DECEMBER 25th is a day created by Wall Street to create prophets. 🙂
All kidding aside, God is anything that is greater than you are. God is also anything smaller than you are.
Call it God, or call it Nature or call it Spirit. There is always a power out there that will always be greater than man can ever hope to be.
Therefore there is no such thing as atheism. Even the self-professed atheist believes in something supreme . . . be it football games, beer or themselves. The bible (both the old and new) and the Quran were written by MEN. And while you will still find Truths in all of the good books, and you will also find paths toward ancient traditional values (respect, honesty, love, compassion, honor, humility, etc., as relevant today as they were when the Greeks wrote about them), and you will find guidance toward enlightenment (knowledge, spirituality) . . . they are still ALL interpretations written by MEN. They will always be biased toward men and against women. And they are also susceptible to half truths told by men while supposedly under the guidance of God (which may be true in some cases), but at other times they may just as well have been under the guidance and influence of drugs, starvation, or delusion.
There are a very small few that teach enlightenment without bias toward any one religion or belief. These are the ‘true prophets’. There are those that refuse to acknowledge any other way except for their own. These include Christians, Muslims and Jews. These are religious dogmatists that mostly serve no one but themselves and their selfish egos and desires. Then there are those that are lost and do not know what to believe.
This is exactly why our modern world is so screwed up. All of the religious dogmatists argue over whose gods and whose profits are supreme. Pissing on each other over righteousness. They forget the one most important pinnacle of all religions. It does not matter what you believe, or where you’ve been, or where you’re going (heaven or hell), or if you know Christ or Yahweh or Mohamed, or not. The only important thing in this life is how you treat others RIGHT HERE AND RIGHT NOW. Even if you live in the deepest jungles of Africa, or in the most remote villages of the Outback, and have never heard of the white mans gods . . . if you live your live as a good person, whatever lies beyond this life, you deserve to be in the paradise place.
For hose who understand this. Keep the faith. Keep spreading the good word and teaching how to teach enlightenment. For the rest of you . . . get over your holy selves.
THE CIRCUS . . . . . . . . . AND THE ZOO 
Comments on: "CAN YOU HEAR ME?" (5)
I agree. I think we have to interpret the Bible or Quran for what it means today, not a thousand years ago. Realistically speaking, the three major monotheistic religions of the world (Christianity, Judaism and Islam) have more in common than not, so I think it’s time we all put aside our differences. The core value of Christianity is equality for all…irony? A long time ago, the Muslims viewed the Jews and Christians as holy ‘people of the Book’ because of the similarities of their religions. What made this view-point change? And Jewish people talk today about how they’ve been so victimized throughout history, so why do they repeat what has happened to their ancestors by treating members of other faiths so different? These religions are really very good religions, and the flaws they have are few, and I think it’s time we put those flaws aside and focus more on bettering ourselves and society (while keeping ‘our faith’ at the same time).
Great post, thanks.
And the evidence for that is?
Believing something because you say so isn’t a good enough reason. There is a power out there greater than me, prove it. Otherwise this is just a meandering gasconade of hot air.
This assertion is based on what? As card carrying atheist I’d like to know what I’m supposed to believe here…
Is it so hard to be a decent human being? Do we need have a magical cookie for simply doing the right thing? Wouldn’t aspiring to get to the paradise place taint our “good intentions” because then the motive for doing good could be simply I want to heaven?
All kidding aside, God is anything that is greater than you are. God is also anything smaller than you are.
A: And the evidence for that is?
Thanks for the response, Arb. I’m always amazed at how folks get all tangled up in terminology. For some reason people fear just the mention of the word ‘God’. But if you read my essay carefully, you will not find anywhere within it’s context, where I’m pushing the belief in a ‘big guy in the sky’. My premise is merely that there are always powers in the universe that are more powerful than we are. It’s your prerogative to call it the ‘meteor that destroyed us’, Nature, God, or Wazalgrot. It’s insignificant. When you say ‘Atheism’, you are giving that term a power. If that’s your belief, then it can also be considered a creed or religion. You believe in the ‘no-god’. Cool with me. If you’re seeking as an atheist, to argue the existence of ‘God’ with a fervent evangelical believer in the Supreme Being as transcribed by men over the centuries, then you’re at a dead end here my brother. Just substitute the word ‘powerful dark matter’ everywhere in the essay where you see the big scary word ‘God’. Non-believers fear of the word ‘God’ and ‘God believers’ is as ludicrous as God believers fear of non-believers. To me it’s a wash. Both are detrimental to the reality of existence.
Call it God, or call it Nature or call it Spirit. There is always a power out there that will always be greater than man can ever hope to be.
A: Believing something because you say so isn’t a good enough reason. There is a power out there greater than me, prove it. Otherwise this is just a meandering gasconade of hot air.
Next time you get caught in a tornado or get cancer . . . tell me they are not more powerful than you are. Unless of course, you are more powerful than all of these. Then in that case, you are ‘God’. Nice meeting you, but I have another function to attend.
Therefore there is no such thing as atheism. Even the self-professed atheist believes in something supreme . . . be it football games, beer or themselves.
A: This assertion is based on what? As card carrying atheist I’d like to know what I’m supposed to believe here…
Your ‘Atheism’ card. Your mother, your girlfriend, your boss . . . all more powerful than you are (maybe). As a card carrying atheist you can believe in anything you want. If you come to me, I will guide you to find enlightenment ‘within’ yourself. Because whatever you’re looking for, or anyone else for that matter, that they seek to find outside of themselves . . . in the sky or in a church or in a Tibetan retreat . . . the only place you will ever find that satisfaction is within yourself. And let me reveal to you another mystical secret. What you’re really searching for (and again, anyone else for that matter) is self confidence. Confidence in yourself and confidence that whatever you believe in (or don’t believe in) is correct. And in this crazy complex world, that security is nebulous.
if you live your live as a good person, whatever lies beyond this life, you deserve to be in the paradise place.
A: Is it so hard to be a decent human being? Do we need have a magical cookie for simply doing the right thing? Wouldn’t aspiring to get to the paradise place taint our “good intentions” because then the motive for doing good could be simply I want to heaven?
Couldn’t agree with you more. Doing good is about doing good for the ‘now’, not the ‘later’. You do good because it is in your heart to do good. Not because you get to eat cake and ice cream every day in the next merry go round. And this was one of the critical points in the essay, even though you revealed it as an argument against me (that’s cool, too). (As long as you see the light, it doesn’t matter how the candle got lit) Thanks for the comments. I tried not to be brutal. I just personally feel that anyone that feels that their belief is the only card in the game, is narrow. It’s a really, really big universe, as my old friend Carl Sagan would say. Which again is why tolerance of the beliefs of others is the only path to the magic lantern in the center of the cosmos. Currently, it’s in short supply. Namaste.
Sorry about the poor formatting, I assumed that blockquote, /blockquote was standard on all WP blogs.
“If you’re seeking as an atheist, to argue the existence of ‘God’ with a fervent evangelical believer”
Nope, just browsing through the Atheist tag on the reader. It’s a slow day at work and its snowing, a good time for commenting on the web.
“Just substitute the word ‘powerful dark matter’ everywhere in the essay where you see the big scary word ‘God’”
I’d rather not have to prostate myself before any particular concept or moniker, it seems somewhat demeaning.
“Next time you get caught in a tornado or get cancer . . . tell me they are not more powerful than you are”.
Neither can write a poem, or sing xmas carols. They are… natural phenomena that is a part of the world we inhabit. I currently cannot knit, should I be in awe of that ball of yarn that mocks me from the shelf? I’m sorry if I’m not getting the whole “higher power” thing, I just do not see it as necessary, in any form.
“I just personally feel that anyone that feels that their belief is the only card in the game, is narrow.”
Basing one’s world view on the best empirical knowledge available seems to be the safest bet. I would go as far to say it is the best choice available as it is constantly being remoulded to better fit reality.
I become wary when people start getting all inclusive about beliefs and stuff – because artificially ironing out the differences and giving each belief equal weight lets in some pretty atrocious stuff (see most organized religions). So discerning my choice of narrative must be because I need a reliable standard to judge what is wrong and what is right in the world.
“Which again is why tolerance of the beliefs of others is the only path to the magic lantern in the center of the cosmos.”
So, how much tolerance do we have for people who do crazy shite because they believe their godhead of choice says its OK? Should we tolerate racism, bigotry and misogyny just “to get along” because they are inherent parts of most religious dogma? Tolerance is nice, but must be judiciously applied as to not overlook repugnant ideas and dogmas.
“Just substitute the word ‘powerful dark matter’ everywhere in the essay where you see the big scary word ‘God’”
A: I’d rather not have to prostate myself before any particular concept or moniker, it seems somewhat demeaning.
Seems like we’d be debating the concept of ‘humble’. I’m humbled by the power of Nature. I don’t consider it demeaning, because I am in awe of it.
“Next time you get caught in a tornado or get cancer . . . tell me they are not more powerful than you are”.
A: Neither can write a poem, or sing xmas carols. They are… natural phenomena that is a part of the world we inhabit. I currently cannot knit, should I be in awe of that ball of yarn that mocks me from the shelf? I’m sorry if I’m not getting the whole “higher power” thing, I just do not see it as necessary, in any form.
Existentialism. There’s nothing wrong with it. (see below)
“I just personally feel that anyone that feels that their belief is the only card in the game, is narrow.”
A: Basing one’s world view on the best empirical knowledge available seems to be the safest bet. I would go as far to say it is the best choice available as it is constantly being remoulded to better fit reality.
I’m going to take your ’empirical’ qualification one step further. I was raised in the Catholic schools. I questioned everything and did not take anything anyone said as truth. In my teen years and after I began to quest for everything and anything that would help me sort the inconsistencies in dogma and philosophy. Needless to say I walked with my dim light into many a dark corner. I discussed and debated with Theologians, philosophers, mystics and people of wisdom on the streets and in the ivory towers. I finally reached a point where I was fulfilled and firm in my concept of existence and it’s complex intricacies. I achieved this through experiences I had with, well, I’ll call it ‘forces that exist in the natural universe’. It was empirical to me because I was under no preconceived notion of anything. I had made my mind a blank slate. And the experiences I had proved to me without a doubt that we are minimal and living in our narrow and dark concept of reality.
That’s a personal experience. It wasn’t a revelation or a visitation from God. I understood existence because I ‘sensed’ it. It may sound to you like I am relating a drug trip or a visitation, been there, done that. It went far beyond any of those. It changed the way I lived forever since. So I don’t begrudge those that cling to their belief in a God, or gods or no-god. In some aspect in the big scheme of things, they are all right.
A: I become wary when people start getting all inclusive about beliefs and stuff – because artificially ironing out the differences and giving each belief equal weight lets in some pretty atrocious stuff (see most organized religions). So discerning my choice of narrative must be because I need a reliable standard to judge what is wrong and what is right in the world.
I don’t really have those doubts with ‘wrong or right’. The best example I can give you are the 12 virtues of the Lakota Tribes. Humility, Perseverance, Respect, honor, Love, Sacrifice, Truth, Compassion, Bravery, Fortitude, Generosity, Wisdom. These have not changed in thousands of years and are as relevant today as they were then. I am not a big fan of ‘organized’ religion. As a matter of fact, I am not a big fan of organized anything. Man’s tendency to organize generally only creates exclusion.
“Which again is why tolerance of the beliefs of others is the only path to the magic lantern in the center of the cosmos.”
A: So, how much tolerance do we have for people who do crazy shite because they believe their godhead of choice says its OK? Should we tolerate racism, bigotry and misogyny just “to get along” because they are inherent parts of most religious dogma? Tolerance is nice, but must be judiciously applied as to not overlook repugnant ideas and dogmas.
Tolerance is not a difficult concept and I’m not debating you on this. Tolerance does not mean tolerating ignorance, violence, greed or injustice. Tolerance is just another form of mutual respect. You can believe in whatever you want to believe as long as you do not harm others or denigrate them because their beliefs are different than yours. Very simple concept. It does not mean we have to tolerate other religions who let’s say violently kill or torture women and children. That is not tolerance. Sounds to me like you’re just burned out like everyone else on religious fanaticism that uses religion to justify denigrating and harming others. It’s important to acquire this enlightenment. But what’s more important is what are you going to do about it that doesn’t make you the same monster you’re trying to eradicate.?
Thanks for the chat. I’m in the desert, so I don’t have snow.