Cause and Effect and the Point of Origin

Most of you have probably heard of the concept of multiple dimensions, even if only from science fiction movies. In nearly all cases of Sci-Fi stories involving multiple dimensions, the main point is that the other world is exactly the same except for a few slight differences. These differences usually consist of certain things being different colors than in our own, or certain characters roles and personalities being completely reversed. But did you ever stop to think why?

Some stories explain this by mentioning that the hero was put through a traumatic event that turned him evil, or some other such nonsense. The problem is that why did the event that happened in the parallel world not occur in the main world? This can be explained by cause and effect. Certain past events did/did not take place in order for the main event to take place. Of course, one would have to wonder what caused those events to/not to take place in the first place. In order for ONE thing to change, thousands to millions to billions of other things would have to change prior.

It all goes back to the Point of Origin theory. I only call it a theory because it is absolutely impossible to prove. However, it is completely valid, and entirely true. The Point of Origin Theory states that the position of all existing matter in the universe at the beginning of time predetermined all of eternity. So the only difference between the multiple dimensions mentioned above, is the first instance in time.

This may sound rather absurd, until you think about it from a non-linear timeline perspective. Instead of viewing time like a line going from origin to eternity, think of it like a single string that is so thoroughly knotted that all parts of the string are touching all at once.  All points affect all other points, but only going in one direction along the string. Through cause and effect, all matter interacts in one way or another. This is similar to The Butterfly Effect, only far more realistic. The concept that the wind of the butterfly’s wings can cause a hurricane on the other side of the world, is not only ridiculous, but breaks the Laws of Thermodynamics. However, the Point of Origin is much more realistic. Instead of one tiny event causing drastic, huge events, it is a series of billions of events all coming together in a magnificent orchestra that is eternity.

Kind of like that, only bigger. and more complex.

Of course, all of this is to say that every decision you have ever made, or ever will make, had been predetermined by God since before Creation began. Most of you are probably scoffing right now, especially if you know your Theology. I would guess that you are thinking something along the lines of, “What on earth are you talking about, guy!? If God already decided what we are going to do, then we don’t have free will, the entire point of Him creating us!” And you would be right. Along with this, as my Stepfather pointed out when overhearing me discuss this concept with my mother, it would also present a serious problem with spiritual accountability. If everything we do is predestined, and we have no true choice in our actions, then why should we be held accountable for our sins? These are all wonderfully valid points that I honestly have no answer to. However, I would ask you to NOT read that last sentence and say, “Well this guy clearly has no idea what he is talking about.” Because I do. The problem is that these are two factual concepts that are at opposition to each other. Once again, I can hear your voice through time, space, and the internet, “But not everything I do is controlled by cause and effect! What about RANDOMNESS!? The actual definition of random is to not have a reason or cause!” But you would be wrong. Even things that are completely and entirely “random” have a predetermining factor(s) behind them. Even if you never know what the reasons are, they are still there.

 I would like you to do something.  Spout off a list of 5 or so completely random words.  Now.

Now take a minute to think about what words you picked. These words are things that just popped into your head seemingly for no reason whatsoever. But there is a reason you thought of those words. Most likely, they convey concepts of emotions, recent personal events, things you can see right now, or things that you like in general. Or, if you were particularly clever, and saw though my trap, you probably spouted off nonsense words that don’t exist, there is a reason that you made those noises. Most likely because they were the most comfortable noises to make. Now that is another subject entirely that I will not delve into.

The point is that no matter what you say or do, there is a reason for it. 99% of the time, you will never even know what it is, or that there is a reason at all. But there is. And there is a reason that that reason exists. And another for that reason, so on and so forth to the beginning of time. If you really want to track down the cause and effect, think about this; you see a person walking up to the door you are about to go through. Do you walk through the door and leave, or hold it open for them? This entirely depends on several factors, a few of which are, your age, the person’s age, how your parents raised you, your relationship with your parents, your relationship with the person, your gender, the person’s gender,  ext. But let’s just take a look at one factor: How your parents raised you. If you are a boy, and your dad if from the south, you would probably hold the door, especially if the other person if female.  Why is that? Why did your dad raise you to hold doors open for females? The obvious answer is that it is polite; the not so obvious answer is because that is how his dad probably raised him.  But why did his dad raise him that way? Well, because his dad probably raised him that way too. And so on and so forth.

The problem is that at some point somebody’s father had to have not taught his son to open doors for females. So when and why did it start? Well that would be what is called a cultural concept. It is a concept that is developed by an entire culture conjunctively.  Go figure. The concept was that women were special, and needed to be treated better than men. This is commonly misunderstood as women being weaker than men, but it is definitely not true.  Well why did they think that? It comes from a verse in the Bible. “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.” 1Pet 3:7 KJV. At first glance, it does seem to call women weaker than and not as good as men, but that is not what it is saying. What it means is that women are more like fine china, compared to men who are more like camping ware. So it is not insulting women in any way whatsoever, it is telling husbands to take special care of their wives.  So people looked at that verse, and decided that young men should be taught to treat all women with respect as they should their wife, so they started raising them at a young age, to do little things for females such as open doors, out of respect. So if you are said boy, who would open the door for the person, and you have never even opened a Bible, you were in fact performing a habit that was predetermined from the moment that the scripture was written. Cause and Effect.

 

To be honest, it does not make any difference to me whether you agree with the Point of Origin theory or not. It makes no difference whatsoever in the grand scheme of things. Do you know why? Because God already decided whether or not you would agree with it. This brings us back to the contradicting facts of accountability and freewill. What you need to understand is that God in omnipotent. Omnipotent means all powerful, for those of you who do not know. A being without limits can do whatever he wants, and understands things we can never grasp. At some point, we need to simply stop trying to explain and just accept.

Anime and Cartoons

I know I just wrote one post a few minutes ago, but it was more of an introduction of what to expect for the non-existent people who will read this. I honestly do not expect anyone to read my blog, but I should be prepared and treat it like people read it anyway.

ANYWAY! Just last night I had the most delightful conversation on Facebook with a girl about the difference between Anime and Cartoons. The conclusion was that they are both the exact same thing. There are many people out there (specifically on the internet) who will argue adamantly that they are different, have nothing to do with each other, and anyone who says otherwise needs to die a horrible painful death.

 

What these people are ignorant of, however, is that the word, "Anime," is and abbreviation for the Japanese word, "Animēshon," Which translated to English means (Absolutely no surprise here whatsoever) "Animation." 

You see, Asian languages did not have words for lots of things that came from the West, so when they were introduced to these things, they used the word of the language of the country that introduced them to it. This is why in Japanese a baseball bat is called a "Batto" a suitcase is "Baggu" a bed is "Beddo" and a bus is "Basu." There are lots of examples of words that do not begin with "B" I just don't know many of them. Notice that in each case, they add a vowel to the end of the word. Well they shortened it to just "Anime" because it is just as hard for Asians to speak Germanic languages than it is for us to speak Asian languages, and Animation is already really a long word.

So the argument that Anime and Cartoons are different, is completely destroyed by the fact that Anime does not even exist in the traditional sense. Also, according to the Online Etymology Dictionary, a Cartoon is "A drawing on strong paper (used as a model for another work)," from French carton, from Italian "cartone." Which means, "a strong, heavy paper, pasteboard," thus "preliminary sketches made by artists on such paper."

This is not even mentioning the fact that there are tons of cartoons out there that are always being mistaken for Anime even though they were not even made in any Asian country. Samurai Jack, Powerpuff Girls, Symbionic Titan, are all written and drawn by Genndy Tartrovosky, a Russian who immigrated to America.

 Avatar the Last Airbender was produced in America, and only drawn by a Korean art studio.

 And the most confusing one would be Code Lyoko, which was Made in France, but watching it, you would think it came straight from Tokyo.

Also, if you look into the history of Anime, it will not be very long until you find a certain Mr. Osamu Tezuka. This man, A.K.A. The Godfather of Anime, has openly credited his ideas as coming from Disney. Specifically Scrooge Mcduck, Donald Duck, Betty Boop and Bamby.

 So Anime comes from Disney. Think about that for a second.

  Of course, the only people who really argue the differentiation between the two, all call themselves "Otaku," Which really demonstrates their lack of knowledge of the subject they claim to love so dearly. In modern Japanese slang, the term otaku is most often equivalent to "geek." This sounds innocent enough, but it's connotations are incredibly negative in Japanese society. You see, despite how we (Americans) think that Japan is a crazy country that is obsessed with giant breasts, panty shots, giant robots, tentacle rape, ext. it is oh so thoroughly not true in the very slightest. Most Japanese people look at people who watch and/or are obsessed with anime and manga very much the same way that most people in America do. Only worse. A lot worse. In Japan, an Otaku is stereotyped as being overweight, unhealthy, antisocial, broke, jobless, you get the idea. But for some reason, in America people are proud of being called an Otaku, for completely inexplicable reasons.

Now do not misunderstand me, I love anime. I REALLY love anime. I also love American cartoons like Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends, Archer, Fillmore!, Phineas and Ferb, and others. I am a HUGE nerd when it comes to cartoons, and I love them in all shapes and sizes.

But really, the reason I hate it when people say that Anime and Cartoons are different is because they are only trying to make themselves feel better. They say that cartoons are for children, and anime is for adults, when in reality, nothing could be farther from the truth. Family Guy, American Dad, Archer, Harvey Birdman, are all cartoons that I would never let my future children watch. I don't even like watching some of them because of their content. At the same time, there is Anime that is designed specifically for children (Hello Kitty, Bottle Fairy). It all comes down to the fact that they do not want to have to explain themselves to other people when said people point out that they are too old to be watching cartoons. Granted, most people who cling to this flimsy argument are in Junior high and Highschool. They are at the stage when they want to be seen as mature and adult, when they are anything but. However, I have encountered people well into their twenties and thirties who use the exact same paper thin argument. I do not understand why these people who are fully grown adults, can't just watch anime and enjoy it without having to be defensive about what people think. Just shut up and watch your blasted cartoons already. That's what I'm doing.





http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osamu_Tezuka
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anime
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/issues/issue_257/7659-How-Walt-Disney-Created-Manga
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/9.09/topten_pr.html   (number 6) 
 

Number One

So this is my first blog. I have never done this before and I doubt anyone would be interested in reading it, but as of late I have had a lot of things on my mind, and feel like I need to get them out somehow. This seems to be the best way to do that.

I am a very diverse person, I have interests in many things which include, Physics, Theology, Philosophy, Comic books, T.V., Anime, Etymology, Literature, Movies, and much more. If by chance you stumble across my page, while looking for a blog that normally sticks to one subject, you had best look elsewhere. but if you are looking for something to read that may be entertaining, and you might learn something, then stick around and see how you like my brand new blog.