Scientific Facts, Scientific Assumptions, and Falsehoods: We Sometimes Confuse Them

Many (most?) of us at least occasionally confuse scientific facts with scientific assumptions and/or scientific falsehoods.

Even reading something in a science textbook, such as the textbooks pictured below, doesn't make something a scientific fact.

                                       

To help make the distinction between them clear, in the next section I provide one example of each of the three, regarding the planet Earth. 

One Example of Each 

Scientific Fact: The Earth is a globe that revolves around the sun. Observations by astronomers, astronauts, satellites, etc., offer corroboration for this. It’s an accepted fact. However, to complicate things, even facts are subject to debate. The Flat Earth Society[1] offers some evidence to dispute the Earth being a globe on its website.

Scientific Assumption: The Earth is billions of years old. You can call this a hypothesis, or even a theory, that is well supported by available evidence. However, there is inadequate proof at the present time to call it a fact. Quality human records only go back centuries, or at best thousands of years. Any theory about time before then is based on assumptions about constants, constant changes, etc. And I’m ignoring the possibility of time travel to keep it simple. A key method used to date the Earth at over 4 billion years old is radiometric dating of rocks based on those assumptions of constant changes, as reported by articles on LiveScience,[2] Space,[3] and other places. What if those constants aren’t really constant over billions of years? 

Scientific Falsehood: The Earth is currently the hottest it’s ever been. Reputable scientists all consider that totally false, despite what you may read in news reports. Scientists actually believe the opposite. The scientific assumption is that the Earth was at its hottest in its early days, molten, as reported on Climate[4] and numerous other website articles. Scientists feel that the Earth has generally been cooling ever since, though there have been ups and downs. Furthermore, our planet is expected to continue to cool in the upcoming millions and billions of years, assuming the planet continues to exist. A 2022 WeatherChannel website[5] article even states that “Earth’s interior is cooling faster than expected.”

One More Example of Each

I hope the above three illustrations help make the distinction between scientific facts, assumptions, and falsehoods clearer. I’ll provide one more example of each, regarding the Earth’s temperature.

Scientific Fact: The Earth has generally been warming since the Industrial Revolution in the late 1800s. Scientists have fairly accurate records of many temperatures on Earth for the last century or two. They show a fairly consistent warming trend since the late 1800s with a few exceptions such as a cooling period in the 1970s. A NASA[6] article states that “Air temperatures on Earth have been rising since the Industrial Revolution.”

Scientific Assumption: The Earth’s warming in the last century or two is due to human activities such as the Industrial Revolution. The NASA[6] article cited earlier notes that “the preponderance of evidence indicates that human activities . . . are mostly responsible.” Yes, there’s strong evidence to support human causation. But it’s impossible to totally account for all other factors to make it certain that humanity’s Industrial Revolution is the cause. Other factors could be contributing in ways we don’t know about yet.

Scientific Falsehood: If we don’t make changes, the Earth will continue growing hotter and hotter. As mentioned earlier, there’s an expected general cooling trend in geologic terms of millions of years.

What Will Happen to Earth's Temperatures in Coming Decades and Centuries?

The short answer is that humans don't know. But the heating of the Earth may not continue in the shorter term of decades and centuries. Effects on rainfall, plant growth, etc., of the current increases in temperature projected over the future are subjective. A 2016 NASA[7] article noted that “for now” global warming is benefitting plant growth. 

That NASA article referenced a "study published in the journal Nature Climate Change." The Nature Climate Change journal[8] article states that the study found that "during 1982-2009" that greening increased ". . . .over 25% to 50% of the global vegetated area, whereas less than 4% of the globe shows decreasing. . . ."

Scientists don’t know yet what all the long-term effects will be.

One factor that may impact things is that humans will likely greatly reduce using fossil fuels either voluntarily or due to declining supply over the next century.

One Natural Occurrence That Greatly Affected Climate

Remember that unexpected things like earthquakes, volcano eruptions, etc., can impact our environment in ways that surprise scientists. For example, a volcanic eruption in the early 1800s led to such massive volcanic debris worldwide that 1816 became known as the year without a summer in some areas, with extremely cold temperatures.

One of the numerous articles about this volcanic eruption is on the United States National Park Service website.[9] That article states “the eruption of Mount Tambora in Indonesia in 1815 triggered a change in the global climate.” The article goes on to state, “The cloud blocked sunlight from reaching the earth and changed the global climate by 2-7 degrees Fahrenheit." The article also states, "in 1816, summer never came to the New England states."

Let’s Seek to Be Critical Readers, Listeners, and Viewers

I remember decades ago being urged to use plastic bags instead of paper ones to save trees. I sought to do so. Then I was urged to use recyclable ones instead of plastic to reduce oil consumption and plastic waste in the ocean. Then during COVID-19 some urged us to avoid using reusable bags to help reduce the spread of disease.

Changes often lead to unforeseen consequences. Solar energy is touted as clean energy. I'm glad its use is increasing. But many minerals must be mined from the ground to produce solar panels. High winds and storms can damage solar panels. Furthermore, large scale conversion of the sun’s energy to electricity via solar power may lead to unforeseen consequences we lack knowledge of yet.

Let’s seek to be critical readers who don’t always accept the latest fad or “scientific fact” as fact without seeking to think for ourselves logically.

However, while I lack knowledge about the future of global warming or of ocean levels, I wouldn’t want to move to a low-lying island in the ocean.

I'm not a scientist, and even scientists can't accurately predict the future. But it does appear that sea levels are rising due to melting glaciers and increasing temperatures and likely will continue to for some years at least. How many years? Only God knows?

NOTE: This article was last revised October 18, 2023.

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[1] The Flat Earth Society website; webpage accessed October 17, 2023; https://theflatearthsociety.org/home/index.php/about-the-society/faq

[2] Freedman, Ethan; “How do we know how old Earth is?”; LiveScience.com; April 15, 2023; webpage accessed October 17, 2023; https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/how-do-we-know-how-old-earth-is

[3] Tillman, Nola Taylor; “How old is Earth?”; Space.com; August 20, 2021; webpage accessed October 17, 2023; https://www.space.com/24854-how-old-is-earth.html

[4] Scott, Michon and Lindsey, Rebecca; “What’s the hottest Earth’s ever been?”; Climate.gov; June 18, 2020, but first published in August 2014; webpage viewed October 17, 2023; https://www.climate.gov/news-features/climate-qa/whats-hottest-earths-ever-been#:~:text=Because%20no%20rocks%20on%20Earth,Kelvin%20(3%2C680%C2%B0F).

 [5] Dixit, Mrigakshi; “Earth’s Interior Is Cooling Faster Than Previously Estimated! Here’s Why It Matters”; TWC India; January 19, 2022; Weather.com; webpage accessed October 17, 2023; https://weather.com/en-IN/india/science/news/2022-01-19-earth-interior-is-cooling-faster-than-previously-estimated

[6] “World of Change: Global Temperatures”; NASA.gov; webpage accessed October 17, 2023; https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/world-of-change/global-temperatures

[7] Reiny, Samson; “CO2 is making Earth greener—for now”; NASA; April 26, 2016; webpage accessed October 17, 2023 and again October 18, 2023; https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2436/co2-is-making-earth-greenerfor-now/#:~:text=Studies%20have%20shown%20that%20increased,chief%20culprit%20of%20climate%20change

[8] Zhu, Z., Piao, S., Myneni, R. et al.; "Greening of the Earth and its drivers"; Nature Climate Change, 6, 791-795 (2016); April 25, 2016; webpage accessed October 18, 2023; https://www.nature.com/articles/nclimate3004#citeas

[9] “1816 – The Year Without Summer”; National Park Service website; last updated April 4^th, 2023; webpage accessed October 17, 2023; https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/1816-the-year-without-summer.htm#:~:text=1816%2C%20also%20known%20as%20the,change%20in%20the%20global%20climate.

 

What Is a Christian?

As I see it, a true Christian is one who puts obeying the highest righteous authority, God, first, regardless of what the Democratic Party, Republican Party, Masonic lodge, church pastors, or any other human organization or person supports.

It means putting God above the government. It means putting God above family. And yes, it means putting God above oneself.

And it means loving others, even one's enemies if one has any.

Is anyone really a true Christian? Perhaps not. But the closer each of us comes to being a true Christian, seeking to practice true Christianity, the better off things will be, as I see it.

I discuss my concept of authentic Christianity in my book, True Christianity: It May Not Be What You Think, third edition. Below is a photo of the front cover of that book.

Closing Thoughts

Readers interested in learning various details about Christianity and its history can do so by reading  numerous articles online, including the article "Christianity"on Britannica.com.

If someone put a gun to my head, asked me if I was a Christian and said that they would kill me if I was, I like to think that I'd reply something like "I try hard to do what is right, to be a follower of the best teachings, but I fall short of being a true follower of the book, a true Christian. What do you think I should do to do better?"

But I think one never really knows how one will behave in a particular situation until one faces it. In reality, I might panic and deny being a Christian three times, just as Peter is recorded in the Bible as three times denying knowing Jesus.

Finally, as I state near the end of my book, true Christianity may not be what I think it is either. I don't claim perfect insight into God or Christianity. God deserves the credit to the extent I succeed, and I am responsible for my failings. All any of us can do is seek to do our best and to trust God for the rest.

NOTE:

This article was last revised and updated on April 25, 2023, from a Google Blogger article originally published in 2015.

How Safe Are FDIC-Insured Bank Deposits?

How safe are bank deposits insured by the FDIC? The answer is open to debate.

Furthermore, I'm not an expert on it. But I believe that FDIC-insured deposits are safe under almost all circumstances.

Some Reasons FDIC-Insured Deposits Are Reasonably Safe

Some basics about how the U.S. banking system operates are discussed on FDIC webpages, including information about the FDIC insuring individual deposits up to $250,000 in member banks.

While the money directly available immediately to the FDIC to pay depositors isn't enough to cover all potential losses if every FDIC-insured bank failed at once, such a catastrophe is unlikely.

Furthermore, if large-scale bank closings happened, more money could be appropriated by Congress.

But perhaps much more important is that in most scenarios, when a bank with FDIC-protected deposits fails and the government takes over that bank, the bank still has significant assets of various types, even though those assets may be exceeded by liabilities.

Even a failed bank would typically hold some government bonds, some loans that are still being paid on by borrowers, etc. The revenue from these would be expected to be sufficient to pay the $250,000 per depositor.    

Therefore, if a bank fails and the government takes it over, the bank likely has some value. The government may sell the bank to another bank to keep it open.

Even if the bank doesn't reopen, the government likely can sell the bank's remaining assets for enough to pay the up to $250,000 for one account to each depositor that is guaranteed by FDIC insurance.

Indeed, there might be enough revenue from selling bank assets to repay all or the majority of the bank depositors' money that is over $250,000.

In bank failures with FDIC-insured deposits, the small depositors are not likely to suffer losses.

However, larger depositors may lose money. Furthermore, the bank(s)' owners, its stockholders, would almost certainly lose money, maybe all their investment.

The Federal Reserve System

Local banks are served by the Federal Reserve Banks similar to the way local banks serve individuals and businesses. A Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis article discusses the Federal Reserve Bank system.

Among other things, these Federal Reserve Banks serve to help out local banks when needed in various ways.

Below is a June 20, 2022, photo of an identifying plaque on the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago building.

These Federal Reserve Banks can provide loans to retail banks to help with liquidity, etc., subject to government regulations. 

Closing Thoughts

It's good to diversify one's assets. Keep some money in cash, some in banks, and some in other forms if reasonably possible.

But depositing up to $250,000 per individual in an account in an FDIC-insured bank is likely one of the safest ways to invest U.S. currency. And most of us, including me, have far less than $250,000 in banks.

However, this article just expresses my opinions. Please don't blame me if my views turn out to be wrong.

Seek information from various sources and seek to make the best decision you can for your own particular situation.

I'm a firm believer that if we seek to put the highest righteous power, God, first that things will work out well.

NOTE:

This article was last revised on March 28, 2023. 

Christ as Son of Man: Jesus Credited God Rather Than Claiming to Be God

Jesus accomplished many great “miracles” according to the New Testament gospels. But he credited God for them rather than claiming credit himself. Was Jesus God or only a man seeking to obey God?

Many Christians consider it blasphemy to imply that Jesus was only a man. Fellow Christians, please seek to read this article completely with an open mind before accusing this writer of heresy.

The word Trinity is not in the Bible. Furthermore, numerous Bible scriptures indicate that Jesus was only a human being rather than being God. I reference some of those scriptures in a subsection below.

It is sad that disputes continue over whether or not Jesus was God. Fortunately, the more time Christians devote to loving and caring for others, the less time is wasted in divisive debates.

When I was in elementary school one of the boys I played with told me that his dad said that the relationship between Jesus and God was similar to the relationship between Saint Nicholas and Santa Claus. I think the boy said that Jesus was a great man, as was Saint Nicholas, but that the idea that Jesus was God was fictional, as were the tales we typically read about Santa Claus. I think that comparison has a significant amount of truth in it.

Let’s make the world a better place by helping others. Let’s follow Paul’s advice in II Timothy 2:14 to “. . . strive not about words to no profit. . .” (KJV).

Unity and the Trinity

The issue of the Trinity is one of the biggest obstacles to accepting Christianity for a lot of nonbelievers, including many in other major monotheistic religions, such as Islam and Judaism. Even a few Christian denominations (such as Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons) do not accept the doctrine of the Trinity.

Personally, I became a Christian as an adult by reading the New Testament prayerfully with an open mind. During my reading, I saw no mention of the Trinity. Even after reading the entire New Testament, I did not understand how Jesus could be God.

If we acquire a better understanding of what the Bible says, maybe we can then better help unite Christians and become more effective in witnessing to nonbelievers. I think the Bible clearly demonstrates Jesus' humanity.

Who knows? If Jesus had more closely followed his own instructions to love even one's enemies, instead of turning over tables in the temple and driving out the buyers and sellers, he might have experienced a longer ministry. (See Mark 11:15–16, Matthew 21:12, and Luke 19:45 for this story). Even if Jesus' indignation was justified, I believe it could have been exhibited more effectively. That violent action was a key factor in the series of events that led to his crucifixion soon afterward, in my opinion.

I cited the above story from the three synoptic gospels. However, John 2:13–15 contains a similar description.

John's gospel is probably the book used most often by Christians who seek to “prove” the truth of the Trinity. To help individuals appreciate how even Christians can reject the divinity of Jesus, I will discuss several quotes from the book of John. Many consider John to be the greatest book in the Bible.

Analyzing Some Quotes from the Book of John

In the book of John and the other gospels, numerous references are made to Jesus praying. I never understood why Christians considered Jesus God if Jesus needed to pray.

I do not believe God needs to pray. If God did pray, whom would God pray to? Yet, Jesus prayed regularly. Thus, rather than being God, Jesus was a man, God’s son, who prayed to God frequently. John 17 cites one of Jesus’ many prayers. John 17:3 states, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (KJV) Therefore, Jesus was “sent” by God rather than being God.

Also, instead of calling himself God, Jesus referred to himself as “Son of man” (KJV). He did this numerous times in John and the other gospels. Of course, this does not mean he is not also a “Son of God,” since the two terms are not mutually exclusive. In fact, God is the creator of us all and in a sense the Father of us all.

As John 1:12 states, all believers receive “. . . power to become the sons of God . . .” (KJV) Therefore, we Christians are all sons of God. A major difference exists, however, between being a “son of God” and being God. And John 3:16 apparently quotes Jesus as stating that he is God's son, rather than being God.

John details many “miracles” Jesus performed: raising the dead, healing the sick, feeding multitudes with very limited food, etc. Jesus did not claim to do these on his own, though. Instead, Jesus credited God his Father. Jesus stated clearly that he could do nothing were it not for God his Father, stating in John 5:19 “. . . The Son can do nothing of himself . . .” (KJV)

Jesus makes it even clearer that he is a man and not God in John 8:40, which states, “But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God . . .” (KJV) Jesus is only a man telling the truth about God—though I might nominate Jesus as the most influential man who ever lived, the man most obedient to God.

After John reports about Jesus being crucified and resurrected, John states in John 20:17 that Jesus told Mary to “. . . go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.” (KJV) Thus, he is not calling himself God, stating instead that he is going to God.

Even though Jesus was not God, as a righteous man seeking to obey God, a son of God, Jesus could pray to God his Father and receive guidance through the Holy Spirit. Therefore, Jesus in a sense relayed the words of God his Father and spoke for God on many occasions. Therefore, Jesus says in John 14:9 “. . . he that hath seen me hath seen the Father . . .” (KJV) So though Jesus was not God, in a sense those who saw and heard Jesus were often seeing and hearing God, as the Holy Spirit directed Jesus’ thoughts, words, and actions. In that sense, Jesus was one with God.

In John 12:49, John records Jesus as stating clearly that God directed his words, when Jesus is quoted as stating: “For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.” (KJV)

It is important to point out as this discussion about John ends that it is always dangerous to quote scripture, because it is very easy to take verses out of context to mislead people. Also, for unbelievers the Bible is not a credible source, so what the Bible says may be irrelevant to them. My purpose in using the quotes I cited from John was to demonstrate that the concept of Jesus being only a man rather than being God is well supported in scripture.

Persons who seek to use John or other gospels to “prove” Jesus’ divinity seem in this writer’s opinion to be only citing a few select scriptures out of context, in contrast to the numerous scriptures that refer to Jesus’ humanity. Perhaps 70 or 80 or more times in the KJV Jesus apparently calls himself “Son of man,” in addition to other references to himself as “Son” or “Son of God.” Does Jesus even once call himself God?

Closing Thoughts and Recommendations

Fellow Christians, please consider what John states on the issue rather than being too dogmatic in support of the doctrine of the Trinity. The book of John provides much evidence to oppose the idea of Jesus being God. You can find lots of additional evidence in the other gospels, as well as in the other books of the Bible—if you take the time to do so.

I hope this article has helped persons who believe in the Trinity to rethink their beliefs or at least appreciate how other Christians can believe differently. Maybe this article can also help Christians interact more effectively with Muslims, Jews, and others who accept monotheism, but cannot comprehend the Trinity.

Even more important, if we Christians focus on various areas of ministry to others such as feeding the poor, caring for the disabled, helping widows and orphans, and doing other good deeds, persons will respect us and have a positive view about our faith. They will love us more for our actions than for our words.

Our acts of service then present opportunities to share the gospel. Still, we must be sure to do so in a loving way that unites the faith on its common beliefs, rather than teaching a divisive doctrine to potential new believers that may lead them to either reject the faith or to unfairly condemn those of other denominations and faiths.

Please, let’s demonstrate love for all as Jesus taught. Remember, Jesus is recorded as commanding his followers to “Love your enemies” in part of Matthew 5:44 and Luke 6:27 (both KJV). By demonstrating compassionate love we can attain joy and success that lead others to ask the source of our fulfillment.

I find this to be true. People regularly compliment me on being so happy and ask why I am so happy. Then I can witness in love about the gospel.

I know, love, and respect many Christians who espouse strong beliefs in the Trinity. It is even possible (despite my disbelief) that Jesus really is God through some miracle of God.

But, as we spread the gospel, let’s all seek to avoid needless controversies over the doctrine of the Trinity. Let's avoid stating that the Trinity is Biblical, when the Bible doesn't mention it even once. Instead, let's use God’s words to build up others! When we do, we will enjoy God’s blessings!

I hope you found this article educational and beneficial. If so, maybe you want to read more of my views on true Christianity by reading a preview of my book True Christianity: It May Not Be What You Think, Third Edition, on Amazon, or by ordering a copy from Amazon or a bookstore. Below is a photo of a JPG file of the book cover.

NOTE: This article is adapted/reprinted from chapter 8 “Jesus as Son of Man” in my book True Christianity: It May Not Be What You Think, Third Edition, which is copyright © 2017, 2019 by James E. Gibson.

U.S. 2022 Midterm Election Results: Cooperation or Gridlock?

It would be great if Democrats and Republicans would seek to listen to one another, learn from one another, and seek to implement the best ideas of each party to achieve quality results.

I'm a registered independent voter, and have been since I registerd to vote in 1976. I'd love for biased, partisan, party politics to cease.

That may be a vision that won’t come to pass. But if there is no cooperation, the new Congress that takes office in January may not accomplish much. The reason? After the 2022 midterm elections, Democrats will control the Senate by a small margin, but the Republicans will control the House by s small margin.

Without some cooperation, legislation passed by one party in one chamber may be doomed to defeat in the other. Will this lead the two parties to constructively cooperate to achieve success, compromise on integrity, or will the divided Congress lead to gridlock? It remains to be seen.

Unanimity and Mavericks

Actually, the Democrats will only control the Senate if they all (or all but one if they win Georgia's runoff election) agree to vote together. Similarly, the Republicans will only control the House of Representatives if they all (or virtually all depending on how a few undecided races end up) vote together.

A few maverick Senators and Representatives in each party who fail to vote along party lines may wield significant power. This could lead to favorable treatment for their pet projects at the expense of good government or it could lead to constructive cooperation.

The Breakdown of Congress By Party

Much remains unknown about the upcoming Congress.

The June 22, 2017 early morning photo below shows the U.S. Capitol Building where Congress meets. I hope their meetings are productive in the 118th Congress that convenes in January 2023, but divisions may make that unlikley.

For simplicity, the two independent Senators who caucus with Democrats are considered Democrats. Therefore, as it stands now, in the new Congress in 2023 Democrats will have 50 Senate seats, Republicans 49, with Georgia set for a runoff to decide the one remaining race. Even if Republicans win Georgia, Vice President Kamala Harris will have the tie-breaking vote for Democrats.

The Republicans will control the House of Represenstatives by a small margin. As of today, November 20, 2022, according to Politico’s projections the Republicans have won 218 seats, Democrats 212, with 5 remaining undecided. CNN reports 219 Republican wins, 212 Democratic wins, with 4 undecided.

Cooperation or Gridlock?

Sadly, gridlock may be more likely than cooperation, based on recent past history. This may lead to a Congress unable to agree and pass much significant legislation. Even worse, both chambers may compromise in an unconstructive way that leads to legislation that provides some of the bad ideas of each party, as mentioned earlier. We need our Senators and Represenatives to be mavericks with integrity that stand up for what is correct.

Furthermore, we voters need to seek to hold persons in Congress accountable. Obviously the nation is deeply divided. But it's not too late to listen, learn, and seek the best for the future. I hope our Congressional members do so, and we citizens seek to hold them accountable when they fail to.

What About 2024 Elections?

Many of our nation's current leaders and prospective 2024 leaders are beyond the traditional retirement age for typical careers. President Joe Biden turned 80 years old today, November 20, 2022, and plans to run for reelection in 2024 as it stands now. Last week former President Donald Trump, age 76, announced he plans to run for President again in 2024. Other candidates are likely. Much can change between now and 2024, but a Reuters article last week listed some potential contenders for President in 2024.

U.S. Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell is 80 years old. Democratic House leader Nancy Pelosi, age 82, announced she will step down as the Democratic leader in the House of Representatives though remain as a Representative in the 118th Congress that convenes in January.

In the 2024 elections more than twice as many Senats seats currrently held by Democrats will be up for election as Republican seats. This seems to increase Republican chances of taking control of the Senate in 2024, especially if several incumbent Democrats choose not to run for reeelection. Age-related issues could impact some prominent persons in both parties.

It would be great if sometime between now and the 2024 election the bitter divisions in the country are resolved in a constructive way. I hope and pray so. But that remains unknown.

Enjoy God's Gift of Simple Pleasures: Find Joy

Joy often comes from simple pleasures--not complex, expensive events.

Persons Today

Persons today sometimes seem much busier than during my childhood, which was primarily during the 1960s and 1970s. Yet they don’t necessarily seem happier. Depression and suicide seem to be much more common based on news reports I've seen, but accurate statistics are hard to get.

My guess (and I admit it is only a guess) is that the stresses of too many commitments are a contributing factor. For example, youths today may often be so active in various things that they lack a lot of unorganized free time to enjoy the simple pleasures of life. Bullying and social media abuse negatively impact young people too, as I see it.

When free time occurs, in my view, both children and adults (including me) now typically devote too much time to cell phones and social media.

Video games, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, texting, binge watching television, etc., take up much time in the lives of many children (and adults) today.

Even worse, persons frequently seek artificial highs via alcoholic beverages, other drugs, gambling, pornography, junk food, casual sex, etc.

Some of the items mentioned above are best avoided totally. The others need to be used in moderation.

I’m not a medical professional or a dietician, so I can’t give medical or dietary advice. But as I see it, we need to be grounded in reality and to devote significant time and energy to real world activities--and to real people too--experiencing and enjoying fun.

Simple Pleasures

Let’s seek to experience the joy of simple pleasures.

What do I mean by simple pleasures? Below I’ll discuss numerous examples.

* Taking a Nature Hike and/or Visiting a Park:
Taking a nature hike, enjoying the fresh air, sunshine, and beauty of the trees, shrubs, flowers, birds, etc., can be exhilarating. Even in cities there are typically parks with hiking trails, playground equipment, sports fields, etc. Rural areas often offer nature trails. The October 23, 2022 photo below shows part of a small park near my apartment in Lexington, Kentucky. Lexington features numerous small parks, as well as some medium size and large ones.

* Meditation, Prayer, and Study of Uplifting Scripture:
I’ve experienced marvelous peace and wonderful spiritual insights during time spent meditating, praying, and studying the Bible and other quality devotional materials. Some of my best ideas come during these periods of quiet time. Quiet time is often lacking in this era of television, radio, Internet, and wireless earbuds. Even if you’re not religious, seek to enjoy some quiet time.

* Reading a Good Book:
One can become so engrossed in reading a quality novel or nonfiction book that one loses track of time and other surroundings. I’ve loved to read a wide variety of things since childhood. It’s fun and can be educational too. Check books out free from a library for a cheap simple pleasure. But reading is not everything, and I confess one of my weaknesses is probably reading too much.

* Listening to Uplifting Music:
Listening to Christmas carols, uplifting Christian music, contemporary songs with an upbeat theme, etc., can make one happy and inspire one. For me music is a sideline rather than a centerpiece. But I enjoy it at times, especially Christmas music during November and December. Again, moderation is key. Listening to music excessively is a way to retreat from reality.

* Playing Games:
I’ve experienced lots of fun over the years playing a wide variety of games. Chess, checkers, Monopoly, Rook, rummy, tag, hide-and-go-seek, throwing a Frisbee, and many others are possibilities. Lots of games are cheap or free. And you can even invent your own game if you like. These old-fashioned games may permit more discussion and a more relaxed pace than video games.

* Watching an Inspiring Movie:
Viewing too many movies or the wrong ones is a harmful waste of time. But I encourage you to watch quality, inspiring movies in moderation. If you own a television hooked up to a DVD player, you can probably check out movies and entertaining documentary DVDs free from a local library. Some are available for free download on the Internet too. You may also be able to watch them on a classic movie channel if you have cable TV. “AFI’s 100 Most Inspiring Movies” from the American Film Institute is a nice list of movies to consider. For a shorter listing reflecting my personal bias, see “My Ten Favorite Movies: One Viewer’s Top Films.” But watch quality movies in moderation as part of a balanced life, don’t binge watch.

* Conversing With Friends and Relatives:
Maybe you can visit or phone someone to enjoy conversation about various things. Perhaps there are friends and relatives you’ve not spoken with recently that it would be fun to catch up with. I’ve enjoyed wonderful conversations with friends and relatives over the years. And I consider everyone a friend. As a child, I enjoyed hearing adults talk about their childhoods.

* Participating in a Hobby:
If you don’t have a hobby, maybe you can start one. Do a Google search for “hobbies” to find large lists of them for various persons.

* Playing Sports:
Athletics of various types attract a huge number of people. Millions of persons have fun playing golf, softball, baseball, basketball, bowling, swimming, etc. And it doesn’t have to be an organized team that plays a set number of games in a league or school. It can just be playing for fun. I confess I’m not much of an athlete. I used to bowl, but my main “athletics” activities now are walking, hiking, and bicycling rather than team sports. Sports are not for everyone. We all need some type of exercise though.

* Watching Television in Moderation:
This means limiting television, but enjoying it as part of a balanced life. If you have cable, you may receive hundreds of stations, far more than the 3-5 our television received during my childhood years ago. Watching television series, sports events, news, documentaries, etc., in moderation can be uplifting. An hour or a few hours daily may be beneficial, especially if programs are inspiring and relaxing. Furthermore, television doesn’t necessarily have to be educational. As a child, I loved Saturday morning cartoons and feel that the benefits exceeded the weaknesses of watching them a few hours on some Saturdays (Please feel free to disagree.). However, even during much of my childhood, I probably watched less television than the average person. And my TV now is only hooked up to a DVD player and a VCR, not a cable system or an outdoor antenna. Those who watch several hours of television daily seem to be less productive and more depressed. But it's a cheap, simple pleasure when used in moderation.

* Attending Seminars and Lectures, Visiting Libraries, Religious Services, Volunteering, etc.:
Involved persons are often happier. You may be able to attend free or low-cost seminars or lectures on interesting subjects. You can also visit your local library for events, to read, research, or check out books, CDs, DVDs (as mentioned in the movies section earlier), access public computers, etc. Attending religious sevices and becoming involved in a congregation may be helpful as well. Volunteering at one of many choices locally that interests you is a great way to help others while enjoying yourself too.

*Browsing the Internet, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, Texting, etc.:
Many of us use these resources excessively. For example, I devote too much time to surfing Internet news sites and a fair amount of time to using Facebook. But if you’re one of those who doesn’t use these resources at all, you may want to consider starting to use one or more of them in moderation. And those of us who devote hours to them daily may need to cut back. Listing alternatives to electronic media is one of the purposes of this article.

Closing Thoughts

I’m not a dietician or a medical professional. I can’t give dietary or medical advice. But I firmly believe that eating a nutritious diet, exercising regularly in moderation, and building and maintaining quality relationships are some of the keys to joy and happiness. Experiencing simple pleasures is one aspect of this.

Lots of persons today are overweight due to lack of exercise and improper diets of junk food. While I ate my share of junk food as a child, including intaking a lot of sugary cereal while watching Saturday morning cartoons, my mom generally prepared home-cooked meals and limited my intake of junk food. I thank her and God for that. But we all can probably eat better and exercise more properly.

Though I devote too much time to surfing Internet news sites, I’m glad my television is not hooked up to cable, that I visit my library regularly, and that I walk a fair amount. Living in a city that is a college town, I have access to a significant number of seminars and lectures as well as quality libraries and parks.

God has blessed me (and maybe you) to be happy and healthy. But I (and maybe you) can do better. As we become more diversified, enjoying a more balanced life with various quality activities, my view is that the result can be a happier, healthier, and more productive life. Let’s seek to do so.

NOTES:
This article is partially adapted from other writings of the author, including an April 30th, 2006 article "Enjoy Simple Pleasures that are Often Free" that the author submitted to and was published on a friend’s website that no longer exists.

This article was last revised on October 26, 2022.

Cigarette Smokers, You Can Quit: Save Money, Improve Your Health

Cigarette smokers you can quit.

If you smoke cigarettes, you probably want to quit and have tried quitting. Maybe you even quit for a while and started up again.

Millions have quit permanently. You can too. Yes, you can quit smoking.

It’s a fact that the majority of “adults who have ever smoked cigarettes have quit” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,[1] which also states that the majority of current smokers want to quit, citing various sources for its information.

By quitting, you can save money and improve your health.

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration[2] citing various sources notes that it may take multiple attempts to quit smoking, noting that many of the negative symptoms you feel after quitting “should only last a few weeks.” The same webpage states that former smokers may “find that certain, places, occasions, and behaviors . . . can bring up an urge to smoke even after withdrawal symptoms have ended.”

Phone Numbers for Help

For help quitting, in the U.S. you can phone a toll free number listed on the Centers for Disease Control website[3]: 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669). The Cancer.Net website[4] lists three other phone numbers to call for help quitting, in addition to this one, as well as other resources.

When you quit, keep these phone numbers handy to contact if you face temptation. Also, maybe have one or more friends, relatives, coworkers, and/or others you can reach for support.

Over 100 Reasons to Quit

“More than 100 reasons to quit tobacco” are discussed in a Pan American Health Organization article.[5]

Benefits of Quitting

You probably already know numerous health benefits from quitting. These benefits of quitting smoking begin minutes after you quit and increase over the days, months, and years, as discussed on an American Cancer Society webpage “Health Benefits of Quitting Smoking Over Time.”[6] A MedicinePlus.gov article[7] “Benefits of quitting tobacco” uses various sources (including the American Cancer Society) to discuss the benefits in even more detail.

Another benefit is the money you save by quitting. WorldPopulationReview.com[8] states that in 2022 the average price per pack of cigarettes in the U.S. is $8.00. If you smoke one pack a day at that price, it adds up to $2,920 a year. Smokers, think of what you could do if you had that money to spend on something else.

One (perhaps minor) benefit is not having to find a place to dispose of cigarette butts. As I walk around, cigarette butts seem to be the human litter item I see most. The May 18, 2022 photo below of cigarette butts in Phoenix Park here in Lexington, Kentucky where I live is just one example.

How to Quit

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website lists some helpful resources on “How to Quit Smoking.”[9] Smokefree.gov[10] also lists useful tips on quitting smoking.

So do other sources. Choose the one(s) that you feel will work best for you.

Some Keys to Quitting

(1) Motivation: One key to successfully quitting is motivation. If you are motivated to quit, determined to do it, you can. The source of the motivation could be:

• Religious faith: Help from the higher power of God can be key. Franklin Graham, the son of evangelist Billy Graham, tells in his 1997 autobiography Rebel With a Cause how God enabled him to quit smoking cold turkey. Even if you’re not Billy Graham’s son, prayer, study of inspirational religious materials, support of a church (or synagogue or mosque), etc., are helpful.

• Urging from others: A spouse, child, or grandchild who doesn’t want to breathe secondhand smoke and/or doesn’t want you to die may beg you to stop. If your child complains about the smoke in the home, or tearfully says he/she doesn’t want you to die early, that my inspire you. Indeed, cigarette smokers have a shorter life expectancy by over ten years compared to nonsmokers, according to a journal article published in the New England Journal of Medicine.[11]

• Money: As stated earlier, smoking one pack a day at $8 per pack costs $2,920 per year. And some smokers smoke two, three, or even four packs a day.

• Work: Smokers often miss more work due to smoking-related health reasons and may take more frequent breaks than nonsmokers. Furthermore, if you’re distracted thinking about your craving for a cigarette, you may be more likely to make a mistake that hampers your job performance and potentially puts you and/or others at risk.

• Other reasons: If you have another motivation, reflect on it.

(2) Support: You may be more successful quitting if you get help from one or more relatives, friends, coworkers, support phone numbers, websites, etc. Earlier, this article listed some of these sources. There are many more you can find via a Google search and other sources.

(3) Don’t give up: When faced with temptation to smoke, try something that helps you fight off the urge. Maybe chew gum, take a walk, read a good book, listen to music you enjoy, phone a friend or a support group, etc. Maybe list some ways that you think will work for you in advance of quitting.

(4) Try again: If you fail in your first attempt (or second, third, or whatever), keep trying. Most smokers try multiple times before successfully quitting permanently according to various sources, including a study published by BMJ Open.[12]

Closing Thoughts:

You can do it. I know it’s not easy. I only smoked a few packs of cigarettes as an elementary school kid, and it was hard for me to quit. But thanks to God, my mom, reflecting on the cost, health risks, etc., I quit. And millions of others have too. So can you.

Think of living years longer, being healthier, saving money, not having a cigarette smell on your clothing, etc. Maybe even circle a future date on a calendar to mark the day when you’ll quit. Then do it.

ENDNOTES:

[1] “Smoking Cessation: Fast Facts”; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; page last reviewed: March 31, 2022; webpage accessed October 18, 2022; https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/cessation/smoking-cessation-fast-facts/index.html

[2] “What It’s Like to Quit Smoking”; U.S. Food & Drug Administration; Content current as of: October 13, 2022; webpage accessed October 18, 2022; https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/health-effects-tobacco-use/what-its-quit-smoking

[3] “Quit Smoking”; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; webpage accessed October 18, 2022; https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/quit_smoking/index.htm#:~:text=For%20support%20in%20quitting%2C%20including,800%2D784%2D8669).&text=Information%20on%20cessation%20behaviors%20of%20U.S.%20adults%20and%20youth.

[4] “Resources to Help You Quit Smoking”; Cancer.Net; Approved by the Cancer.Net Editorial Board, 6/2018; webpage accessed October 18, 2022; https://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/prevention-and-healthy-living/stopping-tobacco-use-after-cancer-diagnosis/resources-help-you-quit-smoking

[5] “More than 100 reasons to quit tobacco”: Pan American Health Organization; webpage accessed October 18, 2022; https://www.paho.org/en/more-100-reasons-quit-tobacco

[6] “Health Benefits of Quitting Smoking Over Time”; American Cancer Society; Last Revised, November 10, 2020; webpager accessed October 18, 2022 https://www.cancer.org/healthy/stay-away-from-tobacco/benefits-of-quitting-smoking-over-time.html

[7] “Benefits of quitting tobacco”; MedicinePlus.gov; Review Date 10/23/2021; webpage accessed October 18, 2022; https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007532.htm

[8] “Cigarette Prices by State 2022”; World Population Review; webpage accessed October 18, 2022; https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/cigarette-prices-by-state

[9] “How to Quit Smoking”; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Page last reviews February 28, 2022; webpage accessed October 18, 2022 https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/quit-smoking/index.html

[10] “Tools and Tips”; Smokefree.gov; webpage accessed October 18, 2022; https://smokefree.gov/

[11] Prabhat Jha, M.D., Chinthanie Ramasundarahettige, M.Sc., Victoria Landsman, Ph.D., Brian Rostron, Ph.D., Michael Thun, M.D., Robert N. Anderson, Ph.D., Tim McAfee, M.D., and Richard Peto, F.R.S.; “21st-Century Hazards of Smoking and Benefits of Cessation in the United States”; New England Journal of Medicine; January 24, 2013; webpage accessed October 19, 2022; https://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJMsa1211128

[12] Michael Chaiton, Lori Diemert, Joanna E. Cohen, Susan J. Bondy, Peter Selby, Anne Philipneri, and Robert Schwartz; “Estimating the number of quit attempts it takes to quit smoking successfully in a longitudinal cohort of smokers” BMJ Open; webpage accessed October 19, 2022; https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/6/6/e011045