A child is expected to be immature and unable to make life decisions. We all agree that until a certain level of maturity, a child needs a caregiver. But once a person is capable, they should be out on their own. Sometimes the craving for this independence comes before the maturity. This defines the years of teen rebellion and it can be a tough time for everyone involved until the teen finally reaches maturity and is capable of making quality decisions.

We all have a need for independence; having the ability to make our own decisions and use our own will according to our own desires. But there are always people who want to impose their desires on everyone else.

This is where religion and government step up to the plate. Religion  points toward freedom, comfort and peace in the arena of the soul. Government exists to protect those things in the physical realm for individuals. Both become unnecessary for those who are mature. It doesn’t mean they become useless, but a person who is doing what is right because of good character doesn’t need to refer to laws. Any time a third party needs to be imposed on a person to make decisions for them, the inability to take care of one’s self is presumed.

In order to have the freedom to choose and enjoy success, there also has to be the ability to fail. Otherwise there is nothing noble and no merit exists. And with failure, having the ability to dig oneself out of a hole also has merit. Inferior character is formed by protecting people from failure. Inferior relationships develop too. We have all seen people who can follow the rules but their hearts are far from it. Some can settle for mediocrity in this kind of environment and others learn to make appearances while indulging in secret. Is it better to tow the line or to handle ones self well? The latter is better.

This level of independence is where I tend to lean. To be subject to rules in some environments is good and needed for consistency as we see in industry or military. But as for how we live our lives there must be freedom to allow us to enjoy rising out of failures, making new beginnings and enjoying our successes. The associations we make by our own choices are the most rewarding. Government that is big on forced relationships takes away the enjoyment we get out of making our own relationships with those we see as reliable. Religions err by making communities based on penance and those who don’t belong are condemned. But we all have a rational mind and a free will for something. I like to use this gift as much as possible.

I can’t say this isn’t confusing at times. It is also harder than just settling in on another person’s words and opinions. To navigate on the sea yourself, you have to pay closer attention than if you are just along for the ride. But the destinations are your own. And that has far more satisfaction..

I was asked what I believe beyond the subject of beneficial behavior and although it reaches into the realm of philosophical beliefs I will give it a shot:

We all have a sense of right inside of us. There is a target everyone is trying to hit. To say otherwise would make conversations about justice nothing more than babble. Justice is the part inside of us that wants to make things equal. It wants to make amends for the times we have missed the mark. Any honest person will admit to these mistakes and sometimes deliberate actions. This is where ethical studies leave off. We can point to the right marks but it becomes a religious study when the subject becomes who we are accountable to and what we have to do to pay for the injustices we may have caused. In the same way we set up a court system and have penalties for disobeying the law, inside of us we have to admit to a knowledge that there must be a higher court. It can’t be society because we are all human and no one really has the authority or ability to handle this responsibility. Judges and counselors make mistakes and cannot resolve innate problems. Paying one’s debt to society doesn’t resolve the debt one feels in the soul. That is where I go to the Bible and the redemption it teaches. There are religions that are more than glad to take the project of penance on. I have seen people fall into the trap of thinking that belonging to a particular one is the answer. But nothing makes as much sense to me as a perfect person, out of love, paying the penalty for our imperfections. Maybe I am too practical or maybe it has the romance I desire. Rather than some impartial mysterious force, lighting candles, confession, or meditation, redemption should be more personal. To be justified by a friend is a great experience. Why focus on injustices and wrath when a more sensible belief is that we have a friend that is standing up for us in the ultimate court of justice….

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.

To seek the perfect place

We sought to have it all

It’s a waste of my time to get you outa my mind