Freethinker's corner

 

Well, it seems ‘American Atheists’ is in trouble. A humongous disagreement between the former president and affiliate organizations have left the group in chaos. I guess this is to be expected when you have a group wherein every single individual is an independent thinker.

Whereas conformity is easy in a religious organization, wherein everyone is forced to believe the same, freedom is harder to manage. It’s hard to go in one direction when no one is pulling the cart in the same direction.

I would rather have this chaos than be forced to march in lock-step with the group, even if it means a break-up into smaller groups.

 

Some people think they are going to live forever. If not as a human being then as something more in a next life. Some think they are going to reincarnate. Teenagers, of course, simply feel that they will go on, are not only immortal, but invulnerable as well.

They all are wrong. This is it. We have one shot. No one and nothing will exist like you again. If you don’t make a difference in this life then you will never make a difference.

Those who hold to the myths of immortality, however, are enabled. They do not believe that actions they take will lead to anything and even should consequences arise, there will be plenty of time to correct mistakes, make amends. So friendships are shoved callously aside, acquaintances are rudely pushed away, because there will be plenty of time later to make amends.

Tick Tock, Tick Tock, time is passing rapidly. Despite the obvious deterioration of body and mind, life is forever. Tick Tock, Tick Tock, time races as the immortals live on. Tick Tock, Tick Tock, the clock winds down, as the inevitable approaches. Tick Tock, Tick Tock….

 

I have often thought that if I were born with less of an intellect, less of a thinking mind, perhaps I would enjoy life a bit more.

Imagine going through life thinking no one means you any harm, that all is rosy. Imagine even the most  asinine or hate-filled insult going right over your head with no effect.

What would this type of "sailing through life" existence require? Would an IQ of 100 or less be sufficient?

Does paranoia result from intelligence? Does paranoia result from having been previously betrayed? Why do some people, who otherwise seem very intelligent and knowledgeable, suspect everyone harbors animosity towards them? (hostility: a feeling or spirit of hostility and resentment)

Is all it takes is one insult, one suspected betrayal, perhaps one too many, to unbalance a mind precipitating paranoia?

I have been betrayed by many people. Over the years I have been insulted to a degree that I would have good reason to be wary of everyone. Yet, when I meet a new person, I find myself reacting in the same way I always have. I usually see the good side of humanity, I want to see humanity in a good light, and end up naively interacting socially time and again.

100% of the time I end up disappointed. Betrayed, or insulted.

Perhaps Paranoia is simply a protective state, and not the mental disease so many have proclaimed. Perhaps a mild form of paranoia is what is required to live in this world.(

.
distrust: extreme and unreasonable suspicion of other people and their motives

2.
psychiatric disorder: a psychiatric disorder involving systematized delusion, usually of persecution )

 

Why are people having arguments about whether God, or god exists.

A simple belief one way or another is ineffectual. A belief has no bearing on what the truth is or isn’t.

The truth is that all gods, and all Gods, are the invention of a human’s mind. None exist, never have.

Those who worship these non-existent Gods, or gods, simply have not matured and are in same stage as children who believe in Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy. They need the comfort of belief because they are too weak to live without it. They cannot accept that we are all there is and we must take responsibility of our lives ourselves. They cannot accept that this life is all there is, that our minds have created something wonderful; sentience, and that when the brain turns to worm food there will be no more existence.

In addition to the last entry I must add that should you find someone has more than one name you can pretty much say that you have been deceived. Of course, this goes without saying.

Listed on my site is the fact that I am wary of all people, especially wary in who I will call a Friend. Why is this? Betrayal by friends has occurred more than once in my life. You think you know someone, but really, all you know is what they allow you to see. This veneer, or facade, is what they want to present to the public. Motives are unknown. Why deceive? The only purpose of deception is to draw someone out to learn what you can about them. After this, what is done with the knowledge determines the morality of the deceiver. If it is used to determine if that person is like minded, for purposes perhaps of future friendship, then the deception is merely defensive, and used because of previous betrayals by past "friends".

If the knowledge is used to attempt to destroy, or for other nefarious purposes, then the deception is aggressive and immoral.

I submit that all people use these deceptions, and that you never truly see a person’s character except as a side product of their actions. Yes, you have to glean a person’s true nature by observing what they actually do, for what they say, is often a sham.

Maintaining stability over time is difficult. So many change their points of view, without analyzing why, just to please others.

Atheism is a point of view. This view is based on reason and logic. This view is based on common sense.

Religion is a kind of narcotic of the mind. It is no more real than the hallucinations brought on by certain drugs. Once exposed your mind is tainted. Abstinence is the only cure.

All religions are fabrications. All religions are false. While some gain peace of mind from this delusion, usually it is at the expense of someone or at the service of someone else. The cost to humanity of this delusion is too great. It causes divides of families, turmoil, and war. Everyone asserts that their particular beliefs are the only ones that are correct and some will do anything to force others to accept this.

Maintaining stability of stance is difficult, but can be done, even in the face of the threats of religion.

People can be so hurtful.

A lot of people use words carelessly and inadvertently cause emotional hurt to others. These people are simply crude individuals who have no care or understanding of the turmoil they cause. They go through life insulting others deeply all the while unaware. These people, though they should be avoided can at last measure be forgiven for their acts of cruelty. They are simply ignorant and don’t know any better.

Then there is the other group. These people, who because of their own inadequacies , intentionally say and do things to hurt others. These people are unforgivable. These are the people who have no one except closest of relatives at their funeral, most of which are there to insure that they receive their measure of whatever belongings of the deceased remain. These people are the ones who are not remembered for anything other than the pain they caused. They are miserable miscreants, miserable in life, and whose only release from that misery, is death. 

Why do people make up stories instead of simply telling the truth. Of what possible use is it to lie when the simple truth will suffice. Perhaps to save face? Perhaps to make a situation more comfortable? Perhaps to protect one self from possible retribution from the boss? Perhaps people are just afraid of the reaction of others and produce a simple lie that will make a situation go away. I myself have told simple lies. I learned in the military that sometimes the truth is no better than a lie and in fact can lead to the same or perhaps worse consequences. One thing I try so very hard, is to never lie to a friend. One simple lie can make all trust and respect evaporate so quickly.