Best Company

I consider myself to be totally honest with myself. My discussions with myself surpass those with my favorite others, and no slight intended. I agree with myself, I disagree with myself, I laugh with myself at myself, I interrupt myself. I enjoy input from others, am receptive probably to anything and everything, for a time: nonsense (obviously as defined by me), I will dismiss; wisdom and thought-provoking words, whether written or spoken (if I can hear them with my tinnitus/bad hearing), I will ponder, and decide, over time, whether it is applicable to and for me.

I consider myself to be a pragmatic agnostic. as defined at wikipedia.org/wiki/agnosticism i.e. "the view that there is no proof of either the existence or nonexistence of any deity, but since any deity that may exist appears unconcerned for the universe or the welfare of its inhabitants, the question is largely academic anyway."

I am aware this view is contrary to that of most of my family and acquaintances, as well as my own upbringing and earlier beliefs (which could be indicative of possible future view change??). Thomas Henry Huxley, 'credited' (depends on your own belief system) with coining the arbitrary label Agnosticism, also stated (among obviously literally hundreds of thousands of other statements (probably to himself as well as others)): "I neither affirm nor deny the immortality of man. I see no reason for believing it, but, on the other hand, I have no means of disproving it".

And Robert G. Ingersoll, another 'famous' (or 'infamous' - again depending on your own belief system) agnostic, in fact known as 'The Great Agnostic', said: "...there is no supernatural power that can answer prayer - no power that worship can persuade or change - no power that cares for man....Is there a God? I do not know. Is man immortal? I do not know. One thing I do know, and that is, that neither hope, nor fear, belief, nor denial, can change the fact. It is as it is...." ( Ingersoll apparently liked the word 'that').

I don't necessarily agree with .."One thing I do know" statement.. I personally would state: "One thing I do believe" .... As a matter of fact, I believe he may be possibly contradicting himself. Alas, he's not available for a 'chat'. (For the complete quote again see: wikipedia.org/wiki/agnosticism ).

Now you may ask (go ahead - ask -) "What does the discussion of 'agnosticism' have to do with being honest with myself ?" And I'll answer, to me, just about everything I think about, again probably due to my upbringing, my curiosity, my cynicism, the deaths of parents, son, friends, mortality in and of itself, meaning(s) of life, etc. etc.

Huxley states, "In matters of the intellect, follow your reason as far as it will take you, without regard to any other consideration. And negatively: In matters of the intellect, do not pretend that conclusions are certain which are not demonstrated or demonstrable" (Huxley, Agnosticism, 1889). While A. W. Momerie, (an English Christian Writer and a Reverend b.1848 d.1900) has noted that this is nothing but a definition of honesty, Huxley's usual definition goes beyond mere honesty to insist that these metaphysical issues are fundamentally unknowable.

I understand there are those who read this and will say: "Gene, Get a Life" or "Gene You've too much time on your hands" (same thing, right?), or "Gene You are Right On", or "Gene You need to get a set of beliefs" or "Gene Your life without a knowledge of God must be sad and empty". And my response to all would be, as per a reflection on the life of Thoreau: "He found greater joy in his daily life than most people ever would." And might hope for a review such as, again a reflection of Thoreau: "His work is so rich, and so full of the complex contradictions that he explored, that his readers keep reshaping his image to fit their own needs. Perhaps he would have appreciated that, for he seems to have wanted most to use words to force his readers to rethink their own lives creatively, different though they may be, even as he spent his life rethinking his, always asking questions, always looking to nature for greater intensity and meaning for his life.....". (I personally would change 'force' to 'encourage', and 'nature' to be an expanded definition beyond the normal Walden Pond 'nature', rather all encompassing).

Enjoy....