I had a conversation with my oldest this weekend. We often have little philosophical discussion on life lessons - he's still young enough to want them. This time, I told him to avoid people who want to give him guidance. I know that sounds a bit funny, coming in the midst of a conversation in which I was giving him guidance. None the less, he understood what I meant.

It's not the guidance that you seek out that one has to avoid. It's the guidance that seeks you out. It's the people who have designs on your head.

I guess I just don't believe Believers, anymore.

Back a decade ago, I had an online political journal I maintained. I posted bi-weekly for the most part on whatever was filling me with rage at the moment. Politicians, stupid college antics, Clinton and Reno - the usual suspects. Now, It's all I can do to muster up a decent state of disgruntlement in order to post here. It's mostly due to the fact
that, while I can see still a side in argument as being unequivocally wrong, I can also see why they feel the need to stake out the erroneous position. It usually has nothing to do with evil intentions. Sometimes it ignorance. Some times it's a different set of values. Most times, it's nothing I'd ever be able to argue out of them.

I meet people all the time who hold their beliefs and opinions dearly.  They are defined by them and wish for others to share them.  Maybe they feel validated by philosophical allies.  Maybe they feel elevated by
having acolytes.  Maybe they feel vindicated by converts, or cleansed by the act of bringing others to light.  Whatever the reason, it's an agenda that unavoidably pollutes the discourse and devalues their positions.  However honorable their intent, I simply can't trust their logic.

I used to believe that there was one single Truth and that, if everyone had access to the same facts, we would all come to the same conclusions. I'm not so sure of that, now.  Truth may very well be a matter of perspective.  Do we owe our allegiance to the world, the race, the tribe, the family, or the self? Is Liberty more important than Security? Is a belief in a supernatural being a humble subjugation to that which is greater than the self, or a simple-minded
surrender to superstition? I would never trust anyone to answer those questions for me, and it feels hypocritical to think that I could answer them for anyone else.

So there is only what I think, right now, based upon what I know, who I am, and what is important to me. All of which is subject to change.

If there is a point to this, it would have to be that I wouldn't advise anyone to follow my path.  Perhaps they might learn from my travails, more as a process than a map.  Maybe not.  This is really about where I
need to go, in any case.  If anyone else can glean a nugget of value from my ramblings, that's just bonus.

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