I See No Proof

A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows that faith does not prove anything.
—    Friedrich Nietzsche
[Because “faith” in and of itself requires no proof.     —    kmab]
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On This Day In:
2021	Sustainable Development
	Duke, Duke, Duke
2020	#IncompetentDonald Is A Clear And Present Danger
	VOTE – “We The People” Can Save America
2019	Why #45 Is Fated To Endanger Our National Security
2018	Dehydrated
	Dehydrated II
2017	And Some Of Us Have Books
2016	I See No Proof
2015	Whither Tea Party?
2014	Nothing Is Known Absolutely
2013	Decoration Time
2012	The Beatitudes
2011	Good Fences Make Good Neighbors
2010	Back On The Asphalt
	No Sweep – Rangers Win Game 3 by 4 to 2
	Greek Myths For Kids

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For Me It’s Been Faith

Things we lose have a way of coming back to us in the end, if not always in the way we expect.
―    J. K. Rowling
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On This Day In:
2022	Working Out
2021	Fortes Fortuna Juvat*
	Layin’ In Bed
2020	For Sale
2019	Letting Go
2018	Trying To Give More
2017	The Reproductive Value Of A Presidential Election
2016	For Me It’s Been Faith
2015	Where Many Paths And Errands Meet
2014	Rimmed Out
2013	Likeness
2012	Sums It Up Quite Well, Actually
2011	Momentary Abandonment

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A Faulty Model Of God

The sciences do not try to explain, they hardly even try to interpret, they mainly make models.  By a model is meant a mathematical construct which, with the addition of certain verbal interpretations, describes observed phenomena.  The justification of such a mathematical construct is solely and precisely that it is expected to work.
—    John von Neumann
The mathematician is dependent on what is quantitative, on everything that can be determined by number and measurement, and so, in a certain sense, on the universe in its outwardly recognizable form.  If, however, we contemplate this, in so far as we are endowed with this capacity, with all our intellect and all our powers, we realize that quantity and quality must be looked upon as the two poles of visible being;  which is also why the mathematician raises the language of his formulas high enough, in so far as this is possible, to include the immeasurable world together with the measurable and calculable world.  And now everything appears tangible, within reach and mechanical, and he comes to be suspected of secret atheism, in that he, as it seems, believes he can also grasp what is most incomprehensible of all, what we call God, and therefore seems to be relinquishing the idea of God’s special or pre-eminent being.
—    Goethe
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On This Day In:
2022	Just Waiting
2021	Tomorrow: Will Republicans Choose Democracy Or Tyranny?   (Well, I guess we know which one they chose…)
	How Long Must I Dream?
2020	On Killing Foreign Generals…
2019	Patient Understanding
2018	I Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Form
2017	Fashionista
2016	A Faulty Model Of God
2015	Non Sequitur
2014	No Flags League
	I Ain’t Who Am
2013	Spoiling For Fame?
2012	How Many?
2011	Too Tired To Chat Much
2010	I Must Be Crazy!!

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My Suspect Confidence

The easy confidence with which I know another man’s religion is folly teaches me to suspect that my own is also.
―     Mark Twain
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On This Day In:
2021	Let Yourself Soar In 2022
	Where You’re Concerned
2020	The Most Dynamic Link
	Looking Forward To 2021
2019	A Proud Assertion
2018	Ask #45 About Anything
2017	Playing Makes Sense
2016	And Fathers, Sons
2015	My Suspect Confidence
2014	Disguised Blessings
2013	Be
2012	The Only Way to Win
2011	Honest Writing

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Curves Ahead

Faith and doubt both are needed — not as antagonists, but working side by side to take us around the unknown curve.
—    Lillian Smith
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On This Day In:
2021	Bring In Peace
	Glad I Found You
2020	And The Past Is Much Better Than It Used To Be Too
	A Winter’s Day
2019	I Just Remember It As Fun
	#45: IMPEACHED!!!
2018	Prediction: Morning Is Coming After A Long Night Of #LyingDonald
2017	While Congress Slept
2016	And A Fellow Who Insists On Telling Us He’s Smart?
2015	Curves Ahead
2014	Sitting?
2013	Misperceptions
2012	Essential Experience
2011	Lest We Forget Those Still In Harm’s Way
	Sound Familiar?

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Something Pagan

There is something Pagan in me that I cannot shake off.  In short, I deny nothing, but doubt everything.
—    Lord Byron
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On This Day In:
2021	In That Moment
	Something A Little More Recent
	A Request For Help (Indian Pop Music)
2020	Above Her Sink
	In A Slower Lane Now
2019	#DullDonald
2018	And Start With Charity
2017	First Things First
2016	Why Would We Expect Truth From A Liar?
	Unknown Fear
2015	Something Pagan
2014	A Note To Self
2013	Determining Our Degree Of Freedom
2012	Journalism And Fantasy
	Known Knowns
	Jerk, n.
2011	Love Questions

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On Destroying Historic / Archaeological Sites

If your religion makes you kinder than I, your religion is better than mine.
—    Bradford Leavitt
[There is something fundamentally and morally wrong with trying to destroy history – even when you don’t agree with it’s religious background.    —    kmab]
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On This Day In:
2021	Chaos Theory
	Too Few
2020	What About Blog Posts?
	Listenin’ By Myself
	A Short History
2019	Dodgers Choke AGAIN
	He Wasn’t “Just Kidding The Press”
2018	Thinking About My Hil
	Remember Your Duty In November
2017	Play Well With Others
2016	Surviving And Challenging
2015	On Destroying Historic / Archaeological Sites
2014	Magical Power
2013	How Awesome Would That Be
2012	Two Views
2011	Still Looking For Examples
2010	Giants Win Away 3 – 2!!

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Two Faithful Thoughts

The Bible is a wonderful source of inspiration for those who don’t understand it.
—   George Santayana
Every religion is true one way or another.  It is true when understood metaphorically.  But when it gets stuck in its own metaphors, interpreting them as facts, then you are in trouble.
—   Joseph Campbell
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On This Day In:
2021	Outside Yet?
	Have You Ever Won?
2020	Choice
	More Rain Forecast
2019	He Claims It’s Fake News And Spies
2018	Mine, Too
2017	Who’s Turn Is It Now?
2016	Before You Vote In November…
2015	Two Faithful Thoughts
2014	Love Light
	Orange October (III) – Giants Advance To National League Championship Series (NLCS)
2013	Nothing Ridiculous
2012	Keeping Faith
2011	Summon Us, Don’t Criticize Us
2010	Obama’s Wars – Book Review
	Game Two – Hearbreaking Loss

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Still Seeking (Believe It Or Not)

Believe those who are seeking the truth.  Doubt those who find it.
—   Andre Gide
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On This Day In:
2021	A Long Way Down The Road
	All It Said
2020	I Am Defined
	Pure Flavor Vis-à-vis Enthusiasm
	Insect Instinct
2019	Bigger Hearts
2018	Signaled Progress
2017	No Progress, But Still Unreasonable
2016	Notes Unsaid
2015	Still Seeking (Believe It Or Not)
2014	Guidelines For Bureaucrats
2013	Failing At Normalization
2012	Are You An Expert?
2011	Joy!

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Jumping Into The Dark

There has never been any decisive proof either way about God’s existence.  Ours would be a decidedly queer world if the Creator of it were as visible as, say, a playwright at his opening night.  Here is the universe, a dazzle of orderly wonders, which seems to imply a Maker.  Here is human life, full of sadness and disaster and futility, ending always in black death;  and it seems to many people to refute any notion that a God could exist.  To assert anything about God — that he is there or that he is not, that we can know him or that we cannot —  is to jump off into the dark, either way.
—    Herman Wouk
From his book:  “This Is My God“
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On This Day In:
2021	An Impossible Situation
	I Fear It Is (For Us If Not The Planet)
2020	#45 Never Shuts Up
	Walkin’ In The Rain With The One I Love
2019	Silly Pooh Bear
	Dominoes Or Jenga?
2018	Very Few
2017	Or The Candidate Who…
2016	The Happiest People
2015	Jumping Into The Dark
2014	I Would Be Sillier
2013	It Keeps Happening Anyway
2012	Take Time
2011	A Mother’s Lesson
2010	3rd Pair – Shoe Review (DOA and Final)

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Worth A Try

This is my simple religion.  There is no need for temples;  no need for complicated philosophy.  Our own brain, our own heart is our temple;  the philosophy is kindness.
―     Dalai Lama
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On This Day In:
2021	Practically Worthless In Every Way
	It Never Was
	Frustrating Incentive
2020	You Too?
	Six Degrees
2019	A Branching Stream
	Day 9: One Day At A Time
2018	Pity The Nation (Part 2)
	Day 1: Redux
2017	Good Blogs, Too
2016	My Prediction For #AmnestyDon
2015	Worth A Try
2014	I’m Feeling It
2013	May I Have A Little More, Please?
2012	Increasing Doubt
2011	You Can’t Touch This

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Otherwise Obscured

I am convinced, moreover, that honest error is a step toward a greater illumination of the truth since it exposes to debate and to clearer definition those matters which might otherwise remain obscure and undefined in the teaching of the Church.
—     Morris L. West
From his novel:  “The Shoes Of The Fisherman“
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On This Day In:
2014	Fundamentals
2013	Proof – ing
2012	Deluge, n.
2011	Hail, Caesar!
	Why Were You Sent?

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Do You Know Me?

We are inclined to believe those we do not know, because they have never deceived us.
—    Dr. Samuel Johnson
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On This Day In:
2014	Tough Journalism
2013	Things I’ve Learned
2012	Abstainer, n.
2011	Rain, Rain, Rain
	Test Your Strength
2009	End the mistakes…

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Unanswered Prayers

Just the other night
at a hometown football game
My wife and I ran into
my old high school flame
And as I introduced them
the past came back to me
And I couldn’t help but think
of the way things used to be
She was the one
that I’d wanted for all times
And each night I’d spend prayin’
that God would make her mine
And if he’d only grant me
this wish I wished
back then
I’d never ask
for anything
again
Sometimes I thank God
for unanswered prayers
Remember when you’re talkin’
to the man upstairs
That just because he doesn’t answer
doesn’t mean he don’t care
Some of God’s greatest gifts
are unanswered prayers
She wasn’t quite the angel
that I remembered in my dreams
And I could tell that time had changed me
In her eyes too
it seemed
We tried to talk about the old days
There wasn’t much we could recall
I guess the Lord knows what he’s doin’
after all
And as she walked away
and I looked at my wife
And then and there
I thanked
the good Lord
For the gifts in my life
Sometimes I thank God
for unanswered prayers
Remember when you’re talkin’
to the man upstairs
That just because he may not answer
doesn’t mean he don’t care
Some of God’s greatest gifts
are unanswered
Some of God’s greatest gifts are all too often unanswered…
Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers
—    Written by: Pat Alger, Larry Bastian and Garth Brooks
—    Performed by: Garth Brooks
[The version I prefer is by Garth Brooks.  Unfortunately, he doesn’t allow most of his work on YouTube, so below is a cover version by Buddy Jewell.  I’m not a fan of Jewell, but this is one of the better covers of this song which I’ve been able to find.  —  kmab]
—    Video performance by:  Buddy Jewell
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On This Day In:
2022	Map Or GPS?
2021	Spending A Lifetime Learning To Draw
	Go A Little Slower
2020	Light And Dark
2019	My Dog Scratches At The Bedroom Door
2018	One Person Can
2017	Been There, Thought That
2016	Diligent Students
2015	Unanswered Prayers
2014	Pray, v.
2013	As I…
2012	But We Need Room
2011	A Definition Of Leadership

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You’ll Get Through It

Should ye see, afar off, that worth winning,
Set out on the journey with trust;
And ne’er heed if your path at beginning
Should be among brambles and dust.
Though it is but by footsteps ye do it,
And hardships may hinder and stay;
Walk with faith, and be sure you’ll get through it;
For “Where there’s a will there’s a way.”
—    Eliza Cook
Excerpt from the poem:  “Where There’s a Will There’s a Way“
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On This Day In:
2022	Just Smart Enough
2021	For Some Of Us Anyway
	Sh-Boom
	Glarry Green
2020	Role Reversal
	Time To Defend The Constitution (Part I)
	Time To Defend The Constitution (Part II)
2019	Right Or Wrong
2018	Open Doors
2017	When It Deserves It
2016	Expiation For Rest
2015	You’ll Get Through It
2014	A Special Kind Of Fall
2013	Very Rewarding
2012	MIB3 – The Team Is Closer Than Ever
	Yet
2011	Little By Little

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