Freethinker's corner

Imperfection is the continuing state of all living things. This includes the human mind, despite it’s apparent reign as most advanced on Earth.

An imagined image of perfection is impossible to create for the mind is too flawed and soon taints that perfection with it’s own preferences or it’s own defective vision of what perfection should be.

This helps explain the imperfections in the religions of the world. Each is an image created in the mind of imperfect individuals who have no capacity to imagine perfection except one which is flavored by it’s own desires and needs.

The pursuit of perfection, or at least it’s understanding, is better left to science and reason which, if properly carried out, are impartial to desires or needs.

 

 

As anyone who has looked at the night sky in all it’s magnificence, I cannot view it without awe at it’s immensity. Thanks to mankind’s technological savvy we have knowledge that this magnificence is much greater than we can see. Not only is our planet not alone, it circles with several other planets about Sol, our life-giving solar mass. Not only is our solar system not alone, it exists along with many other planetary systems that have been discovered only very recently. Not only is our unimaginably huge Galaxy, the Milky Way, not alone, it is kept company by what seems an endless number of Galaxies some of which dwarf our very own. Of course there is much our inadequate eyes cannot see, but knowing that immensity, that magnificence exists, makes the night sky that much more awe-inspiring.

As Lawrence Rifkin wrote recently in Free Inquiry, a magazine published by The Council for Secular Humanism, I view this nightly display in naturalistic terms. He posited that this view of the awe-inspiring heavens and other awe-inspiring things be labeled “sublime naturalism”. He gave the definition as “the experience or expression of a profound emotional response toward naturalism or it’s manifestations.”

To even imagine that all the stars and galaxies were made just for mankind, or that we are special in any other way in a supernatural sense, is not necessary for the purposes of feeling exhilaration and awe at the sight of the Universe’s display.  One can however understand why man, in his feelings of helplessness and smallness, might want to invent a better placement of his importance in the scheme of things. By creating a supernatural entity man felt more secure and in control, and so very very special.  Not only could a man feel more in control, he could assuage the fears of his children, comfort them when things seemed out of control. This was fine when primitive man, lacking knowledge, was prone to such beliefs. Now however it is time to let go, grow up, so to speak. Mankind must stand on its’ own, realize his’/her vulnerabilities, responsibilities. Let go of the past and embrace the sublime natural world and universe, for that is all we have.

 

 

The bible not only approves of slavery in many passages, it gives a description of how to treat them.  

When a slave owner strikes a male or female slave with a rod and the slave dies immediately, the owner shall be punished. But if the slave survives a day or two, there is no punishment; for the slave is the owner’s property. (Exodus . 21:20-21)

In the New Testament Jesus never shows disapproval of slavery and in some cases shows acceptance or approval. 

A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master (Matt. 10:24)
Who then is the faithful and wise slave, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves their allowance of food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. (Matt. 24:45-46)

Early Christian history also showed approval. There was almost universal approval of slavery among church leaders. Christians vigorously defended slavery as being

directed by God.

 

The slave should be resigned to his lot, in obeying his master he is obeying God… (Saint John Chrysostom)
…slavery is now penal in character and planned by that law which commands the preservation of the natural order and forbids disturbance. (Saint Augustine)

 

In the 18th century it was clear that Christianity had freed us from the slavery of sin, not from earthly and physical slavery:

The Freedom which Christianity gives, is a Freedom from the Bondage of Sin and Satan, and from the Dominion of Men’s Lusts and Passions and inordinate Desires; but as to their outward Condition, whatever that was before, whether bond or free, their being baptized, and becoming Christians, makes no manner of Change in it.  (Edmund Gibson, Anglican Bishop in London)

American slavery was no different. It, as an institution, received theological support from various religious leaders.

Christianity actually became a way to add value to slaves in America:

…when southern clergy became ardent defenders of slavery, the master class could look upon organized religion as an ally …the gospel, instead of becoming a mean of creating trouble and strive, was really the best instrument to preserve peace and good conduct among the negroes. (Kenneth Stamp in The Peculiar Institution)

As northerners cried for abolition of slavery the southern political and theological leaders found an ally in the Bible and the history of Christianity.

 

…Jesus Christ recognized this institution as one that was lawful among men, and regulated its relative duties… I affirm then, first (and no man denies) that Jesus Christ has not abolished slavery by a prohibitory command; and second, I affirm, he has introduced no new moral principle which can work its destruction… (Reverend Thomas Stringfellow, a Baptist minister from Culpepper County in Virginia, )

People still used the bible after the slaves were freed to suppress the black people. The ‘mark of Cain’ is frequently referred to as a curse from God, and as what was responsible for black people being black.

Few people are aware that the KKK was organized as a Christian organization. In the earliest days of organizing, the KKK regularly recruited from churches, attracting not only the common parishioner but members of the clergy as well.

It truly astounds me that there are so many black churches in America today, with the sordid history of Christianity clearly evident and not that so long ago.

 

Humans have their own world housed in their minds and driven by their own desires and affected by socialization with other humans. Perspectives are developed irrespective of reality initiated by belief or concepts presented by socialization.

Those perspectives developed by exposure to religion through socialization with other believers and reinforced by an actual desire to believe which leads to self-delusion become instilled, and especially solid if exposure occurs during the malleable years of early childhood.

For one standing outside the delusion and able to look at humanity as a bystander and not a participant, religious belief seems especially ignorant. Standing outside and looking at the whole it is evident that all religions emanated from the mind of man and have nothing at all to do with what is real. There is no sign of god, gods, angels, devils, good or evil, outside of man’s artificial mental world.

There is birth, life, death, the struggle for survival. There is no evil. There is no good. The predator kills to live and despite the occasional predator that kills without need, there is no actual hatred, animosity, or caring. It, the natural world, just is, nothing more.

Good and evil, or at least the concept of it, is in the minds of humankind.  These concepts arose as people found it necessary to come together in groups for survival. Socialization produced a need for behavior beyond the needs of self. It was found that if you helped your neighbor, when you needed help that neighbor returned the favor. From that, rules of behavior originated and grew as the complexity of mankind’s socialization increased.  At this point religion did not exist, and no gods were considered. It was only when humans began to wonder about their world, why things occurred, why they had no control over things in their environment, that gods were invented to explain things. Science, as a discipline, did not exist at this time. Every society invented their own gods, or adopted someone else’s as time passed. The real world became obscured by the blur created by the myth. Mankind, living in it’s own little myth, has suffered needlessly for centuries because of it. 

Outside, in the real world, there are no gods, nor a need for them.

How can an individual who has the capacity to reason believe in the nonsense written in the Bible? How can one accept in the face of the existence of a vast and seemingly unending Universe that the creator of such immensity would take an interest in one species on one planet among millions in such a vast cosmos? How can an individual be convinced that one should be guilty and condemned to an eternity of everlasting torment simply for having been born? How can a person be convinced to accept the concept that God came to Earth simply for the reason of having himself tortured and killed for the purpose of saving humanity from god himself? How does an individual convince him/herself cannibalism is ok as long as it’s god you’re symbolically eating? How do people conclude that an image in a piece of toast is a message from god?

http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-us&vid=75b45e36-6cd3-4006-a342-42457e4b8e6b&pla

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/US/04/26/idaho.rock.auction/index.html

How does one accept the possibility that an ark was able to carry the numbers of animals it would have needed to, to preserve them from a world-wide flood? How can a thinking person see a strider skirting across a pond and then think the surface tension of water would also support a man walking upon it? Why does a fervent believer having seen a person throw away crutches at a revival and walk then not question why the amputee can not be given new limbs and walk also? Are there limits to god’s power?

Metaphors? Fundamentalists don’t think these are metaphors.

In the face of such illogic, such nonsense, the only reason that can be found for such belief is blind faith arrived at by intense self persuasion. The individual would have to over-ride any questions brought on by his/her reasoning mind to arrive at a point of blind faith; self delusion.

http://machineslikeus.com/news/why-people-believe-god-4-darwins-problem

http://richarddawkins.net/firstChapter,101