i recently received a father's day card from one of my sons inscribed as follows;
" Happy Father's Day. To the greatest guy I ever threw up on! "
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
An alternate pleadge of allegience
i pledge allegiance to the flag of the United states of America, one nation divided by race, under the almighty dollar, with liberty and justice for some.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Essay on the Belief in God
June 9, 2008
Essay on the Belief in God
The question “ Do you believe in God?” should read, ?Do you believe there is a God?” , as the former implies that there is, in fact, a God and, “do you believe in it.” No one, up to and including the Pope , “knows” that there is a God. it is he subject of religious beliefs and faith. The probability of their being a God is fifty-fifty---there either is or isn’t one. Atheists have as much chance of being right as believers,
For instasnce, It has been reported in many places that the majority (over 90 %) of Americans believe in God, i.e, that there is a God. However, the fact that someone says they believe in God doesn’t necessarily mean that they do, in fact, believe there is a God. Also, it is socially unacceptable, even these days in our society, to deny belief in God, as one is then branded an atheist--namely, a pariah. Can you imagine any presidential candidate admitting that he or she was an atheist? They might as well hang up the towel from the start. ( However, atheism is noted to be the fastest growing ”religious” group in our society.) If one looks into the real beliefs and behavior of the vast majority of our society, one could well wonder whether the alleged beliefs really represent their actual thinking on the subject.
If silent prayer is sent to and reaches God, all mental activity must also go that route 24 hours a day, for I doubt that God is watching for signs of a prayer to listen. Therefore one must assume that humans are mini-broadcasting stations--namely, that all human thoughts, ideas, feelings, wishes are broadcast into space to wherever God exists and monitored constantly and stored in a gigantic computer-like system. This is essential if at the end of one’s life there is information that God could use to determine one’s journey through eternity, if that’s where he or she is headed, etc.
Not only that, but God must receive , “think” ( if God thinks) about, and make decisions about everyone’s mental activity constantly in order to “know” whether to answer prayers, evaluate sin, etc. ( One wonders how God decides which prayers to answer and which to ignore, which, by the way, includes lots of prayers.))
in my opinion, if everyone really “knew” that this process was going on, there would be universal panic at the thought that all their mental activity and behavior was being monitored 24 hours a day. Psychiatrists offices would be jammed, to say the least , and probably everyone would be on a psychotropic medication.
In addition, if everyone ’knew” that God was watching their contributions to churches, there would be no need for fund-raising church suppers, cake sales, and other common activities that bring in pittances People would undoubtedly--- at the very least---tithe 10 % of their income to their church. (Mormons do.) No doubt there would be many generous or fearful souls who would make all sorts of sacrifices to donate large sums to the church, hoping that God would notice and reward them in some way---or at least not punish them for their transgressions. Churches would have billions at their disposal, enabling them to do so much charitable activities that poverty would be completely eliminated from our society. There would be no silver coins or single bills in collection plates. There would be mostly fifty, and hundred dollar bills, along with fat checks, etc.
inevitably sexual morality and activity would be inpacted drastically. According to the Bible, any sexual activity outside marriage is fornication. And as St Paul's admonished single women and widows about fornication, “ it is better to marry than to burn”., And Jesus , himself, has said in several passages of the New Testament, any divorced person who remarries is committing adultery. According to these Christian precepts, ours is a land of adulterers and fornicators. Most of this activity would either stop or be drastically curtailed if people really “knew” that God was watching and noting their behavior.
People are able to say they believe while not really “thinking’”there is a God as God has not made himself or herself --( Does God have gender?) known to anyone in this era as he is reported to have done in the Old Testament, when he spoke and had conversations with many well-known followers over pre-Christian centuries. That seems to have stopped after the birth of Christ. Aside from the one instance at Jesus’ baptism when God is reported to have said, “This is my beloved son in which i am well pleased.” there is very little evidence since then of that sort for God’s existence as reported in the Old Testament. Nowadays, if someone says God spoke to them or that they had a conversation with him, they are considered either hallucinating, dreaming, or lying. No one believes God talks to anyone anymore. ( except for Pat Robertson.)
People are pleased to profess their belief in God without really believeing it. In some way it gives a feeling of security and reassurance that there is a loving father in heaven looking after them--without any tangible knowledge that this is the case. One gets a sort of good feeling in agreeing with the majority along with a bit of wishful thinking about a god-like presence somewhere. One can attest to one’s belief and at the same time denying it--- a phenomena one sees all the time. To assert one’s belief in God is primarily the religiously inclined’s way of avowing that they identify with and subscribe to the values and mores of the society and the group, usually a denomination and or congregation. One might also note that there doesn’t have to be a God for a belief in God to be emotionally helpful, consoling and play an important role in one’s life. Religious “faith” is also obviously a very potent socially cohesive force as evidenced by religious denominations and churches. But there doesn’t have to be a God to for this to be the case either. There are many different religions. They all work for their followers regardless of the God that is worshiped by them.
It would also seem that most people don’t really want to “think” or “know” that there is a God as they would not only not want to but would also be afraid to not change their behavior drastically. Would remarried divorcees and singles want to be celibate? Would people want to donate large amounts of money if it meant significant sacrifice of their usual living standards ? I think God is seen as a nuisance, interfering with the pleasures of life and uncomfortably judgmental. But many find it hard to take a chance on atheism. .
in summary, in my opinion. most people who say they believe in a God are in denial of the fact that they really don’t, and would not like it if they really were faced with the “fact” of a God’s existence. They merely agree that they believe and let it go at that---and not really wanting to stop to think what it really means. If people really believed in a God, It would dramatically change our society, cause a lot of frustration, confusion and even depression--as well as outright panic. It would be very uncomfortable to think ---“ know”--- that a God was judging all thoughts and behavior and looking for sins to be punished all the time! On the other hand, there might be a lot less conflict, hostility, crime, fighting, and other human frailties. People might really behave themselves and the Christmas spirit would be the order of the day all year long.
Essay on the Belief in God
The question “ Do you believe in God?” should read, ?Do you believe there is a God?” , as the former implies that there is, in fact, a God and, “do you believe in it.” No one, up to and including the Pope , “knows” that there is a God. it is he subject of religious beliefs and faith. The probability of their being a God is fifty-fifty---there either is or isn’t one. Atheists have as much chance of being right as believers,
For instasnce, It has been reported in many places that the majority (over 90 %) of Americans believe in God, i.e, that there is a God. However, the fact that someone says they believe in God doesn’t necessarily mean that they do, in fact, believe there is a God. Also, it is socially unacceptable, even these days in our society, to deny belief in God, as one is then branded an atheist--namely, a pariah. Can you imagine any presidential candidate admitting that he or she was an atheist? They might as well hang up the towel from the start. ( However, atheism is noted to be the fastest growing ”religious” group in our society.) If one looks into the real beliefs and behavior of the vast majority of our society, one could well wonder whether the alleged beliefs really represent their actual thinking on the subject.
If silent prayer is sent to and reaches God, all mental activity must also go that route 24 hours a day, for I doubt that God is watching for signs of a prayer to listen. Therefore one must assume that humans are mini-broadcasting stations--namely, that all human thoughts, ideas, feelings, wishes are broadcast into space to wherever God exists and monitored constantly and stored in a gigantic computer-like system. This is essential if at the end of one’s life there is information that God could use to determine one’s journey through eternity, if that’s where he or she is headed, etc.
Not only that, but God must receive , “think” ( if God thinks) about, and make decisions about everyone’s mental activity constantly in order to “know” whether to answer prayers, evaluate sin, etc. ( One wonders how God decides which prayers to answer and which to ignore, which, by the way, includes lots of prayers.))
in my opinion, if everyone really “knew” that this process was going on, there would be universal panic at the thought that all their mental activity and behavior was being monitored 24 hours a day. Psychiatrists offices would be jammed, to say the least , and probably everyone would be on a psychotropic medication.
In addition, if everyone ’knew” that God was watching their contributions to churches, there would be no need for fund-raising church suppers, cake sales, and other common activities that bring in pittances People would undoubtedly--- at the very least---tithe 10 % of their income to their church. (Mormons do.) No doubt there would be many generous or fearful souls who would make all sorts of sacrifices to donate large sums to the church, hoping that God would notice and reward them in some way---or at least not punish them for their transgressions. Churches would have billions at their disposal, enabling them to do so much charitable activities that poverty would be completely eliminated from our society. There would be no silver coins or single bills in collection plates. There would be mostly fifty, and hundred dollar bills, along with fat checks, etc.
inevitably sexual morality and activity would be inpacted drastically. According to the Bible, any sexual activity outside marriage is fornication. And as St Paul's admonished single women and widows about fornication, “ it is better to marry than to burn”., And Jesus , himself, has said in several passages of the New Testament, any divorced person who remarries is committing adultery. According to these Christian precepts, ours is a land of adulterers and fornicators. Most of this activity would either stop or be drastically curtailed if people really “knew” that God was watching and noting their behavior.
People are able to say they believe while not really “thinking’”there is a God as God has not made himself or herself --( Does God have gender?) known to anyone in this era as he is reported to have done in the Old Testament, when he spoke and had conversations with many well-known followers over pre-Christian centuries. That seems to have stopped after the birth of Christ. Aside from the one instance at Jesus’ baptism when God is reported to have said, “This is my beloved son in which i am well pleased.” there is very little evidence since then of that sort for God’s existence as reported in the Old Testament. Nowadays, if someone says God spoke to them or that they had a conversation with him, they are considered either hallucinating, dreaming, or lying. No one believes God talks to anyone anymore. ( except for Pat Robertson.)
People are pleased to profess their belief in God without really believeing it. In some way it gives a feeling of security and reassurance that there is a loving father in heaven looking after them--without any tangible knowledge that this is the case. One gets a sort of good feeling in agreeing with the majority along with a bit of wishful thinking about a god-like presence somewhere. One can attest to one’s belief and at the same time denying it--- a phenomena one sees all the time. To assert one’s belief in God is primarily the religiously inclined’s way of avowing that they identify with and subscribe to the values and mores of the society and the group, usually a denomination and or congregation. One might also note that there doesn’t have to be a God for a belief in God to be emotionally helpful, consoling and play an important role in one’s life. Religious “faith” is also obviously a very potent socially cohesive force as evidenced by religious denominations and churches. But there doesn’t have to be a God to for this to be the case either. There are many different religions. They all work for their followers regardless of the God that is worshiped by them.
It would also seem that most people don’t really want to “think” or “know” that there is a God as they would not only not want to but would also be afraid to not change their behavior drastically. Would remarried divorcees and singles want to be celibate? Would people want to donate large amounts of money if it meant significant sacrifice of their usual living standards ? I think God is seen as a nuisance, interfering with the pleasures of life and uncomfortably judgmental. But many find it hard to take a chance on atheism. .
in summary, in my opinion. most people who say they believe in a God are in denial of the fact that they really don’t, and would not like it if they really were faced with the “fact” of a God’s existence. They merely agree that they believe and let it go at that---and not really wanting to stop to think what it really means. If people really believed in a God, It would dramatically change our society, cause a lot of frustration, confusion and even depression--as well as outright panic. It would be very uncomfortable to think ---“ know”--- that a God was judging all thoughts and behavior and looking for sins to be punished all the time! On the other hand, there might be a lot less conflict, hostility, crime, fighting, and other human frailties. People might really behave themselves and the Christmas spirit would be the order of the day all year long.
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