Chapter 1b Expanding the choices and decisions

Posted: January 18, 2009 by datechguy in catholic
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In Chapter 1a I talked about God either existing or not, today lets talk about the possibilities concerning God. I’m not going to argue the existence or non existence of God here, plenty of room for that at the raving Theist but I won’t give it as a given.

There are quite a few different religions out there and a lot more denominations as well within them. Monotheistic religions are by their nature mutually exclusive, that is if Islam is correct then Buddhism can’t be. Within the various religions there are also divisions (Reform and Hasidic Judaism for example).

This leads to the possibilities

  1. God doesn’t exist and all religions are wrong.
  2. God exists and all religions are still wrong.
  3. God exists and One Religion in general and denomination within that religion in particular is correct and everyone else is wrong.

If we look at this as a flow chart then if one decides that #1 is correct then their personal quest is over unless other evidence comes in to play. I would also point out that #1 would not preclude some from of “existence” after death. A full understanding of the consciousness doesn’t exist at this time. If consciousness exists as some form of energy what becomes of that energy can be the subject of an interesting debate, but without scientific evidence at this point the logical conclusion of one who does not believe in God is that existence ends period at the moment of death.

If we decide on #2 then we are left with two choices. One can choose to decide that since one doesn’t know the nature of God there is no point in trying to worry about it and simply your life. The second choice to attempt to decipher the nature of God. If one concludes that all religions have it wrong then this would seem to be an insurmountable problem as there is no correct frame of reference to guide one.

If we decide on #3 then logic dictates we try to determine the nature of God as eternity would be more important than a much shorter life.

This gives us a path to go on.

Now all of this is a question of what kind of thing you decide. I have come to the conclusion that #3 is the path with Christianity as the correct religion with Catholicism in particular is correct. I’ll go into details concerning whys and wherefore at a later point.

That must have been hard.

Posted: January 18, 2009 by datechguy in local stuff, opinion/news
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Was at Circuit City yesterday. The store was packed. The discounts however was unimpressive expect for the 30% off cables that unfortunately I don’t need.

In my disappointment in seeing that I could do better online for everything I might need I looked at the various associates working. Every single person there will be out of a job within 2 months without exception. They must be worrying their buts off and yet there they were dealing with people in a hurry to take advantage of their situation.

Multiply that by every US store. It must be awful!

These people could use your prayers. For Catholics you can dedicate a decade of the rosary to them (i’d suggest the Visitation or perhaps the Carrying of the Cross) if your not Catholic pick an approprate prayer. I’m sure they’ll take it.

At least they aren’t going through hell like Gloria Reuben.

What now?

Posted: January 18, 2009 by datechguy in opinion/news
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One of the things that I think is going to be quite a shock for the left in a couple of days is the lack of change in their lives with the departure of the US led by George W. Bush or as they would put it “hell“:

It’s a once-in-a-lifetime situation. The last eight years have been such hell.

Lets take a look at IMDB to see what kind of Hell the 44 year old Gloria Reuben has gone though since 2001: Read the rest of this entry »

Israeli Cease fire, Hamas?

Posted: January 18, 2009 by datechguy in opinion/news, war
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Well Israel has declared a unilateral cease fire:

In accordance with the cabinet’s decision to accept the Egyptian proposal and the announcement of a unilateral ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the IDF is currently taking the necessary measures to implement the decision.

The cabinet’s decision was made after the IDF achieved the objectives it set for Operation Cast Lead, chiefly dealing the Hamas terror organization a heavy blow to its infrastructure, weaponry stockpiles, rocket launching program and its terror operatives.

As the decision goes into effect, the commander of the operation, GOC Southern Command Maj. Gen. Yoav Galant, will order the redeployment of IDF forces within the Gaza Strip in accordance with security assessments. Furthermore, the forces will be briefed on the specifics of the ceasefire rules of engagement.

The IDF emphasizes that its forces will respond to any attack against Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers, and that any such attack will be met with a harsh response. The IDF stresses that the current Home Front Command safety instructions to residents of southern Israel remain in effect in light of the possibility that the rocket fire will continue as Hamas cynically seeks to “have the last word.”

And Hamas has its answer:

“We the Palestinian resistance factions declare a cease-fire from our side in Gaza and we confirm our stance that the enemy’s troops must withdraw from Gaza within a week,” said Damascus-based Hamas official Moussa Abu Marzouk.

Ayman Taha, a Hamas official in Cairo for talks with Egypt on a truce deal,
demanded that Israel open all of Gaza’sw border crossings to allow in food and other goods to meet the “basic needs for our people.”

Hamas still seems to have fired 8 rockets at Israel since their cease fire, but I suppose it depends on the meaning of the words “cease” and “fire”. Deutsche Weld says 18.

The Muqata and israellycool are going to continue to liveblog just to play it safe.

Public opinion in Israel doesn’t like it they seem to want the job finished, and it looks like from this post at the Muqata this will likely have to be done again:

12:19 PM Ashdod Port: Customs seized shipment of humanitarian aid to Gaza, found to be full of weapons, and warfare related electronics.

It is now up to the Palestinians are they going to stop the rockets or are they going to go through all of this again. That is when we will know if the war is actually over or not. It also remains to be seen if Israel is going to be willing to go back in during an Obama administration.

It may have already happened, but if it hasn’t yet I predict that someone will credit Obama with the cease fire, it will be the Obama effect as the world suddenly becomes wonderful.

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