When faced with life's many challenges, most people turn to the superstitious rituals of their communities.
Touching wood, throwing salt, prayers to whomever. I, as a superstitious free person, like to focus on the next logical steps to take. This week I have been confronted by something that has been on the horizon for a while. It was a fear, a known possibility, and now it has been confirmed.
I will continue my blog/diatribe when I feel my energy has been refreshed, but I am asking for help from trusted friends at this point, and feel like my community is very supportive. Thankfully, I've had a ladies-only-retreat planned for several months, and my wonderful husband is like-minded that I need it as much as I do.
I don't feel like I need to reach to a higher power or spiritual guidance. I like that I feel comfortable with (again this theme shows up) evidenced-based treatment and am also comforted by the fact that others have gone through this and have reached satisfactory conclusions.
A life based in anecdotal and researched methods of treatment is a fine life for me. What I am most thankful for right now is the shared knowledge (again) of the folk, no matter what creed, who have faced similar challenges. It really does take a village, and I'm all for global community.
I would be more specific about all of this, but not only is it very personal, it has not been fully explored and I feel that I have found my support network and will continue in a path of proven practices for the issue.
I know you all care, and thank you for it. It's natural to care. Love to you all. If anyone feels like they want to talk privately, feel absolutely free. I'm pretty good at this point, and again thank you for any concern.
I also feel this is not the best writing I can do, but you get the point. I am sure you understand that when faced with something naturally upsetting, humans aren't the best communicators.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
A mocked debate: Religion vs Science and Evolution
~ The more you can make fun of something, the less right it is, right? ~
At times, I let people know conversationally that I do not believe in god(s). This has led to very interesting speculation by people who do - the largest jump ever taken was, "Doesn't that mean you worship the devil?"
Hold on, really? For reals? That's where your mind takes you when you contemplate life without god(s)? Oh, right, religious leaders and particularly the bible likes to state that if you aren't for 'em, your against 'em.
Those leaders like to narrow your choices, so for them it's either god(s) or the devil. It seems the message is that it's easier when you have less options, that way the "right" answer is more clear. It is similar to the way you would offer options to a small child - less equals more success. They leave out another choice: life free from that particular superstition. It should be a right to be informed of that option.
Very commonly, religious folk that tend to like to banter with me or have friendly discourse with me contend that science, especially the theory of evolution, exists simply to contradict their own religion. I find that a very conceited thought progression.
To wit: several years ago, while out with dinner with a group of acquaintances, I let on in conversation that I do not subscribe to religion. I was asked by a Christian in our group, "Well, what do you believe in, Science?"
I don't know if I even suppressed my laughter at the stupidity of that question. Lack of faith in god(s) means I have to have faith in something else? Belief in science (haha) - science is a structure or process for seeking answers to questions, so... kind of, sure. But really, with science, the hope is that there will be evidence to support a theory. Your theory is roughly the answer you have in mind to a question, usually a logical assumption that you think you can prove (again, with facts).
Take for example: Someone was murdered. You theorize it was committed by a person, because it happened with a weapon commonly used by people, but that would be difficult for a cat (the only other possible suspect) to use. Then you find a trail of evidence that proves it was a person! That process is usually called forensic science.
Science is a method of inquiry, not something to be believed in, or have faith in. You can disprove theories using science, too. I believe fact; I have faith in facts. Provable, evidence-based reality.
After a much shorter response than that, the same person then asked if I believed in evolution. Well, as a matter of fact, it also isn't something to believe in. It is a theory, those are hard to believe in, because theories are more a path of inquisition. A theory, then, is also not a belief structure. It is pretty easy to believe in the evidence provided by scientific inquiry, though. Again, provable stuff, real stuff.
As far as science goes - I think the investigation and resultant discoveries are fun! Science is like permission to play, from childhood throughout life, with questions and answers. Tossing around proverbial balls. And then, with something that can be proven, and is proven, I am prone to believing it. Not IN it, I just believe it.
Back (again) to this gal. She then proceeded to pose another stupid question, "So, you think we all descended from monkeys?"
- I should qualify here that I call her questions stupid because they show a huge lack of any sort of understanding for the things she was trying to mock me with. And stupid because they were designed more to mock than create discourse. When she looked around at our dinner crowd, guffawing with self-congratulation at her witty line of questions to a non-believer, patting herself on the back for a win that wasn't, it was pretty ridiculous. You get the idea. -
Evolution does not state that we descended directly from monkeys any more than horses and zebras all descended from, I don't know... let's say donkeys. If you want more information about something, look it up - and don't make assumptions based on questionable information given to you by someone who has motivation to lie and make fun of alternatives to their belief structure.
Evolutionary theory is a scientific study of the diversity of life on the planet and the path that life took to get from as far back as we can study to now. It is tracing a path of identifiable, real, tangible evidence to answer the question of where all this diversity of life came from, and how it came about. It's not that complicated - but it is a lengthy thing to discuss and does not at all coincide with the biblical statement that god made the earth in 7 days.
So, in summary, science and Evolutionary Theory are not in response to religion. They seem to me the logical steps a society enlightened by written historical record, shared information, technological advances and improved methods of study would take. These intellectual advancements will hopefully make superstitious behavior overwhelmingly passé.
At times, I let people know conversationally that I do not believe in god(s). This has led to very interesting speculation by people who do - the largest jump ever taken was, "Doesn't that mean you worship the devil?"
Hold on, really? For reals? That's where your mind takes you when you contemplate life without god(s)? Oh, right, religious leaders and particularly the bible likes to state that if you aren't for 'em, your against 'em.
Those leaders like to narrow your choices, so for them it's either god(s) or the devil. It seems the message is that it's easier when you have less options, that way the "right" answer is more clear. It is similar to the way you would offer options to a small child - less equals more success. They leave out another choice: life free from that particular superstition. It should be a right to be informed of that option.
Very commonly, religious folk that tend to like to banter with me or have friendly discourse with me contend that science, especially the theory of evolution, exists simply to contradict their own religion. I find that a very conceited thought progression.
To wit: several years ago, while out with dinner with a group of acquaintances, I let on in conversation that I do not subscribe to religion. I was asked by a Christian in our group, "Well, what do you believe in, Science?"
I don't know if I even suppressed my laughter at the stupidity of that question. Lack of faith in god(s) means I have to have faith in something else? Belief in science (haha) - science is a structure or process for seeking answers to questions, so... kind of, sure. But really, with science, the hope is that there will be evidence to support a theory. Your theory is roughly the answer you have in mind to a question, usually a logical assumption that you think you can prove (again, with facts).
Take for example: Someone was murdered. You theorize it was committed by a person, because it happened with a weapon commonly used by people, but that would be difficult for a cat (the only other possible suspect) to use. Then you find a trail of evidence that proves it was a person! That process is usually called forensic science.
Science is a method of inquiry, not something to be believed in, or have faith in. You can disprove theories using science, too. I believe fact; I have faith in facts. Provable, evidence-based reality.
After a much shorter response than that, the same person then asked if I believed in evolution. Well, as a matter of fact, it also isn't something to believe in. It is a theory, those are hard to believe in, because theories are more a path of inquisition. A theory, then, is also not a belief structure. It is pretty easy to believe in the evidence provided by scientific inquiry, though. Again, provable stuff, real stuff.
As far as science goes - I think the investigation and resultant discoveries are fun! Science is like permission to play, from childhood throughout life, with questions and answers. Tossing around proverbial balls. And then, with something that can be proven, and is proven, I am prone to believing it. Not IN it, I just believe it.
Back (again) to this gal. She then proceeded to pose another stupid question, "So, you think we all descended from monkeys?"
- I should qualify here that I call her questions stupid because they show a huge lack of any sort of understanding for the things she was trying to mock me with. And stupid because they were designed more to mock than create discourse. When she looked around at our dinner crowd, guffawing with self-congratulation at her witty line of questions to a non-believer, patting herself on the back for a win that wasn't, it was pretty ridiculous. You get the idea. -
Evolution does not state that we descended directly from monkeys any more than horses and zebras all descended from, I don't know... let's say donkeys. If you want more information about something, look it up - and don't make assumptions based on questionable information given to you by someone who has motivation to lie and make fun of alternatives to their belief structure.
Evolutionary theory is a scientific study of the diversity of life on the planet and the path that life took to get from as far back as we can study to now. It is tracing a path of identifiable, real, tangible evidence to answer the question of where all this diversity of life came from, and how it came about. It's not that complicated - but it is a lengthy thing to discuss and does not at all coincide with the biblical statement that god made the earth in 7 days.
So, in summary, science and Evolutionary Theory are not in response to religion. They seem to me the logical steps a society enlightened by written historical record, shared information, technological advances and improved methods of study would take. These intellectual advancements will hopefully make superstitious behavior overwhelmingly passé.
Intro
I decided to write this publicly to explain why I am comfortable living without religion. It is in response to the looks of shock and sorrow, pity and sympathy even, that I have received when I have let people know I do not believe in god (or any gods, for that matter). I also want to clear the air right now and mention that this does not mean I worship the devil or any other nonsense; I equally do not believe in witchcraft, sorcery, or anything that human superstition has bred over the hundreds of thousands of years we have existed.
I know that has left many pondering what I do believe in. The most simple answer is life. Here we are, all living. This, my friends, is it. The whole shooting match. We have been given a living planet filled with diverse animal and plant life through the virtue of being born sentient creatures. While I'm curious about where our sentience came from, I don't feel the need to push superstition onto an answer. I also don't have any urge to express that I'll know all the answers when I die. Again, this is it. The life we are living now is what we get, and I feel that is enough of an answer for now.
It is most important to me in this life, on this planet (again, the only thing we have going) that we try to enhance the lives of others and do our best to keep people from suffering. I would also like to profess that I feel it is our responsibility to be environmental stewards. We have knowledge of good and bad practices towards the earth and our co-inhabitants (um, like pouring poison in a well is a bad idea, while watering your vegetable garden is a good idea) and again enhance everyone's experience on the planet. A lack of faith does not mean someone is amoral.
Ideas I attach importance to are the safety and comfort of humanity, education, equality of all people, and protecting our planet and co-inhabitants from unnecessary violence or poor treatment. Of course there are more things I attach importance to, but I am trying to keep this monologue concise for now.
It is not my point to make fun of the belief in a god, gods or other deities, but I will probably use humor in my blogging on the subject. I have a sense of humor, it is present in my life, and it will show up here. If you read any further, you can consider yourself warned.
I have been mocked before by Christians for my lack of belief. I am not saying Christians to single them out, but because they are the people who have most commonly mocked me for my absence of faith (there are just more of them living in close proximity to me than any other religious group). No one likes to be mocked or made fun of though, and I usually try to maintain respectful conversation with other people when they are conversing respectfully with me.
I don't think that mockery is usually conducive to proving anything or making a point, either, but I will admit I have mocked others for their superstitious beliefs, and probably will in the future. Mockery in a debate or argument can lighten things up and make it so we can all talk again the next day.
Overall, I love people and humanity in general and am not trying to excuse myself from it or be a radical. This is just me.
I also haven't started out here to try to really prove anything - that's best left to science, this is a blog. This is my personal rationale of why I do not subscribe to religion of any genre, and more about how I feel comfortable living with myself. I have permission to relate stories here of why I feel the way I am living is A-OK, and even that I feel justified in doing so.
If you are looking for some contra-superstitious, inflammatory review of your faith in order to enhance your feelings of righteousness, look all you want. You may or may not find what you are seeking. If you would like to debate, please keep what I say in context. I don't know how inflammatory I'll seem to you, reader, but some things really do get me heated up; I think we'll all see what comes up here as this little blog develops.
I know that has left many pondering what I do believe in. The most simple answer is life. Here we are, all living. This, my friends, is it. The whole shooting match. We have been given a living planet filled with diverse animal and plant life through the virtue of being born sentient creatures. While I'm curious about where our sentience came from, I don't feel the need to push superstition onto an answer. I also don't have any urge to express that I'll know all the answers when I die. Again, this is it. The life we are living now is what we get, and I feel that is enough of an answer for now.
It is most important to me in this life, on this planet (again, the only thing we have going) that we try to enhance the lives of others and do our best to keep people from suffering. I would also like to profess that I feel it is our responsibility to be environmental stewards. We have knowledge of good and bad practices towards the earth and our co-inhabitants (um, like pouring poison in a well is a bad idea, while watering your vegetable garden is a good idea) and again enhance everyone's experience on the planet. A lack of faith does not mean someone is amoral.
Ideas I attach importance to are the safety and comfort of humanity, education, equality of all people, and protecting our planet and co-inhabitants from unnecessary violence or poor treatment. Of course there are more things I attach importance to, but I am trying to keep this monologue concise for now.
It is not my point to make fun of the belief in a god, gods or other deities, but I will probably use humor in my blogging on the subject. I have a sense of humor, it is present in my life, and it will show up here. If you read any further, you can consider yourself warned.
I have been mocked before by Christians for my lack of belief. I am not saying Christians to single them out, but because they are the people who have most commonly mocked me for my absence of faith (there are just more of them living in close proximity to me than any other religious group). No one likes to be mocked or made fun of though, and I usually try to maintain respectful conversation with other people when they are conversing respectfully with me.
I don't think that mockery is usually conducive to proving anything or making a point, either, but I will admit I have mocked others for their superstitious beliefs, and probably will in the future. Mockery in a debate or argument can lighten things up and make it so we can all talk again the next day.
Overall, I love people and humanity in general and am not trying to excuse myself from it or be a radical. This is just me.
I also haven't started out here to try to really prove anything - that's best left to science, this is a blog. This is my personal rationale of why I do not subscribe to religion of any genre, and more about how I feel comfortable living with myself. I have permission to relate stories here of why I feel the way I am living is A-OK, and even that I feel justified in doing so.
If you are looking for some contra-superstitious, inflammatory review of your faith in order to enhance your feelings of righteousness, look all you want. You may or may not find what you are seeking. If you would like to debate, please keep what I say in context. I don't know how inflammatory I'll seem to you, reader, but some things really do get me heated up; I think we'll all see what comes up here as this little blog develops.
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