Central Scrutinizer

Tell her what she's won, Don Pardo!

My dog ate my post.

I'm sorry, but I know what you're saying and I'm afraid you're not understanding what I'm saying ("I know you are but what am I?" -- Peewee). I don't start from the premise that, "there's a God, now how do I prove it?" I can't empirically accept what a black hole looks like -- or even that there is one -- even if a team of scientists patiently explain it to me. It would make sense, but I have no more proof than if someone tells me there's a guy with a big white beard who sounds like Morgan Freeman who made everything thus and so. I can't see that either. And I can't spill one of Tweedy's son

Well my last line was just a joke. Agnostics, I assume, have doubts, or are conflicted. And I do believe there are athiests within the church (just as there are Jews who are not religious). I think organized religious causes conflicts with people's exploration of faith because, for better or worse, they believe "if being faithful means that I want no part of it/can't live up to that," or otherwise allow actions within the church or its community to affect its beliefs. Teachings of organized religions can certainly cloud logic or judgment of faith (such as preaching that gays deserve to die o

Faith has nothing to do with knowing, at least IMHO. I don't know, but I think as a human it is among the basic questions we ask ourselves. I think if you decide you know, or refuse to acknowledge the question, you cease to grow, or perhaps worse, are an exercise in nihilism.

Pass the douche on the left hand side.

he knows ...

There's no semantics about arguing it, and I think this goes back to Tweedy's songs. I DON'T KNOW. YOU DON'T KNOW. There's only one way to prove there is or isn't a god (or God). And that's by dying and demonstrating your soul, arete, everlasting-gobstopper, etc. ceases to be, or goes on. An athiest believes there is no God. Refusing to accept the premise of g/God is a belief -- one that I wouldn't argue you out of (though within Christianity, I would not be doing my job if I didn't try). By refusing to accept the existing you believe there's an absence. I hope neither of us prove ourself

This is a key point. For to believe in the absence of god, due to lack of proof, is faith -- that proof against it will eventually be found, since it doesn't exist as we know it. Hey, I'm a cherry ghost!

I saw Who there in '82 and '83 as well as some other shows. It was decent enough -- beat the Aragon Ballroom!

Are you available for hire?

There's only one sure way to gather true evidence, and we all know what that is. I'm not ready to do that field research. This won't solve anything, but I just enjoy this joke: A scientist invents a way of creating life, of breathing life into dirt with a cosmic ray he's developed. He says to God, "Hey, God, I can breath life into dirt! We scientists don't need you anymore!" God says, "Let me see." The scientist sets up his equipment, a complex array of tubes and gauges and dials and a chamber where his cosmic ray gets focused just right. He picks up a handful of dirt and goes to put i

It's been a while since I've been back to IL, is Allstate Arena the former Rosemont Horizon?

This was obviously from a few years ago from Calvin College (Nov. 10 is a Monday this year). http://www.calvin.edu/admin/sao/calendar/i...jeff_tweedy.htm Jeff Tweedy is the lead singer and principal lyricist for Wilco, an iconic Midwestern band that both defines and pushes the boundaries of alt-country music. Though the group's line-up has changed and its sound has swung from twangy roots to noise-rock and everywhere in between, Tweedy has been the bedrock of Wilco since its inception in 1994. The depth and breadth of Tweedy's musical experimentation is evident on the band's latest release,

I don't know if being agnostic is the same as being conflicted by organized religion. Your beliefs should -- and can -- be decided outside of that arena. You can be agnostic about your faith and an athiest of the church!

Excellent point. It's not the destination, it's the journey.

"Try a Little Tenderness" -- Wilson Pickett

That's better than the other way around.

Does he "Hate It Here"?

Didn't Taco Bell add them to the menu recently?