Question Everything

It's been a while since I have last posted anything on this blog. To any of those curious, I'm a born again Christian. Haha! Just kidding. Nope, still Religion-Free and continuing to enjoying every minute of it.

It's quite different being an outsider of friends of family who are devout in their own sects or religion. I'm actually going to be the best man at my friends wedding and the ceremony will take place in a Roman Catholic Church. Oh how the religion tries to reel me back in by using my friend as a scapegoat. I told my friend I'm no longer practice nor do I follow any religion. Like a true friend, he still asked me to be his best man at his wedding.

It's been a good four years since I've stepped in a church. The last time I was in a church, I was at my niece's baptism. Under the influence of my mother, who is a devout Roman Catholic, she some how convinced my sister to have her daughter baptized. I don't know if it was forceful or out of parental shame, but my sister eventually caved in. My sister isn't religious, but she would quite say that she divorces the idea of religion. I only know this, because when I told her about my religious stance, she could not even think about turning off the God machine in her head. I'm not one to convince or to create an argument so we just left the conversation at that. It has not come up any time after the fact.

I still haven't come clean with my mother about my choice to stay far, far way from religion. I'm pretty sure she suspects something. I don't do the sign of the cross when we're at a family gathering saying grace. I do however will bow my head if a moment of silence is called upon. I just use the time to honour the memories of friends and family. Other than that, my mother has never approached me about my blasphemous ways. I'm sure my father suspects. He and I have very interesting discussions that often lead into either scientific or theological debates. I remember one time he made a comment stating "You know you sound like a humanist." When I was trying to explain to him my ideas of how common sense and social norms came about. This will be another topic to discuss for sure.

If I were to sum up my experience without god thus far, I would say that I'm mentally free in my decision making. What do I mean by that? Think about all the times you've found yourself with a problem. Do you pray for divine help or do you take it upon yourself to look for ways to solve the issue? I find that if you pray for divine help, you're pretty much taking it upon yourself to solve the issue yourself by sugar coating it with a  supernatural element to it.

Let's Pray: The Curse Word

When the religious say, "Let's pray[...]" where the ellipse range from "for something" or "it will never happen" do they really understand what they are asking? This casts doubt on one's ability and throw caution into the wind as if one wishes to be held by the hand rather than command their own life.

When the phrase "Let's pray[...]" ever enters the vocabulary of a person, they are bound by the limitless connotations of doubt. It is the curse word they use upon those who have a firm belief that they themselves and others are incapable of living without the direction of the "observing almighty".

The massive earthquakes in Haiti and Chile indefinitely brings on this curse word: "Let's pray[...]". Here are other words that could have been used in lieu of "Let's Pray":

"Let's help"

"Let's do something about it!"

"Let's raise awareness"

"Let's aid them in their time of suffering"

Simple communal good thoughts through "Let's pray" do nothing to help those in need. This is not to say that good thoughts are a bad thing, but "praying" and feeling a sense of accomplishment that your good thoughts have reached the whimsical ears of "almighty omniscient" does nothing.

This is not an argument.

It's a fact.

Praying does nothing but make small minds cope with their non-action towards other humans who are in need.

Alright, let's say you (religious) helped and you say to yourself, "Hey, I've done my part in helping a prayer to God should be in order."

I say "No"

You ask "Why?"

I say "Humanity needs to realize the efforts and actions of one and all proves prayer is utterly useless - not to mention highly illogical when aid is needed. Your god will not help in time of need. Humanity helping humanity is greater than the efforts you believe your god will ever do."

Give credit where it is due, not where you believe.

I was Never on the Debate Team

While I do love a good conversation, a debate is where I falter. I don't have much of the wit or cunning to come up with immediate answers.

A religion vs evolution debate just happened between two of my co-workers. One higher up in the heirarchy of our business is an evolutionist. We'll call her Jynn. The other, who is a bit on the same level of the heirarchy, is a Christian. We'll call him Jonny. You can imagine the vibe within the room of those who happen to listen to their conversation. I was among those people within the room. I'm kind of glad I was there to witness the arguments.

The conversation about Sarah Palin somehow seeped into our business talk. It is a well known fact that Palin is a creationist. This angers Jynn. Jonny asks why and Jynn says, "If you're in the position of power, how can anyone believe such a ridiculous thing as creationism?"

Jonny asks Jynn how we go to where we are and she says, "We got to where we are through millions of years of evolution."

This does not sit well with Jonny and he responds, "How are you absolutely sure about that?"

"We have fossil records. Creationist don't believe in dinosaurs."

Jonny rebuttals, "I highly doubt that."

I jump in and say, "Well, there is that creationist museum in Kansas and they claim that dinosaurs lived among humans - which of course is ridiculous." I probably should have kept my mouth shut.

Jonny looks at me and says, "Oh yeah, I know about those museums, but did you know that they found human footprints along side dinosaurs?"

I make a grimiaced face, because the claim is ludicrus, "Oh really? ... Well, I guess I have to look that up."

"Yeah, they say the found footprints of both man and dinosaurs together side by side. They even found dinosaur eggs that are still soft in the inside." Jonny continues.

I just sit there just nodding away doing my job as if we were talking about sports.

At this point, Jynn and Jonny start talking back and fourth about creationism; the fact that the Bible doesn't specifically say 'apple' as the forbidden fruit; and how evolution can't be proven.

I think the conversation evolved where Jonny says that "A horse is still a horse" beliving that animals are immutable, while Jynn says that, "We are evolved forms."

"If you believe in evolution, how can you explain how perfect the universe is? How does chaos turn into order? Is there an example of chaos coming into order? If you believe in the big bang then how did something from immense chaos come into order and life on this planet is possible?" Jonny asks Jynn.

It's obvious Jynn is put aback by the question. Her reaction a bit hesitant. She doesn't know how to answer the question. I sit there hoping she can answer the question. She replies, "I don't Know."

I don't know? Oh come on! If you're going to argue religion vs science you should be able to answer something like that. That question has been used by so many religions I don't know why anti-theist don't give an answer. Jynn should have told Jonny that the universe is not perfect. We're not perfect. Why are our reproductive organs tied in together with our waste system? Why is the human wind pipe easy to block with food? If we were perfect nothing would be questionable about our lives. Chaos into order? Let's see, how about our sun? our solar system? How about our universe? Look at the bigger picture and not just your backyard. What chaos he speaks of probably is that of the big bang and the cooling effect of space.

We live in a world, solar system universe of constant chaos.

Give credit where credit is due, not where you believe.

Heard of H.E.R.B.?

No? Take a look at H.E.R.B.

LHC

If those letters don't mean anything to you... Read about it.

News about the experiment finally going through just hit a couple of my co-workers and friends. They're afraid, because they don't understand what the CERN scientist want to do. I even told them that Canada supported it by supplying the two large magnets for the device.

Don't worry. We won't die. The worst that could happen is all the hard work will amount to nothing, but a huge atom smasher with no results - which I highly doubt. If you're one of those people who are easily scared then make your time, all your base are belong to us.

Evolution Game, The

I've been meaning to post this journal in a while, but never really had a chance.

This summer I'm working at a camp. I was worried when I applied for the job that it was going to be some sort of religious retreat camp. I got the job through craigslist so I didn't really do much research. Turns out that the place is phenomenal and guess what? No forced religious views within this camp! From what I over heard from a conversation between campers the camp is about 40% Jewish, but really there's nothing Jewish about the camp at all.

It's like a microcosm of a secular society, but everyone is established within their own groups according to age. The most I've seen about imposing values upon the children are posters around camp asking to be polite and respect one another. There are no religious images found anywhere at camp. Every week a certain age group puts on a play. I was checking around to see what plays were produced at the camp and I couldn't help but notice a Harry Potter play. Every day I pass by a Jehova's Witness Camp and I often wonder if a Harry Potter play would be shown at that place. It's doubtful, but I always like to think of the different ways why Harry Potter is hated among Christian groups.

During a spirit rally - a day where every cabin has events to entertain the kids - I noticed a cabin playing a game called Evolution. For some reason the game interested me. I wanted to know how it was played. I observed and found it very interesting.

Basically this is how the game works:

1. All the kids start off as eggs. The kids often jump around with their heads above their head and yell, "Egg! Egg! Egg!"

2. When another person bumps into you a game of rock, paper scissors (RPS) comes into play.

3. The winner of the RPS evolves into whatever they want and the loser remains an egg until another person bumps into him or her.

4. This process goes on and on until the kids become humans. I believe there are about five or six stages evolutions go through until they become human.

So there you have it. A game about evolution. Of course the methods used in the game are debatable, especially the part about evolution by chance, but I can't really see any other way of playing the game.

I love this summer job!

Things I've stopped and others not so much

The Four Horsemen DVD made me think about what I've stopped doing ever since I became an Atheist. Richard Dawkins said he hasn't stopped saying grace at the table, because he can say empty words at the table. I found that be quite odd, but then I got to think that grace is a good way to just reflect on how the food got onto the plate and keep good thoughts about it. I, however, have never said grace by myself, I always have others instigate the act in a large group. I don't really mind it that much. Other's pray to god about the food, while I just think about the farmers and butchers.

Another thing I am gradually trying to stop is the use of anything related to god within a exclamation or a sign of disbelief. For example, when someone had a close call, I've had to catch myself saying, "Thank God you're alright." However, when someone does something ridiculous I still say "Oh Jesus Christ!" I figure it won't hurt to keep that exclamation and why not? It's probably the best outburst ever... well asside from "Holy Tap Dancing Christ!" You can tell I'm quite done respecting that fictional character.

One thing I will not stop doing is stop listening to "Ave Maria" when I hear a good rendition of it anywhere. Yes, I know the song is extremely influential to the Catholic faith, but it is a beautiful song. There are a lot of songs that use books as their main source of influence. I just don't see how Ave Maria is any different.

The last thing, so far, on this list is that I've stopped being so quite. I've noticed I'm saying a lot more than I used to. This blog is part of it as well.