Quote

"Anything worth having is difficult to get and worth fighting to keep"
-Joseph Hogan

A Quote on Beliefs

"I am a child of this world and my beliefs should not hinder my existence nor yours"
-Joseph Hogan

I feel to much time is spent trying to figure which of us is right, especially in the world of religion and spirituality. No one knows, lets get that out of the way, because there is no way to check the correctness you feel. That is all it is, a feeling, and its very important but to go as far as to assume your infallible rightness against everyone else in the world is outrageous. Let it go, not your beliefs but the hold on the idea that everyone else is wrong except you. It is much more important to allow everyone to find their own way. Help them without squashing the beliefs they already have, if they see some merit in the way you live your life and wish to follow... great. It seems that the human ego can't handle the possibility of it being wrong or accused of being wrong. If someone believes differently than you, its not an opportunity to "save them" (helping them is different), its an opportunity to learn more, be exposed to more and reinforce your beliefs even if that means changing them. In simple terms; let everyone believe what they want, it really is ok to think differently, it actually helps.

Perspective

"The correct perspective is at an axis of all of them but not committing to any of them"
-Joseph Hogan

Exceptions

"Everything has an exception, which in itself is an obvious exception"


I wrote this in my early teens, one of those trying to sound deep things that is a Zen-ish knock off I'm sure, but none the less make an important point.

Morals and Evolution

I've been asked and have asked myself many times if I believe in God, and I do and I also believe in Evolution, Science, and the natural world. I might need to say that the God I believe in is not necessarily the one represented classically but I'll get to that later. One thing that has bugged me about the evolution of our species, its the development of a God and morals. I believe in an innate sense of right and wrong in all people (even though some of it IS learned), its just so easy to ignore in order to be selfish. Evolution is necessary, but humanity has ignored the self serving nature by having morals and a God residing over those morals. Those who do believe that God was a creation of man in an order to feel comforted in a hostile world, I understand that, but why create rules that inhibit the very nature of a living organism. If you're going to create a being that governs yourself right now, it would make a lot of sense to make one that justifies everything you do. Why create a God that tells you to be a person of self sacrifice, self sacrifice is contrary to life (with the exception of preservation of species, like a mother saving her child). Life continues because it does what best serves it, self-preservation should not be trumped by self-sacrifice, but time and time again it is. Why would an organism EVER feel satisfaction from helping another, especially when there was nothing to be gained. That is my scientific explanation for God, but the "feeling" of a God and more importantly an internal sense of purpose that seems higher than anything else on earth. I have always felt a sense of duty to eventually rise to a challenge, and that doesn't come from a lack of purpose now. I personally, have always felt a need to fight for what was right regardless of consequences, and those consequences should frighten me away so that I can keep on living, and a great number of people still do. My willingness to sacrifice myself (if need be) is not made easier by the thought of a rewarded afterlife either, Even if I was sure there was no heaven or whatever, I would still want to end my life by saving someone else. All this contradicts my understanding of the natural world, and unlike most "Religious" people I test my beliefs constantly and refuse to be rigid in any faith I have.

Poor Decisions

"Making poor decisions seems to be a human right of passage".

I'm not being pessimistic, I just feel that the rest of the world relates well and finds comradery with the rest of the world when it makes mistakes.

Loyalty

I'm constantly disappointed in people, sad yes, but even sadder than my reaction, is the cause. People apparently have lost any respect for themselves and the ones around them. I am always witness to people, men and women who cannot be faithful to the ones they are with, in action or just in thought which is just as bad. None of this comes from personal hurt, I've never been cheated on (as far as I know) but none the less I am hurt by watching people who can't stay faithful. I know that my age MAY be a factor in my perspective and people in my age group are stupid and are hardly ever faithful to those they claim to love, but I don't think so. Almost every relationship I've ever heard of has been full of lies and cheating, if they're happy, they're both just lying to each other. This sadly isn't a harsh view, its the reality of how self-serving most people are. It's not that hard to say "no" to someone who throws them self at you, have some self respect and care enough for your significant other to at least let them go if you can't "keep it in your pants".