Ontological Debates

I have been giving this more thought than usual lately, and so now it is time to blog. As I was sitting in church today, yes even I’m surprised I went, I found myself white knuckled, scowling, and waiting for a line of “special” words to come spewing forth. Luckily I held my cool and now I’m going to rant here. The question was asked, “What causes persecution?” and though I kept my answer to myself, this is what I think. As I have began to get ready for the fall semester I have been exploring different ideas about human behavior and knowledge that we base our behavior on. Ontology can be easily summed up as the study of the state of being. You could also say, what “is” is. Are humans naturally brutish, carnal, and self-interested, or are they inherently good and looking to help others? Many scriptures could point you both ways, but ultimately this brings about the debate:
If you can’t agree on human nature, how can you agree on what humans do?

Lily Allen, whose video will follow this, has a song ripping a certain sector of society because of their views about human nature. She calls their lives hateful, small-minded, and certain people have “a hole where their soul should be”. Many would see this as persecution to those who have a conservative background. Is her argument towards religion, Republicans, or possibly something else? I would suggest that she is ready to say that their ontology is wrong. Her experience with human nature allows for open-mindedness towards homosexuality. Then the debate rages on the other side as many religious groups use their own ontology about each person’s connection to many different types of deity.

If I see you as a child of God whose destiny is to help to multiply and replenish the Earth, that is your reason for being (ontology), how can I justify your commitment in a same-sex relationship? At the same time, you may take another view of the Bible, and say the right of the individual and teachings of the Sermon on the Mount supersede the commandment of multiply and replenish the earth, so the beatitudes are your basic reason for being (ontology), how can you condemn a person for acting on what they see is their basic natural feelings? Now that I have pointed out an ontological debate, how can either side ever win? If we are unable to agree on basic human nature, how can you come to any consensus about how humans act? Back to the question that was asked, what causes persecution? I have come to the conclusion that persecution is a reaction, (it doesn’t just act, but reacts to something in its environment), to an opposing ontology. As one begins to challenge the other for the acceptance within the community the other will react, restating their beliefs.

My goal is not to push my own ontology, but to enlighten all who read about this reaction caused by different views. It seems that many believe they are being persecuted for standing up for their own beliefs, (their own personal ontology), but at the same time they are persecuting others who are standing up for their own beliefs. Let us now recognize that this debate and many others are based on ontology, and middle ground might never be reached and that is why some will feel persecuted as they persecute others.


You can tell what she is singing, but it isn’t quite as offensive for some, lol.

So what do you think? Leave me a comment.

Home Schooling is EVIL!!!

I realize I'm not exactly being nice, but for the love of Pete, this kid has been ruined by his mother who has him in home schooling. Social interaction is very important, and now you will see why!!!

I made it to 100, What do you think?

Alright, first I know that I don't really post anything worth reading. I am even working on a new idea surrounding the idea of the difference between receiving, taking, and stealing, and how it incorporates into our everyday lives. Plus how we don't always use the words correctly because we actually mean another. Anyway that will be a long post, and I don't want to bore you yet!

Great news, I think it is official, I now have 100 cookbooks, instructional DVDs, pamphlets, whatever it is, but all in all I have 100 resources to find recipies about almost anything. I know I'm not getting away from the consuming society, but when it is 80% off, who can say no? So I am planning on starting another blog that will include my cooking adventures. Yep, we are talking pictures, recipies that I enjoy, and most importantly, I am going to start posting my ideas for using food storage and how to actually make it manageable. But I need a clever name. Something like, actuallyusefulrecipies.blogspot.com, or something on that idea. What is your idea?

Place it in the comments so that I can read it, and if I choose your idea, I'll invite you over for Crawfish Etouffe (not sure how to spell it) or something on the grill. By the way Katie and Sarah, when are you coming over for dinner for guessing my weight right? And by the way I don't weigh that anymore, this six days a week at the gym is starting to pay off.