The Baron vs. The Cynic

The baron and the cynics. Such a lovely titled for this. It's meaning? I'm glad you inquired:

baron - a member of the lowest grade of nobility.

cynic - a person who believes that only selfishness motivates human actions and who disbelieves in or minimizes selfless acts or disinterested points of view.

This is the very essence of Christianity (true, Biblical Christianity) and secular humanism. While these two groups argue back and forth constantly without getting anywhere with their point of view, no one can deny this to be a fact; Christianity at its core considers its "followers" to be accepted by God and thereby inheriting His kingdom (lowest grade of nobility). Cynicism at its core derives its meaning from what secular humanists and atheists preach constantly in their religion (yes, it is a religion), which is "there is no god," "natural selection shall take its course" and following a certain religion is "disingenuous" at best.

Ironically, both have nearly the same principles without having the same motive. Both consider people not affiliated with the group to be clueless. Both have followers and leaders. Both have books held in high esteem. Both have great minds and thinkers and both have colossal "truths" that one should follow if to claim partially in the group. Both groups try to make 'converts' of the other.

However, the differences are astounding (I know this is repeat for you but stay with me). Christianity says there is a higher authority. Atheism says there is no god and if there is he/she/it is incomprehensible. [C] says there are morals and this higher being called God gave them to us. [C] have the Bible while [A] have numerous materials not compiled into one book but rather outlined and based in Darwin’s Origin of Species. [A] says there are morals but only what we as a society deem to a 'value' is considered one. [C] says you aren't a good person by nature. [A] says we're all inherently good and this goodness just has to be instilled (if allowed by that person) in us by our respective societies.

So taking these major views, we have to see which one matches up to reality.

I’ve have an ex-girlfriend that’s insanely awesome in her field, that being biology. Being a kind boyfriend, I would genuinely show interest in that field and actually, I learned quite a lot from her. But simply put, the more I learned, the more I began to notice more and more the complexities of matter and that such complexities are too unreal to have “just happened.”

However, just because this may be true, doesn’t mean that Christianity is correct. There are 3 ways that this could end up. Atheism is wrong; Christianity is right. Christianity is wrong; atheism is right. Both Christianity and Atheism are wrong.

The only way to prove if one or the other is correct or both are wrong is by testing each side OBJECTIVELY. And that’s my challenge to you, my reader.

It’s the baron vs. the cynic. It’s the dummies vs. the smarties. It’s Christianity vs. Atheism. You have to fall on one side or the other. There is no in between. Choose this day to which religion you will be a slave. However, no matter which you choose, you’re still a slave; a slave to yourself or a slave to a God (if He exists).

Ready… go.

The Day The World Stopped

As everyone here knows, today is 9/11. Six years (and on the exact day, Tuesday) later, I look back at where we've come in America and where I've come personally. Here's my observations...

Firstly, while we as Americans began united after this event, we now stand divided. The War in Iraq is a huge focal point of this and while that may be true, I will actually assert that there's another reason we've begun an even further decline: the lack of the Judo-Christian roots upon which this country was founded.

Where did everyone go the following weeks after 9/11? The answer: churches. Not just evangelical churches mind you but rather of all faiths. Jewish synagogues were packed. Mormon stakes were filled to capacity. Catholic masses were unfathomably huge. Why is this? I would like to submit that people wanted answers and did not believe that humanism would give the answers they needed.

After this catastrophic event occurred 6 years ago, people began to ask the following questions: Why is there evil in the world? If there is a God, how can He allow this to happen? What is the meaning behind this event? The problem with humanism (and the problem many people began to see) is that, humanism in and of itself cannot answer these questions. There is no explanation of evil; there's actually no concept of evil in humanism for it takes it's morals and absolutes from how the society interacts within itself and what it will allow at that time; morals change when the society changes.

There is no God according to humanism and thus this event is the work of other humans believing in a supposed god; this means that religion is actually at fault because it's basis on a lie confounds it's followers to carryout they're duties regarding their "faith." Finally, this event has no meaning. It is something bad that happened; something bad that we must deal with; something bad that has no explanation or consequences.

That is how a humanist has to think regarding this issue. I used to think this way. Can you understand the logic behind this way of thinking? My point in this blog isn't to prove the Christian God. That'll be saved for another day and time. My reasoning for this blog is to ask the question: what good is the humanist mind frame and way of thinking? It's hopelessness and sheer loss within it's own constructs absolutely astounds me; yet I still have friends who believe this way of thinking to be true. We're nothing more than here for now, studying those who have come to past and taking everything in to build for the future generation that we'll never see.

The division that has come about in America has made a comeback because many of the people that fell into churches in the weeks following 9/11 have no fallen back to their humanist ways. Its partly the church's fault for this. But mainly, its people wanting to enjoy what they want, when they want, so long as it doesn't infringe on other people. Today truly is a sad day in our country. Not just because we commemorate those fallen but because this day brings to light just how far our countries morals and state of mind have fallen.

An Introspection Into Continued Holiness

"These, then, are the two points I wanted to make. First, that human beings, all over the earth, have this curious idea that they ought to behave in a certain way, and cannot really get rid of it. Secondly, that they do not in fact behave in that way. They know the Law of Nature; they break it. These two facts are the foundation of all clear thinking about ourselves and the universe we live in." - C.S. Lewis

It continually amazes me that many people will read a quote such as this one and almost immediately disregard it without taking a look into the richness of it's depth.

The past few days, I've been hard at work. I actually nearly quit my job today because some of my fellow employees have made a habit of making things... difficult (for a lack of a better word)... for me as of late because they either believe I don't know what I'm doing, don't do it their way or just to mess with me. And sadly, this isnt the only area of my life that's been affected in this way lately.

I've noticed that another one of C.S. Lewis' quotes has been reigning as truth in my life; especially as of late. The quote is as follows: "The full acting out of the self's surrender to God therefore demands pain: this action, to be perfect, must be done from the pure will to obey, in the absence, or in the teeth, of inclination." It all started about a month ago when (for reasons unneeded of exposure) I broke up with a girl that I had been dating for nearly a month. This was mostly due to myself beginning to understand that I was taking on the persona of a side of me that I thought I had killed in late 2006. Apparently, it decided to come back again, I allowed it to control me and thus began to be fueled by my desires for self-indulgence.

Upon realizing this, I immediately knew that the time had come for me to kill this side of me and make sure it didn't resurrect from the past again. Since this time, I've regained self-control, grown in holiness and have tried to set myself apart from the things that continually bring me down. This however has not come without difficulties.

I've broken off many relationships as of late. People I used to call friends (I've come to realize) haven't treated me with the same respect deserved of that title. It's for this reason (many others due abound however) that any little irksome thing has caused me to basically write a note of farewell to that person. On the brighter side, I've cultivated the few friendships I wish to remain. The cultivation of where thorns and thistles once laid, due to my personal lack of watering the vine of friendship, has delivered many wonderfully new scents of surprises. Also, I've formed new friendships set upon the foundation of the only thing that matters. Many of you know of the foundation of which I speak; that being upon the One of Love with Truth, Justice and Mercy at His side.

Nevertheless, I've been thinking... have I been doing something wrong; something that needs to be worked upon; something that has brought about a cause for concern in others regarding either talking with and/or pursuing a friendship with me? After all, Jesus did on many occasions speak of judging your inner-self to be sure you're not guilty of the same thing before judging others on the subject...

(Side note: people take use the verse Matthew 7:1 as saying Jesus said not to judge. Here's the entire passage and I bolded the part that defeats this argument within the text: "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.)

... So what have I been doing to offend others (if anything) and what do I need to work on before I judge others on the subject? The only thing that comes to mind is the tone in which I say the things I do. While speaking with someone I've grown to admire qualities in quite a bit, it was pointed out to me that my definitions aren't always clear. (Thanks Britty) How then should I rectify this? Simple. Clearly define what I'm saying. Other than this, I cannot think of anything else that needs to be worked upon.

In closing, I'd like to take this blog full circle by reiterating what C.S. Lewis stated in my opening: "These, then, are the two points I wanted to make. First, that human beings, all over the earth, have this curious idea that they ought to behave in a certain way, and cannot really get rid of it. Secondly, that they do not in fact behave in that way. They know the Law of Nature; they break it. These two facts are the foundation of all clear thinking about ourselves and the universe we live in." The question I pose to contemplate is simply this: when was your last objective introspection and have you been growing in holiness (defined as "being set apart from") since? If not, why is that? Could you be so consumed by your own self-desires that you have forgotten that the word self-control even exists. Do you even care about working on bettering yourself? Finally, if so, why do you care?

"If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin, and in the end, despair." - C.S Lewis