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“Aristotle’s First Principles” – Of Wolves and Ravens – Western Philosophy

/ Ed Raby Sr / 1 Comment

Happy Mani’s Day

Discussion:

In recent days, I have discovered that I enjoy all forms of ideas from philosophy.  I enjoy considering them anyway.  Western philosophy has more influence on people’s mindsets in the west than people know.  I recently came across Aristotle’s first principles in a YouTube Video I was looking at which I will provide below.

The idea of being able to categorize and break things down into basic or first principles is something I can definitely resonate with. I do this all the time with this blog’s journal posts where individual virtues are the First principles for me but then categorize them in Virtues relating to Love. Justice and Wisdom as well as Foundational, Business, and Self. This idea of breaking things down in their basic components was first introduced by Aristotle.

To the Wolves and Ravens:

“Feed the Wolves, but Listen to the Ravens first.”

Needs (Geri):

Taking this idea to the subject of needs this allows one to break down one’s needs into the most basic components – food clothing, and shelter could be said to be the first principles of needs. But also you could say social contact, security, and standing.  Well-being is the main category of need, but it can definitely be broken down further and further.

Wants (Freki):

I think the basic thing in the area of want would be that if you want something the simple act of breaking things down step by step is what Aristotle brings to the table. No person who has a goal that requires effort has not done this. I think for me this is the essence of First principles not only in analyzing the world around me but also achieving that which I want to achieve often requires this ‘breaking things down’ into smaller bites to get them done.

Reason (Huginn):

I find Aristotle’s approach to be very reasonable because it isn’t purely mental gymnastics but also considers relationships and emotions.  It involves these things because they exist. It isn’t black and white thinking but more of a type of thinking that allows one to categorize the nuances of life to better understand them.

Wisdom (Muninn):

I find this also leads to wisdom – that things once understood can be wisely engaged.

Conclusion:

This has been a couple weeks of thinking about this part of Western philosophy that I definitely engage and use but now understand better both why I do and what value it has. It is something to note.

I remain,

The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.

Skaal!!!

“Atheist Identity” – Odin’s Eye

/ Ed Raby Sr / Leave a comment

Happy Woden’s (Odin’s) Day.    

Discussion:

In the United States, the Christian majority has done a good job of demonizing the word ‘atheist’.  It is not as bad as in some countries where being an atheist can get you killed, but the notion that atheists are somehow immoral and can’t be trusted is a well known Christian mischaracterization. Our lack of belief n any god is what supposedly does this as who would keep you in check without an all-powerful big brother?

Recently I started a Youtube channel The Rabyd Atheist.  I know that this brings with it certain risks, but I am glad to have a pulpit of sorts again.  I have never been good without a cause to advocate for and now I feel this channel is starting to fill that need. It, however, comes with pushback and I understood that going into it.

Embracing the identity ‘atheist’ has been a liberating and scary proposition.  I know the hatred some people have for atheists and it is not always calm and peaceful. But I plan on doing my part to make a stronger case that atheists are compassionate loving people.

Time to Look Through the Eye:

“To see the truth, change one eye for another”

Meditation:

I meditate often on this puzzle and how it has changed me and I have to say it is one of the struggles I have.  Not that choosing to come out as an atheist wasn’t the right and correct thing to do; but that there are consequences that have to be carefully weighed.

Mystery:

The only mystery of self-identity is now – who am I that I am no longer a preacher. It has dogged me since I left my last church, but I think it will involve being an educator of some kind and an advocate. This mystery is now about how that is specifically going to play out.

Spirituality:

Spiritually speaking, I am very conscious now of my lack of relationships and need many more. I also need a greater sense of confidence that comes with my new purpose.  I do now, however, feel that this is less of a problem now that I seem to have taken some first steps down the path.

Conclusion:

My identity is forming, it is not quite perfectly clear what it will be. But it isn’t as cloudy as it used to be. I am happy about that.

I remain,

The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.

Skaal!!!

“Reforging the Sword” – Odin’s Eye

/ Ed Raby Sr / 2 Comments

Happy Woden’s (Odin’s) Day.    

Discussion:

In Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings Aragorn is the bearer of a broken blade that is reforged by the elves.  Andúril is the new weapon and becomes a central weapon in the struggle against evil as wielded by the last of the line of the kings of Gondor.

My recent work in the yOutube realm has placed me once more in the position of preacher and teacher and with a familiar topic – Bible and Theology.  I don’t speak of the bible being the sword that needs to be reforged so much as my knowledge and understanding of it.  Before I used this knowledge to try to build people’s faith.  I see this now as a flawed and broken weapon.

In a very real sense, I see this as reforging this knowledge into a new weapon.  A weapon to use against my former faith and no I don’t seem my turn from gospel preacher to atheist as good to bad but rather the other way around.  The real evil is religious people who do evil things in the name of God and the Bible.  In reforging my sword of Biblical knowledge, I plan on using it to fight this foe.

Time to Look Through the Eye:

“To see the truth, change one eye for another”

Meditation:

As I was meditating on this change, I realized that I might actually have to reach for and open my Bible on my shelf.  Something I have not done in well over a year and a half.  I found myself feeling old strength and knowledge flow back through my veins again as I used my knowledge of the bible and theology again but it was very different.  I can see the obvious flaws with the Bible and theology in ways I never saw before.

Mystery:

The mystery for me is to unravel the power of religion that it gains over people.  To do that I need to understand why people believe nonsense and how to combat it.  In the realm of Christianity, I can see why people want to believe.  Eternal life and some sense fo purpose are good motivators.  But if the promise is false and if one takes the time to determine their own purpose, then what is the need?

Spirituality:

For my own sense of purpose, I am developing a sense of being an advocate for atheist issues, in particular, the separation fo church and state.  It fits well with my political science degree and my religious background.  I feel in the sense of atheist spirituality I might have started to see the need here and between this blog, my YouTube Channel The Rabyd Atheist and my desire to either teach in the public school or work for non-profit that has anti-theist aims regarding church and state. I have figured out that I will probably never be happy unless I am advocating for a cause and/or educating.

Conclusion:

I suppose I am taking the material of my old beliefs and education and forging them into something new – a new better and freedom-loving something.  – a new sword of truth.  Forged from the materials and shards of the old one.  My own Andúril.

I remain,

The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.

Skaal!!!

“My YouTube Channel – The Rabyd Atheist” – The Rabyd Skald

/ Ed Raby Sr / Leave a comment

Happy Sif’s Day!

This last week I started a YouTube Channel as sort of a pulpit for my atheist activism.  The Rabyd Atheist will be my platform for talking about my personal journey from faith to reason, my theological problems with faith and my critiques as a skeptic of the Bible.  For you the readers of The Grey Wayfarer, I will be adding a post on Sif’s Day at 10 am with all the videos I posted that week. That way if you jsut want to wait until Sif’s day and watch them all, you can do so.

My main objectives for this Channel are talked about in my first three videos which I will provide the links below.  I am currently still looking for my first subscribers so if you have a YouTube account and want to subscribe to my channel please do so.  The first goal is to get monetized and I need 1000 subscribers to do that and people to watch about 4000 hours of content.  Then I can apply to make some money.

Posting this to my personal accounts also helps keep people in my family and freinds list from being so alarmed as it is more neutral, but I haven’t been secretive about my atheistic paganism for some time.  If you have been reading this blog you know.

The Rabyd Atheist – Introduction (first video) 

Welcome to the Rabyd Atheist

My Deconversion Story

Hope you enjoy it.

I remain,

The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard, and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.

Skaal!!!