Gregg Wilson

Tom,

You have a fantastic sense of humor.

Tom Chavez

Gregg, I appreciate the subtlety of your sarcasm.

Tom Chavez

1. Where Science Fails

When we use our senses to investigate the world around us, the picture we get is somehow incomplete. Our intelligence raises question which our senses don’t answer, such as “Why am I here? Is there a purpose to my existence?”

Of course, we may have many personal self-generated purposes, but they don’t exist outside our own minds. We can change those purposes. 

The question of teleology is whether or not there is a purpose to our lives which is not subjective. Do we have objective duties or purposes to fulfill outside of our own desires?

The government may declare that we have a duty to follow state laws. Society may insist that there are social purposes or duties which exist outside the individual.

Are social duties objective, or is it just that the government is stronger, so we must comply? Is society just imposing arbitrary values on us?

Do objective purposes in life exist beyond the opinions of individuals and societies? Our physical senses and empirical science cannot answer such questions. 

People who have the luxury of not thinking, of course, don’t worry about this.

Gregg Wilson

Tom,

Your philosophic question is completely answered in the Declaration of Independence.

Tom Chavez

That’s a little too convenient, Gregg.

The Declaration of Independence is a political document listing grievances against the government, or King, of Great Britain, and giving arguments justifying dissolution of the status quo and establishment of independent government in the colonies.

A few sentences try to offer philosophical support:

1. All men are created equal

2. They are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights:

    The right to life    

    The right to liberty

    The right to pursue happiness

    The right to self-govern as they see fit

Hardly complete, and more for political purpose than philosophic truth.

Gregg Wilson

Tom,

Convenient???????????????????

It is a philosophical document, period.

You either have the right to your own life or you do not. Which is it?

A person's own happiness is the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his greatest activity and reason as his only absolute.

Your life is not a means to an end, but the end in itself. You exist for your own sake, neither sacrificing yourself to others nor sacrificing others to yourself.

There is no greater good - neither God nor the collectivist state.

Tom Chavez

Gregg, the philosophy of selfishness which you espouse distorts the Declaration of Independence, an obviously political document about government. Have you read it?

“All men are created equal”? Many founding fathers owned slaves. There was no equality, or right to life and liberty for all men. Those were political slogans, not philosophy.

We are not all equal physically, intellectually, or morally. How do you justify a philosophical claim of objective ‘equality’? 

Our body and life are temporary gifts which can be lost in a moment. If ‘rights’ to life and liberty were ‘inalienable’ they could not be lost at any time. Such so-called “rights” have no objective existence.

Within our body billions of cells cooperate to make the body strong. When a cell becomes cancerous it goes ‘independent’ and takes from the body, but does not serve the body.

When everyone contributes to society, the society becomes strong. When cooperation decreases and selfishness increases, society becomes cancerous. 

Selfish society is basically animal society. I don’t begrudge your right to be selfish. If you really want to live in a society which espouses selfishness, destiny will arrange.

Tom Chavez

The Story of Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva

The two demigods Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva were sons of Kuvera, the treasurer of the demigods, whose wealth had no limit. As sometimes happens with a rich man’s sons, they were addicted to intoxication and sex. 

Once, on the bank of the Ganges, they became drunk in the company of beautiful women. They entered the water to enjoy with the young ladies, just as a male elephant enjoys female elephants within the water.

Meanwhile, sage Nārada happened to pass by. The girls were ashamed to be naked before the sage, and hastily covered themselves. But Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva were so intoxicated that they ignored the sage and remained naked. 

An animal has no sense to understand that it is naked. A human who neglects civilized principles of modesty becomes no better than an animal. 

Nārada considered that Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva should be put into a condition where they could not be falsely proud of wealth and prestige. A man infatuated with false ego disregards morality and indulges in wine, women and animal killing. 

Nārada decided that they should stand naked as trees for one hundred celestial years (thousands of solar years). A living entity generally forgets his previous life, like a dream, but the sage wanted them to remember so they could learn a lesson.  

Desiring their welfare, Nārada cursed the two demigods to be born as trees, while remembering the history of their previous life. And he blessed them that they would grow in Nanda’s courtyard and be able to see Kṛṣṇa face to face.

Gregg Wilson

Enuf said.

Tom Chavez

I admire your concision, Gregg. Brevity is the soul of wit.

To avoid any possible misunderstanding, I’ve never found Gregg to be less than magnanimous. My objection to the philosophy of selfishness is not aimed at him personally. 

Ayn Rand promoted the ‘philosophy of selfishness’. She also wrote that man’s ability to control fire, as with cigarettes, illustrates his conquest of nature. Lung cancer and other diseases show that, rather than ‘conquering’ nature, we remain under the stringent control of natural law.  

I’d like to offer a few words in favor of selflessness and sacrifice.

Oskar Schindler acted unselfishly to help save Jewish lives during the Holocaust, sacrificing considerable expense and trouble. The people he saved, as it turned out, helped him during his later difficulties. 

Chiune Sugihara, a Japanese diplomat posted to Lithuania, ignored his own government’s explicit order, and gave over 2,000 Japanese entry visas to any Jew who asked, sacrificing his governmental position. 

A life lived to satisfy one’s own interests can’t be compared to a life sacrificed for a greater cause. Many of us still celebrate the sacrifice of Jesus, 2,000 years later.

Kṛṣṇa says in the Gita, “Without sacrifice one can never live happily on this planet or in this life; what then of the next?"

This discussion began as a philosophical attempt to understand justice or karma, which are not perceivable by physical senses. The question remains, is justice a product of evolutionary programming, a fanciful imagination or an objective reality?

Tom Chavez

Kṛṣṇa moved toward the twin trees, dragging the grinding mortar behind. He went between the trees, but the mortar got stuck. With great strength Kṛṣṇa pulled, and the two trees crashed to the ground. 

Two shining persons arose out of the fallen trees. They immediately bowed before Kṛṣṇa with folded hands and spoke as follows.

“Dear Lord Kṛṣṇa, you are the original source of this cosmos, which is an expansion of your energies. You are the supreme controller, and You are eternal time.”

“You are the Supersoul in everyone’s heart, and you know everyone’s body and mind. You appear in different incarnations, but your forms are not material. They are full of of unlimited opulence, strength, beauty, fame, wisdom and renunciation.” 

“Our father, Kuvera, is your servant, as is sage Nārada. By their grace we have now seen you. We pray to always serve you with transcendental love.”

Kṛṣṇa smiled and replied, “Sage Nārada has saved you from your pride and from gliding down to hellish life. Your lives are successful because you have developed love for Me. Now return home and, by being fixed in devotional service, you will be liberated in this very life.”

The demigods circumambulated Kṛṣṇa and, bowing again, disappeared. 

Hearing the trees crash down, many people, including Nanda Mahārāja, came to the spot. They were astonished to see the uprooted trees. Small children playing nearby said that Kṛṣṇa had pulled them down.

Most people did not believe the children. Some, however, told Nanda Mahārāja, “Your child is different. He might have done it.” Nanda Mahārāja smiled. He came forward and untied the rope to free his wonderful child.

Tom Chavez

2. Going Beyond Physical

Most of us believe in real moral values of right and wrong. If someone blows up a school bus and kills innocent children, we think that is really wrong.

Materialism is incomplete. It does not include values like justice or compassion, because values are not empirical objects. They are not physical, they are metaphysical. 

The word ’meta’ in Greek means above or beyond. Aristotle introduced this term. 

Materialism alone leads to evil consequences. Hitler’s book, Mein Kampf, discusses the racial struggle for existence. Hitler thought that the Holocaust was social Darwinism.

Evolutionary theory considers ‘justice’ to be a blindly evolved notion hard-wired into our brains. The most evil act is not wrong. It’s just that evolution has programmed us to think that it is wrong.

If you believe that there really is right and wrong, then you live in a multi-dimensional universe in which some real objective things are physical, but other real objective things are metaphysical.

If this is true, empirical physical science, a priori, cannot explain everything. In fact, it cannot explain the most important things, like justice, love and compassion.

Bill Engelhardt

Anyone else having this experience? 

Linda Pompeo (Worden)

It's been a real test of patience, determination and luck to get an appointment.  I've been searching on line every day to find availability. Finally got signed up at the Auburn GSA. Whoever decided the style of form to fill out did not take into account that it was complicated and unclear, and definitly not meant to be easy for anyone who is 'much older' than we are.  It wasn't the vaccine I was hoping for, but we will be vaccinated by the end of the week.

Don't give up!

Ed Hesner

I have never been one to try to "push" religion on anyone, and I'm not trying to do so now, but I have some extremely important information about the corona virus vaccine, and, for any of you that are having thoughts of getting the vaccine injections, I hope that you will seriously consider this first.

For several years now, my wife and myself have enthusiastically watched and listened to a pastor named JD Farag who’s the pastor of Calvary Chapel in Kaneohe, Hawaii.  Some of you I’m writing this to may be familiar with him.  Every Sunday in his church, he gives a Prophecy Update prior to his main service, and he relates bible prophecy to current events around the world.  My wife and I have always enjoyed listening to him because he’s very knowledgeable about the bible, he teaches by the scripture 100%, he’s occasionally a little humorous, and we believe he’s a real man of God.

Pastor Farag has been airing his prophecy updates on YouTube for several years now, which is how we had been watching him.  However, on January 10^th, he gave what turned out to be Part I of an Update that had to do specifically with the corona virus "vaccine", i.e., it’s distribution, the materials it’s being made from, the problems it’s causing (including deaths), etc.  Shortly thereafter, YouTube removed his program and will no longer allow him to talk about the vaccine and the things that are resulting from it.  As a result, Calvary Chapel officially opened up their new web site, which I believe had already been in the works, and they are now including all of Pastor Farag’s Prophecy Updates on their own web site.

On January 24^th, two weeks after the first Update on the "vaccine", Pastor Farag presented a Part 2 Update in which he covered additional details on the vaccine and in more detail, and then a week later, on Jan 31st, he gave a 3rd Update on it that is even more frightening than the first two.

I’ve taken the time to write this note and post it on this web site because I believe that the new "vaccine" is not only a very poorly designed material but has the potential to harm and even kill people, as it has already begun doing.

For any of you who may be giving any thought to getting the vaccine shots, I would highly suggest that you FIRST get on your computer at your earliest opportunity and go to: 

JDFarag.org

At the top of the web site page, pick the “Prophecy Vids” and select the Prophecy Update from January 10^th, entitled “Decision Time”, and have a listen.  If that peaks your interest, select the January 24^th Update, entitled Decision Time - Part 2” and listen to it as well. Thirdly, be sure to listen to his Update of Jan 31st. I can guarantee you you’ll enjoy what Pastor Farag has to say in his past and present Prophecy Updates, and after you've listened to these three Updates, you will likely never again have any interest.in getting the immunization..

Tim Jones (Jones)

Good one Bill Engelhardt! In the process of doing that.....

Ed Hesner, I adhere to the late George Carlin's 'Third Commandment'.                                 

"Thou shalt keep thy religion to thyself!" 

Laurel Hoefer (Gerla)

Ed Hesner, 

Totally in the same ballpark as you.  This is clearly not like any immunization.  It’s like chemo for people who don’t have cancer.  COVID is deadly but I will take my chances.  I don’t think people are looking at all the evidence and testimony of experts who won’t play this greed game  

Virginia Wolfe (Scheffer)

I appreciate everyone sharing their experiences about receiving vaccines...or not.  Love the game board too.  We are lucky enough to live in the sunshine state of Florida.  In spite of what the media says, I believe being outdoors, sunshine, fresh air and a healthy life style will help us all.  The community we live in is a generation of youngsters such as all of us.  Fortunately, I do not know of anyone that has passed on from this virus. Only a few have had been exposed to the virus.  I feel very blessed to have the healthy life I have and to live in America.  I hope ya'all can find that happiness!!!

Linda Pompeo (Worden)

No matter what path we follow ....politics, religion, vax or no vax.....I wish for everyone to be content and healthy.  And may we all find the sunshine in our lives that Viriginia expressed so well.

Diane Paulson

Tom Chavez:

thanks for the books. The recipes look good but some of the ingredients i don't have... And the reincarnation one I have read some of: this is an idea I have spent some time with and not sure about, but I like it as a concept. The problem I have with this religion as I do with all organized religions is that it seems TO ME that the rules and the REALITIES they are based on are all arbitrary and from OLD MEN who pass down their ideas to likeminded successors and honestly I don't really believe or understand how they know what happens after you die. I mean HOW DO THEY KNOW? 

Ted Comstock (Briggs-Comstock)

Shirley and I had the Oxford Astra/Zeneca jabs last Saturday. We felt a bit crappy, but that's it. We get the second ones 12 weeks after.

I don't see either the UK or, especially, the US, recovering from the pandemic until the majority of the people have the vaccine, since neither country seems to have what it takes to do proper lockdowns, quarantines, etc. 

The leadership in this country is abysmal -- Boris is basically Trump-lite, not as hostile, but doesn't really make any more sense -- and the conservatives seem like they'd really prefer all the old and weak would die off anyway. It'll be interesting to see if a more organised administration in the US will pull things up or not.

Tom Chavez

Kalindi signed us up for vaccine with a local pharmacy here in Hot Springs, Arkansas. I got a call a few weeks later for an appointment at a church, with a street address. Kalindi is not yet 70, so she wasn't invited. It turns out that the Church was in Hot Springs *Village*, about 20 miles north of here.

I followed the GPS and came to a gate which required a residential passcard. I asked someone exiting how to get in, they said go to the other gate. I ended up trying 3 gates before I got to the visitors gate 45 minutes later.

Turns out that Hot Spring Village is the largest gated community in the US! I heard that the richest town in the US is in Arkansas, so it may hold that distinction, too. It sure looks rich, like every house is a mansion, and every mansion has it's own golf course.

The wealthy township hosted the vaccination program and it was admirably organized by a host of retiree volunteers. Very efficient and friendly.

I got the Pfizer vaccine, painless, no reaction at all. I was 45 minutes late from the run-around, but it still only took 15 minutes in line, and 15 minutes waiting to guard against reaction.

I had courses in biochemistry and biology at the UW, and based on the little I picked up from them I feel comfortable about being vaccinated. I'll go back in two weeks for the booster.

The Republican govenor here expressed appreciation for cooperation with the federal Democratic administration with regard to vaccines. Let's hear it for cooperation, organization and competency!

Tom Chavez

Ed, don’t worry about George Carlin. You have a right to express your views.

Tim, you have a right to follow George Carlin, and to express your views, but better not try to force your views on others. 

Linda and Virginia, thanks for your sunny well wishes.

Diane, damn fine question! I'll get to it soon.

Bill Engelhardt

Betty Weiks (Rickard)

Bill, I love your cartoon! Spot on. He's a "force" to be sure! I'll be cheering for Kansas City. Even though I live in Oregon I'm a real Seahawks fan. Did anyone hear that Washington's Governor predicted that since the Hawks were the only NFL team which did not have any COVID outbreaks, that they would be iin the Super Bowl next year. Here's hoping he's right.