So, all right, most of these posts are going to be about Christianity because that's the religion I know best. I may speak to other religions now and again, but this one is easy not only because I know it well but also because it's so well thought-out and documented. Lots to work with.
One of the core elements of Christianity is the suffering Christ. Christ died for your sins. That's a central message. Because Christ died for our sins . . . depending on which flavor of Christianity you choose, that gets you anything from an all but confirmed seat on the train to Jordan, or gets you not much at all because all the seating is pre-assigned.
The sacrifice of Christ, however, has never much impressed me. Jesus was God. Knew he was God. He *knew* he wasn't really dying. He *knew* he was going to rise from the dead and ascend to Heaven. The suffering was real (except in certain ancient heresies), but he knew the suffering would end and he'd be back up in greener pastures.
Now, I ask you, who made the bigger sacrifice: the god-made-man who knew he was going to be fine, or the poor chump martyr who knew only that he was going to die and be dead and *maybe* be resurrected and go the Heaven?
Personally, I have much more respect for any American solider who marched into harm's way to protect his homeland and certain ideals that probably weren't all that clear in his mind to begin with. I am much more humbled by the revolutionary who throws himself against tyranny on the incredibly slim chance that he might make a difference.
Now *that's* somebody who died for me. *That's* somebody who inspires awe and respect. The Jesus thing is right up there with Zeus turning into a swan. He was a god first and he knew he would be a god afterward. The swan thing was just a diversion. No real sacrifice because nothing was sacrificed.
Hey, if a god wants to offer up a genuine sacrifice, then go away and never come back. Now that would be something, wouldn't it? A god who disappears? That would definitely be divine sacrifice.
But don't come down for what amounts to a weekend slumming and expect me to get all choked up about it. There are real people suffering real consequences and until you can match that, getouttatown.
-= Skip =-
still smilin'
Tuesday, October 05, 2004
Saturday, October 02, 2004
God is a UFO
I know people who sincerely believe there are alien spacecraft that have either visited Earth or are currently doing so. These are otherwise seemingly normal people of normal intelligence, and they sometimes become affectionately concerned over my lack of belief in these things. The proofs for the existence of UFOs are almost without end, as are the refutations for same.
Finally, a few years ago, I reconsidered the matter and came up with a new reply.
Yes, UFOs may exist. Or they may not. The fact is, either way, it doesn't matter. If UFOs do exist, they are piloted by the most remarkably irrelevant, not to say outright stupid, creatures in the universe. If, after crossing the depths of space, the best they can manage is crop circles and cattle mutilation, then I say they are of no more interest than some species of beetle (pace entomology). They affect the course of human affairs not one whit. Let one of those puppies land on the White House lawn, or start destroying cities, enslaving the human race, or even ending disease and hunger, like a proper UFO, and now we're talkin'. Now we got ourselves an alien.
Meanwhile, it is much ado about nothing.
So it is with gods. In the good old days, gods brought in the harvest or struck down enemies in a quite tangible way. Nowadays, however, gods are at best relegated to the role of supporting actors. They cause things that cause things that affect us. Or something like that.
Oh sure, there are those who claim to have seen angels or even gods, who have had the benefit of divine intervention, and these folks are fervent believers. So are farmers who've been abducted by aliens and been whisked off to Venus. Who am I to denigrate one and elevate the other? I respect both, but I see no reason to think that their personal experiences somehow should form the foundation for my own beliefs and actions.
So, God is a UFO. Unbelievable on the face of it, but with legions of loyal followers who'll swear the evidence is overwhelming, that evil forces are at work to hide or pervert the truth, and those who disbelieve must surely be doing so wilfully. Meanwhile, the course of human events rolls on, untouched by powers either divine or alien.
-= Skip =-
(still smilin')
Finally, a few years ago, I reconsidered the matter and came up with a new reply.
Yes, UFOs may exist. Or they may not. The fact is, either way, it doesn't matter. If UFOs do exist, they are piloted by the most remarkably irrelevant, not to say outright stupid, creatures in the universe. If, after crossing the depths of space, the best they can manage is crop circles and cattle mutilation, then I say they are of no more interest than some species of beetle (pace entomology). They affect the course of human affairs not one whit. Let one of those puppies land on the White House lawn, or start destroying cities, enslaving the human race, or even ending disease and hunger, like a proper UFO, and now we're talkin'. Now we got ourselves an alien.
Meanwhile, it is much ado about nothing.
So it is with gods. In the good old days, gods brought in the harvest or struck down enemies in a quite tangible way. Nowadays, however, gods are at best relegated to the role of supporting actors. They cause things that cause things that affect us. Or something like that.
Oh sure, there are those who claim to have seen angels or even gods, who have had the benefit of divine intervention, and these folks are fervent believers. So are farmers who've been abducted by aliens and been whisked off to Venus. Who am I to denigrate one and elevate the other? I respect both, but I see no reason to think that their personal experiences somehow should form the foundation for my own beliefs and actions.
So, God is a UFO. Unbelievable on the face of it, but with legions of loyal followers who'll swear the evidence is overwhelming, that evil forces are at work to hide or pervert the truth, and those who disbelieve must surely be doing so wilfully. Meanwhile, the course of human events rolls on, untouched by powers either divine or alien.
-= Skip =-
(still smilin')
Friday, September 24, 2004
There is no god
There is no God.
There is no Thor, no Odin, Loki, Freya or Jormungand.
There is no Brahma, no Kuber, no Yama or Shiva or Ashwini Kumara.
There is no Anguta, no Shakura, no Selu, Sedna or Ocasta.
There is no jaguar god, no elephant god, no coyote god, no bear god, no guinea pig god.
There is no god of the sun, of the moon, of Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, any of the asteroids, nor the comets nor of disabled orbiting satellites.
There is no Chenresig, no Maitreya, no Vajrasattva, no Manjushri.
There is no Akongo, no Gua, no Zin or Yo or Mon or So.
What, did you think your particular god was different somehow?
There is no Thor, no Odin, Loki, Freya or Jormungand.
There is no Brahma, no Kuber, no Yama or Shiva or Ashwini Kumara.
There is no Anguta, no Shakura, no Selu, Sedna or Ocasta.
There is no jaguar god, no elephant god, no coyote god, no bear god, no guinea pig god.
There is no god of the sun, of the moon, of Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, any of the asteroids, nor the comets nor of disabled orbiting satellites.
There is no Chenresig, no Maitreya, no Vajrasattva, no Manjushri.
There is no Akongo, no Gua, no Zin or Yo or Mon or So.
What, did you think your particular god was different somehow?
Why is the Atheist Smiling?
Why be sad?
Fact is, there are far more reasons for the atheist to be smilin' than for the superstitious to be smilin'. (Side note: the difference between superstition and religion is that superstition is about their gods while religion is about ours)
The story's over for the religious. All questions are answered, the script is written and the job of the individual human is to deliver his lines and get off the stage. If the religion does allow room for meaningful human action, it's only at the trivial level. Everything important is handled by the gods.
For the atheist, however, life is improv. We human beings are writers, directors and actors all in one, and production crew as well. What could be more exciting than that? Every decision is ours alone; every consequence is ours alone; every victory, every defeat, and we even define what "victory" and "defeat" mean.
*He* doesn't have the whole world in His hands -- *we* do.
Ain't it grand?
Fact is, there are far more reasons for the atheist to be smilin' than for the superstitious to be smilin'. (Side note: the difference between superstition and religion is that superstition is about their gods while religion is about ours)
The story's over for the religious. All questions are answered, the script is written and the job of the individual human is to deliver his lines and get off the stage. If the religion does allow room for meaningful human action, it's only at the trivial level. Everything important is handled by the gods.
For the atheist, however, life is improv. We human beings are writers, directors and actors all in one, and production crew as well. What could be more exciting than that? Every decision is ours alone; every consequence is ours alone; every victory, every defeat, and we even define what "victory" and "defeat" mean.
*He* doesn't have the whole world in His hands -- *we* do.
Ain't it grand?
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