Happy New Year as we Welcome 2019...

"Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties." -- Helen Keller

A Scientific and Rational Perspective......

The conflicts between religion and science have existed and been well studied for generations, yet many people deny they exist at all.

As someone who studied religion in college, I’ve seen both sides of this. On one hand, it’s true that many people apply religion and science in different ways, meaning they don’t always conflict. But on another hand — a much bigger hand — it’s impossible to ignore the war that has been waged between science and religion throughout human history.

Jerry Coyne, who literally wrote the book on this subject in Faith Versus Fact: Why Science and Religion Are Incompatible, has a piece up at the Conversation pointing out how science and religion actually “represent incompatible ways of viewing the world.”

In contrast to the methods of science, religion adjudicates truth not empirically, but via dogma, scripture and authority — in other words, through faith, defined in Hebrews 11 as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” In science, faith without evidence is a vice, while in religion it’s a virtue. Recall what Jesus said to “doubting Thomas,” who insisted in poking his fingers into the resurrected Savior’s wounds: “Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”

And yet, without supporting evidence, Americans believe a number of religious claims: 74 percent of us believe in God, 68 percent in the divinity of Jesus, 68 percent in Heaven, 57 percent in the virgin birth, and 58 percent in the Devil and Hell. Why do they think these are true? Faith.

Coyne goes on to point out that, while science works to unify all people behind testable theories, religions make completely different (and often contradictory) claims.

There are over 4,000 religions on this planet, and their “truths” are quite different. (Muslims and Jews, for instance, absolutely reject the Christian belief that Jesus was the son of God.) Indeed, new sects often arise when some believers reject what others see as true. Lutherans split over the truth of evolution, while Unitarians rejected other Protestants’ belief that Jesus was part of God. 

And while science has had success after success in understanding the universe, the “method” of using faith has led to no proof of the divine. How many gods are there? What are their natures and moral creeds? Is there an afterlife? Why is there moral and physical evil? There is no one answer to any of these questions. All is mystery, for all rests on faith. 

The “war” between science and religion, then, is a conflict about whether you have good reasons for believing what you do: whether you see faith as a vice or a virtue.

I see blind faith as a vice, and one I’d rather live without. Being able to deduce the truth through research and inquiry, however, is certainly a virtue. Instead of reconciling the two by compartmentalizing each one in our lives, we’re much better off sticking with the inevitable winner of this war: science.

SOURCE

How and Why We Missed Christ's Birth By Three Months......

Many Biblical scholars have argued from time to time that December 25th was not the actual birth date of Christ. It was just adopted as a day to celebrate the birth of Christ as a Christian substitute to the Roman festival Saturnalia in the third century. Saturnalia was celebrated as the Feast of Sun and was actually considered the birth date of the Sun God of the Romans. Catholic priests held a special mass that day for Christ and thus, it came to be known as 'Christ-mass' or 'Christmas'.

Along with the date, several other pagan traditions, rituals and customs followed the way to become associated with Christmas such as decorating fir trees and burning yule logs. According to these scholars, Christ was most probably born on September 11, 3 B.C., which was Wednesday, according to the Bible. Source:

References: ENCYCLOPÆDIA BRITANNICA
CLASSROAM
Influence of Zoroastrianism on other religions
Pagan Influence upon Roman Catholicism
10 Ways The Bible Was Influenced By Other Religions


Feel free to express your thoughts on the ancient historical references cited in support of today's post.

tRump's 2018 X'Mass......

Hat Tip: Infidel753

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to All!!......

May 2019 bring an end to our national disgrace which begin with the 2016 election that brought us tRump.

The Insulter In-Chief......

The 550 People, Places and Things Donald Trump Has Insulted on Twitter: A Complete List

It is highly unlikely the tRump supporters will even read, let alone believe, the truth embodied in the voluminous number of insulting and incorrect tweets their buffoon leader has tweeted out.

Click on the hot link above to read the 550 .

Pelosi Cutting a Deal to Regain the Speakership......

America is changing, so, it I entirely appropriate that members of the House of Representative leadership change with it. With the top three democratic leadership positions being held by individuals 78-79 years of age the "deal" that would seat Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House would insure that all three relinquish there leadership positions in 2022.

This is good for the party, and, it will be good for America. Perhaps BOTH parties should adopt a rule that anyone holding any one of the  top three leadership positions  are required to relinquish said position at the end of their congressional term in which they turn 80. There comes a time in business and government when NEW blood is essential. If America hopes to continue its forward progress new blood is a must.

Maybe the presidency should have a maximum age when one can assume the office. When elected by the voters. 72 perhaps?

WASHINGTON — Representative Nancy Pelosi is nearing a deal with dissident Democrats to limit herself to four years as speaker, according to two senior Democratic officials with knowledge of the emerging plan, her most consequential move to date to put down a rebellion in her ranks and clinch the votes she needs to win the gavel in January.

The agreement, which if finalized and adopted would also bind the other three top Democratic leaders, would almost certainly clear the way for Ms. Pelosi, the Democratic leader from California, to reclaim the mantle of first woman to serve in the post that is second in line to the presidency. It would also signal a major shift for Democrats, who despite the striking diversity and demographic shifts within their party, have governed for more than a decade with the same trio at the helm. That trio, Ms. Pelosi, 78, Representative Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, 79, and Representative James Clyburn of South Carolina, 79, must now prepare to cede power to a new generation, even as they move to take the House majority next month.

Ms. Pelosi handily won an internal vote among Democrats this month to be nominated as speaker, a post she held from 2007 to 2011. But a small group of defectors who have agitated for new leadership at the top of the party have been threatening to withhold their votes when the new Congress convenes Jan. 3 for a formal vote on the House floor. Ms. Pelosi would need a majority of those present and voting in the chamber — as many as 218 — to be elected.

The rebels demanded that Ms. Pelosi either step aside or give a date when she would do so, something she had refused to do, arguing that it would weaken her hand as a bulwark against President Trump.

SKIP

The agreement would also apply to the other three top Democratic leaders: Mr. Hoyer, who is in line to be the majority leader; Mr. Clyburn, who is set to be the whip; and Representative Ben Ray Luján, the assistant Democratic leader.

Under the agreement being discussed, which was first reported by Politico, the four leaders would be limited to three two-year terms, with the possibility of a fourth if they could garner the support of two-thirds of the Democratic Caucus. Given that Ms. Pelosi, Mr. Hoyer and Mr. Clyburn, all in their 70s, have already served two terms in the top three posts, it would put a hard cap on their tenures, forcing them out of their posts by 2022.

Find the complete story HERE

From the Mouth of the GOP's Leader......

Since the 2016 presidential campaign, Donald Trump’s aides and advisers have tried to convince him of the importance of tackling the national debt.

Sources close to the president say he has repeatedly shrugged it off, implying that he doesn’t have to worry about the money owed to America’s creditors—currently about $21 trillion—because he won’t be around to shoulder the blame when it becomes even more untenable.

The friction came to a head in early 2017 when senior officials offered Trump charts and graphics laying out the numbers and showing a “hockey stick” spike in the national debt in the not-too-distant future. In response, Trump noted that the data suggested the debt would reach a critical mass only after his possible second term in office.

“Yeah, but I won’t be here,” the president bluntly said, according to a source who was in the room when Trump made this comment during discussions on the debt.

SOURCE

It can't get much clearer than the above, tRump quite simply does not care cause he won't be around.

Nuff said!

Food For Thought......

It is not often these days that I post commentary from a "conservative" weblog. Today is different. Having come across a post at Always On Watch I believe has merit because it offers up great food for thought I decided to reproduce it on the pages this weblog. My hope is it generates some conversation that is thoughtful as well as respectful.

Destructive Destruction

Silverfiddle Rant!

Apologies to John Prine…

Daddy won't you take me back to Muhlenberg County,
Where good jobs are boomin' and men get good pay.
I'm sorry my son but you're too late in askin'
Mr. Jeff Bezos' website done hauled them away.

You can’t bring those Sears jobs Back

Is retail dead, destined for the obituaries along with the whale blubber industry that was replaced by kerosene lamps, which were replaced by the lightbulb?

What kind of new economy will give people meaningful work as technology ends up doing so much of what humans used to earn their living doing?

Is free money for everybody a solution? How would that work if nobody is working and paying taxes to fund it?

Will the world end up Silicon Valley’s vast domain, with the giants handing out monthly vouchers for us to shop at their company stores?

Bust the Trusts?

The Eye of Evil......

The Eye of Sauron , guiding the present day GOP and the conservative movement lead by Donald J. tRump and his minions.


Willingly supported and assisted by FreeThinke, aka Franco Aragosta.

RIP President George H.W. Bush......

America was a better place because President George H.W. Bush dedicated his life to service to our country. The United States of America was a greater nation when he served as president than it is today. Current and future leadership of this nation would do well to emulate President Bush's example.

Rest in Peace Mr. President.

Though George H.W. Bush's presidency ended just a quarter-century ago, it seems like a different era altogether. He personified a time when Democrats and Republicans could work together and when international diplomacy was not scorned as a sign of weakness.

Last year, a C-Span survey of historians ranked Bush — who died Friday at age 94 —   20th of 44 presidents considered. A survey of political scientists this year ranked him 17th. Though both polls put him atop the list of presidents turned out of office by the voters, they may be a bit low for a president who looks better and better each year.

Bush was a thoroughly decent man, in stark contrast to the current occupant of the White House. To him, loyalty to country — whether in serving as the Navy's youngest aviator in World War II or forging a bipartisan consensus on air pollution — came well before party and self.

SOURCE

A Poster Child of the NRA?......

Found on a rightwing Nutter tRumpian weblog. The NRA was, many years ago, an organization that supported hunters, responsible firearm ownership, and training. Today it is a quasi criminal group. One that nuts like the blog proprietor who posted the following fully support. At the expense of American victims of gun crimes.

tRump, America's Top Criminal......

The nation in majority knows that tRump is a liar and a crook. Not since Richard Nixon, who BTW was only 1/2 the crook tRump is, has the nation seen or had to deal with the mendacity and crookedness of Donald J tRump. As the Mueller investigation closes in on the chef architect responsible for the Mueller investigation in the first place it is almost amusing to watch our fake president squirm.

President Trump recently tweeted: “Did you ever see an investigation more in search of a crime?”

It is usually a bad idea to raise a rhetorical question when the answer is both obvious and unfavorable. In the investigation by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, there are at least three offenses that could lead to indictment or impeachment. There is obstruction of justice — which Trump seems to attempt persistently, publicly and shamelessly. There is possible financial corruption concerning Russia on the part of Trump and the imperial family — about which the recent plea deal with Michael Cohen hints. This is likely to be interesting reading in Mueller’s report. And there is the initial matter of collusion with a hostile foreign power to influence a presidential election. This is hardly a fanciful charge, given that Trump, while a candidate, publicly invited Russia to hack into Hillary Clinton’s emails as a way to influence a presidential election.

What else do we know related to this charge? We know that Trump adviser Roger Stone allegedly told associates he was in contact with WikiLeaks, the conduit for emails hacked by Russian intelligence. (Stone denies this.) We know that Stone contacted conservative author and conspiracy theorist Jerome Corsi, encouraging him to gather information on hacked Clinton emails. We know that Corsi responded to Stone: “Word is friend in embassy plans 2 more dumps . . . Impact planned to be very damaging.” (The “friend” in this email — amazingly and disgustingly — appears to be the anti-American cybercriminal Julian Assange.) We know that Stone issued the tweet, “Trust me, it will soon the Podesta’s time in the barrel,” six weeks before WikiLeaks began releasing 50,000 emails that Russian agents had reportedly stolen from Clinton’s campaign chairman, John Podesta. And we know, from Corsi himself, that he and Stone conspired to lie about the motivation of this tweet.

Trump is left to claim — which he has now apparently done in written testimony — that he never discussed these matters with Stone or Corsi. This would have required candidate Trump to adopt a strategy of plausible deniability — in this case, encouraging Russian hacking in public but carefully avoiding the topic in private conversations with Stone.

How likely is this? On the evidence of two matters, not likely at all.

 SOURCE

If there is any justice tRump will be impeached and removed from office post haste. I hesitate to utter the following but, tRump's activities and crimes are as close to treason as one can get. IMNHO.

From Our Home To Yours......

Giving Thanks to Chief Justice Roberts......

Chief Justice Defends Judicial Independence After Trump Attacks ‘Obama Judge’

“We do not have Obama judges or Trump judges, Bush judges or Clinton judges. What we have is an extraordinary group of dedicated judges doing their level best to do equal right to those appearing before them.”

Given tRump's recent classless and unfounded attack on a judge that tweaked his nose for him as well as his unbelievable stance on Saudi Arabia and its Crown Prince one has to wonder just what it will take for supporters to finally see through the jackas* they idolize.

tRump is quite plainly a terrible human being and a horrible leader who is completely void of character, integrity, vision, understanding, empathy, compassion, and everything else that makes for a good person.

Trump Thumped......

A federal judge ruled in favor of CNN on Friday, allowing the network’s star reporter Jim Acosta to temporarily regain access to his White House press credential.

"I will grant the application for the temporary restraining order I order the government reinstate the pass," U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly ruled from Washington.

SKIP

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“I want to thank all of my colleagues in the press who supported us this week and I want to thank the judge for the decision he made today. Let’s go back to work,” Acosta said outside the U.S. District Court.

tRump got thumped for now. Because freedom of the press is a bedrock value of our democratic republic we're sure tRump will lose entirely at the end of the day. As the would be tyrant should.

SOURCE

A Moment Of Republican Honesty......

"And then they remind me that there’s a lot of liberal folks in those other schools who maybe we don’t want to vote. Maybe we want to make it just a little more difficult. And I think that’s a great idea."

It’s unclear which “other schools” Hyde-Smith referred to in the video. There are several historically black colleges and universities in the state.

Ayup, a republican from Mississippi in a moment of honesty. We all know what she was talking about. Your republican tribe exposed. Again.

SOURCE

Indeed......

Retiring Republican Sen. Jeff Flake said Wednesday that he will not vote to confirm the Trump administration's judicial nominees on the Senate floor or advance them in the Senate Judiciary Committee if legislation to protect special counsel Robert Mueller does not receive a Senate floor vote.

SKIP

"We have been told that the bill that Sen. Coons and I will move to bring up shortly is not necessary, as there have been no indications that the independence of Mr. Mueller's investigation is in jeopardy. That may have been an arguable position before last week. But it is not arguable anymore."

SKIP

"The President now has this investigation in his sights, and we all know it,"

SKIP

"The President has said that he's not going to move on the special counsel. But that's not enough. And perhaps that's what gives comfort to the majority leader. ... But it doesn't give comfort to me."

SOURCE

Hard At Work......

When It's Right It's Right...

"FOX News supports CNN in its legal effort to regain its White House reporter’s press credential. We intend to file an amicus brief with the U.S. District Court. Secret Service passes for working White House journalists should never be weaponized. While we don’t condone the growing antagonistic tone by both the President and the press at recent media avails, we do support a free press, access and open exchanges for the American people."

Twelve more news outlets including the AP, Bloomberg, First Look Media, Gannett, National Press Club, NBC News, New York Times, POLITICO, Press Freedom Defense Fund, EW Scripps, USA Today Network, Washington Post have announced their plans to follow FOX News lead and file amicus briefs in support of CNN.

Given FOX News consistent support of tRump vitriol and policies their statement and action is, to say the least, quite surprising.

SOUCE

tRump = Evil......

Nixon-era White House counsel John Dean: Nixon was 'corrupt,' but Trump is 'evil'

Truer words have never been spoken.

Ex-White House counsel John Dean believes history will view former President Richard Nixon's protracted Watergate scandal as "a brief idyllic daydream" following President Trump's "evil" administration.

"Trump’s is making the long nightmare of Nixon’s Watergate seem like a brief idyllic daydream," Dean tweeted late Saturday night. "History will treat Nixon’s moral failures as relatively less troubling than Trump’s sustained and growing decadence, deviousness and self-delusive behavior. Nixon=corrupt; Trump=evil."

Truth Is Found Within, Without The Noise......

2018 Mid Terms Are In The Books... And the Insanity Will Continue... ...

The Capitol at sunset on Election Day 2018.CreditCreditSarah Silbiger/The New York Times

Now that the 2018 mid term election is over, with the House returning to a slim democratic majority and the Senate gaining two seats we can expect deadlock and gridlock for the next two years. Which is to say that much isn't going to get done in DC. Sometimes change just keeps things pretty much the same. That's how we see it anyway.

Yeah, I know Mueller has more allies in positions of power in the House. That's all good and well. But given the two years of investigation and millions and millions of dollars spent we've got very little bang for our buck really. My thoughts are lots of little fish might fry but the Yuuuge Orange Tuna in the swamp swims away. Free and unscathed in the end. Lack of sufficient evidence to impeach and convict I suspect.

Fact is tRump is really still sitting pretty politically. With the democrats in the House obstructing his every move, and you know they will (payback for the Obama years), any and everything that goes wrong will be painted as the democratic House's fault. Especially if the economy cools off and starts heading south. And, the Senate has tRump's back as well as the SCOTUS is a conservative/republican majority now.

Further the Sessions firing, and make no mistake he was fired regardless of the official line he gave his resignation, is timed for effect. This of course has been tRump's plan for at least a year. As one would expect tRump has appointed an interim AG that is no friend of Mueller and thinks defunding his investigation would be the dandy thing to do. Timing is everything... you can take it from there. But our guess is tRump is going after Mueller. Timing is everything.

tRump and his uneducated conservative/evangelical base will continue to demonize immigration. With the Democrats now holding the purse strings his wall will most definitely not get funding, thus ending his wet dream of a great big beautiful American wall. Blaming democrats for failing to protect our southern border will be his strategy in 2020. tRump will be tossing out a lot of red meat for his cultists to feast on.

We could go on as the list is almost endless. But shoveling against the tide is tedious, produces no satisfaction, keeps one in an endless loop of pointless argumentation, wastes time that can be better spent on other productive things, causes anxiety and stress, and at the end of the day things are right where they were when the day started. Insanity at its finest I'd say. That's Congress, that's America, and it ain't ever going to change folks.


In closing... Its been real and its been fun. But it sure as hell hasn't been real fun.


Goodnight... Run silent and run deep.

POTUS Bombs in Pittsburgh...

This is what the good people pf Pittsburgh think of president tRump...

A participant in the march in memory of the victims of the Pittsburgh shooting holds a sign that reads: 'President hate, leave our state' on October 30, 2018.\ CATHAL MCNAUGHTON/ REUTERS

Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Ron Dermer joined Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and top White House officials as they landed in Pittsburgh.

While Dermer agreed to join the president, other big names in Washington turned down the honor – House Speaker Paul D. Ryan, House Majority and Minority Leaders Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority and Minority leaders Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, all turned down invitations.

A list of local officials, including Pittsburgh mayor, Bill Peduto, also declined their invitations to meet with the visiting president. The mayor had publicly advised the president to delay his visit so that the community’s attention could be focused on embracing the victims. 

SKIP

Members of Pittsburgh's Jewish community said earlier Tuesday that they would protest against Trump if he came to Pittsburgh. In an announcement for the protest to be held on Tuesday afternoon, organizers said, "President Trump, words have consequences."

SKIP

The announcement also echoed an open letter from a group of local Jewish leaders who told Trump: "You are not welcome in Pittsburgh until you fully denounce white nationalism."

More than 43,000 people have signed the letter, organized and posted online by the Pittsburgh chapter of Bend the Arc, a Jewish organization opposed to what it calls "the immoral agenda of the Trump administration and the Republican Party."

Members of the community protest President Trump's visit in the wake of the synagogue shooting, Pittsburgh, October 30, 2018Amir Tibon

Can anyone blame them?


Complete article HERE.

Why Let tRump Goad You Into Responding?...

Warren’s maneuver stands as a warning sign for other presidential contenders. Getting into the mud pit with Trump—who doesn’t care about political decorum, rules, sexism, racism, name-calling, facts, or reason—has revealed itself as a sucker’s game. Like a scientist trying to argue with a climate-change denier, you’ll just end up drowning in a tide of bad faith.


Read article HERE