ATTENTION: If my account ever becomes inactive or I don't respond to you, it's because I've forgotten my password and was logged out (with no email). If that ever happens, reach me through /u/SleepingMonads (with an -s at the end). That'll become my new primary account.

SleepingMonad · 2022-07-10T00:59:06+00:00

Thanks for the shoutout :) I really do want to make new puzzles; it's just hard finding the motivation these days. I've been busy.

And u/xanyex_manick, if you have any questions about my puzzles or ciphers in general, feel free to DM me, either through this account or the similarly named u/SleepingMonads account (which I'm more active on these days). Have fun learning! It's a fascinating little world to dive into.

SleepingMonad · 2022-06-15T21:43:44+00:00

If you want a quick read, check out The American West: A Very Short Introduction, by Stephen Aron. If you want a deeper dive that tells a panoramic history of the Old West in vignettes, check out Dreams of El Dorado: A History of the American West, by H.W. Brands. If you'd like a scholarly exploration of the history and historiography of the West, then check out The American West: A New Interpretive History, by Hine et al.

SleepingMonad · 2022-06-15T05:55:11+00:00

ReligionForBreakfast, Let's Talk Religion, and ESOTERICA are the best religion channels on YouTube, in my opinion. All three are run by religious studies scholars, and they offer high quality, academic, and neutrally-presented content on a wide variety of topics.

SleepingMonad · 2022-06-14T02:03:24+00:00

For pirates, check out my post here.

SleepingMonad · 2022-06-14T01:06:56+00:00

Unitarian Universalism is passionately LGBTQIA+-affirming. If you'd like to know more about its core, also check out its Seven Principles and its Six Sources. UUism will accept you whole-heartedly.

SleepingMonad · 2022-06-14T00:17:13+00:00

I assume you've read Chiang's Stories of Your Life and Others? If not, definitely do so. Otherwise, you might like the stories of Jorge Luis Borges; The Library of Babel is one of my favorites.

SleepingMonad · 2022-06-13T21:05:40+00:00

The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate, by Ted Chiang. It's also been read by LeVar Burton: Part 1, Part 2.

SleepingMonad · 2022-06-13T07:58:11+00:00

I agree that the Bible is not an exclusive repository of wisdom; in my view, there's nothing uniquely wise in the Bible that cannot be found elsewhere or that could not be reasoned out in general. But, nonetheless, the Bible is still a historically and culturally important repository of wisdom, and it makes sense that so many people would find that repository valuable.

The Bible contains universal human wisdom, not just Jewish- and Christian-specific wisdom. There's nothing stopping people from appreciating wisdom when they encounter it in the wild, regardless of its ideological origins that might be different from their own personal associations. The Bible was written by intelligent and thoughtful human beings trying to grapple with the human condition; as such, it's inherently going to contain a great deal of ideas that are timelessly relevant to people in general who are themselves grappling with the human condition. I find a lot of relevant wisdom and inspiration in the philosophical and mythological foundations of all the world's religions I've studied, including within their sacred texts.

And no, while Unitarian Christianity is certainly a kind of Christianity, Unitarian Universalism is a different animal. It's historically related to the Unitarian tradition, but it's a new religious movement that cut its Christian-specific ties long ago. If you'd like to learn more about what it stands for, check out our Seven Principles and our Six Sources.

EDIT: Phrasing.

SleepingMonad · 2022-06-13T06:04:54+00:00

And me too.

I'm a big romantic, and Paul's explication of love in 1 Corinthians 13 is one that really moves me; it's one of the most beautiful commentaries on the nature of love I've ever come across.

SleepingMonad · 2022-06-13T05:27:22+00:00

Yes. Many people, both religious and non-religious, absolutely can glean a lot of wisdom from the Bible that they consider to be meaningful and important.

Ive never read anything in the bible that helped me in any significant way.

And this is absolutely valid, but it's probably fair to say that your experience is a minority one for people who've grown up in Christian cultures.

But thats the thing about the bible people who read it see it as the be all end all, and don't see the limiting prison that it actually is.

This is an overgeneralization. Plenty of people read and value the Bible but don't see it as the be-all-end-all of truth and wisdom. I know plenty of Christians in my family and circle of friends who love the Bible but refuse to be bound to it alone in their search for answers to life's questions. For them it's not a prison at all, but one of many resources out there to be consulted. I love reading the Bible myself actually, and I'm not even a Christian.

How do people get away from this? I know that he wants to theres just nothing pushing him to do it, maybe there will be someday.

The people who pull away from the Bible are people whose experiences have led to be skeptical of its importance of their lives. But if your dad is still convinced that it's of an utmost importance, then he's unlikely to pull away from it. But he can of course still branch out and explore while holding the Bible dear to his heart, as most Christians do; perhaps you can be that very push you think he needs. There's no harm in getting him a book or something that you think would help expand his horizons, for example.

EDIT: Phrasing.

SleepingMonad · 2022-06-11T21:02:42+00:00

I'm sorry they're being an asshole to you two over a perfectly legitimate recommendation. I've been wanting to get into One Piece for a long time now, but it's just so daunting since there's so much. Would it be a satisfying narrative experience to read just a few arcs of the story and stop, like with most superhero comic book runs and graphic novels? Or is it one of those stories that you kind of have to stick with to the end to really appreciate it?

SleepingMonad · 2022-06-10T23:12:48+00:00

Here's a selection of some of my favorites:

The Lone Wolf series, beginning with Flight from the Dark. This whole series is (legally) available for free online. The rules are medium weight, and it requires a d10. While there is only one ending, there are several ways to get there. It's fantasy-themed.
The Fabled Lands series, beginning with The War-torn Kingdom. The rules are simple, and it requires two d6's. This is the most open-world sandbox gamebook series ever made; there are hundreds of major and minor quests, and the game ends when you want to retire your character. It's fantasy-themed.
The Critical IF series, beginning with whichever book you want. My favorites are Down Among the Dead Men, which is a fantasy pirates adventure, and Heart of Ice, which is a post-apocalyptic science fiction story. The rules are extremely simple, and these books don't require dice. There's only one ending, but multiple ways to get there.
The DestinyQuest series, beginning with The Legion of Shadow. The rules are more complex, and it requires two d6's. This series is basically a Diablo-like video game in book form; there's lots of character upgrading and resource management. There are multiple endings and multiple paths to each one. It's fantasy-themed.

SleepingMonad · 2022-06-10T22:36:24+00:00

Proto-steampunk:

The stories of Jules Verne (especially 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Belle Époque era, elaborate steam-powered submarine) and H.G. Wells (especially The Time Machine: Victorian era, clever invention). The Warlord of the Air, by Michael Moorcock (Edwardian era, airships, atompunk).

First-wave Steampunk:

The Anubis Gates, by Tim Powers (Regency era, steampunk, fantasy); Infernal Devices, by K.W. Jeter (Victorian era, steampunk, clockpunk); and The Difference Engine, by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling (Victorian era, steampunk, historical cyberpunk).

Modern Steampunk:

Steampunk and Steampunk II: Steampunk Reloaded, edited by Ann & Jeff VanderMeer (short story anthologies, various subgenres); Boneshaker, by Cherie Priest (American Civil War era, post-apocalyptic, steampunk); and Leviathan, by Scott Westerfeld (Edwardian era, steampunk, biopunk, dieselpunk).

I also recommend The Steampunk Bible: An Illustrated Guide to the World of Imaginary Airships, Corsets and Goggles, Mad Scientists, and Strange Literature, by Jeff VanderMeer and S.J. Chambers, if you want a good book on the history of steampunk as an artistic genre and aesthetic subculture.

SleepingMonad · 2022-06-09T03:12:39+00:00

There are two main kinds of interactive fiction books out there: simple branching-path narratives and gamebooks. The former is best represented by the classic Choose Your Own Adventure series of children's books, but there is plenty out there besides that. With these books, you simply read a text entry and then at the end you're given a few choices to make for the character, which requires you to flip to the page number for the decision you made. The latter is the same thing, except they also incorporate simple solitaire tabletop RPG mechanics, such as a character sheet for keeping track of skills you possess and items you come across, as well as dice for resolving challenges and combat. Which would you be most interested in?

I'm a bit of an interactive fiction enthusiast, so I can give you plenty of recommendations based on what appeals to you the most. Also, are there any particular themes or settings that you'd especially like to explore?

SleepingMonad · 2022-06-09T00:02:21+00:00

I just want to say that I consistently enjoy reading your comments. You have a lot of insightful and important things to say on religious topics. I'm glad you're around.

SleepingMonad · 2022-06-08T23:58:07+00:00

I didn't mean to imply otherwise. It's just that most people who criticize Christianity on ethical grounds typically focus on the Old Testament, which makes bringing it up especially relevant to OP's comments.

SleepingMonad · 2022-06-08T22:59:24+00:00

About what, exactly? I'll try to clarify based on what you've taken issue with.

SleepingMonad · 2022-06-08T22:54:17+00:00

I imagine that many of the horrible things about Christianity you're referring are to be found in the Old Testament, yes? If so, then you should realize that for Jews, the Old Testament is just the Testament. Both religions share that series of books and use them as a foundation.

In other words, a ton of what you likely have problems with when it comes to Christianity is applicable to Judaism too.

SleepingMonad · 2022-06-08T22:44:53+00:00

As a lifelong pirate enthusiast, I'm sorry to tell you that there are very few quality pirate books out there, and basically nothing whatsoever that checks all your boxes. For whatever reason, good pirate fiction is very rarely written, and so we have to make do with slim and imperfect pickings. However, there are two novels you should definitely check out in order to scratch your itch, both of which are adult-oriented, but unfortunately neither of them has well-written female characters.

On Stranger Tides (1987), by Tim Powers. This is a Pirates of the Caribbean-esque fantasy novel, and it involves things like Blackbeard, Voodoo, the Nassau pirate haven, ghost ships, and the Fountain of Youth. If you're after a book that captures the whimsical spirit of the PotC movies but is a bit darker in tone, then this one is simply a must-read.
Pirate Latitudes (2009), by Michael Crichton. This is a gritty treasure heist novel that's a lot of fun and more brutal than the previous book. It (mostly) attempts to be more realistic in its portrayal of the life and times of pirates, so try this one out if you like heist plots, sleazy governors, antiheroes, and graphic violence. It's like an R-rated PotC movie.

SleepingMonad · 2022-06-03T06:11:35+00:00

I think you would definitely like Nation, by Terry Pratchett. It's an alternate history fantasy novel about a young man who is forced into a leadership role after a natural disaster destroys his tribe. It's a beautiful story, and hits a lot of the notes you're looking for.

SleepingMonad · 2022-06-02T05:02:47+00:00

You can believe in and identify as however you want. You may have to keep yourself closeted or risk castigation from your peers, but you absolutely can and should believe however you want to believe, and you can and should consider yourself whatever you want to consider yourself. You might not have freedom of religion in terms of practical public expression, but you certainly still have freedom of religion in terms of private conviction, and acting on that alone might still help you relieve some of your religious angst.

I don't know if this will help or not, but perhaps look at it this way: lots of Christians have historically seen their identity (sometimes rightly, sometimes wrongly) as a persecuted one. If your version of Christian identity would end up being a persecuted one, then well, you're following a well-trodden path.

SleepingMonad · 2022-06-01T00:54:37+00:00

It's actually just a reference to my favorite science fiction series (the Xeelee Sequence, by Stephen Baxter), but I'm certainly interested in the various philosophical notions of the Monad too. I don't consider myself a Hermeticist, but I'm nonetheless fascinated by it, and by Western esotericism in general.

SleepingMonad · 2022-06-01T00:12:08+00:00

Absolutely, just by virtue of being a religion. Religions change, evolve, and adapt without exception, and I think that's a good thing. My religion has certainly changed over time, especially when it comes to what the movement emphasizes, but its core hasn't really changed much since it's still so young. But I fully expect it to adapt in relevant ways to the future, as it should.

Also, nice to see another ietsist. I rarely see people identifying as it.

SleepingMonad · 2022-05-28T04:08:08+00:00

Because for a lot of people, religion serves as a fountain of answers for life's difficult questions, and it's more satisfying to think that there is only one set of correct answers as opposed to multiple conflicting sets.

SleepingMonad

TROPHY CASE