Reason and Romanticism

Reason and Romanticism – by P. K. Odendaal – May 2017.

The world is in a flux of changing moods and fortunes, always ready to balance the extremes originating from animate and inanimate things which are imposed upon it. In fact it is very finely balanced. If you take the forces in the Universe vying between contraction and expansion of it, you will find its equilibrium up to almost sixty decimals! It is not much different in other spheres of the Universe or Creation.

Fantasy is not reality … so what!

Fantasy is not reality … so what! – by P.K. Odendaal – February 2017

You see things (which are); and you say 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say 'Why not?' George Bernard Shaw.

Ever since I have been ‘poisoned’ by G.K. Chesterton, I am trying to get to grips with the difference between science and fantasy, and the more I think about it the less I understand it.

God and Science – a lecture

God and Science – a lecture – by P.K. Odendaal – August 2016.

(partially rewritten 27 August 2016)

I have been asked to give a lecture on the topic ‘God and Science’ by someone from the University of the Third Age – also called U3A. Of course I will jump at such an opportunity, as I am also actively involved in the University of All Ages at … you guessed it, my blog.

Typically, with me and my big mouth, I told the person that he is asking me to only speak on one subject, and that is God, and that the words ‘God and Science’ is a repetition of objects or subjects.

The law is an ass

The law is an ass - by P.K. Odendaal - July 2106

We all know this adage, but do we know its ramifications?

One of its most basic corollaries is: people who are agents or protectors of the law are also asses - or in the words of Dogberry (from Shakespeare): But, masters, remember that I am an ass; though it be not written down, yet forget not that I am an ass.

A few notes on discordant notes

A few notes on discordant notes – by P.K. Odendaal – July 2016

It struck me recently that what we say and do are really music that emanates from our bodies, tongues, souls, hearts, minds and spirit. If we think that we communicate only verbally, we make a big mistake. In fact, our communication from our sub-conscious mind and spirit into the meta-physical world is much more profound, simple and truthful than what comes from the subjective half-truths emanating from our mouths.

Liberating ourselves

Liberating ourselves - by P.K. Odendaal - July 2016

 

Abstract from the film Chicken run:

Mrs. Tweedy:         
It's all in your head, Mr Tweedy. Say it.
Mr. Tweedy:          
It's all in me head. It's all in me head.
Mrs. Tweedy:         
You keep telling yourself that, because I don't want to hear another word about it. Is that clear?
Mr. Tweedy:          
Yes, luv. But you know that ginger one...?
Mrs. Tweedy:         
They're chickens, you dolt! Apart from you, they're the most stupid creatures on this planet! They don't plot, they don't scheme, and they are not organised!

 

What better analogy to use to depict our own bondage, ignorance and hopelessness when we think we are not free. The film as you know is all about these chickens who want freedom and take this one in a million chance that they can escape the chicken pie machine, and in the end they execute their own liberation. I am not quite sure that the writer of the script did not have this deeper meaning of getting out of bondage in mind.

Pain and anger

Pain and anger – by P.K.Odendaal – April 2016

The ideas which I wish to explore today relate to emotions and I wish to explore two aspects of it:

·         Is it possible that the intensity of emotions might follow the curve posited by Malthus in his Malthusian Growth Model?

·         Can one emotion be replaced by another emotion as a surrogate such as when we replace sugar with honey?

These are two weird and totally unconnected ideas, so we must accept that they are valid just becasue they are weird. It is only the obvious ideas which turn out to be fiction.

To explore that we need to know what the Malthusian Growth Model is.

We become like the things we touch

We become like the things we touch – by P.K. Odendaal – March 2016

I received this adage by inspiration in a vision, and not wanting to let the opportunity of understanding it better slip away unguarded, I decided to pursue the meaning of it as it impacts our lives. I must admit that after contemplating it for some time, it opened new vistas and perspectives far beyond my imagination or expectations and I regard it as a truth which may add new meaning and purpose in our lives. In this article I will try to address some of its more direct implications, inept as I am to realize its full meaning.

The Truth is not Politically correct

The Truth is Politically Incorrect – by P.K. Odendaal – January 2016

It is time someone stands up and expose these hypocritical and paranoid frauds.

To tell a liar that he lies or a moron that he is a moron is not politically correct. It is now expected of us to say that a jihadist self-bomber might have acted just a little bit kinder towards his victims. Maybe he should have put their execution to the vote and let them also participate in that vote. The two victims having democratic rights in the vote against the twenty jihadists who want to kill them. Now, that would be politically very correct indeed.

Marriage – or Forward to the Past

Marriage – or Forward to the Past – by P.K. Odendaal – December 2015

 

Whether it is forward to the past or back the future, I do not really know or care, because what is important is that we do not want to go here – a place we call today. I mean with regard to marriage, the family, education and cultural and social affairs. We have seen enough and we have had enough. Who will save us from ourselves?

When I wrote A Parody on Marriage, there were just too many questions, idiosyncrasies, pretension and contradictions to keep a rational person sane in the dichotomies which developed from the conclusions. So, I had to rethink and relive the whole thing. What was clear, however, was that the way of choosing a spouse today was just not working anymore and was leading us nowhere, if such a destination could be found at all. In fact, the remedies we are applying to save our marriages are exactly those which destroy it.