Duty to Truth and Conscience

Among my beliefs, none are treated with more respect and centrality than duty to truth. I cannot abide the thought of serving a false god, nor serving none when one exists to be served. When combined with the fact of inherent human subjectivity, personal religious freedom naturally emerges. One cannot and should not coerce conscience because everyone perceives reality a little differently, and who's to say that your perception is the right one? This is not to say, however, that you should not endeavor to persuade others to your way of thinking, because who's to say that it's wrong? The bottom line is that truth will prevail in the end, and nothing can change that.

However, this should not be taken fatalistically, as just because the laws of the universe are constant, it doesn't mean that circumstance must be so as well. Just as much effort should go into making the world a better place, it is just that unless these efforts are based in true principles, there is no guarantee that your efforts will stay, and if they do, it will only be by coincidence.

It should be noted with equal fervor that just because truth will prevail, it doesn't necessarily follow that humanity will as well. The principles of truth can be used for destruction just as much as for growth. A history of technology can be consulted for examples. For this reason, evil should not be ignored. It should be fought with all energy of heart.

Another important note is that just because truth can be both used and abused, it doesn't mean that evil and good are of equal strength. By the nature of truth and current circumstance, evil may be more natural, but good is far more powerful. Good must triumph over evil in the end. The only way for it to be otherwise is for good to not put up a fight. Evil is self-defeating by nature. Good is self-enforcing. So again, good must triumph over evil. All it needs is truth.

And now for Something Completely Different

Just one true post in, and already I feel like this blog is a chore. Excessive use of fancy language and trying too hard to be logically complete and unbiased made this endeavor taxing and unrewarding. Therefore, from now on, this blog is going to be on what I want, when I want it. Perhaps I can get a bit more enjoyment out of this that way.

Topics you can expect to see posts on include: things I find interesting, things worth explaining or debating, and whatever I get a request for that seems worth entertaining.

Things you can expect me not to post include personally identifying information and things I find boring.

Regarding Creation

Nothing seems to draw more fiery rhetoric than the border between science and religion, and what within that realm could be more debated than the origin of the universe? Was the universe a planned conscious creation, or a spontaneous natural event? Both sides of the argument use the same facts to draw diametrically opposed views. Beauty, order, and life somehow seem to simultaneously say that the logic of a planned creation is impregnable and impossible.


To me, there is one obvious conclusion to draw from all of this. Reason alone can neither prove nor disprove creation. We were not around to witness the beginnings of the universe, neither do we have planned and unplanned universes to compare to see which option makes sense. Depending on how the universe actually works at the most fundamental level, it may not even be possible to test whether or not this universe is unique or part of a greater multiverse. It may even be impossible to have one type of universe or the other, but for all intents and purposes, the proposition is untestable.

For this reason, it is my opinion that the nature of existence outside of the universe is best left untouched by debate until further data is available. The argument is akin to debating atomism and holism in ancient Greece. Sure, one may have won out in the end, but choosing one over the other before such data was available would have been essentially flipping a coin to determine truth.

The Beginning

I have often found that when I am reading the opinions of various people that some statement of belief is expressed which defies all reason and experience. My instinctive response is to formulate a counterpoint to the expressly erroneous statement. However, up until now, I have not shared my conclusions and lines of reasoning publicly. For that purpose this blog has been created, to enlighten the understanding of those who do not take the time to think these things through.

Notwithstanding, as the tendency of human nature is one of hubris, I will refrain from referring to this as a work of perfection. It is merely the best work my limited capacities and resources allow me to achieve. The title of this blog reflects this. Contrary to what might be inferred by the first paragraph, the title refers to my own ineptitude, and not the failings of those I have read.

Also, it should be noted that this work will be written from the point of view of a Mormon. If you find that troublesome, I suggest you take your focus elsewhere.