Israel Morrow (Author of Gods of the Flesh)

Israel Morrow rated a book liked it The God Argument: The Case against Religion and for Humanism by A.C. Grayling	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
The title is a misnomer. The book is divided into two parts. The first is a critique of classic theology, such as the ontological and teleological arguments for the existence of the Judeo-Christian God. The critique is alright on its own terms, but th ...more
Jul 25, 2019 08:33PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The God Argument by A.C. Grayling. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The God Argument by A.C. Grayling <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Israel Morrow rated a book it was ok The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I had heard great things about this book, even comparisons with Siddhartha, but ultimately I was disappointed. This is a spiritual book, but with a message that's kind of mish-mosh, randomly mixing bits of universal truth, biblical tradition, New Age ...more
Jul 08, 2019 05:04AM · like · see review
Israel Morrow joined the groups Queereaders and Underground Knowledge — A discussion group
Jun 18, 2019 05:55AM
Israel Morrow made a comment in the group Underground Knowledge — A discussion group — Is the brain the origin of our consciousness? OR is the brain merely a receiver? topic " The concept of consciousness as an external force and the body as a "receiver" has very ancient roots; it is more or less the basis of Hindu theology. ...more "
Jun 17, 2019 04:25PM
Israel Morrow made a comment on the poll: Do you believe abortion should be legal or illegal? " Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "Well aside from that... Are we equating aborting an infant with war and capitol punishment. As noted before, we're talking a ...more "
Jun 09, 2019 08:06AM
Israel Morrow made a comment in the group Underground Knowledge — A discussion group — Fluoride - is it safe for consumption? topic " I speak as someone who has worked in a laboratory testing public water quality for EPA compliance, formerly certified as a Water Distribution Operator ...more "
Jun 06, 2019 02:29PM
Israel Morrow made a comment in the group Underground Knowledge — A discussion group — Native American nations no better than Third World countries? topic " Many comments I would like to reply to. Hope this doesn't get too confusing... First, credentials. I am not Native, but I have known several Native fri ...more "
Jun 05, 2019 05:31PM
Israel Morrow made a comment in the group Underground Knowledge — A discussion group — Why Are Third World Countries So Poor? topic " This is a big topic, and I can only touch on a few points... First, I would challenge anyone who sets up America as the standard image of a prosperous ...more "
May 31, 2019 02:33PM
Israel Morrow rated a book liked it Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This book will succeed at its goal of making poor and middle class Americans more financially savvy. Kiyosaki daringly focuses on shifting perspectives about money rather than offering how-to-get-rich schemes. His insights about middle class mentalit ...more
May 10, 2019 08:03AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

Israel Morrow rated a book liked it

The God Argument: The Case against Religion and for Humanism
by A.C. Grayling

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Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

The title is a misnomer.
The book is divided into two parts. The first is a critique of classic theology, such as the ontological and teleological arguments for the existence of the Judeo-Christian God. The critique is alright on its own terms, but th ...more

Israel Morrow rated a book it was ok

The Alchemist
by Paulo Coelho (Goodreads Author)

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

I had heard great things about this book, even comparisons with Siddhartha, but ultimately I was disappointed.
This is a spiritual book, but with a message that's kind of mish-mosh, randomly mixing bits of universal truth, biblical tradition, New Age ...more

Israel Morrow joined the groups Queereaders and Underground Knowledge — A discussion group

Israel Morrow made a comment in the group Underground Knowledge — A discussion group — Is the brain the origin of our consciousness? OR is the brain merely a receiver? topic

" The concept of consciousness as an external force and the body as a "receiver" has very ancient roots; it is more or less the basis of Hindu theology. ...more "

Israel Morrow made a comment on the poll: Do you believe abortion should be legal or illegal?

" Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "Well aside from that... Are we equating aborting an infant with war and capitol punishment.

As noted before, we're talking a Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "Well aside from that... Are we equating aborting an infant with war and capitol punishment.

As noted before, we're talking about
Abortion on demand

I would also like to note (with thanks to Michelle) that my words above are being taken out of context. I did not equate abortion with war and capital punishment; I said "abortion has a *much stronger rationale* than war and capital punishment." If you want to know, I'm what you'd call a pacifist. Most, if not all our wars, are selfish, stupid, and cause the deaths of thousands of innocents. I was merely pointing out the irony that war goes on steadily, and hardly anyone objects--but God forbid even one baby should die in the womb. The pro-choice movement is about just that, a woman's choices for her life. If the pro-life movement is really about defending the right to life, why are so many pro-life politicians also war mongers (think of George Bush for example)? The fact is, what people call the right to life is poorly defined, and the definition is arbitrarily applied in the way that seems most convenient.
In regards to other comments, I would like to reiterate that in my experience no, most pro-lifers don't think that a fetus is not a human life. We've gone beyond that and determined that in some cases, taking a life can be justified.
Finally, if mine are straw man arguments, what do you call writing your own definition of the topic and using it to insist that other people are off topic? The topic is simply whether you think abortion should be legal. The topic is not "abortion on demand," and you really should stop using terms like "on demand" and "convenience," as if the choice to have a child is the same as buying a sandwich--as if women seeking abortion were nothing but irresponsible airheads and chic materialists. Having a child is a life-altering commitment, one which all women take seriously, and no one should be legally forced or socially coerced into it. (Coercion in this sense includes everything from bullying--whether from parents, partners or clinic protesters--to the state restricting access to sexual education and contraception). ...more "

Israel Morrow made a comment in the group Underground Knowledge — A discussion group — Fluoride - is it safe for consumption? topic

" I speak as someone who has worked in a laboratory testing public water quality for EPA compliance, formerly certified as a Water Distribution Operator I speak as someone who has worked in a laboratory testing public water quality for EPA compliance, formerly certified as a Water Distribution Operator...
Fluoride is not a necessary nutrient, but it was once thought that putting it into water systems would improve overall dental hygiene and public health. Problem is, a heavy dose of fluoride can kill you on the spot. There is, in fact, a very very small difference between the amount of fluoride that is considered healthy and the amount considered poisonous. But even the most efficient water systems cannot regulate healthy fluoride levels at all points in distribution, 100% of the time. Worse, because testing is a slow process, most people will have consumed contaminated water before the distribution operators become aware of the contamination. Because of this, several American states have ceased to add fluoride to their systems.
As for chlorine, it's definitely not healthy, but it's considered to be a lesser evil, i.e., chlorine is better than cholera. If your water has chlorine, you can evaporate it by simply keeping it in a pitcher overnight before drinking. But it's also a good idea to get a faucet attachment filter that can remove THM or TTHM compounds. These are carcinogenic "disinfection byproducts," and sadly, many distribution operators are not aware of their existence. Vis-a-vis, if a distribution operator realizes that a part of their system is contaminated, he or she will flood the system with chlorine to kill the bacteria--but chlorine reacts with organic suspended solids in the contaminant to form carcinogens known as tri-halo methanes and halo-acetic acids. (I haven't actually seen a home filter that removes HAAs).
So yeah, working in the water industry made me paranoid. I do encourage everyone to 1) use a faucet filter, not one of the less-efficient pitcher filters, 2) store chlorinated water overnight or in the sun to let the chlorine evaporate, and 3) live in an area that doesn't add fluoride to water, if possible. Another trick is, if you're worried about your shower, keep filtered water on hand to rinse off after the shower. ...more "

Israel Morrow made a comment in the group Underground Knowledge — A discussion group — Native American nations no better than Third World countries? topic

" Many comments I would like to reply to. Hope this doesn't get too confusing...

First, credentials. I am not Native, but I have known several Native fri Many comments I would like to reply to. Hope this doesn't get too confusing...

First, credentials. I am not Native, but I have known several Native friends, particularly in Alaska, which does not have a reservation system. I have also traveled through reservations, and I'm not kidding when I say they are the worst land in the continent. Beyond that, I've read numerous books by Native authors, from the classic Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee to modern memoirs like Fifty Miles From Tomorrow. In my book, Gods of the Flesh, my most cited source was Vine Deloria Jr.'s God is Red, a book about Native religions.

For those who think Natives have been given a decent share of human rights, here is one of many facts to consider: Freedom of religion is a constitutional right in America, but it was illegal for Native Americans to practice their religions until 1978. They were also forced to attend government boarding schools where they were forbidden to speak their own languages, and an appalling number were sexually abused. This is recent history; I believe the last boarding school closed in the 90s. Even today, the Bureau of Indian Affairs forbids Natives to move off the reservations for job opportunities. I could go on, but hopefully you get the idea. There's a reason Adolf Hitler praised the reservations as models for his concentration camps, and there's a reason the AIM movement chose Alcatraz as a symbol of the reservation system.

I said that Native Nations have become like Third World Countries, although that is not the fault of the Natives. Actually, the American government classifies them as "domestic dependent nations," as if they were our children, not the survivors of our conquests. Whether they are self-governing is debatable: The extent to which they are allowed to govern themselves is engineered by the BIA to favor American interests. For example, they are barely capable of preventing American oil and resource mining on their lands (for which they receive little or no compensation), but they also cannot bring Americans to court for the number rapes and murders committed virtually every day by outsiders on the reservations.

As for Native Americans having a primitive or savage culture, that is an egregious lie. They were certainly no more primitive than Europeans at the time their wars began: Most of Europe's technology (including firearms) came from trade with foreign nations, and the colonists were so morally bankrupt they dug up Native graves in Virginia to cannibalize the remains. But mudslinging never gets us anywhere, so consider the beauty of Native cultures.

Many Native societies were based on agriculture, and if you doubt how advanced they were, consider how many of the foods you eat were invented by Natives: potatoes, corn, peanuts, chilis, most beans, watermelons, and many more. As for their garments, they certainly did know how to weave and sew, although furs were an obvious choice for many: And I would challenge anyone to make a more beautiful or efficient parka than they make in Alaska.

To truly understand the potential that has been wasted, contrast Native Americans of the "Lower 48" to Alaska Natives. President Nixon negotiated a reasonably fair deal in the Alaska Native Land Claims Settlement Act, allowing Native communities to keep a sizeable portion of traditional lands and to form major corporations. Alaska Natives have still faced a great deal of disease, racism and violence (A man recently confessed to strangling and masturbating on a Native woman and was pardoned by the judge). Some have been forcibly confined to villages which are literally collapsing due to permafrost melt. And their hunting rights are severely restricted so that most can neither hunt nor afford decent food (A can of fruit in northern Alaska may cost more than $10). Despite all of that, the Native corporations have extended operations all over the country, and there are a number of university programs revitilizing Native languages and culture. Remember, these are groups that were living "primitive" lifestyles, with little or no outside contact, less than a century ago. My argument is that Native Americans are fully capable of both preserving their cultures and becoming key players in the global economy, but in more cases than not, they have been utterly prevented from doing so.

I have read several Native authors, from the present and distant past, who would agree that in some ways their quality of life has improved--but all are clear in saying, modern conveniences are not a fair exchange for the destruction of everything that makes a culture. The overall quality of life, in other words, has declined tremendously, and in fact the life expectancy is staggeringly low. At Pine Ridge, for example, Native life expectancy is on par with countries ravaged by AIDS. ...more "

Israel Morrow made a comment in the group Underground Knowledge — A discussion group — Why Are Third World Countries So Poor? topic

" This is a big topic, and I can only touch on a few points...

First, I would challenge anyone who sets up America as the standard image of a prosperous This is a big topic, and I can only touch on a few points...

First, I would challenge anyone who sets up America as the standard image of a prosperous nation. America's debt is greater than that of the entire Third World, and its poverty gap rivals many Third World nations. The costs of healthcare and education are among the highest in the world (Healthcare is difficult to estimate, but only Canada and Australia charge more for education). It was also pointed out to me by a French friend that American transportation is exceptionally slow and expensive, not unlike developing nations. In places like San Francisco, for example, cheap public transportation has been purposefully dismantled by the automotive and oil industries. Finally, I would note from personal travels that many countries enjoy higher standards of living. For example, I recently returned from Japan, where trains always run on time, where pollution is so mitigated that you can't even smoke a cigarette on the street, and where every bathroom stall is like a private spa. (Granted, it's expensive--but they have MUCH lower taxes).
As for charity, that's another complicated subject, and I've written more in my book, Gods of the Flesh. I agree with most of Daniel's and James's points, and I would add a line from James Loewen: "Today Americans believe as part of our political understanding of the world that we are the most generous nation on earth in terms of foreign aid, overlooking the fact that the net dollar flow from almost every Third World nation runs toward the United States."
I did find Daniel's final paragraph a little naive. So far as I've seen, the root of most Third World problems owes to the destabilizing effects of colonialism and imperialism (militaristic or economic). In these respects, America has played a star role. For example, rather than "squeeze out oppressive governements," the main thrust of American military history has been to squeeze out democratic governments. The twentieth century saw American puppet governments established in countries like China and Cuba. There followed a series of American-sponsored coups and assassinations in Guatemala, Congo, Chile, and other countries. Recently, we have lent support to dictators in the Middle East, while totally destroying the infrastructure of many countries, making sane and peaceful government impossible and creating vacuums that can only be filled by terrorists.
One problem I've noticed with the subject of world peace is that people look at it from a strictly economic perspective: Yes, it would be easy to obtain. But there are psychological barriers--and not only for the privileged classes who struggle with racism, xenophobia, sexism, etc. Imperialism can have devastating and lasting effects on the psyche of entire cultures. Take a look, for example, at the Native American nations within America's borders. Many of them could be described as Third World countries--but how did they end up this way? For centuries, their leaders were killed; their communities were forced off every good patch of land in the continent; their possessions were stolen, confiscated or destroyed; they were forbidden to practice their religion and arts, and even forbidden to speak their own languages; their people were raped and brutalized, and their destitute communities purposefully flooded with drugs and alcohol from American markets. Today, people complain that there are scholarships and jobs available for the lazy, ungrateful Natives--but have you seen the reservations? If every family you knew had someone who had been driven into poverty and alcoholism, if every family you knew had someone who had been kidnapped, raped or murdered--could you simply lift yourself out of that situation? Would a college degree and a good job really change things for you? Would you want to be part of the world that did this to *your* world?
Third World problems are First World problems, and Americans will need a radical overhaul in cultural values before we can deserve to lead the world. ...more "

Israel Morrow rated a book liked it

Rich Dad, Poor Dad
by Robert T. Kiyosaki

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This book will succeed at its goal of making poor and middle class Americans more financially savvy. Kiyosaki daringly focuses on shifting perspectives about money rather than offering how-to-get-rich schemes. His insights about middle class mentalit ...more

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