Is it possible to believe in nothing?

If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him.
~Voltaire~

Often I find myself sitting and pondering about those who claim to be atheist and have not a shadow of doubt that there is no God.  I don't understand the concept.  Agnostics I kinda sorta get.  They say there's no proof whether or not there is a God.  Even with them, I still don't get the lack of choosing one side or the other in which to believe.

Now, don't get me wrong - I totally support everyone's right to believe (or not believe) as he or she chooses.  I just don't understand the idea of having no doubt that something doesn't exist.  I guess I just ponder the "what-ifs" too much.  Faith is absolutely important to me so to not have any is incomprehensible to me.  Besides, I was always taught that you can't prove a negative.

It just boggles my mind, though, that when we look around all that God has created (and, yes, I firmly and unequivocally believe HE created everything) that some choose to believe everything was a random accident that resulted in a 'big bang' that lead to the creation of everything and the intricate ways in which everything works together.  Seriously?  What are the odds of that happening?

Things work too well together to be random.   Human beings breathe in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide.  Trees and plants take in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen.  That's random?  The sun warms us during the day and the moon lights our nights. That's random?  Every species has a male and female gender and the two genders physically fit together and creates life in a way that can't possibly be random.

Consider the complexity of the human being.  No two people share the same fingerprints or iris imprint.  Each person has his or  her own unique DNA that identifies each of us even in a group of billions of people.  How is it possible that each and every fingerprint, iris and DNA pattern is identifiably different from all the others?  This is random?  It's said that of all the snowflakes that have ever fallen or will ever fall, no two are alike.  How could that possibly be a result of randomness?

I know that science looks for empirical evidence to substantiate a claim about something that has no physical or historical proof.  Because scientists can't empirically prove God exists, they choose, rather, to believe in the astronomically impossibility that all life was created by a random accident from nothingness.   Why is that easier to believe than that God exists and created everything?  Believing in God requires faith but, then, doesn't believing in nothing also require a certain amount of faith?

Believing in that which we can't see or touch is faith.  If one doesn't have faith, how can one have hope?  How can one believe in love?  You can't feel what someone else is feeling so when they tell you they love you, you have to choose whether to believe or not believe them.  You can base your belief (faith) on how they act but you can't KNOW.

Believing is faith and I choose to have faith that all that I know and all that I am was created by God. 

Whose Rights Trump Whose?

You are a human being. You have rights inherent in that reality. You have dignity and worth that exists prior to law.
~Lyn Beth Neylon~

I don't believe in women's rights, gay rights, minority rights or any other group rights.  I believe in HUMAN rights.  Whatever right one human being has, then every other human being has the same right.  I also believe, however, that the rights of one individual end when they interfere with the rights of another.

In the history of our country, we have used skin color as a reason to enslave other human beings.  While I find that absolutely abhorrent, I also recognize that it's part of our history and can't be changed - nor should it be forgotten.  But neither should it be a reason to continue hatred and discrimination.

In the history of our country, women were considered property - daughters were property of their fathers and wives were property of their husbands.  Did you know that in the first two hundred years our country existed, if a man died and left children under the age of 21, their mother could not be their guardian?  A child under the age of 21 was classified as an infant and had to have a male guardian.  Should we as women hate all men because of the way it used to be?

In the history of our country, religious beliefs were a reason to separate people and to discriminate against them.  When the Pilgrims and Puritans (protestants) came to the New World, they did so for freedom of religion.  They weren't so accommodating to other religions, however. Catholics were banned from settling in the Colonies.  When our government was first formed, only Christians could hold public office.

In the history of our country, no group was ever more discriminated against than the American Indian. We came into HIS land, took it from him and then treated him worse than we treated our slaves.

So what prompted this blog?  A conversation about abortion was the catalyst.  I have never made a secret of the fact that I'm pro-life and believe abortions should be banned except in certain cases.  My belief is that it's morally wrong to take a human life - even if that life hasn't seen the light of day yet.  To choose to end the life of an unborn child because he's not wanted, because she's not a he or because he may have Down's Syndrome or some other genetic defect is vile and despicable.

Not only does abortion take away the right of the child to live, it also denies the father his rights.  Yes, I know - it's a woman's body and her right to do with as she pleases... blah blah blah...  Suppose we took that attitude with everything that affects a person's body?   Why do we prosecute someone who has AIDS if he or she chooses to have unprotected sex and spreads the virus?  Doesn't the infected person have the right to treat his or her body as he or she chooses?  Why is being the victim of that person any worse than a baby being the victim of abortion?

I know that one of the arguments in favor of abortion is that of when the fetus is actually a living being.  Some people say it's when they're born, others say it's the moment of conception and still others say it's when the life is viable outside the womb. Fact is, no one knows for sure exactly when life begins.  We all have opinions but it's like defining outer space - no one really knows.  It may have a legal definition but that doesn't make it fact.  Personally, I believe life begins when the body contains a soul.  Again, no one but God knows when that is.

And one final thought, if a pregnant women is murdered, why is the murderer charged with two counts of murder even in the earlist stages of the pregnancy if the fertilized egg growing inside of her isn't a human life?  Just asking...

We don't need a village

Parents often talk about the younger generation as if they didn't have anything to do with it.
~Haim Ginott~

Is it just me or does anyone else think that society has entirely too much say in how our children are raised today?  Once when a little boy made a rude and somewhat nasty comment to his mother, I asked her "why do you let him get away with that?"  Her answer left me a bit flabbergasted. "What can I do? All the kids talk like that."  I did remind her that she was not responsible for "all" kids - only hers.  The glare I received was all I needed to know it was time to butt out.

Children need to be taught respect - respect for others and respect for themselves. Sometimes, respecting your parents includes a healthy dose of fear.  Don't get me wrong - I don't think any child should be afraid of his or her parents but I think they SHOULD be afraid of the consequences when they misbehave or act out.

When I was little, people minded their own business when it came to parents disciplining children. Isn't that how it should be?  My neighbors and friends aren't responsible for how my children turn out so why should they have a say in how they're raised?  Truth is, they shouldn't.

Everyone has their own opinions and ideas on how best to raise a child.  Truthfully, I'm not positive there's any one best way.  I do know, though, that it does NOT take a village to raise a child.  You've heard the saying that too many cooks spoil the broth?  Well, I'd say that applies to raising children too.  It's hard enough for two people to agree on how to raise a child.  Can you imagine how confusing it must be to have a whole society trying to raise that child?

I absolutely believe in spanking as a form of discipline though I don't believe it applies in every case.  I also know there's a lot of controversy concerning spanking.  Spanking a child and beating a child are two entirely different things.  What I don't understand is why some people see spanking in any form as abuse.  I see ANY punishment that's excessive as abusive.  If you put a child in 'time out' in the morning and make them stay there until bedtime with only mealtimes for reprieves is excessive and abusive in my opinion.

Our teachers and school guidance counselors also have too much influence in how we raise our children.  Children are told in school that if a parent 'hits' them, they can call the cops.  I absolutely get it that those teachers and guidance counselors are the first line in protecting our children from abusive parents but they go too far too often.  Our children need and deserve to be protected from abuse but I think they also need to be protected from society - especially when they're young.

I'm so glad I'm not raising children in today's society.

Where Are Our Priorities?

“If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun.”
~Dalai Lama XIV~

I'm as sick as anyone of all the pro and con arguments about gun control.  Don't get me wrong - I've indulged in my fair share of those comments and arguments and probably will continue to do so but I'm still sick of hearing about it.  It's like a traffic accident that you can't stop yourself from rubbernecking to see.

What I don't get is why tragedies such as mass shootings are always turned into debates on gun control.  Seriously, why is the problem that American citizens want to own guns without any hassle rather than the fact that a small few in our society have such little regard for human life?  Why is there such an uproar over guns when the focus should be on the crime and not the method?  There is something inherently wrong when the why takes a backseat to the how.

Do we really think that someone bent on killing as many people as they can will stop just because we remove one method from them?  Moreover, does anyone really believe that an individual who's determined to kill won't because the method is illegal?

When Jim Jones committed mass murders in Guyana, he did it with poison.  Timothy McVeigh did it with a truck containing a bomb.  Of course we all remember the Taliban doing it with airplanes.  There are other less well known mass murders as well.  Eighty-two victims died in a fire that was deliberately set in a social club in New York in March of 1990.

Pardon me if I'm wrong, but isn't MURDER a bigger crime than owning a gun ever will be?  Can't you just see a mass murderer-to-be arguing with himself? The conversation would probably go something like this:  "I gotta kill all these people but how? I can't use a gun because they're illegal.  Maybe I should set a fire?  No, they might survive that.  A bomb would work but that's a lot of work. Man, I wish guns weren't illegal!"  Yeah, right.  If they were obeying laws, they wouldn't be commiting murder, would they?

Furthermore, why is it that it's not okay for me to own a gun yet I am expected to be okay with my tax dollars going to pay for abortions - which I do NOT support?  My gun wasn't purchased with tax dollars so why is it anyone's business but mine what I own?

And I am also sick to death of some people in other countries who complain about the guns in America.  If you don't live here, don't vote here, aren't a citizen and aren't planning to come here, then shut the hell up.  It's none of your damn business.

I am an American and, for now at least, I have the right to own a gun.  What I DON'T have the right to do, however, is to use that gun to kill innocent people.  Shouldn't that be the real issue?

Peevish Little Pets, Aren't They?

There is little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative.
~Clement Stone~

Have I mentioned before that I have several pet peeves?  Knowing me, I probably have.  I'm fairly certain I've talked about how much I hate rudeness and I know I've blogged about bad grammar.

Bad grammar doesn't reveal the nature of a person.  Neither does rudeness, really.  We all have bad days and can be rude at times.  I don't consider myself to be a rude person but I'm sure I've been rude more than once without realizing it.  In reality, who hasn't?

My biggest pet peeve, though, is negative people.  I know more than one person with that attitude and avoid them as much as I can.  Whenever possible, I totally remove them from my life.  In my opinion, there is absolutely NO EXCUSE for a consistently bad attitude and I refuse to subject myself to the negative energy that surrounds those people.

Now, don't get me wrong. I know we all have down times when we let the negative thoughts creep in and take over for a period of time.  I suppose a little pessimism is healthy in that it can humble us and make us appreciate the good things in our lives (the keyword there is "little").  That's not what I'm talking about.  I'm talking about those people who are ALWAYS negative.

Most of the negative people I know couple their negativity with rudeness, sarcasm and, at times, insults.  You know what's funny about that?  Those people then complain that they have no friends and can't understand why they're not very popular or included as often.

In some ways, I feel sorry for those people.  They don't have the common sense to know that, first, they are their own problem and, second, they have the power to change their situation.  Something else, too, is that those people tend to be self-absorbed in that they think mostly about themselves and their circumstances.  It doesn't seem to occur to them that someone else may be having a bad day and could use a shoulder.

So, having said all that, if you've read this and wonder if it applies to you, well, you may be on to something.  What kind of attitude do you consistently have and how much attention do I pay to you and your comments?  Food for thought, maybe?

A New Year, A New Beginning

Nothing is predestined. The obstacles of your past can become the gateways that lead to new beginnings.
~Ralph Blum~

A new year usually means a fresh start for most of us. It affords us a clean slate on which we can evaluate our habits and make changes if we choose.  I've been thinking a lot about what I can change - or stop or start - in the new year to make life a little better for myself and my family.

One thing that I've learned through the years is that resolutions with specific goals are more likely to achieve success than the generic 'lose weight', 'exercise more', 'save money', 'quit smoking', etc.  With that in mind, this is my list of resolutions for 2013:

1. I will be more consistent in both my words and my deeds.  When I make up my mind to do a specific task or set a particular goal, then I resolve to see it through.  I will try to keep the tasks and goals to a level that will not discourage me.
2. I will make every effort to live a healthier lifestyle.  I resolve to walk everyday even if it's only for ten minutes.  I further resolve to monitor my junk food intake and to cut back when and where I can.
3. I will attempt to keep a positive attitude no matter how dark the days or what circumstances may befall me.  I resolve to fight any negativity that rears its ugly head and to replace "I can't" with "what can I do to change that to I can".
4. I will try to be more understanding of others and their situations.  I resolve to remember that everyone we know or meet has their own set of circumstances that they're struggling with and I will not make theirs worse by letting my own struggles affect how I interact with them.
5. I will endeavor to spend less impulsively and to use my money more wisely. I resolve to be a better financial manager in my personal accounts.

I honestly don't know if I'll keep all of those resolutions but I resolve to make every effort to do just that.  Oh, one more thing - I resolve to do random acts of kindness more often than I have in the past.

Yeah, 2013 is going to be a MUCH better year.