Another Secular Student Alliance event: This one at Wichita State University

I just learned, via facebook, that the SkeptICTs of Wichita State University are going to have a free event this May 21, 2011. It is being put on by the Air Capital Skeptics. I guess this is the day for "Rapture" as it is being held as a "Rapture Day" event. Apparently another religious adherent has taken it upon himself to figure out the day that Jesus is going to return to Earth. Or at least begin the Rapture.I think it should be May 22, so we wo0uldn't have to deal with their crap anymore.

There is going to be a great line up for this event. If you can make it it would be greatly worth your time. I am not sure if I can yet. But if I can I sure will.

Here are some of the speakers, remember have your questions ready after they talk, you don't get to ask question in church,
Blair Scott, he is a really nice guy with American Atheists;
Darell Ray, author of The God Virus,
Richard Carrier, historian, I got to talk with him after his lecture in Springfield, really nice guy;
David Fitzgerald, He is with San Fransisco Atheist and the Center for Inquiry
JT Eberhard, I actally stayed at his apartment during Skepticon. He had a nice hotel room. Anyway he is bercoming a very prominate member of the atheist movement.
Sam Singleton, Atheist Evangelist,  We had a nice conversation but sadly more desire to talk than time to do it in.

Plus you will have a change to meet all kinds of cool people from around the country. Who know by the time some more people may be there to speak. Be sure that there will be some people there to protest and bitch and moan about how horrible using your mind is and not walking by faith.

Which brings me to my final comment. There was a video of a blind woman walking into a subway station and then falling onto the tracks. Several people helped her and signaled the train to stop.

When asked how she felt about the help she received she said that GOD used the people to rescue her. I think God would have been much more compassionate if he would have stopped her from falling onto the tracks. Or even better had her not be blind to begin with.

Some notable People I have met face to face.

Some notable people that I have seen or have interacted with over my life. [in no particular order] This doesn't include any concerts of personal speaking engagements to a group unless I had some direct contact with the person. The list is not exhaustive.The last part refers to how I interacted with them.

James Randi – author, Flim Flam, Leading skeptic and magician, originator of $1,000,000 challenge, meal in Springfield, MO

Kathleen Sebelius – former Kansas Insurance Commissioner and Governor, Secretary of Health and Human Services - KSNT-TV

D. J. Grothe – head of JREF and well known skeptical podcaster for “Point of Inquiry” and now “ For Good Reason” Same place, St. Louis Skeptical meetup, Michael Dowd event

Micheal Dowd – author, Thank God For Evolution - Lecture at Unitarian Church, St. Louis

Rebecca Watson – internationally known skeptical podcaster and speaker - Springfield, MO

Sam Singleton – The Atheist Evangelist, Springfield, MO, e-mail Facebook

Victor Stenger – Professor, University of Colorado, Center for Inquiry, author, God The Failed Hypothesis - meal, Springfield, MO

J.T Eberhart – Flying Spaghetti Monster, Missouri State University, Co-organizer of Skepticon - Stayed at his apartment

P.Z. Myers in Springfield, MO

P.Z. Myers – Associate Professor University of Minnesota-Morris, writer - w/ protesters at Skepticon, Special event in the pub.

John Schlitt – singer, Head East, Petra, musician, Christian Speaker - Concert [twice], Life Christian Center, St. Louis, MO

Geoff Moore – Contemporary Christian Musician - after concert, Norman, OK

Ron Dryden – Senior pastor, Cathedral of Praise World Outreach Center, Oklahoma City, OK, new members class, worked at KOKF owned by Dryden

Best selling book by Richard Dawkins.

Richard Dawkins – author, The God Delusion, Climbing Mount Improbable, evolutionary biologist, professor, public speaker - Norman, OK [question] Charlette, NC [question]

Abigal Smith - graduate student in Oklahoma studying the evolution of viruses, especially retroviruses, and how that evolution impacts our health - Evolution debate, Yukon, OK

Jen Peeples - aerospace engineer, former military test pilot, and foxhole atheist - Pridefest, Austin, TX

Don Baker – computer scientist with an interest in evolutionary biology and the nascent science of memetics - Pridefest, Austin, TX

Bob Saget – American stand-up comedian, actor, and television host - KDNL-TV

Jerome Bettis – retired American football halfback who played for the NFL's Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers – KDNL-TV

Bill Clinton – Former President of The United States of America - [twice] Topeka, KS, Oklahoma City, OK

Barack Obama – President of The United States of America - Several times, St. Louis, MO

Claire McCaskill – U.S. Senator, Missouri - Speaking, Victory Party

Russ Carnahan – U.S. Congressman , Missouri – Interview, speech

Fred Phelps – ex-lawyer, Reverend, founder of Westboro Baptist Church - Shawnee County Jail

Nate Phelps – estranged son of Fred Phelps - Clayton High School

Former father-in-law, Steve Abrams

Steve Abrams – former head of Kansas State Board of Education, Kansas Senator, ex son-in-law

Sam Brownback – former U.S Congressman and U.S. Senator; current Kansas Governor interview KSNT-TV, KWCH-TV

Todd Tiahrt – former U.S. Congressman from Kansas - KWCH-TV interview

Henry Hyde – U.S. Congressman-Illinois, interview, KWCH-TV

Joan Finney – First female governor of Kansas - WIBW-TV

Ray Preston – reporter, KMOV-TV - Worked with

Andy Banker – reporter, KTVI-TV - Worked with

Mary Fallin – former Lt. Governor and current Oklahoma Governor - interview, pictures

Joel Olsten – famous pastor from Texas - photos, events

Bob Dole – Former U.S. Senator-Kansas, Former Republican Presidential Canidate - picture with

Dan Baker – Former pastor, musician, president of FFRF - Springfield, MO

Richard Carrier – Historian, author, philosopher - Springfield, MO

Joe Nickell – paranormal investigator - Springfield, MO

Debbie Goddard – Center for Inquiry - Springfield, MO

John Corvino – writer, Moral activist with LGBT, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan - Springfield, MO

Steve "Jake" Jacobs and I; Mr. Wizard?

Steve “Jake” Jacobs – Mr. Wizard IV, Discovery Channel Contributor for “Mythbusters” Director of Informal Science Education - former teacher

Todd Barber – JPL, NASA, California Institute of Technology, Saturn's Cassini mission, Mar's Rovers - mutual friend of my best friend

Stephen Curtis Chapman – Contemporary Christian Singer, Springfield, MO, St. Louis, MO

Judgment and judging and the curse of expectations

I find the way people act to be a good indicator of what they believe regardless of what they say they believe. My daughter back in September on a visit to see her asked her stepdad to adopt her. Of course prior to this action I had no clue whatsoever that she had even entertained the idea. Needless to say it hit me like a brick wall on fire. I couldn't believe it. The daughter that I love so much and had worried about and worked so hard to cultivate a good and open relationship was asking this of me? How could this be?

Oh yes. I remember. My old friend religion was at work here. The Christian was showing the true nature of what it means to be an adherent. Reality isn't what matters but it is the perception of what make her comfortable. The trip went ahead as planned but needless to say the call from her Uncle on the morning I left for Kansas was a most distracting thing to deal with. Her Uncle happens to be the attorney that was handling the case.

So a trip that was designed to be a fun time with my daughter and girl friend became a horror filled nightmare. Why? Well that really is the question. Had I ever hurt her or abused her or did anything to her detriment? No. All I ever wanted for her was to be happy and healthy and smart. The last time I saw her she had made a point of wrapping a present for me and giving it to me for Christmas. What had happened from the caring loving daughter I had last scene then? During the year I would call her and also send her text messages. For awhile I got messages back but I figured she was busy and such.

But this was much more than a communication situation. It was the influence of religion in all that moved my loving daughter to a hostile person. It was through the encouragment of people that are self rightous and would prefer to hurt me and distroy Madeline rather than show the love and charity and compassion that their religion asks for them to do.

How many times must we forgive? Is it three times? It is seven times? Even if you have forgiven seventy times seven you have only just  began to forgive. What are the characteristic of love? Aren't they long suffering, patience, tenderness, forgiveness, gentleness, self control, faithfulness and kindness? When did God give up on those that believe on him and call on his name?

I see the hand of my self righteous ex-wife at work in the actions and words of my child. The burden of anger and frustration that I feel is so intense  and so burning with rage that I can barely explain it. How I want to teach all of them what is the right way to act. how I want to force them to confess their evil deeds and turn to me and ask my forgiveness.

How I want to steal my daughter for the influence of the lies that she has been force to accept as true. And even more evil that I wish I could do to them for the hurt and pain and anguish they have caused me.

I am not sure how many of you are familiar with the story of The Good Samaritan. It is a parable from Jesus and talks about the compassion of one given to another that is undeserved or at least rightly with held. The Samaritans were a sect of the Jewish people that had a slightly different view of how to worship God than the more Orthodox Jews. The Samaritans felt you could worship God where ever you wished and the more Orthodox Jews felt this was only done in the temple. Because of this the Samaritans were hated and viewed with utter contempt by the Jews.

So as the story goes, the man was on a journey and was beaten and robbed and left to die on the roadside. [a pathway in today's meaning] As the man laid in need a priest came by and walk by him and did nothing to aid him. Likewise the same with the Rabbi that walked that way. One could understand this situation. the bandits may very well be waiting nearby to beat and rob the person that would help the Samaritan.

Then as we all know finally The Good Samaritan comes and helps the man, binds his wounds and takes him to an inn where the Samaritan pays for his rest and recuperation asking nothing in return. yet even saying to the inn keeper that anything the man needs that when he comes back he will pay for that as well.

Jesus asked the ones that listen to the story who was the one that showed mercy? The answer was hard for them to say. Because the right answer were the people that were despised, the Samaritans. So what was answered was, "The one who showed mercy."

This is the way I have to react when people treat me with cruelty and bitter anger and hate. Am I going to answer their evil with evil? Am I going to judge them by my worse fears? Or am I going to hold out hope that my tolerance and hope for them will lead to a path that we both can share and help each other?

While I am sure it would thrill my ex-wife to no ends to have me become angry with my daughter she has no way to fathom the love I can show. Some say that the love of God stretches as far as the east is from the West. I don't know about that. But I do know that when you show love it helps you and the person you show it too.

Maybe if more Christians were more eager to show God's love we could dispense with the divisions in the world and our country and focus on helping one another instead.

Great evil and malice has been shown toward me yet I will not act in kind. I will judge this situation by the actions of what has happen to me. But I will do it in patience and with reflection on my own human frailties.

What is worse; to destroy someones body or destroy someones mind will? How about both are bad and not do either to the best we can.

Why do people seek to cause others harm? I could only guess that it has to do with false expectations. As humans we tend to project certain ideas and results on people and groups that we think we have a valid understanding of. This is part of human nature. Sometimes these expectations are worth merit but more often than not they are a best guess.

If you have ever meet another person, out of the two of you one is more intelligent. That is a fact. But according to the Dunning-Krugger Effect, If you have two people both will assume to be above average in their intelligence. This, of course, cannot be right, only about 40 percent of the people can be above average. The rest are about average or below average intelligence. Having study this effect I have seen how I am a victim of my own self delusional behavior and tend to think what I think is right or best isn't always the best or right way after all.

This applies to our relationship as well. the amount of time one invest into a commitment tends to amplify the value of that commitment. I once collected stamps and loved to get new ones and find out where they were from and all about them. They were stolen from me when I was about 18 years old and that hurt me very much. Even to this day, all the time and effort and education I put into it still brings a bit of pain. But the truth is to someone that has no desire in stamp collecting my actions and feelings would be foreign.

Because of this I would have an unreasonable expectation of them to empathize with how losing my stamp collection made me feel. A reaction to that may be to get even madder at them because they fail to react as I would. This would be an unreasonable reaction on my part. Of course, this also applies to careers, politics, and religion.

We have by nature unreasonable expectations for others to accept our ideas and behave as we wish. I surely do that. But I try to be aware that my expectations may not be reasonable. Just because I have invested a lot of time and effort into them doesn't mean that others must feel the same as I do.

Sometimes the most simple things is to step back and say, Why don't you feel like I do? Or What to you think or feel about this?

Of course, this requires communication and since my ex-wife thinks it a great idea not to communicate, that left my daughter with very little of my influence. I know for a fact that if I hadn't been left out of the picture that I wouldn't be dealing with this Today.

It doesn't hurt to reevaluate your values now and then. You might find betters ones. After all, didn't Jesus change the way the Jews were thinking?