As a first approximation, I define "belief" not as the object of believing (a dogma, a program, etc.) but as read more

As a first approximation, I define "belief" not as the object of believing (a dogma, a program, etc.) but as the subject's investment in a proposition, the act of saying it and considering it as true.

It is the test of a good religion whether you can joke about it.

It is the test of a good religion whether you can joke about it.

Various kinds of ideas can be classified by their relationship to the authentication process. There are ideas systematically prepared for read more

Various kinds of ideas can be classified by their relationship to the authentication process. There are ideas systematically prepared for authentication ("theories"), ideas not derived from any systematic process ("visions"), ideas which could not survive any reasonable authentication process ("illusions"), ideas which exempt themselves from any authentication process ("myths"), ideas which have already passed authentication processes ("facts"), as well as ideas known to have failed- or certain to fail- such processes ("falsehoods" - both mistakes and lies).

Left to themselves, things tend to go from bad to worse. Murphy's First Corollary If you tell the boss you read more

Left to themselves, things tend to go from bad to worse. Murphy's First Corollary If you tell the boss you were late for work because you had a flat tire, the next morning you will have a flat tire.

Oh the depth of both the wisdom and riches of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways beyond read more

Oh the depth of both the wisdom and riches of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways beyond understanding.

From childhood's hour I have not been
As others were; I have not seen
As others saw; I could not read more

From childhood's hour I have not been
As others were; I have not seen
As others saw; I could not bring
My passions from a common spring.
From the same source I have not taken
My sorrow; I could not awaken
My heart to joy at the same tone;
And all I loved, I loved alone.

I don't know of a single foreign product that enters this country untaxed, except the answer to prayer.

I don't know of a single foreign product that enters this country untaxed, except the answer to prayer.

In some awful, strange, paradoxical way, atheists tend to take religion more seriously than the practitioners.

In some awful, strange, paradoxical way, atheists tend to take religion more seriously than the practitioners.

Fortunately for themselves and for the world, nearly all men are cowards and dare not act on what they believe. read more

Fortunately for themselves and for the world, nearly all men are cowards and dare not act on what they believe. Nearly all our disasters come of a few fools having the "courage of their convictions.".