I would like to set out why I might want to express an opinion, and what I believe to be true:
I want to write to inform people and to influence them for good , to urge them to take actions and make decisions that lead to justice, peace and prosperity, the things that make a good and meaningful life for all.
I believe that human societies are held together by stories which are interpretations of reality. They are extremely functional for societies allowing them to bind together with one identity and one world view. Because of their importance for social cohesion, societies and individuals will hold onto these myths against all reason and through them whole societies can be manipulated. Myth fills in the blanks of history and engenders purpose and meaning to our existence but it is not absolute and it is open to analysis and to change.
I believe there is absolute truth. I believe it implicitly in my heart and in my mind by choice and I believe it essentially from observation of what needs to exist for us to exist and to function. If there is no agreed upon set of principles among those who dispute the smaller facts of our existence, if there are no absolute facts and no basis for judging right and wrong or good and bad, there will be no sensible discourse. All arguments will be logically invalid and therefore pointless. There are real facts attached to issues although imperfectly discerned and, based on the interpretation of what is discerned, it will be possible to judge right from wrong. There must be a commitment to the truth even knowing we fall short of perfection, and having gathered a reasonable amount of information, we must make a decision to stand on one side or another of important issues before the public. In this blog, I intend to write only definite opinions and to urge definite actions.
I believe in the ideals America has stood for of freedom, and justice, but I will resist hypocrisy and evil. The biblical proverb says that the father who spares the rod hates his son; and I believe that anyone who says they love their country must hold it to its highest standards. I hope that any writing I do will affect change for the good, that it will be clear, informed and fundamentally correct in its assertions, that it will be not too provincial, not unreasonable, not dogmatic and not petty or gloating or mean-spirited.
I want to write to inform people and to influence them for good , to urge them to take actions and make decisions that lead to justice, peace and prosperity, the things that make a good and meaningful life for all.
I believe that human societies are held together by stories which are interpretations of reality. They are extremely functional for societies allowing them to bind together with one identity and one world view. Because of their importance for social cohesion, societies and individuals will hold onto these myths against all reason and through them whole societies can be manipulated. Myth fills in the blanks of history and engenders purpose and meaning to our existence but it is not absolute and it is open to analysis and to change.
I believe there is absolute truth. I believe it implicitly in my heart and in my mind by choice and I believe it essentially from observation of what needs to exist for us to exist and to function. If there is no agreed upon set of principles among those who dispute the smaller facts of our existence, if there are no absolute facts and no basis for judging right and wrong or good and bad, there will be no sensible discourse. All arguments will be logically invalid and therefore pointless. There are real facts attached to issues although imperfectly discerned and, based on the interpretation of what is discerned, it will be possible to judge right from wrong. There must be a commitment to the truth even knowing we fall short of perfection, and having gathered a reasonable amount of information, we must make a decision to stand on one side or another of important issues before the public. In this blog, I intend to write only definite opinions and to urge definite actions.
I believe in the ideals America has stood for of freedom, and justice, but I will resist hypocrisy and evil. The biblical proverb says that the father who spares the rod hates his son; and I believe that anyone who says they love their country must hold it to its highest standards. I hope that any writing I do will affect change for the good, that it will be clear, informed and fundamentally correct in its assertions, that it will be not too provincial, not unreasonable, not dogmatic and not petty or gloating or mean-spirited.
