We are all products of our upbringing!

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I’m not denying the influence of our genes but upbringing is so much more!

If I had been born in India I would most probably be a Hindu believing in Karma and reincarnation, that there were many Gods and one had the head of an elephant. To me Krishna, Shiva, Ganesh and the others would be real.

If I had been born in the Southern States of America I would probably have been a believer in Jesus, the power of prayer, heaven and hell and the devil.

If I had been born in Pakistan I would have been sent to the Madrassa to be indoctrinated with Islam. I’d have recited the Koran and believed that Allah was the only true God; that he demanded I pray five times a day and commanded that I should not eat pork.

If I had been born in Israel I would have been brought up to believe Jehovah was the only true God, that I was one of the chosen people and that I should fear and hate Arabs.

If I had been born in Palestine I would have been brought up to fear and hate Jews.

Likewise with all the cultural baggage – how we dress, think, eat and feel – our patriotism, religion and creed.

None of it is real. None of it has a basis. It is brainwashing.

We believe what we are told to believe.

I am a product of the imposed and subliminal indoctrination of my youth. Nothing more – nothing less.

In my opinion deliberately indoctrinating children is child abuse.

Merry Solstice!!! Merry Solstice!!!! Merry Solstice!!!

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May the long time sun shine upon you

All love surround

And the pure light inside you

Guide your way on!

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Today is the shortest day of the year. After today the days start drawing out. This is the turning point to look to create something great out of the new life.

This was a day of pagan celebration!

The Christians purloined it to make into Christmas but the pagans had it first.

I raise a glass of rich red blood wine to you!!

I wish you all a glorious new year full of great possibility!!!

Here’s to the strengthening Sun!!!

Here’s to a year of great joy and triumph!!

MERRRRRRYYYYYYY SOOOOOLSTIIIIICEEEEE!!!!!!!

I wish you love, happiness and fulfillment!!

My beliefs – Creationism

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My beliefs – Creationism

I do not believe in creationism. I think it is brainless to take the words of a medieval document produced by a nomadic tribe over the well-researched view of scientists.

I prefer my science with a rational basis rather than an indoctrinated posture.

I believe that Creationism is the latest attempt by the religious school of thought to repudiate the theory of evolution.

There are no facts.

There are lots of things we do not know. That is what makes science so interesting. We are discovering and finding new things every day. Our tools are immense and every theory is picked over and tested to the limit. If it stands up to the tests then it has some credibility.

Because something is written in an ancient book does not, on its own, give it credibility.

For me to believe something I have to have evidence and proof. There is no evidence in Creationism. It is completely erroneous.

I believe that to teach creationism to children is fundamentally wrong. It is simply not true.

My beliefs – Religion

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AppleMark

My beliefs – Religion

I am an antitheist. I believe religion has been created by man. I believe the holy books were written by men. I believe that religion is used by certain people to gain power over others.

Any institution where the leaders are exulted into positions of power I believe is corrupt. Any religion that has leaders dressed in gaudy uniform, with pageantry and elaborate ritual, extravagant buildings and dogma, is setting out to impress and gain power.

I do not believe in heaven, paradise, hell or fifty three virgins. They are manifestly ploys to frighten or control adherents.

I do not believe in any personal god who is interested in human beings, let alone one who created the whole universe just for us. That is egocentric to say the least. Any casual look at cultures around the world shows the worse the conditions the more devout the people. If god responded to prayer the poor would have been elevated long ago. I do not believe in prayer.

As to whether there is a god or not. I do not know. If there is then that force, for me, is more akin to the energy in the atoms than a conscious person.

I think that any literal interpretation of the holy books is dangerous. They were written thousands of years ago and it shows. The Abrahamic tradition (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) originates from a tiny corner of the Middle East and a group of nomadic tribes who roamed around in that region. The writings are full of their creation myths, wisdom, misogyny, power seeking, control and power, cruelty and limited view of the world and religion. Some of the stories are great. Many of them contain beautiful words and phrases that have adorned our culture. There is much to be admired. But even a cursory glance shows the hypocrisy, ambiguity, inconsistency and different authors and views. The god described varies enormously from a caring god of love to a vengeful creature of immense cruelty and vindictiveness. One can select the texts to create a vision of love, peace and forgiveness or select others to justify war, unimaginable cruelty and intolerance. We only have to look at the way they have been deployed (and are being deployed) to justify the hideous torture and burning of witches, pogroms, inquisitions, crusades, jihads, gruesome genocides and murders and pillaging and rape. ISIS are only the latest in a long line.

As an antitheist I would like to see all religion done away with. It is not the cozy Sunday at church or prayer at the synagogue, temple or mosque, the comforting words or helping hand that it purports; all religions are power structures of intolerance, hatred and creators of war and conflict.

As a tolerant person I believe that religion should be a personal choice for consenting adults, and people should have the right to believe in whatever they wish.

Now spirituality, the afterlife, and mysticism – that’s something else.

Religion in modern society – a view and a debate.

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The book of ginny

As an antitheist I would like to see the end of all religion. I think it all does more harm than good. But I am a tolerant respecter of other people’s beliefs and views.

I want to live in a pluralist society. I like my life cosmopolitan. I enjoy the richness of the rubbing together of other cultures, ideas and views. I do not enjoy monocultures. I like variety.

I despise intolerance, hatred and indoctrination. I do not see how anyone can justify implanting religion in young impressionable minds. To me that is child abuse. Families and schools who deliberately indoctrinate children should be taken to court.

There are four issues that come to mind straight away when dealing with religion in society:

a. The right for an individual to believe whatever religion or belief they wish with the proviso that they do not indoctrinate or display intolerance to others. That is something worth fighting for. We do not have to believe in the same things in order to get along. We can disagree and argue. That’s OK. That is our right and freedom.

b. Religious/faith schools. I believe these should be banned. There is no place for indoctrinating children with religion. The effects of segregation can be seen in the terrorism we are now experiencing. Our schools should reflect our values – tolerance, freedom, equality, democracy and fairness. We do not need undemocratic, intolerant values being taught to our children. I believe in respect and integration. Our schools are a civilising environment.

c. Religion in schools. Britain is a secular country. We should teach about the different religions but not teach religion. Most of the British people do not believe in God. As a pluralist society with Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Rastas, Atheists, as well as Christians it is plain wrong to focus on one religion and exclude everyone else. We should have a daily assembly focussing on awe and wonder or a common moral or ethical issue. That would be inclusive and not divisive.

d. Religion in society – it has no place in the power structure and should not have a place in its institutions. We are not a Christian society and have no desire to go over to any other religion. Part of the problem at the moment is that people are reacting against the aggressive Islamification of Europe. We do not want a theocracy. We should not have ‘Thought for the day’ being a religious input. Atheists, humanists and antitheists deserve at least equal time. The humanist/atheist voice needs equal respect. We should have our own ‘Songs of Praise’!

The Enlightenment – An overview

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The Enlightenment came about in the 18th century and freed Western civilisation from the stranglehold of religious fundamentalism. It enabled all the progress we now take for granted.

Prior to this time there was a type of extreme fundamentalism that was akin to ISIS. It was illegal to oppose Christian religious belief. Europe was a theocracy. The word of god was the only rule. Heretics, or those the Church/establishment deemed to be heretic could be tortured to death to save their souls. All methods of torture were devised and deployed including the most barbaric that can be imagined.

To even publish the Bible in English was an offence punishable by death. The Church wanted the power and that resided with the clergy. It was not right for ordinary people to have access to the teachings; they could misinterpret the meaning.

It was a regular event to have blasphemers, witches and heretics publicly burnt to death. Science and rationalism were not permitted.

What is obvious is that all this was much more to do with power than religion.

In the 1620s there was a scientific revolution which brought about a wave of rationalism and doubt. The theological certainties of flat earth, earth at the centre of creation and even man in god’s image were brought into question.

In the 18th Century philosophers such as Kant developed the philosophy of rationalism. This grew among the intellectual classes and led to a movement to create a society based on reason. This led to the separation of religion from politics and the formation of a secular culture.

Secular politics was based on tolerance and reason.

The philosopher Locke the radical idea that government should be through the consent of the people and not the imposition of religious dogma.

This led to a flourishing of the Arts and Science which created the greatest impetus of social development in the history of the world. The West flourished.

The enlightenment led to the ethos of the French Revolution – Equality, Liberty and Fraternity.

It separated the state from religion.

It led to the American revolution and the enshrined doctrine of freedom, religious freedom and individuality.

It has enabled the West to create democracy, pluralism, tolerance, freedom, science, liberalisation, the arts and a diverse and vital culture.

If we had not had an enlightenment and reformation we would still be in medieval costume burning Catholics, Muslims and anyone who was different in our public squares.

Long Live the Enlightenment! Something worth fighting for!

Poetry – The fanatic with no doubt – a poem against hatred.

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The fanatic with no doubt

If it is written it must be true. It justifies everything.

All you have to do is select the correct texts.

With a little effort you can justify anything.

It is written down. It must be true.

It gives sanction to your every whim, every hidden urge.

It frees the psychotic to act.

How they flood to become involved, to get a slice of the action.

Public executions were ever most popular. The more agony the better.

There is a part of us that delights in the pain of others. If it wasn’t so we would not have invented bear-baiting, cock-fighting, badger-baiting, hare-coursing and snuff movies.

We are a cruel species.

We have a lot of civilizing to go through.

We find it so easy to justify our baser instincts. We wrap them up in religion, sport and entertainment.

What we love are screams and blood.

We have a lot to do to become more humane.

But if it is written it must be true!

I want a better world for my children. One that is less savage, less hating, more empathic and with much more love, peace and kindness.

Less fanatics would be a good start. Doubt is good.

 

The fanatic with no doubt

Line them up

Shoot them in the head.

Lie them down

Shoot them in the back.

Kneel them down

Saw through their throats.

Put them in a cage

Burn them.

If they are young

Rape them.

If they are old

Bury them alive.

 

There is no doubt.

It is written.

 

Opher 24.11.2015

Poetry – What god is this? –

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What god is this?

When I stand back objectively and look at the rabid actions of religious fanatics, typified by ISIS, but with plenty of others bidders of all persuasions throughout history, I see people who believe in a cruel, vicious god.

Religious people talk of a god of love but then talk of fear and horror – of eons of torture and torment. What person, in their wildest nightmares would wish that for their very worst of enemies?

If there was a god of such viciousness then I would have to view ‘him’ as insane and psychotic.

No sane being would demand such savage, barbaric actions of his subjects or impose such horrendous punishment on disbelievers.

It convinces me that these are the writings of medieval men living in some ancient, barbaric times where torture and ritual murder were the norm.

Give me love any day.

 

What god is this?

You will pray

You will kill

You will rape

You will torture

You will burn

You will destroy

You will conform

You will not think

All who do not adhere will burn in hell!

 

What god is this?

 

28.11.2015

Poetry – Bred on Hatred – A poem about fundamentalism.

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Bred on Hatred

Following the Paris atrocities it is quite apparent that we live in a different world. The fundamentalists declare a caliphate. They wish to impose medieval customs from the seventh century on the world. They believe that every word in the Qur’an is the literal word of god. They want Sharia law. They want to kill all apostates. An apostate is anyone who rejects the absolute word of Mohamed. This includes millions of Shia and Azidis.

They select their texts.

They claim Islam is under attack which justifies the application of these texts.

They claim that the Qur’an specifically justifies the murder, rape of young girls and torture. It is god’s will.

You cannot argue with an indoctrinated fanatic. They are not sane.

I say that any god who sanctions such things is unfit for office.

The hatred and indoctrination continue apace. The insanity of fundamentalist religion is the biggest evil we have invented (Christian, Jew, Hindu, Muslim – I make no distinction).

To bring up children to hate or fear is abuse.

Bred on Hatred

 

Bred on hatred.

Bred on lies –

Paradise and virgins

Pie in the sky.

 

Defending dogma –

Attacking the world –

Psychotic death wish –

Insane senselessness.

 

Merciless, heartless,

Callous, cruel,

Inhuman, subhuman,

In the name of god?

 

Intolerance, bigotry,

Unspeakable crimes

Nazi, fascist thugs –

Today nothing rhymes.

 

Rape, torture,

Attack on humanity.

Not even twisted ideology

Just tribal savagery.

 

Bred on hatred.

Bred on lies –

Paradise and virgins

Pie in the sky.

 

Opher 24.11.2015

Another slice of favourite books

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All the greatest stories, minds and ideas are contained in books. They can transport you to anywhere in the universe. I love them.

31. Norman Mailer – The Executioner’s Song

The story of Gary Gilmore. He was a cold-blooded murderer who was executed for his crime amid much controversy. Mailer takes us through the story in huge detail. An amazing book.

32. Harper Lee – To Kill a Mockingbird

This is a classic. She takes you right back into the southern States with its class and racism and tells the story through the eyes of the children.

33. Woody Guthrie – Bound for Glory

The autobiographical tale of Woody’s early life – and what a tale. Woody was my man of the century!

34. Patti Smith – Just kids

Patti’s autobiographical story of her early days in New York with Robert Maplethorpe, living in the Chelsea Hotel. She brings it to life.

35. Hilary Mantel – Wolf Hall

Hilary’s incredibly detailed story of the life of Thomas Cromwell under a mad theocracy and power of the King and Cardinal. Where life was cheap. It was chilling. This is what fundamentalism is like.