Beware the savage jaw of 1984. --David Bowie In his novel, Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell presents readers with a society so repressive that even the mere thought of dissent is outlawed. Every citizen has a 24-hour monitoring device, the telescreen, installed in his or her home, and even the English vernacular has been altered to … Continue reading Thought Crime
Category: Essays
Cosmic Hubris
There's a hedge that believers frequently cite when discussing the existence of a supreme being. It's better to believe in God regardless of whether or not God exists, because the consequences of believing in a God that doesn't exist are less than for not believing in a God that does. The same argument can be … Continue reading Cosmic Hubris
Nature of God
The nature of that which we call God exists in the act of creation. The instilling of matter and energy with their given properties which set in motion the building blocks of the universe. Afterward, what more needed to be done? The basic elements of everything that followed were in place and all that was … Continue reading Nature of God
What Nature Intended
To someone trying to reason out why people behave the way they do, homosexuality may seem like an anomaly. Two men together or two women together cannot produce a child, and since the biological imperative for all creatures on earth seems to be to survive and procreate, homosexuality doesn't appear to play a role … Continue reading What Nature Intended
Ecological Meltdown
We satisfy our endless needs and justify our bloody deeds in the name of yesterday and in the name of God - The Eagles The earth's ecosystem didn't pop up overnight. It has developed over billions of years, and humans have only been a part of it for a few hundred thousand at most. This … Continue reading Ecological Meltdown
Reflections on the Child Snatcher: Serial Blackface and the Atlanta Child Murders
Wayne Bertram Williams, the chief suspect in the Atlanta Child Murders. Photo credit: Georgia Department of Corrections, found at Wikipedia; used here under the provisions of Fair Use. I had the opportunity to see Serial Blackface, a world premiere play by Janine Nabers, at Actor's Express in Atlanta on Wednesday, 6 April. Serial Blackface … Continue reading Reflections on the Child Snatcher: Serial Blackface and the Atlanta Child Murders
Four Geese and a Duck, Stone Mountain, 25 March 2016
10 June 2016: I have learned that what I've been identifying as a duck below is actually a Greater White-fronted goose. This explains some inconsistencies I noted in how it behaved. We live and learn. I went for a walk at Stone Mountain Friday, 25 March and took some video of two pairs of geese … Continue reading Four Geese and a Duck, Stone Mountain, 25 March 2016
Genealogy Tips and Tricks
To trace a family, start with what is known and work backwards — parents to grandparents and so on and along the way, it's important to note every source of information. Genealogy is all about what can be documented and it's helpful to keep in mind that all published records are compiled by people … Continue reading Genealogy Tips and Tricks
Existential Void
In his book, Man's Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankl tells the story that on his first day in a Nazi concentration camp, an older and more experienced prisoner pointed to him and, based on the older prisoner's experience, said Frankl was the type who wouldn't survive. Frankl did survive and one way he managed … Continue reading Existential Void
Real Bible Studies: The Sons of Israel
The Bible is as much a political document as it is a religious one. Stories printed there were crafted to support a specific narrative, perhaps to bolster the reign of a particular king or party in its quest for control. Over time, these stories were edited, re-edited, and re-arranged to support different narratives. One such … Continue reading Real Bible Studies: The Sons of Israel