Value addressed: Seek and Share Truth
Check out this cool video. I really like it and I believe in its message.
https://youtu.be/q_TEOyhy7Bg
This video reminds us of the real reason we celebrate Christmas. It is true that many people these days
dispute the truth of Jesus Christ as the savior for mankind or as Son of God. For me, though, there is
enough evidence for me to believe. While many like to use science to declare there is no God, science
has nevertheless not disproved God’s existence, but has only raised valid questions we need to answer.
So long as I have my personal evidences of God and so long as true science has not been able to
convince me otherwise, I must believe.
I absolutely believe in truth—seeking it and sharing it. If it could absolutely be proved, to my
satisfaction, that there were no God, then I would have to stop believing. If something is true, let’s
believe it; if it’s not, let’s don’t believe it. We mustn’t get caught up in believing things solely for
emotional reasons. We should value truth more than emotional securities created by false ideas. If I’m
wrong, I want to know how and why, then I want to know what the truth is, so I can learn it. I will also
share what I have found to be true, so that others may gain that knowledge. So, as I find truth in my
Christian faith, I want to share it.
In contrast, I just read yesterday an article that seemed to take a blatant falsehood and attempt to paint
it as an indisputable reality that people are naively ignoring. The headline reads “Transgender man in
Ecuador makes history by turning pregnant!” I first saw it on Yahoo news, but it is showing up on other
sources too. Hooray, what an amazing miracle! A man becomes pregnant! What utter nonsense! The article
spells out its own falsity. The “father” was born female and the “mother” was born male. At some point
they transgenderized (my word). The one born female, now calls herself a man and the one born male,
now calls himself female. And the article says that “neither has undergone gender-reassignment
surgery.” It even says the child was conceived in the old fashioned way. So in other words, the man who
calls himself a woman performed the function of a man by fertilizing the egg. The woman who calls
herself a man performed the function of a woman by carrying the child in her womb. So this is the great
history-making miracle: a man got a woman pregnant but they decided they would call themselves the
opposite genders.
This is much like a scientist declaring that the sky is now green, though when we look at it, we see no
change from the standard blue. But the scientist and the scientific journals proclaim the great geological
spectacle of the age, now that the sky has turned from blue to green! What an amazing marvel! But as Juliet
said to Romeo, “that which we call a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet.”
This is a far cry from seeking and sharing truth. We can’t expect to advance our species when we are
willing to buy and sell lies. We can’t expect to build unity if some of us can look at truth and blatantly
construct and distribute nonsensical lies. We become more united as we work together to know what is
really true. If some of us want to sell lies to promote some other agenda, divisions will arise.
What to teach children
- Teach them to evaluate what they hear and read against tried and true knowledge and experience
- Teach them to distinguish between wanting something to be true and discovering sound evidence that
it is true
- Teach them about the sources of truth, such as history, science, religion, mathematics—help them to
understand the nature of each, the potential for errors in each, and the types of truth generally derived
from each
- Teach them to withhold judgment on something if they can’t determine the truth; don’t just make up
things, but rather state what they do know and what they don’t know
Merry Christmas to all!
Friday, December 25, 2015
Saturday, December 12, 2015
To Pastor: Declare the Word of God, but Don't Condemn Wrongly
Below is a letter I wrote to a pastor and submitted electronically through his organization's website. I post it here because I think it reminds us we are all in this life together and no one is any better than anyone else, but we all must try to discover the truths that we should live by. Surely there are valuable lessons here to teach children as well.
12/12/2015
Dear Pastor Raul Ries,
I was listening to your broadcast on 2 John, part 1 a couple of nights ago. I have listened with agreement
to some of your previous messages and felt the same sort of feeling as I started listening to this one.
But imagine my surprise and dismay when in the midst of your message you condemned me as a
heretic, along with all those who share my denomination! I could not just let it pass. Your message
speaks of love, but at the same time your love seems lacking for those of us who happen to find a
different meaning in the same Bible.
As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the real name for “Mormons”) I can say
with certainty that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are present with us. I also find that the Lord blesses and
guides those of many denominations and other religions, such as Muslims.
We really need to change this paradigm of “we have all the truth and everyone else is condemned.” The
evidence doesn’t support such a statement by any denomination. “Mormons,” for example, go through
the same change that other Christians experience when they come to Christ and follow God. As well, I
have personally witnessed the faith of a Muslim friend in Turkey as she lived out a faithful life following
the will of God. Though she didn’t know of the divinity of Christ, she clearly saw God’s hand in her life.
The scriptures tell us much, but there is still much we don’t fully understand about the Kingdom of God.
Like Peter’s surprising revelation about the Gentiles, that he should preach to them also, we must seek
revelation from the Lord on how all the various groups fit in His plan. There’s more to know before we
judge a man a heretic.
Also, I have to wonder if there is an ulterior motive in choosing to condemn Jehovah’s Witness and
“Mormons,” since both are proselyting denominations who by so doing are potential threats to
congregation contributions. I hope money isn’t a motive in these heresy declarations.
On doctrines and principles, I wonder how much you know about our beliefs in The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints. The main point here is that you used 2 John 7 as your basis for calling us
heretics. It states that there are deceivers who “confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.” If you
read up on our beliefs, you will find that Christ is the only one who can save us and that He did indeed
come in the flesh. (Read https://www.lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/images/gospel-library/manual/34591/34591_000_APP_04-livingChrist.pdf)
If the real issue (as it seemed from your message) is that we believe in a distinct Father, Son, and Spirit,
rather than explanations by ancient creeds, the condemnation seems a far and questionable stretch.
Consider these:
- In the very chapter you discuss in your message, (2 John, verse 3) John wishes grace, mercy, and
peace from God the Father and Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father. He stated them each separately.
- When Christ was baptized by John the Baptist, Christ is in the water, the Holy Spirit descends as a
dove, and the Father’s voice speaks from heaven. The three members of the Godhead are clearly
revealed here in different forms and locations at one time.
- In Matt 26, Christ goes to Gethsemane and prays to the Father asking that the cup pass if possible.
He also says, “nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.” Who is Christ praying to? Is he having an
inner conflict with himself or split personalities, or is He praying to a separate and distinct Father in
Heaven, just as we do when we pray? Doesn’t “my will versus thy will” indicate two individual wills
of individual beings?
- In John 20:17 Christ makes a clear statement that He goes to His Father and our Father, His God and
our God. Can there be any question that He worships and honors the same “God the Father” that
we do?
- Can there be any more clear scripture in the Bible on this subject than John 17? Christ is praying to
the Father and makes reference to those people that the Father gave to the Son. He talks of Christ
being in them as the Father is in Christ. He states that He was sent by the Father to them. He also
pleads that they may be one as He and the Father are one and also that they can all be one together
(the Father and Son and those given to the Son). Clearly all this seems to indicate unity of individuals
rather than a single individual with multiple parts or manifestations.
The total sum of the Bible’s verses do not tell us conclusively that God the Father and Christ are one
single individual being. The Triune God doctrine is questionable at best. So far as I’m concerned, the
Bible shows us they are not the same being any more than Christ and the Church are a single entity.
They are distinct and separate things, but united as well. Christ is described as the bridegroom and the
Church is the bride—two distinct entities, but nevertheless united, if the Church properly prepares
herself. This is much like a marriage between a man and a woman, who are distinct and separate, but
also united to the degree that people may often speak of them as one couple rather than two
individuals and either one may speak on behalf of the whole.
In the end, I’ll take God’s judgment over man’s declarations of heresy.
I know you may choose to reject what I have to say here, because after all I’m a “heretic.” What I ask is
that you show enough humility that you would reevaluate your judgments of who is supposedly a
heretic. Sincerely and humbly ask the Lord’s guidance on what to do. And if it be His will, please publicly
take back these claims of heresy on a future program.
You have a right to use your ministry to declare the word of God and try to help us understand what it
means, but I don’t believe you have any right to condemn specific people or groups based on a
questionable interpretation of Biblical principles.
In these days, I believe, we who believe in God need to unite on our common principles and beliefs. We
mustn’t let legalism become a tool that creates more divisions and contention between denominations
and religions, giving fuel to the non-believers who think all religion is a man-made contrivance. We can
state what we agree with in other faiths without condemning the whole group as an “offender for a
word.”
Sincerely,
Emil Therianos
A brother in faith
12/12/2015
Dear Pastor Raul Ries,
I was listening to your broadcast on 2 John, part 1 a couple of nights ago. I have listened with agreement
to some of your previous messages and felt the same sort of feeling as I started listening to this one.
But imagine my surprise and dismay when in the midst of your message you condemned me as a
heretic, along with all those who share my denomination! I could not just let it pass. Your message
speaks of love, but at the same time your love seems lacking for those of us who happen to find a
different meaning in the same Bible.
As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the real name for “Mormons”) I can say
with certainty that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are present with us. I also find that the Lord blesses and
guides those of many denominations and other religions, such as Muslims.
We really need to change this paradigm of “we have all the truth and everyone else is condemned.” The
evidence doesn’t support such a statement by any denomination. “Mormons,” for example, go through
the same change that other Christians experience when they come to Christ and follow God. As well, I
have personally witnessed the faith of a Muslim friend in Turkey as she lived out a faithful life following
the will of God. Though she didn’t know of the divinity of Christ, she clearly saw God’s hand in her life.
The scriptures tell us much, but there is still much we don’t fully understand about the Kingdom of God.
Like Peter’s surprising revelation about the Gentiles, that he should preach to them also, we must seek
revelation from the Lord on how all the various groups fit in His plan. There’s more to know before we
judge a man a heretic.
Also, I have to wonder if there is an ulterior motive in choosing to condemn Jehovah’s Witness and
“Mormons,” since both are proselyting denominations who by so doing are potential threats to
congregation contributions. I hope money isn’t a motive in these heresy declarations.
On doctrines and principles, I wonder how much you know about our beliefs in The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints. The main point here is that you used 2 John 7 as your basis for calling us
heretics. It states that there are deceivers who “confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.” If you
read up on our beliefs, you will find that Christ is the only one who can save us and that He did indeed
come in the flesh. (Read https://www.lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/images/gospel-library/manual/34591/34591_000_APP_04-livingChrist.pdf)
If the real issue (as it seemed from your message) is that we believe in a distinct Father, Son, and Spirit,
rather than explanations by ancient creeds, the condemnation seems a far and questionable stretch.
Consider these:
- In the very chapter you discuss in your message, (2 John, verse 3) John wishes grace, mercy, and
peace from God the Father and Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father. He stated them each separately.
- When Christ was baptized by John the Baptist, Christ is in the water, the Holy Spirit descends as a
dove, and the Father’s voice speaks from heaven. The three members of the Godhead are clearly
revealed here in different forms and locations at one time.
- In Matt 26, Christ goes to Gethsemane and prays to the Father asking that the cup pass if possible.
He also says, “nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.” Who is Christ praying to? Is he having an
inner conflict with himself or split personalities, or is He praying to a separate and distinct Father in
Heaven, just as we do when we pray? Doesn’t “my will versus thy will” indicate two individual wills
of individual beings?
- In John 20:17 Christ makes a clear statement that He goes to His Father and our Father, His God and
our God. Can there be any question that He worships and honors the same “God the Father” that
we do?
- Can there be any more clear scripture in the Bible on this subject than John 17? Christ is praying to
the Father and makes reference to those people that the Father gave to the Son. He talks of Christ
being in them as the Father is in Christ. He states that He was sent by the Father to them. He also
pleads that they may be one as He and the Father are one and also that they can all be one together
(the Father and Son and those given to the Son). Clearly all this seems to indicate unity of individuals
rather than a single individual with multiple parts or manifestations.
The total sum of the Bible’s verses do not tell us conclusively that God the Father and Christ are one
single individual being. The Triune God doctrine is questionable at best. So far as I’m concerned, the
Bible shows us they are not the same being any more than Christ and the Church are a single entity.
They are distinct and separate things, but united as well. Christ is described as the bridegroom and the
Church is the bride—two distinct entities, but nevertheless united, if the Church properly prepares
herself. This is much like a marriage between a man and a woman, who are distinct and separate, but
also united to the degree that people may often speak of them as one couple rather than two
individuals and either one may speak on behalf of the whole.
In the end, I’ll take God’s judgment over man’s declarations of heresy.
I know you may choose to reject what I have to say here, because after all I’m a “heretic.” What I ask is
that you show enough humility that you would reevaluate your judgments of who is supposedly a
heretic. Sincerely and humbly ask the Lord’s guidance on what to do. And if it be His will, please publicly
take back these claims of heresy on a future program.
You have a right to use your ministry to declare the word of God and try to help us understand what it
means, but I don’t believe you have any right to condemn specific people or groups based on a
questionable interpretation of Biblical principles.
In these days, I believe, we who believe in God need to unite on our common principles and beliefs. We
mustn’t let legalism become a tool that creates more divisions and contention between denominations
and religions, giving fuel to the non-believers who think all religion is a man-made contrivance. We can
state what we agree with in other faiths without condemning the whole group as an “offender for a
word.”
Sincerely,
Emil Therianos
A brother in faith
Thursday, August 27, 2015
What's the Answer? (Killing in Virginia of Reporter and Camera Man)
Yesterday America was shocked and perplexed by the shooting and death in Virginia of a reporter and a camera man while conducting a live interview. Such tragic deaths have become too commonplace in the United States. Along with the shock and sorrow, there is also plenty of blame to go around for why these things happen. Many say we need more or better gun control. Others say we need to enforce existing laws. Some say the problem is mental illness.
Despite all the accusations, it seems evident to me that the problem is partly a result of a nation of people who want to claim every freedom and embrace the widest diversity, but who consider moral duties beneath them. We need a new set of American values. We must start with "charity for all" that President Lincoln referred to in his second inaugural address.
As it is now, do we teach our children to laugh at or take advantage of people or do we teach them to appreciate the good in others and even sacrifice our own time or resources for the benefit of others? I think most people teach the first one.
Do we teach them to look down on people who aren't as capable, wise, or successful as themselves or do we teach them to forgive people's weaknesses, help those less capable, and lift others by their successes? Again, I think most people teach the first one.
It's up to each of us as individuals to promote concern for others as the number one American value. All the laws in the world aren't going to stop these killings until as a nation we all value each other. It will continue to get worse as long as our number one value is individualism.
Take a little time to evaluate your own attitudes toward other people. How do you view other drivers on the road? How do you react? How do you treat people who have hurt you? How do view those who are unpopular or unpleasant?
Answers to these kinds of questions will give some insight into a major problem in our lives and our nation. Imagine these kinds of attitudes present in an unstable person. They get those values from the rest of us. They get them from our "entertainment" as well.
The worst we routinely see in people is a magnified view of problems in our culture. Change people and you'll change the culture. Change the culture and you'll change the people. It starts with each one of us.
What to teach children:
- Teach children that we are all valuable and important
- Teach them to forgive others who hurt them
- We should try to understand how others feel and do things that help them feel good
- Often when people hurt us, they don't fully realize what they are really doing
- Sometimes people are mean because they were taught to be (by family, friends, culture, etc.)
- If we hurt someone else, we should always try to make it better (apology, correct the problem, etc.)
- Teach them to accept responsibility for their own actions, rather than blaming others
Media and friend influences
- Always try to be aware of what messages your children are getting from TV, movies, Internet, books, etc.
- Limit the amount of violent and self-serving behavior they see in media
- Encourage media that uplift and inspire - avoid mindless media just to fill time
- Discuss with them any violent or selfish behaviors they are exposed to
- Assess what they are thinking about what they have seen
- Help them see the harm those things can bring when people do them
- Help them to understand that life can be better for everyone when we care about others
- Know whom your child spends time with and get to know them
- Get to know their parents too
- Have regular conversations with your children about what they are doing with their friends
- Assess what they are learning from them and how they are thinking about it
Despite all the accusations, it seems evident to me that the problem is partly a result of a nation of people who want to claim every freedom and embrace the widest diversity, but who consider moral duties beneath them. We need a new set of American values. We must start with "charity for all" that President Lincoln referred to in his second inaugural address.
As it is now, do we teach our children to laugh at or take advantage of people or do we teach them to appreciate the good in others and even sacrifice our own time or resources for the benefit of others? I think most people teach the first one.
Do we teach them to look down on people who aren't as capable, wise, or successful as themselves or do we teach them to forgive people's weaknesses, help those less capable, and lift others by their successes? Again, I think most people teach the first one.
It's up to each of us as individuals to promote concern for others as the number one American value. All the laws in the world aren't going to stop these killings until as a nation we all value each other. It will continue to get worse as long as our number one value is individualism.
Take a little time to evaluate your own attitudes toward other people. How do you view other drivers on the road? How do you react? How do you treat people who have hurt you? How do view those who are unpopular or unpleasant?
Answers to these kinds of questions will give some insight into a major problem in our lives and our nation. Imagine these kinds of attitudes present in an unstable person. They get those values from the rest of us. They get them from our "entertainment" as well.
The worst we routinely see in people is a magnified view of problems in our culture. Change people and you'll change the culture. Change the culture and you'll change the people. It starts with each one of us.
What to teach children:
- Teach children that we are all valuable and important
- Teach them to forgive others who hurt them
- We should try to understand how others feel and do things that help them feel good
- Often when people hurt us, they don't fully realize what they are really doing
- Sometimes people are mean because they were taught to be (by family, friends, culture, etc.)
- If we hurt someone else, we should always try to make it better (apology, correct the problem, etc.)
- Teach them to accept responsibility for their own actions, rather than blaming others
Media and friend influences
- Always try to be aware of what messages your children are getting from TV, movies, Internet, books, etc.
- Limit the amount of violent and self-serving behavior they see in media
- Encourage media that uplift and inspire - avoid mindless media just to fill time
- Discuss with them any violent or selfish behaviors they are exposed to
- Assess what they are thinking about what they have seen
- Help them see the harm those things can bring when people do them
- Help them to understand that life can be better for everyone when we care about others
- Know whom your child spends time with and get to know them
- Get to know their parents too
- Have regular conversations with your children about what they are doing with their friends
- Assess what they are learning from them and how they are thinking about it
Saturday, July 11, 2015
My New Project
Eleven years ago, I retired from the U.S. Air Force. Because of my situation, I retired with no education benefits. A few years after I retired, I was notified that I qualified for the new Post-9/11 GI Bill. That was really good news. By 2012, I had decided to use that benefit to pursue a bachelor's degree in business. And now, I just graduated in May 2015!
I started working on my business degree with the idea that I would graduate and look for a job in management or perhaps start my own business. But over the course of these three years, I became acutely aware of fundamental issues in American culture that are slowly destroying us. I discovered that many of our problems stem from deeply ingrained values that most of us hold as Americans. One of these is an overriding sense of individualism, that tends to crowd out more benevolent virtues.
As time has progressed, I have felt a strong need to make efforts to use my new knowledge and skills to help establish a new moral foundation based on values that unite our people. My first effort in that direction, beyond this blog, involves the upcoming presidential election.
Below is a link to my Prefundia.com project, which explains more. I'm asking that you help me out by clicking on the link and giving your input on what you see there. It has a place for comments below the project description. Prefundia.com is intended to help people refine their projects before taking them to crowd-funding sources.
Please click and make a comment! Thank you. Emil
http://prefundia.com/projects/view/election-2016-values-study-and-report/5854/
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
To Follow God or Not--That is the Question
Value addressed: Seek Truth
We are at a crossroad in America, where we must decide if we will be a nation under God, or a nation that believes man has all the answers and operates as such. Although no one is saying it in the media, I believe this is what’s at stake for the upcoming presidential election in 2016. Will the United States of America be “one nation under God,” guided by principles given by God; or will it be a godless nation, seeking hedonistic pleasures, and denying any higher authority than self (or man-made government)?
Every American who believes in God and wants the freedom to act as God directs, must raise their voices in support of a God-inspired nation. We must not let lies overshadow what is true. We must be firm in our faith, not cast about by every wind of popular opinion.
I believe that most people who don’t believe in God these days have been influenced to a large extent by the Theory of Evolution. Some of the facts presented by science on the topic are true, but there is a whole range of questions on the subject that science has not yet answered, but has only speculated. We have been sold a big lie, while the truth is subdued or cast aside as out-of-date.
If this is an age of reason, let’s reason sensibly and accurately. We must no longer accept lies as truth, just because some scientist said it. We also must not accept lies just because someone of the clergy said it. We have the means to analyze so much more than anytime in the past. We can compare the validity of religious arguments and scientific arguments. The whole point of both religion and science is to learn and apply truth for the betterment and well-being of people. Let’s work with both to establish what is true and strive to live by it.
I’m impressed with the following speech by Rabbi Jonathan Cahn, who stood up for the truth. May we all be so bold in standing for the truth. May we also teach our children to stand for what is true and right.
Watch the video of Rabbi Jonathan Cahn addressing members of Congress at a service at the Capitol.
What to teach children:
- They have a responsibility to work to discover and learn what is true (this includes education and faith)
- There are many things people will tell them that are not true (even authorities, publications, etc.)
- Evolution is taught as a fact, but there are many questions that science has left unanswered
- Some answers science has provided are based on false presuppositions
- As science discovers new things, it often gives new evidence for evolution as well as a creator
- The potential consequences may be worse to deny a creator when he in fact exists than to believe, though he doesn’t exist. At best, they are equal. Believing is therefore a better choice in the absence of proof.
- Teach critical thinking skills
- Teach them about God
- Teach them about your faith and get them involved (yes, that means you need to be involved too)
- Many people claim to have experiences that they attribute to divine aid or involvement
- Until these and a number of other questions can be adequately explained by some other cause, reason cannot deny a divine creator
- Teach them to be kind as they stand firm for truth
Friday, March 20, 2015
We Are All Needed
Value addressed: Love people
Often people look down on others because their job has a lower social status or they resent an individual who achieves great economic wealth. This is far from a legitimate way to view people.
We need everyone who works a legitimate job. We need the janitors, the truck drivers, the entrepreneurs, and the cashiers. We need the managers, the CEOs, and the school teachers. We need the engineers, the sales people, and the assembly workers. We all contribute to the economic vibrancy of the nation. We all contribute to the system that provides for our many needs and wants. There is no one to look down upon. Sure, maybe someone gets paid more than you or maybe less than you. They are still part of the system that provides for your needs. Maybe their jobs take less skill than yours. They are still contributing a necessary function in the overall fabric of production and consumption. Maybe she stays at home, raising her children. Again, a great contribution to the well-being of our nation.
We must always respect one another, no matter their status, their job, their race, religion, political view, and so on. We don't have to agree with everyone's ideas, but we must always remember they are human beings like us, with hopes and dreams, successes and failures, strengths and weaknesses. They were created in the image of God and came here as babies like everyone else. We all grow up in cultural environments that help shape our thoughts and behaviors. Our environments may instill good values leading to good behaviors or those environments can develop destructive values that lead to delinquent behaviors. Our environments are different, but we are all of equal worth as people and deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, even when we're wrong or make mistakes.
What to teach children:
- Treat people with respect
- That means acknowledging them and listening when they speak
- It means doing things that are helpful to others
- It means avoiding intentionally irritating or annoying others
- It means accepting everyone when possible (of course it is always important to protect themselves)
- It means having patience with other people's weaknesses and mistakes
- Help kids see the good side of people who are different
- Help kids see the good even in those who have done wrong and hurt others
- Help children understand that often people hurt others out of ignorance or social conditioning more than hatefulness
- Explain that you are teaching these things so they are not like those who hurt others
- Teach them that it is behaviors that are bad, not people
- Involve children in helping others without pay
Avoid:
- Avoid talking badly about groups of people or individuals
- Avoid identifying people by their faults or mistakes (as in "they stole; they are thieves and bad people")
Often people look down on others because their job has a lower social status or they resent an individual who achieves great economic wealth. This is far from a legitimate way to view people.
We need everyone who works a legitimate job. We need the janitors, the truck drivers, the entrepreneurs, and the cashiers. We need the managers, the CEOs, and the school teachers. We need the engineers, the sales people, and the assembly workers. We all contribute to the economic vibrancy of the nation. We all contribute to the system that provides for our many needs and wants. There is no one to look down upon. Sure, maybe someone gets paid more than you or maybe less than you. They are still part of the system that provides for your needs. Maybe their jobs take less skill than yours. They are still contributing a necessary function in the overall fabric of production and consumption. Maybe she stays at home, raising her children. Again, a great contribution to the well-being of our nation.
We must always respect one another, no matter their status, their job, their race, religion, political view, and so on. We don't have to agree with everyone's ideas, but we must always remember they are human beings like us, with hopes and dreams, successes and failures, strengths and weaknesses. They were created in the image of God and came here as babies like everyone else. We all grow up in cultural environments that help shape our thoughts and behaviors. Our environments may instill good values leading to good behaviors or those environments can develop destructive values that lead to delinquent behaviors. Our environments are different, but we are all of equal worth as people and deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, even when we're wrong or make mistakes.
What to teach children:
- Treat people with respect
- That means acknowledging them and listening when they speak
- It means doing things that are helpful to others
- It means avoiding intentionally irritating or annoying others
- It means accepting everyone when possible (of course it is always important to protect themselves)
- It means having patience with other people's weaknesses and mistakes
- Help kids see the good side of people who are different
- Help kids see the good even in those who have done wrong and hurt others
- Help children understand that often people hurt others out of ignorance or social conditioning more than hatefulness
- Explain that you are teaching these things so they are not like those who hurt others
- Teach them that it is behaviors that are bad, not people
- Involve children in helping others without pay
Avoid:
- Avoid talking badly about groups of people or individuals
- Avoid identifying people by their faults or mistakes (as in "they stole; they are thieves and bad people")
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Fifty Shades of Crap
Values addressed: Love people, Keep passions in their proper place.
Fifty shades of crap smeared on the movie screen. Swarms of people run to see. What are they hoping for? Will they get their money’s worth? Will they get some twisted thrill? The gatekeepers turn a blind eye to any harm society may receive—their pockets are lined, from producer to theater.
So what about the cognitive triangle? Do we not know that thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are linked? Put crap in our thoughts, it creates crap in our feelings and behaviors. It’s pretty simple to see and yet there they are: swarms of people waiting, as the gatekeepers—or shall we say the Pied Pipers—gleefully lead them on.
Where is prevention today? It was once said that an ounce of prevention was worth a pound of cure. But our Pied Pipers say, “Who gives a d$$$. It’s not our job to prevent abuse. It’s not our job to elevate moral standards. If people buy, we’ll produce!”
But think: this is just the beginning! Where will they lead us next? What twisted, despicable worlds will they drag us into? Or will they think, “Okay, I guess I’ve made enough money. Now I can actually produce something uplifting or useful”? Doubtful I’m sure. We the people support their cause, handing them money to teach our young men how to treat our daughters.
Is innocence so undesirable that we’d rather jump in and swim in the crap? It’s just a movie you say? Don’t forget the cognitive triangle! Thoughts, feelings, and behaviors influence each other. We don’t watch crap and remain unaffected. Either we turn more against it or we become more conditioned to accept it.
So if you have, or plan to have, children one day or if you have nieces or nephews that you care about, be sure about whom you pay to teach them how to live in this world. The media are powerful influencers of our cultural values. What harm they cause today can linger for decades. It’s just a movie now, but piled together masses of entertainment shape our culture for good or for bad.
What to teach children:
Sex is a private and gentle expression of love between a husband and wife.
It brings children into the world and helps unite their parents.
Many people have turned it into a plaything, which causes many problems in our world.
In some ways, it's like a drug that can get people hooked.
Sex is not the same as love.
Love is the greater goal. Sex is only a special part of married love.
Movies and other entertainment involving sex degrade it and make it less special.
Such media also lead more people to treat it just as a plaything.
We must be careful what entertainment we consume.
What we watch, listen to, and read can affect us in ways we may not understand until it's too late.
People who produce bad entertainment are not bad people; they usually don't fully realize what harm they are causing.
What people wear (especially girls) and what they talk about can entice another person to want sex, stirring desires in wrong times and places.
Help them understand that as their parent you want to help them make the best choices about media, dress, associations, etc.
Teach them to come to you with questions about these things.
Before they know what sex is, teach:
No one has a right to touch their bodies without permission.
Their private areas are meant to stay private to keep them safe.
Exceptions to privacy are at the doctor's office or with a parent for cleaning/bath time (until old enough to care for themselves).
Avoid:
Avoid making sex sound like it's evil, dirty, bad, etc. It just has a proper place and time.
Avoid labeling people--label only behaviors as wrong.
Avoid overreacting to their questions, ideas, etc. They are young and learning.The world will put things in front of them and it is your job to help them see why the world's idea may not be so good.
Fifty shades of crap smeared on the movie screen. Swarms of people run to see. What are they hoping for? Will they get their money’s worth? Will they get some twisted thrill? The gatekeepers turn a blind eye to any harm society may receive—their pockets are lined, from producer to theater.
So what about the cognitive triangle? Do we not know that thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are linked? Put crap in our thoughts, it creates crap in our feelings and behaviors. It’s pretty simple to see and yet there they are: swarms of people waiting, as the gatekeepers—or shall we say the Pied Pipers—gleefully lead them on.
Where is prevention today? It was once said that an ounce of prevention was worth a pound of cure. But our Pied Pipers say, “Who gives a d$$$. It’s not our job to prevent abuse. It’s not our job to elevate moral standards. If people buy, we’ll produce!”
But think: this is just the beginning! Where will they lead us next? What twisted, despicable worlds will they drag us into? Or will they think, “Okay, I guess I’ve made enough money. Now I can actually produce something uplifting or useful”? Doubtful I’m sure. We the people support their cause, handing them money to teach our young men how to treat our daughters.
Is innocence so undesirable that we’d rather jump in and swim in the crap? It’s just a movie you say? Don’t forget the cognitive triangle! Thoughts, feelings, and behaviors influence each other. We don’t watch crap and remain unaffected. Either we turn more against it or we become more conditioned to accept it.
So if you have, or plan to have, children one day or if you have nieces or nephews that you care about, be sure about whom you pay to teach them how to live in this world. The media are powerful influencers of our cultural values. What harm they cause today can linger for decades. It’s just a movie now, but piled together masses of entertainment shape our culture for good or for bad.
What to teach children:
Sex is a private and gentle expression of love between a husband and wife.
It brings children into the world and helps unite their parents.
Many people have turned it into a plaything, which causes many problems in our world.
In some ways, it's like a drug that can get people hooked.
Sex is not the same as love.
Love is the greater goal. Sex is only a special part of married love.
Movies and other entertainment involving sex degrade it and make it less special.
Such media also lead more people to treat it just as a plaything.
We must be careful what entertainment we consume.
What we watch, listen to, and read can affect us in ways we may not understand until it's too late.
People who produce bad entertainment are not bad people; they usually don't fully realize what harm they are causing.
What people wear (especially girls) and what they talk about can entice another person to want sex, stirring desires in wrong times and places.
Help them understand that as their parent you want to help them make the best choices about media, dress, associations, etc.
Teach them to come to you with questions about these things.
Before they know what sex is, teach:
No one has a right to touch their bodies without permission.
Their private areas are meant to stay private to keep them safe.
Exceptions to privacy are at the doctor's office or with a parent for cleaning/bath time (until old enough to care for themselves).
Avoid:
Avoid making sex sound like it's evil, dirty, bad, etc. It just has a proper place and time.
Avoid labeling people--label only behaviors as wrong.
Avoid overreacting to their questions, ideas, etc. They are young and learning.The world will put things in front of them and it is your job to help them see why the world's idea may not be so good.
Friday, February 27, 2015
Free Speech and the Need for Self-censoring
The following is a letter to the editor that I got published in the Utah Statesman, the newspaper for Utah State University. This is what I submitted; the published version (22 Jan 2015) was slightly altered.
The other day, I read in The Utah Statesman the article “Censored: Threats and attacks inspire discussions of freedom of speech.” As discussed in the article, it is clear that the recent cases of violence against people because of what they printed are appallingly inappropriate responses. As an American citizen, I learned to value our Bill of Rights, just as other Americans. But on the other hand, as an intelligent and thinking human being, I have been increasingly concerned that we often justify too much in the name of rights, such as “free speech.”
I’m concerned that too many Americans may have become overly concerned about preserving their rights while neglecting their duties and responsibilities that come with those rights. In the case of freedom of speech and press, we have a duty to keep our public expressions within proper moral bounds. Freedom of speech and of the press in the Constitution had more to do with ensuring that the truth of a matter was not suppressed. It was never intended as a license to publish any disgusting, offensive, or deceptive thing that man might conceive.
Imagine a meeting of top decision makers in a business or government entity who meet together for an important decision. Throughout the meeting, all the attendees shout out their opinions and viewpoints at the same time, without listening to the others. They hurl insults and false information at each other. Where would such a meeting be headed? Will these leaders make a great and profound decision? Or would it more likely be a futile exercise in chaos? Clearly the situation merits some level of control and organization. There must be some boundaries for the communications that take place.
The same is true for our public expressions through print and broadcast media, art, or any other public communication medium. In order to retain our freedom of speech, we must take seriously our duty and responsibility to consider the effects of what we publish. We should ask ourselves questions such as these: How will it affect others? Am I just framing it this way mainly to offend some target group? Am I intentionally misleading anyone? How might this affect the culture or community? Consideration for others is a substantial part of civil society.
If we routinely abuse our rights and freedoms, in time we will loose them. Examples of this abound in our government regulations. For example, lending institutions lost the freedom to control how they express information about their loan policies; they must follow the requirements of the “Truth in Lending Act.” Sarbanes-Oxley is another example of limits on freedom in the business world. Food marketers must follow the requirements for food labels. Advertisers have requirements that restrain some of their freedom of speech. Often such regulations came as a result of individuals or groups using their freedom of speech to mislead people. Laws against slander and libel are also limits on our free speech. Sexual harassment laws came about mainly because too many men exercised their “free speech” in ways that offended too many women. But the limits and restraints imposed against someone abusing a right don’t always come from government, as the recent violence suggests. In cases where one provokes a reaction by the abuse of a right, pushing the boundaries of propriety, the reactions can sometimes be unpredictable and come at a much higher cost than expected.
A close-to-home example of such costs relates to the recent cancellation of Anita Sarkeesian’s appearance at USU. Video game companies abused their freedoms and rights in order to produce video games depicting virtual women being abused and murdered at the whim of their male gamers. The unexpected high cost is that they have created a culture of gamers that would threaten and intimidate a real woman who would dare speak against these games.
In our individualistic culture, we often elevate the status of “me” while disregarding the value of “them.” We are too ready to claim our personal rights, while at the same time too unconcerned about the effects of our actions on the wellbeing of others around us. Unrestrained freedom and diversity can destroy our nation. We must remember that freedom and diversity must be moderated by such uniting moral values as caring for others, self control, and a genuine desire to know and share what’s true.
The other day, I read in The Utah Statesman the article “Censored: Threats and attacks inspire discussions of freedom of speech.” As discussed in the article, it is clear that the recent cases of violence against people because of what they printed are appallingly inappropriate responses. As an American citizen, I learned to value our Bill of Rights, just as other Americans. But on the other hand, as an intelligent and thinking human being, I have been increasingly concerned that we often justify too much in the name of rights, such as “free speech.”
I’m concerned that too many Americans may have become overly concerned about preserving their rights while neglecting their duties and responsibilities that come with those rights. In the case of freedom of speech and press, we have a duty to keep our public expressions within proper moral bounds. Freedom of speech and of the press in the Constitution had more to do with ensuring that the truth of a matter was not suppressed. It was never intended as a license to publish any disgusting, offensive, or deceptive thing that man might conceive.
Imagine a meeting of top decision makers in a business or government entity who meet together for an important decision. Throughout the meeting, all the attendees shout out their opinions and viewpoints at the same time, without listening to the others. They hurl insults and false information at each other. Where would such a meeting be headed? Will these leaders make a great and profound decision? Or would it more likely be a futile exercise in chaos? Clearly the situation merits some level of control and organization. There must be some boundaries for the communications that take place.
The same is true for our public expressions through print and broadcast media, art, or any other public communication medium. In order to retain our freedom of speech, we must take seriously our duty and responsibility to consider the effects of what we publish. We should ask ourselves questions such as these: How will it affect others? Am I just framing it this way mainly to offend some target group? Am I intentionally misleading anyone? How might this affect the culture or community? Consideration for others is a substantial part of civil society.
If we routinely abuse our rights and freedoms, in time we will loose them. Examples of this abound in our government regulations. For example, lending institutions lost the freedom to control how they express information about their loan policies; they must follow the requirements of the “Truth in Lending Act.” Sarbanes-Oxley is another example of limits on freedom in the business world. Food marketers must follow the requirements for food labels. Advertisers have requirements that restrain some of their freedom of speech. Often such regulations came as a result of individuals or groups using their freedom of speech to mislead people. Laws against slander and libel are also limits on our free speech. Sexual harassment laws came about mainly because too many men exercised their “free speech” in ways that offended too many women. But the limits and restraints imposed against someone abusing a right don’t always come from government, as the recent violence suggests. In cases where one provokes a reaction by the abuse of a right, pushing the boundaries of propriety, the reactions can sometimes be unpredictable and come at a much higher cost than expected.
A close-to-home example of such costs relates to the recent cancellation of Anita Sarkeesian’s appearance at USU. Video game companies abused their freedoms and rights in order to produce video games depicting virtual women being abused and murdered at the whim of their male gamers. The unexpected high cost is that they have created a culture of gamers that would threaten and intimidate a real woman who would dare speak against these games.
In our individualistic culture, we often elevate the status of “me” while disregarding the value of “them.” We are too ready to claim our personal rights, while at the same time too unconcerned about the effects of our actions on the wellbeing of others around us. Unrestrained freedom and diversity can destroy our nation. We must remember that freedom and diversity must be moderated by such uniting moral values as caring for others, self control, and a genuine desire to know and share what’s true.
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