These are broken out by directory and sorted by subject within the directory.
Another List of Writings Updated, Reformated April 6, 2025
Section updated, added 3/30/2025
Hellenism, the spread of Greek culture after Alexander the Great (336–323 BCE), blended Greek philosophy with local traditions, fostering religious syncretism and rational thought. Without it, Christianity and Gnosticism wouldn’t have emerged as known. Both drew from Hellenistic ideas, like Platonism, evolving in parallel with shared roots but clashing visions.
Christianity used Hellenistic concepts, such as the Logos and allegorical interpretation, to spread its message of salvation through faith in a good God, embracing creation. Gnosticism, rooted in Hellenistic dualism, saw the material world as flawed, created by a demiurge, and sought liberation through secret knowledge (gnosis), as explored in Elaine Pagels’ work. While both valued spiritual salvation, they diverged: Christianity rejected Gnosticism’s view of an evil world and Docetism, affirming one God and communal faith. Born in Hellenism’s crucible, their ties to Jewish origins and conflicts shaped early religious thought. Christianity engaged the Greco-Roman world, while Gnosticism challenged it, defining their dynamic tension.
The following revised and update 4/10/2025.
Science and Religion:
Christianity:
Jewish Topics:
Immigration and Identity Politics:
General Religion and Philosophy:
Further reading 4/6/2025:
Y2K and Miscellaneous:
Virginia crime over the years:
Section updated, added 3/30/2025
John Neslon Darby
Christian Premillennialism
Updated 4-17-2025. From 2002 to 2025, Southwest Virginia (SWVA) faced significant economic challenges despite substantial public investments in broadband and call center initiatives, as detailed across multiple webpages. Congressman Rick Boucher promoted call centers to bring tech jobs, but efforts like the 2010 DIRECTV virtual call center (100 jobs) and earlier projects (e.g., Results, KCG) largely failed, with many closing by 2013, nearly all by 2020. Bristol Virginia Utilities (BVU) deployed the OptiNet fiber network, receiving $100 million in public funds, including $3.9 million in 2009 for expansion. Despite a 2009 "Intelligent Community" ranking, BVU’s initiatives, including support for Northrop Grumman and CGI-AMS, produced only 200 jobs by 2011 against a promised 1,000, and call centers paid low wages ($8.50–$11/hour). Economic indicators in 2025 show a 45% information sector decline, 60,000+ job losses since 2009, and a 7.5% population drop in Russell County (2010–2018), with wages ($17.33/hour in Bristol MSA) below living standards, highlighting the region’s persistent struggles.