... Recommend this page to a friend.
All right, now here's a shortcut to the ... Menu ... though I recommend your reading this introduction. So what does it mean, "thinking in the box"? people should be able to think "out of the box" independently. Usually I'm also thinking in the box; so what does it mean? I explained it in my bio; here I'll explain it again. Let's take an example: Here are four words add, subtract, multiply, increase which one does not belong in that set? Most people, including myself, would immediately say "increase" does not belong (the other three words are all arithmetic processes). That's thinking within a box, it's a typical response; no creative thinking there. That's not the thinking that develops an original idea. Thinking out of the box might give "add" as the answer it has three letters while all the other words have six. Both answers are correct but the second one shows more creativity.
Or if asked to name two days of the week beginning with the letter "T" most would say Tuesday and Thursday, thinking in the box. So how about today and tomorrow? Well, I'm not sure that's thinking out of the box. That might be more thinking like an idiot (and then it's not exactly wrong, is it). How about asking how many seconds in a year. Do you have to do arithmetic? Not necessarily; there are 12: January second, February second . Then there are 24 if you consider the twenty-seconds (22nds). Well, that might be stretching it a bit. But you see the point; there's the average way of thinking, and then you can go beyond the average, exploring new horizons.
In areas that are "sensitive" to most people (and challenging religious ideas which we are born into is certainly one of those sensitive areas), not just thinking but even hearing any ideas "that are out of the box" can be very disconcerting, even to the point of making people distance themselves from the one challenging the "popular" thinking. Personally I enjoy playing the devil's advocate in all matters; just to make interesting conversation, and have made a few people (even some friends) a bit uncomfortable, challenging the popular notions. I can immediately think of opening discussions of the role played by "civil servants" in the total welfare of the community. While typing this I can only think of "civil servants" as the ultimate oxymoron.
The popular human endeavors of watching sports or travels, popular "cultural" areas like museum, art galleries, most audience situations, most television programs, the popular news services that try to be entertaining, most areas of entertainment, certain government programs that become self-seeking time (and money) wasters can all be challenged as to their ultimate worth in improving the situation of most people. They might even be placebos to keep people from looking into matters that are really important.
As Mark S. puts it (admittedly from his own personal experience; this is also on Martin Willett's site): "I am especially skeptical (and cynical) about the press. I do not have direct, accurate information on many newsworthy events, but occasionally I do. When this happens and I read it in the paper, hear it on the radio, or see it on the TV, there is, invariably, some error in the report. Sometimes it is a technical detail, but often a major point is misrepresented. If I extrapolate my experience to the entire news media, then more than 95% of all news is wrong. It is reported by incompetent alarmists bent on selling news" ... my own personal experience with the news media would corroborate Mark's findings.
I'm not about to make more enemies now so let's get to the menu of this most challenging section of this website. At first I wrote to Mr. Willett pointing out some "religious" arguments which make sense to me (and I haven't given up on them). Then I contnued reading in ... mwillett.org ... (that's his site) and I was as delighted with his reasoning as with the depth of my Rabbi's thinking. So here I sit on that proverbial fence, which is where I'll probably be all my life. Most of the following was taken (with his permission) from Martin Willett's writing, and from the writings of four popular contributors at his site. Why do I put this on my site? Because should one of these sites leave the internet, which is always bound to happen (the internet being so fickle); well, you know the rest. His message is as important as my section on ... Jewish Studies ... so enough intro; here we go:
There is a great deal more on ... Martin Willett's Site ... but these few sections were of special interest to me, and excellent examples of "thinking outside the box" and I'm happy I could share them with you.
What is Freedom (Liberty) For?
an excellent essay on the meaning of freedom.
It's Our Money
are sports stars, movie and tevelision stars, pop musicians (and even Bill Gates) worth the money they make?
Imagine No Possessions
that's carrying John Lennon's dream too far, but he makes a good argument for more fairness.
The Importance of Being a Sheep
to pierce your tongue you have to be a dork; so why do they do it?
What? You Mean There Is No Santa?
In the beginning, there was Man who created Santa in his own image. Why do we have so little difficulty understanding that there is no Santa and yet have great problems with believing there is no G-d?
G-d - Unwanted, Dead or Alive ... is G-d really necessary for man to do good?
The Neanderthals ... lessons for salvation; an anthropological analysis on human survival.
The Great Lie
the story of G-d, Santa Claus, the stork and other great lies.
Confession
is confession good for the soul, or another religious abuse?
Life is Function - a Cup of Coffee and Life
what is the meaning of life? Maybe that's not even a sensible question. Here is another perspective.
The Moral Outcry of Homosexuality
the rights and wrongs of homosexuality; fighting homophobia is the moral thing to do.
Christian Bible Foundations of the United States
the Bible and the United States Constitution ... is there harmony or discord?
Pascal's Wager
approaching the question as a gambler would, weighing the risks against the possible payoff.
What Theory Means in Science
a look at what the creationists' mantra "evolution is only a theory" really means.
How do Science and Religion Conflict
a look at the conflicting style and methodology of science and religion.
What the Bible Says About Abortion
a biblical study reveals just how little the Hebrew God seemed to care about the unborn.Thinking about "thinking outside the box", a "box" joke comes to mind: Morris, a parts manager for a small electronics shop, had occasion to order part No. 669 from the factory. But when he received it he noticed that someone had sent part No. 699 instead. Furious at the factory's incompetence, Morris promptly sent the part back along with a letter giving them a piece of his mind. Less than a week later, he received the same part back with a letter containing just five words: