Copyright: September 1999 Updated: 03/15/05
By Thomas E. Blaylock, Jr.
THE HONEST MAN'S PHILOSOPHY
CHAPTER 1
MEET THE AUTHOR
In our world today there is a great emphasis and pressure on us to accept or believe various types of superstitions, religions and philosophies. People have been taught Who says something is as important, if not more important, than What is said. People are taught to give great weight to authorities such as textbooks, priests, ministers, professors, presidents, politicians, holy books or Doctors of this or that. These authorities carry great weight with people.
The
problem, as a Clear Thinker sees it, is these authorities usually ask you to
believe them and their statements. Hardly ever do they ask you to check up on
them, nor do they ask you to Think. Usually, authorities ask you to Believe and
Obey. Many falsehoods are told by those who do not realize they are spreading
the lie. They have, themselves, accepted the falsehood as being the truth.
Therefore, one needs a standard (a yardstick) by which he can measure a claim
and accurately determine if the claim is true or false. This requires the use
of Honesty in thinking and the logical analyzing of What is claimed or said.
One must compare this claim with other similar or conflicting claims. One must
also compare the claim with other known facts and, always, with sound
acceptable morality. To be honest, one must examine Both “the pros and the
cons.”
Clear
Thinkers place very little importance on Who says something. The Clear Thinker
listens to What is said and asks these questions. “Is this information correct
or incorrect?” “Is this statement based on proven facts?” “Is this claim based
on some unproven or unprovable authority?” The truth is the truth no matter who
tells it or what their motive is for telling the truth. By the same token, a
lie is a lie even if a Deity were to tell it, or if the lie has some seemingly
"humane" purpose.
THE TRUTH IS THE TRUTH!
Which also means,
A LIE IS A LIE.
The
only way you can find out about the Truth of what I say is to Check and see if
I am telling you the truth. The only thing I ask you to do is to Read and Think
for yourself and check up on what I say. Please do not believe me! See for
yourself whether I am telling you the truth or not. Could anything be more
honest and fair than that? So now you know I am not afraid for you to check
these statements and claims. I Beg you to check up on me. Is that different -
or what?
Obviously,
I have asked you to do something you are not normally asked to do. I am asking
you to question, honestly doubt and check everything I say, even to the
smallest detail that interests you. I am asking you to Think for yourself. I
would never ask you to believe. You only have to believe something when logic
or proof of the statement does not exist. Try thinking. It is hard but honest
work. Thinking brings untold benefits like self-confidence, knowledge, wisdom,
independence, self-control and lots of self-satisfaction. Honest thinking
brings emotional and mental stability. It brings good health. It also brings a
great deal of happiness and peace of mind.
Honesty
and Clear Thinking are man's highest attributes and virtue!
Honest
thinking promotes Justice. Justice brings Freedom of mind and body. Freedom
produces Peace of mind and social unity. These things are very important in our
lives and in solving the problems of our personal lives and the world. I hope
you also think they are important.
Now,
who am I? You have already read a bit about how this philosophy developed in my
life. I am a seventy-two year old man. I am retired from the ownership and
twenty-four year operation of a paperback bookstore between Atlanta and
Chattanooga. For twenty-four years before that, I was a minister of the gospel.
I was with the Southern Baptist for thirteen years and then the Presbyterian
Church, U.S. for eleven years. I have been a full Clear Thinker for more than
thirty years.
I
was raised in a very conservative Christian home. My ninety five-year-old
mother is still alive, active and one of the best Christians I know. I have a
B.S. degree from Florida State University and a graduate degree from the New
Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. (Mother died in June of 2004.)
Chapter
40 is an additional short biography of my life as it relates to this
philosophy.
I
am tall, weigh one hundred and ninety-five pounds and have all my hair. I like
outdoor and indoor activities. I have children and grand children. I have had
failures and successes. I am in good health and I follow sensible moderate
guidelines in my personal life. I eat lots of fruits and vegetables. I live
with a very loving and caring lady and a kitten named Socks. I have given Socks
the Indian name of Crazy Lightning. My Lady gave Socks the Indian name of Rug
Runner. You probably know why. I do a lot of research and I like to write with
humor and provocation.
Do
I accept that super intelligent beings are in the universe? Yes.
Do
I accept that some religion or philosophy is correct? Yes.
Do
I accept that our beliefs help define our actions and future? Yes.
Do
I accept that this book will impact your life? Yes.
Do
I accept that Gods work miracles? Find out! Read on!
Now
that you know I am no smarter than you and have no special authority, I will
use a phrase with which you may be comfortable.
"Come, let us
reason together."
