Baruch de Spinoza...on GOD

Baruch DeSpinoza

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Around Christmas, it's natural that many of our thoughts turn more spiritual. It's a Season in which people tend to be nicer to each other, a Season of gratitude and gift-giving.

For me, one of the odd dichotomies of Christianity is that, while based on the teachings of Jesus, a representative of "the God of love," it STILL keeps the image of God as the vengeful, angry God of the Old Testament. I always found the view of a vengeful, punishing God, at odds with the idea of an "All loving, all forgiving" God.

In College, a Philosophy professor once told our class, "Your heart is your inner voice/child now go dive into that pool and swim inside yourself and clear the water of all the debris of guilt and shame and chlorinate it to kill off the bacteria of negative thoughts."

That Professor was what was called a Rationalist - a disciple of Baruch De Spinoza, a Dutch philosopher considered one of the three great rationalists in the 17th century, along with the great French philosopher, Rene Descartes, who greatly influenced him.

Here are some of Spinoza's views, from his work titled, "The Nature of God";

"God would have said: "STOP being, praying, giving yourself blows in the chest, what I want you to do is to go out into the world to enjoy your life.

"I want you to enjoy, sing, have fun and enjoy everything I've done for you.

"Stop going to those gloomy, dark and cold temples that you built yourself and that you say to be my home.

"My house is in the mountains, in the forests, the rivers, the lakes, the beaches. That's where I live and express all my love for you.

"Stop blaming me for your miserable life; I never told you you were a sinner.

"Stop portraying me as so frightening.

I do not judge you, nor criticize you, nor anger me, nor bother me, nor punishment. I am pure love.

"Stop asking me forgiveness, there's nothing to forgive. If I made you... I filled you with passions, limitations, pleasures, feelings, needs, inconsistencies...of free will, how can I blame you if you answer something that I put in you?

"How can I punish you for being as you are, if I'm the one who made you?

"Do you think I could create a place to burn all my children who misbehave, for the rest of eternity?

"What kind of God can do that?

"Forget about any kind of commandments, of any kind of laws; those are wiles to manipulate you, to control you and that only create guilt in you.

"Respect your peers and don't do what you don't want for you. The only thing I ask is that you pay attention in your life, that your alert status is your guide. This life is the only thing there is, here and now and the only thing you need.

"I have made you absolutely free, there are no prizes or punishments, there are no sins or virtues, no one carries a marker, no one carries a record.

"You are absolutely free to create in your life a heaven or a hell.

"I couldn't tell you if there's anything after this life, but I can give you a tip. LIVE AS IF THERE ISN'T.

"As if this was your only chance to enjoy, to love, to exist.

"So, if there is nothing, then you will have enjoyed the opportunity I gave you. And if there is, be sure that I will not ask you if you behaved well or wrong, I will ask you. Did you like it?... Did you have fun? What did you enjoy the most? What did you learn?

"Stop believing in me; to believe is to assume, to guess, to imagine. I don't want you to believe in me, I want you to feel me inside you when you kiss your beloved, when you toss your little girl in the air, when you love your dog, when you bathe in the sea.

"Stop praising me. What kind of egotistical God do you think I am?
I'm bored of praise, I'm fed up with thanks.

"Do you feel grateful?

"Prove it by taking care of YOU! YOUR health, YOUR relationships...the world.

"Do you feel overwhelmed?

"Express your joy! That's the way to praise me.

"The only thing sure is that you are here, that you are alive, that this world is full of wonders.

"What do you need more miracles for?

"Why so many explanations?

"Don't look for me OUTSIDE. You won't find me.

"Find me INSIDE...there I'm beating inside you."

(Baruch De Spinoza)

I'm not sure how others might feel, but I find Spinoza's views are much more consistent with the Christmas spirit than those of that fire and brimstone "Old time Religion."
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There's Just NO WAY to Defend Socialism..."Democratic," Nor Any Other Kind

Milton Friedman (L) and Paul Krugman (R) Dr. Friedman was a brilliant economist. Paul Krugman was the other guy

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The scorecards are IN on "The Market Economy vs Socialism" and...the Market Economy has won in a 1st Round knock out. Not only has Venezuela failed after abandoning the market, both Russia and China have experienced economic booms after abandoning Soviet Socialism and Maoism in favor of market economies.

Chile was a failed economy under Salvatore Allende's Socialist policies. It's economy became "The Jewel of South America," under Augusto Pinochet, advised by Milton Friedman.

Here in the U.S., all anyone needs do to compare the relative worth of Liberal vs Conservative policies is to compare thriving Texas and Florida to declining Leftist strongholds like NY & CA.

The reason NO ONE has been able to defend Leftist/Socialist policies is because they just don't work. There's nothing to defend on that score!

So WHY do some continue to advocate for Leftism/Socialism?

Bone ignorance, I guess.

As always, I welcome disagreement, BUT I've actually sought out examples of working Socialism. I've sought out people who'd defend Socialism, but to date, none have been able to do that.

Referring to the failed arguments of those like Robert Reich and Paul Krugman aren't helpful. They both lauded Hugo Chavez in Venezuela and look how that turned out.

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Robert Reich vs Reality...

Robert Reich on the right...with some sex offender

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According to Robert Reich, "Two years ago, Donald Trump and congressional Republicans slashed taxes, creating a massive give-away to the wealthy and corporations. Since then, Trump and the GOP have attempted to pay for their nearly $2 trillion tax handout for the rich by slashing critical services for working families. Just look at this New York Times headline:

"Trump Administration Unveils More Cuts to Food Stamps Program"

"The Trump administration is literally taking food off the table of hungry families, through $5.5 billion in SNAP cuts over the next five years. These devastating cuts will force nearly 10,000 families to lose all food stamp benefits.

"Trump’s ruse was that under his tax bill working families would see a $4,000 - $9,000 benefit both in individual tax cuts and through investments made by corporate America. Nothing remotely close to this has occurred..."
(Robert Reich)
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Funny story, Robert Reich had promised "Armageddon" if the GOP tax bill passed back in 2017.

What really happened?

Well, wages rose 4.5% for the bottom 25% over the past year – compared to 2.9% for the for the top 25%. (https://www.wsj.com/…/rank-and-file-workers-get-bigger-rais…)

I believe Robert Reich also lauded Hugo Chavez' Command (government-run) economy and even now blames U.S. sanctions and Maduro's "incompetence" for Venezuela's failures.

THAT'S utter NONSENSE! Venezuela failed because neither Marxist policies nor Collectivist initiatives have ever worked anywhere.

By comparison, Milton Friedman advised Augusto Pinochet and, in the process, transformed Chile FROM Allende's "democratic Socialist" basketcase TO an economy praised as, "The Jewel of South America!"

Robert Reich seems like a very nice, but extremely naive gentleman.
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Hmmmm...

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I intend no offense, as I'm serious about this. I say that because so many people are so hypersensitive these days and I know this will rub many people the wrong way.

These are my thoughts on this. I have no problem with disagreement, but at the least, make a rational case for your disagreement.

At any rate, after reading THIS article (https://www.mirror.co.uk/…/transgender-man-gives-birth-non-…), doesn't it seem more likely than not, that traditional Islam might have the right idea about all of....this? (https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/06/14/countries-where-being-gay-is-legally-punishable-by-death/39574685/) EXTREME? Yes, but no less so than seeking to redefine gender, the family and a civilization that has worked very well as is for over 2,000 years!

Islam elevates the female as a "vessel of procreation," which is why, in many Arab-Muslim countries Muslim women aren't allowed out in public without a male and in many places, they're barred from mundane tasks like driving and work.

THAT is the essence of the rationale behind traditional Islam's death sentence for adultery (specifically adulteresses) and homosexuality (specifically male homosexuals), for according to Muslim Sharia Law, the worst, or most base thing a female can do is to "act as a man," displaying her lusts, etc. and likewise, the worst, or most base thing a male can do is to claim the elevated status of the female. It's treated similarly to "Stolen Valor," here.

Before anyone gets the wrong idea, or even gets the right idea, wrong here, this is NOT some blanket anti gay assertion on my part. Homosexuals, even crossdressing, transgenders (like J. Edgar Hoover) have lived among us for Millenia and they've always been free (for the most part) to live lives of quiet fulfillment...on the "down low," or "in the closet," so to speak.

The watchword has always been TOLERANCE.

Now, some are demanding ACCEPTANCE and THAT is unacceptable, as that threatens to undermine Western Society as we know it.

What is displayed in this article is something different even than "gay acceptance." This movement seeks to redefine, even eliminate the traditional idea of binary gender and the purpose of that is to eliminate the traditional nuclear family, the foundation of Western Civilization.

If gender is successfully redefined, then the family is redefined. If the family is redefined, then Western Civilization, at least much of it is redefined...even eliminated.

If gender and the family are redefined, then, WHY NOT polygamy?

WHY NOT bestiality?

Indeed, WHY NOT the "buggery of boys?" That IS what pedophilia really boils down to, the "buggery of boys."

As sure as Western Civilization is the pinnacle of mankind's ascension, the nuclear family - the "Holy Trinity" (Father, Son/Child & Holy Ghost/Mother), is vital to that ascension.

Attacks on the family, which is reliant upon gender is something we cannot abide.

Now I've long supported the draconian, public punishments of the Arab-Muslim world for violent offenders (ie. a mugger, or armed robber loses one hand and one foot, death for murderers, human traffickers, pedophiles, etc.), but I've opposed them for apostates, adulteresses and homosexuals, BUT articles like this one...well, they're certainly fuel for some reconsideration...
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Sliwa Calls Out Big Bird and Andy...

The other day, Curtis Sliwa slimed and shamed the shameless Andy Cuomo and Warren Wilhelm Jr./Bill DeBlasio for their part in making the recent rash of anti-Semitic attacks far more likely to happen, than not. Their failed Bail & Criminal Justice policies have emboldened violent offenders.

As you might expect, they've made no response. No attempt to defend their pro thug "criminal justice reforms," not even a retaliatory response against Sliwa for....I don't know, maybe, "fear mongering," &/or "promoting violence." THAT would seem to be up their alley.

So far, neither has said ANYTHING. Which is not surprising, since they've done NOTHING in response to the recent upsurge in violent crime in NY.

While the addled and incompetent Andy Cuomo and hipster dufuss, Warren Wilhelm Jr. (Big Bird) preen over their eradication of bail and giving criminals gifts upon release from custody, they've done nothing about the recent wave a violence targeting Jews and nothing about the recent upswing in murders in NYC.

Cuomo may actually be worse, as only a decade ago he referred to urban thugs as "cowards" and "animals," but now, with the Democratic Party's nod in favor of lawlessness....well, "Bird is the word" - Big Bird, that is.

Cuomo's first assessment ("cowards and animals") was correct. It can be reliably predicted that none of the urban Jew-haters will confront anyone with the Guardian Angel's present, because they are cowards, after all, just like Big Bird & Andy!
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True Words From a Very Flawed President...

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"Liberty has never come from Government. Liberty has always come from the subjects of it. The history of liberty is a history of limitations of governmental power, not the increase of it."
(Woodrow Wilson)

This Better NOT Come to Pass...

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Virginia's Democrat majority statehouse has enacted some tough new anti gun laws...ALL targeted towards law-abiding gun owners.

NONE require house-to-house sweeps and confiscations in gang infested areas. They're targeted entirely at legal gun owners.

As a result a number of "Sanctuary Gun Zones" have cropped up, mostly in Southern Virginia, with many local Police and Sheriffs acknowledging that they WON'T comply with ANY legally mandated gun confiscations for those without felony or, mental health records.

In response, the Governor (Ralph Northam, who recently gleefully described the infanticide that abortion until birth allows) has said he'll call in the National Guard. As a result Militias began moving into the State in response, anticipating, "The first shots in a new Civil War." (https://www.zerohedge.com/…/virginia-activates-official-mil…)

More recently, the Virginia National Guard has refused to be used to impose Marshall Law within that State. (https://www.lawenforcementtoday.com/national-guardsman-we-…/). Many of these Militias are comprised of Law Enforcement officials and Military Veterans.

I've speculated for a long time now, that if Left-of-Center politicians THINK they can use law enforcement and the Military on law-abiding citizens (gun owners, members of the "Patriot Movement," free speech purists, etc.) they may very well find that very FEW in such organizations are willing to carry out such commands.

The entire strategy seems ill-considered and ill-conceived.

For the Left...THIS is a war YOU don't really want.
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Doubling Down on Dr. Sowell...

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I confess, I like Professor Thomas Sowell.

I may not always agree...though mostly, I do, but I greatly respect his unconventional thinking. He always has an interesting take on things.

Here's a quote, I DO agree with; "Those who want to take our money and gain power over us have discovered the magic formula: Get us envious or angry at others and we will surrender, in installments, not only our money, but our freedom. The most successful dictators of the 20th century — Hitler, Lenin, Stalin, Mao — all used this formula and now class warfare politicians here are doing the same."

It's been the same throughout the ages. Power corrupts and politicians ALL seek ultimate power, but realized early on, they needed a crutch.

Initially it was religion and governments polluted and corrupted religions, turning them into a tool to gain power.

Today's modern governments have partnered with business and industry to effect the same result.

Government pollutes everything it touches.
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Elizabeth Kubler-Ross on Living Fully...

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"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on Earth - and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up - that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had."
(Elisabeth Kubler-Ross)

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In my view, it seems that most of us "know" this, but either deny it, or just "play the odds." In other words, "The odds" seem pretty good that I have tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow..."

In either case, it seems more than just "knowing," but accepting the reality of this very temporary life.

Squeamishness over our own mortality often makes that acceptance difficult because many people find even thinking about their own mortality to be morbidly uncomfortable.
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A Difficult Time of Year for Some...

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This is often a very difficult time of year for a lot of people. From those who've lost loved ones around the Holidays to those without much, if any family support. That can make this family-oriented time of year seem much lonelier and sad for them.

For many of us, it's hard to know what we can, or even should do. Most of us aren't counselors, or anything, leaving many of us reticent to reach out.

Unfortunately, people dealing with depression, or other issues often withdraw and are equally reticent to reach out and ask for help, or even to talk.

That's how people fall through the cracks.

I often wish I knew what signs to look for, to know when to look to help, but even then, with retirement often comes more separation. You don't see guys everyday and it's hard to know if someone's hurting. Often changes are written off as merely part of aging.

My thoughts and prayers are with all those missing loved ones and without family support during the upcoming Holidays.
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