An Open Essay To The Current Protestors of The USA On And Off Campus

Posted on 6th May 2024 by deteremineddespitewp

US protests

Foreword: For those not familiar with my site. Just a brief introduction. British. 73 years old. Christian (slightly heretical- I’ll square it with God when the time comes) . Left Winger but not of a type you would be likely to recognise. 65 years with an interest in and an affinity to the USA. 60 years interest in politics. A possible affinity to Martin Luther of Eiseben without the vitriolic antisemitism common to his time. OK. That’s me. Let’s get down to issues.

Warning
There will be harsh statements, there will be very uncomfortable points of view, there will be a number reminders about The World, there will be questions asked of the reader, directly. And there will no simple arguments or points of view or answers

Overview
It has to be accepted that the current one of the many outbreaks of full scale violence between Israelis and Palestinians has attracted the attention of the world. Emotions are running high as well as broadly justifiable feelings at the violence and the loss of life. Looking out from my allegorical window you must accept me thinking. ‘What a pity such demonstrations had not been expressed in other recent times for other peoples in their own sufferings through violence. The events were on accessible on the news and received sustained coverage on the Internet,’ I am not just discussing Ukraine here. Just check the word ‘Genocide’ and look back over the past twenty years. That said we must move on, for there is a future to discuss. We can learn from The Past. We may act upon The Present. But We must prepare for The Future. Your Future. The Future of Children, Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren.

Next, something about The Past and The Nature of Events.

Events, Reactions and ‘Causes’. The Shadows and Shrouds of History
Political and Social Events which make the news do not have simplistic backgrounds, they have complex histories, and History has a way of extending itself back and back and back. There is no sudden start point. Back into the deep past there will be a gradual build up of a momentum which at some juncture reaches the Deluge or Avalanche or Earthquake stage and from there on those Earlier Events will have a strong resonance in the causes of Subsequent Events, and so on. Each one causing its own set of ripples or fault lines, criss-crossing the Human Geography of Peoples and their Communities, while calling up the echoes and resonances of the Past at a pace and frequency which leaves the observer possibly embracing the notion that Time is not linear or moving in one direction.

To witness October and onwards and put these in full focus requires what some would call an unsatisfactory and arguably heartless approach. Some would in the spirit of outrage at the loss of life simply deny. Usually these opening words of mine would be a conclusion of a paragraph. In this case just take them as warning of where we are going, a place where Death and Ruination have often walked, and the participants comfort themselves with many justifications, which depending on your view can appear strong but reasonable. We start in A Place which will have a focus in History. 7th October 2023. A concerted incursion by Hamas into Israel causing a very heavy loss of Life.

Of those protesting ‘Regrettable’ some might say. Even condemnatory. However they will add, for there is often an ‘However’ in these matters ‘Just look at the way Israel has treated the Palestinians. That is terrible and has been going on for so many years’ . Well in the harsh prism of History, yes that is an understandable, even acceptable outlook. Treat a people badly and there will be a violent reaction. There is a problem though with that line. The Jewish peoples of Europe (Russia gets included whether it likes it or not) for one thousand years or more were subjected to similar treatments and killings. When they finally get back to what they call their lands they have a long history of their own justifications. They learnt from ‘Europe’ (since there still appears to be a majority of American citizens who can trace European ancestry that includes You too). Therefore the tacit acceptance argument which is used for Hamas gets comparably morphed with a bloody swiftness and ease into one of ‘understanding’ the Israeli approach. Still be horrified? By all means be so? Tell me I am distorting the position? Be outraged. Point out that the death toll in Palestine exceeds that of Israel 30 fold. That is your right. Of course.

Now dip into the bloody, wide, deep, tribute river of War, one that ever flows from the larger River History. 350,000-500,000 German civilians in the allied strategic bombing campaign of WWII. 70,000 British civilians in the German aerial campaigns by bomb or rocket. True that is ‘only’ 7 fold. At the time the governments accepted the other sides losses- ‘they started it’. Thus do not be surprised at the Israeli response. It is one that takes place with regularity throughout the world throughout the ages, and no one seems to have a solution which puts an end to it.

You may now, if you wish express more outrage, only please do not accuse me of justifying Israel’s response. I am merely pointing out to you the Horror. This is how it works. I cite a few others. Ask the Syrian’s. Ask those Chechen folk not in a warlord’s pay, ask the Tamils, ask the Uyghurs, ask The Iranian Women and the Afghan Women (although the latter two were not bombed or shelled, just beaten up and locked up, only ‘a few’ died the other thousands upon thousands only live in terror and cohesion, and being locked up ). Ask the Women where Rape is used as a weapon of war. Keep on asking. You should. Keep on asking. For if you have taken up the Palestinian Cause, it does not end there, not in this troubled turbulent dangerous world. Marching on one Embassy, up and down one street is not going to trouble the worshipers at the Triple Altars of Death and Ruin and Oppression

“We can learn from The Past. We may act upon The Present. But We must prepare for The Future.”

Into Tomorrow, and Tomorrow and Tomorrow

Now to you. You who have taken up a Cause. You who have felt the need to protest. What will you do now?
Pack up and say ‘I did my bit’, then go onto the ‘rest of your life’
Continue with the Palestinian Cause
Or sign up for the Great Struggle.-The one where the Oppressors, Merchants of Violence, Hate Mongers, and Opportunists With Guns are legion. The one where the victims are counted in their millions, be they dead, dying, sick, injured, terrorised, brutalised, violated and ever on the move or sitting in hapless squalor. All located somewhere on the inside pages of a newspaper, maybe mentioned as a filler on a news channel, or when some anniversary comes along, or to be found by following a few links on the net. Those dead and those anguished faces, along with those dulled-eyed with the whole horror, forgotten. What comfort do they have? A few dogged journalists? Charities working ever hard?

If you are truly honest, if you truly care, you will learn a lesson from this time in Palestine and in the South West of Israel. You will realise there is no respite, there is no time to congratulate and go home to Sunshine and Lollipops. Hate. Violence. They never rest. They are never cowed permanently. If you are not ever alert, keeping a weather eye, willing to challenge not just your government but the ones who gave the acquiescence to pull the triggers, then somewhere, somewhen Some Folk will be suffering. One episode of protest does not cut it. If you care, you do not get to select the Cause. The Causes will come to you and ask for at least some attention.

Just take some time out and take a lot at the Amnesty site, or Medicins San Frontières’ or UNHCR, or – you just look.

Did you? Will you? When you do, be prepared for the shock and the feeling of absolute helplessness. Be ready to say without thinking ‘But I Can’t Be Everywhere!’.

No you can’t. Nor can those in the charities which work through the world. They try and they spread slender resources. I know how you feel. I challenge myself every day. As I write this the nagging thought burrows deeper. ‘Fine Words. Now What Else Are You, Roger, Going To Do?’ and ‘Do you know you are in danger of sounding like John Bolton. An old guy demanding younger folk sacrifice themselves for your ideals?’

But I am not trying to stir the passive or the complacent or the apathetic. I am addressing You, those who have seen it right and just to take up a Cause, remember it is but one piece of a larger, bloodied ghastly picture where blood, tears and body parts are the paints and the canvas is human skin.

This in Palestine, as it did in Ukraine, in Syria will pass from the headlines, it already has started. At least it made the headlines. Learn then from this which will become the Past and realise there will be more of the same next year and the year after and so on. Unless we all in same way, somehow, some-constantly do whatever we can, how we can, where we can, when we can.

My generation with its flowers, face paints, gaudy clothes and music which at times was over-long and self-indulgent, we quite frankly failed. We went to a music festival or two, we might have marched, most certainly purchased the right albums, and then? We in the UK voted in Margaret Thatcher, You in the USA did likewise with Ronald Regan and two Bushes (the elder Not So Bad, The Younger in Comparison with now…?). And in our later years We welcomed Boris Johnson and Brexit and You let Donald Trump, the Action Toy of MAGA be placed in the Whitehouse. Don’t fall into the trap of complacency or that curse of ageing which tends to set in in the 40s the ‘Huh! In My Day’ response as if what will take place will be nothing to do with us ‘We did our bit’
Yes, about that

One Final Message, Wrapped Up In Fable, A Warning And Even Admonishment

And this year. This possibly fateful year. The one which made decide whether the USA carries on, stumbling as do all nations, or slides off that time-honoured road, down the one where there are always storms and you can only just make out the sign-post ‘Warning. Rock Slides Ahead’. You have seen the intentions of the Right, you have heard the ravings of the spolied Brat who did not forgive for losing the last Presidential Election. To elaborate let me tell you that fable:

There was this guy. A man of simple Christian Faith, who prayed every morning, noon and night. He did not doubt God for a minute.
One day he hears on the radio a severe weather warning, storms are on their way, bringing heavy flooding. At once he gets down on his knees and prays to God to protect and deliver him. The rains start, the worst he has ever seen. He prays. A little later, a knock at the door, a police officer is there ‘Sir. You’re house is in danger of being hit by the flood. You best evacuate,’. The man assures the officer God will protect him, he will pray. The officer doesn’t argue, he’s got more houses, anyhow the fellow will soon change his mind when the waters come. The waters come, his house is cut off. An emergency crew in a boat turn up, hailing him. He tells them the same thing. They get a call on the radio, a woman not far off is in labour. Well she comes first. Off they go. The waters rise. The man is now on the roof, still praying. Along comes a rescue helicopter. He waves them off calling up that God will protect him. The crew have been on a long shift, the storm is getting worst. They can’t hang around, they got kids to save. So the house is swept away and he drowns.
He arrives at Heaven’s Gate, greeted by and angel with a clipboard. The man complains at sound length about how he prayed and yet still was drowned, How does that figure? Why didn’t God listen and help? The angel consults his clipboard.
‘Well dear friend. God sent you a radio warning. God sent you a police officer. God sent you a rescue crew. In the end God sent you a helicopter. What more did you want?’

So then, I ask you, in all sincerity. What is this business about not supporting Biden? Have you not had enough warnings about what the Right has in store for you and the rest of the USA? They’ve made it very clear, give them that. They are going to roll up their sleeves and they are going to do their level best to sweep away liberal reforms. They are going to display their ignorance of socialism, squawk about this ‘woke’ word like crows with indigestion, get hysterical about what other folk do in their privacy, pick bits out of the Bible like stale crumbs and their followers are going to love it, then as a special treat they will throw minorities to the mob.

I would ask you, do you think, not just for one spasm of angry thought, but as a whole agenda that your selective punishment of Biden over Palestine is going to help those folk? Must I remind you that the alternatives are locked into an style of Christian Fundamentalism that is quite content for Israel to do this? If Trump gets back in the Whitehouse and you still stuck with your own fundamentalist agenda then you in part will be responsible for any more Palestinian deaths. Yes. Cause and Effect are terrible twins. In this ever tightening world none of us are actually free of them, but some choices can have more bitter effects than others. You do not get to try and parse your way out of this one. It is Biden or it is Trump. You cannot hide from that brutal truth. This World I have to emphasise is ever complex, nothing is easy, nothing is straightforward, nothing has but one answer. It is all hard work and dirty words like Compromise, Accommodation, Acceptance, Deals, Manoeuvre, Politics and all the rest that get the job done. You might wish for a better one, you might even be working for a better one, but in the meantime, you have this one.
There are other implications to punishing Biden and the danger of letting Trump in. Other aspects you will have to take in part-responsibility. You will have to explain to the LGBT+ community, to women living in fear of getting pregnant, to librarians, to minority groups, to teachers, to the future casualties and families of mass killings how your stance in punishing Biden was the right moral choice.

I am aware I appear cutting, but there is no other way. Implications hang heavy on the shoulders of anyone taking up a cause. They have the challenge of getting the balance right. and the challenge which turns inevitably into a responsibility. There is no way out. Nothing is simple. Ever. You might call me cynical. You are mixing that up with Realism. If I was cynical I would not have taken ten hours over four days out of my time to work on this. (That doesn’t include the thoughts running through my head while doing chores). I would have ‘let them get on with it, they’ll find out in time,’

In Conclusion
You will, I expect be holding fast to your beliefs that your opposition to Israel is the right course for you to take, that this is not a passing phase in the summer of 2024. If this is your choice may I make a plea in these points.

Remember the target is the current Intolerant Fanatical Government, whose brothers in Hate reside in Tehran, who gifted Trump the playbook on how to get The Big Seat. The target is not the Israeli people. And curses upon those who tell you it is the Jews. The target is the government, don’t forget.

Reach out across the distances to those in Israel who are angry at their government and wish to be rid of it. Support them. If they are demonstrating , then you should be in sympathy to. Have them realise there are friends out there, that they don’t have to circle the wagons with the unsavoury fanatics. Israeli politics is another complexity, one shove in the correct direction can bring change.

Research just who are the internal oppositions in Israel, the ones who for long years have tried to preach the creed of accommodation and partnership with Palestinians who also tread that dangerous road of recrimination and violence from within their own communities. For too long The Western Groups supporting Palestinians have not taken that road. When it is the blindingly obvious one.

We must prepare for The Future. Your Future. The Future of Children, Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren.

Anti-Abortion Movements. Are You Socialists Or Not? Make Your Mind Up

Posted on 1st May 2024 by deteremineddespitewp

The Annual March for Life

Here is a thought. Well actually more of a stroll down the wander trails of reasoning of, in this case the American Right and their alleged Pro-Life Stance. The following is not based on a newly discovered accusation, more a case of taking matters a few more steps into the paradoxes and hypocrisies which, if not careful can lead folk just where they did not want to be.

According to current information the following states have total bans abortion:
Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia with Arizona and Florida on their way.
Thus these states have legislation which will enforce a woman to carry through a pregnancy and give birth to a child. A small living being whose rights these legislators and their supporters were so concerned about while the child was in a womb.

And what comes after birth? All being thankfully well Mother and Child will be alive. Therefore Postpartum Maternal Health you might think.

Just to clarify that for you, here is a link to a Medicaid.gov page on the subject based on events 2021:

https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/quality-of-care/quality-improvement-initiatives/maternal-infant-health-care-quality/postpartum-care/index.html

In 2021, you will note from the first page from Medicaid the following states were named:
‘Kentucky, Georgia, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Kansas, Missouri, Montana and Wyoming participated in the action-oriented affinity group where teams designed and implemented a postpartum care quality improvement (QI) project in their state’

Move on

And here is the HHS Launches Postpartum Maternal Health page on Feb 14th 2024 regarding the current initiative:

https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2024/02/14/hhs-launches-postpartum-maternal-health-collaborative.html

On reading this, notice there were representatives from:
Alabama, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
Hats off to Alabama and Missouri for having a certain level of consistency. As for 2021, that was a long time ago there was the 24th June 2022 overturn of Roe vs Wade.

Before going any further we have a movement which is concerned over the rights of a child in the womb. We have a state which is intending to monitor where a pregnant women is travelling, just in case she tries to skip over the border (Hey there Texas) And we have those 14 to 16 states with total ban on abortion.
Therefore it would seem rational to assume that in regions which place a very high premium on the protection of the unborn child, this concern would carry forth once the child is born? And it would also be reasonable to expect the campaigning groups to divide their time between pregnancy and Postpartum interludes, ensuring both are equally catered for. By law, there is strict imposition for the former. Is there equally strict imposition for care of the born child? Of course we have to be fair, in so far as it takes time to set up these systems and ensure they are correctly resourced? The question is are the campaigners who worked so hard in the states where there are total bans, doing the same for the welfare of the child, born? And further on as they grow.

We now move to the question of implementation. A state imposes a law that the restricts the options of a person for the good or well-being of another person, in this case the unborn child over the mother. The legislation concerns itself over ‘rights’ and turns an action (abortion) into a crime. Next step, comparison. Now we know, accept that certain acts such as theft, assault, fraud, death through careless behaviour, murder are considered universally to be acts which carry penalties, the logical being for the stability of the society. When we move into an area where an act is to be considered a crime because it is deemed to be one through application of a social outlook, be that religious, philosophical, political then we are looking at the area of Social Engineering, and that friends is where we come to the ‘S’ word – Socialism . At least by the definitions being bandied about by the US right when it comes to Gun Control, Funding of Medical Aid, Environmental Protection and so forth. And yet they are willing to impose anti-abortion legislation, as well as control of books in public libraries. There seems to be an inconsistency. A lack of freedom, or liberty, both words which Right-Wing groups seem inclined to use.

Personally speaking as one who has been known to lurch to the authoritarian socialist tendency on several occasions (mostly to do with racism, other acts of prejudices. we’ll leave the rest out) I recognise a certain familiarity here with my own thought processes on those matters which cause strong personal feelings.

Therefore I must ask. Anti-Abortion Groups? Banning Book Groups? Maybe you ought to check your socialist credentials, for there is certainly something of the authoritarian within you.

And will you, aside from purging books from libraries be campaigning for the welfare, well-being and safety of children throughout all of their childhood?

Of Perceptions, Explanations and more than a few Accusations (On My Faith Part II)

Posted on 29th Apr 2024 by deteremineddespitewp

Foreword: In addition to being a continuation from Part I
There’s Nothing Simple Out There (One Christian’s Declarations Concerning Their Faith and the Subject of Evidence. Part I)
The two together are also an expansion on a post from past August, which some might say. ‘OK that’s all we need to know. Give it a rest already’. That is your choice:
Religion. Another Viewpoint (With Some Assistance From Quantum Mechanics & Cosmology)
The intention of the two parts together is to seek to go deeper, and wider.

This post moves from the questions Physical (both Scientific and Historical) and into the more intangible concepts of the basics of Faith, Belief both in the Religious/Theological and also in the Social…. and also gives more space to a few polemics,

Therefore:
The Theological Perspective
The Social Perspective
Finally a Summary

In this I will mostly restrict my commentary to the Christian Faith. If I do refer to other Faiths, brevity will be utilised and sweeping generalisations avoided in areas which require a more detailed knowledge.

Theology / Religiosity / Faith. All from Within

Retrospect

In Part I I contended that when set against the backdrop of the Scientific Perspective with all the unexplored areas, by the same perspective there was therefore no reason to say a person cannot hold to a belief in a Deity. The non-existence of a Deity cannot be physically proven.

Folk will of course put forth their own arguments for that non-existence but will always come up against the problem that they cannot offer physical proof to support their case. And likewise neither can I point to the place where God is, as one would say a mountain. It all comes down to Belief, or which has equal importance Doubt. Some might argue that in a world which shows so many tragedies and harm upon the Innocent, Doubt is the most honest approach of the Three stances. And others would contend that in my last post I inadvertently produced a case for Agnosticism.

We seek out ways to perceive the Vastness in Space, Time and Reason. A journey we may never complete. Let that be so. However such knowledge should never stop us doing so.

On Some Assertions Concerning Religions / Faiths Etc.

Before proceeding I need to address two commonly made statements which appear to attribute to Theisms certain properties:

Religion Is The Cause of War

And so is Economics, so is Politics, so are Resources, so are Cultural Differences, so is The Desire for Independence, so is the Willingness to Be Led, and so is, so is, so is.
Claiming one cause is an unconscious attempt to let ourselves, that is Humanity off of the hook, the flaw in our natures in which we embrace War and its lesser relative Conflict.
Once more for Brevity’s sake, and using European thinking, of which they may like it or not Russia and the USA have embraced; yes there have been wars in which religion was a foundation. Looking at the European side of history.
Crusades (quickly to turning into a land grab, as well as alliances with Muslim states and wars with other ‘Christian’ states)
The French 16^th Century Wars of Religion (nobles changes sides and beliefs like socks- And Henry of Navarre Huguenot / Protestant turned Catholic – ‘Paris is Worth A Mass’)
30 Years War. One of the more obvious ones. (Except for the fact that Catholic France was in conflict with Catholic Spain and supporting Protestant Sweden)

So whereas it can be argued religion started the ones mentioned above, politics soon became involved and in various forms eased into the driving seat.
There is a line of arguments within professional Historians circles that the term is actually a Western perspective, and is just one facet of a myriad causes.
Basically Humanity is the cause of War, to assume if there were no religions there would be no wars is to assume something very peculiar about the conflicts between 1900 and 1950, to cite glaring example.

Religion Is The Opium of The People

There may have been a time somewhere between The Enlightenment and The Birth of Socialism / Communism that arose the argument for religion being something that the ‘Ruling Classes’ use to keep the population in line and to feel that all would be well if they believed.

Firstly as it will be seen from the experiences under authoritarian and atheistic regimes which entered the lexicon in the 20th Century, Religion was replaced by Party Doctrine as the ‘Opium’. Once more it can be pointed out that Humanity is very inventive in producing its ‘Opiums’. In Post WWII, in the West, Europe in particular religious observance went into a decline whereas materialism and consumerism went upwards ever upwards. In latter years the worship of Celebrity has become a factor, with a new schism of Influencer each bringing forth their adherents and of course nasty disputes between the various ‘belief’ systems.

Another facet of the argument that religion kept the population in check tends to fall apart when matters are exanimated under the microscope of History. Over the centuries there have been a constant list of uprising from the ground level, often targeting the established religious set-up. Far from keeping folk in check once the system is seen to be with its abuses ‘rebellion’ be it in another form of religion or in a secular approach will arise. Reformation. Rise of Communism; just two.

Be honest folks. The problem is People. Always People. It is no use blaming one system or another, WE are the ones who run them.

Religion In General. And Faith. Which Can Be Quite Separate

OK, having tried to get Religion off the hook and shift the blame where it belongs onto People, and with that theme in mind, let us consider that issue.

World Population 8 billion
Christianity 2.4 billion
Islam 1.9 billion
Hinduism 1.2 billion
Buddhism 520 million (0.52 billion)
Judaism 15.2 million (0.152 billion )
Also some estimated other religions 10,000 (mostly local) – exact numbers not available.

We could spend a great deal of time and effort separating those figures by differing approaches, gender, age groups, geographical locations and cultural implications. This would still leave us with a large portion of the population of the planet having a theistic belief. There one question which itself sub-divides and that is.

How much Faith is there in The Religion? When I use the term Faith I am referring not to a confidence in the beliefs I am asking of dedication to those core beliefs which transcend the Social Norms, The Customs, The Ethnicity, and The Political aspects ever present in Life and which also have an influence upon us. Religion contains a dual purpose: To Explain and to Codify behaviour. At the very root, foundation, call it what you will lies essentially a path to embrace community and seek out that ever evasive Better Way.

Now it would be naïve of me to write the above words without knowing full well that there will be a substantial number of folk who would at least shake their heads in disagreement, and possibly howl in outrage, when ‘everyone’ can cite numerous instances or bits of religious works which argue the opposite. And yet imagine if the majority of those believing in a deity took to violence. The world is tragic enough with minorities using religion as their excuse taking up arms. Of course that does attract news commentary, which is only natural. Yet there are folk of Faith, quietly working away to try to make Life Better. Relying on their Faith

I will offer you this, based on my Faith, and on reflection as to the numbers of people with a religious based Faith. I believe that there is room enough for all Faiths. I believe it matters not to me whether a person’s religiously bound Faith is different to mine. If they hold to Compassion, Respect and Tolerance as part of their Faith that is fine. The rest is just not important. We choose different paths, which evolved from myriad reasons. As long as we meet on those three principals. What does it matter? And how does that square you ask? Are there lots of gods then? Well I would say no, just many ways to receive a message.

Yes, I would get into a bit of trouble with the hierarchy. Being Christian and Catholic I am quite aware that ‘The Church’ does not like the concept of Relativism. Yeah, well I square that with God at some stage. That’s where the final say on the matter will be. Though I’m still working out my own personal theological notions. Kind of Quantum? Yes?

The Impact and Reaction to Religion in Society. (Inside Looking Out)

There is a lot that annoys me and saddens me about the divides which are going on. In this case I’m sticking back with Christianity as this is my home turf as it were’. That said I am not allowing this come between me and my good atheistic friends here on WP.

Firstly, I repeat have no time for these quasi-fundamentalists who are only using religion as a convenience to fit their prejudices, their privileges, their hypocrisies, hates, fears and hysterias.

Secondly I would make a general appeal to a section of the atheist Community.
Will you please stop packaging all of us with that aforementioned group. You don’t do that with races, do you? And it does not occur to some that the remarks they make are downright offensive to us as well? I am sure these are mostly directed at the quasi-fundamentalists? But stop to think for a moment? Are you not profiling us all? Mock the hypocrites sure. But lay off basic beliefs will you? Just ask questions. Don’t make accusations or offensive remarks, or mock. That hurts. And by the way says more about you that it does about a moderate believer. Some of the throw away lines I have encountered are mere mirror images of the MAGA style self-identifying ‘believers’ ‘Religious BS’ is a common one? Seriously? Has the accuser ever spoken to a Christian who also embraces scientific teaching, the whole of Cosmology (well as much as we know)?
Sadly this is another fracture line. Society is filled with them.

Currently there seems to be three types of religion. There’s the uncomplicated Faith based one which is down to personal choice. There’s the Community one, in which folk of similar beliefs meet up and share. Those two overlap. And there is, as is usual in Human History the one which is used for Political Purposes and is soaked in Hypocrisy and Self-Service.
The latter has it’s partner in crime in Politics itself, where the political beliefs are twisted through the same processes of suiting the purposes of a party or grouping. Places where Sincerity is a variable commodity. Truth is that which is convenient to the group. And only the Opposition is guilty of Hypocrisy.

Therefore I have to say, all those charges which are placed at the doors of Religion will be equally fitted into Politics, Social Movements, Social Interactions and so on. In short Humanity is Guilty as Charged.

Summary

So, where do we draw the line between types of Belief? A person has a secular belief, be it, say, Social, Scientific or Political. They hold to that belief. They hold to it strongly. They will demonstrate an opinion which others strongly object to, some will say their belief is illusory, and a threat. In the broad scheme, where is the difference therefore between faith in The Religious or The Secular. In the scheme of Human dynamics is there a difference? People hold fast to something.

Think on this one.
Many will say they hold true to Democracy. A laudable ideal.
However….In the disaster that was WWII Two Democracies (well for White folk that is) with colonial mentalities signed up with a violent totalitarian system to defeat two other like-minded totalitarian systems and in doing so allowed their ally to reap unjust rewards and while doing so caused the deaths of millions of civilians. Both those democracies along with other democracies also subjugated and caused large numbers of deaths amongst the populations of nations within their ‘spheres’ of influence. One Democracy had built into laws racial discrimination. Recently through its arcane flummery the same democracy allowed the minority vote holder into its position of president. A fellow of questionable qualities, opening the doors to new waves of Intolerance.

Do just these few examples mean that you hold Democracy to be something to be held as false and even to be despised?

You would prefer one of the other systems? Seriously?

If you set out to target Religion in general along ethical grounds then you had better be ready to target that which you hold close too. Are you ready to condemn it as false?

Finally. This I will assert, repeat to be precise.

You do not criticise a person for having a religious belief without endangering yourself of profiling and with it having a limited perspective. If a person believes in the equality of others irrespective of race, belief and gender; if that person cares about the state of the environment; if that person holds that scientific knowledge to date is to be respected, even celebrated; if that person sees flaws in all systems and ‘We’ could and must do better, while having a belief in a Deity; then why is the latter a ‘mark’ against them? Careful how you answer that; your answer may say more about you than you care to admit.

If you are unqualified targeting Religion as a concept, you are looking in the wrong place. Look around you. Look inwards too. Theists have to do that, everyday, if they do have Faith, that is.

Presidential Election 2024: Why Good Intentions About Palestine Remind Me of Cuba October 1962.

Posted on 6th Apr 2024 by deteremineddespitewp

Roads to Hell

The latest war between Israel and the Gaza Strip Palestine strikes us all in some way or another. I have to subsume my anger at the protestors, I wanting to know where they were when the Rohingya, Sudanese, Uyghur and Iranian Women, to name but just four examples were and still are suffering. I have to remember that tens of thousands of Palestinians are dead, dying, injured, brutalised, traumatised. homeless, starving- in short also unjustifiably in Hell.

I can see the strategy of those who mobilised the votes in Wisconsin and Rhode Island for “uncommitted” or “uninstructed,”. The idea to put pressure on Biden to move to a stronger stance on Israel has its merits and is more useful than joining loud parades up and down the streets of America. And it can be argued that in an election years where every vote will count the strategy has played a part in Biden taking a tougher stance. So far so good then.

However every action has its historical resonances; part of History’s construct lies within its echoes, some do not come in a straight line, they flow in from over hills and far away. For their full effect maybe you had to have been there at one point in the long path.

For me the echoes are coming in from October 1962, when as a child of eleven growing up knowing the fear of what nuclear war could bring if only in a tabloid comic book form it was a fearful few weeks. Particularly as the filtered down news was suggesting atomic weapons would be used. In later years it became apparent there were generals and officials pushing for their use. First strike, Get the hit in. Frighten the other side into backing down. And these were not the ridiculous cartoon characters of the dangerously frivolous film Doctor Strangelove. These were men trained and school in a fearful ominous world of threat, counter-threat and then the unthinkable. They were the ones who saw the use of Nuclear Weaponry as a Necessary Eventually, far better displayed in the film for grown ups Fail Safe. Cooler, more pragmatic, subtler heads prevailed. Realpolitik came into play. Everyone had puffed up their chests. Now time for the deal to salve pride. And avoid the catastrophe.

Very well. Enough background for my allegory. Just bear in mind those last words, And avoid the catastrophe

At this stage parts of the allegory have to be separated from the current situation.

Today the principal issue is the Democrat vs the Republican candidate Biden vs Trump. One a politician of balance and traditional perspectives. The latter an egotistical insensitive fellow feeding off of the desires and beliefs of Right Wing coalition of the disaffected, fundamentalist, and outright intolerant. In effect if elected their meal ticket, their flag of approval in all matters domestic. Bear that in mind.

No, Biden’s administration is not perfect. None is particularly when it comes to foreign policy and day to day responses. In this world you can forget consistently fair minded and ethically clean. And not just governments either. Need I have remind you about a comparative public lukewarm response to the suffering of other populations in equal numbers? It is not just in the tens of thousands in Gaza where Hell has come a’ calling. If you care about Human suffering as a principal you do not get to be selective. Selective means preference which means agendas or worse tragically naïve. But that is an argument for another day. Because we are all culpable.

So let us return to the Domestic situation and the Risk of using this for International Ends

The current polling suggests that the race between Biden and Trump is tight. This is sobering news for those who have fought long and hard for a more tolerant and forward thinking society, for those of once lived in shadows for fear of discovery, or realised from their very birth they were considered inferior and viewed with suspicion. For those who practice their religious beliefs in quiet open-mindedness.

Not only are the polls tight, but the reaction of the hysterical right in 2020-2021 should be born in mind. These folk do not subscribe to democracy, unless it is on their terms of course. Thus unless there is a mobilisation against The Republican MAGA grouping and their nominated Trump, the situation does look grim for those who seek an equal and tolerant society as the norm.

Consider what has already happened in some states. The persecution of the LGBT+ community. The limiting of education and reading matter. The effective removal of Women’s independence of their own bodies. The underlying threats to any community not White and apparently Christian. The tolerance of violent neo-nazi quasi-militias. And there are the manifold Risks. Some might say this is all hyperbole and turning to their personal matters assume someone else might do something about it. And you have seen Trump’s attitude to the judicial system, his rantings roared on by his sponsors, MAGA.

Therefore these are outlined the risks involved in not concentrating the Biden vote and the necessity of mobilising those who would normally not vote.

Now comes the very hard and some will find upsetting part.

I appreciate the sentiments of those who have read so far and are in strong disagreement with me, particularly when the matter of the Cuban Crisis Allegory is returned to.

Those who thought the Nuclear Strike was a balanced, correct option. Dare I compare those with today’s Folk who in all goodwill are looking to contribute to ways to ease the sufferings of the Palestinians? Have I any right to suggest such a strategy and its tactical deployment carries, morally similar risks?

Yes, I do.

In a time of narrow gaps in the polls, when one side in violent in its language, imagery and implied resorts to physical violence, all under a blasphemous mix of their ideas of ‘Liberty’ and ‘Christianity’ – the same basic ideals as those who would have used nuclear weapons?

Yes, I do.

Because one false move, one minor poor calculation, one gifted gap to the Republicans. One suggestions that your actions will encourage Trump to announce he could solve the problem; he who says he will solve something, never does and throws a tantrum, yet still convinces folk he can solve the next one, and inconsequence have some folk switch to him.

All far-fetched are they? No. Sixteen years ago, Trump would have been thought an impossibility. But It happened. A discredited fellow in court still a viable presidential candidate? Could still return? Those are the possibilities. And this very dangerous strategy of tampering with the Biden vote makes the allegorical nuclear result likelier. Because you who subscribe to this strategy cannot be absolutely certain you will not play a part in Trump returning to The Whitehouse, and with his Evangelical pushing him on to their Book of Revelation scenario, how will that help any Palestinians? You cannot say for certain what will happen. Other than it will not be a sunny uplands for every American.

If you are still offended by Cuban Nuclear Allegory then I will give you another take on risks. Any responsible driver will take note of extremes of weather. Going out in such conditions does not automatically lead to an accident with fatal or near-fatal repercussions, but you take heed of the warnings. You check your speed. You are alert to dangers. You will have taken precautions. Even if you must go out you do not drive as you would on a calm, clear day. You limit the risk, the reason may be urgent, but you still take care, you do not rush along, you rein in your emotions. Getting there is the important thing.

Therefore those who are using this strategy to influence Biden or think they are taking a moral stance which is worthy. Bear in mind the risks you are taking with this. If Trump does get into the Whitehouse and the statistics reveal that your actions played a part in that, what will you think in the future when the Right runs rampant through the nation.

You have gone far enough. You have had your say you may have played a part. Think on what might happen if you persist.

All actions have consequences, and I regret to say, in this world, there are no easy options, and no option comes without a price to pay.

There’s Nothing Simple Out There (One Christian’s Declarations Concerning Their Faith and the Subject of Evidence. Part I)

Posted on 28th Mar 2024 by deteremineddespitewp

Faith

Foreword:

I would like to thank fellow WP blogger Professor Taboo for jolting me out of my ‘I really Must Get Around To Writing That Faith-Based Post Before Lent Ends’ statis state.

In advance, if you are going to read this post you are strongly advised to study his recent posts Paul, Acts, Forgeries & Marcion* Parts I & II

Paul, Acts, Forgeries & Marcion – Part I

Paul, Acts, Forgeries & Marcion – Part II

When dealing with someone else’s position and their case is argued at length, it is my practice to Copy & Paste onto a Word Doc for reference and scale. Please note PT’s posts are 4,400+ & 3,800+ words long respectively. It is likely mine will go into some length too. Neither of us subscribe to sound-bites, emojis, GIFs or any other modern shorthand with such a weighty subject.

If you want to get involved set aside some time.

Warning:

This is not actually a rebuff to the above posts. It’s not even a word by word dispute over the evidence. Some might be disappointed I will not be addressing directly the topics raised. Expressed are words and thoughts and beliefs of mine which have been looking for an inspiration to come out in full flood. And here we are. Just read on

It is only fair to point out, the views you will encounter will be considered by some as heretical, blasphemous or as per Catholic Teaching ‘Relativism’ (which kinda puts me at odd with the current Pope. Never mind God will put me right at some stage). On the other side of the coin as some exasperated atheists said to me ‘You don’t know what you believe!’ or ‘You are just dodging the issue!’ or….To be honest I forgot the rest. They just didn’t like me being open minded Cosmically speaking.

Outline

It can be broadly stated that the first post deals with The Physical Side, for it encompasses Cosmology, History and Quantum Physics. These are all areas which contain elements of physical evidence yet are also with uncertainties and speculations. The second post will involve my views and criticisms of Theological and those Social elements which cross over.

The whole comprises An Overview, Four Perspectives and a Summary. These will break down as follows:

One Theistic Cosmological Overview (Read here)

Historical Perspectives (Read here)

Scientific Perspectives (Read here)

Theological Perspective (Next Post)

Social Perspective (Next Post)

The String Theory Summary. (Plagiarising from Quantum Physics. Tying the four perspectives all together) (Next Post)

One Theistic Cosmological Overview:

My belief is that if you are going embrace a theistic belief you will be in the area of accepting a Supreme Being and Creator. Since you are therefore saying this Supreme Being was responsible for All That Is, Was and Ever Shall Be, then you need to consider dealing with a very, very large concept and be ready to view from more than one direction and discipline. You should also have an outlook which will endeavour to encompass a great deal and be very flexible.

To begin with let us look at one simple request.

Whether you are theistic or atheistic can you take someone of the opposite view to a location in this 14 billion year old, (though there is work out there which argues 26+ years old) 90+ billion light year in observable diameter Universe and say

‘Look this is where My God is. There we are. Case proven’

‘This where your God should be but isn’t’. Case proven,’

Well? Can we, either side of the argument? No of course we can’t. We have garnered a rough idea of the Universe based on a variety of investigations, but neither has incontrovertible proof to answer my request. And that is where Faith / Belief comes in. To walk the indefinable area of Human thought in which a concept is held to in the absence of solid, definite physical evidence.

Some might promptly argue that I will be dodging issues, shrugging and saying ‘I don’t know’ and just repeating ‘stuff’.

Not so.

When addressing a such a vast subject of the belief in a Supreme Deity, the necessity of brining a myriad of disciplines to the discussion is vital, lest we get out of focus. There is the likelihood on this side of Life that parts of this subject cannot as yet and may not ever be proven. Here is where Faith or Belief come in. And on all sides of the argument.

We cannot physically prove, but we can believe.

Historical Perspectives

History is a powerful teacher, also a remorseless one, laying bear uncomfortable facts which do not suit those who prefer matters neat and tidy. The latter aspect is an important facet to keep in mind because at some stage all of us will always try and bend history to suit our ideas. The more objectively minded will to seek out details to argue or question a point of view and deal with the matter analytically. Others will try and deal in bare facts to leave the rest up to the reader, but that is a near impossibility; to repeat we all tend to bring our own thoughts and agendas to the debate.

At its basic Human History works like this. A does something. B reacts to what A did. C gets involved either because of A or B. Then D turns up probably because of what A, B and C are doing. After that it is likely E. F, G, H and so forth get involved. Meanwhile you get alliances such as Ab’s or Ba’s etc, etc. With all this laid out before an observer it is only natural to initially see things through their own eyes.

Yet History is a collection of evidence, and one glorious aspect is that new or forgotten evidence is being constantly uncovered for examination. Even the absence of evidence carries a value all of its own. However, whatever be it evidence or none, that will be open to interpretation. One thing however is certain do not take a dramatisation as fact and tread wary of legends or a folklore. Nor read one historian’s account and say ‘That is all I need to know’. Remember those As, Bs, Cs, Ds and so forth? Who is telling you what A did? And Why? Keep your antenna and radar tuned.

The groundwork is laid out. I will now look at the question of the Christianity and give you my…I repeat MY opinion, and in consequence translation.

Now the original starting point for Christian Belief is contained within the Old Testament, which in turn originates from a Hebrew source and following the New Testament which contain four accounts of Jesus Christ’s Life and Ministry until his mortal death then resurrection. The New Testament also contains the subsequent accounts of the followers of Jesus’ and their writings, ending with the mystical Book of Revelation.

Before proceeding further, again it is necessary, vital in fact to bear in mind the following

The OT is a collection of works. Some are the written versions of oral accounts. Some are commentaries on a particular time with a religious take. Others are the accounts of the experiences, life and times of a prophet. Others are essentially instructions for the time and the circumstances for an orderly society of the time. It should also be borne in mind that within these were poetical approaches in an endeavour to encompass at attempt to understand a cosmic or philosophical issue; while some will be takes on histories. And the whole covers a span of centuries. The OT also differs from, arguably its forebear the Hebrew Bible.

When approaching The NT, it is essential to bear in mind the four gospels are differing approaches. There are three Synoptic Gospels, Mark, Matthew and Luke which are similar in structure and narrative but differ because of their intended audiences. Mark being the earliest, a bare account for others, Matthew intended for a Jewish readership and Luke for a more cosmopolitan readership. John stands slightly more apart as it has esoteric theme and maybe be later. There then follows those accounts of the activities of followers of the new faith and their own letters and that ‘The Book of Revelation’. (not ‘Revelations’)- whosever might believe that is a literal prophecy might well consider the following:

For the purposes of the Historical it should be borne in mind that these works have been through several translations of language before they reach whatever, for the sake of brevity English version you are looking at. Therefore, remember that each translation will have its own assumptions and evaluations as to what ‘that’ word or phrase meant. To go around with a highlighter and sticking bits of paper in selected pages for one purpose or another might be useful for a rebuttal against a view point you disagree with. To use it as a basis for persecution is to me heresy if not downright blasphemy. The literal use of an English version is a few levels below actually studying the inherent messages.

At this stage for the purposes of Faith and Belief the citing of this piece of English or that piece of English as a basis for proving that one side or the other is right or wrong, I would assert ‘Does Not Really Matter’ They are useful in debates on who wrote What, Why, Where or When and for What Reason, and also if ‘They’ wrote it or someone else. Or was it a combined job?

In this, these debates are on the same level as to whether some personality out of History was as Good, Bad, Adept, Inept as they are traditionally painted. Whether they were actually ‘There’, ‘Here’ at such a time. And so forth.

In cannot be argued that such discussions do not add to the layers of circumstances and history is already filled with commentaries one way or another.

When however it comes to the basics of The Christian Faith, the question to ask is. Do they add or detract to the evidence of a Jesus Christ and his activities? This is the basic line for any Christian. Therefore, onto the Historical Evidence of Jesus, most likely born in Nazareth, Palestine at the early years of 1^st Century AD/CE.

To summarise there is evidence of a man out of Galilee who was crucified in what I would call a political expediency between the Roman Authorities, The Court of the Client King and the religious council the Sanhedrin, the latter having the power to bring out a mob at the figurative click of the fingers. What no side wanted was another figurehead for another movement, particularly one who was not preaching armed resistance; the Romans knew how to deal with a call to arms.

In their independent works both Jewish historian Josephus and Roman historian Tacitus, make relative passing reference to Jesus. At this stage of history of the area from Europe to the Middel East the majority of surviving documentation comes from within the Roman Empire’s boundaries and thus would cover a large number of issues, events and personalities. What would happen in one small region of the edges would attract minimal attention at the time. Which is why what we can call historical evidence is so sparse.

It is enough though.

Enough for a Faith you say?

Well, let me place before you the reasoning thus far.

In One Theistic Overview I argued as no one can physically prove there is no God I am at Liberty chose to belief in God. In the Historical Perspectives I can place the Old and New Testaments are documentations which indicate there are bases for the origins of my faith and part of the foundation of that faith. I also cite there is evidence for an Historical Jesus.

Thus upon these the case for my belief is founded.

But you ask. This seems to be slender stuff. You seem to talk of absences of solid evidence and also uncertainties as firm foundations. Are these not paradoxical, and in consequence subject to doubt? There is actually another perspective to bring back into the focus. The Scientific.

Let us continue to share the journey.

Scientific Perspectives

Warning: Not simple. This is long in itself. Convoluted. It’s The Nature of The Concept.

Second Warning. Be prepared for at least one ‘Where is he going with this interlude?’

The Cosmological Overview was an initial introduction to scope and size of the issues involved when discussing Faith and Beliefs. Rather than go straight to Science in more details it seemed neater to take on the Historical approach to establish the next part of the evidence foundation. This done, let us return to address the Scientific side of the subject.

As we know Science is a word which covers a vast number of subjects, all playing their part in the knowledge which we utilise for better or for worse in Humanity’s turbulent voyage. Rather than try and pick through each branch and in turn the associated subjects, a task which would take up at least one year’s worth of at least weekly posts, and that would be skimming the surface I intend to look at two scales.

The smallest, being the sub-atomic and the largest which takes us back to the Cosmological.

Here we encounter the counter-intuitive to our daily experiences, the parallels to the challenges Western folk of the last century have faced regarding the acceptance of a Supreme Deity. The world of Physics and the World of Theistic Belief both contain facets which do not fit into our Daily World. Challenges and reactions criss-cross. I assert there are parallels, there are commonalties.

Let me just throw a few everyday questions out there. Physics first. Religion second.

How can Light be both a particle and a wave of energy? Two aspects at once? What really is this Time-Space thing; we are attuned to Length – Width – Depth, and doesn’t Time just flow in one direction anyway? Things get ‘Old’ don’t they? And what’s this about 11 or 20 dimensions- how does that figure?

Where is this ‘God’? Why doesn’t ‘This God’ stop wars? Why are bad things happening? And to come back to The Science side- how can One Being have complete domination over one galaxy of an average of 100 million stars; that’s before we started on the billions of galaxies concept?

Those are questions which can crop up in the minds of everyday people who chance upon these subjects. There are though no easy answers. It is part of our fate to forever come up against questions whose answers do not seem to be on any horizon.

Just to illustrate what ‘we’ are up against.

(Before I start there is a body of opinion which is dismissive of Wikipedia as an information source. Whatever your views on that topic, Wikipedia it is a good source of illustrating the depth, length and width of a topic.)

Science

I typed in the phrase ‘Unsolved Problems’. The category Natural Sciences was sub divided into seven separate categories: The category ‘Mathematics’ into four. For our collective sakes I will go no further. You should be able to gauge the scope the issue from those details alone, and that’s before we consider the subject of divergent views on how something was ‘solved’

Theism

A search under Theism suggests a vastness of topics. I narrowed it down to Christian – Systemic Theology and also Constructive Theology (which is a relatively new approach.) And the result was Ten different categories. And as with Physics I did look but will go no further. Feel free to do so, but make time.

Yes, since ‘Scientific Perspectives’ was typed out nearly Five Hundred words in and he’s still not got the nub of the matter.

Of course not. Neither subject is simple. Neither subject can be compacted into one small fold-open pamphlet. Normally anything serious on either requires ‘Papers’ as in a ‘Paper On…’ and more likely entire books and you are still skimming the true surface.

Complexity upon Complexity

Volumes, upon volumes of works on both topics. Writers argue back and forth. There are whole trends of developments, re-appraisals, new lines of thought. Admittedly I am not aware of there being a theological version of the Large Hadron Collider, so Physics does have an ‘physical’ edge there. But ‘physical’ edge in Religion? We will return to this issue after we have considered some more issues still open for debate and see how they interact in both arenas.

Creation (as in Of the Universe)

Currently The Big Bang holds sway, whether it was 14 billion years ago, or even more is up for debate. For the majority of folk, the concept of there being No Time No Space just a very compact ‘item’ and nothing else is counter-intuitive. We cannot comprehend the situation. Try and you end most likely up with a ‘Why’ or a ‘Well How…’. And yet we, in the main, accept this sort of.

Since we ‘sort of’ accept this, for some of us the notion that a Being also beyond our imagination effectively said ‘Let There Be Light’ therefore seems a reasonable opinion to hold. After all we all already into the realms of the unimaginable No Time, No Space realm, so what is wrong with believing in ‘Someone’ started it?

Yes it is a type of Creationism. In purely physical / physics terms so is the Big Bang. Creationism as ‘It All Started’

What you might call Creationism in a biblical sense itself is divided into various schools, from the basic Seven, literal Days, along the paths of ‘Seven’ being allegorical, into an area of ‘episodes’ of Creation. The whole displaying sophistication of thought keeping a pace with discoveries. In fact, as with the science of Cosmology, Creationism can be evolving. Bear in mind not so long ago it was accepted in scientific circles that there was just one galaxy, revolving to stop spinning apart into the vastness of space. Now we know more.

Therefore, since we do not know, absolutely, positively, completely everything there is to know, to hold to the belief that ‘God’ created the Universe is a valid opinion. The Hows, The Whys and The What-Exactly is the Universe; well, we are all still working on that, and most likely will be forever doing so.

In The Quantum World and its Cousin in Mystery – Theism.

Quantum Mechanics and Quantum Physics are not new discoveries, albeit it that they made their larger appearance in the Modern Physics of the 20^th Century. Their applications in the modern world move allegorically hand in hand with the advance in computers, one complimenting the other, firstly bringing transistors and by now advances into devices relying on computers until we stand on the edge of Quantum AI and a wealth of possibilities.

The studies of the subject and the explorations are quite a different level. It is here we confront the realm of the subatomic particles and their properties, or their place in the construct of matter. As the search progresses questions arise which are illustrated in complex mathematical equations and references to a number of aspects which in turn have their own mathematics, (illustrated dramatically in films by rapid use of chalk and a very big board). String Theory, M-Theory, Extra Dimensions are but a few concepts which are commonly discussed but leave the ordinary person struggling to grasp their concepts. You can opt for standing back in awe and saying ‘Wow’ though.

Theism has been around for a lot longer and appears to be dogged by a pattern which Humanity follows without learning. In myriad forms it attempted to bring a social code to what would have been an otherwise chaotic situation and has endeavoured to bring a means of comprehension to the mysteries which confound us. And yet flawed creatures that we are, we argue to the point of persecution and war over meanings and supremacy of one belief system over another. Thus, Theism like the rest of Human efforts is tarnished. Which when you consider the misuse computer systems have been put too indicates the problem lies with Humanity. But more about that when in the next post we consider Theological and Social issues. At this stage I am going to make an attempt to consider The Parallel with Quantum.

This being that the further we go into the study of Quantum the more challenges arise, which is very similar when delving into a belief system. In this case Christianity. It is simple enough to believe in a God, a Son of God, and if your beliefs go in that direction A Holy Spirit. The problems arise when you go deeper into those difficult ethical questions such as

How Active is God in our Lives, and thus How?

Why do bad things keep on happening to the innocent and the vulnerable?

If God is suffering with Us, just how does that work. What does that mean?

Where did God come from?

Just what is God’s plan or purpose?

I could go on and on…and on.

Theologians have been battling with these and the objections to their suggestions for centuries (and some of them taking time out to discuss the mysteries of the cosmos. The concept of other worlds has been up for debate for millennia, 1,500 years in Christianity ).

Therefore I contend these two Disciplines which are replete with The Counter-Intuitive mirror each other, often coming along with a ‘There must be a…because this indicates there is….’.

And thus there is no shame in saying ‘I don’t know’ though just leaving it like that and shrugging does not necessarily apply to the entire following of a belief system. WE keep on keeping on. Our religion is not moribund, which stopped somewhere a thousand years ago. Not so.

Miracles

(Possibly the Theistic Version of the Large Hadron Collider?)

In some respects, most of the previous observations and postulations could be construed as a build-up to this. A balanced reason why ‘Miracles’ as recorded in The New Testament can be viewed by ‘The Believer’ as credible acts.

By this point you will be aware that as far as I perceive, within the enormity and complexity of Existence from the smallest particle (currently The Quark?) to the massive walls which are groups of groups of galaxies (eg Great Sloan Wall) to say something ‘Cannot Happen’ is not a Definite. We, Here, Now are nowhere, anywhere close to beginning to know Everything.

In this frame of mindset I consider the following as examples:

The Immaculate Conception (Virgin Birth)- Invoking the biological process of Parthenogenesis is taking a big risk. There would be a lot of complaints and objections. Fair enough, I am just saying Sexual Reproduction is not the only means about. Really I should play it safe, cite general mythical traditions and those of the Abrahamic works. Then consider the various Christian writings on the subject and hint at the allegorical.

Not going to do that. I chose to take the literal option that a divine force caused within Mary’s ovaries conception to begin. I will also look to my brothers and sisters in Abrahamic Faith in Islam to quote from an English translation of the Quaran “So will it be! Your Lord says, ‘It is easy for Me. And so will We make him a sign for humanity and a mercy from Us.’ It is a matter ˹already˺ decreed.” (Please note in Islam, Jesus is a revered prophet). (To brothers and sister in faith as Muslims my apologies for any inadvertent errors or mis-quoting)

I do so, because I can see no specific reason why a Being beyond our own level of existence could not do this. And that is that. There may be some impossible concepts out there, but it seems the more we seek knowledge the more we find That Isn’t So.

Resurrection

Since declaring my belief in the Immaculate Conception there would be an element of inconsistency in not having the same faith in the Resurrection. And naturally taking the same pathway.

For this is where a person takes that Leap of Faith.

Crucifixion was a hideous punishment, a slow death by several means. Imagine trying to haul yourself up by stretched upper limbs just to breath. I could try to stumble through suggestions of a body going into shock and being mistaken for death. I could suggest a type of coma. I could go off on enough tangents to have medical professionals reading this howling ‘It Doesn’t Work Like That!’….’And anyway those legs were broken, legs were always deliberately broken during crucifixion,’

Once more. Not going to. This is where that Leap of Faith comes in. Belief. Irrespective.

Tell me, dear reader. Do you believe in Something? Irrespective of what some might call Evidence to the Contrary. Do you believe in Something you cannot see or hold? Something which at times is hard to hold on to, and yet you keep on coming back to there or here? Just Something.

I’m not going to ask you what that might be. The only time I will have a problem with you is if your belief is used as vehicle for Hate, Oppression, Discrimination, Intolerance, Irrefutable Lies and Distortions and rest of the toxins we try to use to dignify and justify our blatant flaws as we set ourselves down the road to conflict and harm.

Summary at the end of Part I.

So here I pause.

In the next part it is my intention to move into the Ethereal realms of Theology, Nature of Beliefs, Overviews of Theisms and Social Implications. The embracing of Belief and the Condemnation of misuses and abuses in attempts to justify evil.

Thanks for reading this far.

(PS: This looks OK as a post, but I cannot be held responsible for what WP’s various gubbinz will do to the final product)

Places We’d Rather Not Go #Blog Battle : November – Nervous

Posted on 14th Nov 2023 by deteremineddespitewp

Nervous

The two forces were small, maybe a hundred each; advanced guards for minor battles, or outposts in case the foe tried some flanking attack.

If they bumped into a foe of similar size then orders and conventions expected them to put the opposition to flight and gain advantage of the ground or maintain a presence and maybe prisoners to question. A small skirmish, a mere commonplace with some possible importance.

The two were the usual mix allotted to such tasks, mounted infantry and light cavalry and had come across each other in the dusk of a damp foggy autumn. And waited the orders from their respective captains.

Two captains sat stiff, stern and composed upon their mounts viewing the opposition and studying the ground with the aid of their telescopes, occasionally drawling out ‘Yes’, ‘I see,’ or ‘Hmmm,’

Then there was a swift, firm snap as the telescopes were closed and dropped into the relevant pocket of each coat, at the same instant.

At which they turned to the small clutch of officers and sergeants waiting respectfully on their words. For despite their shared youthful appearances, they had already garnered differing reputations within the respective armies and as a test been given these small independent commands.

‘As you can see they are deployed,’ he said ‘Infantry centre, cavalry flanks. Centre to slow an attack, then send in the cavalry. Or send the cavalry off first in a sweep to pin us, then advance infantry to shooting range. Yes professionals. A nighttime attack might reduce their aim effectiveness, if we advanced in open order,’ he raised one eyebrow ‘But as we all know night time is an ideal time get lost and’ his expression quirked ‘Shoot on your comrades,’ at this there were voices of agreement as memories of a recent near catastrophe elsewhere in the army surfaced. ‘We’ll wait until dawn and see what advantage the weather brings us. It always does,’

There were shared looks of approval. He was shrewd. So far the campaign was proving tough, and an outpost skirmish was a place where calculated caution was preferred by all ranks.

He gave the necessary orders.

She puffed a stray lock of hair out of her right eye, a signature act and addressed the group of hardened officers and sergeants.

‘There’ll be no charges tonight, not on this damp and uneven ground. Their balance is favoured in infantry, and they’ve got lancers which they can use as dismounted pikes forcing us to spread our cavalry attack. We’ve travelled far, fast not favourable to try anything now. But the time we form up it will be dark, where already groups get lost, shoot at their own side and move in the wrong directions. Pass the order on to get what rest and refreshment we can and rotate the guards. We’ll see what Nature gifts us in the morning,’ she winked ‘Y never know. They might shuffle off in the night,’

There was laughter. She was popular, a general’s daughter who had earned respect as a cavalry commander with an eye for the ground, renowned for carrying out orders, achieving objectives, observing changes in the flow of battle and promptly reporting them back, above all sharp at seeing weaknesses or errors in the foe and going straight for them, thus low casualties. Everyone was certain she could handle an independent command.

Several years of campaign experience in all seasons and many climes, however sleep did not come to her, The camp was in general still, she stepped out passed one guard, gave the common earthy reason, confirmed the password for the return and faded in the night. Dogged by the full implications of the responsibilities weighing on her, throat dryness matched by the dampness in her hands, chasing the racing of her mind as the possibilities on the day ahead hounded her, innards swirled and churned bringing up spasms of dizzying, pitching her forward onto her hands, retching.

Ahead a figure stood up suddenly, eyes wide with surprise and bright in the moonlight, two recruit’s mistakes when night- moving near enemy lines, made all the more ridiculous that they remained standing, albeit swaying with hand loose at their side.

The unexpected sight caused another and more violent bout of vomiting, leaving her sitting and exhausted, only then in her incapacity and gasping did she notice the figure’s trousers were about their ankles. Judging by the sudden scrabbling to haul the garments up, something which must have only just occurred to them.

Even in shock and aftermath of his turmoil, despite the darkness it was easy enough to identify someone with long russet hair.

‘Captain of the Jernesch outpost force?’ he said quavering ‘I witnessed you through my telescope before dusk,’ and with this faded out.

This caused her to peer into the gloom, taking advantage of the moonlight.

‘Oh,’ she replied abashed ‘You are my opposite number of the Strelise?’ she managed a rough snort ‘We both seem to have excellent ocular equipment,’ she looked about, down at herself, then at him, sniffed the breeze ‘And we both appear to have suffered differing disfunctions of our innards. Truce then?’

‘Oh yes. If you wouldn’t mind turning your back I shall have to remove and caste away my undershorts. They are currently an embarrassment,’

‘Fair enough,’ she replied ‘I am not suitable for close discourse either,’

After a discreet pause they met with hand distance, in hers bottle from which she took a long draught, swilled her mouth then spat, the next draught she swallowed, then cleaned the neck, thoroughly, offering it to him.

‘Peppermint cordial. Settles all distresses of the innards, has a calming component too,’

Since she had drunk from the same he could see no problem with partaking and found his own digestive system became calm.

There was another short interlude while they studied each other.

‘First completely independent command?’ he asked, not waiting for a reply ‘I was on a staff, and charged with ensuring sufficient of all supplies were procured and delivered, it was thought I could do something similar with fighting troops and objectives,’ he shrugged the added ruefully ‘What can you do but obey orders?’

She responded with a crocked smile.

‘I commanded cavalry. Upon a battlefield it was fine to get orders to go somewhere and do something. Your choices are limited and there’s only so much ground to cover. Only have to achieve with the minimum of losses. You’re not really a commander, just a competent functionary,’

They lapsed into silence, sharing the bottle back and forth.

‘Those battles,’ he said after the third share ‘All the bodies there because of mistakes and the disgrace heaped upon those who made the errors. Being an aide, you hear all the comments and the hate from the soldiers. You are not supposed to think about it, but when you spend time building up supplies, sort of looking after folk. It becomes a type of nurture, I suppose. And then one day it falls on you, You have to make those decisions,’

She grimaced and took another swig of peppermint.

‘Up until this night I would have said I do that all the time. Yet bearing in mind what I just said,’ she looked around ‘High Holy, but when you are out here with no one to refer up to. When it lands all on you. I never thought it would take me like this. Maybe I’ve seen too many go wrong, and I don’t want to be the one who can’t shift the blame any further upwards,’ she paused to wipe her mouth ‘Damn,’

A very difficult silence settled. Like the ones when you knew a commander above you had made a mess of their orders, one you used to admire, but your friends and good soldiers were dead. And now she was on that cusp? She had to hurry on.

‘How many years you served?’

‘Ten, Started as a cadet at academy,’

‘Hah. Same as me, though being a girl, I had to learn with my father and,’ she managed a wry grin ‘About a hundred adopted uncles,’ she added then after a rueful chuckle ‘Didn’t stop me blooding my blade and getting blooded back in return,’

‘Yes. Once you go on the field,’ and said no more. Memories of getting supplies and ammunition to a desperate place drifting in.

They both looked up at each other.

‘This has been a rough campaign,’ she said.

‘All worn out if you ask me,’ he replied the weight of tomorrow causing his reserves to break ‘If there is another pitch battle, it’ll be a slugging match for about a day. One too worn to stand the other too tired to chase,’

‘And then winter,’ she looked up at the sky ‘I lived around here a lot of my life. This is going to be a cold, wet, long one,’

‘Terrible for mobility. Infantry get exhausted after a mile, wagons stuck everywhere,’

‘And the poor horses,’ she wiped one eye.

More silence, broken by fidgeting, all the peppermint gone.

‘See you tomorrow then,’ he said getting up

‘Aye,’

Dawn brought heavy rain.

‘It’s a solid, detailed report Captain,’ said the general ‘Yes, I see your point. More a question of observing than losing good men and horses over a patch of ground,’

The general’s great gift was recognising the value of men in the right position. He did not want to demoralise and ridicule a fine staff officer. The man simply wasn’t suited to field command. No, during the winter lull move the fellow be back to where he was frankly irreplaceable, ensuring supplies were ready and available at the right place in the right time. With a promotion.

‘She’s stubborn your daughter. And a soldier’s wit for giving a good reason and not a weak excuse,’

‘Always has been,’

‘Too caring to make a good general. You know, ready to send men into death for the better of others,’

‘That is so my lord. She is best in the heat of the crisis point being aimed carefully released at the right target,’

‘We will give her, her own regiment of heavies to hone for the spring,’

‘Thank you my lord,’

The end of the winter came as dry and hard, the spring mild. Both armies willing to take advantage of the good ground. One was a measure faster, and the commander with a sharp eye when and where to release his heavy cavalry. He did lose his cavalry general at a vital point, but the young colonel of one regiment rallied the charge and she shattered the lines as expected.

For the defeated army it might have spelt disaster had not its commanders kept their nerves and knew they were retreating a prepared positions and fresh supplies by a fellow who knew his trade.

Thus the perusing exhausted army ran into first a solid defence then a swift counter-attack which caused a crisis for the pursuers.

‘It is a hell of a thing I am asking of you colonel, but time needs to be brought,’

‘It will my lord. No matter the price,’ she said.

Despite his rank, he went out with troops collecting spent arrows and bolts and discarded steel to be used again. The russet hair drew him. It was her, lying askew, crossbow bolt through her chest. Even caked with the filth of battle, her features shone through, irritated more than pained.

Like an elder brother, he lifted her onto his cart, told his command to carry on, and rode off, despite trembling towards the foe. The banner of truce aloft. The rearguard he met were prompt on seeing his cargo, he was escorted at a pace.

The features were similar, the man’s lined with fatigue, defeat and grief looked in.

‘Her face. Did you clean it?’

‘She saved my life once. She didn’t offer battle,’

Realisation took pain from the elder man’s face. Her report from the late autumn

‘She looks peaceful,’ her father said.

‘She is,’ the officer said ‘Trust me. She is,’

He had smoothed away the irritated expression in the cleaning. It was only right. Maybe someone would do the same for him, one day.

For once he was quite calm.

Time Out From One Direction. Forge On In Another

Posted on 1st Nov 2023 by deteremineddespitewp

Foreword: Having spent a week thinking about this and two days writing, and re-writing (and probably still making grammatical errors) I am still uncertain as to the theme. It is either an announcement, a public apology for future shortcomings, or something of a rambling discourse on the motivations for writing up posts in the Blogverse (in the case of the latter there is a chance some readers who are also writers of fiction might say…’Oh yeah. Not just me then’).

Anyway…..

Several years ago when I started out on another launch of a writing career someone pointed me in the direction of Word Press as a way to get to know other writers and make my work known. That said, although there was a great deal of time, and keyboard tapping on the subject of writing, WP being a social site my attention was drawn to those bloggers whose interests were more social and above all political and before long, there I was also reading and engaging on the subject of politics. For a while there was a quite productive balance, switching and, using experiences and styles from one to the other. At times it was refreshing to do that.

After finishing up my trilogy

And having too much fun and not enough focus on marketing campaigns

Just for Marketing and Giggles – The Good Ol’ Hard Sell Approach.

Just for Marketing and Giggles II (The team conference)

It was good to have the political side to blogging while I threshed about trying to get a plot going for a second series.

But, ah me. One should always remember that Dynamics are prone to friction resulting in Wear & Tear.

Consider the following:

Brexit, MAGA, 2016 & 2020 US presidential Elections, the bungling of the UK Labour Party from 2015-2019, that year’s UK General Election, Boris Johnson as PM, That Vanity Project in the Whitehouse from 2016-2019, the slaughters around the world which gained no public interest, the Russian Invasion of Ukraine and inevitable Western Excuse Makers for The Kremlin, The Return of Cohesive Misogyny, The Proliferation of Racism, the Hypocrisy of the American Religious Right, Mass Killings, The Conspiracy Idiocy over Climate Change, its degenerate cousin claiming Covid was anything but a warning from Nature, The abuses of Social Media, Men displaying their Sexual Insecurities by ranting over a comedy film about a doll. And there were more. Then came the final tipping point with the sanctimonious outrage at Israel (while having been quite silent over the Rohingya genocide, the decades of abuses in Sudan, complete ignorance over the Sahel region (where’s that?) in Africa, and never mind about the Horn of Africa- and that was just a few the vast majority current paraderers seemed to not give a damn about- all the while playing into the hands of the extremist corrupt Israeli Government and its rent-a-thugs in some settler communities ).

I knew the tipping point was reached when writing up a series on the current round of Palestinian / Israeli conflict and coming to the essay on Palestine. The Palestinian case was quite easy to see and understand, the history had an inevitable tragic flow to it. My problem was, writing about something which if seen on social numerous folk would point to in approval (apart from the few comments on Hamas) while those very people know nothing of the Big Picture or the nuances of the whole Histories and to those I would yell at saying ‘Read the other two essays will you!’ (Not quite the exact words, but let’s try and be all Age-Friendly here). Set against the back drop of thousands of deaths and countless tales of misery and anguish my reaction is rather ugly and not justifiable, and also sweepingly judgemental. But I have always had to write with the restraint of a leash on an attack dog.

While, finally thanks to taking part in a BlogBattle every month, the fantasy book narrative was starting to coalesce with the characters; a time every writer of fictions hopes will happen….soon, and I felt the need to put my efforts there. A place I had some control over (not total control- ask any writer about trying to rein in Characters)

Therefore, to restrain my vitriolic anger (you really don’t want to know what gets stopped by the internal censor) and concentrate upon creative fiction I am stepping back from a smidge from the political side of the Blogverse..

Now that does not mean I’ll be leaving all the good friends I have made through following politics or not caring about the good fights that they fight on various fronts. Now I will be there reading your posts, putting a ‘Like’ but in the comments there will probably be a short statement of support or maybe an emoji. So you should know this is nothing personal, nor apathy breaking out. It’s just a re-adjustment. I will be there, backing up you in thought, but the words will be slender.

Vitriol can be useful in very small doses but when you are drinking it like coffee, it’s time to stay away. And waking up at 5am with a tirade of a post going through your brain about hypocrisy or intolerance, or the slaughter of innocents is not conducive to good health.

I am better disposed to spend my creative time writing fictions

I wonder how long this resolve will last?

Keep on keeping on all you bloggers I follow

Strive on with your own journeys

PS: The worse part of the writing of this being not knowing what inappropriate advert WP will include to mess up the narrative at some important juncture

Imagery Down The Ages #Blog Battle : October – Catafalque

Posted on 17th Oct 2023 by deteremineddespitewp

Shakespeare 1 CATAFALQUE

(Advisory note. The Author wishes it to be known that they cannot be held responsible for the way Word Press presents this narrative. To use a technical term ‘It’s Got ‘Em On It Today’)

The three gathered were men hardened both by war and the politics of forging and holding together a new nation. The time had not been pleasant yet had been necessary.

‘He will be sorely missed,’ said Goreth thick-set, the greying of age had not diminished him.

‘Aye,’ agreed Mandran, feral thin, darting eyes, precise and short of speech.

‘Even the gods did pause in their work at his passing’ Kattrach, ever solemnly theistic, even in victory.

These words said each in their own way meditated upon the simple plain stone oblong which held the body of Thaindoch first king of Heydale. It had taken the allied forces of ages, strain, and age to bring him down.

Their thoughts concluded, each then knelt, kissed the oblong whispering their own farewell, wiped their eyes, and quit the room, outside would always stand an honour guard of four.

Two hundred years passed Laynedole III and his council sat at the ornate table. Although not an imposing fellow he did have an ordered civically inclined approach.

‘To the final matter of today’s business gentlemen,’ he said with solemnity ‘The anniversary of the passing of Thaindoch,’

As was expected everyone murmured respectfully, some made modest religious gestures; it did not do to be too effusive.

‘The founder of our great nation,’ Arch-High Priest Rhuyofla intoned, or droned depending on opinions ‘May his soul continue to rest from his labours,’ it was one way of skirting around the fact he had been distinctly pagan.

‘I feel, gentlemen,’ drawled out Laynedole III, a signal the meeting was far from concluded ‘Now that our nation’s borders have expanded thrice the size of when Thaindoch had laid the foundations and inspirations for our enterprise, we should consider the question of the image of his last place of repose,’

The ten men present were admirable administrators, diplomats, and legislators. As were two generations before them. These were men of The Favourable Compromise, The Advantageous Marriage, The Trade Deal, The Economical Application of Force, and of course The Implied. None had drawn sword, hewn axe nor inspired armies however Implied had actually worked quite well. For in all these skills, The Image played its part.

‘We,’ continued the king ‘Are at something of a crossroads. ‘Heydale,’ is viewed as something of a bastion of,’ he paused as he gathered the selection of the next words ‘Commerce, Civic Organisation, Prudent Governance, Learning, Military Efficiency and above all Stability,’

Everyone agreed. And so it was decided that to create the correct impression Thaindoch’s lasting resting place should be surrounded by sets of three signature weapons; to the right his two-bladed sword, central his shield, and to the left his trusty spear in total there would be six sets, leaving the message that no matter what direction the threat came the spirit of Thaindoch in the nation of Heydale was ready. Visting royalty and nobles from other nations were obliged to visit it, citizens, encouraged to. The stern plain iron images left the right impression.

At the time.

Over the next three hundred years whereas Heydale endured and flourished, somewhat, Society progressed, Knowledge Expanded and more folk than the nobility preferred began to express views and ideas. Since a lot of the views and ideas led to more advancements and more wealth there was not a lot the nobility to do about it, except try and catch up with the wealth, Among this those who ruled or influenced those ruling began to appear from the classes normally associated which just doing as they were told. After a few mishaps and misunderstandings things did settle down. Eventually try as they might the previous ruling classes had to give way, a bit. Even so, it had to be noticed there was not the deference or respect there used to be. One king, Flori III felt he ought to raise the subject.

‘As much one accepts that young urchins are somewhat acceptable scallywags, being hailed as one passes in one’s coach as ‘Old Flabby Bottom’ and seeing the adults simply smirk and not administer mild physical punishment does make one wonder if all is well. Look into it, please. We do not want Unpleasantness my grandfather Flori I was confronted with,’

Since the Unpleasantness had been small but nonetheless a riotous expression of discontent verging on rebellion the matter had been being addressed for some time. Arrests were plentiful anyway but Causes needed to be looked into.

Not much progress was made until someone had the bright idea of calling in the Guild of Artisans, a widespread body representing those at the lesser end of Society. A group of the more thoughtful, and sober types were given the task. They were surprisingly swift in reply as if the subject was already embedded amongst the ordinary folk. One fellow Urburt Gnogginz a carpenter by trade addressed the select number of the government.

‘Before we gets to the business of Social Reforms,’ he said ‘It’s best to start with the Symbolisms. They are the more easy to sort out, and cheaper too. Now, the visits to the tomb of Thaindoch, a lot of folk are getting wearisome of traipsing there, when they could be earning. And there’s the other thing. Those iron whatchm’ callits,’

‘Sword, Sheild, and Spear,’ came the prompt reply from a Lord Herald.

‘Well that may have been three ‘undred years ago, but times change. So does perceptions. That two-bladed sword reminds folk of a fork, the shield a plate, and the spear a knife. Seems to be a whole lot of dining stuff, these days. Like Thaindoch was always eating, and well without being rude, we haven’t had a thin king for a long time. It irritates folk who rely on just slender meals. Y’see my meaning,’

Those who dined on fine and ornate wear went into consultation and had to admit the Guild had a point, since there was likely to be another war soon it was decided the Symbolism would be better served by simple spear-like, less thick poles with very sharp points. Thus, the war was brought forward a few years, the Sword, Shield, and Spear scheme taken and melted down for cannon, well one quite small cannon and replaced with cheap by very polished pointed poles. This appeared to satisfy the populous. Not one dared suggest Flori the III fatally falling off of his horse at a parade and being replaced by his gaunt, serious son, who insisted he be known as Graven I and had his father buried under a very flat piece of stone helped. Graven I in fact had everyone royal re-buried under flat pieces of stone, including his volatile disagreeable young brother Murble though this was his first burial and whether he was quite dead at the time was another matter.

The war went quite well. And the Haydalean Empire came into being.

One hundred and thirty years and five Gravens later the Haydalean Empire was bumping up against two other equally capable empires one to the south and one to the west. By good fortune, all five Gravens were very serious and forward-thinking men, with gloomy predispositions as to the inevitability of war. Thus, the War of the Grand Alliance was won by Haydalean at the expense of the said Alliance who had to pay for it.

Over the next seventy years, The Haydalean Empire flourished. Some people were very wealthy, others did quite well and most of the lesser classes had homes, jobs, and regular meals. Taydle II a fellow who felt Image was important gathered together his government.

‘It would seem to be,’ he said ‘That as there is spare money we should invest in a few more prestige projects. Whereas stern austerity was fine when things were tighter, now that diplomacy is done by money rather than wars, we should look as if we can afford a lot more than The Traybel Confederacy or the Stollovish Empire, that way folk will be impressed by us. I suggest we start with the tomb of Thaindoch. We’ve all had put up with being shown that ornate marble apparition of Stollovish king Ferosch I with all those annoyingly small carven figures purporting to show his great victories. And there’s the Confederacy making a big thing about not having an actual person but allegorical types, like that hideous half-dressed woman holding a lamp. No, we should be at one simple but ornate. We shall decorate around the original tomb with complex pillars and elaborate fencings all topped off with a golden canopy with tasteful drapes, and a few marble slabs surrounding with stentorian and inspiring words carved in in classical script,’

Since Taydle II had obviously spent some time thinking about this and his government wanted to get him to sign some tricky legislation to do with land reform, which the nobility did not care for, the government thought it an ideal opportunity to agree, have him potter about with the task so he would not notice what he was signing off on on land reform.

In later decades whereas nobility would concoct coded rude toasts at the anniversary of his death, he would be remembered with fond regard as The Great Reformer. To his dying day, he always assumed this had had to do with his initiatives to make places look splendid in particular the tomb of Thaindoch.

During the subsequent ages of machinery and industry wars became more spectacularly efficient and devastating. This enabled bigger and better wars to break out and Stollov tried again. One innovation was that craft flew through the air and dropped explosive devices. Much of the important parts of the Haydalean Empire were protected by large guns that fired back. Still, craft did get through. Explosions highlighted which buildings or construction had been robustly built. And which were not.

There was some concern about the ornate columns at the corners of Thaindoch’s tomb, they swayed a bit, because of all the noise. They were not supposed to. A committee was set up to look into it.

Ten days later some bold Stollovish aircrews attempted a raid on The Imperial Estates. The batteries of guns defending set up an even more furious barrage than usual, since they had something to shoot. They didn’t shoot down any attacking planes, who failed to hit anything apart from parklands. The combined vibrations did cause most of the ornate structure around the tomb of Thaindoch to fall in on itself. The tomb made of very ancient and sturdy stone remained undamaged.

While several courtiers and officers of Works and Means ran about in dismay, a couple of enterprising officials of the War Ministry arranged the remains of the ornate stuff into an image that suggested the tomb was holding everything up, then using the latest cameras took photos. These were passed to the Ministry of Information who ensured the various news journals put out the news displaying the tomb stalwart as ever. Purplish prose invoked the spirit of Thaindoch as symbolically holding the empire aloft. Some of the more esoteric writers suggested his spirit was indeed abroad. Thus, artists and tasteful cartoonists produced much work on this theme. There were many other practical factors as to why the war was another Haydalean victory, but those of romantic trains of thought would invoke the invincibility of The Great Tomb, and say no more.

Eventually, the wreckage would be tidied up, but not without some modest protests.

Upon a remote hillside within a very windswept part of the original borders of Heydale was a circle of several lesser circles of stones. Historians and folklorists could never agree on the foundations of what fort.

Once a year four spirits would gather.

‘Aye Thaindoch. You were right. There would no peace for any us elsewhere,’ said Goreth.

‘The place called mine moved ten times because of minerals. Always the money,’ said Mandran.

‘Some folks keep building mine and other knocking it down’ Kattrach observed ‘Something to do with paganism,’

‘Never mind lads,’ Thaindoch said ‘This is a good a meeting place as any. Around our old bones,’

Cancel Culture? What’s New

Posted on 3rd Oct 2023 by deteremineddespitewp

The Overview (Supported by Cosmology and Theology)

This observation comes across me, from time to time, that folk just are not satisfied with the old tried and tested phrases and feel the need to make up new ones. This in turn gives an opportunity for other folk to become all excited about the new one. Some are for it, others are not. Both sides invoke the overused word ‘Freedom’. Then follows the process where another group of folk decide to comment on the new term and analyse it backwards, forwards and upside down. In consequence everyone involved piles in and the pitch becomes febrile. At this point social media’s version of nuclear fusion takes place and a ‘star’ is born ; the term becomes a new stellar object in the said social media firmament. The public looks and sees it is ‘good to use’, memes like planets are born out of the dust. The Cosmic analogy is completed. Let there be posts and tweets. And on the Seventh Day, no one rested for fear of being left out. (See- Religion and Science are always there and make such good partners).

So, this Cancel Culture.

Somebody says something controversial or outrageous in the public domain. Someone else takes offense which is likely to be justifiable or possibly understandable and says so in the public domain. The offended person gets a lot of support. The person who made the remark might default to ‘Freedom’ and will get their own support base, and the whole becomes the latest ‘thing’ on sections of social media with both sides hurling accusations in all directions, the meantime others will take neither side but make those analytical comments on ‘Cancel Culture’. You will note by now the particular cause is imitating the life cycle of the Social Media label under which it resides.

Those who object to the original remark will then adopt this notion that they will no longer have anything to do with the person who made the remark and urge others to do so in the secret hope that the originator becomes as social non-person who nobody will like or listen to. Human Nature being what it is they sometimes make such a noise that they raise the originator’s profile, who then becomes a lightining rod for those who have issues with the social / racial / political / theistic base of those who are objecting. This will be advantageous for the person who made the comments if their social media stock has been falling, and if they are very astute they will set up a You Tube ‘Thing’ or a podcast about how dangerous this Cancel Culture is to ‘Freedom’. They will then have achieved a social media prize of being from henceforth being associated with the ‘Cancel Culture’ debate. This does come with a certain dangerous caveat for some unhinged by too much social media to feel ‘Cancel’ should be taken to the extreme, ie removal of the deemed ‘offender’ from this mortal world.

It is often assumed this debate takes on a simple Right / Left dynamic. This would be incorrect. Treading into the social media minefield I would cite the case of J R Rowland (UK Labour Party Supporter; Anti-Brexit; Feminist, Target of the US Religious Right) who entered the transgender debate and started off a firestorm, which carries on these days in a multi-layered fury which divides already persecuted groups and only benefits homophobic misogynists. Comics with either Left leaning or anarchic-lite views also come into this region.

So Cancel Culture

Or Ostracism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostracism

Or Boycott? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boycott

Or Shunning, or outlaw, or persona non grata, or non-person, or?

Truth be known, nothing new here folks. For many a year, decade, century and beyond aside from the big political, social or religious movements it’s been living under the banner of ‘Naah. I don’t like them. Wouldn’t go and see them /listen to them / read them, if you paid me’ and that would take on its own popular tone, and the rest of Life went on. It would be ugly where someone in a community broke that community’s own taboos or ways and would be cut out. Nothing new here folks. Humanity in action. Sometimes a question of taste, sometimes unpleasant, other times quirky.

I’ve been cancelling folk in my own personal world for years. Aside from my poor wife putting up with the ‘Not having that (bad word) speaking in my house’ outburst. I keep it mostly to myself. Why raise their profile any higher by making an issue out of my choice. Hands up those who embargo persons or subjects in a similar fashion……… Thought so.

In my socially dyspeptic view the term ‘Cancel Culture’ is simply nothing less than a marketing ploy to add zest to a cause or profile. For Pity’s Sake if Trump is using it as an excuse to snake-oil sell his hypocrisies under the guise of this ‘CC’ being a threat to Freedom (there’s that word again) then you know it’s a term which has no discernible new ethical value.

I therefore give this out to you as my own advice. If someone uses the term Cancel Culture as a concern or is critical of it as a threat to ‘Free Speech’ (another questionable term), ask yourself this…

‘What’s in it for them?’

Religion. Another Viewpoint (With Some Assistance From Quantum Mechanics & Cosmology)

Posted on 22nd Aug 2023 by deteremineddespitewp

WorldReligions-164107922-c72cce704d4d4521962046df4fa8ce3f

NB- This will also be very long, because the subject matter is not to be fitted into snappy one-liners. It will also be very short of quotes; the reason being quotes with the best will in the world (or especially, the worst will) are going to be selective to argue a case. I’m not going to fall back on that. This is simply my view, in my words…. ok, with a few links just to illustrate complexities in the science side. I leave it up to you to go seeking evidence one way or another.

This is another one I have started out (in my mind anyway)- several times. You may recall I earlier on this year felt obliged to voice a common challenge Christians face and I would venture to suggest folk of other faiths face at times:

One Christian’s Confession

Now my faith remains, yet so do those misgivings over some aspects taught to us. This post is not about those issues though. This is about the experience of being a Christian, in a Middle (Aside: Cosmically speaking there is no ‘The Middle’ as we know it. Only your own perspective from your local focal point. The Universe does not subscribe to our limited perceptions -that’s me mixing religious and scientific by the way). The Middle I wish to discuss is the one which sees; on one side an abrupt generalised dismissal of all theistic belief and believers and on the other side those who do evil and sheer opportunistic folly under the guise of theistic belief. In this case, of course, I repeat I use the Christian perspective, it would be crass to impose upon the beliefs of the moderates and liberals of other religions.

There is a particular reason why I gave a nod to ‘Quantum Mechanics’ and that relates to a concept known as The Waves -Particle Duality, in short having two properties at once. Have fun reading this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wave%E2%80%93particle_duality

This has its parallels with the majority of Christians. The majority accept the status of The vastness of everything through the scientific lens while adhering to their faith. That actually takes some doing. As one Jesuit priest astronomer said ‘Every day I study the stars I am challenged’. After all we have a Bible to go on while on the other hand we have the wealth of knowledge which goes from the wonderous massive magnificence revealed by Cosmology down to the mind-stretching infinitely small domain of Quantum. And everything in between. One Being brought all that into existence and can also claim they know everyone one of us. How is that supposed to work?….Uh????

That’s where Faith, be it leaping or just standing still, comes in. Now the majority of us have A Faith. This comes in many forms. I ask you to pause and reflect on that. Think on what you hold true to be in a view, a relationship, something which is always there in your background. An aspect which appears to be steadfast irrespective of the rest of the world around you. Think deep on that. That’s a Faith. Faith transcending what seems to be the case of the world around you. It exists despite the apparent practicalities you have come to learned. It defies the logic you have been told is so. And sometimes part of its nature might be founding wanting. You’ll find a lot of that in Quantum. There, I am back with the Quantum-thing again. Research still continues there into the contradictions and the apparently evasive. Thus any Christian honest with themselves and the relationship with their Faith has met doubts, unsatisfactory conclusions, mysteries which remain just out of reach. Those do not stop us believing. The question is not finding ‘An Excuse’ or ‘A Platitude’ to answer the difficult issues. It’s a question of going In Deep, to use Faith as a foundation to work from. If you consider Science you will find in its history that answers or solutions were and still are being constantly overturned because they do not fit the model. Let’s look at that. From A Middle. Or using cosmological metaphors to be more analogous. From Planet Me.

The Bible – An average moderate Christian gets a bit queasy about parts of The Old Testament, particularly the opening books. These seem to support incest, genocide, suppression of women, the punishment of same-sex relationships, heroes and figureheads having multiple sexual relationships and that’s before we get to ‘A Jealous God’ who is likely to wipe you out with a snap of the fingers because of some minor misdemeanour. Such passages are leapt upon by intolerant Fundamentalists who gleefully announce their excesses of Hate, Intimidation and Violence are but carrying out the Word of God, while their atheistic opponents have the easy task to use the same as evidence that these beliefs are flawed. And the Moderates get lambasted by the Fundamentalists as not believers and going to Hell (Hoorah!) while Atheistic folk look aghast and say to any moderate ‘But how can you belief that?’

OK. If we look at the Four Gospels used in most branches of Christianity we have at the centre Jesus. Basically the Son of God sent into our world to take on Human form and ‘suffer death’ to cleanse us of all our sins, Past, Present and Future. The Four Gospels reflect four different reporters of the story. Nothing wrong with that, have you ever encountered an event in which ALL of the reports are exactly the same. Really? No you haven’t. Anyway here’s another old post of mine concerning that subject:

A Case for The Christian Easter Actually Happening

The New Testament Gospels have their own issues. Though nothing as useful to the Fundamentalists as they can take out of context from The Old Testament. However the two parts are linked and whereas there are some branches who will claim you don’t need the Old Testament because Jesus’s coming into the world did away with those books, unless you are looking to play a lazy Anti-Semitism card, that don’t work.

But here is the aspect which bears repeating over and over and over about the Old Testament. Firstly it is a collection of written accounts based on oral accounts, or in some cases religious interpretated historical events OR codes of practice based on the social circumstances of the time. Secondly the accounts are translation of one of several versions of local languages and dialects, using poetical imagery, which have been translated into Greek and then into Latin and then into English (at least once each)…so you can imagine that what was said, why and when, would likely be not perfectly translated and represented in today’s English (whatever version). In short you just don’t go looking for a bit underline it or dog ear your Bible and say ‘Ah-ha! That’s why I can be terrible to other people!’ Theologically speaking we’re also a flawed, cussed and arrogant lot, thinking we know best, which is why God has to keep telling us we’re wrong. Not that even Jesus’s supreme sacrifice on the Cross seems to have sluiced out our flaws. Thus quoting ‘bits’ to suit your intolerances- that is a load man, you are just bigoted- period! (Apologies to the late Michael Herr for plagiarism of ‘Despatches’- again)

Change of tack again. Just to personally slip back to The Science Area, Quantum and Cosmological (Very, very, very small and very, very, very big). There I was with three puzzling issues trying to comprehend Christianity, AND Quantum AND Cosmological, when gradually they all slide into place. All three cannot be taken at what seems to be a swift-throw away face vale, all need some study, pondering, and ‘gosh are they not hard to get around?’ There appear to be contradictions, there appear to be unfathomable, no one appears to agree on one set of rules, laws or perceptions, and so on. Thus it came to me, ‘this is how it is’. Nothing is straightforward, nothing can be encapsulated in a simple few words. All needs study and reflection. All is the same. For me the melding of the perspectives of Science and Religion became a most liberating time. Giving room to deal with the challenges, like trying to comprehend 150 billion galaxies (not stars) in the observable universe or getting your head around the Quantum concept that the nature of a particle being affected by it being observed OR your Belief and Faith being tested. No need to worry about The Purpose of Life. It just is.

One aspect of the Theistic and Atheistic conflict which strikes me as having an Irony the size of one of those Galaxies, is the way some arguments on both sides get hung up on the same piece of English estimate of what was originally said. Like somebody says the World was created in Seven Days because it says so in the English, and then somebody mocks the religion because of what a fundamentalist said, as if we all believed that. The Irony being that both sides are buying into the same statement. It’s like the fundamentalist has convinced the atheist, this is something to argue about. As if the description of the Time Scale matters. Or that everyone believes it or should believe it has only one direction and value, which by the way it doesn’t.

Navigating back to the Quantum and Cosmological aspects of this post, I would suggest brief visits to sensible academic sites, where you will encounter a variety of views, suggestions and ideas (avoid the calculations that’s like reading a theological treatise on The Holy Trinity concept- your mind will spin). There is a great deal out there based on Laws, however there are always differing the interpretations and the suggestions that those laws might not have actually always been quite that way. The whole is an ongoing process. Everything is ongoing. We are children learning, or being wilfully difficult.

From my own perspective I reason that if this is the case, and since God set the whole in motion, it follows a simple reasoning, that resorting to Confirmation Bias is not the satisfactory way to seek deeper into one’s faith and beliefs. Working on the basis that God is perfect we cannot be perfect because we are not God, therefore being flawed we have to work through a great deal of difficult and challenging questions. Just like Cosmologists or Quantum Physicists are involved with. There we are again; the two concepts are intertwined. Including those times when a person can get frustrated or discouraged by the immensity of the task. To emphasise once more, Nothing Can Be Neatly Fitted* Into How You Want It no matter how good or bad you wish to portray it. The closest you will get to that is with a Human Flawed Perception of ‘Things’

And there is that troublesome word again ‘Human’.

Religion– Used by more than a few as an excuse for war, or other acts of violence, or just intolerance. And wilful ignorance of or objection to progress, even when benefitting from that progress. Also, a handy tool for the hypocrite and the opportunist. Of course, I could put up a pretty good case against any form of secular governance on the same basis. There again let’s be neat about it and condemn Politics and Religions all in one go. Isn’t that *neat-ly fitted? What we need is good honest scientific progress?

Progress– We have much to be grateful for in the research into atomic and sub-atomic particles. Look how much Quantum has revealed:

Applications of quantum mechanics – Wikipedia

Mind you that research into the atom and its constituents did lead to the splitting of the atom and observing the release of energy….and sorry folks but…. Nuclear Weapons. That is the trouble make an advance and the next thing you know some Human grouping talks about weaponising it. Weaponry doesn’t spontaneously evolve, Humans develop it. You find a Human idea and you are going find a benefit and a mis-use, also several loud and long arguments about how to approach and utilise that idea. Humans, that’s the issue folks. Not just Religion then. Might as well throw Economics into the mix.

I could go on and on with more analogies, examples, arguments, discussion and so forth. Why, gee, I haven’t even got around to the question of The Historical Approach, nor the sometimes amusing, sometimes hysterical lengths both sides of the divide will go to support their point. Both using out of context statements, hurtful language and demonstrating Intolerance and quite a bit of Ignorance in pursuit of that good old Confirmation Bias. Don’t try and drag me or several millions others into either side of your squabble. We’re waiting to sort it out with God, as far as we are concerned, that is where The Last Word is. And there are those for the record who in addition to being professional scientists are theists too. It’s all a question of perspective

Basically limited thinking in a Universe about 14 billions years old and possibly 90+ billions light years…..errr…big? While at the other end of the scale particles which don’t do as we might think they should. Basically, arrogance in trying to claim we know the mind of the Being that brought the Whole into existence….Apparently only in one language, to a selected few, of one race or creed….Yeah like that’s going to resonate through the Universe, which God created.

Try this:

Tolerance

Respect

Compassion

Co-operation

You can even add on a few positives if you want. How and why you believe doesn’t matter to me as long as you are trying to stick with those….Not easy. WE can agree of that. Yes?

Now it would not be such a post without a part set aside for some impassioned commentary. So, as parting words, for those who do not visit my site, will most likely not read this. For everyone else this is what I have to say to them in that unlikely event they arrive and stridently tell me I am wrong.

Do not tell me that it is the Will of God and that Jesus Christ died on the Cross so that you could persecute others because they don’t fit your ideas of gender, are the wrong colour, because they were forced into medical choices for situations you did nothing to help with, because they seek out Our Lord God along different paths. Don’t you dare. I renounce you as Christians.

And …Over to the other side. Do not tell me that to follow my Faith is somehow dangerous to society, and I am to be shunned for my beliefs, that I am wrong, because quite frankly you know nothing about me and all you are doing is profiling, just like any other narrow minded hypocrite. The other side of the coin. I renounce you too. And don’t try and tell me it is all a delusion because you cannot take me to the place in the Universe and categorically say ‘Look this is where God should be, and there is nothing,’. You may believe it, but you cannot tell me I am wrong for believing otherwise. And sorry some guys but some schools of Logic haven’t got a place in this debate. This is a Science and Faith zone. Your Latin quotes won’t cut it here.

OK, for the rest of you guys who read my posts. Read and questions and poke holes if you find them. I know you all and respect your concerns and questions.

Also I confess to a smidge of mischief, mixing Religion, Quantum Physics and Cosmology into one post. But, I’m one of those (not the first) who just could not resist it. It had to be done. They cannot be avoided.

Writing Despite Computers and Programmes

Writing writing and more writing

Category Archives: Balance