How backward is backward thinking?

Backward reading can be fun however pointless it serves. Backward thinking, on the other hand, is conflicting it makes investigating and experimenting the skills to hone.

The "Boson" Line

As much as I would like to have a religious note on the line "God particle" in the quantum mechanics song being played in the physics' air, it will be the least to modulate in my greatest dance hit.  Since it feels great that physics' origin of the universe crescendo has just begun, dancing to its up beat is the "boson" line.

Q&A

That raised a question from a very good friend, "Can you equate being a perfectionist to having self-doubt? Because I became the critic of my own art and it limited my creativity"


My answer made me elaborate: Perfectionism is obsessing on things that one has no control. Self-doubt is the courage to accept one's weakness. Creativity is the ability to see beauty in what's available. Limitation is the key to a free mind.

In fairness...

Even if life is teaching me that it is not fair, it's the lesson I have to learn, unlearn and relearn.

I have to learn that life is not fair because one cannot always get what one wants. I have to unlearn that getting whatever I want defines me as a person. I have to relearn that justice  is a want that defines me as a person. 

Although I will still understand those who adhere to the "life is not fair" mantra but be not offended if my way of injustice is inflicted to you as you wanted. We always get what we deserve. That's justice. 

The above image is justifiably hilarious. If the cat is getting more than what it deserves while the bitch is contended to have its space, is it fair to think that the former is illogical (big space for small animal), emotional (gets offensive and cat-ty on the idea of justice ) and defensive (insecurity issues at large)?


You can never win a battle full of cheating. Personally, I adhere to the idea that justice prevents me to cheat. 


In fairness, I can only speak for myself. 

Reasons Exchanged I: Mystery

I was recently engaged in a an exchange of emails. It all started when I sent them an essay on the evaluation of the Bible verses. And I share it with you.

"MY Personnal View and somewhat 95% of the world’s population have the same belief that one way or another there is a Supreme Being that we call God. I pity people who believe that everything can be explained by Science or by reason — why? because of the word MISTERY. Do you actually believe that the size of your brain which is around 15cm and weighs around 1.5kg can contain everything that you need to know about the whole universe? I can not even explain why I yawn when other people yawn in front of me or even the scientist have all the theories about yawning but still have not found out the real explanation on yawning.
If any human being will try to explain everything by science or by reason then there will never be any end to all the questions of how and why. Question like why our eyes cansee 3D 3-dimension of everything while when you shoot a 3D film, you need 3 cameras simultaneously. We have only two eyes by the way.
Even there is no exact science about dreams. Personally, If you will say that I’m ignorant for believing with our God and our Saviour Jesus Christ and the Bible, I have no problem with that.
In the end sir, I can not judge your beliefs or your “facts”. All I can say is that yes I believe you when you say that our mind is free. That we can think now for the all the reasons that we can reason. But for you sir, while you are finding answers, I will pray for you to find those answers. And thank you for reading the Bible sir, next time sir try reading it with your heart and not only with your mind."

My Response

Before December 3, 1903, the bird’s ability to fly was a mystery until it was explained by Wilbur and Orville Wright with their flying machine named Kitty Hawk. Flying by human was once a mystery and eventually explained without reference to the Bible. Every invention/creation of human comes with a manual that tells how it works and will be troubleshoot. Unfortunately, the Bible does not say anything about the brain, heart, gravity, mathematics, and telecommunications like what we found in manuals. Today in quality assurance, a manual is a standard. Is the brain, heart, airplane, submarine, yawn, 3D eye also a mystery to the entity that made it possible/existing that’s why it is not included in the Bible?

The 10% capability of the brain being utilized now corrected the ancient earth-centered and flat earth belief that threatened, tortured and killed early scientists and thinkers like Galileo, Copernicus, Bruno and Hypatia. It also has extended life expectancy through scientific discoveries on medicines and transplants. This brain enables us to invent machines and instruments that can predict catastrophes like typhoons, earthquakes and tsunamis. Its natural curiosity and courage to question the established knowledge progresses the civilization. It facilitates the self-correcting attribute of the scientific world (Example: Newton Laws is corrected by the Relativity. Relativity is corrected by the quantum physics).

It is a mystery to me why an all-loving, all-powerful, all-knowledgeable all-benevolent supreme being would allow innocent children die of starvation in Africa and as victims of war. It is a mystery to me why an all-just supreme being allows the innocent children suffer for the sins of their parents. As a human, I don’t have that kind of cruelty to send anyone to eternal fire to suffer for not believing in me. And I am not even a parent nor all-loving, all-powerful, and all-knowledgeable.

If there’s supreme being, he/she/it is incomprehensible by the 15cm and 1.5kg brain and by the heart that pumps blood in or out of the vein. So, any understanding made by human comprehension must be really personal and nothing absolute.

Something to Think About: Humanism

Open Letter to the CBCP


My Dear Catholic Bishops,

I should wish to share with you words from a psychiatrist M. Scott Peck, author of THE ROAD LESS TRAVEL. It is a bit about psychiatry at its best on top of Christianity at its worst:

“The learning of something new requires a giving up of the old self and a death of outworn knowledge. To develop a broader vision we must be willing to forsake, to kill, our narrower vision. In the short run it is more comfortable not to do this – to stay where we are, to keep using the same microcosmic map, to avoid suffering the death of cherished notions. The road to spiritual growth, however, lies in the opposite direction. We begin by distrusting what we already believe, by actively seeking the threatening and the unfamiliar, by deliberately challenging the validity of what we have previously been taught and hold dear. The path to holiness lies through questioning EVERYTHING.”

Well, in our sick society today, if we question the evils of corruption, we find that corruption is not a political or a legal or a medical issue. Corruption is a moral issue. During these past centuries under Christian authority, hasn’t it been your sole responsibility to shepherd the flock, to be in charge of the teachings of moral values? Especially to establish self-respect and human dignity as the foundation of a healthy and a sane society? Why is it that after 400 years of Christianity solidly established in this country, tens of millions of Filipinos in this 21st century continue to experience interior emptiness, still thirsting for some form of spirituality? No doubt, we still have deep faith in the holy Trinity known as the “Father,” “Son,” and “Holy Spirit,” but in our race to achieve a higher standard of living as a people, and to accomplish a higher standard of thinking as a nation – where is the Holy Trinity on our side as our “Creator,” “Redeemer,” and the “Sustainer?”


For my part, as a humanist, I embrace morality as one of the greatest of human values. Not, however, superstitious morality. I do not do good because there is a greater power out there who will reward me for my goodness after death. On the contrary, I do good precisely because of what’s higher and greater than me, namely, - my family, my country, and indeed, this planet earth as the home of humanity.


I duly recognize that there is little difference between the goals of the Christians and the humanists. We both value helping others. But as a humanist I am drawn to this goal out of unselfish love and empathy – which arises from education in rationality. As a humanist my goal in life is to try and spread the virtues of felicity via intellectual growth and maturity. Indeed, to keep ignited the torch of enlightenment. To see things now as they will seem forever, - “in the light of eternity.”


The Christian, however, is driven to it out of fear for his own eternal welfare. For the Christian, helping others is not an end in itself, but only a means of saving himself from damnation.


As a humanist I realize that I could be mistaken about what is best for my fellow-Filipinos; so I am willing to listen to criticism. I am willing to have my ideas torn apart and will listen to the power of reason.


The Christian, however, cannot admit that his ideas of right and wrong might be mistaken, because to doubt would imperil his immortal soul. He must have faith in Christian doctrines – out of fear of eternal torture if he does not. He must be anti-intellectual in order to maintain his faith – out of fear of torture if he does not. And he must never doubt that his action is correct – again out of fear of torture if he does not.


What is happening to us, I ask? Why is it that we Filipinos do not, and cannot as yet enjoy social unity, moral sanity, and political maturity in our own country? We only continue to be a people of childish followers; hardly a nation of intelligent thinkers as leaders. Why is it that in this day and age, under your moral guidance and inspiration, we Filipinos only continue to believe that human life is but a defect, and that we must only live our lives seeking not reconstruction, but only obliteration!

My dear bishops, as citizens of our country, isn’t it time for you to take a deeper look at our spiritually poor and morally bankrupt nation - the Philippines - the only Christian country in Asia since 400 years ago? No doubt, Christianity has been a great success. But what has been a greater success, however, is the Filipino way of life. We are still faithful to a higher power out there, but paying for it at a expensive price down here: the horrors of spiritual corruption, moral degradation, economic stagnation, political delusion, educational deception, not to mention the lack of national health, hygiene, and sanitation in our country everywhere!

In the final analysis, I say it again: it is time for us Filipinos to stop fooling around with our silly “free will” for the sake of heavenly salvation. We should, instead, begin to believe and have faith in our intelligent “good will,” especially for one another for the sake of Philippine civilization?

Yours sincerely,
Poch Suzara
Chairman
Center for Inquiry, Philippines
December 13,2008

What if this is the college exam?

Quoted from a brilliant anonymous from the cyber world


WORLD HISTORY
Describe the history of the papacy from its origins to the present day,concentrating especially, but not exclusively, on its social, political,economic, religious, and philosophical impact on Europe, Asia, America,and Africa. Be brief and concise, yet specific.

ASTRONOMY
Define the universe; give three examples.

MEDICINE
You will be provided with a razor blade, a piece of gauze, and a bottleof Scotch. Remove your appendix. Do not suture until your work has beeninspected. You have 15 minutes.

COMPUTER SCIENCE
Write a fifth-generation computer language. Using this language,create a computer program to finish the rest of this exam for you.


PUBLIC SPEAKING
Twenty-five hundred riot-crazed aborigines are storming the classroom.Calm them. You may use any ancient language except Latin, Hebrew, or Greek.

CIVIL ENGINEERING
This is a practical test of your design and building skills. With the boxes of toothpicks and glue present, build a platform that will support your weight when you and your platform are suspended over a vat of nitric acid.

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
The disassembled parts of a howitzer have been placed in a box on your desk. You will also find an instruction manual, printed in Swahili. In 10 minutes a hungry Bengal tiger will be admitted to the room. Take whatever action you feel is appropriate. Be prepared to justify your decision.


ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
You will be placed in a nuclear reactor and given a partial copy of the electrical layout. The electrical system has been tampered with. You have seventeen minutes to find the problem and correct it before the reactor melts down.

BIOLOGY
Create life. Estimate the differences in subsequent human culture if this form of life had developed 500,000 years earlier, with special attention to the probable effect, if any, on the Philippine social spectrum circa 1640. Prove your thesis.

RELIGION
Perform a miracle. Creativity will be judged.

MUSIC
Write a full piano concerto. Orchestrate and perform it with a flute and drum. You will find a piano under your seat.

LOGIC
Take a position for or against truth. Prove the validity of your position.

CHEMISTRY
You must identify a poison sample which you will find at your lab table.All necessary equipment has been provided. There are two beakers at your desk, one of which holds the antidote. If the wrong substance is used,it causes instant death. You may begin as soon as the professor injects you with a sample of the poison.

PSYCHOLOGY
Based on your knowledge of their early works, evaluate the emotional stability, degree of adjustment, and repressed frustrations of each of the following: Alexander of Aphrodisias, Ramses II, Gregory of Nicea, and Hammurabi. Support your evaluations with quotations from each man's work, making appropriate references. Translate all quotations in Tagalog.

SOCIOLOGY
Identify the sociological problems which might be associated with the end of the world. Construct an experiment to test your theory.

ECONOMICS
Describe in four hundred words or less what you would have done to prevent the Great Depression.

MATHEMATICS
You have 60 seconds to mentally solve the mathematical problem below.
Begin.


8,256.091 + _________ = ________ x ________