tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198999559571921458.post2829773260610800375..comments2023-06-04T02:29:39.106-07:00Comments on The Jet City Filter: Random Reflections on 'Reality'Matt MacDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17182324976310198460noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198999559571921458.post-63999508745964804462009-03-27T18:47:00.000-07:002009-03-27T18:47:00.000-07:00I love this post. It has really helped me.And the...I love this post. It has really helped me.<BR/><BR/>And there are some interesting comments floating around as well.<BR/><BR/>I look forward to the next update.Masonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11517067348339365901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198999559571921458.post-80948743974902510732009-03-24T16:58:00.000-07:002009-03-24T16:58:00.000-07:00V- i'm the same way about religion. there's so muc...V- i'm the same way about religion. there's so much hypocricy and self-contradiction on top of the ALREADY confusing doctrine of christianity that it makes one feel gullible, at times, to believe. like you've been sucked into the same trap that's captured a third of the world's population. but look around you- how could this complexity be an accident? if not the christian god, SOMETHING must have caused this.<BR/><BR/>matt- i would agree that faith IS a heart thing, but unless you have it backed up it can and will easily become meaningless... wasn't it in 1 peter- yes, 1 peter 3:15- that says we should always have a reason behind our hope. always be able to explain why we believe what we do, live how we live. christianity isn't meerly blind faith. god gave us our inquisitive nature. we were meant to hunt down and find the answers we crave.<BR/><BR/>i don't feel it's right for any christian, no matter how strong in their faith, to close up and stop listening to and openly considering, the opposing arguement. true, the devil can easily decieve- but it's by the same logical reasoning that people twist against him that god proves his existence over and over. he'll win out the fight easily if you keep your mind open and genuinely pursue truth, because that's what he is. truth.<BR/><BR/>~mariejohnny4eyeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12058312070517364919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198999559571921458.post-66100240570671478742009-03-22T05:28:00.000-07:002009-03-22T05:28:00.000-07:00This is one of the most inspirational blogs that I...This is one of the most inspirational blogs that I've come across. You are an incredibly gifted writer.Joelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02991383973120535157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198999559571921458.post-84096352876345701252009-03-22T04:36:00.000-07:002009-03-22T04:36:00.000-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Joelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02991383973120535157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198999559571921458.post-64099982447008553612009-03-21T15:37:00.000-07:002009-03-21T15:37:00.000-07:00tight.tight.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198999559571921458.post-84129059001642609152009-03-21T15:01:00.000-07:002009-03-21T15:01:00.000-07:00Thanks V, good input. I think faith is a heart thi...Thanks V, good input. <BR/><BR/>I think faith is a heart thing. I know people who can convince you that God is real, and I know people who can convince you that He isn't. Our minds are limited because they rely on how the 'facts' are presented. Faith is different because it doesn't need proof, it doesn't need facts (although it can be substantiated by them), it is a calming peace that needs little thought to acquire. <BR/><BR/>That might sound foolish to some, but I think its an integral part of what makes us incredibly complex and human. I think the fact alone that we have this inherent need to believe in the unseen might be proof that there are unseen things at work. The mind is always wanting answers.<BR/><BR/>A few books that satiated my mind were "Letters From a Skeptic" by Dr. Gregory Boyd, or if you want the account of an ex-atheist read C.S. Lewis' "Mere Christianity." (More references in the "What I Believe" post)<BR/><BR/>As always, I encourage the lifelong pursuit of meaning, regardless of where you're at or what you believe in. You should read Nietzsche if you can stomach it, but also read the opposing arguments.<BR/><BR/>Einstein, Kelvin and Newton all believed in God, and they were pretty smart (Theory of Relativity, Thermodynamics, Principia). Even Galileo believed in God. But the good news it doesn't take a genius to realize this crazy thing we call creation might in fact be created. It's really a simpler argument than any opposing one.Matt MacDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17182324976310198460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198999559571921458.post-30818822153651578932009-03-21T14:03:00.000-07:002009-03-21T14:03:00.000-07:00I agree with what you said, Brad, how ignorance tr...I agree with what you said, Brad, how ignorance truly is bliss. Everyday I'm finding out something new; about the universe, people, society, etc. And even though there is some good in that knowledge, there's also the bad; the harsh truth of reality.<BR/>Which is why I've had a lot of trouble with the religion/God dilemna. I'll read something and then be a devout believer, but then some scientific study or logical reasoning will make me think otherwise, and I'll be athiest. The trials of human existance... I admire you people (Matt, as well as others who believe in a God) who have absolute faith in this religious business. It's all too confusing for me... : )Victoriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04522347271392780780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198999559571921458.post-32584589596624130332009-03-20T17:32:00.000-07:002009-03-20T17:32:00.000-07:00coincidently, i've been having this same conversat...coincidently, i've been having this same conversation with a friend of mine the past couple days :) arguing the same point- about being attatched to time and arriving at the end all at once... and how one of the reasons i know god exists is because of that complexity- that "you don't know jack" feeling the universe is strung together with. interresting post.<BR/><BR/>the last thing you said reminded me of something i read once, a story of a broken girl, that says god makes things new, that he meant hope and healing in the stars: "tell them to look up. tell them to remember the stars... the stars are always there but we miss them in the dirt and the clouds. we miss them in the storms. tell them to remember hope. we have hope."<BR/><BR/>~mariejohnny4eyeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12058312070517364919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198999559571921458.post-25339030516470584482009-03-20T06:59:00.000-07:002009-03-20T06:59:00.000-07:00Have you watched What the Bleep? You can get it at...Have you watched What the Bleep? You can get it at Blockbuster. Its all about stuff like that and much more. Made me think that no matter what we think we understand, its all just shaped by our perspective and limitations. Of which, God has none.maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14577162391549151175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198999559571921458.post-337453587346459912009-03-19T22:03:00.000-07:002009-03-19T22:03:00.000-07:00What you said reminds me of a quote i read somewhe...What you said reminds me of a quote i read somewhere. something like; ignorance truly is bliss. the more knowledge we gain, the more we realize how little we truly know. I found this blog post particularly interesting as i have been looking into the Ten dimensions and string theory lately. I was watching a video about some people who actually managed to speed up and slow down light, which could lead into many other questions with regards to time (perception, travel, control, etc.). <BR/>Long story short, i find myself to be an existentialist, rather than religious. I find meaning in life by actions, "coincidences", symbolism. This is due to me never really feeling that connection with God. I know there is a supreme being, whom created us. <BR/>Only two things truly humbles me and make me realize this. Firstly; looking in the mirror, realizing that i am a collection of 4 major elements, somehow (miraculously) formed into this intelligent, sentient, unique, abstract thinking being. This is truly awe inspiring. Secondly; standing alone on a clear night, staring into the sky. Nothing makes me feel so small and insignificant, but at the same time infinite. Life is mind blowing.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12557807076913442483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198999559571921458.post-14103564739200659852009-03-19T16:09:00.000-07:002009-03-19T16:09:00.000-07:00Amazing post... It was cool how you made it seem l...Amazing post... It was cool how you made it seem like the universe does revolve around us. It makes me seem so important yet kind of small at the same time.Aaron M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03356446601470670649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198999559571921458.post-8656440232279614042009-03-19T08:38:00.000-07:002009-03-19T08:38:00.000-07:00I've been on a big Radiohead buzz lately, and I to...I've been on a big Radiohead buzz lately, and I totally heard "Everything In Its Right Place" playing in my head when reading your thoughts on time and really old star twinkles and such. <BR/><BR/>I wonder... are those star twinkles really just giant explosions? If stars are massive like our local one (the sun), their twinkles could be refractions from the atmosphere, explosions unchained on the star, or the cells in our eyes trying to represent the small/bright blip to our brain's vision center.<BR/><BR/>It's all dependent on so much. Perception and truth.<BR/><BR/>From one clueless schlub to another, sometimes you gotta look up and wonder, right? I prefer fluffy clouds and blue skies, thinking about the direction at which the sun's radiation (aka LIGHT) hits our atmospheric bubble, refracting and creating a color in our little human perceptible visual range. Fluffy clouds are water droplets FLOATING THROUGH THE AIR, coalesced into these apparent white blobs! What a place we live in!<BR/><BR/>Hell, this reminds me of a Crowder lyric: <BR/>"But a certain sign of grace is this<BR/>From the broken earth flowers come up<BR/>Pushing through the dirt".<BR/><BR/>Uber simple. Uber inspiring. It's LIFE!Jeremyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17100213048050165774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198999559571921458.post-75958786790433960952009-03-19T05:49:00.000-07:002009-03-19T05:49:00.000-07:00To believe in nothing is to believe in something, ...To believe in nothing is to believe in something, isn't it? <BR/><BR/>That was an amazing post. It reminded me just how little I can ever know about anything... especially what we call "reality". But who knows what's real anyway.Lenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12179365866337949731noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9198999559571921458.post-44165975883022783132009-03-19T04:13:00.000-07:002009-03-19T04:13:00.000-07:00Great Scott, that was another thought provoking po...Great Scott, that was another thought provoking post. Whenever I think about 'what if's it always morphs into doubt. Then something like this sort of makes me feel how much of a right fool I am.<BR/>Reminds me of some As Cities Burn lyrics:<BR/>I think our god isn't God,<BR/>If he fits inside our heads.smuddleglumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17148498405660555653noreply@blogger.com