Articles written by Brian Ragle

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About me - Brian Ragle

I am a writer and student currently traveling the US. While I have no specific focus for writing as I see word-smithing only as a tool to be applied to a given task, I generally find myself tackling political, religious, and scientific issues. The writing

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Politics, News & Issues > Bush Administration What do you think about George Bush's politics?: 1 of 49
The idea of stacking our elected presidents against their predecessors in the effort to weigh better or worse is the same exercise in futility as pitting a modern NBA team against a basketball squad from fifty years ago. There can be no competition because the standards by which judgment is passed depend entirely upon the cul... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Atheism & Agnosticism Reasons why atheism is actually a religion: 1 of 45
Every person born on this planet, now, at every time in the past, and in every moment of the future starts life as an atheist. The human being holds no innate belief in a deity of any kind. Such beliefs come through the inculcation of society and cultural norms. As the child grows, his or her instruction from elders will slow... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Party Politics & Ideology Blind vs. discerning patriotism: 2 of 58
I [heart] FreedomPolitical bumper stickers have dominated the vehicle landscape for many years. They range from mere support for a particular candidate or party to outright insults on the opposing viewpoint. A popular one since the Vietnam war and now enjoying a resurgence because of the Iraqi conflict reads in the following ... More..
Pets & Animals > Dog Training When to chain a dog: 1 of 5
Dogs and RV's: A Practical Guide to Restraining Pets Without Chains or RopesTo many RV'ers, traveling without their pets is the same as traveling without their spouses: sometimes very desirable but usually a lot more fun when they are along for the ride. However, the space limitations in even the largest rigs can pose major i... More..
Relationships & Family > Family Life Ways to define family: 2 of 8
"The ties that bind...""Blood is thicker than water..."These phrases are commonly used as expressions to promote family relationships as paramount to all others. We hear daily from politicians and clergy alike how important the basic family unit is and how its breakdown signals the fall of our civilization.What I hear less ab... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Comparative Religion Understanding how the plurality of religions was born: 2 of 8
Last evening I had dinner at a local restaurant near the ocean which featured astounding beach views, expensive wines, and some of the coldest beer I have ever tasted. My companions were from the same conference I am attending and our conversations ran the gamut from politics to religion and even to psychic phenomenon.Our lit... More..
Relationships & Family > Romance & Sexuality What gives a person "sex appeal": 5 of 19
The Older WomanWe live in a world of expectations. Male or female, young or old, there are just certain things expected of you by the rest of society. There are no limits to these expectations, no boundary too intimate to cross. Everything from our sex life to our personal appearance is subject to judgment by our neighbors, c... More..
Society & Lifestyle > Economic Values People should not be dependent on welfare: 21 of 79
The question of whether someone should be dependent on welfare is what is known as "poisoning the well". It makes the assumption that many or even all those who receive some type of undefined welfare are dependent on it. It stands to reason that no one would desire to be dependent on the pittance doled out via state and feder... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Thoughts on God Considering the Big Bang as an act of God: 9 of 20
The "Arcanities" Of Religion and ScienceThe existence of universal truisms is as hotly debated a topic as anything regarding our ways of knowing. Yet, there could be some justification in the act of applying a universal status to our desire to find ways of knowing. Such a seeming contradiction is only the first of many along ... More..
Personal Finance > Smart Spending Self-checking your merchandise at stores: 2 of 4
A recent shopping trip to Wal-Mart with my wife reminded us once again of how easily the superstore chain has taken control of our lives with near Pavlovian measures. Aisles that feature so-called "clearance" items are usually placed near more seasonal displays or near non-clearance merchandise which just so happens to be on ... More..