Mission statement:

 Author: Mohammed Nazari

Creating a frame of thought through critical thinking  

When educated in a field you can judge the performance in that field, eg an educated carpenter can judge a work of carpentry on the wooden chair.

While we might be educated in a few fields, we lack the education in thousands of other fields. Then what shall we do?

I believe through critical thinking we can be more practical and less emotional in any decision making, mainly when we don't ...

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When in 12th grade, there was a 30 page chapter on pine tree life cycle.

On the way from our house to my high school there were almost 1000 pine trees and fallen pine cones all over. In local language the pine cones were called "ghouz kalghak". As kids we throw these pine cone at each other.

Two years after i had finished the high school and in the second year at the university, it happened that someone told me that pine cone was t...
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Life without afterlife and the China Tea Pot Theory

Author: Mohammed Nazari

 

Some time ago I was talking to a friend of mine who is rather spiritual. When talking about the existence versus no existence of afterlife (heaven and hell), she said there must be an afterlife otherwise what is the purpose of all this. Even to fathom the idea of no afterlife sounded scary and made her whole life meaningless to her.

Then I asked her the following question:
What would happen if tomorrow all peo...

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Belief, Powerful and dangerous

Author: Mohammed Nazari

I knew this family doctor who had some different ideas. As long as I knew him he had issues with the college of physicians. Issues from  billing, falsifying medical records, prescribing drugs that he shouldn't have and some sexual charges. However all time he stood strong and was not budging.

He thought of himself as being right and that everyone else was wrong. He never questioned himself, never admitted to any wrong doings and cons...

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Born and raised in Iran, I played Soccer as a child. Well "soccer" is the real football, foot - ball, daaaa. I love the game. Should I have been born in Canada I would have been playing the American football definitely.

World cup is the only sport event that I watch, mainly the final games.  Lionel Messe is known to be one of if not the best soccer player. He is a hero.

Watching the finals of 2014 world cup was very interes...

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Scientific vs Religious Pyramid

Author: Mohammed Nazari

Scientific advancement is like a pyramid, as we get more advanced, we have less differences.

Example:
Imagine different unskilled people, trying to build one exact specific wooden chair.
Unskilled individuals will have a variety of opinions on what type of wood or screws to use, what part to be cut first, and so on. The difference in opinion is simply due to lack of knowledge, eg there are different wood and screws.

Now if you ask diff...
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Brought up into a relatively religious Muslim family, I was taught to believe in God watching my every move. This was how my parents made sure I didn't do anything wrong when nobody was watching.

Any wrong doing, no matter how small, would be punished by going to hell, burning alive for eternity and suffering every single moment. On the other hand every good act would be rewarded by going to heaven, where the reward would be enjoying wine, rivers o...
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What if there was no heaven or hell!

Author: Mohammed Nazari

 At age 25 I left Iran for Dubai, UAE (United Arab Emirates). By far this was the most relieving moment of my life. For the first time in my life I had the financial independence, hope for a better future and most of all "freedom".

When I entered Dubai's airport for the first time, the first thing that caught my eye was a very beautiful lady in a mini skirt.  I gazed at her,  seconds later I realized that my jaw was literally dro...

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Most Iranian are very proud people. We take pride in everything. From what we wear, model of car we drive, the old Iranian history in which we had no influence in and so on. Since we take pride in almost every small thing, it becomes our identity, to that extent if you say you don't like the color of the shirt we wear or the type of car we drive, can be offensive to some of us.

Very frequently we take pride of the city we were...
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       Scientific versus religious language

For the longest time I was wondering why people have different understandings when it comes to  religion, but exactly the opposite when it comes to science.

The difference in understandings of the religion is to the extent that even at times followers of the same or different religions kill each other, while all religions promote peace and love.

In religion as individuals rise in the hierarchy get to have more differenc...

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                                               Entitlement to our history is a source for evil

                                                            Author: Mohammed Nazari

I was born in Iran. Iranian often take big pride in our old history. Often we prefer to call ourselves as Persian versus Iranian. After all Persia is known as an old emperor while Iran is known for trying to develop nuclear bomb and a trouble maker.

Sometime ago along with Donna, a Canadian friend of mine, on Youtu...

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Process of Change

Author: Mohammed Nazari

Education is the key, although "forcing change" might be needed at times it is not as effective as "education"

Travelling, mixing with others, listening to other point of views, and seeing the life styles of others will helps us to expand our views, helping us to decide wether to make a change or become more adamant on who we are.

As a general rule there are the following four stages in a "change process":

1. Unconscious Incompetence (people who do not ...

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We "change" when 1. we know there is a different way 2. There is a need for "change".

Author: Mohammed Nazari

"Need for change" will happen for one the following reasons:

1. Mandatory (Outside in change), such as law, social norm, reward on punishment

2. Voluntarily (Inside out change), inside drive and motive

1. Mandatory (Outside in change):

Law:

An immigrant to Canada has to follow the rules of Canada and can't behave the way they did back home, e.g. drive the speed limit, no bribing t...

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Who are you?

Author: Mohammed Nazari

 Often we introduce ourselves with names and designations that 1. traditionally is used or 2. how we would like to be known E.g.,  I was born in Iran (now proudly Canadian), I do blogging on "Thinking 101", I am a Physical Therapist, I like running.

Although this is a very quick way of introducing myself, it is imperative to differentiate between:

1. Inherited identity (Iranian)

**The race, gender or religion we are born into, or history of our f...

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Do you believe in words or action

Author: Mohammed Nazari

Sometime ago I had a client who came to see me for his lower back pain. I am a physical therapist by profession. After my assessment I explained my findings and my suggested treatment.

Previous to him starting treatment with me he had seen a specialist who had referred him for MRI.

My diagnosis was that he had some mechanical problems. Although he had some degeneration, it did not seem to be any worse than normal for his age plus ...

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       Are you a Leader, Manager or Follower (at the right time)?

Recently at a friend's house party I ran into this gentleman, let's call him Johnny. Johnny seemed to be pretty smart, however he kept changing jobs and did not last for more than a few months to a year in each one. When I asked him why, Johnny had an explanation for each one of them as to why the employer was doing things wrong which made it difficult for him to stay in that position.

One of Johnny's...

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Having a good "Structure" is more important than having good "People" for having a good "Society"

Author: Mohammed Nazari

When driving, we stop at a red light, even when there are no other cars crossing. One might question this rule by asking: if there are no other cars crossing why should I stop and not  go through, that's why I crossed the red light. Although in this case this might sound logical, in the long run it does not work. If the law would allow us to use our personal judgment cal...

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You don't have to tolerate people when you understand them

 Author: Mohammed Nazari

I left Iran for Dubai, UAE, in 1993. It was one of the best days of my life. I felt I was free, something that we take for granted in Canada. Most of the population in Dubai are foreign workers. It was very easy for me to find multiple Iranian friends as well as friends of any other nationality. Due to Dubai's multinational state most people were aware of other customs and habits.

 I arrived in Toronto Ju...

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The night before the Grey Cup, the great Canadian football final, I had gone to the Earl's lounge for drinks with some friends. Roughriders, the Regina team had made it to the Grey Cup. In Regina we are a huge fan of our football team. The Lounge was very busy and loud. A lot of young people, dressed in green (the roughriders color), cheering for the riders. As a matter of fact some had travelled from places as far as Vancouver and ...
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Invention of the Penicillin was a huge step forward in the history of medicine. I believe with only one small change we will have the same huge step forward in our mental health as an individual as well as a society. And it is by saying “I don’t know, when we don’t know, and ask more questions instead of making comments”.


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The reality is, we do not have the absolute science, knowledge...
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In order to clarify, the meaning of "Culture" in this writing is: Acquiring certain behaviors, customs and beliefs that are copied from the past without them being supported by science or by statistics.

As well the meaning of "Civilization" in this writing is: the ability to live within society in harmony, understanding your own rights and respecting other’s, and the fact that the society keeps changing which may require changes ...
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And how do we get there?
Is happiness a multiplication of pleasure?


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Live or Die  

Author: Mohammed Nazari

A logical way to structure a better life

This writing is my opinion in reference to my research and personal experience. I believe the more logical and practical we are the better life becomes.

Logic and practicality is the structure and foundation of a house, while emotions and feelings are the furniture and the decor.

From my understanding depression is more  frequent among realistic people compared to optimistic individuals. Perhaps this is because depress...

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