I do not consider myself better than anyone else. Truth is truth. Some of it I know.
I attended a lecture by a psychologist who had made a big splash by publishing in an article that it was obvious that homosexuality was inherited. He had done research on it to find markers. The only one he found was that there seems to be a tendency for homosexuals to be antisocial.
When he spoke, he started by saying, "I know why I was invited to speak here." (at the APS convention). He went on to say that he was supposed to say that homosexuality is inherited. But since his article, he had had to review the research more carefully, and the subjects used in identical twin studies in the earlier research were chosen from a biased population, and when he corrected for that error, instead of there being an 85% correlation in identical twins it came down to 3%. That says it is clearly not inherited.
Brain differences that are thought to accompany homosexuality because of a few autopsies can be results as well as causes, and there is no research to support the idea that brain differences cause it, only that they exist after death in some.
The idea that anyone who thinks homosexuality is sin are hate-filled is a lie. There is much more hate in the homosexuals that oppose religion than the other way around. That is obvious from their actions.
Those who marry as homosexuals whether legally or not are living a lie. It will not provide lasting happiness. All sin will provide some short-term thrills, but in the end, to maintain it, one has to sear conscience and become more and more carnal, sensual and devilish. They will lose all the love they think they have, and all the happiness they seek. This will happen no matter how legal it is made, or how many people approve, or how much they believe in their way of thinking and behaving. Their anger will grow, and they will try to blame anyone but themselves. Temptations come to everyone. The thrill would be there for anyone. But sin is sin, and giving into temptations will always bring misery.
When one goes against conscience, it is convenient to blame and punish others to hide from the error. Hatred of people comes in just this way. It is sad.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
Agency: My choice of my master.
Implications of a “right to choose.”
Implications of a “right to choose.”
by Gordon Timothy
There are only two masters:.
--God or Mammon;
--The Spirit or the flesh;
--The way of life or the way of death;
--The way of liberty or the way of slavery
--The way of sin or the way of righteousness
Trying to serve both is disastrous
Which of the Following is the Most Accurate Definition of Freedom?
1. You can do anything you want as long as you really want it, period?
A Naïve view
Optimistic, Positive Thinking
People think they need to believe it is so
Is only believed by those who are naïve about reality.
It is not true.
Assumes that having truth makes us less free.
It is not true freedom
2. You can do anything you want as long as you don’t interfere with your neighbor?
Political View
It contains an important principle for living with other people
Considers other people
More inclusive of situations
Doesn’t include integrity
Limited to actions judged only by their effect on other people.
Can be hypocritical
Narrow scope of application
It is not true freedom.
3. You can do anything you want as long as you are willing to take the consequences?
Sinners’ View
Includes the reality that consequences come with our doing and choosing
But if I’m not willing, consequences come anyway
Some people wrongly use this to feel justified in choosing sin over righteousness
We should be without self hatred
Ignores conscience
It is not freedom
4. You can do anything you want as long as you do it within set bounds and limits?
Reality
You can do what you want only by obeying law, satisfying limits
If you do not obey the laws, you cannot do it.
Freedom = obedience to law
Not man’s laws, but eternal laws
Even man’s laws often help us be more free
What if you don’t agree with the limits/ bounds? It doesn’t matter. It is not about opinions, but about reality.
Example: I want to fly.
• I can if I want? No
• I can if I don’t interfere with my neighbor? No
• I can if I am willing to take the consequences? No. (If I jump off some height, I can have an illusion of flying, but I am not really flying)
• I can if I obey the laws that permit it. YES
Freedom is Obedience
D&C 130:20-21 There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—
And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.
Moses 5:23 If thou doest well, thou shalt be accepted. And if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door, and Satan desireth to have thee; and except thou shalt hearken unto my commandments, I will deliver thee up, and it shall be unto thee according to his desire.
Anti-Law is Anti-Freedom
D&C 82:10 I, the Lord am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.
D&C 84: 51 For whoso cometh not unto me is under the bondage of sin.
88:35 That which breaketh a law, and abideth not by law, but seeketh to become a law unto itself, and willeth to abide in sin, and altogether abideth in sin, cannot be sanctified by law, neither by mercy, justice nor judgment. Therefore, they must remain filthy still.
Agency is Responsibility
John 8:31: …If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32: and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
34: …whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin
36: If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed
Boyd K. Packer: “There is no true freedom without responsibility and knowledge of the truth. The scriptures do not mention free agency. They do stress moral agency.
David Bednar: Once you have made covenants, you are no longer a “free agent,” but are accountable to keep those covenants
Joshua 24: 15 - Choose ye this day whom ye will serve … but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Alma 13:10-13 - …choosing to repent and work righteousness rather than to perish… [they] could not look upon sin save it were with abhorrence…
2 Nephi 2: 16: God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other.
2 Ne. 2:26 …because they are redeemed from the fall, they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it should be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day…
2 Ne. 2:27 …Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh, and all things are given them which are expedient unto man.
And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and the power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.
2 Ne. 2:28-29 [I hope you will] choose eternal life, according to the will of His holy Spirit, And not choose eternal death, according the will of the flesh and the evil which is therein, which giveth the spirit of the devil power to captivate, to bring you down to hell, that he may reign over you…
2 Ne. 9:39 … to be carnally-minded is death, and to be spiritually minded is life eternal
Romans 6: 16: Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey, whether it be of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
23: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
2 Ne. 10:23-25 …ye are free to act for yourselves– to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life…reconcile yourselves to the will of God, and not to the will of the devil and the flesh…
Alma 3: 19…every man that is cursed (does) bring upon himself his own condemnation.
Alma 3: 26 …they…reap their rewards according to their works, whether they were good or whether they were bad, to reap eternal happiness or eternal misery, according to the spirit which they listed t obey, whether it be a good spirit or a bad one.
Alma 3: 27 For every man receiveth wages of him whom he listeth to obey
Matt. 6: 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.
Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Rom 8:5-6,13 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die; but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Gal 5:16 Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh
D&C 37:4 Behold, here is wisdom, and let every man choose for himself until I come.
D&C 58:26-28,33; It is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward
D&C 93:31 Behold here is the agency of man, and here is the condemnation of man; because that which was from the beginning is plainly manifest unto them, and they receive not the light…
39. And that wicked one cometh and taketh away light and truth through disobedience …
101:78 That every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to futurity, according to the moral agency which I have given unto him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment.
Article of Faith #2 We believe than men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.
Implication:
No one else is responsible for my
- behaviors, actions
- thoughts
- feelings
I am
Models and Examples:
1. Lehi’s Dream 1 Ne 8-15
We choose between the path to the building, the pride of the world and the tree of life, the Love of God. The river, the depths of hell and filthiness is what we get when we try to go both ways. Some fall away into forbidden paths and are lost.
The building is fruitless and foundationless; it will fall and destroy those who depend upon it.
The tree is firmly rooted; it has the sweetest fruit there is: The love of God, the Atonement of Christ.
2. Job, a Perfect man believes the promises, is rewarded well
Is it pride, or love? Take away rewards and see
God seems to not be keeping His promises…
Job is counseled by his wife to curse God and die.
His friends tell him he must be wicked, and must repent …
Has he done it for himself or for the love of God?
3. Abraham Gen. 22:1-13
Nearly was sacrificed himself. Believes the promises of the Lord: That through his son Isaac the world will be blessed… Told to sacrifice Isaac. What becomes of the promise?
Is his faith in himself, or is it in God?
Is his obedience forced?
Does he take pride in the promises?
Does he think of himself as better than everyone else?
Or does he seek to bless
4. You, me? Blessed for keeping commandments
Article of Faith # 2
“To act and not be acted upon”
Blessings sometimes seem to disappear. Some consequences are not given until Judgment day, making them ineffective as controls.
Other people’s behavior is offensive, hurtful. Am I a victim, or an agent?
To choose the way of the flesh is to become the slave of wickedness, of Satan.
To choose the way of the Spirit is to become free, since God will not force His will, but makes us free when we choose Him as Master
I am responsible for my actions? You are responsible for yours.
I will be punished for and by my own sins. You will be punished for and by your sins.
I make a choice; I choose a consequence.
I go against my conscience; I deserve guilt and other natural consequences.
I try to get out of the consequence; I have chosen worse consequences.
I take an action; It cannot be blamed on someone else
I take offense; that is my action.
I get angry; that is my action.
I accuse another; that is my action.
I blame another; that is my action.
I judge another; that is my action.
Breaking a commandment is my own action
Keeping commandments is my own action
Seeking help from God is my own action.
Repenting is my own action, though I cannot do it alone.
When I act selfishly; that is my sin.
When I try to force another; that is my sin
When I try to defend my ego by punishing another, I become the bad guy.
When I try to hide my sin; I am my own victim.
When I call another names; that is my sin.
When I hate another, or myself, that is my sin.
When I let you make me feel a certain way; that is my action.
When I think myself better than others, that is my sin
When I lust, I sin.
I don’t teach what I know; that is my sin.
I don’t help one in need when I can; that is my sin
I enslave another; that is my sin.I take advantage of another (cheat, use, harm); that is my sin
"Whatever happened to Free Speech?" or "The American Criminal Liberties Union Creed?"
or "The Fruits of a Stupid Court"
by Gordon Timothy
Well, you can burn the flag,
And you can swear and curse,
But you can't pray in school.
You can wear rotten garb;
Make the world more obscene,
But you can't pray in school.
As the ACLU gets its way,
It's a dirtier world every day.
When you encourage bad
And prevent good, it's sad.
What's the constitution for?
You can require books
That teach worship of sex,
But you can't pray in school.
You can promote the worship
Of money and fame
But you can't pray in school
As the ACLU gets its way
There is more idol worship each day
As false gods get shouts,
And the truth's censored out,
What's the constitution for?
You can invent some news
And not reveal your source.
But you can't pray in school.
You can change history
'til the truth is unknown
But you can't pray in school.
As the ACLU gets its way,
There is more slavery every day
When you don't know the truth
You are ignorance's fool.
What's the constitution for?
You can show students films
That no one should see,
But you can't pray in school.
You can incite rebellion
And destroy self-esteem
But you can't pray in school.
As the ACLU gets its way,
There are more terrorists every day.
As the anger grows,
You can count on more woes.
What's the constitution for?
You can use right of choice
To justify crime
But you can't pray in school.
You can destroy a life
For convenience's sake
But you can't pray in school.
As the ACLU gets its way,
There are more murderers every day.
When the helpless are right-less,
There is no justice here.
What's the constitution for?
You can sell the obscene
And make its victims pay
But you can't pray in school.
You can lie, cheat and steal
And be ignored by the courts
But you can't pray in school.
As the ACLU gets its way,
There is less decency every day
When civilization's gone,
And the courts promote wrong,
What's the constitution for?
You can have an affair
Make your word meaningless,
But you can't pray in school.
You can rape your date;
They'll be scared to report,
But you can't pray in school.
As the ACLU gets its way,
There are more AIDS cases each day
When morality's gone
Civilization can't last long.
What's the constitution for?
You can murder someone
Get away totally
When the officer makes a mistake
You can terrorize people;
Put kind folks on the run,
But you can't pray in school.
As the ACLU gets its way,
There is less personal safety each day
When you can't go outside
In the daytime or night,
What's the constitution for?
You can teach much trash
But the Bible's taboo,
And you can't pray in school.
You can be religious,
As long as nobody knows
And you can't pray in school.
As the ACLU gets its way
There is less true freedom each day
When the truth is unknown
Freedom's then overthrown.
What's the constitution for?
You can teach atheism,
You can teach dumb lies,
But you can't pray in school.
As the courts fight religion
Freedom cannot exist
And the future will call us fools
As the ACLU gets its way,
There is less freedom here every day
When they turn on its ear
Our Constitution dear
What's the constitution for?
or "The Fruits of a Stupid Court"
by Gordon Timothy
Well, you can burn the flag,
And you can swear and curse,
But you can't pray in school.
You can wear rotten garb;
Make the world more obscene,
But you can't pray in school.
As the ACLU gets its way,
It's a dirtier world every day.
When you encourage bad
And prevent good, it's sad.
What's the constitution for?
You can require books
That teach worship of sex,
But you can't pray in school.
You can promote the worship
Of money and fame
But you can't pray in school
As the ACLU gets its way
There is more idol worship each day
As false gods get shouts,
And the truth's censored out,
What's the constitution for?
You can invent some news
And not reveal your source.
But you can't pray in school.
You can change history
'til the truth is unknown
But you can't pray in school.
As the ACLU gets its way,
There is more slavery every day
When you don't know the truth
You are ignorance's fool.
What's the constitution for?
You can show students films
That no one should see,
But you can't pray in school.
You can incite rebellion
And destroy self-esteem
But you can't pray in school.
As the ACLU gets its way,
There are more terrorists every day.
As the anger grows,
You can count on more woes.
What's the constitution for?
You can use right of choice
To justify crime
But you can't pray in school.
You can destroy a life
For convenience's sake
But you can't pray in school.
As the ACLU gets its way,
There are more murderers every day.
When the helpless are right-less,
There is no justice here.
What's the constitution for?
You can sell the obscene
And make its victims pay
But you can't pray in school.
You can lie, cheat and steal
And be ignored by the courts
But you can't pray in school.
As the ACLU gets its way,
There is less decency every day
When civilization's gone,
And the courts promote wrong,
What's the constitution for?
You can have an affair
Make your word meaningless,
But you can't pray in school.
You can rape your date;
They'll be scared to report,
But you can't pray in school.
As the ACLU gets its way,
There are more AIDS cases each day
When morality's gone
Civilization can't last long.
What's the constitution for?
You can murder someone
Get away totally
When the officer makes a mistake
You can terrorize people;
Put kind folks on the run,
But you can't pray in school.
As the ACLU gets its way,
There is less personal safety each day
When you can't go outside
In the daytime or night,
What's the constitution for?
You can teach much trash
But the Bible's taboo,
And you can't pray in school.
You can be religious,
As long as nobody knows
And you can't pray in school.
As the ACLU gets its way
There is less true freedom each day
When the truth is unknown
Freedom's then overthrown.
What's the constitution for?
You can teach atheism,
You can teach dumb lies,
But you can't pray in school.
As the courts fight religion
Freedom cannot exist
And the future will call us fools
As the ACLU gets its way,
There is less freedom here every day
When they turn on its ear
Our Constitution dear
What's the constitution for?
Knowledge and Truth
Four Paths of knowledge
John, Sam, Henry, James, and Max all say it is raining. Their answer to the question, “How do you know it is raining?” illustrates their path to knowledge.
Sam: “John just came in from outside, and he told me that it is raining.”
John: “I was just outside, and I saw that it was raining.”
Henry: “I can see through the window that people are carrying open umbrellas and I know that people carry open umbrellas only when it is raining.”
James: “I can hear the rain hitting things.”
Max: “I can feel it in my bones.”
Each one got his knowledge that it is raining in a different way:
Sam found out by getting a report from an AUTHORITY, somebody else who had made the direct observation.
John found out by direct observation or experience: EMPIRICISM
Henry found out by reasoning from information that he had: RATIONALISM.
James made an INFERENCE from physical sensations
Max made an INFERENCE from feelings
Booby traps exist along the path to knowledge
All who “know” have assumptions that limit their ability to see truly:
Some know what their assumptions are; others do not.
Some assumptions are feelings; some are inferences; some are scripts.
Some assumptions are shared; others are not; many are questionable.
Some who claim knowledge are dishonest; others are not.
Some can communicate well; others cannot.
Some receive reports accurately; many do not.
Some can’t see the trees for the forest. Details are ignored.
Some can’t see the forest for the trees. Context is ignored
Some use good reasoning; others do not.
Some test their reasoning against standards; others do not.
Some use good standards; others do not.
Some ideas come from trustworthy sources; others do not.
Some ideas are consistent with feelings and past experience; others are not.
Some ideas are consistent with other accepted knowledge; others are not.
Some ideas are consistent in methodology used to prove them; others are not.
Some ideas are consistent with tested values; others are not.
All are limited, more or less severely by these traps, so much so that some experts have claimed that truth cannot be known.
Even known facts may be doubted.
Doubt also comes from assumptions, and may be doubted as well.
1. Authorities = Reports, to be good ones, must do the following:
1. Be trustworthy, honest, unbiased, and guileless, valuing truth over ego, money, reputation or any preconceived theory or idea.
2. Follow proper conditions for observation. (See Empiricism, Reasoning, and Revelation)
3. Clarify the essential information about their observations:
a. The context of the inquiry
b. The purposes or questions being asked in the observation
c. Their assumptions and biases.
d. Alternative assumptions, motives and sources.
e. That which they have to gain or lose by what they say other than truth?
f. The methods used in their observing
g. The conclusions reached and why they are justified
h. Other possible conclusions and why they are or are not justified
i. Implications of the conclusions on other areas of inquiry.
4. Be first hand. Second hand accounts are useful, but less authoritative.
5. Multiple authorities agreeing make an observation more likely to be true.
2. Empiricism = Observers, to be good ones, must do the following
1. Pay attention to what is observable
2. Anticipate possibilities without closing the mind to anything else.
3. Adjust for the general law of relativity, which applies to all perception: what is observed depends on the place and movement from which we are observing, and must be adjusted accordingly.
4. Control observations to prevent error as much as possible.
a. Make sure the population of application is accurately represented
b. Use control observations for comparison to eliminate biases.
c. Use random assignment of subjects and treatment where control is lacking.
d. Use double blind studies to eliminate experimenter influence.
e. Use reliable and valid measures
f. Use repeated measures.
g. Vary the order of observations to avoid practice effects
5. Replication by other observers is required
3. Rationalism =Reasoning must do the following
1. Use good logic (the IF-THEN game) and critical (vital) thinking
a. Clarify the purpose, goal, or objective
b. Clarify the overall intention of the thinking.
c. Clarify the values and issues involved.
d. Clarify the assumptions made
e. Clarify the support for and context of the assumptions
f. Clarify the relations between ideas being considered.
g. Clarify the conclusions made from reasoning
h. Clarify the implications of the conclusions
i. Identify possible applications of the conclusions
2. Adduction (the AS IF game) explains the reaching of conclusions, hypothesis and prediction, concluding lacking information by using what is already “known.”
a. Assume what has happened before will happen again.
b. Assume that similarities can be used to infer the unknown through scripts (stories) based on experience, personal or vicarious
c. Scripts have typical beginnings, ordered events, and outcomes.
d. Ordered events are usually assumed to be in the same order.
e. Missing information can be deducted from what is assumed in the script.
f. Inference may fill in blanks in the beginnings, the events, or the outcomes or beyond what is known, even to other scripts.
g. Scripts are usually developed in a social context, in experience and conversation with others
h. Scripts become resistant to change, and change creates disorder for some time while new scripts are being developed.
3. Historical shared scripts (isms), each manmade and flawed, are available for study:
a. Idealism: Scripting things as they should be if perfect.
b. Realism: Scripting things as they are revealed by facts.
c. Perennialism: Scripting things as everlasting
d. Existentialism: Scripting things as being guided by one’s will, not experience.
e. Pragmatism (reconstructionism): Scripting things as being based on results.
f. Essentialism: Scripting things as being based on fundamental qualities
g. Materialism: Scripting things as being based on possessions
h. Deism: Scripting things based on belief in man’s reasoned personal god.
i. Theism: Scripting things based on belief in a personal God revealed to man by personal contact.
j. Optimism: Scripting things as positive (bad things are chance, temporary, and specific)
k. Pessimism: Scripting things as negative, (bad things are my fault, lasting, inclusive)
…etc.
.4. Revelation: knowledge received from Spiritual, Eternal sources
Revelation may not be needed in the above examples. But for many important things, it is vital, because revelation deals with truth, not approximations of truth.
1. Some of those who have had personal experiences with God have shared those in scriptures. These experiences are treated as authoritative when the person giving the report it trustworthy, as is required with any observer. With the revelations that have been given, it is clear that one who breaks the basic commandments of God are not trustworthy observers, no matter how nice or persuasive they may be, unless they have thoroughly repented of their sins, i.e. they have confessed them and forsaken them.
2. Personal spiritual experiences are possible to all who are willing to qualify themselves for them. But other experiences can be mistaken for revelation, and must be tested for truth.
a. Do they agree with trustworthy sources?
b. Are they consistent with other spiritual experiences?
c. Does their application increase one’s loving and doing good?
Do they produce good fruit: peace and righteousness?
d. Does their application make one a better person?
e. Do they lead away from pride and selfishness?
f. Does their application lead to worship of God?
Do they testify of Christ?
3. Truth from Revelation is sought by keeping commandments:
a. Ask God in prayer verbally and behaviorally to reveal the answers to you
b. Seek knowledge in His word, the scriptures, the words of true living prophets, and in your honest, loving, listening heart.
c. Knock by applying what is known and by sharing your testimony with others in love, meekness, and holiness, and serving others in helping them to know the spiritual truth you have had revealed to you.
d. Live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
e. If you follow spiritual promptings, you will know of their truth
f. If they testify of Christ, they are true.
g. If they prompt behavior that is good, they are true.
h. Be sure to avoid pride, hiding sin, or trying to use unrighteous dominion. Repent when mistakes are made.
Four Paths of knowledge
John, Sam, Henry, James, and Max all say it is raining. Their answer to the question, “How do you know it is raining?” illustrates their path to knowledge.
Sam: “John just came in from outside, and he told me that it is raining.”
John: “I was just outside, and I saw that it was raining.”
Henry: “I can see through the window that people are carrying open umbrellas and I know that people carry open umbrellas only when it is raining.”
James: “I can hear the rain hitting things.”
Max: “I can feel it in my bones.”
Each one got his knowledge that it is raining in a different way:
Sam found out by getting a report from an AUTHORITY, somebody else who had made the direct observation.
John found out by direct observation or experience: EMPIRICISM
Henry found out by reasoning from information that he had: RATIONALISM.
James made an INFERENCE from physical sensations
Max made an INFERENCE from feelings
Booby traps exist along the path to knowledge
All who “know” have assumptions that limit their ability to see truly:
Some know what their assumptions are; others do not.
Some assumptions are feelings; some are inferences; some are scripts.
Some assumptions are shared; others are not; many are questionable.
Some who claim knowledge are dishonest; others are not.
Some can communicate well; others cannot.
Some receive reports accurately; many do not.
Some can’t see the trees for the forest. Details are ignored.
Some can’t see the forest for the trees. Context is ignored
Some use good reasoning; others do not.
Some test their reasoning against standards; others do not.
Some use good standards; others do not.
Some ideas come from trustworthy sources; others do not.
Some ideas are consistent with feelings and past experience; others are not.
Some ideas are consistent with other accepted knowledge; others are not.
Some ideas are consistent in methodology used to prove them; others are not.
Some ideas are consistent with tested values; others are not.
All are limited, more or less severely by these traps, so much so that some experts have claimed that truth cannot be known.
Even known facts may be doubted.
Doubt also comes from assumptions, and may be doubted as well.
1. Authorities = Reports, to be good ones, must do the following:
1. Be trustworthy, honest, unbiased, and guileless, valuing truth over ego, money, reputation or any preconceived theory or idea.
2. Follow proper conditions for observation. (See Empiricism, Reasoning, and Revelation)
3. Clarify the essential information about their observations:
a. The context of the inquiry
b. The purposes or questions being asked in the observation
c. Their assumptions and biases.
d. Alternative assumptions, motives and sources.
e. That which they have to gain or lose by what they say other than truth?
f. The methods used in their observing
g. The conclusions reached and why they are justified
h. Other possible conclusions and why they are or are not justified
i. Implications of the conclusions on other areas of inquiry.
4. Be first hand. Second hand accounts are useful, but less authoritative.
5. Multiple authorities agreeing make an observation more likely to be true.
2. Empiricism = Observers, to be good ones, must do the following
1. Pay attention to what is observable
2. Anticipate possibilities without closing the mind to anything else.
3. Adjust for the general law of relativity, which applies to all perception: what is observed depends on the place and movement from which we are observing, and must be adjusted accordingly.
4. Control observations to prevent error as much as possible.
a. Make sure the population of application is accurately represented
b. Use control observations for comparison to eliminate biases.
c. Use random assignment of subjects and treatment where control is lacking.
d. Use double blind studies to eliminate experimenter influence.
e. Use reliable and valid measures
f. Use repeated measures.
g. Vary the order of observations to avoid practice effects
5. Replication by other observers is required
3. Rationalism =Reasoning must do the following
1. Use good logic (the IF-THEN game) and critical (vital) thinking
a. Clarify the purpose, goal, or objective
b. Clarify the overall intention of the thinking.
c. Clarify the values and issues involved.
d. Clarify the assumptions made
e. Clarify the support for and context of the assumptions
f. Clarify the relations between ideas being considered.
g. Clarify the conclusions made from reasoning
h. Clarify the implications of the conclusions
i. Identify possible applications of the conclusions
2. Adduction (the AS IF game) explains the reaching of conclusions, hypothesis and prediction, concluding lacking information by using what is already “known.”
a. Assume what has happened before will happen again.
b. Assume that similarities can be used to infer the unknown through scripts (stories) based on experience, personal or vicarious
c. Scripts have typical beginnings, ordered events, and outcomes.
d. Ordered events are usually assumed to be in the same order.
e. Missing information can be deducted from what is assumed in the script.
f. Inference may fill in blanks in the beginnings, the events, or the outcomes or beyond what is known, even to other scripts.
g. Scripts are usually developed in a social context, in experience and conversation with others
h. Scripts become resistant to change, and change creates disorder for some time while new scripts are being developed.
3. Historical shared scripts (isms), each manmade and flawed, are available for study:
a. Idealism: Scripting things as they should be if perfect.
b. Realism: Scripting things as they are revealed by facts.
c. Perennialism: Scripting things as everlasting
d. Existentialism: Scripting things as being guided by one’s will, not experience.
e. Pragmatism (reconstructionism): Scripting things as being based on results.
f. Essentialism: Scripting things as being based on fundamental qualities
g. Materialism: Scripting things as being based on possessions
h. Deism: Scripting things based on belief in man’s reasoned personal god.
i. Theism: Scripting things based on belief in a personal God revealed to man by personal contact.
j. Optimism: Scripting things as positive (bad things are chance, temporary, and specific)
k. Pessimism: Scripting things as negative, (bad things are my fault, lasting, inclusive)
…etc.
.4. Revelation: knowledge received from Spiritual, Eternal sources
Revelation may not be needed in the above examples. But for many important things, it is vital, because revelation deals with truth, not approximations of truth.
1. Some of those who have had personal experiences with God have shared those in scriptures. These experiences are treated as authoritative when the person giving the report it trustworthy, as is required with any observer. With the revelations that have been given, it is clear that one who breaks the basic commandments of God are not trustworthy observers, no matter how nice or persuasive they may be, unless they have thoroughly repented of their sins, i.e. they have confessed them and forsaken them.
2. Personal spiritual experiences are possible to all who are willing to qualify themselves for them. But other experiences can be mistaken for revelation, and must be tested for truth.
a. Do they agree with trustworthy sources?
b. Are they consistent with other spiritual experiences?
c. Does their application increase one’s loving and doing good?
Do they produce good fruit: peace and righteousness?
d. Does their application make one a better person?
e. Do they lead away from pride and selfishness?
f. Does their application lead to worship of God?
Do they testify of Christ?
3. Truth from Revelation is sought by keeping commandments:
a. Ask God in prayer verbally and behaviorally to reveal the answers to you
b. Seek knowledge in His word, the scriptures, the words of true living prophets, and in your honest, loving, listening heart.
c. Knock by applying what is known and by sharing your testimony with others in love, meekness, and holiness, and serving others in helping them to know the spiritual truth you have had revealed to you.
d. Live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
e. If you follow spiritual promptings, you will know of their truth
f. If they testify of Christ, they are true.
g. If they prompt behavior that is good, they are true.
h. Be sure to avoid pride, hiding sin, or trying to use unrighteous dominion. Repent when mistakes are made.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Conflict/Frustration Checklist
by Gordon Timothy, 1992
When a culture has a a great deal of something, the names for it multiply. It says a lot about our culture that the following list is only a start of what it could be. If you choose two or more of this list as descriptive of your situation, you are experiencing conflict. If you have more than ten, you probably need some help.
Which of the following do you feel describe your situation?
___a can of worms
___a catch-22
___a fine how-do-you-do
___a fine kettle of fish
___a tiger by the tail
___at a loss
___at a stalemate
___at a stand still
___at an impasse
___at your wits' end
___back to the wall
___baffled
___balled up
___behind the eight ball
between
___a rock & a hard place
___devil & deep blue sea
___some, no, & anywhere
___a bull and a cliff
___between two stools
___blade side of a knife
___bottom of the pack
___bound in chains
___burdened
___caught with pants down
___cheated
___coming and going
___cornered
___dance on a hot griddle
___down the river
___drowning
___dumped on
___end of the shotgun
___end of your rope
___enmeshed
___entangled
___finger up your nose
___from pillar to post
___in a bind
___in a box
___in a dilemma
___in a fix
___in a hole
___in a hornet's nest
___in a jam
___in a mess
___in a peck of trouble
___in a pickle
___in a pinch
___in a predicament
___in a quagmire
___in a quandary
___in a scrape
___in a sea of troubles
___in a sorry plight
___in a spot
___in a tight spot
___in a tight squeeze
___in deep doo doo
___in deep water
___in harm's way
___in heavy weather
___in hot water
___in over your head
___in quicksand
___in the middle
___in the soup
___in tough straits
___leg in the hole
___lost and gone forever
___lost in space
___nonplussed
___on a dead end
___on a downward slide
___on the ropes
___on the skids
___on the spot
___on the wrong side
___one extreme to other
___opened Pandora's box
___oppressed
___out of luck
___out of the frying pan into the fire
___out of your depth
___out of your element
___out on a limb
___over a barrel
___over your head
___paint into a corner
___perplexed
___piled on
___put to it
___smothered
___snookered
___stranded
___stuck
___stumped
___taken advantage of
___tangled up
___tit in the wringer
___trapped
___treed
___under a deadline
___under an elephant foot
___under the gun
___under the gun
___up a blind alley
___up a creek w/o a paddle
___up a stump
___up a tree
___up against it
___up the creek
___up to your neck in it
___vexed
___used
___walking a tight rope
___walking on egg shells
___walking on hot coals
___worm in the hard drive
___worried
___wound up
___viral attack
When a culture has a a great deal of something, the names for it multiply. It says a lot about our culture that the following list is only a start of what it could be. If you choose two or more of this list as descriptive of your situation, you are experiencing conflict. If you have more than ten, you probably need some help.
Which of the following do you feel describe your situation?
___a can of worms
___a catch-22
___a fine how-do-you-do
___a fine kettle of fish
___a tiger by the tail
___at a loss
___at a stalemate
___at a stand still
___at an impasse
___at your wits' end
___back to the wall
___baffled
___balled up
___behind the eight ball
between
___a rock & a hard place
___devil & deep blue sea
___some, no, & anywhere
___a bull and a cliff
___between two stools
___blade side of a knife
___bottom of the pack
___bound in chains
___burdened
___caught with pants down
___cheated
___coming and going
___cornered
___dance on a hot griddle
___down the river
___drowning
___dumped on
___end of the shotgun
___end of your rope
___enmeshed
___entangled
___finger up your nose
___from pillar to post
___in a bind
___in a box
___in a dilemma
___in a fix
___in a hole
___in a hornet's nest
___in a jam
___in a mess
___in a peck of trouble
___in a pickle
___in a pinch
___in a predicament
___in a quagmire
___in a quandary
___in a scrape
___in a sea of troubles
___in a sorry plight
___in a spot
___in a tight spot
___in a tight squeeze
___in deep doo doo
___in deep water
___in harm's way
___in heavy weather
___in hot water
___in over your head
___in quicksand
___in the middle
___in the soup
___in tough straits
___leg in the hole
___lost and gone forever
___lost in space
___nonplussed
___on a dead end
___on a downward slide
___on the ropes
___on the skids
___on the spot
___on the wrong side
___one extreme to other
___opened Pandora's box
___oppressed
___out of luck
___out of the frying pan into the fire
___out of your depth
___out of your element
___out on a limb
___over a barrel
___over your head
___paint into a corner
___perplexed
___piled on
___put to it
___smothered
___snookered
___stranded
___stuck
___stumped
___taken advantage of
___tangled up
___tit in the wringer
___trapped
___treed
___under a deadline
___under an elephant foot
___under the gun
___under the gun
___up a blind alley
___up a creek w/o a paddle
___up a stump
___up a tree
___up against it
___up the creek
___up to your neck in it
___vexed
___used
___walking a tight rope
___walking on egg shells
___walking on hot coals
___worm in the hard drive
___worried
___wound up
___viral attack
Conflict Management
How do you respond to challenges?
-- disagreements with others
-- people who don't live up to your expectations -- other people's weaknesses
-- being offended by friends or enemies, being accused or blamed
-- rules you don't like, but are obliged to follow, or else...
-- personal failures and weaknesses
-- things go wrong, don't work out as desired
-- having too much demanded of you
Typical responses to these challenges include the following:
1.Anger-Pride (lacking faith, hope and charity): criticizing, finding fault, creating contention, providing retribution or trying to get even, hurting them, manipulating them, blaming them, gossiping, talking behind their back; seeking to hide your sins, gratify your pride, or exercise control or dominion unrighteously.
2.Fear-Discouragement (lacking faith, hope and charity): Blaming self, giving up, getting discouraged, feeling guilty, ignoring the problem, pretending it isn't happening, feeling worthless, feeling a need to run away or move, letting them get away with things they shouldn't, joining them in evil.
3.Honorable Communication: Talk things over, try to understand the situation, the other person, and yourself, leaving ego behind. "build trust, identify points of agreement, resolve concerns."
4.Faithfulness (involves faith, hope and charity, a willingness to repent, to do anything and everything that the Lord commands, eliminating pride, fear, and lower concerns):
Ask: pray in faith for the guidance of the Holy Ghost.
Seek: study and work for knowledge of principles to obey.
Knock: act on the principles; obey the commandments, bless other people. Faithfulness sometimes looks the same as the other approaches, but is different because it is done in obedience to the Holy Ghost and in love, where the others are not.
Make the Glory of God your priority
Example Principles:
A.(Matt. 5:21-26)...first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift... Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him;...
B.(D & C 42: 78-93) Take him or her between him or her and thee alone...
C.(D & C 64: 8-14) Of you it is required to forgive all men, ...and him that repenteth not...ye shall bring before the church...that God may be glorified, not because ye forgive not...but that ye may not offend him who is your lawgiver.
D.(D&C 88:81) it becometh every man that hath been warned to warn his neighbor.
E.(Galatians 6:1) Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
E.(D&C 121: 41-46) ...Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost, and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love towards him whom thou hast reproved...
-- disagreements with others
-- people who don't live up to your expectations -- other people's weaknesses
-- being offended by friends or enemies, being accused or blamed
-- rules you don't like, but are obliged to follow, or else...
-- personal failures and weaknesses
-- things go wrong, don't work out as desired
-- having too much demanded of you
Typical responses to these challenges include the following:
1.Anger-Pride (lacking faith, hope and charity): criticizing, finding fault, creating contention, providing retribution or trying to get even, hurting them, manipulating them, blaming them, gossiping, talking behind their back; seeking to hide your sins, gratify your pride, or exercise control or dominion unrighteously.
2.Fear-Discouragement (lacking faith, hope and charity): Blaming self, giving up, getting discouraged, feeling guilty, ignoring the problem, pretending it isn't happening, feeling worthless, feeling a need to run away or move, letting them get away with things they shouldn't, joining them in evil.
3.Honorable Communication: Talk things over, try to understand the situation, the other person, and yourself, leaving ego behind. "build trust, identify points of agreement, resolve concerns."
4.Faithfulness (involves faith, hope and charity, a willingness to repent, to do anything and everything that the Lord commands, eliminating pride, fear, and lower concerns):
Ask: pray in faith for the guidance of the Holy Ghost.
Seek: study and work for knowledge of principles to obey.
Knock: act on the principles; obey the commandments, bless other people. Faithfulness sometimes looks the same as the other approaches, but is different because it is done in obedience to the Holy Ghost and in love, where the others are not.
Make the Glory of God your priority
Example Principles:
A.(Matt. 5:21-26)...first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift... Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him;...
B.(D & C 42: 78-93) Take him or her between him or her and thee alone...
C.(D & C 64: 8-14) Of you it is required to forgive all men, ...and him that repenteth not...ye shall bring before the church...that God may be glorified, not because ye forgive not...but that ye may not offend him who is your lawgiver.
D.(D&C 88:81) it becometh every man that hath been warned to warn his neighbor.
E.(Galatians 6:1) Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
E.(D&C 121: 41-46) ...Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost, and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love towards him whom thou hast reproved...
BE A DEDICATED NEUROTIC How to make yourself miserable
(author unknown)
1. Remember the past. . . . and regret it; Abhor the present; Dread the future
2. Become preoccupied with the body, and make a long list of symptoms. Make them sound very clinical and professional.
3. Blame somebody! Hold your boss, your wife, your partner, your neighbor, your kid, etc. responsible for your miseries.
4. Feel trapped! You can't declare your own independence without hurting someone's feelings.
5. Over-eat. Rationalize and Eat! Eat an insulated wall around yourself. . . Diet for a few days and say it doesn't work for you.
6. Self-pity. No matter what, feel SORRY for yourself! Agonize over things about which no one else cares.
7. Fear of trying. Don't ever try! That way nobody can accuse you of failure. You can always say: "But I could have done it."
8. Timidity. Stress how shy you are. Insist that the world must come to you: you're SPECIAL!
9. Be aggressive. Be sure to hurt other people in your language and actions.
10. Escape in negativism. Never listen to anyone! Kiss off all valid advice. When you need an opinion, you'll ask for it.
11. Never forgive. Look for the mistakes of others. . .if you can't find enough, manufacture some!
12. Eat food that give acid indigestion. Complain about it for immediate attention. Nothing is better. Use worry to keep it upset until you have an ulcer. Cheerfully explain that half a gut is better than none. It's better that a by-pass.
13. Escape in caffeine and chocolate, or other chemical substances. Nobody has the same reasons that you have! Your motivations are completely unique.
14. Be a perfectionist! Never be satisfied! Tell yourself you can always do better. . and better. . and better. . apologize for everything, no matter how well done it is. Keep knocking yourself out. You have to work yourself to death to be worthy of being loved.
15. Be a martyr. Brag about your self-sacrifice. Sigh a lot. Martyrs must always sigh because of their suffering. Everyone takes advantage of you, so elicit sympathy.
1. Remember the past. . . . and regret it; Abhor the present; Dread the future
2. Become preoccupied with the body, and make a long list of symptoms. Make them sound very clinical and professional.
3. Blame somebody! Hold your boss, your wife, your partner, your neighbor, your kid, etc. responsible for your miseries.
4. Feel trapped! You can't declare your own independence without hurting someone's feelings.
5. Over-eat. Rationalize and Eat! Eat an insulated wall around yourself. . . Diet for a few days and say it doesn't work for you.
6. Self-pity. No matter what, feel SORRY for yourself! Agonize over things about which no one else cares.
7. Fear of trying. Don't ever try! That way nobody can accuse you of failure. You can always say: "But I could have done it."
8. Timidity. Stress how shy you are. Insist that the world must come to you: you're SPECIAL!
9. Be aggressive. Be sure to hurt other people in your language and actions.
10. Escape in negativism. Never listen to anyone! Kiss off all valid advice. When you need an opinion, you'll ask for it.
11. Never forgive. Look for the mistakes of others. . .if you can't find enough, manufacture some!
12. Eat food that give acid indigestion. Complain about it for immediate attention. Nothing is better. Use worry to keep it upset until you have an ulcer. Cheerfully explain that half a gut is better than none. It's better that a by-pass.
13. Escape in caffeine and chocolate, or other chemical substances. Nobody has the same reasons that you have! Your motivations are completely unique.
14. Be a perfectionist! Never be satisfied! Tell yourself you can always do better. . and better. . and better. . apologize for everything, no matter how well done it is. Keep knocking yourself out. You have to work yourself to death to be worthy of being loved.
15. Be a martyr. Brag about your self-sacrifice. Sigh a lot. Martyrs must always sigh because of their suffering. Everyone takes advantage of you, so elicit sympathy.
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