to have new material." We see this repeatedly inadvertising as they change their packaging, their advertising technique, theirtarget market. Always keep the people wanting more. People, Americansespecially, like new things, new products, new ideas, even new religions. Cultleaders prey on that void inside many individuals. That desire to find somethingmeaningful that has yet to be found. Some even enjoy the trend factor. Buddhism,scientology, even Kabalah (?) have become trendy. It is way "cooler" to say youare Buddhist than to say you are Catholic. Or even better, to belong to some newreligion or `spiritual movement' that people don't even know about yet.

Beware the Kal (Week 4 Post 7)

This was my favorite article to read this semester. I nodded, I smiled, Ichuckled, I got a little mad and then a little sad. An emotional journey, if youwill, that placed me in the seat of the skeptic, the believer and the guru andallowed me to examine the facts (as presented by the author), from all angles.Lane, being a follower of Radhasoami, recognized right away that Eckancar hadplagiarized directly from Radhasoami texts, lied about biographical details andcommenced vast cover ups concerning the true origin of Eck's doctrines. Lane wascalled out as the Kal, the negative force that had been predicted from thebeginning of mankind. I think he kind of enjoyed this. The more they fought, themore he persisted. If someone is spreading information about you that is untrue,sure there is a sense of anger, but most, well adjusted people can laugh it off,shake it off, know that people who really know them will not believe it or willlike them anyway. When people get angry, when they stomp their feet and threatento sue you, to kill you to ruin your life, well, that's when you know you aregetting somewhere.

Hocus Pocus (Week 4 Post 5)

Nietzsche had great admiration for Christianity that served its originalpurpose- to elevate the weak and ailing populous. He was fond of sincere, piousChristians and had respect for the founder of Christianity but harbored illfeelings and animosity toward St. Paul and others who corrupted the originalintent of Christianity and turned it from hope for the lowly into a universalreligion that made war on aristocratic values. Nietzsche argued for theabandonment of the purely moral view of life. He believed that weakness andtimidity should no longer be considered values and that we should rekindle ourtrust in instincts. He called for a renunciation of "the whole hocus pocus" ofdogmatic religion and believed that we should do away with the falsearistocracies of politicians and priests.Nietzsche criticizes herd morality, evident in many religions, especially inChristianity. We have created our own notions of good and evil, things worthy ofheaven or damned to hell and turned it from opinion to fact. Religion also takesthe responsibility for much of life and its occurrences out of the hands of theindividual and blames it on the heavens instead, even claiming that this code ofgood and evil was ordained and enforced by a supreme ruler. At some point inearly history we stopped taking responsibility for our own moral judgments.

Sinner, Heal Thyself (Week 4 Post 6)

In Nietzsche's estimation we have killed God. He considered the death of God tohave occurred when "we" destroyed the foundation for human goodness, truth andbeauty. Long ago, a crutch was offered to humanity to ease our understanding ofthings previously unknown or incomprehensible. That crutch was God. The problemis, as more has become knowable and man begins to realize that there is no surefoundation, no God to command or reward us, no ultimate purpose-that we have tomake our own decisions and live with the consequences of them, a sense of panicemerges. People tend to prefer the world of their illusions. They are morecomfortable with their pretend games about God as the foundation for politicaland moral decisions. It makes it easier for them to sleep at night when they cantransfer the burden to someone else.Nietzsche's critique of religion stems from his belief that religion as it isis ugly and distorted with a self denying morality. The death of God then, isthe key to salvation since after that salvation has to become an act of humanwill rather than relying on the grace and mercy of God. We have to relinquishthe idea of destiny being handed to us by God and take responsibility forourselves and our way in the world.

It's Evolutionary My Dear Watson (Week 6 Post 3)

The nature vs. nurture principle asks what percentage of behavior and specificcharacter traits is related to genes compared to the percentage related toenvironment. Watson says that since `nurture' is hard to quantitate even thoughits role is evident in such examples as the second child who is completelydifferent than the first born (I have one of those), he chooses to focus onnature or genetics.Watson suggests that a bright child is bright more so because of good genes thanbecause of good teachers. However, we do know that environment does play somepart in this whole puzzle. Establishing how large a part is not so easy. Allhumans have different potentials but if certain genetic mutations can beattributed to neurological disorders then we can begin to better predict andeventually control the occurrences of autism, schizophrenia, depression,alzheimers, etc. Watson enlists the help of eager young scientists to help inhis search for a genetic basis for neurological disorders.

Awareness is a theater for the Mind (Week 6 Post 2)

How does philosophy help in our global struggle for existence? Why would weevolve toward awareness when survival for most species is predicated uponunconscious instincts? What advantage does self reflective consciousness conferthat would allow it to emerge and develop over time? Darwin's DNA explains theevolution of consciousness as the result of the confusion of a neural systemconfronted with its own dissociation. The questions that arise inside of usarise because of the architecture of our brain and has little to do with realityand more to do with our evolutionary needs.The brain plays out possibilities, cause and effect, action and reaction fromthe safety of within so it is better prepared to face these possibilities in therealm of reality. While it is nice to think of consciousness as an independententity that exists before and after we do, in reality all we, as humans arelooking for is the easiest path to the four F's (f***, food, flee, and fight).It is ultimately all about survival. Daydreams, imaginings, nightmares, all runthrough possible scenarios in our mind so we can better prepare our reactions inorder to better meet these ends.

Survival of the Swiftest (Week 5 post 3)

Cohen: Eh. Another fraudulent guru. Another narcissist who found a way to make abuck. Lane really likes to shine the light on these gurus and while it isterrible how they take advantage of people, it is not just gurus who do this. Itis not limited to cults, churches or spiritual organizations. Politicians,advertisers, doctors, drug dealers, car salesmen; the world is wrought withcharlatans. While I am sure there are many like Lane who dedicate their lives toexposing these frauds or tricksters for what they are, maybe there should be apoint when we stop protecting people from their own stupidity.What we can see so clearly as we shake our head at the audacity of these gurus,as we chuckle at the naiveté of their loyal followers, they choose not to see,vehemently deny and angrily protest. So maybe we should let them be. Maybe theydeserve to be swindled out of their cash. Perhaps this is Darwinism at itsfinest, or perhaps I am just in a bad mood…

The Roller Coaster of DEATH!!! (Week 6 Post 1)

What, if anything, persists after we die? If our memories are physically housedin our brains, a glorious piece of meat that will inevitably decay and turn todust then what remains? What is this ghost that visits loved ones, inhabitsspooky houses, moves objects telekinetically, speaks through mediums?We live in a Mystery even as we act as if nothing is mysterious. Theregeneration of skin on a daily basis, clotting, digesting, pumping, breathing,reproducing, healing, circulating… How? Fascinating, mysterious, yet rarely evencrosses our minds. Even the flower that sprouts and then grows out of a tinyseed is a glorious mystery. Mysteries like these are much easier to attribute toGod than to an unknowable, naturally occurring mysterious process.Oh! I love, love, LOVE the roller coaster analogy!! Super excited to get onthis ride, it's going to be awesome- okay, all buckled in-Um, one last thing, atthe end you are all going to die in a big fiery ball, Enjoy! How can we enjoysuch a ride? Such is life! The fire ball could come at any moment, the key is toenjoy it while it lasts. We should not live our lives avoiding the movies andbooks with the sad endings, we should not be depressed or filled with dreadabout how fleeting life is. This is supposed to be fun! And even if it is not"supposed" to be, why not? Can't we make anything fun? If you're bored thenyou're boring, right?

Ooooh Burn! (Week 4 Post 4)

"Good" Eckists, like "good" Christians, "good" muslims etc. embody the qualities encouraged by the religion and for the most part strive to lead a decent lifeand to be kind, generous people. The trouble is that many of the leaders ofthese religions, churches, cuts and organizations do not actually practice whatthey preach, and in fact, are more likely to be guilty of preying on these kind,good people and their desire for direction and guidance. However, the author ofHi Fubbi, this is Gakko, poses that this seems like kind of a game to Lane, butfor these individuals, it is their life and carries a huge emotional andintellectual investment. Dodie reminisces on the feelings that followed herdropping out of Eckancar. She describes it as a horrible experience full offeelings of emptiness, primal fear, collapse and betrayal. In reflecting onsimilar experiences, I can relate in the sense that these people who claimed tolove you unconditionally, who embraced you wholly as family, friend and equal,upon feeling quite dissed, can just turn and walk away from you. Sometimesliterally and other times, just in our own mind, we are just as guilty ofcreating the alienation that we feel. As Dodie puts it, losing one's cult islike losing the love of one's life. While Lane gleefully recounts hisdiscoveries of fraud and deception in various cults, members of these groupsdescribe feeling like Lane ripped out their insides and served them over rice.Lane, you should treat these people like children who have never been told thetruth about Santa Claus. Sure, the belief may not be rational but it feels goodand it's a nice story that it still hurts to have to let go of. Have a littlecompassion for these people, they are not (all) idiots, some of them just wantsomething to believe in so that they do not feel so lost. On a similar plane,while I am a proponent of limited government, the general public wants, needsand pleads for government assistance. This is not a utopia where intelligent,critical thinking individuals discuss the most rational approaches to societiesissues, this is a world full of hurt, weak, lost people who may not be strongenough to stand on their own two feet, and while every person should of coursebe given the respect and the opportunity to learn the truth, making a baby walkbefore they are ready and then laughing when they fall down is perhaps not thebest approach to such a delicate matter. The transpersonal religious experienceis one that you or I may never fully understand. Much like the paranormal experience or "proof" of the afterlife, I just don't get it. I haven't seen it,I haven't felt it, I have a hard time believing it and my brain tells me it is not possible, but I do not walk up to the girl grieving at her sister's recent murder and tell her that the experience she had with the medium is a bunch of hooey. I have no idea what that experience did for her emotionally, maybe that psychic satisfied some need, some void in her soul, offered her a sense of closure, evenif it doesn't make much sense in the rational world, especially not to me, whoam I to take that experience away from her? To tell her that it was her imagination, or coincidence or mind manipulation?

Skepticism is Not Much Fun (Week 4 Post 3)

There are times in my life when I have needed something. I have had a space thatneeds to be filled. A great portion of tat has recently been filled with family,and school, and even a job that I love but at times in the past it has beenmartial arts, working out, reading, writing, AA, word games, vegetarianism,facebook... These objects fulfill a temporary need, or perhaps by indulging inthese activities I am satisfying some psychological or emotional need. However,unlike religion, none of these activities (AA aside- because really AA has itsown religious connotations but going into it as an agnostic, they really try tomake you feel like you still have a place and don't have to call your "higherpower" God. I was okay with this...) asked me to compromise my common sense ormy ability to think for myself. None of them encouraged me to feel helpless orto become wholly dependent on the activity in order to be fulfilled (again, AAmay be on the fence on this one, as many participants do tend to replace oneaddiction with another and never seem to relinquish that need or find a way tofill that void). Most of the things that we do, even the relationships we have,can be walked away from with a sense of having gained something, or learnedsomething. Martial arts for example, gave me a sense of strength that lastedeven when I stepped out of the dojo, even when I stopped progressing in belts,even when I stopped going. Granted, the sense of community does not reallycontinue, I always feel like an outsider when I go by the karate studio tovisit, like a guest in a place that I used to call home. For five years, ShaolinKenpo and the eastern philosophies had filled my heart, my mind, my thoughts andgave me purpose during a time when I felt lost. And yes, it cost me $125.00 amonth but I always had a place to go, when I was happy, when I was sad, when Iwas angry or frustrated. Now, would it have made any difference to me if Laneuncovered that our Shaolin forms really did not originate in China, and thatsome guy in Irvine, calling himself Master Kevin, was making all of this up ashe went along? Probably not. Because I still felt great whenever I left there,whenever I went there, whenever I thought about it. Just like the hierarchy ofthe Eckancar, I progressed in rank, other students began to respect me, I becamean instructor, people came to me with questions and I had the answers. It feltgood. I imagine that this is similar to the cult experience. Now, what makes onepositive and one negative? Hmm, even after reading the Fubbi and Gakko articlethis is a difficult question. I understand what Lane is saying, that people havea right to know the truth, and I wholly agree, but does the truth make adifference in something that satisfies an emotional need? Do I feel like I wasrobbed out of my $125 a month? Did Dodie feel like she had wasted her money andtime believing in Eckancar? No, the insecurity and lack of direction had been"healed" by something, not something supernatural or divine, but something fromwithin. Each of us learned something, about life, about nature, about ourselves,and this happiness, this confidence, this sense of self emerges and we aregrateful, whatever the source.

Science Without Evidence Isn't Science (Week 4 Post 2)

It made sense to me that scientific progress became possible in part because scientists attempted to describe things without reference to creation, design or ultimate purpose. That is not what science is about. Science comes up witheducated theories about life, and the world and natural phenomena and then teststhose theories to determine its accuracy. The scientific method cannot beapplied to Intelligent design theory and therefore it cannot be considered ascience. We cannot change the rules that apply to all other branches of science in order to make room for all of the other theories out there. Those could be taught in a philosophy class or a sociology class or a religion class! but science has always been held to a certain set of standards and must continue to in order to maintain the integrity of the field.

This Intelligent Design article in The Skeptics Dictionary made me wonder whether they teach intelligent design around the world; whether this argument occurs in other countries or if we are the only ones arguing over the scientific validity of an unprovable theory.

The Crossbreeding of Fact and Fiction (Week 4 Post 1)

Memory is a tricky thing. We commit to memory not just the events but also the feelings as well as some subconscious images or symbols and we convince our brain that what we remember is completely unbiased and factual. The manyaccounts of individuals who have seen Edgar Cayce's "gift" and felt his "power"take something different away than the skeptic who is looking for any sign of trickery or manipulation in order to disprove the claim of paranormal andpsychicabilities. We cannot trust people's accounts because their account couldbe skewed or clouded by what we remember about the event and what we took awayfrom it emotionally.

According to the author, there is little substantiating evidence that Edgar Cayce had paranormal insight. It was not even that he was a charlatan takingadvantage of people, he had a keen psychological insight and believed he had a gift; he gave people something that they needed.

The Mystical Leak (Week 5 Post 2)

There is a leak somewhere in my wall. The puzzling part is that it is aninternal wall on the garage level of the house with no piping running throughthe wall all the way to the top. If I were to claim that this was proof ofdivinity, a miracle if ou will, then I could excuse myself from looking anyfurther for the source of the problem. I cold chalk it up to God's will or God'splan, or proof of events that lack scientific explanation and relent to doingnothing about it. Or I could continue to look at all possibilities and causesrelentlessly until I found the source.

In my opinion this rationale can be used for all religious claims of divinity.This occured to me with watching the Polkinghorne interview. Anything currentlyindeterminable through scientific terms was considered an indication of a higherpower with limitless abilities rather than simply the limits of our currentunderstanding. Polkinghorne states that the complexity of nature nd certainelements within are undoubtedly proof of intelligent design, specifically, inthis case, by the Christian God, but some may think that this evidence supportstheir belief that we were "planted" here by aliens or advanced life forms. IfPolkinghornes theory were to hold, it would have to acknowledge that his socalled, proof of divinity cannot be limited and naturally lead to theimplication that the Christian God was in fact the creator of such complexities.To be fair it could be any of the gods or aliens or could stem from somethingcompletely different that we lack the ability to comprehend.

Not Unknowable, Just Unknown (Week 5 Post 1)

The trouble with Polkinghorne's argument is that everything amazing is relative.Someone's ability to solve a complex mathematical equation may amaze me but becommon knowledge in the math world and a 400 yard golf shot may amaze me whileit is standard fare for Mickelson.

In the realm of quantum physics and in understanding the nature of the universethere are experts, highly educated in their field, tht know almost everythingabout a particular subject but there is still more to know, that does not meanit is unknowable, just unknown.