Synaptic Plasticity

As always, Mr. Harris seems to be able to hit the proverbial nail on the head with his direct viewpoint.


10 MYTHS — AND 10 TRUTHS — ABOUT ATHEISM
By Sam Harris

When scientists don’t know something — like why the universe came into being or how the first self-replicating molecules formed — they admit it. Pretending to know things one doesn’t know is a profound liability in science. And yet it is the life-blood of faith-based religion. One of the monumental ironies of religious discourse can be found in the frequency with which people of faith praise themselves for their humility, while claiming to know facts about cosmology, chemistry and biology that no scientist knows. When considering questions about the nature of the cosmos and our place within it, atheists tend to draw their opinions from science. This isn’t arrogance; it is intellectual honesty.

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This is great!!!

This is not one of Mr. Harris’s more current speeches, but I feel it holds quite a bit of value for us all through an incredibly valid and thought provoking message.


Sam Harris on belief at Idea City 05

If you pan to the right you’ll see a number of things littered along my sidebar. Among them is a list of things I posted in the “About Me” section of my profile. Close to the end of my list you will note that I am a Wikiality Endorser.

I highly recommend taking a look at The Colbert Report next time you have a few minutes and would like to have a taste of Truthiness.

I can fully appreciate Stephen Colbert’s style and sense of humour. In a world where too many people take themselves far too seriously, it’s great to know that an intelligent individual can find a way to address social issues that affect us all and somehow still have fun with it.

Here’s a video introduction to Wikiality.

Both my children and I are chomping at the bit to learn as much as we can about graphic arts, design, animation, & coding. So, when I found this piece I shared it with my two teenagers. We sat here and laughed ourselves silly. This is what I call a work of art. While it may not be a highbrow overly serious presentation it does exactly what real art should. It reaches out to the audience and flips that switch inside that totally thrills the heart and mind whether the content is serious or humorous.

I happened across this graphic animation gem on youTube. I thought it was very fun and quite well made. The stars of the clip seem to be having quite a bit of fun with it themselves.

Tony Vs. Paul

All I can say is OUTSTANDING!!!

Brett Keane (Just One of His Videos available on YouTube)

You remember don’t you? That special friend you could always tell anything to. The secret part of you that no one else but you could see or hear. Well, perhaps not everyone had an invisible friend. I never really did, but my son used to swear he could see what he called “angels” when he was very small. I neither encouraged his claims nor did I do anything to refute what he felt was seeing. He slowly and quite smoothly came to believe that he was just imagining things all on his own.

Here, Richard Dawkins has a few very good points to share. One of the first concepts he voiced is that God is somewhat like that imaginary friend so many people have when they are children…well just see for yourself.



Richard Dawkins on the Late Late Show

That is a bit overstated sadly. I often lament over the fact that I feel unable to express my own personal beliefs as openly as Christian believers do. I spend quite a lot of my free time surfing the net in search of rational thinkers and other atheists like me.

I am not an angry, or disgruntled person. I feel no malace towards anyone else’s right to believe in whatever it is that they choose. Yet, despite my tolerance of other people’s apparent inability to realize that God is as fictional as the Easter Bunny or the Toothfairy, I would be treated as if I were the very embodiment of Satan himself by these same loving Christians for expressing the plain fact that there is no God. So much for living in a time of tolerance and understanding.

It is my hope that one day the human race will actualy be able to set aside these falsehoods and embrace reality. I also find it particularly humorous that so many religions teach their followers that one of the basic rules for moralistic righteousness is not bearing false witness against thy neighbor. So, then why is it acceptable for our political and religious leaders to continually lead their followers around by the proverbial ear with a huge pack of absolute lies? Isn’t that bearing false witness against thy neighbor? Come on now people, wake up!!!

Here are a few of the better video posts I came across on my cyber journeys today.

Atheist

Alright, I said I’d get back to you on my progress towards making some of my wishes come true. Things are moving along quite nicely.

Made it back out to California for some very promising business with regards to relocating. I feel very good about the possibilities I am looking at and feel that my life is moving in the direction I have needed it to for a very long time.

As for my studies in “Java”, those slowed down for a time, but have picked back up again. Recent misfortunes here have presented some challenges with regard to available hardware that’s terribly out of date and a very, very old OS. I have refused to let these hurdles slow my pace too much though. I have a spectacular teacher, and find myself really enjoying what I am learning. Of course I have come to understand that this particular calling will be a lifelong pursuit and I am quite happy with that. Being in a stagnant profession for an extended period gives you a real appreciation for things that are constantly evolving.

As far as video game design goes, I am not quite where I’d like to be, but I have also had some very recent developments come into my life that may be the first step on that path. For that I can only look forward, pour all my creative efforts into what I do, and keep learning.

Ninjutsu has been put on somewhat of a hold. Looked into some local training and found it terribly limited and quite unsavory for my taste. It is my hope to be engaged in training after I relocate to California.

My wishes for singing with someone famous are as yet unrealized, though singing, in and of itself, is so rewarding to me. I had the chance to sing for someone that means the world to me and though it wasn’t by any means my best performance, I felt thrilled at the chance. I have even had the immense honor of enjoying the same person singing for me. That was a gift and something I will always treasure.

Burning Man is still a bit of a way off, but I am staying connected with current news and still hopeful that I may be able to attend this coming year. I had hoped to create my own piece of art for the event, but the aforementioned misfortunes have put a crimp in that project as well. Who knows, the years is far from over. None the less this wish is still on the active list and something I “will” make it too at least as soon as is humanly possible.

I mentioned publishing my poetry and since have had it brought to my attention that this blog itself is a form of publishing. So, check one wish off the list. Of course, I think it would still be outer limits to actually see my work in a bound and printed version. This wish may still come true as well, though to be honest I am not actively seeking all the avenues that might lead me to its realization.

Actually got to see the outside of a Medieval (style) Castle while I was in California, but didn’t walk through it. Hoping that when I go back I will have the chance to actually go inside and see it all firsthand.

And, of course, I am still burning with the desire to create at least one truly “Oooo, Ahhh!” piece of work. I feel that this too will be a lifelong pursuit, and I am happy as a lark to pursue it to the very end.

BTW-I still haven’t figured out the whole flying thing and I guess no one else has either since I haven’t seen any of you folks up there in the skies sans aircraft.

In my adventures over the Internet I have come upon a few very interesting sites, I really wanted to share.

The first: TMP Online

As I am constantly searching for new and ever increasingly valid viewpoints on rational perspectives in favor of atheism I found this to be solidly logical in it’s approach. No preaching or agendas, just pure logical thought processes being utilized to help illustrate a rational perspective.

The second is a link to one of the many pieces Sam Harris has contributed, titled “An Atheist Manifesto”.

I am so often at a loss for words dealing with friends, family, and associates in general when it comes to voicing my view point on religion and “God”. It is my desire to shed light where
ever possible with regards to the fallacies that religions are built on, yet there is still an immense need not to offend or transgress against those around me that are devout “believers”.

I work in a small business that is owned and operated by two very decent and personable individuals. The only drawback being that they are both unwavering Southern Baptists. I am often affronted by one or both with proclamations that I really should go to church. That all the troubles in my life will be so much easier to bear with the help of God and the church. (Sigh…) Just how does one go about telling their boss that they don’t believe in God at all, and that in fact you find their continued belief in such religious tripe somewhat lunatic? What’s even harder is that while I try with great diligence to step around their beliefs and sensibilities, their urgent and all too frequent pleadings for me to attend church are quite offensive to me. (Double sigh…) At this point I know that the only answer for me is to make myself a path out the door with as little said on the matter as possible. Would that I had the nerve to be as demonstrative as Sam Harris or his other esteemed colleagues in situations like these.