Month: December 2017
Cults of black-and-white thinking – a lesson from Jehovah’s witnesses
Cults – what does the word bring to mind? There are thoughts of blind devotion. There most certainly is the charisma or power of a leader over his followers. Finally, there is the absolute certainty of purpose. Whether one thinks of Jim Jones, Hitler, or the Messiah of Israel, these things are to be found […]
Finding peace through a willingness to adjust
The willingness to adjust comes upon consideration of several factors. While it is tempting to let all of one’s thinking and desires be centered on oneself or one objective, life rarely lets it be so simple. There is a multitude of considerations for every person who recognizes his responsibilities. Such a recognition brings a slowness […]
What is required to even consider changing one’s beliefs to explore better possibilities for the future?
The last post went through a consideration of the possibility of changing one’s beliefs. It is a task best considered worth undertaking for the sake of survival. Beliefs are also to be considered as a subject for change in the interest of preservation, longevity, and continuity. Our existing generations would not be the first to […]
Can we change our beliefs to formulate better predictions for the future?
As hard as one may try, it is not possible to entirely avoid the practice of predicting the future. Why is it that people want to predict the outcome before it happens? The reason is quite simple. There is a desire to have certainty about the future. Predictions give us a feeling of security. We […]
How does faith suppress analytical thinking, but also provide comfort?
Faith is a particular aspect of religious thought. It is a confidence in what has not happened yet. There is a confidence in the unseen ability of someone or something to bring about what does not yet exist. Yes, this is how it works. The human mind and heart are capable of having such thoughts […]
Why I feel that religion will continue to remain a part of human thinking
The existence of religion seems as old as the human ability for imagination, and to formulate questions on the basis of our ability to have a sense of wonder. Some believe that humans had a start as apes and this ability developed through evolution. Others believe humans to have had a start as fully intelligent, […]
Empathy in mental health. Why it remains the constant need?
“The health of the mind”: As easy as it is to say those words, it is endlessly a challenge to keep them. To keep a healthy mind is a challenge for so many reasons. It becomes a challenge due to the way we live our lives, the occupations of the modern man, the systemic injustices, physical […]
Peace is simplicity
Simplicity promotes peace. Such peace is also easier to maintain because there is lesser that can go wrong. If it does, it’s easier to fix.
How can we use the speed of communication technology to social advantage?
In ancient times, a man would get on a horse if there was an important information to be delivered quickly. Horses were kept and cared for, for times just as these. Maybe the rider was sleeping in his bed. He was awakened for the express purpose of having to get the horse ready and deliver […]
Why we might criticize technology rather than the information it brings
Every time new inventions and technologies have arrived upon mankind, there have been critics of them. Some of these criticisms are valid. Even the observations upon which these criticisms are made are not obvious to everyone. For example, it would be rare to notice like Tristan Harris, how particular designs of apps and interface psychologically […]
How does a movie differ from real life? And why does present life seem like a movie?
Art follows life, or does life follow art? This question seems nowhere more relevant than in the case of movies. Movies are the depiction of life. The characters in some cases are so relatable, that people have seen themselves on the movie screen. They learn lessons, find out their own mistakes, and understand more about […]
How the medical myth of drug treatments has created a whole culture?
What is a myth? A myth is a traditional story consisting of events that are ostensibly historical, though often supernatural, explaining the origins of a cultural practice or natural phenomenon. The word “myth” is derived from the Greek word mythos (μῦθος), which simply means “story”. Mythology can refer either to the study of myths, or to a body or collection of myths. Myth can […]
Are there reliable ways of finding out the truth about a person on social networking? Part 2: conflicts
There are people who are peaceable. There are people who avoid conflicts. There are people who realize that it is not for one person to solve the problems of another. Yes, help, hope, and a willingness to listen can be offered. A kind word of encouragement is also possible to give. However, it is rarely […]
Are there reliable ways of finding out the truth about a person on social networking? Part 1: imaginations
This post is not about technicalities of social networking. It is not about finding the exact IP address or other analytics data about a person. This post is not about finding technological features to accurately geo-locate a person. What this post is about are the limitations of human understanding, the capability of humans to deceive […]
Man-made labels for social convenience and simplification
It is amazing to consider, that a human being would willingly accept a label to define his entire existence. There are many labels in existence. People label themselves based on education, profession, family, country, or religion. With an expanding knowledge, each of those labels proves insufficient and incomprehensive. So, in order to identify oneself, an […]
