Perhaps you haven’t heard of this new variant on Crop Circles. Here are the two latest examples (that I know of), from Holland. A friend and I had an argument about whether this is a legitimate phenomenon or a hoax. I came down on the side of legitimacy, as I can’t see how they can be hoaxes. This story addresses such questions, and includes many photos.
Discouraged about the state of the world? Here’s the answer
Perhaps it’s always this way. The players in 3D get tired, so the other side sends in new troops, full of intelligence, optimism and joy.
Happy New Year, friends.
New Year’s Revolution
Revolution? Well, why not? The end of the year is as good a time as any to turn around and around, looking at your life. Is your life going the way you want it to? Is it going toward something? Is it going away from something? Is it satisfying?
If your life is anything like mine, probably parts of your life are satisfying, parts not. New Year’s is a good time to consider: What things (specifically) are stopping me from having a more satisfying life?
If the answers seem to be external (need more money, need a better job, etc.) then I suggest you try again, looking a little deeper. What traits within you, what robots dictating your behavior, get in the way of your having the life you want? Suppose that nothing external in your life could possibly change for the better – how could you change yourself, your mind and spirit, to have a better life within those circumstances?
This is a good season for a little quiet time, preparing your mind and spirit so that you may enjoy a turn for the better, a New Year’s revolution.
Happy New Year, one and all.
Jim Price on scientism, fundamentalism, and alchemy
In response to my post titled When Science and Religious Beliefs Conflict, my friend Jim Price proposed a way of reconciling opposites.
Fundamentalisms and alchemy
Jim Price
I feel I have something important to say about scientism. Of course, scientific authority needs to be questioned. Religious authority needs to be questioned. De-mythologize, label the imprints of the human condition, and then elevate the conversation.
I agree there is a thing we might label as scientism. There is bias in every human endeavor. But if it is really true that 40% of Americans believe that the earth is only 6,000 years old (and I find that hard to believe), then this nation is in a bit of trouble. An unsophisticated public is easily manipulated by various authorities. Blind faith leads to Fundamentalisms.
Fundamentalisms are probably the biggest problem in the world today, be they religious, scientific, left, right, or center. Pointing fingers may be traditional. But what is needed is some good old-fashioned alchemy. This science/religion split is another opportunity to distill from the tension of opposites.
Continue reading Jim Price on scientism, fundamentalism, and alchemy
Obama’s Peace Prize speech
I don’t usually insert anything even vaguely political in this blog, though I have plenty of comments in my newsnet email list that I send around to long-suffering friends. But President Obama’s speech to the Nobel Peace Prize committee transcends politics and statecraft, and makes points that too many people prefer to forget.
Peace, after all, is not merely the absence of war, and it doesn’t come about merely by people wishing for it. Peace is necessarily borne on the back of soldiers, for otherwise it would be at the mercy of the first person taking control of a country and insisting on it being either his (or her) way or else. One would think that Hitler and Stalin would have taught the world that lesson, or good old revered Comrade Chairman Mao, who taught that “power comes from the barrel of a gun.” But it’s hard for some people to give up their dreams of living in a perfect world among perfect people.
When science and religious beliefs conflict
This interesting article from the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life (found via one morning’s Schwartzreport) may be found at http://pewforum.org/docs/?DocID=275. (The original includes charts that I can’t figure out how to get into this post.)
It is interesting not least as an unconscious indicator of the bias known as scientism. The article says,
Continue reading When science and religious beliefs conflict
Paul Blakey: More on the Dreamspell calendar
When Paul Blakey posted a response to “So You Think Your Life Was Wasted (9)” I emailed him, “Would you care to say more, in the form of an entry I could post? Your previous one sparked quite some response.” Here is his response.
Continue reading Paul Blakey: More on the Dreamspell calendar