Freethinker's corner

Who Shoulders the Blame? …………March 25, 2013.

2013/03/17
There is much good in humanity. From our humble beginnings as an ape-like creature many millions of years ago we have risen to dominate the planet. Against nearly insurmountable adversities we have prevailed. Among animals we are indeed a marvel.

There are many things, on the other hand, that could be better. Our present population is at the breaking point, perhaps even passed the breaking point, of the planet’s resources.

Population growth is upward bound and out of control. Could this planet support even more? Sure it can support more. The question is: Would life be worth living?

There are many starving people on this planet. Arable land is rapidly becoming depleted. Forests in tropical areas are being cleared faster by the minute, but such land is of questionable value. The soil becomes depleted within a short while and then more forest must be cleared to make new land available.

Water is a major concern. The demand is such that even a brief drought can cause human misery to deepen. Western parts of the United States are screaming for new water resources as a burgeoning population demands more and more. The mighty Colorado is mighty no more.

Means are at hand for population control. Contraceptives are available at the corner store. Family planning is available in most cities. Even abortion is presently legal. Family planning and contraception as well as abortion are, however, opposed.

Public schools can teach sex education. Public schools however are inhibited from giving clear instruction about contraceptives and family planning.

Seems to me whatever would inhibit clear instruction in methods of population control or oppose such methods when they are freely available, would be responsible for the suffocating scale of our present population. Those responsible for this population disaster also is in opposition to much more.

Science is opposed by the same group that spurns population attenuation by reliable means.

Evolution, proven science, is opposed by this group. The intent instead is to teach ancient fables in the classrooms. Much more in the science classroom as well as the laboratory is targeted by this well-meaning but misguided horde. As a result, the United States is on the verge of losing the lead it held in science to other more open-minded countries.

The opposition to science by this “heavenly” horde has threatened the whole of education. They demand that vouchers be given them so they can send their children to private schools that will indoctrinate them in “heavenly” doctrine. This drains the public schools of funds needed to maintain buildings and pay staff. Many schools cannot, as a result, afford the basic needs for instruction to be carried out. The public schools always have done as good a job as any private school, but propaganda distributed widely by the “heavenly” horde has many convinced otherwise. Vouchers are not desired as a means to send little Bobby or Susan to private school, it is a means of draining funds from public schools, causing the eventual collapse of public schools. Vouchers would never be adequate to pay for private schools, in any case.

Then… there are the wars. Wars for resources, wars for terrorism, wars for “heavenly” principle. Those in power rally the troops to war using tried and true “heavenly” doctrine. Most wars are of “heavenly” origin. Many a foreign country hates what we do.

Deficit climbs

High taxes and a staggering deficit hamper efforts to improve quality of life for all. Wars cost money. Wars have depleted government coffers. The “heavenly” horde pays little tax. The masses must make up the difference in lost taxes and thereby subsidize religious institutions and indoctrination.

Opposition to Global warming, now politically corrected to Climate change, by conservative business groups, who deny that mankind could have any effect on weather on earth and maintain the world was “put” here for our use, have delayed efforts to deter such warming to the point it may be too late.

Name it:
1. Overpopulation
2. Poverty
3. Failing public schools
4. Loss of United States science lead
5. Wars
6. High taxes and the nation’s debt
7. Hatred of the United States
8. Global warming
All of these can be laid, partially for some, wholly in others, at the feet of the “heavenly” horde. They are responsible for these and more.

All for the sake of principles taught from a two-thousand-plus-year-old book of questionable origin written by extremely ignorant men. I blame and I am ashamed for them all.
Roe Vs. Wade… March 13, 2013

2013/03/13

Roe Vs. Wade, a decision of the Supreme Court on abortion, has passed its fortieth anniversary date. This decision has at least one thing in common with the Constitution of the United States in that the religious have fought to destroy it since its inception.

Wild eyed religious zealots have attacked abortion clinics and killed abortion doctors on various occasions through the forty years of Roe Vs. Wade. It doesn’t matter that the doctors which are targeted are members of a church and believe many of the same things as the assailant, all that matters is that the doctor differs on the matter of abortion. Dr. George Tiller, one of a few doctors that performed late term abortions, was shot and killed by an unrepentant madman while within the walls of his church.

Roe Vs. Wade gave women the right to an abortion up to the twenty-forth week of pregnancy. The decision, handed down January 22, 1973, guaranteed this right to an abortion “free from interference from the state.”

No longer were women required to carry a fetus to term regardless of danger to the life of the mother, regardless of deformity of the fetus, regardless of financial circumstance, and regardless of whether the mother and father were mature enough to take on the task of raising the child.

In fact, Roe Vs. Wade gave complete control of conception to women. To me, this does not seem entirely an expression of equal rights.

Many people will no doubt take issue with some of my opinions on this matter. Some will say that I am promoting a patriarchal viewpoint. This is untrue, as I promote equal rights for all. I am not for any particular group gaining an advantage, not even to equalize past inequities. Efforts to promote advantages, even temporary advantages, for select groups of peoples have always ended up perpetuating the very fault they were meant to correct. Also, such ‘temporary’ advantages have always had a way of continuing permanently, with cries that who can know when to end them.

Roe Vs. Wade does not allow for any rights to the male side of the equation. If a woman is dead set against carrying a baby to term, even in a consensual sex situation, the baby is terminated, regardless of the opinion of the other member involved. If a woman is dead set in carrying the baby to term, regardless of the father’s opinion, the baby will be born. It doesn’t matter whether it was a case of deception (woman said she was taking birth control, but wasn’t), or a case of failure on the part of whatever contraceptive device being used, the father is obligated to the child’s support, should the woman decide to give birth.

Some have suggested that the future may involve business-like contracts even in consensual sex situations. The father declaring that should the woman get pregnant that he faces no legal or financial obligation if the fetus is carried to term. Such contracts may in fact already exist. Even so, with the courts only offering protection for a woman’s rights, and a child’s rights, such contracts would no doubt be invalidated, no matter how ironclad.

Any one familiar with child-support cases knows that it doesn’t matter whether a man has only enough money left to live under a bridge, the mother will be granted whatever she needs. One wonders if this is the reason that homeless men walk the streets of major cities. It isn’t always practical to move back home with the parents.

I support abortion rights. To do otherwise consigns women to back alley butchers. Abortions will still occur whether abortion is banned or not. Yet, as it stands now, Roe Vs. Wade seems inequitable.
Make Believe …. March 11, 2013

2013/03/10

Do you remember what seems like the distant past now? Do you remember the you, that you, that existed before it was destroyed by reality? That time when make believe and reality were melded, and it didn’t matter that it was melded?

Childhood, sweet and serene, a magic time. A time where there were few worries, and those worries that existed were extremely transient. A time of play, wherein a few teddy bears and a bed became passengers and a bus, an easy-bake oven and a bench became a play house. Reality interfered even then as it was time for supper, or time for bed.

Santa was there, though not for long, as it was soon discovered that Mom and Pop provided Santa’s goodies. Why would Santa hide presents in the closet? Why would Mom and Pop have secret errands to run at Christmas time, where meanwhile, you ended up at the baby-sitter?

The loss of Santa was the beginning of the end of childhood fantasies. Soon you felt silly, especially in front of friends, holding a teddy bear, or your favorite blanket. Maturity was on its way. At least, for many, it was on its way to a certain extent.

The most devious deception parents foist upon their young ones tends to stick, is reinforced by the parents over time, as the parents hold fast to these lies themselves. Of course that means that these parents believe these lies as truth, having been instilled with them by their own parents. Such perpetuation does nothing to make these lies into truth. They are still lies.

Fear is used to make these lies stick. Fear of death, fear of retribution from two or more terrible demons, fabrications all, depicted as real beings. Fear of death prompts desires for immortality. The promise of immortality is most potent of all. Punishment from a God, or protection from Satan, pick your entities, religion offers all.

Enough clear information remains to invalidate any religion, yet the deception, and the adult make believe, continues.

After indoctrination throughout one’s youth it is difficult to persuade your emotional mind to accept the truth emerging from your logical and reasoning brain. Self-deception is the key. Through reinforcement by fellow believers, through denying the truths presented by science and labeling them works of Satan, the lie continues.

Will humanity ever truly grow up? I hope not. The imagination should not be squashed. However, the destructive, violent, and hateful presence of religion must be eradicated, eviscerated, and extinguished. The perpetuation of this particular kind of make believe needs to end.
But, What of the God Spot?

2013/03/06

Within the last few years there have been reports of the discovery of a God Spot in the brains of human beings. Many theists jumped on the bandwagon proclaiming this discovery and how it must mean that belief in God is a natural state for humankind.

Much more research on this topic has been completed. It is asserted now that there are many areas in the human brain which lend themselves to religious belief. There is much speculation on how these areas arose. My own opinion differs from the mainstream as to how it arose in the human brain. I think it is the result of the same conditioning we have for belief in our parents protective powers when we are children. In the adult, the same adulation we had for our parents is switched over to parent-like deities.

Does a God exist? There are many religions that existed which claimed many Gods. Christianity claims there is only one true God. As John Zande, in his blog “The Superstitious Ape”, in a recent post “now theists listen carefully”, remarked, and I am paraphrasing, ‘If this were so (only one God) then every community of people everywhere would have arrived at the same God’.

I thought this a remarkable observation. This observation reveals the reality that religion is a fabrication.

To explain: In science, a scientific principal is arrived upon through observation, research, and hypothesis. A scientific principal, admittedly, is a human construct. Yet, nature obeys these theories, as they are called, startlingly. Over the ages many scientific theories, principals, have been discovered, lost, and then re-discovered. Once re-discovered they are always very much the same as they were when first discovered. They do not change. Even if humanity were to vanish, nature would continue to obey these principals. If another species arose upon the earth, reached a level of intelligence comparable to our own, and made these scientific discoveries, they would again, be the same.

Numerous civilizations have existed solitarily on this planet. Each one, for whatever reason, developed their own religious belief system. Christianity arose only once. Other various religions arose only once. Each religion that developed was different. Co-habitation with other religions led to some borrowing between them, but originally, they were separate unique fabrications. If religion were to disappear, and redevelop, they would again be different from any that existed before. Religions (Gods) are not discovered. Religions (Gods) are made.

And this is a stark difference between science and religion. Science endures, religion does not. Nature obeys the outlines presented by scientific principals regardless of humanity’s presence. Religion can only exist in humanity’s presence.
Separation March 04, 2013

2013/03/03

The First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States guarantees freedom of religion, its exercise, and the freedom of speech.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

As Jefferson defined it in a letter to the Danbury Baptist Association in Danbury Connecticut:

To messers. Nehemiah Dodge, Ephraim Robbins, & Stephen S. Nelson, a committee of the Danbury Baptist association in the state of Connecticut.

Gentlemen

The affectionate sentiments of esteem and approbation which you are so good as to express towards me, on behalf of the Danbury Baptist association, give me the highest satisfaction. my duties dictate a faithful and zealous pursuit of the interests of my constituents, & in proportion as they are persuaded of my fidelity to those duties, the discharge of them becomes more and more pleasing.

Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should “make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” thus building a wall of separation between Church & State. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.

I reciprocate your kind prayers for the protection & blessing of the common father and creator of man, and tender you for yourselves & your religious association, assurances of my high respect & esteem.

Th Jefferson

Jan. 1. 1802.

Thomas Jefferson was among those who put together our constitution. James Madison kept him up-to-date on the goings on back at home during Thomas’s trip abroad. If anyone knows what something means within the Constitution, it’s Jefferson.

From its inception, the Constitution was under constant barrage by overzealous Christians who felt that the Constitution was not of God. It does not mention God even once. Christians from the beginning felt that this nation should be Christian and have never been happy with how things turned out. They do not realize that it was made purposely secular, purposely neutral, where religion is concerned. The reason it was done this way is simple: A number of the founding fathers had just left England and its oppressive state-sponsored religion. They didn’t want to end up with the same thing they had just left.

What the Religious Right, a loosely connected group of highly conservative Christian Sects, does not understand is that if not for the Separation of Church and State, and the wall of protection it affords, their numbers would not be as great as they are today. The Separation of Church and State has provided the conditions under which Christianity, as well as the huge number of its variations, as well as others, have flourished.

If one large sect of Christianity, or for that matter, of any religion, had become the state’s religion, all other minority religions would have been harassed at best, crushed out of existence at worst.

Why then do they continue? Are they stupid?

To be honest, just as in the population in general, some are stupid, some are ignorant, and some are devious.

If anyone remarks to you that this is supposed to be a Christian Nation and that there is no wall of separation between Church and State, you can be sure they do not have the best intentions in mind. These people mean to force their beliefs on the masses.

Christianity in America is not suppressed in any way, neither are other religions to the extent that they do not interfere with other belief systems. The only reason anyone would want to destroy the Wall of Separation between Church and State is to dominate the country. That is what many Dominionists desire.
A World Without God …….. February 25, 2013

2013/02/24

Atheists often dream what the world would be like without the existence of religion. On the other hand, Christians often lament what the world would be like without God.

Atheists have a legitimate dream. Religion has had a terrible history on this planet. A history of oppression and violence. It has fought any new ideas which developed that threatened its stranglehold on the minds of the masses. It truly would be a delight to see how much further the human race might have progressed by now if it had not been afflicted with the disease of religion.

The Christian lamentations concerning a world without God are disingenuous. After all, it is already the case that this is a world without God. God’s existence is only in the mind of the religious, having been created by a measure of his/her religion and a larger measure of his or her concept of what God should be. Each concept, therefore, each God, is different for each individual.

People who have not been exposed to some religion of some kind on this planet are rare. When found they are quickly exposed to the religion of those who found them. Before they were found, however, they probably were doing just fine without any God concept whatsoever. There are people living without the Christian God on this planet even now, though they may be tainted by other concepts of a God.

So what does the lamentation of Christians have to say about their beliefs? What they are truly saying is that they themselves would be truly lost, truly corrupt, without the concept of God in their heads. They themselves are of evil intent, murderers, and rapists. Without the concept of God in their heads they feel that they would be without restraint in carrying out their deepest depravity. So… who is evil? The Christian or the Atheist? While the Christian sits in a pew chewing his or her fingernails off worrying about meeting some measure of that needed to attain Heaven’s reward, Atheists are simply living life to the fullest, sitting peacefully, sipping coffee. While Christians are in despair worrying about falling by the wayside, or turning to a life of evil, Atheists just keep-on keeping-on.

Seems Atheism is a much more stable configuration to me.
Coming of Age … February 20, 2013

2013/02/20

Chapter One

Humanity Rises

Centuries have passed since the last wars of Humankind. In this year, 2949 C.E., the trials of this species have been surmounted. A stable and sustainable population has been established and, including other colonized worlds, has reached well over a trillion members. Humankind has overcome the tendency to despoil their nests, pollution of all types being brought under complete control. There is no hunger, no war, and no unrest. Most importantly, no one among the peoples considers race. Once that hurdle was overcome, the populations of the world, seeing each other as simply members of the same species, intermarried. There is no white, no black, no yellow, there is only one of blended mix, a light brown Human. A homogenous population exists as a result of several hundred years of Human harmony. Variations still remain, of course, in height, weight, facial features, as well as thought. Heated discussions still occur, but they never precipitate physical violence. It has become a commonplace expectation that at the end of the day, agreement and a shared sense of direction will be reached.

Humanity, having reached near homogenous status, has no need of separation, so the concept of countries and sovereignty has also passed. No matter where a Human resides they are merely Human, not American, Italian, Japanese, or Russian. Humanity has adopted a new philosophy, a new concept has been embraced, that of self-improvement, that of bettering one-self. Gone are the days when such concepts meant bettering one-self by subjugating others. Now helping others is a prerequisite of bettering one-self.

The duly elected Planet Council is discussing the implications of a new archeological find in what was formerly known as the country of Egypt, now known as the BeCan area, named after a prominent Man who died over two hundred years ago after bequeathing to humanity the technological wherewithal to travel faster than the speed of light. This new archeological find may lead Humanity to the resolution of an old and persistent question: Who is God?

Religion, in this year of Humanity, exists no more. Yet there are questions about Human origins that persist. Did a God really exist? Or was it only a fabrication of the extraordinary imagination of the Human mind. Was it a creation as the result of an indigenous feature of the Human brain? Or … was there something more to it?

A Man approaches the podium before the large assemblage within the Common Man auditorium, a part of the elaborate vessel of the Planet Council.

“My fellow Human,” he begins, “We received information last week which is of great importance and may answer some if not all the questions Humanity has had about historic evidence of God, specifically the God known as Jehovah.” The crowd, having been engaged in hushed conversations among themselves, becomes silent.

A Woman stands among the audience and asks for the speaker to indulge a question. “I am an historian, do you mean the God described within the pages of the Bible, the Christian Bible. If that is so… which edition of that Bible are you speaking of?”

The Man at the podium sips from a cup, and plainly perplexed by the question speaks, “I’m sorry, I don’t have that information, in fact I am not familiar with this Christian Bible you speak of. You will have to wait to ask those involved in the dig those questions. They will be here this afternoon along with some artifacts which they promised would be of a nature pertinent to answering questions of religion.”

Resuming His dialogue with the audience, “Please return this afternoon for what promises to be some exciting discoveries. Meanwhile, feel free to explore the facility, have breakfast or lunch, or whatever. Thank you.”

As the auditorium slowly empties a three dimensional holographic display presents current events, news, updates, and general information. The Common Man auditorium alone is a thing to marvel, yet compared to the immensity of this structure it encompasses only one percent. Its size by itself, staggering, this Planet Council vessel, built in 2873, resides in whatever locale is needed. Fabricated from new alloys only previously discovered, this craft, the size of a large city, is capable of interstellar flight. Impervious to most anything except perhaps, and only perhaps, as it hasn’t yet been tested, an exploding nova, its arrival at distant ports is always greeted with celebration. Nevertheless, work proceeds, reaching near completion, on a craft which dwarfs the present Council vessel.

What a wonderful world Humanity has built after having escaped near extinction during the war of 2098. Reduced to a mere few million mating pairs during this last of wars, Humanity recovered, cleaned up Its world, then reached out to the stars. Now capable of interstellar flight the most distant planets are mere weeks away. Plans are even in the making for an intergalactic vessel, scheduled for lift off in the next century, to travel to Andromeda and beyond.

But first, Humanity must tie up loose ends. The questions must be answered. Perhaps that time has come.

As the great vessel, named the Planet Council One, hangs, fixed over the Klanic area, once known as New York, people once again gather in the Common Man auditorium. Having arrived at the receiving bay underneath the glistening craft, the archeologists make their way to the auditorium by way of one of the many commuter shafts which thread their way through the vessel. In their possession, floating inches above the floor, a container, which may be of interest to everyone aboard, as well as those who reside on distant worlds, leads the way.

As the guests, these archeologists, enter upon the stage, the people within the audience cease to babble among themselves, eyes straining to discern the scene before them.

“Welcome to our guests. May I introduce Janovic Karlo, chief archeologist and manager of the team. Please enlighten us as to your discovery.” introduces the elderly leader of the Planet Council.

A short Man by almost any standard, Janovic steps up to the podium and places a sheet of paper thereupon. Utilizing a stool, placed for the purpose, he rises into position.

“Since Humankind’s seminal origins people have always asked: Where do we come from? How did we come to be? Is there a god?” He sips upon a drink placed before him, clears his throat and continues, “We have discovered, deep within the walls of a subterranean cave, excavated by ancient peoples, possibly that, which will answer our primal questions.”

Another Man, among those that accompanied Him upon the stage pulls a lever on the container which has settled on the stage. A nearly inaudible hiss signals the break on the seal and the top of the container, ever-so-slowly lifts. Donning gloves composed of a material which leaves no residual fibers on whatever is handled, the assistant lifts a slab of rock from inside the container.

“Look upon this record, written in stone with precision, and you will see what brought us to these humble chambers. Here, in a previously unknown ancient language, is written a message. Believe it or not, that message is addressed to… us all.” Janovic continues. “It is addressed to ‘Those who live in peace and in harmony without religion.’”

Janovic, donning gloves as well, lifts the slab of rock and holds it before the audience. He pauses to emphasize the importance of the object.

“This language,” He resumes, “levels more intricate than any language of the times, and written in small letters, precisely formed, describes the writers as an elite group of Humans that resided on the outskirts of Egypt, now known as BeCan. They observed, it is described, a craft of unknown origin and construction ‘float’ from the sky and land in the desert. From this craft, which they observed, emerged ‘giants’. The craft remained on the desert floor as the group of giants, using some craft alien to the observers, rode off toward the nearby cities.”

Janovic asks for the next tablet. Holding it before the audience he continues his oratory, “This slab, equally as precisely written, equally as well preserved, describes what happened next. Two of those watching moved bravely forward and entered the craft which was carelessly left open by the departing giants. Inside they came upon blinking lights, unknown devices, and in one corner, a sleeping giant.”

The audience, entranced by this tale, remain motionless, straining for every word.

“The giant awoke,” Janovic speaks with a slightly higher voice for emphasis.

“How were you able to decipher this so quickly?” asks the council head.

“The people who made these slabs also tried to reference their vocabulary to associated objects, purposely to make it easier for those who found it, to decipher it. They were wise enough to know that those who might find it might need help in learning its message.”, Janovic answers, then continues, “As the giant awoke the two intruding Men panicked. The giant, however, arose gently and spoke to them. He explained that he was a prisoner, that he didn’t agree with what the others were up to, and told them the plan.”

Placing the tablet back into the container the assistant resets the lever and the top to the container proceeds to close.

“This giant from another world explained that the others, especially the leader of the pack, one called Jehovah, were going to pose as Gods and angels for the purpose of enslaving Mankind.”

The audience begins to chatter among themselves. Links to the stage podium holographic display light up with questions from the crowd.

“I can’t answer your questions now, but I can say that we have a map, given to the two Men who entered the craft, by the giant, depicting exactly where this bunch came from. This is now a matter for Planet Council to consider. Will we or will we not send an expedition and answer once and for all Humankind’s most persistent questions?”

For several months the Planet Council vessel travels from port to port to allow not only for the message to be relayed, but to seek input on what to do about it. Also, in the interim, confusion and mayhem occurs as the Council moves into the now completed Planet Council Two.

A year elapses and then the council meets once more. Images of the council meeting are transmitted via closed links to the entirety of Humanity.

“After much consideration and communication with all concerned,” begins the council leader, “The council has taken a vote and a decision has been made to pursue this issue. Planet Council vessel One will depart within two days for the planetary system as described in the slabs from BeCan. Is everyone ready to meet their maker?”

Chapter Two

Just a man

“Gee, you’re up early this morning, Aleen.” speaks Poll as he exits their mutual bedroom.

“Morning my love. Planet Council left a message that I am to report to the Planet Council chambers at 9.” Aleen responds.

“Something up?”

“They didn’t elaborate. The message said ‘be there promptly’. That’s all.”

Aleen and Poll, joined by Council some ten years ago, live in Aiken area, formerly Colorado. Aleen, now aged 36, is trained for and has piloted large vessels for the last five years. Council has now chosen Her as captain of the ship Planet Council One.

About ten minutes to nine Aleen arrives in Council chambers.

“Good morning , Aleen, please be seated,” warmly greets the council leader. “I hope you have gotten a good night’s sleep.”

“Up to a point, council leader, what can I do for you?”

“Have you heard the news of the BeCan discoveries?”

“I was quite busy yesterday, sorry.”

“It’s been in the news for months”

“Guess I’m behind, what’s it all about?”

“Well, as a result of the discoveries council has been busy accruing data and opinions from around the entirety of Humanity. Now it has been decided to send a ship off-world to the planet which is supposed the origin of God.”

Aleen freezes in Her seat, stunned.

“Council is going to see God?”

“Yes, purportedly. So it seems.”

“And, I am here because…”

“You are to be captain of the ship.”

Aleen can’t believe it. She’s always wanted the captain’s chair. Up to now the best She’s been able to garner is Top Leader under the captain. But this mission seems rather far-fetched, unreal, out in left field.

“When do we leave?” She finally manages.

“Tomorrow morning at sunrise,” ends the council leader.

As the new captain of Planet Council One departs another Man enters.

“Yes, Council sub-leader?” speaks the council leader.

“I have lined up the historian, the security division, as well as the complement of the crew. They are not very happy about leaving their families at such short notice.”

“I imagine not. Then I suppose they thought it worth it after you informed them of the mission.”

“To the individual, none turned it down.”

“Good, let us hope we are doing the right thing.”

“Ditto.”

On an early Tuesday morning about 8, crew and ship are ready to depart. A deep hum accompanies the ship’s ascent. After the ship breaches the limits of earth’s atmosphere it quickly accelerates. In moments the boundaries of the Solar System are crossed. The crew sets in for the two and a half week journey.

A week into the journey Aleens’s Top Leader approaches and giving respects, speaks, “I realize that we have made some real advancements here, but still, Humans will be Humans. At least half the crew has asked me if “we’re there yet.”

Aleen laughs, and after taking a bite off a meal biscuit responds, “I know. Three asked me on the way to the bridge this morning.”

“It’s hard to believe that despite how fast we can travel that it’s just not fast enough for some people. This is likely because no one alive today can remember how slow space-travel was in the ‘old days’”

“My grandfather said it was so slow some people went mad during long voyages. People would get irrational, suspicious of one another. Some ships were lost by inept decisions made by delirious captains.”

Aleen consumes the remainder of Her meal biscuit and directs the navigator to make the last course correction needed for the voyage. She thinks about the taste of the meal biscuit as the last of it leaves her tongue. ‘Nutritious and delicious’ she thinks as she remembers the old jingle from the advertisement promoting its acceptance as ‘space-food’. Literally, it lived up to that, too.

The rest of the voyage passes without incident. Unless two pregnancies count as incidents, that is. Planet Council One arrives and assumes orbit around a planet slightly larger than Earth but comprised of greater land mass as compared to water.

“Captain, the atmospheric detection grid sees 73 percent nitrogen, 20.2% oxygen. Other gases are strictly negligible.”

“Thanks, Tops, guess we won’t need survival gear,” responds Aleen.

The ship begins its slow descent into the alien atmosphere.

“Have we been detected?” asks Aleen.

“No, Captain, the field surrounding the ship is rendering it invisible on all spectrums. No sign of any response to our presence.”

After descent the ship assumes a motionless position about a thousand feet off the ground in what appears a deserted area. Vast forests stretch out below as far as the horizon, and probably beyond.

“Top Leader, assemble the archeologists, security, and other needed landing party group. We’re going down.”

“Aye, Captain.”

Arriving in the forest below the crew cannot help but notice how manicured the floor of the forest presents. No dead wood other than a few half-hanging branches is seen anywhere. The air is pure and regenerating as the crew breathes deeply.

“What goes, do they send in cleaning parties to pick up the deadwood every day?” remarks Mick, one of the assistants to Janovic.

Just then a large lumbering creature plods through the forest. In its mouth are numerous branches upon which stout jaws work.

“There’s your answer Mick. An organic vacuum machine of a sort,” observes Aleen.

The party rides quietly in open-car vehicles gliding a foot or two from the ground. They see a break ahead, an open area, as they reach the edge of the forest. What seems to be a developed area appears before them. In this clearing are ornate mansions, the likes of which Human eyes have never seen.

“Is this the Heaven the Bible of yore speaks of?” softly speaks the historian, Soolee, the same Woman who asked the question of the Council Leader back on Earth.

“Let’s go see,” answers Aleen.

The two cars continue forward approaching one of the ornate structures.

Out of the structure comes a large man…a very large man. His hair is white, his beard white; his appearance elderly, but his movements very agile. Speaking in a booming voice in a language none of the ship’s crew understands, he holds out a finger of his hand. Instantly a bolt of energy, blue-white, streaks from his finger in the direction of the approaching Humans. Striking a transparent shield surrounding the cars, the bolt careens harmlessly to the ground.

Aleen holds up a hand in an effort to halt the attack. As she keys a pad on a small instrument in her hand another bolt emits from the giant and again is deflected. As the small translator works to decipher the behemoth’s utterances, yet another bolt strikes and is deflected. Frustrated, the creature lifts both hands and directs an even more powerful stream of energy towards the intruders. It too, is dissipated without effort. The giant mutters another sentence, easily identified as one of wonderment.

“It says the monster said ‘Who dares invade the land of the Almighty!?’ and then ‘What manner of beings thwarts my will?’” Aleen relays to the rest of Her crew.

Speaking into the device, what they call a multi-translator, Aleen attempts to answer, “We have come in peace seeking answers.”

“Of what land be you?” demands the man.

“We are from Earth.” Is the response.

Suddenly fear crosses the giants face. He races back into his residence.

“What the… why do you suppose he rushed off like that?” asks one of the crew.

“Perhaps we should venture on and find out.” Aleen replies, putting the craft back into motion.

The cars proceed on into the city of giants. As they continue down a neatly kept avenue they note another giant approaching. It comes within 20 feet of the approaching caravan. The cars stop. Speaking slowly, the man, seeming more accommodating of the intrusion, asks, “Who are you? Why have you come here?”

“We have come in peace. We are from planet Earth.” is the captain’s response.

The large man’s eyes widen. A slight smile comes to his face.

“You’ll be looking for Jo.” he says.

“Jo?”

“Jehovah. Though I expect he will not be happy to see you.”

“Would he happen to reside on the edge of the forest?”

“Yes, I guess you’ve met him already. Follow me, I suppose you have many questions. I will try to answer those that I can.”

The giant leads them into a nearby facility. He lifts them one by one onto a table. Seating himself he looks them over.

“Your species was interesting when we first found you. They did seem a little overly preoccupied with the nature of their existence. Your people were very vulnerable to deception.”

“Did you…. make us?” inquires Captain Aleen.

“No. You were there when we came.”

“Why is this Jehovah afraid of us?” asks Janovic.

“Jehovah was afraid this day, the day of your arrival, would come. He was afraid of the day you might come-of-age”

“Why is that?”

“Look to that Bible. It lists many of his crimes against your people.”

“Crimes?” asks Janovic.

“I can answer that,” the historian interrupts, “From mass murder to outright genocide…it’s all there.”

“Yes, and as a people we are bound by our principles to insure that the perpetrator is made to answer for his crimes. Even now, having been alerted of your presence, others have confronted Jehovah and bound and taken him to your vessel for trial on your world.”

“So, we came from … where?” asks the historian.

“The same place we came from, the stars. Life is inevitable, enduring, and resilient. “

“We will go in peace.” asserts Aleen.

“Before you go, a gift… here.” speaks the huge man as he hands the captain what appears to be a potted plant.

“A plant?”

“The Tree of Life! Now go… and return to our world as you wish.”

The crew returns to Planet Council One for the trip back home. In a cargo bay, still bound, sits a man, just a man waiting to answer for crimes against Humanity.

Chapter Three

Trial of the Millennium

Planet Council One arrives at Earth port within a couple of weeks more or less. Its crew remains stunned from the knowledge which they now possess. They went searching for answers to age old questions, instead they found a fugitive from justice.

Jehovah is taken, still bound, to a secure facility. Security decides to keep the chains in place until it can be determined that the facility is capable of restraining the prisoner.

A new week begins, and with it all of the members of council are bid to attend a gathering aboard the Planet Council Two. The trial begins and the list of crimes against Humanity pronounced. Jehovah is dragged into the auditorium and seated in the front row before the stage.

“Dear friends, this is the first trial we have had to hold in over a hundred years. The prisoner stands accused of many crimes against humanity. Among the long list of heinous crimes are the following:

· The Flood, of which there is no archeological evidence, yet it is listed. All humanity with the exception of a handful of people are said to have perished.

· The destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, including every innocent therein, babies, Women, and Men. It is estimated over 2000 died.

· The killing of all the first-born children of Egypt.

· The drowning of the Egyptian army.

· The mass killing in Jericho, where every Man, Woman, and child were murdered, save one family.

· The prisoners commanding of Joshua to kill all that breathes in the city of Makkedah.

· Aiding and abetting the murder of approximately ten thousand men in the city of Moab.

And the list continues, and is too lengthy to complete here.” ends the Council Leader.

“How do you plead?”

Jehovah stands and glares at the Council Leader. Glancing around the auditorium he then fixes his gaze on the Council Leader.

“You will all suffer grievously for this day. My wrath shall incinerate every last one of you. How dare you judge the will of the Almighty God!?” shouts the angry giant.

The Council Leader repeats, “How do you plead?”

Except for the clanking of the chains which restrain him, Jehovah is silent. Straining against the chains that hold him it is evident of the anger which is building within him.

“Return the prisoner to his cell. It is decided that this court will decide guilt and lever justice.” speaks the Council Leader realizing no more will be said by the prisoner.

The Council Leader, Janovic, and the historian Soolee meet in the council chambers.

“It is evident from the reactions of Jehovah that he is guilty of the crimes. He has not denied a single accusation against him.” the Council Leader begins.

“The evidence from the tablets surely place him at the scene.” asserts Janovic.

“The bible lists the crimes and is purported to be a historical document.” adds Soolee.

“The tablets, are they verified as authentic?” questions the Council Leader.

“The tests indicate they are indeed of the age to have been created at the time.” offers Janovic.

“Who made them?” asks the Council Leader.

“In the caverns which we found them there was only scant evidence that there were a peoples capable of such advanced engraving. Nothing really definitive.” Janovic responds.

“Without a plea of any kind we of the council will have to pass a summary judgment. We will meet this afternoon and complete this task.”

The next morning the auditorium is filled to overflowing. Jehovah is brought in and seated in front of the stage. The Council Leader steps to the podium and begins to speak. “We of the Planet Council have met and decided the fate of the prisoner. The prisoner will please stand.”

Jehovah, still filled with anger, stands.

“It is decided that the prisoner will be interred within a suitable holding facility for the rest of his life. There will be no further hearings, no parole hearings. There will be no visitations and no contact with any living being other than the security personnel.”

Jehovah rages. Pulling against his chains he grimaces and a glow appears around his wrists and ankles. He shouts, “I will make you suffer for this abomination. You will all die in horrible agony.” As the giant strains the bracelets of his bonds begin to glow red, then white hot. A security guard approaches holding a weapon directed upon the prisoner and warns, “Don’t make me use this.”

“Your puny weapons are meaningless to me.” shouts the giant as one bracelet falls from his wrist.

A blue arc emits from the security guards weapon and Jehovah, teeth chattering, mouth stuttering, falls in a heap to the floor. He lies motionless as a medical team moves forward to examine him. Moments pass and a medic looks up at the Council Leader.

“Sir, he’s dead.” she whispers.

Momentarily at a loss for words the Council Leader stares, mouth open. Then, turning to the crowd once more, he speaks, “God… is dead.”

End
Who Was Darwin?

2013/02/17
Likelihood of Life ……………. February 18, 2013

2013/02/17
Astronomical

Creationists as well as scientists calculate the likelihood of life originating spontaneously on its own at overwhelmingly negative odds. Yet, here we are. Not only developed, but quite well developed. We are here despite the calamities that have befallen earth on several occasions.
- Mass extinction at the end of Ordovician, around 434 million years ago
- Mass extinction event in late Devonian, around 360 million years ago
- Mass extinction Permian around 251 million years ago
- Mass extinction at end of Triassic around 205 million years ago
- Mass extinction at end of Cretaceous period around 65 million years ago
Although this only means that life is resilient, and once established, is tenacious, I think it means something more. I think that it means that life is inevitable. There is something amiss with the figures scientists use to calculate the likelihood of life, some factor not accounted for, some error in figures due to misunderstanding. Perhaps it is the tenaciousness itself, in that, even if a single microbe attains the quality of life, that is enough, and all bets are off. It could just be that at the point that one microbe makes it, the tenaciousness, the resilience, the inevitability, even the chemistry of its existence, make life a sure thing rather than an unlikely event.

Size is Relative

We on earth have come to look upon our planet as a small dot, a tiny piece of real estate, compared to the immensity of the Cosmos. Compared to the Cosmos, this is true. Compared to the size that life arises as, the earth is immense. The surface area of the earth, with its diverse environmental conditions, made it certain that somewhere in some setting the right set of materials, energy, would come together to form at least one self-replicating molecule. After that, replication could have been possible even without optimum conditions. It is possible that the conditions for the origin of life no longer exist on earth. If the earth were somehow sanitized it might be eons, or perhaps never, before life arose again.

It is insane to think that earth is totally unique in its origins. In the vast Universe there must be thousands of planets which went through nearly the same, if not the same, stages of development. We know there are many stars just like the one we orbit. We now know without a doubt that many have planets orbiting around them, granted, large gas bodies. This is simply because we cannot effectively detect small orbiting bodies around these distant stars at this time. Give us another 10 to 20 years and perhaps we can finally put to bed these outrageous myths that still plague us. Gee, if only we had warp drive.

Reference sites:

http://www.skepticalscience.com/Earths-five-mass-extinction-events.html

www.santafe.edu/research/publications/workingpapers/06-08-029.pdf
Whipping Up the Hate … February 13, 2013

2013/02/13

The purveyors of hate continue to churn out the lies in an effort to agitate the masses into marching to the drum of their tune. While proclaiming wisdom and truth instead they feed the willing listeners of their diatribe words of hatred, words of deceit, and words of slander.

We of the world of reason, can readily detect when these malcontents, these rabble-rousers, are lying: Their mouths are open.

Day after day it is demonstrated that these people, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, and Sean Hannity, are having influence on their gullible listeners. The daily callers to these shows express undying devotion to these paragons of prevarication, elevating them, then maintaining them on a pedestal. The abject submission displayed by this chattel, even in the face of information spewing from their idols which is contrary to their own interests, is frightening.

It is safe to assert that these adherents, these slaves, are mostly, if not entirely, composed of self-proclaimed followers of Christianity. This explains much. This flock, this herd of lambs, has already fallen for the most extensive charade, the behemoth of hoaxes. They are therefore vulnerable. As long as the purveyor of lies utilizes this tie to Christianity, the flock, these willing sacrificial lambs, can be influenced, can be turned, to serve the interests of the deceiver, even if it leads to events contrary to their own interests.

These idols, false idols, these prevaricators, through the continuous drone of daily exhortations via the airwaves, have their willing subjects, their submissive mental captives, completely convinced that President Obama is destroying this country; no… that President Obama is purposely working to destroy this country. As a result, an up swelling of hatred has been kindled, the likes of which have not been seen since the administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Roosevelt’s administration was also under fire from those who “thought they knew better”.

What is the level of commitment of these humble followers of the fountains of hate? Do they refrain from taking advantage of the very programs which their preaching leaders abhor and want to terminate? Would the social security program be in such dire straits if the Republicans that object to its existence eschewed their claim upon it? Would the financial well-being of Medicare be questioned if the people who labeled it socialism rejected enlistment? While violating their own principles they smirk and mumble, “It’s there, might as well take advantage of it.”

Although it is probably a futile dream, one can hope that someday these sheepish soldiers of the paragons of malevolence will arrive at a level of consciousness where reality will manifest. Until then, these masters of duplicity will continue to prosper on the backs of the duped unfortunates and mentally challenged.