Freethinker's corner

How to Have a Happy Life … January 20, 2014

2014/01/20
This is my version. If you don’t think at least a little like I do it may seem meaningless, perhaps even naive, though, I assure you it is not. This entire idea took a half century to be realized.

The following sentence is not meant in the physical sense, neither is it meant in the egotistical or narcissistic sense. It is all mental:
- To love others you must first love yourself.
The mystery is what is meant by that, and, once that is understood, how to go about it.

You cannot treat others well unless you treat yourself well. Your health is extremely important for your happiness.

Think of your body as you would if it were like that of a beloved thoroughbred that you own. You certainly wouldn’t stick cigarettes in its mouth and light them up. You might give it a couple of beers on a Saturday night but you wouldn’t let it get staggering fall-down drunk. You would provide the best nutrition you could, but you wouldn’t let it overeat. You would also exercise the beloved creature so that it remains healthy and sound. Think of your body as a beloved animal that you look out for and care for. We are, after all, animals.

Simple, isn’t it. Too bad people try to make it so hard and make so many excuses not to take care of that thoroughbred. It’s up to you to find a way to instill this mindset, I can’t do it for you.

Remember: Sex is not love.

Also: Listen to your body.

…and don’t wait 50 years.
Some May Be Too Weak … January 20, 2014

2014/01/19

I now present a possibility… perhaps there are those individuals who should not abandon religion.

To begin let’s consider the girl character on the movie “Paul”, the one which was highly religious, having been made so by her father. Upon being released from her religion (see the movie) she abandoned her morality. Swearing as well as other taboos were readily considered. How insane is that? Yes, it was fiction, but it parallels much behavior that I have seen.

I have noticed that many of the new atheists that you see and meet have this same weakness, that is, they think they have to become someone other than who they have been, in short: that they must become bad to the bone. Naturally, the reaction of former Christian friends and acquaintances is expressed in a knowing glance and the expression “I could see that coming.”

Perhaps those who think they must abandon their morals should stay religious. This does not mean that being religious helps them, only that, perhaps with association with other religious they might not be so quick to carry out the heinous acts which they are prone. Yes, I am asserting that these people are simply bad people, and are bad with or without religion. The only thing that has up to this point held their tendencies in check is close association with those who do not present the opportunity to bring their desires to fruition. These people would, however, just as quickly betray their brethren as they might any one else. I say, let them betray their brethren.

This leaves us in a quandary. When you attempt to “proselytize” them, or deprogram, whichever term you prefer, how do you know whether you are releasing someone who can handle it versus someone who is really a very bad person? The inevitable question most will ask also will be: “how do you define a bad person”? Does the terms rob, cheat, and murder still apply? I would think so.

Those that need the crutch of religion to keep from being in jail should not be deprived of it.
My Persian Flaw … January 15, 2014

2014/01/15

No one likes to communicate about their flaws. I haven’t at this point decided whether or not to publish this. I freely admit this is my flaw and my problem. I am aware that it is a big one, and perhaps one many people share.

I remember. Startling, yes? Then again, that is only the source of the problem, not the problem itself as it is of what those memories are comprised.

I remember every single derogatory thing ever said or done to me with perfect clarity. The good? Rarely remembered.

The problem is a bit worse, though, as the things, if they remained individual, would not be so calamitous. They accumulate, they accrue, they boil, and putrefy. Unless the person tends daily to grace my presence thereby somewhat abating the pressure, in their absence it becomes an obstacle, an obstacle to any shared future.

I have tried various means to alleviate this phenomenon to no avail. The memories, the accursed memories stand starkly, unavoidably, in my gaze. Sometimes it seems the memories are finally beaten only to return during a restless night, magnified and in even more detail.

These memories of slights, insults, and attacks grow yearly. In many eyes they might seem insignificant, petty. Once upon a time, that is how they were to me. Then someone chose to become a distant acquaintance. Efforts to remember the good times together led to the recalling of slights, insults, and personal attacks. More time passes without an outlet, the pressure builds, the most slight of passing remarks becomes the product of a flaming tongue. An insult that would be given no attention becomes a knife that penetrates deeply. An infinitesimal attack on my character becomes a major rift, and then the damage is done, hatred, pure and unceasing ensues. Each slight, insult, and attack becomes equal and equally judged a reasonable reason to end the friendship. That’s where it stands today.

I am not making an invitation for solutions. None will be welcome. The only way this will end well is if the person who treated me so callously were to return and make amends. Any friendship, though, would have to restart from scratch.

(my reference to Persian flaw indicates in no way that I think this is my only flaw in an otherwise persona of perfection)
Ours Is Not to Reason Why …. January 13, 2014

2014/01/12

There is an often said phrase that well meaning people deliver to those who suffer tragedies or disappointments: “Everything happens for a reason.”

Thankfully, this phrase is absolutely false.

A tornado takes out a suburban neighborhood. Every house is destroyed but one. Many die. Try telling the distraught why their families had to be eliminated by mouthing “Everything happens for a reason”. I hope you like knuckle sandwiches. Hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and even accidents have no hidden reason behind them, no noble goal.

What reason could there be for a small child sitting in a cancer ward under a death sentence? What lesson could be in session? Only the sick minded could imagine a reason for such a tragedy. We are not discussing cause. A cause of cancer could be genetic or one of many others. But, there is no reason.

The cause of a tornado or a hurricane might be a low pressure system. The cause of an earthquake could be a slipping and sliding of subterranean rocks. The cause of an accident may be a moment of inattentiveness. But, there is no reason. Reason implies that there is a force behind the event, a conscious force, a malevolent or scheming force. Random events occur. You might plan ahead to avoid them, like being out of town when the hurricane hits. Like driving defensively and with great care to keep your attention riveted upon traffic. However, some events are like a funeral, in that, you cannot be out of town for your own. Yet, there is no malice behind them. No active entity or force schemed to bring them on. There is no “Final Destination”.

I would be extremely angry at someone or something if the phrase were true and a reason existed for every malady and misfortune to which humanity is inclined.

Though the planet often seems more like some laboratory in which someone or something is attempting to ascertain just how many ways a human being can suffer and die, the simple truth is that sometimes (and you can substitute the other four letter word) “crap happens”.
Fervently Stating Lies … January 8, 2014

2014/01/08

Without hesitation and with conviction the lies are boldly spoken. Over and over again they are sounded. Lies are accepted as truth in this fashion.

The conservative right in America uses repetition to convince the gullible, the weak-minded to take up the chant and spread the lies far and wide.

Though the reference for some is not understood, the right, it seems, is like a broken record. It cannot go beyond the lies and see the truth. They are stuck, stuck by design.

Those who think, though they speak against the lies, are drowned out by the incessant chants carried upon the waves of sound by the hordes of those handicapped of mental clarity.

Those who reason sometimes become resigned to the acceptance of lies by the population. Some cease to object and thereby give passive consent to the lie by remaining silent. Others with softer spines regard objection and dissent as disruptive and mean-spirited. “Can’t we all just get along?” they cry.

The most worrisome fear of those who watch this daily saga of right-wing design is that these monsters who have pulled the wool over the eyes of the growing host of fervent parrots will gain office and power. Once upon that stage they will be able to carry out the elimination of all safeguards and finally achieve the goal: The enslavement of all.
Begone! … January 6… 2014

2014/01/05

Is it enough to work toward the eradication of religious beliefs which prompt the adherent to impose their religion, morality, on everyone? Should instead the goal be the total eradication of all religious belief, which is, after all, delusional?

Should alliances be formed between non-believers and secular minded religious despite the delusional nature of belief as well as the always present potential of the migration of these secular minded religious toward more radical fundamentalist positions?

In light of the controlling nature of religion do any truly secular minded theists exist or is this moderate position simply a means of escaping eradication? Is this simply a case of the virus protecting itself? Their religious faith requires proselytizing work. They must spread the contagion. To deny this they must deny the command of their god.

Most atheists would agree that religion is an exercise in ignorance. Should the retention of ignorance be encouraged, allowed to propagate?

Religion taints the thought patterns of the possessed and most likely skews the results of any scientific investigations. Perhaps some fields of endeavor should be excluded from the religious. Should scientists engaged in certain fields be screened for religious belief or affiliation?

What about politics? How can a religious person who serves some god before his/her constituents be trusted? After all, since there is no god, the mind of god is in the mind of man and that man would be instructing the “public servant”. A devious leader within the religion could become de facto puppet master. Perhaps the religious should be excluded from public office?

Realistically, it will have to be admitted that there are some who, possessing weak psyches, will always need religion as a crutch to withstand the stresses of every day reality. These people, like children, depend upon support of their parent figure. Unable to take responsibility in making the important decisions in their lives they defer those decisions to what they believe is a wiser entity. In reality what they do is “let the cards fall where they may” instead of taking an active part in directing their own lives. These people have no business in public office as they would act indecisively, relying on others to make their decisions (the de facto puppet masters).

Admittedly this is a debate of questionable value since the Constitution of the United States prohibits religious intervention. More…
Oh… You’re So Funny! … January 1, 2014

2014/01/01

Mock me not, heathen.

Should atheists mock christians? Some people indicate we shouldn’t as it makes us look bad, and thereby hurts our cause.

But what’s an atheist to do when the mind-locked christian displays a stubborn ignorance to recognize reason and logic? What can you do when logical fallacies and warped semantics are all you are given to chew upon?

When, after destroying an opponent with flawless reason, that opponent fails to notice that they have been destroyed and continues to use the argument you just invalidated, what course can you take?

I think when it’s clear that the christian simply has inadequate knowledge and intelligence to know that they have been annihilated it’s time to reach into your bag of derisiveness. If after you have already intellectually blown them out of the water and they fail to leave it’s time to ridicule them out of the town on a rail.

No, it’s not pretty, and sometimes I admit I feel sorry for the so and so. I will not argue ignorance with ignorance, they have too much experience. No… I will make fun of them, I will berate them, I will make them so uncomfortable they will wish they never came.

Does this make me mean? Does this hurt the cause of atheism? Does atheism have a cause? Maybe it does display my humanity a little too much, but what’s an atheist to do? After all, I speak only for myself, and no one else. Who knows… perhaps the christian will sit down and realize later on that he came to the battle unarmed, having left his reason, his logic, on the dresser at home.

A SPECIAL NEW YEAR’S MESSAGE:

Are you still in the closet? Don’t you think it’s time for atheists everywhere to consider getting out of there? It’s the only way to stop the crazy.
Here Today Gone Tomorrow … December 31,2013

2013/12/31

The House across the street….
2013 in review

2013/12/31

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2013 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 3,700 times in 2013. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 3 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.
Residues Are Not Harmless … December 30, 2013

2013/12/29

Just a little remains of the virus. Yet, should you take risks by going out in the cold without adequate protection, or exerting yourself a little bit much, that virus that brought you misery can rebound and provide another round. On the other hand, the residue, should you realize its presence, might make you over cautious and steps that might have strengthened you, are not taken.

A twinge of the virus may make you hold back and the strength that might have overcome a future trial is lost. All it takes is a little. Steps must be taken to eliminate the entirety of the disease. Your immunity to its power is then insured. Your power to fight it, enhanced.

Even a little faith is dangerous. A twinge of fear, a tremble in one’s countenance, reveals the presence of the god virus, the faith virus. This residue of faith reveals itself when you speak against the word, or the deity it represents. It catches in your throat, revealing your weakness. The virus still lurks within you.

If you speak short of saying “there is no god” and rather say “I don’t believe in god”, the virus still lurks, still is viable, and can return. If you say some blasphemous mouthing and look up expecting some bolt from the sky, even in jest, the virus may still be present, though perhaps in nearly undetectable levels.

“Question with boldness even the existence of a god” said Thomas Jefferson. Speak with boldness and confidence when asserting the non-existence of any deity. It is hard to overcome the mental conditioning of religion, but it can be done. Do not hesitate to speak against the mythologies religion represents, and do not back down. In the end you will find that the religious have nothing with which to defend their beliefs. Though there might be some arguments made that are purposeless, vague, and complex supporting these myths, no matter its complexity, when boiled down it is empty, and without foundation. If you run out of arguments, or just get tired of their BS, start playing them for the fools they are. It’s easy, I’ve done it.