My Atheism, Charles Hanson

I often have a hard time putting succinctly my lack of belief - but this excerpt really hits on many good points... points I entirely agree with.

My Atheism, Charles Hanson: "The turning point for me was Ludovic Kennedy's book ' All in the Mind.'

This demonstrated to me how for so long we humans have deceived ourselves in trying to seek answers for our existence, and pre-occupied ourselves with the irrationality, illogicality, idealism, trivialities and the nonsense of religion. I arrived at conclusions about religion whose only adequate response was one of atheism. I now regard all religion in the same way as I regard supernaturalism, clairvoyance, tarot cards and tea leaf reading which are all manifestations of the search for meaning to our being, there is a tendency to search for and give meaning to all manner of things that affect our everyday existence, including abstractions. I would argue that all of this nonsense is born out of ignorance and is a 'left over' from the days when things 'not understood* were deemed to be acts of God. I began to see the religion for what it is often no more than an emotional crutch for those incapable of overcoming human adversity. For others an escapism, whilst for the most ludicrous - a second chance in some after-life.

Human reason persuades me that there is nothing mysterious about organised religion, the mysteries I would suggest lies in the human potential for nonsense. I am often challenged about my stance and am often confronted with the notion that there must be a reason for our existence. That there must be 'something* else apart from what we know. It is interesting that those who push this view have no idea themselves what this 'something' is. Instead, why not make the most of what we do know, and instead of the exertions that the religious put into the prospect of their own soul, try instead to improve the quality of life in the here and now and in so doing create a better world, instead of the bloodshed and conflicts that are so often instigated by religious differences."

Evolutionblog

On a discussion of a new college student coming from a religious upbringing and school with no exposure to the theory of evolution, this discussion is spot on:
Read the entire entry: 12/08/05 "Have They Tried Open-Mindedness?"
Evolutionblog:

"They have to understand that it is not the professor's job to coddle them when they claim to believe things that are patently untrue.

That last sentence sure is creepy. Learning things that challenge your preconceived notions is, for many people, something to be endured, not something to benefit from. I can't imagine what it's like to be that confident that, as a teenager, you have successfully resolved the fundamental mysteries of existence. I don't care if Mr. Scott learns to accept evolution. But I do hope he will learn to be a bit more open-minded, and a bit more willing to accept that things he heard in high school should be the beginning, not the end, of his education."

Not to say that ultimately deciding that your belief is the right one is wrong, but I just don't understand people who just buy the Christian story lock stock and barrel. I don't understand people who don't want to explore, not only in college, but later into life - and to keep exploring.

Although it is a tendancy to get set in your ways as you grow older (and sometimes at a very young age, if you are predisposed to that), I hope I never just settle into one belief. Although I am an Atheist, I have my doubts and don't think I know anything (hence the name of the blog) about this crazy concept of god. I will acknowledge my doubts, but I am fairly certain that the Christian god and story is NOT an accurate one. Revealed religion doesn't cut it for me. A natural god I might buy, but a packaged one written about by unknown authors and decided upon by a group of MEN over a thousand years ago - no thank you.

Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays vs. Happy Hannukah vs. Happy Kwanza

All the hullabaloo (i love that word) about the use of Happy Holidays vs. Merry Christmas - from the retail industry to the cards the White House sends out - it is quite a stupid hullabaloo.

What occurred to me the other day after giving into the whole holiday ritual and suffering through the crowds at the local Target store was how stupid this whole thing is. We run around all crazy to buy gifts for people, while all the while we could really do something generous for the season and help the hungry by providing those hundred's of dollars to a homeless shelter or a food kitchen. Perhaps we could provide housing or education to the less fortunate of society. Perhaps we could just keep our money for the future - invest it and be able to provide for our children.

But, would Bill O'Reilly really advocate such a move at Christmas time? Would he suggest loving thy brother or as he has done to advocate bringing horror to those who use the word holiday instead of Christmas in their ads or literature. Media Matters - O'Reilly promised to "bring horror" to alleged "anti-Christian forces" who oppose Christmas: "I'm gonna use all the power that I have on radio and television to bring horror into the world of people who are trying to do that. "

Give me a break Bill. If you were espousing returning to the real roots of Christianity and what it stands for and not the whoreish commercialization of the holiday, then you would have some credibility. Isn't it unChristianlike to promote "Horror" onto anyone? And doesn't our country stand at the forefront of freedom of expression?

So the Jews and Muslims of this country mean nothing. I have seen statistics that state that 96% of people "celebrate" Christmas in this country. That may be true, but I doubt that even 50% truly celebrate it for its religious meaning. If they did, they wouldn't resort to the hours of shopping, the stress and the stupidity that this holiday has become.

Happy holidays or Seson's Greetings acknowledges all faiths or no faith at all. Call a Christmas tree what it is, I agree, even if the custom was adopted from Pagan rituals. I personally celebrate the season and the fact that we move from autumn to winter in December and that spring is just around the corner. A true celebration of the new life of spring. But, say Merry Christmas if that suits you - or say Happy Hannukah or say Happy Ramadan or whatever. But don't include me in your witch hunt Mr. Reilly, to expose and "bring horror" to those who think differently from you - those who think that is. Those who want all of us to be part of this diverse country. But as usual, right wing blowhards don't usually understand things like that.

Capital Punishment

I am certain I have written about capital punishment before - but Blogger deleted the prior incarnation of this blog. Regardless, it is always a good idea to revisit the subject to reflect on subtle changes in my thinking on the subject.

I am against capital punishment. It is murder - even if for a reason or to rectify another wrong, it is still murder. Just because the State says putting someone to death is just punishment, it is still murder.

That being said, I have to say that my belief that it is wrong has been tested lately. The Carlie Bruscia case is the case we are currently considering. I feel that the perpetrator, Joseph P. Smith, who was convicted of first degree murder, rape, kidnapping, etc. last month is the worst kind of human being there is. I feel what sealed his fate was his own words, told to his brother and mother; his written word to his brother (in code) and since his incarceration, to another inmate telling that inmate how to pummel some other inmate properly. This was great insight into the mind of a very disturbed individual. He is likely unrepentant and I bet his only regret is getting caught.

Again, this case, hitting so close to home, has severely tested my steadfast opposition to the death penalty. If anyone deserves this punishment, it is him.

My philosophy of being against the death penalty is based on my lack of belief in the afterlife, heaven, hell and all that fairy tale stuff many people believe. I think that there isn't anything after death. It is just nothingness, just like it was before you were born. Nothing. So, my usual argument is that the death penalty is just an easy way out. I think a much harsher penalty on this earth for this life is "LIFE IN PRISON" without the possibility of parole. It is a death sentence of a sort: No freedom, no real enjoyment to be a full living human being with the pleasures of life, nothing. Just confinement.

The confinement I am talking about is very restrictive. Not much human contact. A single cell with no amenities. Maybe paper and pencil, but not much else. No TV, no radio. NO human contact. Just confinement for thirty, forty years. No exercise plan, no education. A true death sentence. This, to me, is pure torture.

I am severely opposed to torture. But, for people like this animal, I would consider applying measured torture. Perhaps an occasional choking to the point of near unconciousness - just to give him a taste of the last moments of poor Carlie's life. Maybe an occasional anal probe to remind him what it must have been like for her. But, what would that make the perpetrators of that punishment no better than this creep.

The problem I see with this whole death penalty thinking is that we even go there. We as a society (the U.S.) should just not entertain it. But, it is part of the culture now. If the expected punishment was decades of isolation (till death) for these bastards, then we wouldn't be tempted to resort to exactly what we despise.

These criminals are the worst of the worst. And they deserve a harsh punishment, for sure. But an eye for an eye accomplishes little.