Prisoner's Dilemma

Anyone who's ever heard of game theory knows the basic principle - subjective evaluation of risk/reward and probable actions of other agents (players). Oddly enough, with humans' naturally skewed risk aversion, this (per theory) usually ends in the worst possible case for the agents in the classic scenario.

[If you're not familiar with it, see wikipedia...]

Then comes the Golden Rule - do unto others as you'd have them do unto you. Treat them the way you want to be treated.

What if I can't trust others to do their part in that system?
What if I'm kind to them, but they won't be kind to me?
What if my mercy is not returned?

What if I have no faith in other people? What if I cannot trust that they will also be kind?

Well it's pretty simple - without faith, I choose not to extend kindness to others.

With faith, I am choosing to extend kindness. This is an ongoing paradigm shift for me, and I would imagine most people - not that we are absent of kindness, but that kindness and cooperation is not our default position.

With faith, I bear fruit. (Yep, that's a biblical reference.) Faith without works is dead. To be Christian is to be kind - choosing not to extend kindness is unchristian. If you are not kind, your faith is not active, if present at all.

(Though I would admit a practical qualification that kindness is not always exactly what the receiver wants, rather what would be in their best interest.)

Continuing to ponder...

Global Warming

So, I'm still skeptical of "global warming", "climate change" and all these things. (Quoted not to discredit them, but to recognize their political evolution.)

I'm American. Sorry. Maybe skepticism in my blood, or maybe it's in the water. (I would tie it more to individualism, which is cultural.)

But I'm also a Christian - the kind that cares about people.

The warnings about the potential suffering and loss of life related - by some extension - to changes in climate are not falling on deaf ears, not by me anyway. I understand the risk, I recognize the need for precautionary measures.

I don't buy the party line, and I'm not even sure I believe the climate is changing the way they say it is... but I'm not interested in people suffering as a result of my decisions.

I also like the beauty of the world around me.

This is a paradigm shift for me. It's been a slow progression over the last three or four years, but here it is. I support preservation of the natural earth as we know it.

This comes in the company of a new grasp of my bigger-picture purpose in life. I'm not prepared to detail that purpose in full at this time, but suffice to say it's the result of reviewing my talents, in the common sense as well as the biblical.

It boils down to this: my first priority is to do good unto the people around me. Within that, there are sub-priorities:

1. Help them survive today.
   
2. Help them spare enough to survive tomorrow.
3. Help them support themselves. (Teach a man to fish...)
4. Help them support others.
   
5. Help them love eachother.
   
6. Help them with the metaphysical things. (Eternal life, happiness, etc.)
   

This is the basis of my purpose. It draws much on which to meditate.

Converting people to my belief system isn't a priority. Religiosity isn't my priority. Loving people is. It's easier for them to love when they're not suffering drought because their river dried up.

So that's it. Don't color me green, color me caring.

True Ninja

"The true ninja is a master of himself and his environment". 'Tis a quote from Ninja Turtles, often attributed to Leonardo, but I believe Master Splinter said it first.

Also, Isa 30:21, "You will hear a voice behind you saying 'This is the way, walk ye in it.'"

I know the first steps of some changes I want to see in my own life. Some are great and some are small. I hear that voice behind me. I must decide and take action. I must discipline my mind, refine my inclinations, focus my efforts, act decisively.

First be, then do. A battle is won first by will, then by might, then by discipline.

I've become entrenched in practical matters, logistics, paying the bills, pursuing long-delayed side projects. I will need to take time entirely separate from these, for introspection, meditation, and self-determination.

I believe it's time to pursue the matters I've discussed previously on this blog, but it won't be free. Some involves accepting parts of identity that I have previously ignored, some involves disengaging parts that I have previously embraced. Innovating identity.