by Jeremy C. Rutledge
“All advance in understanding demands the acquisition of an new point of view.”
Aleister Crowley
Well I’ve never been to Heaven but I’ve been to Oklahoma. They tell me I was born there and I’m fairly sure I’ve lived there for the last 24 years. In the very buckle of the Bible belt, attending the same Southern Baptist church for 10 years. I did stints in Wesleyan Christian and St. John’s Catholic schools, Baptist summer camps and VacationBibleSchool, not to mention your standard 3 services per week; my indoctrination was thorough. My level of sincerity varied over time but I was a professing Christian for 20 years. Sadly, this led to the constant 2nd guessing of every though and action throughout my childhood, praying for answers and for forgiveness, and worst of all lying awake nights pondering the fate of my soul. Since I was 12 I remember my greatest wish being that I would live to see the Apocalypse. Even then I think I strongly desired proof to justify my self-inflicted torment, if only subconsciously, though it never occurred to me to actually question anything.
At some point later
in adolescence I realized I had never even completely read the Bible cover
to cover, but merely relied on memorizing hand-selected passages, if anything.
It seemed my entire spiritual history was founded on taking someone’s word
for it, but how could I base the most important decision of my life on
something that came from an untested and fallible source? This was unacceptable!
How had I gone this far without ever thinking to examine the foundations
of my assumptions? Was I brain dead? Going with the grain was just so seductive
and safe. Question my parents, and theirs, and theirs? Stray from the heard
and venture out on my own? Face the 3 most frightening words known to man,
‘I don’t know’? Where did we come from, where do we go? Tell me anything
but ‘I don’t know’! Frightening because deep down we know it’s true; that
these are in fact unknowable. From here there is no turning back, and thus
my journey from ignorant bliss to agonizing awareness would begin, the
epic clash of reason vs. myth.
Simply put, I began
to take life seriously and think for myself. Not that I necessarily wanted
to, only that through these realizations I found myself no longer able
to ignore curiosities as I had done so well for so long, and that changes
everything. I began to question my relationships, behaviors and beliefs,
and the results were colossal. During the next several months I would meticulously
reevaluate every idea and action in my life. This painful and unsettling
process was undoubtedly the most liberating and enlightening period I had
ever experienced. And my thirst for knowledge became all-powerful. During
these days I lost, perhaps redirected my animosity, identified and out
grew a 7-year drug habit and broke ranks with most social companions. It
was tough, but it was new. I found a playground in my mind, more challenging
and complex than anything I had ever encountered. I took a hard look at
things and started holding myself to a new standard. Countless other behaviors
that had previously fascinated me suddenly lost their appeal entirely.
What really struck me was how naturally it came; two decades asleep and
closed, then an incidental look inward revealed life shattering insights
almost immediately.
This inquiry, however,
was a serious undertaking; my upbringing, moral guidelines and peace of
mind were all very much at steak. Yet I could not simply go on embracing
principles that I had no deep understanding of. Questions had to be answered.
Here in lies the problem, every curiosity and doubt seemed to pound away
at the girders of my soul exposing my beliefs as superstitions and lore.
Indeed, religious pillars don’t take kindly to scrutiny. I quickly came
to realize that nobody could answer even the most basic ‘whys’ and ‘how
do we knows’ with anything but anecdotal quotes from an ancient text that
I venture to guess they knew less about than I. No real proof, no evidence,
no experience, nothing tangible what so ever. Only rumors and fantasies
beautiful and long refined, conjured up by men from histories ages when
people believed in dragons and ghosts and had no real understanding of
the world around them but only myths to explain and comfort their budding
awareness. In those days he that proposed scientific understanding was
subject to no less than mockery and exile, as tampering with bliss has
always been a crime above all others. Where were the divine standard, the
unquestionable truth and the great seal? Where lay the incontrovertible
testaments to god’s glory, the Arc of the Covenant or the 10 commandments?
None, not one! No miracle, no vision, no heavenly choir, only lies, fear,
and ignorance, but no lack of zeal. Nothing evokes such terror as the investigation
of fantasy; deep down they know I tamper with beloved lies?
The Word
“Originality is the fine art of remembering what you hear but forgetting where you heard it.”
Laurence Peter
I visualized a theatre filled to capacity with believers and teachers of faith, I on the stage. Everyone rose to his or her feet when I posed the question “who among you knows god?” Impressive! Now, I asked bluntly, who here has read and studied the Bible in its entirety, even memorized every word of your very god? I thought what task could be more essential yet … nearly half took their seats, reluctantly and with visible shame. The impact was stunning, if not terribly surprising. Then I wondered aloud, who had written the Bible and when, and who organized the various letters and teachings into a definitive book? Were each of the authors above reprise and worthy of dictating divine decree? How could we be sure that no error was made by such a diverse group of men? Again, half of those standing were confused, and being that seated. Now then, who translated the Aramaic, Greek and Hebrew with no standardized grammar or spelling, or even case or punctuation into English, and could I be certain in the interpretation? Now only a scattered few remained standing, and the mood in the room had shifted to an uneasy buzz. Finally, King James, I had to know; who was he and by what authority did he edit the great book? What was wrong with the original and which version is the true word of god, furthermore which denomination has understood it correctly, and what is to come of those who choose alternative beliefs? The room was transformed into a chaotic collection of groups and individuals, each eager to claim but unable to defend his righteousness. Shouting and jumping, confused and divided, the once united body of believers was set ablaze. This exercise was telling.
This same room emerged again whilst deep in a contemplative state a few days later. This time nobody knows how we got there or what’s going on. Then one man finds a book under his seat, it instructs him to evacuate immediately, he persuades a scattered few to accompany him and they make for the exit, escaping just as god torches the place and locks the doors.
Through some reasoning
and study I began to see that the Bible was most certainly flawed and could
not be the true work of god. Did Jesus even intend for this book to be
written? Why had he not authored the entire book him self? Why was it so
lengthy and vague, open to misinterpretation and abuse, why wasn’t it perfect?
Instead of a thick rambling book of genealogy and fables why not author
a simple moral code with a few detailed predictions of major natural events
or scientific insights? Then the authenticity and authority would be indisputable,
uniting the world in service and harmony. People love to say ‘Jesus said
this or that!’ but the truth is they have no idea what exactly Jesus said.
All we can actually confirm is that somebody wrote about him years after
his death and claimed he said certain things, and through centuries of
rough, loose translations we have come do decide that we think he definitely
might have said this, or maybe that, depending on where you grew up.
Further, it became
clear to me that our Bible had a long, dark history of divisiveness and
evil. It has served as the justification for wars and ambition, torture
and murders to numerous to count. More death and misery in the name of
Jesus than any other in known history, was this god’s best work? If you
discount the Bible’s inerrancy the whole of Christianity crumbles, exposed
as the super-massive black hole of individuality and liberty that it is.
Frantic enforcers scurry to trample and murder alternative thought. Suddenly,
the idea of a god that intended all of his creation to think, believe and
behave in exactly the same manner in order to avoid damnation was laughable
and sold short the imagination of the universal architect. Endless possibilities
exist at every point through infinity, but only one way to interpret? Any
god of this world loves change and exchange, competition and adaptation;
it is evident in every aspect of science and history. These are rewarded
qualities. To assimilate in thought and deed sounds like the cliff notes
from the Kaczynski manifesto.
Aside from the now obvious hang-ups in authenticity; several contradictions, injustices, perversities and down right absurdities began to leap from the pages of our book of standards, thus reinforcing my suspicions of its origin. Knowing not of god but much of man, the scriptures seem to me the work of the latter. God destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah in a single day due to sexual immorality; that includes newborn babies, puppies, handicapped kids and goldfish, not just the fags. Apparently it would have been too much work to perform some miracle or otherwise convert the people to godliness. Later, god sat idly by as Nazis massacred millions of his own people, turned their bodies into lampshades and bars of soap, where was god then? Punisher yes but savior, apparently not. Why then, had he only a few thousand years before sent plagues, killed first bourns and parted seas to save those same people from captivity? That same god who would frequently intervene in the affairs of men has either been on a long vacation or has lost interest altogether. You can’t go 3 pages in the Bible without a burning bush, manna from Heaven or some inexplicable personal favor or divine wrath raining down from the sky. If god had retained this policy of the periodic public confirmation of his existence would there be the crisis of faith we find today? Would I be writing this story? Not likely. In such a paradox one is faced with a haunting dilemma; ether god has allowed his followers to endure and administer extremes in persecution, or he isn’t there. Is god’s will knowable? Would he really create angels to fall, paradise to be lost and souls to be damned? Has Lucifer the power to significantly interfere with god’s plans? Perhaps Lucifer is more of an equal than we are led to believe. After all, he’s soiled heavens very soil, turned angel against angel and beats god in the numbers game any day. How can we to be sure that Lucifer won’t pull off the big upset in Armageddon, overthrow the captain this time? If angles were tempted to mutiny once, it can happen again. God ends up isolated form the majority off all he creates, alone in heaven? After a few million years in a lake of fire might we then be forgiven? Why create a devil knowing that he creates all separation in the world?
What is the true identity of Lucifer anyhow? If you check the literal translation for Lucifer you find shining one or light bearer, a reference to the morning star, the sunrise, the reflection of god’s love. Then in Genesis we find that Adam was clothed in light, the translation for Adam is light skinned. Adam was initially immortal and we all know that he fell from heaven, or god’s presence. Adam’s will for “being like god knowing good and evil”, sounds eerily like Lucifer’s sin of pride “for you have said in your heart, I will be like the most high”. What’s wrong with wanting to be like dad anyway? Jews teach that one-third of the angles seeing Adam trembled and knelt. One-third of the angles joined Lucifer’s rebellion. Upon being cast out of paradise Lucifer was ‘furious, knowing his time was short’. Adam lost his immortality by being cut off form the tree of life. God said “the man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil, he must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” Adam was the shining one, until god made him ‘a crude skin like that of an animal’. Further, there are no scriptures that suggest Satan, or the slanderer, and Lucifer are the same person. Jesus said of Satan, “There is no love in him, he has been a murderer form the beginning” later god spoke, “I have created the waster to destroy, and for the perfection of the saints”, seeming to indicate that Satan was a being created with a specific purpose and not one whom had fallen from grace, such as Adam. After all, god said, ‘it is good’ and then rested, that includes Satan, who clearly must serve as a balancing or refining force in our universe. The perfect man exuding the creator’s light is Lucifer. Adam envisioned and pursued his ultimate potential and was cast down. The misinterpretation here is not unlike the anti-Christ reference we find in Revelation of the Great Beast 666. This obscure and enigmatic number has led to centuries of speculation and paranoia, but with a touch of context and insight it becomes clear that John, the wandering scribe who wrote revelation, was intent on authoring a symbolic warning to backslidden Christians of his day. From an early 2nd century perspective, under Roman oppression, this scenario is more plausible. People don’t get much closer to the ‘end times’ without going extinct. The numerology popular at the time suggests the cryptic code 666 implies Nero Cesar, the brutal persecutor of the Jews during this early tenure of Christendom. Unfortunately, like the Creed song, the Beast is dead.
At the Tower of Babel god again intervened when man was about to realize heaven on earth. “Indeed the people are one, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they imagine to do will be withheld from them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” An irresistible insight into the nature of god is found in these three instances, he almost seems threatened by mortal ambitions. Something else worth mentioning about Babel is the origin of speaking in tongues. ‘Are they drunk?’ ‘No! They are filled with the Holy Spirit!’ Here’s a thought, they are foreigners here for the new construction gig. When captive Jews were lead into Mesopotamia they had no prior exposure to any teeming metropolis, diverse languages or towering ziggurats… nothing a clever anecdote couldn’t remedy. Through such findings the tangling contradictions become inexcusable. Yet the convenience of blaming all that displeases us on this Satan is a luxury that most could not do without, and has been preserved as great cost. Blame sin! Did Job sin? However, clear grounds for the rejection of this flawed principle can be found in the Bible itself, Isaiah 45:7 reads “I form the light and create darkness, I bring peace and create evil; I, the Lord, do all these things.” Not one of the churches more popular passages. Though this scripture at the very least brings into question the teaching that god cannot be in the presence of evil.
Unable to maintain
order in Heaven, we learn that god resorts to brute force to quell mutiny,
now his demons are loosed upon the earth and we are left to fend for ourselves
with limited spiritual awareness. What then is the ultimate law of the
universe, love or raw power? God overpowered Lucifer and cast him down
(or out); Lucifer in turn overpowers us and takes the overwhelming majority
of our souls to his kingdom. Survival of the fittest truly is the supreme
law of the universe and success the sole judge of right.
Round and round we go. It seems the deeper you dig all you get is dirty. So let’s simplify the argument. For me it boils down to this: did Jesus actually awaken from death and ascent into heaven? The short answer is no, of course not. Neither did Mary despite the sudden Catholic insistence in 1950 that she did. Catholic dogma we find is perpetually endowing Mary with new powers and virtues, in fact just last year she officially became our Advocate and Mediatrix, which means she takes our prayers to god on our behalf. She is also now apparently the co-Redemptrix, which means she aided in the deliverance of the human race from damnation… basically the 4th member of the trinity, Super-Mary. This is ludicrous and insulting to any reasonable person and Mary did just fine for 2,000 years without it. Mary was an ordinary woman living in hard times who had an extraordinary son (how boring). It is not hard to imagine how an improper pregnancy would be explained away to avoid ridicule and banishing. Neither is it difficult to imagine some romanticizing Mary’s humble attributes to enhance the appeal of a given religion. What is hard to imagine is any person being physically drawn up into Heaven. The term ‘ashes to ashes’ applies to everyone; Jesus, Mary, Mohammed, the freaks at Waco (literally) and those morons in the space ship cult.
Also, some perspective
can be gained by taking into account the history of the Bible’s scrolls
and letters, the time span in which they were written and the manner in
which they were assembled. It should be the duty of all who claim to have
faith to establish an intimate rapport with the contents of the book, as
well as a familiarity with its origins. The expansive period from which
the 1st old testament book to the last new testament letter
were written is approximately 1,300 years, between 1,200 B.C. and 100 A.D.,
give or take a hundred. Equally telling are the high number of authors,
list of intended audiences, reasons for and results of the letters. One
crucial fact that should not be ignored is the seemingly indiscriminate
editing that disjoined the Apocryphal texts from other scriptures despite
such esteemed contributors as Thomas, Jesus’ brother James and his great³
grandfather Enoch. It must have been a nightmare for an editorial committee
trying to bind a cohesive statement from the work of over 50 different
authors collected over a 1,300-year period, written in 5 different tongues
with no standard spelling, punctuation or grammar! No wonder we find more
division inside the religions of the world than between them, philosophically
anyway.
The most infamous
editor-in-chief of the Holy Scriptures is undoubtedly King James the 1st
of England.
This man, not unlike Gideon, Smith, Tyndale, Wycliffe, NIV scholars and
others, had no discernable authority to tamper with god’s perfect law.
The fact that he was a paranoid fanatic/mass murderer who ordered public
executions for 200, arguably innocent, people for allegedly conspiring
with Satan to assassinate him, seems to of had little impact on
his version of god’s word becoming the most widely read book in history.
The Bibles teachings
must be symbolic, after all, Jesus taught exclusively in parables, and
being one with the father it is reasonable to assume that all old-testament
prophecies would have shared that same symbolic quality. The Bible is a
complex script combining allegory, symbolism, history, philosophy and myth.
Adherence to literal interpretation seems like a recipe for certain confusion
and division. By today’s standards the Bible’s lessons are far removed
and often unpractical, even at their initial authoring most were fables
handed down from ancient times. Its prophecies have uniformly proven to
be inaccurate and impossible. Its principle is the key; a liberal use of
metaphor relays moral suggestions not literal facts. The Bible is not a
documentary but an invaluable insight into past perspectives. This unique
collection of ancient humanity’s accounts of the struggle to survive and
understand their world and their purpose is a true treasure, not god’s
word.
War of Ideas
“Religion is the opiate of the masses.”
Karl Marx
Another topic worth mentioning is the behavior of practitioners and ideas they perpetuate. The attitudes and actions of the religious majority seem to imply they have all but forgotten the times of persecution they once endured. The arrogance decrees, ‘come to Jesus or you face eternal damnation!’ How’s that? Any good Jew, humble Buddhist, compassionate atheist, will all be labeled enemies of god and made to endure eternal torture at the hands of demons? How can this be? Can such and exclusionary doctrine be tolerated in the diverse and competitive landscape that is modern civilization? Christians fume when others think they are wrong, failing to see the log in their own eye. One grows up in Iran so he thinks you are wrong, you grown up in Kansas so you think he is wrong, the sad irony is they are both right. This is not Heavenly but Earthly, a vigorous war of ideas. Gandhi in hell, could you imagine it? Irrespective of how you behave in life if you reject Jesus you deserve damnation. Not death or absence from Heaven but eternal hell, torture and destruction at the hands of demons with the worst of all mankind. Most people really think they will arrive in Heaven one day and find nothing but other Mormons there, or Southern Baptists, or whatever they happen to buy into. Thinking your tradition is the only ‘real’ one is like thinking Chinese isn’t a real language, or that no one else has a birthday. Aside from being flawed in their very elitist nature, the principal behind them is also baseless. The original translation of the term Hell is from the word Sheol meaning literally the pit, a reference to the grave. Death is the inclination not some molten underworld of pain; it’s a metaphor of failure or death. Our adopted version is more effective in putting butts in pews though, made possible by a total loss of skepticism in the ranks of religious masses. The true intended meaning of Hell was simply the agony of separation from our creator, not knowing god, not realizing our purpose. The tool of fear and leverage Hell has become in the passing of time is a tactically genius marketing ploy. More clear evidence of the manipulation from corrupt priest, who truly hold the power. From these abuses ideas both terrible and illogical have been spawned. God as a bully, egomaniac and black mailer! Follow me or else! The god of mercy draws the line! Once you die he’ll forget you as demons prod you in some fiery pit, forever. ‘We’re going to heaven but you’re not, we know what’s right you fool, now listen up!’ They babble and regurgitate words, the origin of which none can be sure. Where’s the objectivity, the challenge, the balance of power, the accountability for those who claim to interpret divine will? The way Jesus challenged the establishment in his time. Sheep… how fitting.
Missionaries might have you to believe the followers of Christ have been persecuted and driven to practice in secrecy and through it all prevailed by enduring faith. This was true, to an extent, for about 300 years. However, for the last 1,700+ it’s been quiet a different story. The once reclusive and tormented sect quickly morphed into an imperialistic force that would soon find itself on the giving end of extreme persecution and forced allegiance. Not since Constantine realized the political advantages of an organized historical religion for uniting his empire have Christians known minority, persecution, or purity. The only religious persecution the world has seen this side of 300 C.E. has been that inflicted by Christians upon each other; charging blasphemy, heresy and witchcraft, upon their children; imposing guilt, shame and prejudice, and upon society; repressing individuality, prosperity and knowledge. Why else would the Catholic Church actively proselytize 3rd world countries with their dogma knowing the disease ridden and impoverished people would be prohibited from using birth control; likely the best and most plausible option to limit the spread of disease, famine and war. Religions are based in fear, that’s why disasters galvanize the faithful.
Unfortunately, this
war of ideas is not confined to the purely intellectual. One need not look
far to find copious examples of murder and rape by men in robes, abusive
authority with divine impunity, butchery at the hands of the intoxicated.
A brief study of 16th century England will provide a good framework
for the consequences of theistic bickering gone aria. Malleus Malefic
arum, or The Witches Hammer, is a fine example of just such a thing.
It is a manuscript authored by two well-meaning priests, Johann Sprenger
and Heinrick Kraemer. Written in 1510, the goal of this document was not
to uncover witches but to improve society. However, as is often the case,
its intent was not its end. This work, like the Bible before it, set the
tone for one of the bloodiest and most tragic chapters in human history.
It came to be known as the handbook of the inquisition and it is estimated
that half a million people, most of them likely suffering from mental illnesses
or political vendettas, were killed as a direct result of the chaos it
fueled (that’s a body count). Incidentally, nearly 90% of the victims were
women so we can be sure that sexual jealousies had nothing to do with it.
The lynchings were embraced by an emotionally frantic and ignorant society,
which came to develop a bloodlust to rival any Roman coliseum. The book
became so popular it spawned 19 editions in various languages and was widely
praised by men of God. The writings were organized into three parts:
1- evidence that witches existed, 2- descriptions of the behavior
of witches (delusions, hallucinations, paranoia), and 3- examination/treatment
methods. The thesis was that a soul demonically possessed must
be removed from the body. This would be attempted via various means of
torture, mutilation, drowning, hanging, or simply by guillotine. By the
time this fanciful and baseless snake oil was seen for what it was, the
damage was done. Not to be out done, the state tried its hand at faith-based
butchery as well.
After the just King Henry separated England from Rome, theologically speaking, heads began to roll, literally speaking. Winning hearts and minds through the time tested righteous intimidation. However, things were just the beginning. His daughter Mary would see the harsh reversal of this policy and during her short reign close to 300 people were burned alive for ‘heresy’ in the Catholic counter-attack. Unable to produce an heir, she would soon seed the throne to Elizabeth, her half sister. During this transition the national identity of England became decidedly protestant again, funny, and in response his holiness, apparently another name for the Pope, offered to bless her assassin, saying “whoever takes her out of the world, not only does not sin, but gains merit”. Papal indignation and the concept of religious seniority in general are in a realm in which I won’t waste time. Between playing god, creating laws, blessing murder, sexual depravity, the inquisition, half-a-dozen crusades, the 30 years war, witch trials, the sectarian conflict in Ireland, the odd massacre, ‘civilizing’ those savages, countless executions of ‘heretics’ and ‘blasphemers’, institutionalized suppression of women and science, intimidating and exacting punishment upon perceived rivals… yeah, can I get a head count on the wronged here? Of course they have been justifying and apologizing for the last 500 years, and likely will for another 500. The audacity of Galileo to suggest the universe might be understood through observation and study rather than theologians assumptions. Of course he’d be declared a heretic and excommunicated! He knew this of course and kept secret his theories until on his deathbed. His premonitions were manifest in simply saying “I do not feel obliged to believe that the same god who has endowed us with sense, reason and intellect has intended us to forgo their use.” radical stuff at the time.
So, what has changed over two millennia? Little. As we look to the scandals that ensnare the church today we see the corruption brought by unchecked power is timeless. We find Cardinals and devout ‘men of god’ scrambling to explain, even justify their total negligence in allowing the repeated rape and abuse of little boys. Blaming the medical community, insurance companies or their lawyers, but failing to realize that the public does not now, nor ever will, look to those institutions for moral leadership. We find an organization that puts secrecy and self-preservation above all else by denying, shifting blame, paying off accusers and plain arrogance when dealing with crucial issues of abuse and corruption. Not to suggest that such horrific incidents are exclusive to the Catholic Church, but in other arenas such problems are identified and eliminated at an early stage, thus avoiding the explosive scandals that ride in on the coat tales of half a century of cover-ups. Such checks and balances are impossible however, within a detached and isolated hierarchy. Sympathies are with the accused and ‘bad news’ does not reach the top. Response to social grievances is lethargic and impersonal at best and only occurs after public outcry brings the issue to a boil. Never has the church had the foresight or moral clarity to avoid or amend such tragedies until decades later when the damage was already done, not that we would expect such selfless acts from those supposedly in continual communion with god himself.
These are institutions of men, not god, and there is no evidence to suggest they are any more compassionate or accountable than secular counterparts, rather the contrary. Apologists will explain that society is full of evil but can’t justify the claim to divine exemption when historically they’re corrupt and aggressive beyond compare. The terror attacks of 9-11 were not random acts of insanity though it is much more comforting to believe that they were. After all, how inconveniently demanding to overcome our emotional reflexes and develop a rational understanding of what has been and is still happening.
“History is the version of past events that people have decided to agree upon.”
Napoleon
Finally, we should question the accuracy of historical accounts in the Bible. If this book is the inspired word of god then surely the claims and accounts held within are precise and clear. Not so fast, it seems that with little effort one can begin to unravel the veil of alleged divinity that has smothered truth from view. Did god really spend 33 years on earth? Why then would he spend almost half of that time wandering around alone in the desert? Did god create a written law for all mankind, and then give it to Moses knowing he would descend the mountain and smash it? Has god led armies to victory, authorized plunder and slaying of children and non-virgins (gee, what was done with the virgins?)? Did Methuselah really live for a millennium in a time when men rarely saw 50? So many questions, obscure and unlikely scenarios, how can one even approach the assignment of deciphering legitimacy in such accounts? For brevities sake we’ll have to limit our investigation to a few prominent cases.
Solomon, the wisest man to ever live? ‘None before him, or none after shall be like him in wisdom’ said god, ‘wisdom and understanding as sand on the seashore’. Was he wiser even than Jesus? Would it be safe then to assume that this man would have set the ultimate example for us to live by? If this is the case than one may safely state that the feverish pursuits of material excess and physical pleasure is true wisdom. Why? Because some of the claims that King Solomon makes about his temple, the sacrifices held within, and his female accompaniments are nothing short of vulgar displays of greed, ego and waste… oh yeah, and wisdom.
In building his famous temple the wise king spared no expense, almost to the point of depleting local ecosystems. Apparently this is wise. Precious metals, the finest woods and silks, rare beasts and exotic performers all lined his plush courts. Golden chariots carried him on Royal Hunts: only the best would do. Enough food was wasted at each banquet to provide the entire kingdom with rations twice over. On top of this, sacrifice! Prime livestock by the heard and incense piled high. Spilling over the altar were 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep, slaughtered and burned every day to appease god while peasants starved.
If it can be imagined, his restraint was even scarcer when it came to women. It is said that the king had 300 wives. Surely this is madness in its truest form! If this weren’t in-and-of itself a totally absurd gesture of excess, cruelty and indulgence, even out right slavery, he topped it off with an additional 700 concubines! Inconceivable. At any given time you could have hundreds of ragging nagging wives. More importantly, 1,000 young women with individual personalities and needs, who should have had their own lives and families, are slaves to a man they hardly know and rarely see. How could this possibly have been a healthy or happy situation for any of them? That’s a different woman every night for 2 ½ years, how could even the wisest man in history have even remembered all their names let alone given them any individual attention. I’m sure this seemed wise for the first few weeks, but c’mon, a personal harem 1,000 deep, it’s bound to backfire.
Other examples of this supreme wisdom are equally baffling. The classic tale of the disputed baby is one of the best. In this story two new mothers bring their case before the wise king. The night before one mother had switched her child with the others after hers had died. The king resolves to split the remaining child in half with a sword and give each mother a share. Of course the real mother pleads to him to spare the child’s life, even if it meant her losing him, a natural maternal response considering the situation. Things get strange when the other woman protests. Despite the fact that she is about to get everything she wanted she insists the child still be cut in half! Somehow in his supreme wisdom Solomon discerned that this was contradictory to a mothers concern for a child and gave the child back to the real mother. Wow, so he didn’t give custody to a woman that would rather have a half-a-kid than a whole one… he should have had her committed. Somebody get the MENSA people!
The pinnacle of his wisdom, however, was not displayed until late in his life when one of his thousand or so wives converted him to idolatry. Not only did the wisest man to ever live fail to convince his wives to follow the one true god whom he had personally met, but rather he came to take up their practices and worship a graven image. All throughout 1st Kings and 2nd Chronicles we find such stories and evidence that suggests Solomon was anything but brilliant or insightful, least of all incredibly wise. There are also indications that his governing and leadership abilities were less than stellar. For example, as soon as Solomon’s son took the throne a great party came before him to beg for relief from the grievous yoke that Solomon had put on them. He ignored the petition and promised only to increase their burdens. Soon the unified Israel that King David had struggled to bring about would crumble, due largely to deep destabilization under the rule of wise Solomon and son.
I can’t move on without mentioning Solomon’s Key or the Lemegaton. This is the book the wise king wrote to preserve his vast wisdom for his sons and to document his life. Though independent verification of this work and its translations are difficult, these should be familiar hurdles for any professing Christian. This dreamy-time yarn is one of the hokiest rambling manuscripts I’ve ever laid eyes on. It entails the acquisition of a magical ring that gives Solomon power over all demonic spirits. He summons these creatures and commissions them to construct his temple, which we now know was largely built with slave labor. It goes on detailing magical spells and names and choirs of angels and their specific abilities. Though this may have seemed like wisdom at the time, it is totally void of any real philosophy or applicable wisdom. In fact, the life of service and solitude lead by Jesus was the very antithesis to every deed of the wise King Solomon. Was Jesus not as wise?
Now, let’s talk
Noah, or Gilgamesh the original Noah. Tablets found in modern day Iraq,
written in 1,700 B.C. tell us the story of a great flood, complete with
paired animals, the dove and all the frills, only it is 500 years older
than our revered version. Actually, ancient Babylonian myths are all over
the Bible in adapted form. Several Mesopotamian legends dated to early
2nd millennium B.C., well before the Hebrew adaptations, seem
to be the original telling of our well-known stories without a theological
spin. Noah’s story was written while the Canaanites and later the Israelites
were in exile and living in modern day Iraq.
Some sound evidence points to a massive influx of seawater in that area
7,500 years ago, likely due to either seismic activity on the sea floor
or from a landslide on one of the Atlantic islands. The Mediterranean
Sea would have over flowed into
the Black Sea,
no doubt causing quiet a stir. Multiple legends of this event would have
been passed on becoming incorporated in the Biblical texts centuries later.
During this time of disturbance the level of the Black
sea rose approximately 6 inches
a day, dramatically affecting the region in several ways including loss
of life, the change of fresh water to salt water and decimation of the
areas ecology for a century. Naturally this would have been seen as an
act of god. The inhabitants of the region moved onward to greener pastures,
namely north toward fertile Mesopotamia,
bringing legends of the epic flood. It’s all logical enough, and scientifically
sound unlike its fanciful counterpart. The truth is no one really knows
when, why or even if this flood ever happened, regardless it is a powerful
tale that resonates in our psyche. The alleged resting place of the arc, Mount
Ararat, is actually large chain
of mountains, like the Andes,
that would stand as an obvious point of refuge from an all-encompassing
flood. The location or existence of the arc is still unproven.
Information is the foremost weapon in the fight against superstition. A little reasoning would also bring up such questions as – why would a perfect being create a world full of life, decide he didn’t like how it turned out and drown all but a handful of creatures. It would stand to reason that if god didn’t see fit to spare your life; you were hell-bound anyway. So at one time the entire population of the world was sent directly to hell via mass drowning except for a dozen people. Yipe! Didn’t god know how things would turn out? He couldn’t regret what he created, could he? Are we to think that Noah and his family were really the only righteous people on the planet? What about all the little kids and the nice old ladies, why drown all the innocent animals? Did we really get under god’s skin that bad?
Equally irresistible is the legend of Eden. The walled garden paradise where the four rivers meet, those being the Tigris, Euphrates, Pishon and Gihon. The origin of these rivers lies between Turkey and Iran, in ancient Babylonia, the bed of known civilization for both Biblical and scientific communities. Judaism, Christianity and Islam all accept the Eden myth. However, artifacts such as a 4,000-year-old Mesopotamian seal depicts a man and woman sitting on thrones, with a fruit laden tree in the middle and a snake behind the woman, seem to show a broader and perhaps common basis for these beliefs. ‘Enclosed garden paradise’ is the literal translation. The Taj Mahal’s garden is a flawless example of the standard Persian architecture depicting paradise. Above the archway of the main building overlooking the reflecting pool, the inscription “welcome to paradise” is found. Four rivers flow into a central pool; the snow-capped mountain of god overlooks the garden, it is Eden incarnate. A Samarian word ‘edin’ meaning plains serves as an intriguing basis for an alternative explanation of this legend.
After passing through seven gates, or gorges, a Samarian envoy from Iran approached an edin, the lush homeland of a mysterious kingdom in the north. This land was near Errata and rich in gold and jewels. We know this because in 1844 an English Army Caption by the name of Henry Rollinson found a Persian relic, which was the decree of an ancient king’s victories recorded in three languages. Due to this discovery, previously acquired documents were now translatable when cross-referenced. Cuneiform, or tri-angle script, from Nineveh is a key in interpreting these ancient legends, most notably this diplomatic trek to our edin in the north. Surrikash was the destination, in the ‘edin’ of Errata, beyond the seventh gate. Underneath the great Mountain of Cush, west of the ancient rivers Pishon and Gihon, we find a massive walled in garden valley, with marshlands to the west and a mountain gate to the east, secluded and ideally located. Upon inspection one notes a large river in the center, with tributaries enriching the surrounding planes. 7,000 years later we can still visualize a utopian garden of isolation and plenty. Intriguingly, upper and lower Nochdi are found directly to the east of the gate. We find that ‘noch’ translates to wandering Cain, a reference to the exiled murderer? Incidentally, who did Cain take as a wife again? All and all this myth seems to have and ancient and centralized basis with varying renditions branching out through time until centralized into the Biblical collection. This is to say nothing of ‘the creation’ itself, which is open to assault on numerous fronts. Not only is it self-contradictory, it defies science, nature and all reason. For example, the sun and moon weren’t created until the 4th day, but that didn’t stop day and night from occurring for the first 3 days! What? Day without a sun, night without the moon and stars, oh well!
Finally there is the Exodus from Egypt and the events leading up to it; what really happened? Would god really massacre tens of thousands of innocent first bourn children just to prove a point? Had a massive volcanic eruption spewing ash into the atmosphere been seen as god blocking out the sun? Indications are that there was such an event that correlates with this time period. And what of the Nile running red? Well, the Nile runs red every year, even still, due to sedimentary disruption after summer rains. Plagues and disease, absent of insight, might well be seen as a message from above. Red Sea, don’t you mean the shallow ReedSea just to the east, whose waters had naturally resided during the dry, windy summer? As Moses was the only educated man of the group he was free to embellish or attribute in what ever way he saw fit, unchallenged as he recorded historical events. Priests who later translated the writings naturally assumed (or imposed) the most fantastic of all possible explanations. Point is, despite the specifics which are impossible to prove or disprove, the foundations for such claims are shaky at best, and considering the starkly contrasting draught of recent global anomalies widely attributed to divine action, it is a safe presumption that these epic legends are just that. In fact, if we take the literal route in deciphering the Biblical legends, the one is hard pressed to cope with its prophetic offerings in the same light.
Surely we cannot really be expected to believe that one day a seven-headed dragon will come out of the sea and take over the world? Ether it’s all symbolic or none of it is, which is a grave disappointment to some, but refreshing to others who struggle to reconcile reason with spirituality. Superstitions and folklore are historically established mechanisms of coping with existence. Consciousness demands an account of origin and an anecdote for death. Emotions get the better of us in lieu of understanding, so we create to quell fear of the unknown. Man’s search for answers has led him to invent and permeate standardized remedies for ignorance. In absence of awareness dreams cushion the dark corners of our minds. Myths serve a real and tangible purpose in transforming deep fears into beautiful fantasies, even as understanding fills the void; we remain reluctant to abandon our addiction.
“The idea of the sacred is the most conservative in any culture, because it seeks to turn other ideas - uncertainty, progress, change - into crimes.”
Salman Rushdie
The decision making process, also known as total surrender, that holds so many to the crutch of a predefined set of truths to govern their lives must be understood in order to effectively address any underlying causes. Why render the vital choices in this short life to the hands of others, and of the ancients? I’m scarred… here, you take it. The nature of any conceivable god must be explored too. After centuries of scientific advancement we still hold a very geocentric point of view, in that we persist in believing that amid this grand unfathomable expanse it’s still all about us. The universe in and of it’s self is perfect, it exists with or without us, that is why it’s so scary. Humanity could well be a blip on the screen, an amusing afterthought or a side effect of micro-realities. We need god, but would god really need us? A short round of psychological tinkering will begin to chip away at our conceptions of a perfect god figure. A perfect being wouldn’t need or want to create anything, lacking nothing in its perfect state. A perfect being also would never change form or substance. Perfection wouldn’t, couldn’t create, want, punish, or reward. The realm of physics would seem to concur with these findings. Fundamentally, the principle of cause and effect cannot exist outside of time, so god causing the universe is impossible. The only physically sound explanation for the universe is that its creation was the result of a prior cause, such as the cyclic collapsing of previous universes. The end of our existence then serves as the starting point for a similar journey, a new season. To pretend to survive death is a fanciful and alluring temptation to be sure, but deep in our hearts we know that we are doomed to rot, not unlike everything else.
Is god bound by his own word? Could god make a stone so heavy that he could not lift it? Could god create a being more powerful than himself? Just what is the nature of the Trinity anyway? Omnipotent beings could not change their minds, exercise free will and know the future all at the same time. If god knows the future, than he already knows what he will do, our prayers will not persuaded him, nor will he change his mind, he is a robot and we incapable of altering the future. If god knows where your next step will fall then it isn’t possible for you to step anywhere else. This too shackles god himself. If he has free will than he cannot know the future. If you believe that god may step in and perform a miracle than you must concede that god knows nothing about the future. The alternative is that god is just watching this play out and has no desire or means to intervene. God would not play favorites among his creations nor would he obsess with the tedium of our daily lives.
God also cannot know fear, regret or doubt, and certainly not what it was like to make a mistake, but Jesus did know these things so, again this presents a dilemma. A morally perfect being must have free will and choose right, but then it cannot be predestined or all knowing. Further the concepts of knowledge; consciousness and life are abstract when taken out of a biological context. Any god who has these things would have them in a radically different way from our understanding and we could never begin to relate to … the unknowable.For a workable model of an omnipotent perfect god, it must be said that its actions are preordained and void of morality, as in they are not wrong or right they just are. The Christ’s genius is evident in his ability to key in on mans the deepest primal fears; death and being alone, and through them gain immortality for himself.
Further clues to the development of our beliefs are found in the early cultures of the east. Strong and successful warriors and leaders were worshiped like ancient Michael Jordans. Their feats and virtues exaggerated, and upon death, deified. Romans also began declaring emperors as gods after their deaths, small sects and followings formed and tapered off over time. This was quite common. Religion and war have been linked since the beginning and the most powerful of gods were those who led their peoples into war. This served to intimidate the enemy as well as rally the masses into blindly supporting any movement deemed to be god’s will. Also the observation of natural forces that were obviously beyond the control of men yet, seemed to take on a personality not unlike our own needed explaining. Unseen forces must be behind these things and should be understood and obeyed in hopes of influencing their favor. We then started to lobby the winds and rains, and ascribe them likes and dislikes. Eventually this grew into organized religions with priests as interpreters. Skepticism, critical thinking and reasoning are the tools and only weapons in the fight against gullibility, blind faith and abuse. Alternative thought must be explored at all cost, in them discovering patterns and insights. Everything must be challenged or it will corrode society. These tools must be sharpened and mastered, ever at our disposal throughout life.
“There is only one good; knowledge, and one evil; ignorance.”
Socrates
Christians seem to insist that belief in something is belief in noting. I say they are missing the point. It’s like on Jeopardy, if you don’t know the answer blurting out a guess will cost you. “So atheist, how do you think we got here?” I never claimed to have all the answers, all I’m saying is you definitely don’t. But unlike you I’m willing to accept my limitations and face the unknown relying wholly on myself for success and happiness in life. I need no ally in the sky to watch my back and tuck me in. I despise what you depend on to perpetuate your theories (ignorance). Throughout history, that which is beyond man’s present lack of understanding has always been attributed to the supernatural, but we have come to understand our world to a greater degree and many of ancient myths now seem foolish. We still see primitive cultures in Africa and South America needlessly complicating their lives, mutilating, undergoing bizarre rituals even sacrificing their children in hopes of pleasing some god and upholding tradition. Despite our progress, we maintain that which remains mysterious is somehow testament to a higher power.
What of the indoctrination of children, propaganda, and intellectual bullying? These are all common practices by religious authorities, but why? Brainwashing before the age of accountability suggests the fear of an intellectually well-equipped person rejecting the preferred dogma, as does indoctrination by sword and most work by missionaries. Invading islands, destroying cultures and force-feeding our version of the truth to the ‘savages’, why, we should make a dog walk upright! It seems to me that if one is proposing true religious freedom, one must include the freedom to avoid religion altogether, which certainly is not the case. So long they fought for religious tolerance and now that they enjoy prominence they would deny others the right to make up their own minds. Insecurity’s edge dulled? The only categorically imperative ethic theory is to appeal to the nature of the universe itself. Refine and adapt in ever increasing complexity in order to simply exist. Aside from this, any standard is doomed to be subjective and fleeting constitution. Ethical codes justified by the command of a moral authority as in “god told me so” are always open to exploitation by their founders. The Mormon prophet Brigham Young exemplified this as he used his ordained authority to justify taking upwards of 50 wives, some only children, and later by ordering the execution of 120 Arkansan pioneers in the Mountain Meadows Massacre. Whatever happened to being Christ-like as in ‘moderation in all things’ and ‘love thy enemies’? This abuse is historically common when authority goes unchecked. How many true and reverent ‘Christians’ camels could actually pass thorough the eyes of their needles?
Practical codes must rely on justification via consequence; a desired state attained by definable actions, rather than the interpretations of the schizophrenic or ambitious. The key to morality, outside of an absolute authority, is personal truth and enlightened self-interests, and thereby happiness void of dependence. The argument that left to our own devices chaos will rule is a simple scare tactic and a lie by those who are afraid to trust other people or to depend on themselves, a common self-defense mechanism of insecurity. Moral codes based on behavior and consequence will avoid the pit fall of assumed infallibility. When perfect laws fail one needs an enemy to blame, just as the Muslim world sees their destituteness and western prosperity as evidence of great evil loosed on the earth, since their structure of leadership and repression of women is certainly not at fault. So, what then can motivate people to act morally? The struggle here seems to be between two primary schools of thought. The first is the accountability to an omnipotent god. The second is a rational desire for personal happiness and a role in society. The latter is but a trickle to the raging chaos of the former. Successful codes would rely on simplicity and individuality, as Aristotle wrote about 350 years before the birth of Jesus, “we should behave to our friends as we wish them to behave toward us.” That is an enlightened self-interest, and it alone renders most scriptures useless commentary if not sadly unoriginal. The idea of human potential will go far where fear of punishment in some other life has failed. Religious laws take what is accepted and easy, customize it and pass it on as some divine absolute.Egypt to Greek to Roman to Hebrew to English to American, it is all in there. Faith-based value systems inevitably boil down to the interpretation of god’s will by those in power. No conclusive argument supports their bid to be the timeless truths that should govern our lives today, especially when considering the theories and practices change over time when truth is by nature unchanging.
Principles void of religious rules based on the needs and fears on an ancient culture are clearly more practical. Religion is personal, not a basis for secular harmony, the Bible specifically implies this. Nowhere in scriptures will you find any call to dominate the political and ethical hues of world governments, that’s the job of the anti-Christ remember? Such pursuits are a short cut to wars outside and within, between nations and inside them. What deep tribal urge drives men to abandon individuality and personal truth in favor of joining dogma spewing mass organizations that defile the name of god at every opportunity? Just as Jesus rejected the established church, their corrupt laws and holy trinkets, hollow ceremonies and commercialization of religion in favor of company with beggars, cripples and fishermen, we too must reject the abomination that is organized religion and seek a deep personal understanding of ourselves and our world if we wish to find true wisdom and happiness. If Jesus is the example we claim to live by then surely we are not a member of any large herd of detached and arrogant socialites, rather an independent revolutionary, generous and brutally honest, turning away kings and welcoming children. Smash the tablets and author new values, being true to ourselves as priests call us robber and evil. This is the Jesus I know and admire, yet is this behavior encouraged in modern religious movements? To question and defy, strike out on your own, independent and skeptical! I have never heard from any tax-exempt, anti-lottery/pro-raffle, brow beating pulpit.
Atheists by definition are more subjective in that they depend on human perception and desires for the ultimate justification of their philosophy. Atheistic morals do not depend on the unknown, nor are they founded on the unproven, there-for they are easier to widely agree on and apply. There is no pay-off in the next world to buffer pathetic failure in this one. Leadership is accountable for consequences and conditions in the now. Rational minds will likely agree that broad consensus will not be found under the tenancy of any religion.
Then there is the obstacle of original sin; which offers the notion that children are not indoctrinated with ignorance and hatred but rather born innately fucked-up! Because of Adam’s sin, now all his heirs are inherently fallen, to Hell in a hand-basket is the default setting for our souls. But this prompts the query, where did Adam’s sin come from? Did he create sin and in doing so, understanding? Would the world be right if we had no reason, no intelligence or appreciation, relying on instinct to breed and fight and do what we may? Did god intend us to be mindless sheep? Do we thank Adam or curse him? How are we born in sin with an age of accountability anyway? And what of the tribes that have never seen a white man, Hell bound? The Asian and Island people that know not of your myths, are these enemies of god deserving eternal punishment? Then why create them? Why create Hell at all? Two saw Eden but 99% will know Hell, what a deal! Restore Eden? Why let it fall?
I have no proof of divinity but, it would seem proof is more of a curse. An alarmingly high percentage of those who have had actual first hand knowledge still choose to turn on the throne. Lucifer and a third of the angles, Adam, Eve, Judas, Solomon and many others were witness to countless miracles; all became traitors in the end! Incidentally, a fairly strong argument has surfaced through some recent translations suggesting Judas was actually the recipient of a great honor, not only in being the only disciple that Jesus ever called a friend, but also by being entrusted to hand Jesus over to the authorities. Judas had connections with the local government, being the group’s accountant, and was never suspected by the other disciples when Jesus clamed “one of you will turn me in”. Jesus also had ample opportunity to escape during the night before his crucifixion, but did not. He intended to be taken in and to face the high priests; Judas only did his duty. Another example of ‘taking their word for it’.
The god of love and mercy values no soul over another! So, why then have so many seen miraculous acts and epiphanies of glory, yet I, nor anyone I know has had such a favor granted? Why should god not leave one eternal testament, inexplicable and grand, for all time and all mankind to witness? What have the prophets ever really predicted? Some see Heaven; others have to rely on 2nd hand information? Where is the justice in that, and what of the men who lived before the time of Christ, what was their fate? Once you reject the Bible’s divinity and objectively assess Christianity in the context of other world religions and in historical perspective the nature of the myth becomes undisputable. The trilogy of Egyptian deities, a model for smooth assimilation, legends of fire and floods, historical events attributed to divine wrath in absence of real understanding. It all begins to fall into place. The psychological journey of man, from instinct to ritual is outlined in the pages of the Bible. Our hopes our needs and our deepest fears, all addressed with equal care. All religions are similar in origin by necessity. The ultimate test of mankind is overcoming regional and tribal barriers in order to coexist with some equality for all, abandoning our fears, but that will never happen with religious fanaticism.
In short the Bible is an unreliable source for moral absolutes. Religion is a psychological epidemic, a plague, a response to ignorance. It has spread like a weed, the most successful of all addictions. It has mirrored the rise to prominence the human race displayed among the animal kingdom. The ability to cope with harsh and diverse situations has aided in these successes. Tapping into a deep human desire and inspiring acts great and terrible, but as men grow in understanding and capacity they will find religion has become a non-essential hindrance, visibly detrimental, briefly forced on soon to be phased out. The notable necessity of religion in early civilizations will not be forgotten and the role of organized religions will come to be understood and appreciated, but as it blocks technology, divides society and halts evolution it will be painfully outgrown.
“Companions the creator seeks, not corpses, not herds and believers, fellow creators.”
Friedrich Nietzsche
Is prayer asset or detriment? Does prayer have a negative impact on emotional health? Is prayer not a long held and respected institution? Is not that old time religion good enough for me? Well, if the repeated and deliberate submission to an imaginary man in the sky with an indiscernible will is a good thing, than yes. Any unending cycle of unwarranted guilt, humiliating confessions and falsely elevated hopes is surely some form of psychological illness! The ritualized adoration of god is, in a word, moronic. Is god that shallow? Does he like it when we constantly grovel before him in hopes that he will forgive, spare us from damnation, overlooking such heinous acts as being aroused, angry or amused for the wrong reasons. To recommend this behavior is irresponsible and negligent on behalf of religious leaders and parents as it is clearly emotionally crippling, especially for adolescents. Still worse are those who insist on thanking god for everything from dinner to good grades to winning the lottery or a war; things earned through their own unique and distinctive labors.
Their folly culminates
in asking god for favors. Luckily, despite holding it true on earth god
does not answer prayers. Epicures may have put it best, ‘If god listened
to the prayers of men, all men would quickly have perished; for they are
forever praying for evil against one another.’ We are told to listen
to our hearts to hear god’s answer, yet the Bible plainly states ‘for
who can understand the heart, it is deceitful above all things’. You
hear what you want to hear and fall victim to your own desires and fears,
the Bible clearly states this. One must seek new ideas, creativity and
insights, acquire understanding and become master of ones own life. Conquer
the heart so you may choose. Aside from this we are doomed to react to
fickle winds. The answers you seek lay deep within your own mind if you
dare look.
Statement
“The great masses of people will more easily fall for a big lie than a small one.”
Adolph Hitler
Commonality in conflicts,
personal and global, is overwhelmingly due to religious certainty, fueled
by tribal instincts and lack of vision. Any compromise is off set by an
ill-founded sense of persecution, entitlement and righteousness. What is
evil if not this? To oppose all sense and reason relying wholly on
archaic dogma to impose standards of conduct and morality, to surrender
to slavery, to follow organized religion. The only real sin is repression,
of any thought or deed from fear. Uncompromising innovation is the price
for enduring life. Restriction and conformity guard the gates of the brave
new world, the few and the fearless may pass. Most followers of faith are
just that and have no deep understanding of the texts from which their
beliefs are derived. The translations and revisions are accepted at face
value and leadership that manipulates passages according to their personal
prejudices is seldom questioned. The illusion of leaders and heroes is
comforting and pleasant, as most lies tend to be. When have we grown so
timid when faced with challenge, when did our drunken souls lose their
thrust for truth? Not until men and women determine that they should invoke
the rights and responsibilities inherently theirs and turn their backs
on sects and shepherd’s can we venture out and learn to follow ourselves.
Then will we be truly free to taste bitter wisdom and know the burden of
liberty.
The End is Near
“As long as we have a master in heaven, we will be slaves on earth.”
Mikhail Bakunin
Here now I predict and beckon the fall of all organized religious movements in my lifetime, due to scientific advances such as but not exclusive to; the discovery of life outside Earth, the ability to prolong life, transfer knowledge and the development of alternative means of reproduction such as cloning, and the further incorporation of the internet into all of our lives making objective information freely and equally available to all. We will change and so will the way we look at our selves and our role in the universe. Man will be forced from the murkiest valley, leaving instinct and emotions behind, never again to bend his knee to any myth, and for the first time to see the dawn, the first rays of the new rising sun. I wait.
The End