Back in the mid-90s, I had the most amazing program called Redshift 5 (we called apps “programs” back then, kiddo, because our cell phones were just beginning to exist, and - get this - they were only used for talking to each other). It was an astronomy program that gave you all of the information about the night sky you could possibly want. It even had a “night mode” so you wouldn’t ruin your night vision if you took your laptop out “into the field.”
Sep 19, 2022·edited Sep 19, 2022Liked by Christopher Jolma
I think science, empiricism is or at least I hope it has, or continue to be humbled post-COVID. Not that they don't care, but I've lost all respect for any of the STEM fields or their views on pretty much anything. It's not even a "they're wrong" as it is a "I don't trust you and wouldn't leave you with my own children's hands in a million years." I've told my wife that I will have to be taken to the hospital by my feet dragging if anything happens unless I am clearly bleeding out, dying. Nurses, doctors, administrators, scientists, and everyone responsible for the chaos that put 20-years-sober Army veterans back into relapse have no credibility or clout with me and quite honestly if they only did more harm (IMO) with COVID, than their knowledge is as good as useless and pragmatically bankrupt. If class war ever erupts from our elitists decisions, I hope they get their comeuppance from their decisions.
Empiricism is dead to me. That's the less than savory reason that probably would make better people than me frown. The other reason was probably what made me appreciate the eastern Christian. I finally got angry at Trent Horn and Matt Dilahuty debating in an endless vortex of stupid trying to say something supernatural was reasonable or rational... if we reach a point where Jesus rising from the dead and God become physical measurable phenomena then we haven't found God, we found an imposter. Maybe that's just my stupid.
Sorry for hijacking your Substack! I'll leave you with my favorite quote from Calvin and Hobbes! "That’s the whole problem with science. You’ve got a bunch of empiricists trying to describe things of unimaginable wonder."
"...all of this knowledge isn’t making us any happier or wiser." Boy, howdy. I've been wrestling with that one a lot lately. My entire adult life, I've been trying to answer the questions that have been burning holes through my soul and have yet to hit bottom. I need to know, probably obsessively. I don't know if it means I'm wiser with age or if I'm a dunce for not figuring it out sooner, but I'm ever so slightly beginning to understand that it's OK to not have the answer to everything. That's a really uncomfortable place to be, for someone who has to understand at least the basics of everything. But I'm realizing I'm happier accepting that I don't know, and can't know, some of these answers I've been seeking than I ever was chasing after them and thinking I was so close that they were just around the corner.
Christopher a very well written article. Thoroughly enjoyed it. I was introduced to your writing just now by a big fan of yours, probably a number 1 fan, your mother. Looking forward to further venturing down your paths. This is my first introduction to sub stack. Loved how you "rewound" the app for your success. Lol. Thanks for the enlightenment.
Hey Steve! Thanks for reading and subscribing. I truly appreciate it. I'm still trying to capture my thoughts and nail them to the floor, so who knows? Again, thanks. :-)
I think science, empiricism is or at least I hope it has, or continue to be humbled post-COVID. Not that they don't care, but I've lost all respect for any of the STEM fields or their views on pretty much anything. It's not even a "they're wrong" as it is a "I don't trust you and wouldn't leave you with my own children's hands in a million years." I've told my wife that I will have to be taken to the hospital by my feet dragging if anything happens unless I am clearly bleeding out, dying. Nurses, doctors, administrators, scientists, and everyone responsible for the chaos that put 20-years-sober Army veterans back into relapse have no credibility or clout with me and quite honestly if they only did more harm (IMO) with COVID, than their knowledge is as good as useless and pragmatically bankrupt. If class war ever erupts from our elitists decisions, I hope they get their comeuppance from their decisions.
Empiricism is dead to me. That's the less than savory reason that probably would make better people than me frown. The other reason was probably what made me appreciate the eastern Christian. I finally got angry at Trent Horn and Matt Dilahuty debating in an endless vortex of stupid trying to say something supernatural was reasonable or rational... if we reach a point where Jesus rising from the dead and God become physical measurable phenomena then we haven't found God, we found an imposter. Maybe that's just my stupid.
Sorry for hijacking your Substack! I'll leave you with my favorite quote from Calvin and Hobbes! "That’s the whole problem with science. You’ve got a bunch of empiricists trying to describe things of unimaginable wonder."
"...all of this knowledge isn’t making us any happier or wiser." Boy, howdy. I've been wrestling with that one a lot lately. My entire adult life, I've been trying to answer the questions that have been burning holes through my soul and have yet to hit bottom. I need to know, probably obsessively. I don't know if it means I'm wiser with age or if I'm a dunce for not figuring it out sooner, but I'm ever so slightly beginning to understand that it's OK to not have the answer to everything. That's a really uncomfortable place to be, for someone who has to understand at least the basics of everything. But I'm realizing I'm happier accepting that I don't know, and can't know, some of these answers I've been seeking than I ever was chasing after them and thinking I was so close that they were just around the corner.
"The critic is technically right, but he’s now marked safe from wisdom."
Whoa. That's a good one.
Christopher a very well written article. Thoroughly enjoyed it. I was introduced to your writing just now by a big fan of yours, probably a number 1 fan, your mother. Looking forward to further venturing down your paths. This is my first introduction to sub stack. Loved how you "rewound" the app for your success. Lol. Thanks for the enlightenment.
Hey Steve! Thanks for reading and subscribing. I truly appreciate it. I'm still trying to capture my thoughts and nail them to the floor, so who knows? Again, thanks. :-)