This is what I titled the last post, but my "intro" got long on my views of religion, and so I changed the title and made it a separate post. I recommend reading that first.
So it should be clear now that I have a problem with organized religion. I'm coming to the conclusion that while Jesus might have existed, he was just a man. There is still a tug in the back of my mind from my upbringing. The part that wants the comfort of believing. So now I'm closer to Judaism? I can't say, I don't know shit about the Jews.
What about the afterlife? Why would god want to give us this teeny little bit of time earth as a mortal, then send us off to an afterlife for eternity? If I was in that role, Why would I care? The whole universe is at my command? These billions of teeny little organisms on one measly little planet? That exist for what would be a second to me? Yeah right. Afterlife seems a bit unlikely.
The idea of reincarnation seems more likely to me than that. The earth is just recycling souls, or the chaos from which souls are created to continue the cycle of life.
So for myself, I've pretty much ruled out the concept of Heaven and Hell. I'm enjoying the train of thought that is taking me down the reincarnation path. But if I had to place a bet? I'd bet we die and that's it.
And that is a comforting thought, isn't it? Well, it is for me. Lights out. No eternal punishment for things you did or didn't do in life. No watching those you left behind suffer and struggle. No eternal boredom. You're just gone, like the bug that hit my windshield this morning.
You still have the human instinct to stay alive. And most likely you still have some things worth living for. But there is no reason to fear death. And heck, if you believe in reincarnation, why not look forward to death as the gateway to an exciting new chapter?
As I get closer and more comfortable with this view, I also get more comfortable toying with death. Tree climbing is a good example. In fact my recent uptick in this kind of philosophical pursuits can be tied to when I really got obsessed with tree climbing. Not that I don't take precautions, but risks are part of the fun. You get past your fear of death while looking down and realizing that one misstep, broken branch, severed rope, or other screw-up will plummet you to instant death. It's a euphoric feeling.
So what's the purpose of life then? I'm still working on it, but I think it's whatever you make of it. For me it's to enjoy life. Part of that enjoyment is to leave my mark. ('Course, if I die falling out of a tree, this could be quite literal.) I know in time the mark I've made will fade. But if the mark is big enough and deep enough, it will take longer to fade. And I may never make a mark that lives longer than my children. But I want to enjoy trying.
So I don't believe in religion or an afterlife. There is no fear of death, in fact I could see how it will be welcomed at some point. So then what dominates my ethics and morals? Enjoyment of life again I guess. Where laws are concerned, I obey them to the point of enjoyment. Huh? In other words, the risks vs rewards thing. If there is a high risk of being caught and/or a severe punishment, the unenjoyable aspects would outweigh the enjoyment of the infraction. Which leaves open the door for enjoyable things that have little or no risk of being caught or severely punished....
Where laws don't dominate the decision, there are usually other people involved. In this respect I would say caring for others is a weakness. But I suppose the instinct comes back to the herd survival thing. I can't get rid of it, and therefore some of my enjoyment is tied to that of the ones I care about. Even if I can get away with it, if it hurts someone in that group, the benefit is diminished or gone. Conversely, things that benefit only someone else can yield enjoyment through empathy.
I think I hear a tree calling my name.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Religion and Society
I was baptized and brought up going to church as a young child with my grandma. But as I got older, I didn't have to go anymore, my mom was dead and my dad not really into it. I came to believe in organized religion as a way to influence and control the masses of idiots in the world. If I want to talk with god, why the fuck do I need the church to do so? If he/she/it is omnificent, why can't can't god just hear my thoughts? Most of what's in the bible, koran, etc is just man's interpretation/imagination of history, twisted to each reteller's purpose. To hell with that, quite literally. Well, if you believe in hell....
But the church does give some people a place to donate their money and time, and it can be argued that it has helped to keep society out of complete anarchy over the centuries. As civilization grew, there needed to be a way to keep people in line -- for the greater good of course. What's best for me is to take what I can get away with, etc, etc. The rule of law and government is only so much of a deterent and can't be everywhere all of the time. But if everyone held the belief that they would be held accountable at the end of their mortal life for all of their sins, even ones no one knew about? That might help fill in some the gaps and keep people "moral", which of course is what is best for society and the people at the top.
What about the people at the top? Well, the truly devote and deluded rarely made it to the top. They were eaten along the way, just think of the Darwin sticker eating the little Jesus fish. The religious figureheads throughout history and even today are often found mired in scandal. The rest most likely were smart enough to hide it better. They were/are at the top of the pyramid. Everyone looked up to them, and the money and power was theirs to control. All they had to do was keep the illusion alive. Threaten people with their salvation in the afterlife. Hanging eternal damnation over someone's head? If they believe you, that's power....
And then there are the natural human instincts. The biggest in my opinion is survival. And what says survival more than security and familiarity? For the most part we don't like change. We don't like things (including people, religions, etc) that are different. We are secure and comfortable when we are surrounded by people like ourselves. Religion becomes a tool and a weapon to help ensure this, especially looking back through history. (Although you can still see it, just look at the news stories coming from tribal Pakistan.) You don't follow the religion, you're punished by your peers. It keeps the herd of sheep together, which is what the majority is most comfortable with. Talk about your perfect situation to generate an autocracy. Get to the top, make new rules, and those below you will punish any of their fellows who stand against you. This is why religions last longer than governments. Combine that with our desire for easy answers to the unexplainable, and it is no wonder every civilization has some sort of religion behind it. Historically, the bigger the civilization, the bigger the religion.
But what about Western culture here the 21st century? We've gotten a bit nonsecular, haven't we? Science has helped to explain the previously unexplainable. It's shown some deficiencies in the religious explantions and accounts? Those who still "cling" to their religion lament about the decline of it. (BTW, best line Obama ever uttered in my mind.) Eastern culture sees what's happening and tries harder to hold on to their own power, but it seems to be disintegrating. But without religion, what basis does the average person have for morality? Suddenly people are less concerned about the afterlife. The church loses power. Governments fundamentally shift. I'm concerned with what's best for me. Stuff I want or think I deserve but haven't earned? No problem, if I can find a way to get it without being caught it's mine. The strong and savy start to prey on the weak, dumb, and innocent.
That's what we're approaching as I type. Chaos. Anarchy. So what happens next? Here is my prediction: Modern civilization implodes. Just like the Roman empire, kaboom. Disintegrates might be a better description since it will take time. Then what happens? People start looking for security again. Religion is again found. Maybe a new one? Maybe an existing one becomes more powerful? It's a cycle. How far back will the cycle reach? Depends I guess. Throw in a nuclear holocaust, and it could go back a long, long way. Scientists are likely to again be hunted as witches and executed. Religion will once again be used as a weapon to eliminate competition and hold onto power.
But the church does give some people a place to donate their money and time, and it can be argued that it has helped to keep society out of complete anarchy over the centuries. As civilization grew, there needed to be a way to keep people in line -- for the greater good of course. What's best for me is to take what I can get away with, etc, etc. The rule of law and government is only so much of a deterent and can't be everywhere all of the time. But if everyone held the belief that they would be held accountable at the end of their mortal life for all of their sins, even ones no one knew about? That might help fill in some the gaps and keep people "moral", which of course is what is best for society and the people at the top.
What about the people at the top? Well, the truly devote and deluded rarely made it to the top. They were eaten along the way, just think of the Darwin sticker eating the little Jesus fish. The religious figureheads throughout history and even today are often found mired in scandal. The rest most likely were smart enough to hide it better. They were/are at the top of the pyramid. Everyone looked up to them, and the money and power was theirs to control. All they had to do was keep the illusion alive. Threaten people with their salvation in the afterlife. Hanging eternal damnation over someone's head? If they believe you, that's power....
And then there are the natural human instincts. The biggest in my opinion is survival. And what says survival more than security and familiarity? For the most part we don't like change. We don't like things (including people, religions, etc) that are different. We are secure and comfortable when we are surrounded by people like ourselves. Religion becomes a tool and a weapon to help ensure this, especially looking back through history. (Although you can still see it, just look at the news stories coming from tribal Pakistan.) You don't follow the religion, you're punished by your peers. It keeps the herd of sheep together, which is what the majority is most comfortable with. Talk about your perfect situation to generate an autocracy. Get to the top, make new rules, and those below you will punish any of their fellows who stand against you. This is why religions last longer than governments. Combine that with our desire for easy answers to the unexplainable, and it is no wonder every civilization has some sort of religion behind it. Historically, the bigger the civilization, the bigger the religion.
But what about Western culture here the 21st century? We've gotten a bit nonsecular, haven't we? Science has helped to explain the previously unexplainable. It's shown some deficiencies in the religious explantions and accounts? Those who still "cling" to their religion lament about the decline of it. (BTW, best line Obama ever uttered in my mind.) Eastern culture sees what's happening and tries harder to hold on to their own power, but it seems to be disintegrating. But without religion, what basis does the average person have for morality? Suddenly people are less concerned about the afterlife. The church loses power. Governments fundamentally shift. I'm concerned with what's best for me. Stuff I want or think I deserve but haven't earned? No problem, if I can find a way to get it without being caught it's mine. The strong and savy start to prey on the weak, dumb, and innocent.
That's what we're approaching as I type. Chaos. Anarchy. So what happens next? Here is my prediction: Modern civilization implodes. Just like the Roman empire, kaboom. Disintegrates might be a better description since it will take time. Then what happens? People start looking for security again. Religion is again found. Maybe a new one? Maybe an existing one becomes more powerful? It's a cycle. How far back will the cycle reach? Depends I guess. Throw in a nuclear holocaust, and it could go back a long, long way. Scientists are likely to again be hunted as witches and executed. Religion will once again be used as a weapon to eliminate competition and hold onto power.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Essence of Being
There is a current, flowing among us all. It gets stronger and weaker like a dance in some estranged and indescribable play, as if it were an opera performed in a language no human can understand. We are weak, always searching for answers. Some of us find them in houses of god. Some of us find them in riches. Some of us never find what we have been looking for our entire lives.
What is the reason. Why. How.
In brief moments of clarity you wonder, is this it? Is this why I am here? No answer. Back to the norm, the usual.
You find a distraction. Your work, your favorite shows, your booze. Too much time away or with any of your comforts brings the whole question back with a razor's edge.
You start to fear that it is why you are here. Ponder the possibilities and probabilities involved and you can't fathom how that could be. If you linger too long it will drive you insane. Lost in the abyss.
The madness around you, the people marching to their inner drums, you don't know what makes them tick. People smashing themselves against the rocks, again and again. Others dying all too young. Even though some try to explain it makes no sense.
The fire inside you builds. You feel sometimes that your rage could boil over and burst, take you on an epic trail of revenge and destruction. The nonexistent gods would marvel at your cunning.
But the darkness still holds. That knawing feeling that somehow you can never see but is always there, whispering to you in the night. Your fear turns to despair, in the brief moment that you realize there is no reason you are here. No reason behind anything you have seen or witnessed.
It is the chasm which you must face, you who reach this far. If you stay you will be consumed, destroyed by the reality that quickens behind you and shadows your every move. You must throw yourself off the edge, embrace the sweet fall as your hopes and dreams and silly preconceptions of self-worth and meaningfulness flail useless behind you.
As you fall faster and faster, finally reaching terminal velocity, the loss of acceleration gives you comfort. You have reached a stasis, falling as fast as man can. And in that moment you find peace. You can let go of everything that has been and ever will be, and find the core of your existence. In the hurricane you have found the eye.
And finally in the face of all the darkness around you and the solid ground you know you will ultimately hit, a smile crosses your face.
You feel alive again. For a while.
What is the reason. Why. How.
In brief moments of clarity you wonder, is this it? Is this why I am here? No answer. Back to the norm, the usual.
You find a distraction. Your work, your favorite shows, your booze. Too much time away or with any of your comforts brings the whole question back with a razor's edge.
You start to fear that it is why you are here. Ponder the possibilities and probabilities involved and you can't fathom how that could be. If you linger too long it will drive you insane. Lost in the abyss.
The madness around you, the people marching to their inner drums, you don't know what makes them tick. People smashing themselves against the rocks, again and again. Others dying all too young. Even though some try to explain it makes no sense.
The fire inside you builds. You feel sometimes that your rage could boil over and burst, take you on an epic trail of revenge and destruction. The nonexistent gods would marvel at your cunning.
But the darkness still holds. That knawing feeling that somehow you can never see but is always there, whispering to you in the night. Your fear turns to despair, in the brief moment that you realize there is no reason you are here. No reason behind anything you have seen or witnessed.
It is the chasm which you must face, you who reach this far. If you stay you will be consumed, destroyed by the reality that quickens behind you and shadows your every move. You must throw yourself off the edge, embrace the sweet fall as your hopes and dreams and silly preconceptions of self-worth and meaningfulness flail useless behind you.
As you fall faster and faster, finally reaching terminal velocity, the loss of acceleration gives you comfort. You have reached a stasis, falling as fast as man can. And in that moment you find peace. You can let go of everything that has been and ever will be, and find the core of your existence. In the hurricane you have found the eye.
And finally in the face of all the darkness around you and the solid ground you know you will ultimately hit, a smile crosses your face.
You feel alive again. For a while.
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