Man lives according to how he has learnt to live and he understands according to how he has been taught to understand. Interpretation of the Bible relies heavily on this premise. The important point here is that, man's perception has a direct link to how he understands and what he understands.
A simple example of this was man's earlier understanding that the world was flat. He perceived it to be flat, so he understood it to be so. It wasn't until the perception of more open-minded men that we then understood that the world was indeed round. The understanding of the Bible faces the same challenges.
First of all, the numerous translations which the Bible has endured, has only aided in losing the original intent and meaning of the texts. Here again, the perceptions and understandings of those who translate, has a direct impact on the outcome of the translation.
Secondly, the further understandings and perceptions of those who read and decipher the texts also adds an added impact on what they declare is the meaning or message of the texts.
The danger here is, religious zealots would kill based on what beliefs they obtain from the Bible. These are beliefs that may be erroneous based on the imperfect perceptions and understandings of men. And on the mistranslations of original texts.
One recent example of such action is the current persecution of homosexuals in America. Here, the texts claimed in condemning homosexuality are based on mistranslations and misinterpretations of the original intent of Biblical texts.
Man judges according to what he understands to be true. He may kill under that reasoning. He may also die under that reasoning. As such, innocent individuals die every day based on the erroneous perceptions and understandings of others or themselves.
In order to understand the Bible, you must perceive the texts in the same manner of those who wrote it. You must understand life as they lived it, and you must perceive the message according to how they thought it. Putting it in today's words only harms that perception.
To say "I Love You" has a certain meaning based on the life perceptions of the individual saying it. The person receiving the message will in turn decipher the meaning and intent of those words based on their own life perception. In the end, it is the open-minded individual who gains the clearer understanding.
The open-minded individual does not base his perception on how he has been led to live or on what he has been taught to understand. Instead, he evaluates the evidence presented to him and calculates a possible truth out of that evidence. He realizes that his calculation may be wrong and as such is open to other variables which may enhance or change that truth.
As a final point. Society has only served to harm itself by adhering so rigidly to proposed truths. It is after all, the method of rule under the powers that be. Those who hold the greater knowledge or alleged perception have an upper hand on those that don't.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Utility Abuse
I am convinced... Within 10 years everyone must become a lawyer as a second profession. Or perhaps the need may come even sooner. The ethics meter has been thrown out the window of almost every corporation and government institution. The result being, constant abuses against the everyday man.
What did it this time? The electric company. The latest rep threatened to cut off the light if we did not make adjustments to the position of our electric meter. This moving of the meter of course costs thousands of dollars which must come out of our pocket. The reason they gave was that the meter must be visible at all times.
The problem here is, all of the houses in this vicinity have the meters in the same location, yet none have been threatened in the same manner. So, what makes our house so special as to require this "hit man" attention from the electric company? I don't know... It's not as if we aren't paying enough in electric bills. With three air conditioners running almost 24/7, they probably think we are secretly running a business from our home. The reasoning here is that businesses are charged double of what common homes are charged.
This of course is not the first incident involving a public utility company. Just a few years ago, the Spanish company ONU stole millions from consumers before they fled the country. Their reasoning was to regain the initial investment they made in purchasing Puerto Rico's water company. This was an investment that did not work out for them or for Puerto Rico. They made unfulfilled promises to Puerto Rico. And apparently Puerto Rico was too high maintenance for them.
A water bill which was $90 a month suddenly went up to $2,000. They kept giving the excuse that the water meter was not visible or that we had a water leak; thus the increased cost. I don't know what fool would believe such a foolish excuse. Wait... I do. My father. He paid the $2,000 out of fear from the threats that they would cut off the water supply. Not a good thing in such a hot country like Puerto Rico. The smart people of course complained to the company and/or obtained lawyers to fight their cause.
This constant onslaught of unethical practices from companies who have consumers in a stronghold, is becoming very tiresome. They have become nothing more than bullies in a playground of innocent victims. What common man could come against them without a lawyer, a politician, and the media in his pocket as arsenals against such bullies? Furthermore, who can live peacefully under such conditions?
I honestly don't know how man can survive this way. The constant abuses he must endure from those who seek to exploit him. It seems everywhere one turns, it's do this and do that - push, push, push... It's no wonder the world is riddled with such violence. Man can only take so much before he is pushed to the limit of his senses. I am dumbfounded as to what to do. And I am tired of the constant stress. If it's not one thing, it's another.
What did it this time? The electric company. The latest rep threatened to cut off the light if we did not make adjustments to the position of our electric meter. This moving of the meter of course costs thousands of dollars which must come out of our pocket. The reason they gave was that the meter must be visible at all times.
The problem here is, all of the houses in this vicinity have the meters in the same location, yet none have been threatened in the same manner. So, what makes our house so special as to require this "hit man" attention from the electric company? I don't know... It's not as if we aren't paying enough in electric bills. With three air conditioners running almost 24/7, they probably think we are secretly running a business from our home. The reasoning here is that businesses are charged double of what common homes are charged.
This of course is not the first incident involving a public utility company. Just a few years ago, the Spanish company ONU stole millions from consumers before they fled the country. Their reasoning was to regain the initial investment they made in purchasing Puerto Rico's water company. This was an investment that did not work out for them or for Puerto Rico. They made unfulfilled promises to Puerto Rico. And apparently Puerto Rico was too high maintenance for them.
A water bill which was $90 a month suddenly went up to $2,000. They kept giving the excuse that the water meter was not visible or that we had a water leak; thus the increased cost. I don't know what fool would believe such a foolish excuse. Wait... I do. My father. He paid the $2,000 out of fear from the threats that they would cut off the water supply. Not a good thing in such a hot country like Puerto Rico. The smart people of course complained to the company and/or obtained lawyers to fight their cause.
This constant onslaught of unethical practices from companies who have consumers in a stronghold, is becoming very tiresome. They have become nothing more than bullies in a playground of innocent victims. What common man could come against them without a lawyer, a politician, and the media in his pocket as arsenals against such bullies? Furthermore, who can live peacefully under such conditions?
I honestly don't know how man can survive this way. The constant abuses he must endure from those who seek to exploit him. It seems everywhere one turns, it's do this and do that - push, push, push... It's no wonder the world is riddled with such violence. Man can only take so much before he is pushed to the limit of his senses. I am dumbfounded as to what to do. And I am tired of the constant stress. If it's not one thing, it's another.
Courtesy
Tonight I went to Burger King where I was served by the assistant manager. She sneezed on my food and then proceeded to hand me the tray with my order as if nothing had occurred. Needless to say I refused the food.
The following confrontation between my sister and this assistant manager drew the attention of everyone in the restaurant. I tried to maintain the incident quiet out of courtesy to the establishment, but the manager addressed me with snide remarks. She left me no choice but to make her and the restaurant aware, that she had sneezed on the food. To this, she quieted down.
After I got home, I decided to go online to chat on Facebook just to relax a bit after the bothersome incident. A young man who was on my friend's list agreed to chat with me once I initiated the conversation. I had never met him nor chatted with him before, although he was the one who had sent the friend request in the first place.
We were chatting normally. I wrote a response according to what I understood of his conversation. He then became defensive; apparently I had misunderstood his comments. I quickly apologized and asked him for a correct understanding of what he had said. He then proceeded to tell me that there was something wrong with me for having misunderstood him in the first place. Needless to say, I deleted this stranger from my account without any further conversation.
You know, I get really tired sometimes. I get tired of fighting for what is right. It seems these days, common courtesy no longer exists. Everyone thinks they are in their right mind for every action they take. And if you don't like it, then... "Screw You", they think.
I've learned in life that living in this world of social relations, one must be open to the thoughts and reactions of others. You cannot live your life as if you are the sole survivor of your own little planet. Courtesy must have its place in order to maintain peace and social cohesion.
The following confrontation between my sister and this assistant manager drew the attention of everyone in the restaurant. I tried to maintain the incident quiet out of courtesy to the establishment, but the manager addressed me with snide remarks. She left me no choice but to make her and the restaurant aware, that she had sneezed on the food. To this, she quieted down.
After I got home, I decided to go online to chat on Facebook just to relax a bit after the bothersome incident. A young man who was on my friend's list agreed to chat with me once I initiated the conversation. I had never met him nor chatted with him before, although he was the one who had sent the friend request in the first place.
We were chatting normally. I wrote a response according to what I understood of his conversation. He then became defensive; apparently I had misunderstood his comments. I quickly apologized and asked him for a correct understanding of what he had said. He then proceeded to tell me that there was something wrong with me for having misunderstood him in the first place. Needless to say, I deleted this stranger from my account without any further conversation.
You know, I get really tired sometimes. I get tired of fighting for what is right. It seems these days, common courtesy no longer exists. Everyone thinks they are in their right mind for every action they take. And if you don't like it, then... "Screw You", they think.
I've learned in life that living in this world of social relations, one must be open to the thoughts and reactions of others. You cannot live your life as if you are the sole survivor of your own little planet. Courtesy must have its place in order to maintain peace and social cohesion.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)