Category: Uncategorized

  • Rendering geometry at the mysql prompt

    WITH RECURSIVE
        corner (corner) AS (SELECT 1 UNION ALL SELECT corner + 1 FROM corner WHERE corner < 4),
        points (points) AS (SELECT ST_PointN(ST_ExteriorRing(ST_ENVELOPE(p)), corner) FROM corner, worldmap WHERE country = @country),
        minmax (mlon, mlat) AS (SELECT ST_X(points), ST_Y(points) FROM points),
        bounds AS (SELECT FLOOR(MIN(mlon)) AS minLon, CEILING(MAX(mlon)) AS maxLon, FLOOR(MIN(mlat)) AS minLat, CEILING(MAX(mlat)) AS maxLat FROM minmax),
        lon (lon) AS (SELECT minLon FROM bounds UNION ALL SELECT lon + 1 FROM bounds, lon WHERE lon < IF(minLon < 0, 0, maxLon)),
        lat (lat) AS (SELECT minLat FROM bounds UNION ALL SELECT lat + 1 FROM bounds, lat WHERE lat < maxLat)
    SELECT 
        RTRIM(GROUP_CONCAT(IF(ST_CONTAINS(p, POINT(lon, lat)), '**', ' ') ORDER BY lon SEPARATOR '')) AS map
    FROM lat, lon, worldmap
    WHERE country = @country
    GROUP BY lat 
    ORDER BY lat DESC;
    
    +-------------------------+
    | Afghanistan             |
    +-------------------------+
    |            **           |
    |      ****** ****** **** |
    |     ****************    |
    |   ********************  |
    |  ******************     |
    |  ******************     |
    |  ******************     |
    |   **********            |
    |   **********            |
    +-------------------------+
    
    +---------+
    | Albania |
    +---------+
    |  **     |
    |  **     |
    |  **     |
    +---------+
    
    +---------------------+
    | Algeria             |
    +---------------------+
    |        ******       |
    |         ****        |
    |         ****        |
    |        ******       |
    |       ********      |
    |     ************    |
    |  ****************** |
    |  ****************** |
    |  ****************** |
    |    **************   |
    |      **********     |
    |       ********      |
    |         ****        |
    |          **         |
    +---------------------+
    
    +----------------------------+
    | Angola                     |
    +----------------------------+
    |   ********                 |
    |   ********   **            |
    |    ******** ******         |
    |    ****************        |
    |    ******************      |
    |    ******************      |
    |    ********************    |
    |   ************************ |
    |   ******************       |
    |   ******************       |
    |  ********************      |
    |  ** ******************     |
    +----------------------------+
    
    +-----------------------------------+
    | Argentina                         |
    +-----------------------------------+
    |         **  **                    |
    |        ************               |
    |        **************             |
    |       ********************        |
    |       **********************   ** |
    |       ********************   **** |
    |      **************************** |
    |      **************************   |
    |      ************************     |
    |     **************************    |
    |     ************************      |
    |     ************************      |
    |      **********************       |
    |     **************************    |
    |     **************************    |
    |    ****************************** |
    |    ****************************   |
    |    ******************             |
    |    ******************             |
    |    ************ ****              |
    |    ************                   |
    |   ****************                |
    |    ************                   |
    |    **********                     |
    |    ********                       |
    |    **********                     |
    |   **************                  |
    |  ************                     |
    |  ************                     |
    |   ******                          |
    |      **                           |
    |       **                          |
    +-----------------------------------+
    
    +---------+
    | Armenia |
    +---------+
    |  ****   |
    |   **    |
    +---------+
    
    +------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
    | Australia                                                                          |
    +------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
    |                      ****       ****                                               |
    |                    ************     ****                                           |
    |                **  ************      ****                                          |
    |               ********************      ********                                   |
    |              **************************    ********                                |
    |            ********************************** **********                           |
    |            ************************************************                        |
    |           **************************************************                       |
    |         **********************************************************                 |
    |      ******************************************************************            |
    |   ************************************************************************         |
    |   **************************************************************************       |
    |   ****************************************************************************     |
    |   ******************************************************************************   |
    |    ******************************************************************************  |
    |   ******************************************************************************** |
    |    ******************************************************************************  |
    |    ******************************************************************************  |
    |    ******************************************************************************  |
    |     ****************************************************************************   |
    |     **************************    ****************************************         |
    |     ******************          **********************************                 |
    |    **********                ** ****************************                       |
    |      ****                  ** ************************                             |
    |                          **  **********************                                |
    |                             ********************                                   |
    |                              ******** ****                                         |
    |                                 **   **                                            |
    |                                  ** ****                                           |
    |                                   ******                                           |
    |                                   ****                                             |
    +------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
    
    +----------------+
    | Austria        |
    +----------------+
    |       **       |
    |     ********** |
    |  **** ******** |
    +----------------+
    
    +----------------+
    | Azerbaijan     |
    +----------------+
    |      ****      |
    |   ************ |
    |   ************ |
    |   **  ******   |
    +----------------+
    
    +---------+
    | Bahamas |
    +---------+
    |  **     |
    +---------+
    
    +------------+
    | Bangladesh |
    +------------+
    |  **        |
    |  ********  |
    |  ******    |
    |  ********  |
    |     **     |
    +------------+
    
    +-------------------+
    | Belarus           |
    +-------------------+
    |      ****         |
    |     ********      |
    |   **************  |
    |  **************** |
    |  **************   |
    +-------------------+
    
    +---------+
    | Belgium |
    +---------+
    |  ****** |
    |    **   |
    +---------+
    
    +--------+
    | Belize |
    +--------+
    |  **    |
    |  **    |
    +--------+
    
    +---------+
    | Benin   |
    +---------+
    |    **   |
    |  ****** |
    |   ****  |
    |   **    |
    |   **    |
    |   **    |
    +---------+
    
    +-----------+
    | Bhutan    |
    +-----------+
    |   **      |
    |  ******** |
    +-----------+
    
    +---------------------------+
    | Bolivia                   |
    +---------------------------+
    |     **                    |
    |  ********                 |
    |   ********                |
    |   ************            |
    |   ****************        |
    |  ******************       |
    |  ******************       |
    |  **********************   |
    |  ************************ |
    |   **********************  |
    |   **************   **     |
    |   ************            |
    |   **** ****               |
    +---------------------------+
    
    +------------------------+
    | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
    +------------------------+
    |  ******                |
    |   ******               |
    |    **                  |
    +------------------------+
    
    +----------------------+
    | Botswana             |
    +----------------------+
    |       **             |
    |   **********         |
    |   ************       |
    |   **************     |
    |   ****************** |
    |  ****************    |
    |   ************       |
    |   **********         |
    |   ****               |
    +----------------------+
    
    +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
    | Brazil                                                                           |
    +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
    |                **                                                                |
    |              ******                                                              |
    |            **********       ****                                                 |
    |             ********    **********                                               |
    |       ****** ********************************                                    |
    |      ************************************** **                                   |
    |       ************************************ ********                              |
    |       ************************************ ************                          |
    |       ************************************************************               |
    |       **************************************************************             |
    |    ************************************************************************      |
    |   ****************************************************************************   |
    |   ****************************************************************************** |
    |   ****************************************************************************** |
    |    **************************************************************************    |
    |    ** ******** ************************************************************      |
    |           ********************************************************               |
    |            ******************************************************                |
    |              ************************************************                    |
    |                ********************************************                      |
    |                ******************************************                        |
    |                ********************************************                      |
    |                  **************************************                          |
    |                   ************************************                           |
    |                   ************************************                           |
    |                   **********************************                             |
    |                   **********************************                             |
    |                   **********************************                             |
    |                     **********************                                       |
    |                      ****************                                            |
    |                      **************                                              |
    |                       **********                                                 |
    |                       **********                                                 |
    |                     **************                                               |
    |                    **************                                                |
    |                   **************                                                 |
    |                    **********                                                    |
    |                       ****                                                       |
    |                       **                                                         |
    +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
    
    +-------------------+
    | Brunei Darussalam |
    +-------------------+
    |  **               |
    +-------------------+
    
    +--------------+
    | Bulgaria     |
    +--------------+
    |      **      |
    |  **********  |
    |  ******** ** |
    +--------------+
    
    +--------------+
    | Burkina Faso |
    +--------------+
    |     ******   |
    |   ********** |
    |   ********** |
    |  ******      |
    |   ****       |
    +--------------+
    
    +---------+
    | Burundi |
    +---------+
    |   **    |
    |   **    |
    +---------+
    
    +-------------+
    | Cambodia    |
    +-------------+
    |  ****** **  |
    |  ********** |
    |  ********   |
    |   ******    |
    +-------------+
    
    +------------------+
    | Cameroon         |
    +------------------+
    |        **        |
    |       ****       |
    |       ****       |
    |      ****        |
    |      ******      |
    |     ********     |
    |   **********     |
    |  ************    |
    |   ************   |
    |   ************** |
    |        ****      |
    +------------------+
    
    +------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
    | Canada                                                                                                                                                           |
    +------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
    |                                                                  ****** **********                                                                               |
    |                                                      ******** ******** **********************************                                                        |
    |                                                ********   **** ************ ************************                                                             |
    |                                           ****  ****************** ********************************                                                              |
    |                                       ******       ************ **** ****************                                                                            |
    |                               ******         **** ******         ********************                                                                            |
    |                       ********                    **       ******************                                                                                    |
    |                      **** ** ********   **** **  ** ** ****     ** **                                                                                            |
    |                            **  ****** ****      ****  ****** ************************                                                                            |
    |                   ********** ****                  **  ******** **                                                                                               |
    |                   ************** **** **    ******   ** ******** ********  ****** ******************                                                             |
    |                  **********  ******************** ******    ******** **    ********************** ********                                                       |
    |                         ****************************        ********   ** **********************************                                                     |
    |            **** ****         **********************************    **********       ****** **** ********************                                             |
    |  ********  **** ******************************    ************  ******** ********** ******** **    ******  **  ** **************                                 |
    |  ****************************************************        ********     **** **************  ********     **** ** ****************                             |
    |  ****************************************************************** ********************** ****************************         ******************               |
    |  ************************************************************************************************************** ****         **************   ****               |
    |  ************************************************************************************************************ ******     ************************                |
    |  ********************************************************************************************************   ************        ****************                 |
    |  ******************************************************************************************************                   ******** ****                          |
    |  ************************************************************************************************             ** ************                                    |
    |  **********************************************************************************************                 **************                                   |
    |    ******************************************************************************************                 **************     **                              |
    |         ********************************************************************************                ******************    ****                               |
    |          **********************************************************************************               ******************************                         |
    |           **************************************************************************************             ******************************                      |
    |             **************************************************************************************        **  ******************************                     |
    |              **********************************************************************************************    ****************************************          |
    |          **** ************************************************************************************************   ********************************************    |
    |           **  **************************************************************************************************  ********************************************** |
    |               ************************************************************************************************  **********************************************   |
    |                ******************************************************************************************************************************************  **    |
    |                **** ********************************************************************************************************************         ****            |
    |                  **** ****************** **** ********** ****** ** **** ****************************************************  ****      **********               |
    |                                                        ******************************************       **************                                           |
    |                                                          ********************************  ******          ****                                                  |
    |                                                            **************************   ********  ****                                                           |
    |                                                             ******************        ********                                                                   |
    |                                                             ************          ****                                                                           |
    |                                                             ******                                                                                               |
    |                                                            ****                                                                                                  |
    +------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
    
    +---------------------------+
    | Central African Republic  |
    +---------------------------+
    |         ****              |
    |       ********            |
    |     **************        |
    |   **********************  |
    |  ************************ |
    |  **********************   |
    |   ******                  |
    +---------------------------+
    
    +------------------------+
    | Chad                   |
    +------------------------+
    |   ****                 |
    |    ********            |
    |    ************        |
    |    ****************    |
    |    ****************    |
    |    ****************    |
    |    ****************    |
    |   ******************** |
    |  ******************    |
    |  ******************    |
    |   **************       |
    |    **************      |
    |    **************      |
    |    ************        |
    |   **********           |
    |    ****                |
    +------------------------+
    
    +--------------------------------------------------+
    | Chile                                            |
    +--------------------------------------------------+
    |                                         ****     |
    |                                         ****     |
    |                                         ****     |
    |                                         ****     |
    |                                         ******   |
    |                                         ******   |
    |                                         ****     |
    |                                         ****     |
    |                                         ****     |
    |                                        ****      |
    |                                        ****      |
    |                                        ****      |
    |                                        **        |
    |                                        **        |
    |                                        **        |
    |                                        ****      |
    |                                       ****       |
    |                                       ****       |
    |                                      ****        |
    |                                      ****        |
    |                                      ****        |
    |                                      ****        |
    |                                      ****        |
    |                                     ** **        |
    |                                     **           |
    |                                      ****        |
    |                                      ****        |
    |                                      ****        |
    |                                      ****        |
    |                                    ** **         |
    |                                     **           |
    |                                     ****         |
    |                                    ************  |
    |                                     ************ |
    |                                       ** ****    |
    |                                        ** ****** |
    +--------------------------------------------------+
    
    +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
    | China                                                                                                    |
    +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
    |                                                 **********                                               |
    |                                                 ************                                             |
    |                                                **************                                            |
    |                                                ****************                                          |
    |               **                             **************************                                  |
    |              ********                          **** ************************  ****                       |
    |              **********                             ******************************                       |
    |           ******************                         **********************************                  |
    |         **************************                  **  **********************************               |
    |         ******************************                ****************************************           |
    |         ********************************              ******************************************         |
    |        ************************************************  **********************************************  |
    |     **************************************************************************************************** |
    |  ********************************************************************************************  ******    |
    |  ****************************************************************************************                |
    |   ****************************************************************************************               |
    |   ************************************************************************************************       |
    |     ****************************************************************************************             |
    |       **********************************************************************************                 |
    |       ************************************************************************************               |
    |        **********************************************************************************                |
    |       ********************************************************************************** **              |
    |        ************************************************************************************              |
    |           ******************************************************************************                 |
    |             ********************  **************************************************                     |
    |              ******** ****      ********************************************                             |
    |                           ********************************************                                   |
    |                           ******************************************                                     |
    |                          ******************************************                                      |
    |                           **************************************   **                                    |
    |                            ********** **********************    **                                       |
    |                            ****     ************                                                         |
    |                                      **                                                                  |
    |                                     ****                                                                 |
    +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
    
    +----------------------------+
    | Colombia                   |
    +----------------------------+
    |           **               |
    |         ****               |
    |        ******              |
    |       ********             |
    |      **********            |
    |      ************          |
    |      ********************  |
    |      ********************  |
    |      ********************  |
    |      ********************  |
    |     ********************** |
    |     ******************     |
    |        **********          |
    |         **********         |
    |          ********          |
    |             **             |
    |             **             |
    +----------------------------+
    
    +-------------+
    | Congo       |
    +-------------+
    |       ****  |
    |    **  **** |
    |     ******  |
    |    ******** |
    |     ******  |
    |     ****    |
    |  ********** |
    |  ********   |
    |  **         |
    +-------------+
    
    +-------------------------------------+
    | Congo DRC                           |
    +-------------------------------------+
    |               ****                  |
    |        ************************     |
    |        ************************     |
    |        **************************   |
    |       **************************    |
    |       ************************      |
    |       ************************      |
    |      **************************     |
    |      **************************     |
    |     ****************************    |
    |  ********************************** |
    |      **************************     |
    |      ****** ********************    |
    |       **   ******************       |
    |           **************            |
    |            ************             |
    |            ** ********              |
    |                 **                  |
    |                  **                 |
    +-------------------------------------+
    
    +------------+
    | Costa Rica |
    +------------+
    |   **       |
    |    **      |
    +------------+
    
    +------------+
    | Croatia    |
    +------------+
    |    ****    |
    |  ****   ** |
    |    **      |
    +------------+
    
    +----------------+
    | Cuba           |
    +----------------+
    |    ****        |
    |  **   ******   |
    |        ******  |
    |         ****** |
    +----------------+
    
    +--------+
    | Cyprus |
    +--------+
    |  ****  |
    +--------+
    
    +----------------+
    | Czech Republic |
    +----------------+
    |  ************  |
    |   ** ****      |
    +----------------+
    
    +----------+
    | Denmark  |
    +----------+
    |   **     |
    |  **** ** |
    |  **  **  |
    +----------+
    
    +----------+
    | Djibouti |
    +----------+
    |   **     |
    |  **      |
    +----------+
    
    +--------------------+
    | Dominican Republic |
    +--------------------+
    |   ******           |
    +--------------------+
    
    +------------------------+
    | Ecuador                |
    +------------------------+
    |              **        |
    |             ********** |
    |             ********** |
    |             ********** |
    |              ****      |
    |             ****       |
    +------------------------+
    
    +-------------------------+
    | Egypt                   |
    +-------------------------+
    |  ******** **********    |
    |  ********************   |
    |  **************** **    |
    |   ******************    |
    |   ****************      |
    |  ********************   |
    |  ********************   |
    |  ********************** |
    |   ********************  |
    |    ** ** ** **** **     |
    +-------------------------+
    
    +-------------+
    | El Salvador |
    +-------------+
    |   **        |
    +-------------+
    
    +-------------------+
    | Equatorial Guinea |
    +-------------------+
    |   ****            |
    +-------------------+
    
    +-----------+
    | Eritrea   |
    +-----------+
    |   ****    |
    |  ******   |
    |  ******** |
    |      **   |
    |       **  |
    +-----------+
    
    +-------------+
    | Estonia     |
    +-------------+
    |    ******** |
    |      ****   |
    +-------------+
    
    +----------+
    | Eswatini |
    +----------+
    |   **     |
    |  **      |
    +----------+
    
    +--------------------------------+
    | Ethiopia                       |
    +--------------------------------+
    |      ********                  |
    |      **********                |
    |     **************             |
    |    **************              |
    |    ******************          |
    |    ********************        |
    |   **************************** |
    |    ************************    |
    |    **********************      |
    |     ********************       |
    |       ******                   |
    +--------------------------------+
    
    +------------------+
    | Falkland Islands |
    +------------------+
    |    **            |
    +------------------+
    
    +-------------------------+
    | Finland                 |
    +-------------------------+
    |   ****   ******         |
    |      ************       |
    |      ************       |
    |       **********        |
    |        ********         |
    |      **************     |
    |    ******************** |
    |    ******************   |
    |    **************       |
    +-------------------------+
    
    +-------------+
    | France      |
    +-------------+
    |     ****    |
    |  ********** |
    |    ******   |
    |     ****    |
    |     ****    |
    |     ****    |
    |     ****    |
    +-------------+
    
    +---------------+
    | French Guiana |
    +---------------+
    |  ****         |
    |  ******       |
    |  ****         |
    +---------------+
    
    +-----------------------------+
    | French Southern Territories |
    +-----------------------------+
    |                   **        |
    +-----------------------------+
    
    +---------------+
    | Gabon         |
    +---------------+
    |     ****      |
    |   **********  |
    |   ********    |
    |  ************ |
    |   **********  |
    |    **         |
    +---------------+
    
    +--------------+
    | Georgia      |
    +--------------+
    |  ******      |
    |   ********** |
    +--------------+
    
    +---------------------+
    | Germany             |
    +---------------------+
    |     **** ****       |
    |    **************   |
    |   ****************  |
    |  ****************** |
    |   ************      |
    |     **********      |
    |    **********       |
    +---------------------+
    
    +-----------+
    | Ghana     |
    +-----------+
    |   ******  |
    |   ******  |
    |   ******  |
    |   ******  |
    |  ******** |
    |  ******** |
    |   **      |
    +-----------+
    
    +---------------+
    | Greece        |
    +---------------+
    |    ********** |
    |   **** **     |
    |    ****       |
    |    ******     |
    |     **   **   |
    |       **      |
    +---------------+
    
    +---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
    | Greenland                                                                                                     |
    +---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
    |                             ** **********************  **************                                         |
    |                ****************  ******** **************************   ****** ****  ****                      |
    |           ********************************************************************************** **************** |
    |          ****************************************************************************************** ****      |
    |       ************************************************************************************************** **   |
    |   ******************************************************************************************************      |
    |    ********************************************************************************************************** |
    |        **      ********************************************************************************               |
    |                  ****************************************************************************                 |
    |                   **********************************************************************                      |
    |                     ********************************************************** ****                           |
    |                    ******************************************************************                         |
    |                         ************************************************** ******                             |
    |                     **** **********************************************************                           |
    |                        ****************************************************                                   |
    |                      ******************************************                                               |
    |                      ****************************************                                                 |
    |                        ********************************                                                       |
    |                       **********************                                                                  |
    |                        **********************                                                                 |
    |                         ******************                                                                    |
    |                          **************                                                                       |
    |                           ************                                                                        |
    |                               **                                                                              |
    +---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
    
    +-----------+
    | Guatemala |
    +-----------+
    |   ****    |
    |   ****    |
    |  ******   |
    |   ****    |
    +-----------+
    
    +----------------+
    | Guinea         |
    +----------------+
    |    **********  |
    |   ************ |
    |   ************ |
    |       ******   |
    |        **      |
    +----------------+
    
    +---------------+
    | Guinea-Bissau |
    +---------------+
    |  ******       |
    |   **          |
    +---------------+
    
    +-----------+
    | Guyana    |
    +-----------+
    |   **      |
    |   ****    |
    |  ******** |
    |    ****   |
    |    **     |
    |    ****   |
    |    ****** |
    +-----------+
    
    +-------+
    | Haiti |
    +-------+
    |    ** |
    +-------+
    
    +---------------+
    | Honduras      |
    +---------------+
    |  ************ |
    |   ******      |
    +---------------+
    
    +-------------+
    | Hungary     |
    +-------------+
    |    ******** |
    |  ********** |
    |   ****      |
    +-------------+
    
    +------------------------+
    | Iceland                |
    +------------------------+
    |   **** ************    |
    |   ******************** |
    |    ************        |
    +------------------------+
    
    +------------------------------------------------------+
    | India                                                |
    +------------------------------------------------------+
    |           **                                         |
    |        ********                                      |
    |        **********                                    |
    |        ********                                      |
    |        **********                                    |
    |       **************                                 |
    |      ****************              ****              |
    |     ********************           **********        |
    |   ******************************        ******       |
    |    ************************************ ************ |
    |    ************************************    ****      |
    |  ****************************************   ******   |
    |  ****************************************    **      |
    |   ****************************************           |
    |    ** ****************************                   |
    |      ****************************                    |
    |       **********************                         |
    |       ********************                           |
    |       ******************                             |
    |       ****************                               |
    |        ************                                  |
    |        ************                                  |
    |        ************                                  |
    |         ********                                     |
    |         ********                                     |
    |          ******                                      |
    |          ****                                        |
    +------------------------------------------------------+
    
    +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
    | Indonesia                                                                |
    +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
    |  ****                                                                    |
    |   ****         **       ****                                             |
    |    ****                ****                                              |
    |     ******             ******                                            |
    |     ************    ****************** ** ****     **                    |
    |      ********      ****************  **                                  |
    |       ********     ****************  ** **        ******** **            |
    |       ******** **    ************   ****        ** ******   ****         |
    |        ********** **  ************  **** **      ****  **** ************ |
    |         ******         **    ** ****         ** **************           |
    |          ****              **                 ********                   |
    |            **                                ******                      |
    |             ****************                        ******               |
    |                 ********                       ********                  |
    |                       **                       **                        |
    |                          **   **                                         |
    +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
    
    +------------------------------------+
    | Iran                               |
    +------------------------------------+
    |  ** ****                           |
    |  **************    ****            |
    |  ********************************  |
    |   ******************************** |
    |   ******************************** |
    |   ******************************   |
    |    ****************************    |
    |     **************************     |
    |     ****************************   |
    |        **********************      |
    |        **********************      |
    |         **********************     |
    |           **** **************      |
    |               ********             |
    +------------------------------------+
    
    +-------------------+
    | Iraq              |
    +-------------------+
    |      ****         |
    |     ********      |
    |     ********      |
    |    **********     |
    |  **************** |
    |    ************** |
    |      **********   |
    |       ********    |
    +-------------------+
    
    +-----------+
    | Ireland   |
    +-----------+
    |    **     |
    |  ******** |
    |   ******  |
    |  ******   |
    +-----------+
    
    +--------+
    | Israel |
    +--------+
    |  **    |
    |  **    |
    |  **    |
    +--------+
    
    +-------------------+
    | Italy             |
    +-------------------+
    |       **          |
    |   ** ********     |
    |  ************     |
    |   **  ****        |
    |      ******       |
    |       ********    |
    |    **    ******** |
    |    **      ** **  |
    |    **       **    |
    |        ********   |
    |          **       |
    +-------------------+
    
    +---------+
    | Jamaica |
    +---------+
    |   **    |
    +---------+
    
    +------------------------------+
    | Japan                        |
    +------------------------------+
    |                    **        |
    |                    ********  |
    |                   ********** |
    |                  ****        |
    |                  ****        |
    |                  **          |
    |               ********       |
    |              **********      |
    |           **************     |
    |          ****** **           |
    |        **** **               |
    |         **                   |
    +------------------------------+
    
    +----------+
    | Jordan   |
    +----------+
    |   ****** |
    |   ****   |
    |   ****   |
    +----------+
    
    +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
    | Kazakhstan                                                                        |
    +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
    |                        ****                                                       |
    |                  **********************  **                                       |
    |                  ********************************                                 |
    |                **************************************                             |
    |     **********  ****   ************************************ **                    |
    |   **************************************************************************      |
    |  ******************************************************************************** |
    |   ****************************************************************************    |
    |    **************************************************************************     |
    |     ******************************************************************            |
    |    **************    ******************************************                   |
    |     ************      **************************************                      |
    |     ************          **************** ************                           |
    |      ****  **           ********                                                  |
    +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
    
    +-------------------+
    | Kenya             |
    +-------------------+
    |   ******   **     |
    |   **************  |
    |    **********     |
    |   ************    |
    |  **************   |
    |  **************** |
    |    ************   |
    |      ******       |
    |       **          |
    +-------------------+
    
    +--------+
    | Kuwait |
    +--------+
    |   **   |
    +--------+
    
    +----------------------+
    | Kyrgyzstan           |
    +----------------------+
    |      **              |
    |   ****************** |
    |     ********         |
    |  ********            |
    +----------------------+
    
    +------------+
    | Laos       |
    +------------+
    |   **       |
    |  ******    |
    |  ********  |
    |   ******   |
    |    ** **   |
    |      ****  |
    |       **** |
    |       **** |
    |       **   |
    +------------+
    
    +----------------+
    | Latvia         |
    +----------------+
    |      **        |
    |   ************ |
    |       ****     |
    +----------------+
    
    +---------+
    | Lebanon |
    +---------+
    |  **     |
    +---------+
    
    +---------+
    | Lesotho |
    +---------+
    |  ****   |
    |  ****   |
    +---------+
    
    +----------+
    | Liberia  |
    +----------+
    |   **     |
    |  ******  |
    |   ****** |
    |    ****  |
    +----------+
    
    +-----------------------------------+
    | Libya                             |
    +-----------------------------------+
    |   **********    **********        |
    |   **************   ********       |
    |  ******************************   |
    |  ******************************   |
    |  ******************************** |
    |  ******************************** |
    |  ******************************   |
    |   ****************************    |
    |    **************************     |
    |      **  ******************       |
    |            ************           |
    |              ********             |
    |                ****               |
    +-----------------------------------+
    
    +-------------+
    | Lithuania   |
    +-------------+
    |   ********  |
    |    ******** |
    |     **      |
    +-------------+
    
    +------------+
    | Luxembourg |
    +------------+
    |  **        |
    +------------+
    
    +--------------+
    | Madagascar   |
    +--------------+
    |       **     |
    |      ******  |
    |      ******  |
    |    ********  |
    |   ********** |
    |   ********** |
    |   ********** |
    |   ********   |
    |  **********  |
    |  **********  |
    |  ********    |
    |  ********    |
    |   ******     |
    +--------------+
    
    +--------+
    | Malawi |
    +--------+
    |   **   |
    |   **   |
    |   **   |
    |   **   |
    |   **** |
    |    **  |
    |    **  |
    +--------+
    
    +----------------------------+
    | Malaysia                   |
    +----------------------------+
    |   ****              ****   |
    |   ******            ****** |
    |   ******          ****     |
    |    ****         ******     |
    |     ****       ******      |
    +----------------------------+
    
    +----------------------------+
    | Mali                       |
    +----------------------------+
    |        ******              |
    |        **********          |
    |        ************        |
    |        **************      |
    |         ************       |
    |         ************       |
    |         ************       |
    |         ************       |
    |         ************       |
    |   ************************ |
    |  ********************      |
    |   **************           |
    |      ********              |
    |      ******                |
    +----------------------------+
    
    +--------------------------+
    | Mauritania               |
    +--------------------------+
    |       **   ****          |
    |       ****************   |
    |       ************       |
    |      **************      |
    |      **************      |
    |  **********************  |
    |   ********************** |
    |   ********************** |
    |   ********************** |
    |   ********************** |
    |      ****************    |
    |       **                 |
    +--------------------------+
    
    +-----------------------------------------------+
    | Mexico                                        |
    +-----------------------------------------------+
    |    ******                                     |
    |    **** ****************                      |
    |     **  ****************                      |
    |      ** ************************              |
    |      **** ************************            |
    |      ****   ********************              |
    |        **  ************************           |
    |        ****  **********************           |
    |          **  ********************             |
    |          **   ******************              |
    |               ****************                |
    |               ****************       ******** |
    |               ******************      ******  |
    |                ******************    ******** |
    |                  **************************** |
    |                    ******************         |
    |                       ****  ****              |
    +-----------------------------------------------+
    
    +---------+
    | Moldova |
    +---------+
    |   **    |
    |    **   |
    +---------+
    
    +----------------------------------------------------------------+
    | Mongolia                                                       |
    +----------------------------------------------------------------+
    |             **                                                 |
    |            **********                                          |
    |     **********  ********************      ****                 |
    |  **********************************************************    |
    |    ****************************************************  **    |
    |     ********************************************************** |
    |      **************************************************        |
    |        ************************************ ****               |
    |          ********************************                      |
    |           ****************************                         |
    |                  ****                                          |
    +----------------------------------------------------------------+
    
    +------------+
    | Montenegro |
    +------------+
    |  ****      |
    +------------+
    
    +--------------------------+
    | Morocco                  |
    +--------------------------+
    |             ********     |
    |             **********   |
    |           ************** |
    |          **************  |
    |          ************    |
    |          ********        |
    |         ****             |
    |       ********           |
    |      **********          |
    |     **** ******          |
    |     ****                 |
    |    ******                |
    |   ******                 |
    |   ******                 |
    +--------------------------+
    
    +----------------------+
    | Mozambique           |
    +----------------------+
    |           **         |
    |      ************    |
    |      ************    |
    |       **********     |
    |  ******** ********** |
    |  ******** ********** |
    |    **************    |
    |    ********          |
    |    ******            |
    |    ****              |
    |    ******            |
    |   ********           |
    |   ********           |
    |   ********           |
    |    ****              |
    +----------------------+
    
    +-------------------+
    | Myanmar           |
    +-------------------+
    |       **          |
    |     ******        |
    |     ******        |
    |    ******         |
    |    ********       |
    |   ************    |
    |  **************   |
    |  **************** |
    |   ************    |
    |    ******         |
    |    ******         |
    |    **** **        |
    |    **  **         |
    |       **          |
    |        **         |
    |        **         |
    |        **         |
    |        **         |
    +-------------------+
    
    +-----------------------------+
    | Namibia                     |
    +-----------------------------+
    |   **                        |
    |  ************************** |
    |   ****************          |
    |    **************           |
    |    **************           |
    |     ************            |
    |     **********              |
    |     ************            |
    |     ************            |
    |     ************            |
    |      ********               |
    |      ********               |
    +-----------------------------+
    
    +---------------+
    | Nepal         |
    +---------------+
    |  ****         |
    |  ********     |
    |   ********    |
    |      ******** |
    +---------------+
    
    +-------------+
    | Netherlands |
    +-------------+
    |    ****     |
    |   ****      |
    +-------------+
    
    +---------------+
    | New Caledonia |
    +---------------+
    |   **          |
    +---------------+
    
    +-----------+
    | Nicaragua |
    +-----------+
    |    ****   |
    |  ******** |
    |   ******  |
    |    ****   |
    +-----------+
    
    +-----------------------------+
    | Niger                       |
    +-----------------------------+
    |             ****            |
    |           ************      |
    |         ****************    |
    |        ******************   |
    |      ********************** |
    |      ********************** |
    |      ********************** |
    |     **********************  |
    |  ************************** |
    |  ************************** |
    |   ******  ** **             |
    +-----------------------------+
    
    +--------------------------+
    | Nigeria                  |
    +--------------------------+
    |    **** ** **********    |
    |   ********************** |
    |   ********************   |
    |   ********************   |
    |  ********************    |
    |  ********************    |
    |  ******************      |
    |    **********            |
    |     ******               |
    +--------------------------+
    
    +-------------+
    | North Korea |
    +-------------+
    |      ****   |
    |    ******   |
    |  ******     |
    |   ****      |
    |   **        |
    +-------------+
    
    +-----------------+
    | North Macedonia |
    +-----------------+
    |  ****           |
    |  **             |
    +-----------------+
    
    +--------------------------------------+
    | Norway                               |
    +--------------------------------------+
    |                     **   **          |
    |                ** ****************** |
    |               ******  ******         |
    |          **  ****                    |
    |            ****                      |
    |          ****                        |
    |         ******                       |
    |       ******                         |
    |     **********                       |
    |   **************                     |
    |   **************                     |
    |   **************                     |
    |   **********                         |
    |    **                                |
    +--------------------------------------+
    
    +---------------+
    | Oman          |
    +---------------+
    |      ****     |
    |      ******** |
    |      ******** |
    |      ******   |
    |     ******    |
    |   **********  |
    |   ********    |
    |   ****        |
    +---------------+
    
    +--------------------------+
    | Pakistan                 |
    +--------------------------+
    |             **********   |
    |             ************ |
    |           **********     |
    |           **********     |
    |           **********     |
    |        ****************  |
    |        **************    |
    |   ********************** |
    |    ******************    |
    |     ************         |
    |   ******************     |
    |        ********          |
    |         **               |
    +--------------------------+
    
    +------------+
    | Panama     |
    +------------+
    |     ****** |
    |    **  **  |
    +------------+
    
    +----------------------------+
    | Papua New Guinea           |
    +----------------------------+
    |        **                  |
    |   **                       |
    |   ******                   |
    |   ********                 |
    |   ************ ******   ** |
    |   **********               |
    |   ****  ****               |
    |   ****   ****              |
    |         **** **            |
    +----------------------------+
    
    +-----------------+
    | Paraguay        |
    +-----------------+
    |   ******        |
    |  **********     |
    |  **********     |
    |   ************  |
    |    ************ |
    |      ********   |
    |       ******    |
    |      ******     |
    +-----------------+
    
    +-------------------------+
    | Peru                    |
    +-------------------------+
    |        **               |
    |        ****             |
    |      **************     |
    |  **  ****************   |
    |  ******************     |
    |  ****************       |
    |    ************         |
    |    ************         |
    |     ************        |
    |     ************ **     |
    |      ****************   |
    |      ****************** |
    |       ****************  |
    |       ****************  |
    |        ************     |
    |         **********      |
    |           ******        |
    |             **          |
    +-------------------------+
    
    +------------------+
    | Philippines      |
    +------------------+
    |      ****        |
    |      ****        |
    |     ****         |
    |      ****        |
    |      ** **       |
    |      **  **      |
    |         ****     |
    |         ****     |
    |    **   **       |
    |   **       **    |
    |  **     ******** |
    |       ** ******  |
    |      **   **     |
    +------------------+
    
    +---------------------+
    | Poland              |
    +---------------------+
    |  ****************** |
    |  ****************** |
    |  ****************** |
    |  ****************** |
    |      **********     |
    +---------------------+
    
    +----------+
    | Portugal |
    +----------+
    |   ****   |
    |   ****   |
    |  ******  |
    |   **     |
    +----------+
    
    +-------------+
    | Puerto Rico |
    +-------------+
    |  ****       |
    +-------------+
    
    +-------+
    | Qatar |
    +-------+
    |  **   |
    +-------+
    
    +-------------------+
    | Romania           |
    +-------------------+
    |        **         |
    |   **************  |
    |  **************** |
    |   **************  |
    |    ******** **    |
    +-------------------+
    
    +--------------------+
    | Russian Federation |
    +--------------------+
    |  **                |
    |  ******            |
    |  ************      |
    |   **************** |
    |      ******        |
    +--------------------+
    
    +--------+
    | Rwanda |
    +--------+
    |   **   |
    +--------+
    
    +-------------+
    | Saint Lucia |
    +-------------+
    |  **         |
    +-------------+
    
    +----------------------------------------+
    | Saudi Arabia                           |
    +----------------------------------------+
    |      ****                              |
    |     **********                         |
    |     ************                       |
    |  **************************            |
    |   **************************           |
    |   ****************************         |
    |    ****************************        |
    |     **************************         |
    |      **************************        |
    |      ****************************      |
    |       ******************************** |
    |       ******************************** |
    |        ****************************    |
    |         **********************         |
    |         **************                 |
    |          **   **                       |
    +----------------------------------------+
    
    +--------------+
    | Senegal      |
    +--------------+
    |   ******     |
    |  **********  |
    |   ********   |
    |   ********** |
    +--------------+
    
    +----------+
    | Serbia   |
    +----------+
    |   **     |
    |   ****   |
    |   ****** |
    |    ****  |
    +----------+
    
    +--------------+
    | Sierra Leone |
    +--------------+
    |  ******      |
    |   ****       |
    +--------------+
    
    +--------------+
    | Slovakia     |
    +--------------+
    |   ********** |
    |   **         |
    +--------------+
    
    +----------+
    | Slovenia |
    +----------+
    |  ****    |
    +----------+
    
    +-----------------+
    | Solomon Islands |
    +-----------------+
    |   **            |
    |   ** **         |
    |       **        |
    +-----------------+
    
    +--------------------+
    | Somalia            |
    +--------------------+
    |    **    ********  |
    |     ************** |
    |      ************  |
    |         ****       |
    |        ******      |
    |       ******       |
    |       ******       |
    |   ************     |
    |   **********       |
    |  **********        |
    |  ******            |
    |  ****              |
    +--------------------+
    
    +--------------------------------+
    | South Africa                   |
    +--------------------------------+
    |             ********           |
    |            **********          |
    |           **************       |
    |        ******************      |
    |     ********************** **  |
    |     ************************** |
    |  **********************  ****  |
    |   ********************  **     |
    |   **************************   |
    |    **********************      |
    |   ********************         |
    |    ************                |
    +--------------------------------+
    
    +-------------+
    | South Korea |
    +-------------+
    |  ****       |
    |  ******     |
    |  ******     |
    |  ****       |
    +-------------+
    
    +-----------------------+
    | South Sudan           |
    +-----------------------+
    |          **           |
    |          **           |
    |   **   ** ****        |
    |  ******************** |
    |  ******************   |
    |    ****************   |
    |    ****************   |
    |     ****************  |
    |        ******         |
    +-----------------------+
    
    +----------------------+
    | Spain                |
    +----------------------+
    |  ****************    |
    |   ****************** |
    |     **************   |
    |     **************   |
    |     ************     |
    |    **************    |
    |     **********       |
    +----------------------+
    
    +-----------+
    | Sri Lanka |
    +-----------+
    |  ****     |
    |  ****     |
    +-----------+
    
    +-----------------------------------+
    | Sudan                             |
    +-----------------------------------+
    |      ** ** ** **  **              |
    |      ************************     |
    |      ************************     |
    |    ****************************   |
    |    ****************************** |
    |    ****************************   |
    |     ************************      |
    |   ****************************    |
    |   ****************************    |
    |  ******************************   |
    |   ******************** ****       |
    |   ******************** **         |
    |    **** ****** **  **             |
    |    **                             |
    +-----------------------------------+
    
    +-----------+
    | Suriname  |
    +-----------+
    |   ******  |
    |  ******** |
    |   ******  |
    |    **     |
    +-----------+
    
    +--------------------------+
    | Sweden                   |
    +--------------------------+
    |        ************      |
    |       **************     |
    |     ******************** |
    |     **************       |
    |   ****************       |
    |   ************           |
    |   **********             |
    |   **********             |
    |   ************           |
    |  ************            |
    |  **********              |
    |   ********               |
    |   ****                   |
    +--------------------------+
    
    +-------------+
    | Switzerland |
    +-------------+
    |   ******    |
    |     **      |
    +-------------+
    
    +---------------+
    | Syria         |
    +---------------+
    |       ****    |
    |   **********  |
    |  ************ |
    |   ********    |
    |  ******       |
    +---------------+
    
    +---------------+
    | Tajikistan    |
    +---------------+
    |   **          |
    |   **********  |
    |   **** ****** |
    |  **   **      |
    +---------------+
    
    +-----------------------+
    | Tanzania              |
    +-----------------------+
    |   ******              |
    |   **********          |
    |   **************      |
    |   ****************    |
    |  ******************** |
    |  ******************   |
    |   ******************  |
    |   ******************  |
    |    ****************   |
    |       **********      |
    |       **********      |
    +-----------------------+
    
    +------------------+
    | Thailand         |
    +------------------+
    |    **            |
    |  ********        |
    |  ********** **   |
    |   ************   |
    |   ************** |
    |   ************** |
    |    ******        |
    |    ******        |
    |   **             |
    |   **             |
    |   ****           |
    |    **            |
    +------------------+
    
    +-------------+
    | Timor-Leste |
    +-------------+
    |  ****       |
    +-------------+
    
    +----------+
    | Tunisia  |
    +----------+
    |   ****** |
    |   ****   |
    |   ****   |
    |  ******  |
    |   ****** |
    |    **    |
    |    **    |
    +----------+
    
    +----------------------------------------+
    | Turkiye                                |
    +----------------------------------------+
    |   **       **                          |
    |   **  **************** ** ******       |
    |   ************************************ |
    |   ************************************ |
    |    **********************************  |
    |     ************************           |
    |            **                          |
    +----------------------------------------+
    
    +-------------------------------+
    | Turkmenistan                  |
    +-------------------------------+
    |   ****   ******               |
    |  ********************         |
    |  **********************       |
    |  **************************   |
    |  ********  ****************** |
    |           ********            |
    |            ****               |
    +-------------------------------+
    
    +-------------+
    | Uganda      |
    +-------------+
    |      **     |
    |   ********  |
    |    ******** |
    |   ********  |
    |  ********   |
    |  **         |
    +-------------+
    
    +-------------------------------------+
    | Ukraine                             |
    +-------------------------------------+
    |          ********                   |
    |   ************************          |
    |   ****************************      |
    |  ********************************** |
    |  ********  **********************   |
    |         ****************            |
    |        ****   **                    |
    |             ****                    |
    +-------------------------------------+
    
    +----------------------+
    | United Arab Emirates |
    +----------------------+
    |      **              |
    |   ******             |
    |   ******             |
    +----------------------+
    
    +------------------+
    | United Kingdom   |
    +------------------+
    |       **         |
    |   ** ****        |
    |     ******       |
    |     ****         |
    |   ************   |
    |        ****      |
    |      **********  |
    |     ************ |
    |      **********  |
    +------------------+
    
    +-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
    | United States                                                                                                                                                     |
    +-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
    |                       ******                                                                                                                                      |
    |                  ********************************** ****                                                                                                          |
    |                 ********************************************                                                                                                      |
    |               ************************************************                                                                                                    |
    |                   ****************************************                                                                                                        |
    |              **************************************************                                                                                                   |
    |              **************************************************                                                                                                   |
    |                    **************************************                                                                                                         |
    |                **********************************************                                                                                                     |
    |               ************************************************                                                                                                    |
    |               ****************************  **  **********                                                                                                        |
    |             **** ************************ ******       ****                                                                                                       |
    |                   ****************               ********                                                                                                         |
    |                       ****  **                ****                                                                                                                |
    |                      ****                     **                                                                                                                  |
    |                    ****                         ** **                                                                                                             |
    |                                               ******                                                                                                              |
    |                                                                   **  **     **   ** **  **                                                                       |
    |                                                        **************************************************************************                                 |
    |                                                         ****************************************************************************                ****          |
    |                                                         ********************************************************************************             ******       |
    |                                                         **********************************************************************************         ************   |
    |                                                        ************************************************************************************      **************   |
    |                                                        ************************************************************************************   ******************  |
    |                                                        **********************************************************************************  ********************** |
    |                                                        ******************************************************************************************************     |
    |                                                         **************************************************************************************************        |
    |                                                         ************************************************************************************************          |
    |                                                          ********************************************************************************************             |
    |                                                          ********************************************************************************************             |
    |                                                           ******************************************************************************************              |
    |                                                            ****************************************************************************************               |
    |                                                              **********************************************************************************                   |
    |                                                               ****************************************************************************                        |
    |                                                                   ******************************************************************                              |
    |                                                                           ************************************************                                        |
    |                                                                            ******************************    ** ****                                              |
    |                                                                                **********             ****                                                        |
    |                                                                                 ****               ****                                                           |
    |                                                                                 ****               ****                                                           |
    |                                                                                                   **                                                              |
    +-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
    
    +-------------+
    | Uruguay     |
    +-------------+
    |   **        |
    |  ********** |
    |  ********** |
    |  ********** |
    +-------------+
    
    +-------------------------------+
    | Uzbekistan                    |
    +-------------------------------+
    |  ********                     |
    |  ************                 |
    |  ********************         |
    |  ****   ************          |
    |        ********************** |
    |         ************          |
    |           ********            |
    |             ****              |
    +-------------------------------+
    
    +---------+
    | Vanuatu |
    +---------+
    |  **     |
    +---------+
    
    +----------------------------+
    | Venezuela                  |
    +----------------------------+
    |     **                     |
    |   ********    **           |
    |   ********************     |
    |   ************************ |
    |   ************************ |
    |    **********************  |
    |        ************        |
    |        **************      |
    |        **********          |
    |        ******              |
    |        ********            |
    |         **                 |
    +----------------------------+
    
    +-------------+
    | Vietnam     |
    +-------------+
    |    **       |
    |  ********   |
    |   ********  |
    |    ****     |
    |    **       |
    |     **      |
    |      **     |
    |       **    |
    |       **    |
    |       ****  |
    |       ****  |
    |      ****** |
    |      ****   |
    |     **      |
    |    **       |
    +-------------+
    
    +-----------------------+
    | Yemen                 |
    +-----------------------+
    |        ********       |
    |   ****** **********   |
    |  ******************** |
    |  ****************     |
    |   ********            |
    |   ****                |
    +-----------------------+
    
    +---------------------------+
    | Zambia                    |
    +---------------------------+
    |         ******            |
    |         **********        |
    |    **    **********       |
    |    ******** **********    |
    |     ******** ********     |
    |  ************************ |
    |  ******************       |
    |  **************           |
    |   **********              |
    +---------------------------+
    
    +-----------------+
    | Zimbabwe        |
    +-----------------+
    |     ****        |
    |    **********   |
    |  ************** |
    |  ************** |
    |   ************  |
    |    **********   |
    |      ****       |
    +-----------------+
    
  • Mental Activity

    the verbal quibbling in which great minds, for want of better occupation, frequently expended all their energies.

    Pike, Luke Owen, M.A. “Woman and Political Power.” Popular Science May 1872. Google Books Web. 29 Apr. 2014.

    Was he talking about metaphysical arguments from the middle ages, or YouTube comments?

  • Science and Immortality

    A summary of the article “Science and Immortality“, by Rev. T. W. Fowle, Popular Science May 1872.

    Modern science affects belief in two ways:

    1. Believers in science require proof from observable facts alone.
    2. Believers in science are biased against any supernatural explanation.

    Four common arguments for belief in immortality:

    1. It is an “original intuition”, meaning we were created with the belief.
    2. It is a universal belief.
    3. It follows necessarily from the existence of God.
    4. It is essential as a motive for morality.

    Rebuttal:

    1. It could have arisen after creation, and must have if Evolution is true as many men of science believe.
    2. It is not universally believed. Moses made no indication of believing in an afterlife, Buddha believed that eternity was non-existence, Julius Caesar believed in no-afterlife enough to consider death too good for his enemies.
    3. To a man of science demanding proof, the idea of God is just an attempt to explain our past which we don’t understand, and immortality is likewise an attempt to explain our future.
    4. Buddhists are moral, and immortality is not their motive. Pharaoh believed in immortality, and yet the resulting behavior was immoral. So it is neither necessary nor sufficient for morality.

    It would be sufficient proof for life after death if a man were resurrected. Jesus was resurrected, and would be sufficient proof if the account were believed. Those who testified to the Resurrection may have been mistaken, but there is no reason to assume them to be liars. They were multiple men, who were able to see something amazing and miraculous and describe it in a sober and measured manner. We take historical testimony as factual all the time and rely upon it to be true. The only reason anyone doubts the testimony of the apostles is that it requires a supernatural element. When the miraculous is involved, then a certain turn of mind will simply assume that any testimony is always mistaken.

    There is the Religious and, for lack of a better word, the “Rational,” at war within each of us, and we tend to one side or the other. Do we dwell on the present natural world or on hopes for the future? The rise of scientific thinking will cause doubts about the supernatural, but it will also help clear away erroneous dogmas. The bias to one side or the other will be created and sustained by moral means. Each side, religious and scientific, has moral value to offer.

    There is no intellectual shortcut to the Christian faith; we cannot logically or scientifically prove the way to Christ (and here are my favorite quotes from this article: You can’t win by shouting). The conclusion is to live as Christ taught, and so win by faith what we cannot by force.

  • You can’t win by shouting

    …denunciations of moral turpitude only harden the hearts of men who ask for the bread of evidence and receive stones in the shape of insults.

    …all attempts on the part of religion to confute the “skeptic” by purely intellectual methods are worse than useless. There is no intellectual short cut to the Christian faith…. It is not because men love the truth, but because they hate their enemies, that in things religious they desire to have what they call an overwhelming preponderance of argument on their side of the question, the possession of which enables them to treat their opponents as knaves or fools or both.

    Fowle, Rev. T. W. “Science and Immortality.” Popular Science May 1872. Google Books Web. 26 Apr. 2014.

  • Fools think the government can fix everything.

    Minds in which the conceptions of social actions are thus rudimentary, are also minds ready to harbor wild hopes of benefits to be achieved by administrative agencies. In each such mind there seems to be the unexpressed postulate that every evil in a society admits of cure; and that the cure lies within the reach of law.

    [A superstitious conciousness] may even wonder how any being can reverence a thing shaped with his own hands; and yet it readily entertains subtler forms of the same feelings…. there is a tacit supposition that a government moulded by themselves has some efficiency beyond that naturally possessed by a certain group of citizens subsidized by the rest of the citizens.

    …the instinct of self-preservation in each institution soon becomes dominant over every thing else; and maintains it when it performs some quite other function that that intended, or no function at all.

    Spencer, Herbert. “The Study of Sociology.” Popular Science May 1872. Google Books Web. 26 Apr. 2014.

  • Incentive

    Eden: I’m not hungry. I don’t want to eat dinner. What’s that on the counter?
    Daddy: Chocolate milk.
    Eden: Am I going to drink some?
    Daddy: No, you said you didn’t want anything.
    Eden: …. I think I’m hungry now.