GAY & STRAIGHT MARRIAGE - NOT THE SAME

Advocates for gay marriage have persuaded tens of millions of North Americans that gay marriage is the same as straight marriage. That uniformity now appears incontestable to our society, compelling law societies, educators, social ethicists, clergy and religious leaders and politicians to conclude that the institution of marriage is not compromised if gays are permitted to marry. In fact, the syllogism suggests that the definition of marriage must be expanded because gays deserve the right to marry. So the definition has been stretched. After all, there are no negative consequences for society, so the argument goes and this persuasion has prospered within a very short period of years.

CHARACTER & ACCOMPLISHMENT

Career achievement and inner moral character are ideally in partnership. Both must be nurtured. What was suggested in the last entry called 'résumé virtues and eulogy virtues’ is that we concentrate  sometimes on the first and experience little about moral and spiritual accomplishments that make us truly wonderful people rather than merely successful.

When we explore further the difference between résumé virtues and eulogy virtues, and delve into the treasury of qualities that make for resounding inner character we discover these kinds of assets.

An Inspiring Humility that moves from a candid self-awareness that admits personal shortcomings and moves to a focus upon other people.

A Confrontation with Personal Weakness that admits and addresses a principal fault in order to become strong and mature in temperament and attitude that is winsome to others.
A Life Deeply Rooted with Others intentionally moves away from the notion that a whole life can be managed and enjoyed individualistically or autonomously. This is a person who understands that authentic high-end character requires dependence upon others in order to convincingly overcome egotism, greed, and self-deception.  

THE ATHEIST’S DILEMMA

Not wanting to believe in God, the atheist must face the interpretation of honest science, which acknowledges that the universe did have a beginning. If the universe had a beginning, it cannot be eternal. That the universe had a beginning, compels the presumption of cause. That cause cannot be nothing, but must be something and the only conceivable eternal something is God. The human creature resembles its cause, and that cause certainly cannot be an amoral universe. Rather, only divine causation can account for created beings who have personality and are occupied with purpose, meaning, and moral values. It is unthinkable that random ‘nothing’ produces finely-tuned everything. It’s improbably that non-life produces life. It’s unimaginable that unconsciousness produces reason. Those are greater leaps of faith than is required to believe in God. Belief in God is affirmative not speculative.