Shipwrecked

Posted on September 14, 2011 by jackpelham

This is one of my favorite stories, told as best I can recall it.  I’m sorry I don’t know to whom it should be attributed.

A man had been shipwrecked on a deserted island for several years when a rescue party finally arrived.  Obviously, they’d be taking him back to civilization with them, but the leader of the rescue party asked if the castaway wouldn’t mind showing them around a bit before they left.  After all, they were fascinated that he had survived so well and were curious as to how he had done it. Continue reading →

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The Underground History of American Education by John Taylor Gatto

Posted on September 12, 2011 by jackpelham

One book that has been very influential for Kay and me these past few years is:

The Underground History of American Education: A Schoolteacher’s Intimate Investigation Into The Problem Of Modern Schooling by John Taylor Gatto.

Continue reading →

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Is There An Ought?

Posted on September 12, 2011 by jackpelham

This is perhaps one of the most fundamental philosophical questions.  Addressing this question brings us to a philosophical fork in the road, and how we answer will likely have fairly major consequences for our lives.

Is there an ought?  Is there at least one thing that people should (ought to) do?  Continue reading →

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On Probability of Universal Origins

Posted on September 11, 2011 by jackpelham

I’m under no delusions about affecting the ongoing “debate” between what are commonly called “Big Bang” or “Evolution” and “Creationism”.  I do, however, have a rare consideration that may be of value to anyone actually in search of the facts regarding how everything got here. Continue reading →

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Temporary Ekklesia Theory

Posted on September 11, 2011 by jackpelham

The Temporary Ekklesia Theory is a theory of mine that, if true, would tend to explain a great deal about the state of the Church today and why it bears so little resemblance to the success, power, and glory that we witness in the accounts of the original ekklesia in the Bible. Continue reading →

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The Super Witness

Posted on September 11, 2011 by jackpelham

Imagine for a moment that there were a Super Witness to every event since before the beginning of the Universe.

Let us further imagine that our witness has all these qualities:

  • has witnessed every event.
  • has understood every event.
  • has remembered every detail of every event.
  • has a perfect memory, far in excess of the capacity required for such a database.
  • has no dishonest motives that would cause him/her to dismiss, discount, distort, exaggerate, omit, marginalize, spin, or lie about any event or the importance thereof.
  • is perfectly willing to share any account of any event with anyone who asks—and at any time.

Continue reading →

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The “Absolute Truth”

Posted on September 10, 2011 by jackpelham

I had a fascinating conversation with a scientist yesterday.  In the course of the conversation, I shared my paradigm:

The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, wherever it may lead.

She voiced a friendly objection in the form of a question:

“But do you really think there is such a thing as absolute truth?”

Continue reading →

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The Whiskey Rebellion

Posted on September 5, 2011 by jackpelham

One a recent trip, Kay and I picked up a copy of The Whiskey Rebellion: George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and the Frontier Rebels Who Challenged America’s Newfound Sovereignty by William Hogeland.  After reading DiLorenzo’s The Real Lincoln, we were curious just how far back the corruption of the US government might go, so we decided to start much nearer the beginning when we found this book in the store.  Continue reading →

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The Gap Trap

Posted on September 5, 2011 by jackpelham

One phenomenon that that I have witnessed in nearly every field of human endeavor is what I call the “Gap Trap”.  It occurs in science, politics, philosophy, religion, and practically everywhere else.  In this article, I’ll explain the phenomenon in terms of religion—Christianity, to be exact.  Here’s the scenario:

Joe Christian learns something new from the Bible and realizes that he and his peers have been in error.  Joe diligently embraces his new learning and begins to redefine his life in terms of the “before and after” of this new epiphany, but then Joe gets stuck in this new “place” and goes for years without any new epiphanies, although there are loads of opportunity for new learning.  He is now caught in the “Gap Trap”—stuck in the gap between where he once was, and where he could be. Continue reading →

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Overthrow

Posted on September 4, 2011 by jackpelham

I’m currently reading Overthrow: America’s century of regime change from Hawaii to Iraq by Stephen Kinzer.  Kay and I bought the book as it promised to address (to some degree) the topic of governmental protectionism of big business.  We’re presently about 20% through it and are impressed so far.  We also find it troubling.  I’ll write more when we’re finished.

Jack

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