thesaurus

"Don't use words too big for the subject. Don't say 'infinitely' when you mean 'very'; otherwise you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite." ~Clive Staples L.

Noah's Ark?

If one were trying to explain how we, the human race, came to this world, ... wouldn't we use the terminology of the day ... in a way that made sense to the listeners of that day and age? Wouldn't we explain the beginnings of our existence in ways that the people of the time could understand? 

So why do so many use the story of the boat as evidence that the Faithful are wrong?

To all the intelligent-design bashers out there, ... try this on: Science and Religion ARE NOT mutually exclusive! Isn't it possible that it was written down as people understood the story ... within the context they wrote it, ... and as it made sense to them in their time? Our deepening (scientific) understandings of the universe and humanity do nothing but lead us to the same conclusion: The story is much, much bigger than our science alone can handle.

So please dismount your high-horse, tie it to the post (next to mine), and let's all drink from the same watering hole, ... acknowledging God and Science simultaneously.

how may zeros does it take to spell BAIL-OUT?

This is dedicated to my friends bent on "hope and change."

imagine if you will: This will NEVER happen!

Why does this feel like it's from 1937?

the power of the story (teller)

This video reminds me how important it is to listen to the right people ... especially for the really Big and important stories. 

the strings: who is pulling them?

youth, aging, and flying-time

just bugs: the scope from the other end

Philosophies from both sides of the river can be quick to offer sensible stories around "events" such as this one. But when we view the river more like a lake, "sides" are more difficult to talk about. And when we understand such through the frame of "ocean," ... with shifting reefs, sandbars, and with beaches in constant change, ... the very complexity of life in *this place we call home* seems to evaporate into arguments that highlight differences in understanding.

The faithful believe in a story, ... as do the scientists, ... and we can all make sense of this video in ways to fortify such.

I sense, though, ... a middle ground: where faith and science shake hands.

We are only "as right," ... as correct or founded and grounded, ... as our perspectives allow for, and so it might be important to have as many of those "scopes" as humanly possible.

God is good, ... all the time, ... and good science is too.

In fact, ... some may call good science "Godly!"  

Noah's Ark: the science of the boat?

"Noah's Ark (Hebrew: תיבת נח, Tevat Noach; Arabic: سفينة نوح, Safina Nuh) is a large vessel featuring in the mythologies of Abrahamic religions. Narratives including the Ark are also found in the Hebrew Bible (Book of Genesis chapters 6 through 9) and the Qur'an (Suras 11 and 71).

The Genesis narrative tells how God, grieved by the wickedness of mankind,[1] decides to destroy the corrupted world. However, "Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD", so God instructs Noah to build the Ark and take on board his family and representatives of the animals and birds. The flood rises to cover the Earth, but at its height "God remembered Noah", the waters abate, and dry land appears. The story ends with Noah offering an animal sacrifice and entering into a covenant with God. God regrets the flood, and promises never to do it again, displaying a rainbow as a guarantee.

The story has been subject to extensive elaborations in Judaism, Christianity and Islam, ranging from hypothetical solutions to practical problems (e.g. waste disposal and the problem of lighting the interior), through to theological interpretations (e.g. the Ark as the precursor of the Church in offering salvation to mankind).  By the 19th century, the discoveries of geologists, archaeologists and biblical scholars had led most scientists and many Christians to abandon a literal interpretation of the Ark story, but Biblical literalists today continue to take the Ark as test-case for their understanding of the Bible, and explore the region of the mountains of Ararat, where Genesis says Noah's Ark came to rest." per Wiki

How does science make sense of the story, and how do the faithful make sense of the science?

mourning for the Fries Family

"Florence Fries passed away [last] evening at the age of 85 years old at 11:26 pm peacefully. Florence battled Kidney Disease and many other health issues for 3 years, she was a very strong woman."

We are so sorry for your loss.  I just wanted to let you know that we love you guys, and we're always here for you.  

Flo will be missed.