Belief and non-belief---a suspiciously simple disctintion.

Not believing in something isn't comparable to believing in something.  I cannot be accused of claiming to have the knowledge there are no transcendental-salubrious-banana-kiwi spirits and I cannot be accused of having knowledge I know there are no gods.

  I can't stop not-believing in something without choosing something to believe in.  Choosing a specific belief suggests certain requirements are met for the specifics of that belief. When I have no evidence to meet the requirements for a belief with specific details, the default should be disbelief. Otherwise, I'm choosing a belief arbitrarily. 

To choose a belief arbitrarily would be to treat it as an unimportant issue without serious consequences.  Most of what theists consider evidence for their gods wouldn't be considered evidence to them if it were presented for something they do not find convenient to beleive in.  But they are not interested in this issue because they do not treat it as important.

Some, of course, are very intelligent but very emotionally attached to their idea of their gods. But understandably are very prolific defending the existence of their gods--often by trying to bypass the evidence issue.

In short this sums up the significant differences between myself and a theist. I've been trying to write this in simple not confrontational language for some time.  People should not be offended, that I wont convert.  I'm working on little letter titled "It's OK to be an atheist," then possibly hand it back to people who hand me religious propaganda--after accepting theirs of course.  I'll treat it as a cultural exchange.

If you have comments on my distinction between belief and non-belief by all means do share. However, I'm not up for debating alleged evidence for the existence of any gods. It's a closed issue for me--at this point.  You'd be better off arguing that it should be reopened, but at this time I'd have to turn that debate as well because of time constraints. You can however, recommend books for me to view at a later date.

Describing myself.....

I may dress like your generic all-black wearing malcontent intellectual-- but be not quick to assume. For instead of clove cigarettes, *my* pocket contains a water pistol.

Underneath the messiness, the loudness, the childishness and the poor taste; I swear I'm an aristocrat just waiting to come out and engage in a subtlety laden afternoon tea ritual.

My motto is "Peace, love, intellectual stimulation, and good times."

I have a hard time getting really little kids to be productive in class. They never do anything that's just bad; it's always a combination of bad, adorable, and hilarious. When I'm laughing at their behavior they don't believe me when I tell them to stop.

I am a ridiculous person. I also want to teach philosophy some day.

I have a habit of going places that others suggest I shouldn't because I won't "fit-in." However, I've yet to find anywhere I fit in, and it's better than staying home.



I'm the kind of guy that is very motivated to change the world for the better. However, I keep getting distracted by guitars, synthesizers, theremins, and various cuts of black dress shirts.

Here I am right now.

I'm unshaven and I feel like it makes me look hobo-like but that's okay. I cheated a little bit, I took one picture with my glasses and one without. Then I cropped the pictures

Now  my readers can see that  I am occasionally not in a costume.

Also my very round head gives off the illusion the rest of me is round as well.  It isn't.  In the past few years I've gained enough weight to just barely reach the lower end of the healthy weight for my height.

           Apparently my last entry was my most popular xanga entry of all time---and all I did was type the F word for a few pages.  I normally avoid swearing because I don't want to post things that I wouldn't want a future employer to find.  I only swear like that around close friends. I was thinking of saving my next entry for something substantive so hopefully keep some the readers I caught with my last lowering of my standards--but bah I have more important things to do. You should all keep subscribed to me anyway for those rare occasions I'm worth reading.  I absolutely loved how so many people agreed with the last post.  You all gave me a good laugh and made me feel better. Thank you.

         Last night I had a dream.  I was substitute teaching at a high school and began to thumb through a book about the band Journey and a native America style of wrestling.(Non-sequitors are a theme of my dreams.)  Then I remembered the idea of senior skip day. In the dream I thought "When will be my senior skip day from this point in my life?" I want to get accepted to a graduate school and take the day off to celebrate.  I woke up reinvigorated to get stuff done in that direction.  I'm still unsure how I can improve my record enough for a school to care. But there is still plenty I can do.