When we discuss origins we are seeking knowledge about the unknown. The contradictions start with the concept itself. No one can claim to “know” about origins since we have no capability to go back in time. All we can do is throw around theories and believe the ones that make the most sense. A theory about origins can never be a matter of fact but simply a preference. That is why there really isn’t a debate since we debate about facts. The only debate is whether these speculations belong in text books as science. Science is about presenting things that are observable. Origins belong in philosophical studies.

That being said, lets move on and discuss what makes sense. Concerning evolution, I only ask for the probability that molecules could by chance come together and make a single amino acid. The answer is that there is next to no chance. If we go on to amino acids forming the complex proteins required to make a cell wall on their own, the possibility reaches the point of absurdity. To make a fully functioning cell that can feed itself and reproduce so evolution can begin just isn’t possible by any stretch of the imagination. Most of my evolutionary friends will say at this point that life came from an asteroid or something from outer space. This is nonsensical since the same principles would apply in outer space. There is no chance for a fully functioning cell to form on its own. To conclude that this sort of organization and function requires assistance makes more sense.  If a human attempts to recreate the beginning in the name of science, it would be an example of an assisted origin.

In ancient Greece there were mathematicians that believed math brought the universe out of chaos. This philosophy is similar to our present day evolutionists. Aristotle thought that these philosophies made as much sense as the ancient tribes that believed a volcano or the sun created everything. He thought that having a god or gods that formed the earth and brought life was the most sensible philosophy given what we know.  I tend to agree with him.

I pondered for a while

There is a subject that is final yet contains ultimates: the subject of eternity. We will all spend most of our time there so it is a subject that is worth considering at least. I hate to call it death because we seem to be travelers in this short life and so eternity must be our natural state. The question is,” what will it be like?” It is hard to describe because we make all our associations with our earthly life. We can conclude with certainty that we won’t have these bodies since we observe others leave their bodies behind only to decay. I hope you don’t mind if we leave conventional ideas behind for a while and just look at what we can know. It is emotional for some and there are many who have staked their entire lives on certain ideals.

I don’t get where there is talk about pain and pleasure; hell and heaven. It seems cultures have their own ultimates according to their norms. I can see a mother who spanks her kid telling him that if he is too bad there will be eternal punishment. There are also those who use time outs for their kids who would be more apt to say there is a purgatory. We see that a temperate person will avoid immediate pleasures for something better in the future. It would only follow that we would make an ultimate pleasure such as heaven for those who deny earthly pleasures but didn’t have time to enjoy the rewards. The ancients would have places for royalty verses the common people and they would have places that reward their war heroes. Generations have a pattern of following the cultural norms and using things associated with how things are on the earth as their template of eternity. Lack of good things would be the ultimate punishment and excesses of them would be the ultimate reward.

Some things I don’t get. One is the matter of judgment. I get the impression from teachings that many go on a broad path to hell and the path to heaven is narrow. What doesn’t make sense is there being a kind of standard where at a certain point you don’t make it. Where is this tipping point? I just can’t picture two very similar people but with one too many sins it is off to eternal punishment while the other gets a free pass to eternal pleasure. Maybe it is like waiting in line at an electronics store where if you don’t happen to get there early enough, they will be out of stock. If you don’t fill in the paperwork right, you don’t make it. Everyone has their certain acts and lifestyles that qualify you; it hurts the head trying to sort it all out for ourselves. Knowing the right person, acting the right way, attending the right church or following the right rituals; it can all get so complicated.Why try to understand perceptions of things that have never been observed?

How can there be pain if we don’t have pain receptors? We leave our pleasure centers behind too. Time is of no use since there are no material things. I recently read a couple books about how the Germans and former nazi’s were oppressed and murdered after the war. It was bad enough to lose ones ideals but to carry the guilt and blame for such atrocities was difficult. On reaching eternity will we just wonder,” What was I thinking?” Absent the animal passions, maybe we will think clearly. Isn’t vice based on chasing immediate pleasure? It would only make sense that when we lose the body, we would think differently. I think that by observing the artistry of nature and the universe that the origin, where we came from can only be beautiful. The destruction and corruption due to decay and chaos are foreign to life. Why would any of it follow us to this beautiful place?  That might be why we need a savior; to keep those things out.

The only thing we can do when considering eternity is to not look at the past as something that disqualifies future delight. It is an outlook that works here on the earth too….

You might think its frozen

We enjoyed living in Casper Wyoming for a while. It represented a big change when the business failed. One of our favorite things to do was to climb the mountain south of town. There were paths called switchbacks that went back and forth so you didn’t have to climb a steep incline. At the top is a gully there was a waterfall. The descent on the other side of the gully was beautiful as well. It was only a four mile walk.

When I think about past successes and failures, life is similar to following mountain paths. There is anticipation, excitement of arrival and the decent. People have a hard time believing some of the things we have done, the businesses that we either ended because they were outdated or we lost interest; had major changes in employment. At the time it seemed all hell was breaking loose and there was no hope. Everything ended in opportunity though. Always having things secure can be boring and the insecurities, although nerve wracking, bring excitement to our lives. We need challenges and I have seen that a complacent lifestyle is the most unhealthy lifestyle to live. Technically, there is no such thing as failure; as long as we enjoy the scenery.

This post  isn’t always going to be the theme here but just happens to be on my mind at the moment. (there is no telling what is going on in there at any given time) I welcome any subject, but I don’t like parroted opinions. We are all thoughtful friends here. And I like to hear “your” thoughts.

The auto parts store had a little display of candy where you take one and insert a dollar into the cardboard box. The honor system; how I wish everyone was honest, and it is ideal when people have transactions where both parties come out happy. If all our dealings with each other were always just, we would have a friendly and content society. Unfortunately we aren’t all angels and need to have some kind of legal system to correct injustices. This is what is meant by government. It has necessary applications, but historically, it also has abusive extremes.

I remember going to a practitioner when I was a kid. The doctor in the town knew every family and saw them grow up. I took my boys in to one such doctor and he laughed at how each one looked like each family. One like his mother’s and the other like his father’s. This kind of friendship is what makes communities strong and also makes for a strong country. We would write a check for a doctor’s call and that was it. He would give you a break if he knew you were struggling. I had surgery myself at six at a school that was for training and a community member drove me there only because she cared about my appearance. A strong community like that will go to war with a certain ferocity. That is why the WW2 soldiers were so revered. When someone mentions love of country, it isn’t a brainwashed term. It is to preserve and honor people we know in our community so they can continue to help each other. That is what is meant by living in freedom and pursuing happiness.

As I lay upon the leaves

I took a journey

Before there were phones we had care 

On goes the light
So goes my life
But the icons are blank
As are my feelings
Nothing to stir my heart
No one wants to impose
Just me and my colored screen
Along with the merchants
Who make me feel used
With their free apps
Electrons and radio waves
Anticipation
Could a warm embrace
A smiling face
A touch of skin
Conversation
Heal this…
Wait!
Gotta go
Incoming text 🙂