Fear

There is no fear for one whose thought is not confused. These were the sage words of wisdom found inside a fortune cookie recently. Stated more simply these words mean lack of confusion prevents fear. Does this mean confusion causes fear? No. But it does render one more susceptible. It could be said that confusion leads to fear, but what does fear lead to?

In Episode One of the Star Wars saga George Lucas explains it beautifully through the voice of Yoda, “Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to Hate. Hate leads to suffering.” Suffering. Fear incited the Inquisition, and the Inquisition caused suffering. Fear evoked the Salem witch burnings, and the witch burnings caused suffering. Fear prompted the creation of the atomic bomb, and the atomic bomb caused suffering. Fear has provoked the human race to engage in some of the stupidest actions possible…which in turn have caused some of the most intense suffering.

Most people fear that which they do not understand; that which confuses them. Mere lack of understanding, however, is not a favorable reason to be fearful. And yet, history is replete with examples. Some feared a ship that strayed too far out to sea would fall off the edge of the Earth. Some feared the American Indians who had arrows when they had guns. Some feared a nuclear attack from the former Soviet Union even though they were just as haunted by the same fear. (Actually, that fear can be understood after what the US did to Japan) Today many Americans fear their freedom will be taken away by another county, while we are the most powerful nation on this planet and have been for quite sometime.

Fear is not evil or wrong. Without fear, courage could not exist. There is nothing wrong with being fearful in the face of true danger. Fear is a normal healthy emotion designed as a warning mechanism to help us avoid injury. When a caveman saw or heard a Tyrannosaurs Rex he was afraid, and for good reason. Fear let him know it was time to boogie out of there and back to the safety of the cave. Without fear he would have just stood there picking his nose clueless to the fact that he was waiting to be eaten. This would have severely hindered the development of the human race to say the least. The problem lies not in that we feel fear, but in that some of us have learned how to use it as a tool against others of us.

This tool has been used by the rich, powerful, and influential since the beginning of human understanding to subjugate the poor, meek, and inconsequential. Kings used fear of their knights and armies to keep their subjects subservient and their lands vast. Religion uses fear of eternal damnation to keep its adherents faithful. Our own government has used fear of terrorism as an excuse to invade a sovereign nation.

Aren’t all wars caused by fear?

Is this possible? I leave it to you…

Truth

What is truth? When I looked up the definition of the word in my Merriam-Webster there were several to choose from. Most dealt with the state of being, facts, and actuality. One, in particular, did catch my attention: the body of true statements and propositions. This one seemed interesting to me in that a body of anything can change at any moment through additions and/or subtractions. That would make truth a variable to be defined, but I have always believed truth to be a constant. And yet new truths are being learned all the time and once in a while old “truths” are disproved. So how can this be?

The answer is found in the difference between universal truth and truth as we know it. There are many true statements, but only one universal truth. Universal truth is static, has always existed, and does not require belief. Universal truth includes all true statements whether or not they have been discovered yet. The universal truth cannot be fully known until all true statements have been discovered and all untrue “truths” dissolved. Mankind is making new discoveries all the time. Discoveries that do not add to the universal truth, but add only to our understanding of it. In this way truth is likened to an onion in that many layers must be peeled away, and some of them are bound to cause tears.

So why do so many claim to know the whole of truth? Perhaps, because it is scary to admit we don’t? Believing we know everything there is can make us feel more secure in our existence. But, it is a sham. A sham that is easily exposed when we consider that the discoveries of tomorrow will indeed add to the knowledge we possess today; and will most likely refute a few ideas we hold as true. This has happened in the past, so could it not happen in the future? Yet, to many, admitting how much we actually don’t know is one of their greatest fears. Religion plays on this fear by claming full knowledge of the truth. All religions claim to have all the answers. This comforts the many while angering the few.

Why do we fear the unknown anyway? Fear is the most deceptive of emotions. FDR said it best, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” We need not fear the truth; even if it doesn’t coincide with what we already believe. For knowing the truth can only make us less fearful in the end. Do we fear solar eclipses today? At one time they were considered a punishment from on high. Today we understand the truth of what is happening during an eclipse because of science. Some fear science. Why? Science is not evil anymore than is the truth. True science is nothing more than observation and continues to lead us closer to universal truth.

I leave you with one final thought: It’s not so important what truth is as what it is not.

Is this possible? I leave it to you…

Are believing and knowing the same?

Mankind has always perceived that there is something about our existence that we just don’t understand. We just can’t put our finger on it. Whether it be through science or religion, we have struggled with questions such as, “What is the meaning of life?”, since our beginning. Why are we here? Where did we come from? Were we created by a higher power? Did we evolve from a lower life form? What is our purpose? What happens when we die?  So we seek. We seek answers. Some seek truth. Some seek comfort. Some don’t care. Although some of us admit to the realization that we just don’t have all the answers, there are many who believe all the knowledge we need can easily be found at our fingertips in certain books.

Anyone who believes anything, believes that their own beliefs are the truth. No one believes their beliefs are wrong. I know what you’re thinking, “Of coarse they don’t, you moron!” But, just take a little time and let that thought set in a bit. Think about it. There are some things in life that we all agree on. If we drop an apple off the roof it will fall and hit the ground. If we fill a bathtub to the top then get in water will splash out onto the floor. If a tree falls it the woods and no one is around...oh, never mind that one. However, there are other issues that we don’t agree on; at all. Everyone has beliefs, and yet not everyone’s beliefs coincide. Logically this means not everyone is right. Someone is wrong; a lot of some ones actually. Yet everyone believes it is the other guy who is wrong, while never once thinking it could be them selves.

Is it possible that what you believe is not true? Is it POSSIBLE? Our mind tells us no way, but history certainly tells a different story. History reveals the difference between believing something to be true and knowing something to be true. K said it best in MIB, “5000 years ago everyone KNEW the Earth was the center of the universe, 500 years ago everyone KNEW the Earth was flat...” And today everyone KNOWS that their own religious beliefs are the truth. But do they know, or do they just believe? Just because someone believes something doesn’t automatically make it true, but we only find truth in this statement while viewing the beliefs of others. Look at yourself. That is the challenge. Would you still believe what you believe if you had not been taught to believe it since you were capable of conscience thought? (What is the definition of brainwashing?)

Doubt is the enemy of every religion; yet it is the only conclusive test of any real truth. If I never doubt the existence of an invisible dragon living in my garage I will never know it isn’t true. At the same time, even if I do doubt that an egg will fry in a hot pan I can not change the truth that it will. Although falsities can be revealed through questioning, if you question the truth it remains true. So why is religion so afraid of doubt, when doubt is so easily quenched by the truth? Interesting question? Again, I ask only that you think on it; only that you open your mind. If we are ever to find the truth we must first stop fighting each other, and second leave behind all untruths. We must look at the opposition’s ideas. We must take an honest look and consider, even if only for a second, that we might be wrong in our own assertions. Maybe the person we’re watching through our window is wrong. Or maybe our window is really a mirror? Maybe we believe, but we don't really know.

Is this possible? I leave it to you…

Hello World!

This is a test of the Emergency Alien Invasion System...if this were an actual invasion you would have to "Take me to your leader."  That's right, this is the masked martian (concealing my alien identity as always) coming to you live from 42 light years away in the prestigious Spaceware Unlimited production studios in lush and plush downtown GJ1214b.  Tune in next time for the continuation of this AI ingress...same alien time, same alien channel...