9.29.2024

Some Questions About Aliens Are More Relevant Than Others

Milky Way sky stars

Does alien life exist somewhere in the universe? Could be. I have no idea. And to be honest, I don't find this question to be all that interesting. Why? "Alien life" could refer to little more than single-cell organisms on a remote planet. Does sentient life exist somewhere in the universe? That is a more interesting question, but it still only takes us so far. The answer to this question might have little relevance to us.

What we'd like to know is whether sentient alien life has visited our planet from theirs. Has this happened during our lifetimes? If so, does our government know about it and are hiding it from us? Are aliens still visiting? Are any of the abduction stories accurate? If aliens have not visited, are they likely to do so in our lifetimes? These questions seem far more relevant.

9.19.2024

Using Our Power As Consumers To Bring About Change

Close-up food open

I am about to describe a hypothetical situation. I've based it (loosely) on something happening in one of the many hobby communities found on Reddit. Which one isn't relevant, and neither are the people involved. Something similar could happen to those of us involved in almost any hobby. I suspect that something similar has already happened to some of us, and I know it has for me.

Imagine that there is a business and that you have bought items from them several times over the years. It could be a local shop or an online storefront. It is not a massive corporation but a small family-run business. What they sell isn't relevant, and neither is what you've bought. What matters is that you have been content to spend some of your money there. You have been happy with their prices and their service. 

9.12.2024

Harris Wipes Floor With Trump in 2024 Presidential Debate

 

People girl boxing

I watched the 2024 presidential debate the night after it aired. I didn't have time to catch it live, so I watched it while waiting for the arrival of Hurricane Francine. I figured I'd be up all night anyway, so there was no harm in watching a debate that might keep me up all night.

Without the approaching storm, would what I saw during the debate have kept me up? It would have but not for the reason I feared. It would have kept me up because Donald Trump's vision of America is terrifying. And his plans for reshaping the country in his image are even more so. It would not have kept me up due to worries about Harris' suitability for the office. She turned in a performance for the ages, and it is tough to imagine how anyone could have done better. 

9.07.2024

Must Every Atheist Want Everyone Else To Be Atheists?

Yellow fruits thorn tree

I've been writing a blog about atheism and related topics for several years. Does the fact I often write about atheism mean that I want everybody else to become atheists? It could mean that. It is possible that I write about atheism because I'd like to persuade others to be atheists. But must it mean that? No, not at all. Persuasion is but one of many motives for writing.

Christians can write about Christianity without wanting their audience to become Christians. Persuasion isn't always what drives them. I've known plenty of Christians who enjoy talking about Christianity. While some do hope to convert others, many don't. They talk about it because it interests them or connects them to others. They have little interest in proselytizing. These things can be true of atheists too. I suspect that they might be more likely to be true of atheists.