I enjoy anything Greek. I guess that makes me a Greek geek.

Throughout my life I have observed people hiding behind different things to justify bad behavior. Everyone has met a cop or state worker who was obnoxious. Many times people get in positions of authority just so they can push people around. The motive should be to do one’s part and authority has responsibility attached to it. But it isn’t a license.

But that isn’t all we hide behind. In a family, a father or older brother may be abusers. Parents can use their position as a parent to push coaches around. The standards for good behavior and good character are universal and apply to everyone.

We see it with the law. People have their pet passions but use the law to tax everyone for it. But in the same way there are Religious people who have pet subjects that they want to push on everyone. They have opinions that certain people exist who claim to have a special anointing to interpret the scriptures. Most of the time the scriptures are symbolic or allegories that point to universal principles that anyone can pick out themselves. The last hundred years or so, the atheistic point of view got a shot in the arm with a flimsy theory called evolution. Philosophers and Psychologists picked up on it and have been successful to a point at getting mention of God out of the public. It seems the textbooks I read are doing what they can to make each subject conform to their opinions; Judeo-Christians one way and Atheists another. I would love to read a science book some day that is just pure observable and tested science.

The Greeks, although ancient, had a good handle on keeping a study pure. Aristotle would point out when his study stepped into unknown or religious territory. There was a certain honesty displayed instead of the hidden agendas we have today. I like to study behavior based on universal principles themselves since it is a purer way to study them. To call something sin begs the question of penance and responsibilities. To say there is no right and wrong leaves one wondering why we would discuss it at all if there can be no standards to point to. But to ask if a pleasure should be delayed for a greater one is a sensible approach. Being kind to others is a universal truth that anyone can grasp without a philosopher, psychologist or the clergy. Having good character applies to everyone regardless of their associations or positions.

I enjoy the Bible for teachings on redemption and have skimmed through a few modern philosophy books but feel at home with the Greeks and the principles of rational thought.