Category: Philosophical Ramblings

Religious Cloaks

Religion has been the foundation of societies around the world, both pre-modern and what we call modern society today. This in itself is not a weak bedrock for a community foundation. However, as we’ve advanced into recent times, the litmus tests that were previously administered to members of any religious sect are no longer equipped with any real teeth to malign hypocrites that are pervasive in virtually every religion today. While this is blatantly true in the southern United States where I live, it goes on in various corners of the globe. People cloak themselves in righteousness, and if their iniquity is found out, the religious leaders prevaricate to cover up the sins of those that they consider upper-crust. They point to a passage in the bible for example and explain away the trespass as a mental aberration brought about by the devil’s temptation, simultaneously crucifying those that they deem less critical to their financial well-being.  Continue reading “Religious Cloaks”

Advertisements

Visions

We live in a world where appearances are everything. Sadly, many people still believe that seeing is believing. A society focused on fabricating an illusory reality around every aspect of their existence still manages to fall for carefully crafted distortions of that reality.  Contrary to our designs of manipulating the perceptions of those around us we are still bound by our biological imperative to trust our senses. Our senses deceive us more often than not, for if that weren’t the case, the utopia that many people dream of would be manifest before our eyes. Instead, we inhabit a world besieged by violence, a cruel and uncaring wasteland of discarded dreams and ruined souls. We need to develop a new level of perception, a way to sift through all the lies and traps laid out for us by the merciless denizens of the world. Continue reading “Visions”

Umbral Display

You hear the phrase you only get one chance to make a first impression. Such a statement conjures up images of the result of failed attempts at being everything to everyone you meet. If one ever actually becomes everything to everyone then at that point they have lost every connection with their souls. If we must parade about haphazardly placating all we meet then at the end of the day we have been crucial to all and destructive to ourselves. We betray ourselves each day of our lives when we put on facades to perform for others. They never learn the real you, and likely they spend most of their time crafting the perfect face for the world that is equal in self-betrayal. How does society function in a world of shadowy figures that never reveal their true nature? It doesn’t appear that it does with a significant degree of success. Sure we all have basic needs met in most cases, but our hearts turn to stone within a world of lies.   Continue reading “Umbral Display”

Identity: Defined by you or Society

We like to consider ourselves independent and free from the labels of society. However,   passive stances upon the designs of others have led to some of the most significant tragedies of history. Governments, for example, take freedoms a little at a time and perhaps because their encroachments don’t affect us directly we ignore it. Eventually, as is often the case they wind up at our doors and demand our servitude. Having ignored the persecution of those not within our click, we are surprised when the same abuse is brought down upon us. Principles are about standing up for someone that can’t stand for themselves. This should be second nature to men within any society. Today our world is populated with men that are controlled by an overarching and insidious political agenda designed to malign and disenfranchise men as a segment of the population. Men aren’t allowed to be men and are told that they are what is wrong with society. While it is true that men populate the prisons and commit violent acts, it is but a symptom of a culture that no longer encourages men to be men.  

Continue reading “Identity: Defined by you or Society”

The lost art of Friendship

Friendship is the bedrock of any society. Strong connections with others that have similar goals in life are instrumental in leading a productive and healthy life. As we have become advanced in so many ways, the societal norms have changed dramatically as well. There was once something called social contract, a series of unwritten rules that everyone followed that made for a more harmonious existence. This construct has become muddied over the decades until we are left with isolated pockets where they still exist but in ramshackle form. Other areas are devoid of any social construct, and society has seemingly reverted to its roots of tribalism and dog eat dog.  Continue reading “The lost art of Friendship”

The Season of Renewal

It is that time of the year again! The grass will become green, flowers will bloom, and mother nature will embrace us with its warmth. This is my favorite time of the year because everything that was once devoid of vibrancy will blossom into radiant beauty. It is also the time for all of us to take stock of our lives and renew our sense of purpose. This time of the year has no room for negativity and only a positive outlook on the future. I am infused with a purpose and strength that I never feel at any other time of the year and am looking forward to the challenges ahead.  Continue reading “The Season of Renewal”

The Resolute

Existence is challenged by the persistence of time. Its passage ravages all things and grinds them into dust. However, examples abound in nature that proves that resolve can lessen the deteriorating effect and allows some objects to last for millions of years.  The mountains we see today are the product of plate tectonics and receding glaciers that carved jagged peaks that have existed long before any human being was on earth. These mammoth structures do erode over time, but they have been in existence long before us and will remain long after we are gone.  Change is a constant that there can be no dispute. The earth is made of sterner stuff those most of its inhabitants. Many are all too happy to be carried away by whatever external force prods them. Like leaves upon the wind, they glide through life with no discernable self-control. This form of existence is the easy path in life, and more often the easy route isn’t the correct one. 

Continue reading “The Resolute”

Choosing your Battles

Life is filled with conflict. It is a fact that none of us can escape no matter how withdrawn we become over the course of our lives. Today, many battles take place on a daily basis for the public to absorb into their psyche on the evening news. These fights are rarely predicated on matters of principle but instead focus on trivialities. We have become accustomed to viewing this circus every day. In our personal lives, we are hard-pressed to escape individual battles that are increasingly pedantic and nonsensical. We all have a choice. Do we fight every engagement no matter the triviality, or do we focus on principles and fight only the most important battles? Continue reading “Choosing your Battles”

Sins of the Past

History is a subject that many fail to comprehend. The horrors of past are the most oft-repeated and what many will cite when questioned about their knowledge of the matter. Lessons from history though never quite sink into the human psyche. While the actor’s appearance may change over millennia, the results of their actions are repeated over and over again. We so often fail to appreciate the significance of the mistakes made by those that have come before us. We tend to be stubborn and resolutely follow the same patterns once tread by our ancestors and never learn the significance of their mistakes until we too fall into the same quandary. Religion teaches us morals and is a guideline by which to live a righteous lifestyle. Too often though, I see those espousing such beliefs while not truly understanding the moral responsibility that they have to question poor behavior when they learn of it. They tend to equivocate endlessly when a sin is brought to the forefront of conversation to which they have also fallen prey.  Continue reading “Sins of the Past”

How to recognize the Narcissistic Manipulator

Throughout life, we encounter numerous types of people. As we approach middle-age, we begin to realize that variety among our peers is in short supply. People tend to learn by mimicking others and originality is merely a word with little meaning in modern society. However, we encounter those frequently in life that would be classified as toxic or a negative influence on the quality of our lives. These people operate under a separate set of rules than the rest of us. They are narcissistic, and use Intel they glean in various ways to manipulate their targets into a form of servitude. They take many forms and wear many masks but here today I hope to shed light on the darkness of the narcissistic manipulator. Continue reading “How to recognize the Narcissistic Manipulator”