mentor: profile 
about mentor
I am a freethinker...a scientific naturalist, if you will.
Freethought: a philosophical viewpoint that holds that beliefs should be formed on the basis of science and logic and not be influenced by authority, emotion, tradition, or dogma.
Philosophy is questions that may never be answered...
Religion is answers that may never be questioned...
Politically I would self-identify as a moderate, though some other golo members might still consider me a "moonbat." At times my political views tend to be more Libertarian, which is one reason I have so much admiration for Thomas Jefferson. It seems political points of view are treated as stereotypical caricatures by many members. It's always easier to attack your own cartoonish version of the other person's views than to understand what the other person's views actually are.
One of my favorite pastimes is studying the philosophers of history, especially in the area of religion. I spent years mentally "at sea" on the topic, knowing my Methodist upbringing wasn't ringing true in my mind...yet not being willing to entertain the possibility that what I had believed all my life might not really be true. I came across the writings of a man named Robert G. Ingersoll, and realized I had stumbled on what I was looking for. If you have never seen or read any of his speeches, do yourself a favor and do so! You can find his work (among others) at www.infidels.org He echoed all my unspoken sentiments about everything that was wrong with Christianity.
Why I Am An Agnostic (1896)
About the Holy Bible (1894)
I floated for a short while in the deist realm, along with the likes of (the much maligned) Thomas Paine, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. After more study of the theist/non-theist debate, and soaking up all the modern evolutionary biology I could get my hands on, I began to realize that the universe is explainable without a god as a first cause...in fact it was more convoluted to insert a complex un-caused being at the beginning! Ockham's razor chops away the unnecessary complexity and leaves a simple conclusion: The universe, in some form or other, has always existed. A hard concept for us to grasp, but much simpler than a creator god who was there when it started - but who had done "god only knows" before that! (pun intended)
The hardest part of letting go of God is letting go of the idea of an afterlife...we all somehow feel we should continue on forever, even after our bodies die. I came to realize that this life is all we have. This bothered me for a bit, but it makes a lot more sense than tripping off into an eternity of existence after just a quick 'blip' of a biological life. Epicurus long ago noted that death need not be feared..."If I am here, death is not! When death comes, I shall not be here." Why fear something we will never "share the room with", so to speak? Mark Twain brought his wit and common sense to the topic as well when he said, "I was dead for millions of years before I was born and it never inconvenienced me a bit!" I expect it will be the same for all of us as well. My memory of 2112 will be the same as my memories of 1812! :-) The belief that our lives are just a quick prelude to some vague eternity to come later robs us of the full appreciation for the life we have right here, right now! When we can realize that this is our one and only life, it becomes all the more special and dear to us.
The other difficult part of letting go of religious belief is realizing that there will be no "final justice". Hitler is dead; simply dead. There is no hell for him to go to...his existence is ended except for the horrible memories of all the wrongs he perpetrated on humanity while he was alive. Horror was his legacy. Hopefully his miserable life will continue to teach us what the fruits of racial hatred and fascism really are.
You and I have our own opportunity to leave a legacy as well...hopefully a positive one! Maybe this is our shot at immortality after all - to leave behind good memories in the minds of people who knew us..to bequeath to the future all the best we could muster, seen through the eyes of our children.
But, I digress. If you want something to happen in your life, go out and make it happen! If you want justice, you will have to work for it. There is no celestial umpire that is going to call the game in your favor and fix all that was wrong with your life. Prayer is mind-talk and may help some people, but if you use your mind and your reasoning skills, one day you will realize that you're only talking to yourself. YOU are the architect of your future! Be proud of your successes, and don't beat yourself up over your failures. Life is short, and precious....live it for what it is: a rare and special opportunity!
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Fun YouTube Destinations!
MadTV Carlin sketch.
A few notable quotes.
A few thoughts from Sam Harris.
It's not always easy to be secular in the U.S.
"Of all religions, the Christian should of course inspire the most tolerance, but until now Christians have been the most intolerant of all men." - Voltaire
"I would defend the liberty of consenting adult creationists to practice whatever intellectual perversions they like in the privacy of their own homes; but it is also necessary to protect the young and innocent. - Arthur C. Clarke
The Bible is not my book, nor Christianity my profession. I could never give assent to the long, complicated statements of Christian dogma. - Abraham Lincoln
In religion and politics, people's beliefs and convictions are in almost every case gotten at second-hand, and without examination. - Mark Twain
Fear is the mother of all gods. Nature does all things spontaneously by herself without their meddling. - Lucretius
About the name Mentor: Years ago, when I was running a bbs, I had a user with this handle. He was an old guy who had a way of bringing just the right mix of wisdom and common sense to a discussion. He's long gone now, and I use the name mostly as a tribute to him.
We now have a group for atheist/agnostic golo members! Please apply if you would like to be part of it:
An expanded blog on these topics is under construction on Wordpress HERE. Comments and discussion are welcome! If you prefer, you may reach me directly at free.thought2@gmail.com.
favorites
favorite music: now playing on youtube...movits! - fel del av gården
favorite movies: good sci-fi
favorite hobbies: computers - philosophy - astronomy - audio production
favorite tv shows: any good educational show covering science topics...the daily show... the colbert report
favorite restaurants: good mexican restaurants
favorite web sites: pandasthumb.org (recently)
favorite vacation spots: uhhh....vacation?
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LOL @ Mentor. Thanks for the chuckle today.
GOLO member since August 16, 2007
June 19, 2008 1:47 p.m.
I look forward to some good dialogue!
GOLO member since July 18, 2007
June 20, 2008 5:08 p.m.
No problem! I saw from the other blog that this is topic you were interested in, and thought you might enjoy participating....you might be surprised how much you might contribute! :-) Look forward to it.
GOLO member since March 18, 2008
June 20, 2008 5:24 p.m.
June 21, 2008 4:05 p.m.
She was very non-combative, went out of her way to say so, and I just didn't want the thread to turn into a war zone.
I have done the same thing to other folks blogs, and then was ashamed of myself.
June 21, 2008 4:21 p.m.
I'm sure you've seen me lose it myself a time or two...... that's one reason I'm always just mostly horsing around... The worst that can happen is Packy or some other ol' gal would slap the chet outta me..... and tail properly tucked, I'd beat a hasty retreat.
June 21, 2008 4:53 p.m.
Yeah........ that's what Angela said one time. There were a couple of just plain old, nasty, vulgar people on the sports page commentaries back in March that needed somebody to smack the dog dookie out of them..... and I did.
I got called out in a blog a couple of nights ago... beat up on me pretty good. LOL
Like Sgt. Schultz, I said "Nothink!!"
June 21, 2008 5:09 p.m.
I am hurt that you even have to ask.
I am The Hero of Time. I hold the Blade of Evil's Bane.
I thought you knew me.
June 21, 2008 5:13 p.m.
June 21, 2008 8:30 p.m.
GOLO member since December 4, 2007
June 22, 2008 10:09 a.m.
:-)
Beth
GOLO member since July 2, 2007
June 22, 2008 11:59 a.m.
True, but somewhat off the topic is the fact that I have nothing but contempt for bones. She is nasty and bitter. I know and love sarcastic biting wit and use it lot and can indeed take it.
However, she exhibits too much fringe lunacy/conspiracy theorist bahaviour and don't even get me started on the Enemy of Freedom rant......
June 22, 2008 4:10 p.m.
June 23, 2008 8:24 p.m.
GOLO member since August 2, 2007
June 23, 2008 8:47 p.m.
GOLO member since March 28, 2008
June 24, 2008 3:03 p.m.
GOLO member since January 17, 2008
June 25, 2008 1:23 a.m.
June 26, 2008 8:17 p.m.
I think Steve made some valid points. There is a huge segment..... a subculture and subs to that, of the black population that are forever lost, for the most part. A lot of that is attributable to slip shod affirmative action and "welfare." I feel that in a sense, a lot of civil rights legislation and action has ultimately been the death knell for millions of black's hopes.
I have been a victim of racism by blacks, and lost out to lesser qualified ones.
Even so, we can't use too broad a brush.
Do you ever read Thomas Sowell, or Walter Williams, Professor of Economics at George Mason University?
June 26, 2008 8:30 p.m.
June 26, 2008 8:38 p.m.
I keep changing out prints by Maxfield Parrish..... I love them absolutely, and decided not to flirt and be a dayum dog tonight.......
June 26, 2008 9:10 p.m.
I first heard him sitting in for......... Rush. A collection of his editorials and opinions was compiled into a book, and was recommended reading in a class my son took at Campbell University. It's very good reading..... it kept getting passed on until we lost track of it. My son, by the way, has a degree in trust management and an MBA. Campbell's business school ain't on light weight..... they're on a par with the schools of law and pharmacy up there.
June 26, 2008 9:15 p.m.
Psychometrics is an arena in which I've a continued interest, and the more I research, the more I've come to understand:
1. The strong correlation between IQ and success in life. 2. The high heritability of adult IQ.
It may sound elitist, but the fallacy of egalitarianism in light of this data goes a long way in explaining many of the problems of our society. While I agree with much of what Steve posted regarding victimhood mentality, I don't agree that cultural success is a mere matter of earnest determination.
GOLO member since July 25, 2007
June 26, 2008 9:52 p.m.
In fact, there are some interesting postulates that attempt to show there is indeed a real impact from it, specifically, that the Flynn Effect might actually be showing we are realizing a decrease in g over time.
GOLO member since July 25, 2007
June 26, 2008 11:46 p.m.
GOLO member since March 9, 2008
June 27, 2008 8:40 a.m.
GOLO member since January 25, 2008
June 27, 2008 7:03 p.m.
LOL! "Sir Maggie the Mighty" was a book that I had when I was a little kid. It was one of those life lessons storybooks. I really like it becasue "Sir Maggie" was a tomboy (she liked to dress up like a knight) and so was I growing up.
GOLO member since March 12, 2008
June 30, 2008 8:40 a.m.
I'm very interested in joining your agnostic/athiest group... let me know how to go about it!!
Thanks, Jacqi (JBunny)
GOLO member since July 14, 2007
June 30, 2008 6:36 p.m.
GOLO member since November 20, 2007
June 30, 2008 8:43 p.m.
I certainly appreciate your patience with my inability to do something so simplistic.... ;0)
GOLO member since July 14, 2007
June 30, 2008 10:34 p.m.
GOLO member since August 2, 2007
June 30, 2008 11:00 p.m.
June 30, 2008 11:33 p.m.
GOLO member since July 28, 2007
July 1, 2008 9:53 a.m.
GOLO member since August 2, 2007
July 1, 2008 10:16 a.m.
GOLO member since August 2, 2007
July 1, 2008 10:24 a.m.
GOLO member since July 28, 2007
July 1, 2008 10:43 a.m.
GOLO member since August 2, 2007
July 1, 2008 1:04 p.m.
GOLO member since August 2, 2007
July 1, 2008 1:11 p.m.
I get a bit miffed when some of these people post about how a candidate needs to have "Military" experience in order to be the Commander-in-Chief. And then they get all sour when you mention ol' Dubya's fun days as a TEXAS Guardsman (avoiding Vietnam entirely). I wonder exactly what his weekend warrior duty taught him? But... he's been in the military!!
I think I just get my azz on my shoulders when I see stuff that TMed posts. I don't know why I even bother - as she's just all about riling people up. Oh, to not be such a Yankee hothead sometimes!!!
GOLO member since July 14, 2007
July 2, 2008 2:35 a.m.
Oh yeah...I have had discussions about this and they always turn ugly. 2 candidates with 'active' military records have come up against "W", John McCain and John Kerry. Both men were smeared very effectively by Republican-funded 527 PACs. What you'll find here on GoLo is the conservatives think the Kerry smear was accurate and justified, but not the attacks on McCain. Completely partisan. Oldschool is bellicose and belligerent, but he knows "W" and Cheney both did everything they could to avoid service in Vietnam. Not that I would want to go either, but the tactics used by the GOP to keep this topic from derailing Bush were (and are) disgraceful.
GOLO member since March 18, 2008
July 2, 2008 8:08 a.m.
Have a good one. :-)
Beth
GOLO member since July 2, 2007
July 3, 2008 10:44 p.m.
;-)
Beth
GOLO member since July 2, 2007
July 3, 2008 11:53 p.m.
GOLO member since November 20, 2007
July 4, 2008 8:05 a.m.
GOLO member since July 2, 2007
July 4, 2008 2:08 p.m.
GOLO member since July 11, 2007
July 4, 2008 5:46 p.m.
I have beliefs, a world view if you will. They very likely are not going to change to any great degree. It's an exercise in futility and frustration to enter into any dialogue with an opposing viewpoint..... it's just the same o same o. With that in mind, I usually just keep quiet. A particularly boneheaded or obnoxious remark will get a quip out of me, but not much more. Why bother? You can tell a rock all day long that thinks it's a great intellect that it's just a rock, but it doesn't change it's mind.
July 5, 2008 11:13 a.m.
GOLO member since July 11, 2007
July 5, 2008 4:02 p.m.
She must be about to have a stroke. :-)
GOLO member since July 15, 2007
July 8, 2008 11:56 a.m.
July 8, 2008 8:08 p.m.
Helms took it upon himself to be a mean, nasty, racist, etc., so I’m not going to act like it never happened, especially when he was so public about it.
Am I glad he’s dead, or taking delight in it? NO! I feel sympathy for his family. Now if he had died 25 years or more ago, then I might has something else to say. :)
GOLO member since August 16, 2007
July 9, 2008 11:21 a.m.
so have you weighted in on the ...sex offenders blog yet....it seemed to have caused a lot more uproar than even i thought it would..
July 10, 2008 2:50 a.m.
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