Back to the Roots: Science and Theology

Thomas Merton

Thomas Merton was one of these rare individuals who was completely enamored of God. He was raised, for the most part, in an irreligious household but nonetheless felt an inescapable captivation by the religious life of a Catholic Cistercian. He entered the Trappist order on December 13, 1941 and at the encouragement of his superiors, began writing extensively on Christianity - from a contemplative perspective - as well as on ecumenism and social activism. He is undoubtedly one of the most potent and prolific mystics of the twentieth century.

Again, I ask myself during the times when doubt overpowers any speckle of faith I might have remaining: Was Thomas Merton COMPLETELY WRONG about the existence of God? Are individuals such as Nietzsche and Dawkins completely and universally correct about the non-existence of God? To be completely and universally correct about this type of matter requires a Deity to empower a philosophy to an overwhelming degree. So even the atheist - quite ironically- would require the existence of a Universal Manifestation for their philosophy to be completely and absolutely true everywhere in this universe and in others.

"I cannot make the universe obey me. I cannot make other people conform to my own whims and fancies. I cannot make even my own body obey me." ~~Thomas Merton

Critter Reverie

I catch The Critter while he sleeps in his lair, somewhere in the wastelands of Sin City. Oh so carefully I approach him while in slumber (top picture) when his super sensitive senses detect my presence. He snaps to attention! (bottom picture) Looks at me and studies the foreign apparition that has invaded his sanctuary. He tracks my every move without his deafening trademark growl or hint of aggression. He decides not to attack. Apparently, the Big Bird costume I wore while snapping this soon-to-be Pulitzer Prize winning pictures paid off. He passes me off as a giant, prepubescent canary who inadvertently strayed into his space while searching for Sesame seeds, or his way back home, or a specific Street, or whatever. What is important is that this adventurer was allowed to escape with his life and lives to write yet another chapter of the most ferocious creature to roam North America.

Kris-

I tried several ways of getting this song posted and the only one that would work is the service I found in your blog. Well, let me make the formal dedication:

Kris- this one goes out to you. I mean every word in it:)

You know how to reach me.

Tom

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The Critter of All Critters

Do not be fooled, ye spectator, for he is lethal and cunning with cuteness. These are pictures of the infamous Critter that roams the west coast, seeking out innocent human beings to manipulate with his bewitching little face. He strikes with subtlety but with great lethality; and pretty soon, no matter how much you resist, you give into his demands for unauthorized snacking, gentle hugs and unending tummy rubs. The author of this blog risked his very life by meeting this deadly beast head-on in the wild and diabolical fields of Sin City, to snap the pictures displayed above.

Legend has it that in the summer of 2006, as the Critter roamed the mountainous regions of Scotland, shocked and horrified bystanders looked on as he ate the Loch Ness Monster with one chomp for snoring too loud. And some of the kids in the neighborhood of his domicile have complained to their adult superiors that the critter looks out his window and extends his middle finger when they walk by.

If ye sees this infernal qua-draped in thou presence, DO NOT RUN! He will chase after you and lick you till you have no choice but to pet him and give him his long desired belly rubs.

More pics to follow of the furry (?) little beast.

Thomas

PS

The following is an actual recording of his savage rumble, which can be heard anytime a doorbell goes off or food is being prepared: Woof!

PPS
Kris, when you read this I just want you to know that the only thing he would show me just as I took his picture was his hairy behind!:( And to add injury to frustration, I think he was doing it on purpose, the little bugger. I'm still working on the camera (quite a bit more to go) but I should uncover new techniques as I go along. My house is about to undergo a revamping both inside and out (as well as a room addition) which will begin (hopefully) in the next few months. I'd LOVE to post before and after pictures of this project:)

Camera Upgrade

Instead of going with the SD800 I decided to make the upgrade to the Canon SD850. It's slightly more expensive, but it does have more powerful optics. Besides, I think this version is completely replacing its predecessor, the SD800.

Tom

Camera Babble

After some research and review browsing I have decided to purchase the Canon Powershot SD800 IS Digital Camera . For my neophyte necessities this camera should do the trick. It's light and portable, has image stabilizer (which I hear works quite well in this camera), and a few other little features that only an armature can appreciate. I will take as many pictures as I can and post them on my blog (what better way to embarrass friends and family) LOL! I'm not sure if to purchase the camera locally or if it's better to go on-line where I can buy it a hundred dollars (maybe more) cheaper. Pics to follow.

Take care,
Tom

Molto Vivace: Music Babble

Here is a list of some of the greatest music pieces, songs, and albums that go back over four hundred years. The timeline begins with composers who pre-date the seventeenth century all the way to music considered contemporary (modern), with origins in the twentieth century. Again, this list is just a fragment of written works in the history of music and could extend forever if every body's taste was accurately reflected in it. Nonetheless, these are consequential and historic sounds that have managed thus far to endure the test of time.



1) Sacred Music

• Gregorio Allegri: Miserere mei, Deus
• Tomas Luis de Victoria: Requiem Mass
• Beethoven: Missa Solemnis in D major
• Rachmanivov: Vespers
• Arvo Part: Kanon Pokajanen
• The works of Thomas Tallis
• The works of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrinna

2) Classical (The term "classical" is used generically and encompasses both baroque, classical, and romantic styles of music)

• Bach: "Brandenburg Concertos"
• Beethoven: Symphonies No. 6 "Pastorale" and No. 9 "Choral"
• Tchaikovsky: Symphonies No. 5 and No. 6 "Pathetique" (Not "pathetic")
• Mozart: Symphony No. 25 in G Minor
• Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 "Emperor" in E flat Major
• Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor
• Mozart: Symphony No. 40 in G Minor

3) Modern/ Present Day (Albums)

• Beatles: Abbey Road
• Elton John: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
• Beatles: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
• Stevie Wonder: Innervisions
• America: America
• Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life
• Frank Sinatra: In the Wee Small Hours
• Bee Gees: Saturday Night Fever (Yes, I love the Bee Gees)

3) Jazz/ Blues

I'm not a big jazz fan, but you can't go wrong with these three classics.

• Dave Brubeck Quartet: Take Five
• John Coltrane: My Favorite Things
• George Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue

4) Best Song (not always accompanying the best albums)

• Beatles: Hey Jude
• Stevie Wonder: Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing
• Elton John/ Eric Clapton: Runaway Train
• Beatles: With a Little Help from My Friends
• The Alan Parsons Project: Eye in the Sky
• Beatles: Let It Be
• Queen: We Will Rock You
• Stevie Wonder: He's Misstra Know It All

5) Best Love Song

• Barbara Streisand: Evergreen
• Alisson Moyet or Dusty Springsfield renditions: What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life
• Elton John: The One
• Bee Gees: How Deep is Your Love
• Bonnie Tyler: Total Eclipse of the Heart
• Beatles: Something
• Righteous Brothers: Unchained Melody

Which one am I missing that should DEFINITELY have been up there? Let me know.

Take care,

Tom

Cinema Babble

Well, since I've been discussing this in both blog sphere and with my immediate friends, here is a small list of some of the best movies ever made (in my humble opinion) according to genre, but in no particular order. The list, of coarse, can grow considerably beyond five films but I wanted to keep it concise.

1) Sci-Fi

• 2001 A Space Odyssey
• Close Encounters of the Third Kind
• Alien and Aliens
• Star Wars Trilogy
• E.T. the Extra Terrestrial

2) Horror/ Thriller

• The Exorcist
• Dawn of the Dead (2004)
• Halloween (the original)
• Silence of the Lambs
• The Thing (1982)

3) Mystery

• In the Heat of the Night
• Chinatown
• Rear Window
• The Maltese Falcon
• Citizen Kane

4) Action

• Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
• Predator
• Robocop
• Gladiator
• The Matrix Trilogy

5) Drama

• Saving Private Ryan
• Schindler's List
• The Godfather I and II
• The Shawshank Redemption
• To Kill a Mockingbird

6) Romance

• Breakfast at Tiffany's
• Casablanca
• Somewhere in Time
• The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
• Roxanne

7) Comedy

• Dr. Strangelove
• Groundhog Day
• Animal House
• Austin Powers I and III
• Shrek

8) Fantasy

• All Harry Potter movies
• Lord of the Rings Trilogy
• Clash of the Titans
• The Wizard of Oz
• Fantasia

Kris, you were right. Love Actually was a pretty descent movie, even with Hugh Grant in it. There were a few scenes that should have been edited out and flushed down the toilet, but otherwise a worthwhile flick.

Take care,

Tom

Part I: Indolent Babble; Part II: Neurology

Part I: Indolent Babble

Well, for me no weekend has ever been more lethargic than this one (thank God). I was able to do a few more detailed checks on the camera I'm going to purchase and feel thoroughly comfortable with the choice I've made. Also, I was able to order a few more computer components to (hopefully) begin assembling the behemoth I'll be using for all my multimedia functions.


Part II: Neurology

Am I missing something? Have neurologist or scientists with theistic inclinations not discussed the neurological functions of the brain and how it relates to continuation after death? I can find NOTHING on this subject matter. I'm to the point where the question might be considered taboo [Why? This would make no sense. Have they (theistic scientists) been stumped by a finding they have no rebuttal against?], or so trivial that they have not only discussed it, but they are no moving beyond this topic and unto more lofty subject matter. In my understanding of God, the soul, and life after death, the neurological activities of the human being are a major sticking point for me. If you have any exposure to this topic, try answering a few of these:

1) If our personalities - and virtually everything we are - is sustained within some lobe inside the brain, WHAT continues after death when ALL neurological activity has come to a complete STOP?

2) What evidence even merely suggests continuation after death? Is "non-entity" a more accurate description of our ultimate fate?

3) If religious activity is nothing more than a psychological necessity to keep us emotionally "balanced" (as some have suggested), could we not extend this line of thinking to God, and conclude He exists nowhere but in our own minds, and not outside us as a living, detectable, consequential Deity?

These questions are just a few from a much larger volume. If you have an opinion, I welcome it.

Tom

“The search for truth is in one way hard and in another way easy, for it is evident that no one can master it fully or miss it wholly. But each adds a little to our knowledge of nature, and from all the facts assembled there arises a certain grandeur.” ~Aristotle

Tech Babble

Item #1

Well, the computer that I'm assembling is slowly coming together. All six hard drives, optical drives, CPU. MOBO, and other components are poised for action. I'm missing a few more items, after which this over sized hunk of junk will (hopefully) redeem itself. This tower will have a predominant multimedia functionality (I've go 2 iPods and I'm buying an Archos 160 GB Multimedia Player - if I can find one). When will it end?


Item #2

I'm narrowing down my selection of cameras. I'd like to post pics of friends, family, and myself to my blog, since everybody else seems to be doing so already. I should be clicking away and posting in the next few weeks. It seems everybody has some opinion on which camera is worthwhile. I didn't know pictures were so absolutely popular (what cave am I living in?).

Item #3

The Apple iPhone- is it worth it? cnet.com gave the new gadget positive reviews with minor gigs for missing features and call quality. My personal idiosyncrasy is to wait for the second or third generation iPhone (I know that could still be a while away) so they not only work out the bugs from this first generation iPhone, but expand pre-existing technology (4 GB of hard drive is not all the much for my usage) as well as introduce features that at this moment in time are in the beta phase.



And finally, HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

Stay safe (too late for sane).



Tom