Thoughts of a Freethinker

Science is closing in on a no-human world. As more knowledge of the universe comes into the view of more powerful telescopes more histories of other stars and their "orbiting earths" can be seen. Now a particular burned out star and orbiting ash of an "earth" are being studied. The theory is this pair represents the future of our sun and earth. It suggests we have a billion years of humans on earth, then we're gone.  Christianity needs to reconcile this. Christian propaganda has been successful by playing to the most basic of human fears. That fear is, "I fear I am not important. I do not want to die and be forgotten." We all know the Christian answer, "There is an unseen (imaginary) God who knows your name. If you do as you are told, he has a place for you after you are dead so you can live on for eternity and not be forgotten." Sold! The link article makes the case there were other stars with orbiting "earths." The story of the on...

The book I'm reading and which I have discussed earlier carries the message that there have been many ways humans changed their thinking over time. Invaders thought they would change those they conquered but often it was the invaders who changed, or both changed. As more and more preserved artifacts show up the diversity of events expands. Certainly, these things happened when Europeans invaded North America and they coexisted for a long time before conquering those living here before them. They both have stories of human origin. The Europeans brought origins that began with the gods of Rome. By the time the arrived here those had morphed into a God of the Middle East. The Americans living here had their dreamtime. Both had in their history an indefinite concept of the difference between man and animals. They were not completely separate. The European's Bible had snakes that talked. Americans saw the same spiritual forces acting on both animals and humans. We know from the Bibl...

The liberal magazine, Mother Jones, published the apologies of a former Christian Nationalist. When on the inside of the corrupt efforts to put Christianity into government the author raised countless millions to stack the Supreme Court with anti abortion Christians and advance the political career of Donald Trump. While his activities spilled into the House and Senate, his focus was on the Supreme Court. The operating mantra of his organization was that, while good Christian government was making strides among elected people in the Congress and Presidency, the Christian mission was being undercut by the Judicial branch. Christian Judges were badly needed.  The author formed an organization to put Christianity into the Supreme Court. While we know a little about the money and luxuries provided Clarence Thomas by those with cases pending, the author outlines the vast amounts of luxury provided all the conservative judges. There continues a steady stream of favors and gala events pai...

The journey to understand prehistory will, I would guess, go on forever. I wish I would live forever to follow all that is discovered and argued about. My Face Book scroll introduced me to the "Fuente Magna." This refers to a quite large and heavy bowl found in Bolivia by a farmer in 1950. The farmer thought it strange but needed a container just that size to water his pigs, so he used it that way for several years. Eventually, it was found and moved to a museum in Bolivia where it sat unnoticed for decades. Someone interested in ancient artifacts eventually spotted it and the conflicting theories about its origin began. What set off the different theories are the many inscriptions that remain in the face of the bowl. The Face Book page provided the views of people who sounded knowledgeable about ancient artifacts and inscriptions. These sources forcefully advanced the theory the inscriptions, while not understood, resemble well the inscriptions of societies of what is now Ir...

For a decade I've been saying here on this insignificant blog site that a prohibition of abortions would be identical to the prohibition of alcohol that happened in the 20's-30's. The alcohol prohibition failed. It introduced a profitable crime opportunity. The product was easy to make or import from Canada and so costly to enforce it mostly was not enforced. Many lives were lost in fights for markets and in law enforcement. Alcohol prohibition failed and when it did Roosevelt raised a glass to celebrate. The prohibition of abortion is different only in that it is even easier to hide and more profitable. Add to this the majority of voters opposes the prohibition.  This decreases the enthusiasm of elected people to enforce as well as the law enforcement people they hire to do that. This week's news is about the criminal elements now bringing abortion pills into the U.S. and the lack luster law enforcement against it. Welcome, Forced Birthers, to reality and inevitability...

Recently, a conference was held which included many specialists to help churches figure out what to do with their non used or under used properties.  Decades ago, children's rooms in churches began to be rented to day care operators. This started when I was a mayor and I objected to the various fire and safety codes city staff said applied. It seemed to me if they were safe enough for children on Sunday mornings they were safe enough for children the rest of the week. The reason for all of this was churches were exempt from all kinds of codes and laws but some kicked in when childcare used the same space and charged for the service. After childcare, working week coffee shops started locating in church social rooms. I suppose there are music lessons and other ideas. Now, the entire buildings are being sold. Sometimes a church retains ownership and the church becomes a low income housing place. The church can still meet in a rec room. Something like four churches every week in the U....

I've been wanting to learn about the views from inside Forced Birth. Do they really understand they are in trouble and if so, who do they blame? Finally, a national writer interviewed a series of the Forced Birth leaders.  The conclusions are that, yes, they are now behind and slipping. Their explanations as to why, however, vary and are interesting to contemplate. There are two explanations from Forced Birth operatives. One is that Forced Birth advocates in their organizations and in state legislatures overreached with abortion bans and this is what has caused the problem. The other is that it's all about money and organization in political messaging. That is, if Forced Birth could be as well organized and had as much money as abortion rights laws against abortion would be happening today instead laws ensuring abortion rights. There is no understanding inside Forced Birth as to why it is now losing. An old adage in politics is, "First win the argument, then win the electi...