One Plus One

Most kids will know that 1 + 1 = 2. But to adults. It has quite a variety of answers. The following is a list of answers.

1. 1 + 1 =2 (simple arithmetic)
2. 1 + 1 =11 (simply put two 1 together)
3. 1 + 1 = II （roman number)
4. 1 + 1 = ∥ (parallel symbol
5. 1 + 1 = 1 (logical OR function)
6. 1 + 1 = 1 (overlap two 1)
7. 1+1 = 王 (if you turn your head side ways)
8. 1+1 = 土 （if you overlap two 1 with + and look side ways)
9. 1 + 1= 士 (same way except using a smaller 1)
10. 1 + 1 = 干 (same way but turn your head the other side)

The above is based on the principle that the ones stays in its natural vertical form. If you can place any one or both side ways,  It has another dimension.

1. 1 + 1 = T (one vertical one horizontal)
2. 1 + 1 = + (same as above but move the horizontal one to the middle.
3. 1 + 1 = L (move the horizontal one all the way down and to the right.
4. 1 + 1 = Γ ( Greek Gamma character)
5. 1 + 1 = 二 (both placed horizontally)
6. 1 + 1 = 一 (overlap both horizontally)
7. 1 + 1 = V (bottom end touch each other)
8. 1 + 1 = X (both touch center)
9. 1 + 1 = Λ (Greek Lamda character)
10. 1 + 1 = = (equal symbol)
11. 1 + 1 = > (greater than symbol)
12. 1 + 1 = < (less than symbol)

The above is not an exhaustive list. There are probably more that can be made out of it.

So, don't just take things as is, think out of the box and you find a lot of simple things can be viewed in different ways.

Defending our faith

As a Christian, we are to defend our faith. However, does it means that we have to do it every time some one says something against our faith?

Singapore have a law on Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act. Which explicitly prohibits "causing feelings of enmity, hatred, ill-will or hostility between different religious groups" (Wikipedia). Some company thus have rules against religious activities and discussions while conducting business.

While in this working environment, if some one starts to provoke you by saying something against Christianity, do we have to defend our faith regardless?

Jesus have a solution. Matthew 22:17-21 says "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's". Jesus is saying that taxes are taxes and religion is religion. While you are doing your duty, you should do your duty and not mix religion in it.  Why break the rule just because some one did not observe religious harmony and badmouth Christianity?

On a Facebook page, some friend of mine posted two religious quotes side by side. One is based on Old Testament (Joshua 6:21) total destruction of a city another portray his religion as a peaceful religion ( i will not disclose the religion nor the quote). Obviously, he is trying to portray Christianity as violent and destructive compared to the peaceful nature of his religion.

Now I can defend Old Testament by saying that it is the act that is commanded by God for a specific purpose and reason at that specific time. It cannot be applied to Christianity in general. The quote is simply out of context. I will not venture into the person's religious quote and draw a different picture. By doing so I am in breach of causing hostility on other religion. The person is probably trying to provoke a hostile response.

By Just defending our Bible, I already achieved the purpose of defending our faith. There is no need to bring down the other part of the statement by the person. It served the purpose and still maintains religious harmony.