tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-259904682024-08-28T22:52:16.780-05:00On things philosophical, political and eternal.J.K. Deckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140150887225738634noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25990468.post-28635683017584240302016-07-08T17:15:00.001-05:002016-07-08T17:50:09.615-05:00

Bombings and terror attacks in Bangladesh, the United States, Baghdad, Paris, Belgium and Turkey have left the world stunned.  Sniper attacks on police officers providing overwatch on a peaceful demonstration leave us speechless, wondering where as a nation do we go from here? Yet for many millions of people in other parts of the world, this sort of lawlessness has been, and still is an

J.K. Deckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140150887225738634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25990468.post-8731127146164235302013-08-15T21:33:00.001-05:002013-08-15T21:33:27.841-05:00

Yesterday I offered my answers to some stated questions on famed atheist Richard Dawkins' website for secularism. Yesterday's post examined questions about free will, morality and meaning. Today is the second installment, and the questions again come directly from Dawkins' website: Purpose. Do teleological concepts play a useful role in our description of natural phenomena?

J.K. Deckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140150887225738634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25990468.post-28717936685226032592013-08-14T16:10:00.000-05:002017-10-06T11:25:53.313-05:00

On his website, "Innovating for a Secular World", iconic atheist Richard Dawkins posits the following: "We would like to understand how to construct meaningful human lives in a world governed by the laws of nature. Some specific questions include: (And I am including only the first three in this installment). Free will. If people are collections of atoms obeying the laws of physics, is it

J.K. Deckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140150887225738634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25990468.post-62194938099075680362013-08-12T15:49:00.000-05:002013-08-12T21:59:56.666-05:00

What would you have done differently, had yesterday been your last day? I think the question has two answers, based on two different premises. Premise one is that you had no knowledge that tomorrow would not come.  You lived yesterday as if today was lurking around the corner, replete with its own set of pending circumstances ranging from problematic to exhilarating. So you trudged

J.K. Deckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140150887225738634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25990468.post-87152528710628890432012-08-17T14:52:00.000-05:002013-08-08T11:13:23.483-05:00

Elsewhere I have written on the topic of Gun Control and suggested that the same logic could radically change the outcomes of 'Sex Education' in public schools. But once again, following the Aurora, CO movie theater shooting, we find life breathed into the gun 'control' debate, replete with Nanny Bloomberg orating that the problem of death by firearms is a growing one, and whoever is the

J.K. Deckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140150887225738634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25990468.post-1587905854395277562012-06-20T12:14:00.000-05:002012-06-20T12:14:32.521-05:00

In nature invisible forces are in play without which the entire physical world ceases to exist. These largely mysterious forces act collectively to create the scaffolding upon which all matter, including you and me, is formed. Why these forces , and the laws governing them, exist is a matter of consternation for any thinking person, since without the laws, the forces either do not exist, or

J.K. Deckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140150887225738634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25990468.post-40912236657166793512012-06-05T12:00:00.000-05:002012-06-06T09:08:26.678-05:00

A Facebook friend recently reposted an image from the Facebook page of a group called The Christian Left. Their mission statement reads, in part: "See, it wasn’t just Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection that matter. It was his life too! The life he lived is a huge part of the deal, and he asked us to do a few things if you look at his words. Not only is what Jesus said the Word of God, but

J.K. Deckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140150887225738634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25990468.post-34264153299993450122012-03-20T13:55:00.000-05:002012-03-20T13:56:47.562-05:00

Last week we learned that the current DOJ head Eric Holder is on the record in 1995 seeking to instigate a campaign within the education system that would effectively treat guns with the same repulsion usually reserved for cigarettes or illegal drugs (the former, of course, receives government subsidies for the production of its key ingredient.) Of course  the right to own a

J.K. Deckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140150887225738634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25990468.post-43733552882010364092012-02-13T12:10:00.000-06:002012-02-15T07:58:24.850-06:00

Previously I have written about Economics (What is an Economy?), but the good folks over at EconStories.tv have made econ education about as fun and entertaining as can be hoped for. Artfully produced and suffused with humorous caricatures of both the Keynsian and Austrian theories of economics, EconStories.tv two rap videos about Keynsian vs Austrian economics&nbsp

J.K. Deckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140150887225738634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25990468.post-65907156448479861732012-02-11T17:35:00.000-06:002012-02-15T07:59:01.708-06:00

Ah, those Beatles.  What couldn't they answer about Life's multiple dilemmas? I've been reading Timothy Keller's book titled Counterfeit Gods.  It is a fascinating look at what motivates the human creature to elevate other forms of 'dust' to the status of idols.  At the core of his discussions is the built-in capacity for worship which we humans possess.  He quotes

J.K. Deckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140150887225738634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25990468.post-39907745614429007182012-02-10T16:30:00.003-06:002012-02-15T07:59:13.342-06:00

Been thinking about my Dad, and some of the many 'sayings' he had.  He didn't lecture with them... more like he subtly taught with them.  As sentences, they were simple and to the point, which no doubt contributes to their effectiveness as teaching agents.  Many will be familiar to people of my generation, such as: "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." "There's

J.K. Deckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140150887225738634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25990468.post-75907742580883387222012-02-10T15:41:00.000-06:002012-02-15T07:59:22.266-06:00

Life is like a bank account: You get out of it what you put into it!   var _gaq = _gaq || [];  _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-29205525-1']);  _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);   (function() {    var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true;    ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? '

J.K. Deckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140150887225738634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25990468.post-51532943061065223302012-02-08T08:58:00.000-06:002012-02-15T07:59:41.935-06:00

Two young boys were out inspecting their community in the aftermath of a powerful hurricane.  Devastation and disorder greeted them at every juncture, every turn.  As they drew near to their favorite beach, they noted the near complete obliteration of "Harley's", their favorite snow cone and snack shack.  For a moment they stood in silence, each inwardly recalibrating

J.K. Deckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140150887225738634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25990468.post-46250315600743703442012-01-23T19:27:00.000-06:002012-02-15T08:00:10.163-06:00

What follows is a comment I posted on Facebook after this cartoon showed up on my page. (I've tidied up the passage a bit for the blog). "You will get very little argument from Tea Party folks about this cartoon. The Tea party supporters strongly maintain that Lawmakers need to be forced to live by the same laws they pass for the People. As it is, we are rapidly becoming feudal, and

J.K. Deckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140150887225738634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25990468.post-54143871608449779542012-01-11T10:47:00.001-06:002012-02-15T08:00:22.799-06:00

There seems to be complete agreement among citizens, politicians and media muppets that our nation's finances are on life support. Liberals want to raise taxes. Conservatives want to reduce spending. Neither will fix the problem, not even in combination. But while we're riding this  fantasy train through a wonderland that believes this problem can be fixed with a few temporary

J.K. Deckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140150887225738634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25990468.post-73265713445246029082011-07-26T12:31:00.002-05:002012-02-15T08:01:20.362-06:00

If you were to ask random people on the street, 'What is reality?', what answers might you expect?  It is instructive to mull over these expectations, to get your thoughts geared up for  the reality track. Now, for some sort of baseline, let's go to the dictionary.  Dictionary.com defines reality, in its philosophical context, as:    (Philosophy)  &

J.K. Deckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140150887225738634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25990468.post-26468667342340009492011-06-17T14:20:00.000-05:002012-02-15T08:02:09.569-06:00

Some say our world today is running short of certain things, such as courage, compassion and conviction. We who agree that the world would benefit from an increase in these qualities must commit to being a source for them. That is, of course, a far larger dilemma.   var _gaq = _gaq || [];  _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-29205525-1']);  _gaq.push(['_trackPageview'

J.K. Deckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140150887225738634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25990468.post-82286840062503169212011-03-01T08:03:00.002-06:002012-02-15T07:49:34.487-06:00

Securing special treatment in the USA can now be described by a simple formula: Identify yourself as a member of a  minority group (any minority group - make one up if need be), set up your ideology for failure in the public square, then watch in amazement as your ideology is fast tracked into a law granting special protections and privileges via the courts.  (Bonus:

J.K. Deckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140150887225738634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25990468.post-73381415347737243322011-02-22T09:48:00.001-06:002012-02-15T07:50:10.582-06:00

Do you deplore the violence in Mexico and on the border? Hopefully not a single drug user will dare to answer that question with a 'Yes'. The raging violence and systemic corruption in Mexico, the murders of innocent citizens on both sides of the U.S./Mexican border, is the product of the American drug user. Each and every drug user, from the homeless junkie to the elites in Hollywood and

J.K. Deckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140150887225738634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25990468.post-16857885720863514542011-02-22T07:55:00.002-06:002011-02-22T07:55:51.959-06:00

J.K. Deckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140150887225738634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25990468.post-20603612159167351292011-01-10T11:22:00.000-06:002012-02-15T07:50:35.726-06:00

Tonight at our small group, we watched another segment in this Timothy Keller DVD series titled The Reason for God . It features Pastor Timothy Keller and 6 or so panelists, each either atheist or agnostic , discussing their difficulties with, or objections to, the notion of God. It has been one of the most thought provoking encounters I have witnessed in quite a long time. Tonight's topic

J.K. Deckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140150887225738634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25990468.post-20989737795158836422010-12-24T09:39:00.000-06:002012-02-15T07:51:09.049-06:00

The person who attempts to live life with one foot on the world's rail and the other on the rail of Christ eventually discovers how divergent these two tracks are, for there comes the moment when he must choose: life with Christ or death with the world.   var _gaq = _gaq || [];  _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-29205525-1']);  _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);   (function() {&

J.K. Deckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140150887225738634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25990468.post-11411743931322603592010-12-24T09:19:00.000-06:002012-02-15T07:51:22.003-06:00

TIME is more precious than gold, so spend it wisely, and invest for the long haul.   var _gaq = _gaq || [];  _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-29205525-1']);  _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);   (function() {    var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true;    ga.src = ('https:' ==

J.K. Deckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140150887225738634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25990468.post-34955577728345514202010-12-24T09:16:00.002-06:002012-02-15T07:51:46.520-06:00

Aspirations are the source of much success, but expectations are the source of much disappointment   var _gaq = _gaq || [];  _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-29205525-1']);  _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);   (function() {    var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true;    ga.src = ('https:' ==

J.K. Deckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140150887225738634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25990468.post-55980553825069228802010-11-22T15:56:00.000-06:002012-02-15T07:52:12.584-06:00

profiling (ˈprəʊˌfaɪlɪŋ) — n the practice of categorizing people and predicting their behaviour according to particular characteristics such as race or age: racial profiling OK, let me get this straight: Frail old pasty white people and young children must submit to being touched on every part of their body by complete strangers because terrorists from Islamic nations would like to

J.K. Deckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03140150887225738634noreply@blogger.com0