Why Pilgrim 13?
I was born on December 13th, it was a Friday. Like most of us, I have most often felt as though I were only a pilgrim passing through life. I wanted to know what this place is that we find ourselves in, and how we got here. More important, what are we supposed to do with the circumstances which seem to have control over our very existence? So, Pilgrim 13. History has a lot to teach us. In fact, I think that history is more important than the present or the future. We must learn from it. Or, is this just my opinion? Are we not fools if we don't learn from the past, not to make the same mistakes again? Learn the facts as they really are, or don't. That is up to each of us to decide. |
Histo-theo-losophy: Theology, Philosophy & History, in no particular order.
This is an ongoing project. I add to it regularly as I find new sources of information about the past.
I try to avoid sharing my biases, they are of no consequence. "Opinion" is what divides us all.
Opinion is what I will address first before delving into the history of things & thought.
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Understanding how to Understand
by Alvin Lowrie
This is an ongoing project. I add to it regularly as I find new sources of information about the past.
I try to avoid sharing my biases, they are of no consequence. "Opinion" is what divides us all.
Opinion is what I will address first before delving into the history of things & thought.
_________________________________
Understanding how to Understand
by Alvin Lowrie
-- Foreword (follows below)
1. Introduction 2. Ancient Language 3. Ancient Knowledge 4. Numerical Language 5. Catastrophes & #108 6. Zero Point Energy and its implications 7. What I Believe and the Evidences 8. The Build Page |
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Foreword: Your Inescapable Religion:
e·pis·te·mol·o·gy
-- According to the Oxford Dictionary --
/əˌpistəˈmäləjē,eˌpistəˈmäləjē/ noun PHILOSOPHY
1. the theory of knowledge, especially with regard to its methods, validity, and scope. Epistemology is the investigation of what distinguishes justified belief from "opinion".
_______________________________________________________________________________
WHAT IS "OPINION"?
1. Everyone has an epistemology, everyone. It is the basis of what you believe and why.
2. Everyone has a religion (or doctrine), that is what your personal belief system actually is.
Ashiest, Agnostic, Buddhist, Mormon, Hindu, Taoist, Christian, Jew, Wiccan, Neo-pagan, or Nothing.
Whatever you choose, is your epistemology; your religion.
3. Epistemology is the bedrock that you have placed down first.
All of your opinions are based on your epistemology.
4. Your epistemology is a result of life circumstance and your own personal choices.
You begin laying down your epistemology the moment that you first begin to think.
5. To truly know the truth rather than just think that you do, you must abandon any preconceived notions.
This is nearly impossible for modern era adults because it is attached to your self identity.
6. Your opinion becomes your world of facts as you get older.
It is hard to give up opinions; we are addicted to them.
7. Preconceived notions (opinions) must be abandoned daily, or they just come back.
Learning to abandon opinion is the hardest thing you will ever try to do.
8. If you are convinced that you are right, you are closed minded, unless you also question your beliefs.
__________________________________________
To be convinced of your own truth, is the only real divisor between any people.
How much do you know?
Or I should say: are you sure that you know even that which you think you do? Can you know what it is that you do not know? Of course not. Then you cannot know for sure what you do know either.
Let us get this wonderful example out of the way right off: Many people claim (think) that there is "no" God. They have their reasons, and some of the reasons may seem reasonable. But, such a claim is self referentially absurd when you think about it. It is not a thing that anyone can know, unless they have all knowledge (they are God). It is like making a claim about the number of purple speckled stones in the universe! So, at least one of the epistemologies listed above, Atheism, is absurd foolishness. If you don't think that there is a God "of any kind" that is fine. But, be logical, call yourself an Agnostic instead and admit that you don't know; does anyone know for sure? As I said, I am not going to share any bias if I can help it. But, we can dismiss foolishness right away, and then continue on.
ag·nos·tic
/aɡˈnästik/ noun PHILOSOPHY
de·ter·min·ism
/dəˈtərməˌniz(ə)m/ noun PHILOSOPHY
/məˈtirēəˌlizəm/noun PHILOSOPHY
MORE FACTS:
So, do you truly want to know, or are you convinced that you already do?
Foreword: Your Inescapable Religion:
e·pis·te·mol·o·gy
-- According to the Oxford Dictionary --
/əˌpistəˈmäləjē,eˌpistəˈmäləjē/ noun PHILOSOPHY
1. the theory of knowledge, especially with regard to its methods, validity, and scope. Epistemology is the investigation of what distinguishes justified belief from "opinion".
_______________________________________________________________________________
WHAT IS "OPINION"?
1. Everyone has an epistemology, everyone. It is the basis of what you believe and why.
2. Everyone has a religion (or doctrine), that is what your personal belief system actually is.
Ashiest, Agnostic, Buddhist, Mormon, Hindu, Taoist, Christian, Jew, Wiccan, Neo-pagan, or Nothing.
Whatever you choose, is your epistemology; your religion.
3. Epistemology is the bedrock that you have placed down first.
All of your opinions are based on your epistemology.
4. Your epistemology is a result of life circumstance and your own personal choices.
You begin laying down your epistemology the moment that you first begin to think.
5. To truly know the truth rather than just think that you do, you must abandon any preconceived notions.
This is nearly impossible for modern era adults because it is attached to your self identity.
6. Your opinion becomes your world of facts as you get older.
It is hard to give up opinions; we are addicted to them.
7. Preconceived notions (opinions) must be abandoned daily, or they just come back.
Learning to abandon opinion is the hardest thing you will ever try to do.
8. If you are convinced that you are right, you are closed minded, unless you also question your beliefs.
__________________________________________
To be convinced of your own truth, is the only real divisor between any people.
How much do you know?
Or I should say: are you sure that you know even that which you think you do? Can you know what it is that you do not know? Of course not. Then you cannot know for sure what you do know either.
Let us get this wonderful example out of the way right off: Many people claim (think) that there is "no" God. They have their reasons, and some of the reasons may seem reasonable. But, such a claim is self referentially absurd when you think about it. It is not a thing that anyone can know, unless they have all knowledge (they are God). It is like making a claim about the number of purple speckled stones in the universe! So, at least one of the epistemologies listed above, Atheism, is absurd foolishness. If you don't think that there is a God "of any kind" that is fine. But, be logical, call yourself an Agnostic instead and admit that you don't know; does anyone know for sure? As I said, I am not going to share any bias if I can help it. But, we can dismiss foolishness right away, and then continue on.
ag·nos·tic
/aɡˈnästik/ noun PHILOSOPHY
- a person who believes that nothing is known or can be known of the existence or nature of God or of anything beyond material phenomena; a person who claims "neither faith nor disbelief" in God.
de·ter·min·ism
/dəˈtərməˌniz(ə)m/ noun PHILOSOPHY
- the doctrine that all events, including human action, are ultimately determined by causes external to the will. Some philosophers have taken determinism to imply that individual human beings have no free will and cannot be held morally responsible for their actions.
/məˈtirēəˌlizəm/noun PHILOSOPHY
- the doctrine that nothing exists except matter and its movements and modifications.
- a tendency to consider material possessions and physical comfort as more important than spiritual values.
MORE FACTS:
- You cannot learn anything new unless you believe it is "greater than" what you now know. So, if you are convinced that you are right, then you can no longer learn.
- To learn, you first must admit that you do not already know.
- Learning would be the language of God (if there were one).
- So, a true God would insist that you repeatedly re-prove everything, even his existence, to speak his language.
- Learning anything, ever, requires a willingness to be humble.
- We have humility as children, but we most often loose it as we grow.
- We become hardened by our circumstances, and bitter at the unfairness of life.
- So, we stop learning and looking.
So, do you truly want to know, or are you convinced that you already do?
- This is the great fork on the trail of life.
- One way will take you once more to a comfortable bed and hot meal.
- The other way; well it continues on forever and never becomes easier.