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Freewill and Power
Some people have more self control than others. Some people have power over others. We are not free in an absolute sense. But if we only have the illusion of self control then that would be a strange twist of evolution. If we believe we are sentient and have the freedom to choose we are…
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Zero Mobile Games
Yesterday I deleted the last mobile game I had left on my phone. Theoretically that should give me more time to do productive things. And yet it’s taken me until 7pm to do this blog post about theoretically being more productive. I still need to work on some digital art tonight. I sit here stoned…
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Doing Enough Good
There’s an LDS hymn called, “Have I done any good in the world today?” It includes a line that implies that only when people are actively doing good can they help others to live. No set amount of good is required, but doing good is a duty. John Stewart Mill wrote something to the effect…
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Political and Emotional Blackmail
There’s an election coming up in the USA. It’s the big one. Next Tuesday we will decide who becomes president for the next four years. My personal world is inundated with political messages. If you don’t vote for our guy the country is doomed and this will be the last presidential election we will ever…
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Halloween 24
Tonight I handed out candy and snacks for about an hour and a half. It was cold but it was worth it. I live in a good neighborhood, very diverse. Dressing up and giving out trick or treats lets me be hospitable. As my hands got colder and the wind tried to blow the chairs…
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Living the Dream
If you’ve been here a while you know that I am truly grateful for the level of prosperity that I enjoy. My needs are met. I want more but being honest I don’t need more. I live a good life. I’m happy. And that’s when the paranoia slips in. Do I deserve this? Is it…
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Burden of Proof
I saw it again today. An atheist saying that the burden of proof is on someone else. That doesn’t work for me. It is not someone else’s job to prove me wrong. If I have even a sliver of a fraction of a doubt that I might be wrong about God, it is my job…
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Mental Health Advocacy
Some days my mental health is good. Other days like the current one it is not. But I attest to the value of mental health care. Talk to a counselor. Take your meds. Know that feelings of depression, anxiety, and anger are valid. They are valid but you don’t want to lay down and live…
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Do You Love Jesus?
It’s a straightforward question, but I’m coming to the conclusion that I don’t. I respect him, there are still things that I can learn from him, and I sometimes even fear his ultimate judgement. And yet I don’t love him the way most people say they do. He has I am told payed the debts…
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It’s Late and I’m Happy
The past few days have been really awesome. I have been in a remarkably good mood for a week. I’m not used to being happy. It’s all very suspicious. I expect the universe to come up behind me and knock me over the head. I have a good life I just don’t trust it to…