Born Again—Again

How deconverting from faith is more exhilarating than being saved

Faith and belief as a temporary, trial-state to work towards a fact may be a useful tool in the short term. But as a endgame achievement…not so fast.

Trying the words of faith are essential to proving all things, as taught in the Bible, but who actually does that? Atheists? And how much time should you allow for such proofs? 80 years? 1000? Will you pray with me to know if there is a god? Will you pray with me to see there isn’t?

Mormon missionaries ask you to pray to believe “if these things are not true according to the desires of your heart”. How does that work inciting a negative counter to ones desire to believe?

Psychology of praying for what you want to believe is a well known phenomenon in the mathematics of mindfulness. Odds are in your favor that sometimes you’ll get what you ask for—even if you mumble some crap under your breath. Especially if you pray like everything depends on god, then work like everything depends on you. What essentially prayer comes down to is arrogance. Is god willing to override physics in your special case, often to the detriment of another individual—like commanding tornadoes in the name of Jesus, into another neighborhood, or denying someone a dignified and speedy death to suit your own insecurities?

When you realize there is no god and no prayer is answered, there is no loneliness or despair that settles in. To the contrary. You’ve been doing this on your own your entire life anyway—with a little help from people. The self empowerment of this reality is astonishing clarity. The key to understanding the mysteries is unbelief.

Conversion—Submitting yourself to belief in what you can’t prove or know in hope of reward or answers, effectively separating your rational mind for fantasy. Relying on someone else to give your life meaning.

Deconversion—The aha moment followed by the haha moment. You already held the answers you sought. There is no mystery.

Happy New Year everybody. We won’t get fooled again.

Author: jimoeba

Alternatives to big box religions and dogmas

108 thoughts on “Born Again—Again”

  2. A most penetrating question …
    Is god willing to override physics in your special case ….

    I hope the New Year holds new and exciting adventures and experiences for you and yours.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

    1. Thanks Nan. That is a good question. After setting the universe in motion and keeping 150million light years of space in check, knowing all there is to know past and present, knowing your troubles before you do, planning it all eons ago, god failed to understand that you’d be looking for a new job, or a lost cat. If there was a god, things are just as he wants them. And any good faither puts the lords will ahead of their own. So why ask?

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply

  3. Uh, today being the last day of 2018, I figure it’s a good day to ask this question, which is related to your post in only an off-handed kind of way. This is directed to all your readers:
    “How do you personally feel about karma? Do you believe in it? Why? Why not?”
    Happy tomorrow!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Thanks for all the ideas you’ve shared this year. Very happy you’re on board. All the best to you!! I’m not a karma guy. Shitty people do just fine year after year. You?

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply

      1. I’m where you are, in a way. Don’t give karma the time of day. But a conversation with a Buddhist I am having right now brought this on. To him, karma is a natural, or cosmic, law, as necessary to life as breathing. A non-Buddhist, possibly Christian, woman said the same thing to me a few days ago, she compared it to Kepler’s laws of planetary motion. Where do people get these ideas?
        God? Non-existent. Karma? Non-existent. Yet they need them to work to live a “moral” life. I don’t get it.
        They don’t trust themselves to do it on their own.

        Liked by 4 people

        Reply

    2. Based on this definition of karma — the effects of a person’s actions that determine their fate in this life and the next incarnation — I feel our actions always affect others. Whether I would call it “karma” or not? *shrugs shoulders*

      As to whether our actions affect the next “incarnation” — if such an event exists, I would tend to say “yes” — at least to some degree.

      Since it’s all pretty esoteric, one can really only speculate.

      Liked by 4 people

      Reply

      1. Whoops! I think I got Effect and Affect turned around. Altho’ I like what I wrote, it’s not exactly an answer to your question.

        Do I feel the Effects of my actions will determine my fate in this life? I would tend to say it’s likely.
        Do I feel the Effects of my actions will determine my fate in the next incarnation? -IF- I were to incarnate to another life, I would like to think everything would “start over.”

        The last sentence in my previous comment still stands. 🙂

        Liked by 4 people

        Reply

        1. Karma after you die sounds too christian to me. It’s either now or never (since Christian teaching is always at odds with reality) you reap what you sew, but calling that karma is a stretch for me.

          Liked by 4 people

          Reply

          1. We humans don’t like injustice and a large part of the purpose of religion is to set injustice right. Since the world is full of injustice we have to extend life to a more just world where things are put right.
            Our dislike of injustice stems from our moral nature which affects everything we see and do , so we cannot look at the animal kingdom without proclaiming ‘ red in tooth and claw ‘ to themselves animals it is perfectly natural . The crunching of bones and spilling of blood makes us shudder , as does the evil that other humans inflict upon each other.
            When AI finally comes it is a matter of speculation as to whether the robots will be moral , I tend to think not because they will not have been conceived for survival by natural selection. If that is the case and we aren’t first set back by climate they will easily and quickly dispense with us.

            Liked by 3 people

            Reply

      2. Karma is a personal cause and effect, from everything I hear or read. But it does take into account how you treat others, which causes how you get treated, eventually, I guess.
        My question to you now, Nan, as inspired by your answer, is it our actions that affect our next incarnation, or the learning we accomplish in our present incarnation that most affects the next one. I lean to the learning side. I don’t see any way to track our actions in order to reward or punish us for them. That talks to some kind of cosmic order, to me. And while I do believe in the cosmos, I do not believe in order.

        Liked by 3 people

        Reply

        1. I provided my “gut” answer related to your questions. I actually don’t believe in reincarnation. However, for the sake of discussion, assuming it exists …

          You asked … is it our actions that affect our next incarnation or the learning we accomplish in our present incarnation that most affects the next one.

          Based on a very brief reading of reincarnation on the Basic Buddhism site, it seems Karma is really the defining factor, i.e., “What we are … is entirely dependent on what we think.” This, in turn, affects our “reincarnation” in that it is our motives and intentions in this life that affect any future incarnation.

          So, based on this, it would seem it is our actions rather than our learning. But, in a broad sense, it is probably both.

          Fascinating topic. Perhaps you should expand on it on your own website. 🙂

          Liked by 3 people

          Reply

          1. I had a reason for choosing Jim’s website, and I hope he doesn’t mind. He has a goodly number of readers, where I have a small number, but that is misleading. I really have only about 10 or 20 regular readers, and I wanted to approach a bigger pool of people.
            I really appreciate that you tried to put yourself in different shoes, going to a Buddhist website, and making your comments from various viewpoints. You did more than just reply, so thank you.
            Having said that, if I can come up with a satisfactory post, I will do it on my website, now that I have some sense of what others think. Again, thank you, Nan.

            Liked by 4 people

            Reply

            1. If anyone ever wants to do a guest post here I’m all for it. Just keep it at a minute or two, email it to me or let me know how you want to do it. I host this site but claim no ownership or desire to control it. Without you all it would just sit and collect dust.

              Liked by 2 people

            2. But you do so well on your own, Jim, which is why you have more readers than those like me. You have a broader appeal, whereas I try to keep my own site more specific. Neither is wrong, neither is right, it is just the way we are.
              But thank you for the offer. Keeping me to one or two minutes will be a real challenge, lol.

              Liked by 3 people

            3. I can edit quite well. Hehe. I think a reincarnation post from someone other than myself (I have no dog in that fight yet) would interest a lot of folks to contemplate. Anyhow, I’ll look forward to reading your bimonthly posting habits😁🎯

              Liked by 2 people

            4. Ah, Jim, you do have a way with words. But you are wrong about the bimonthly habits, it’s all about inspiration. And memory. I sometimes forget I have my own blog, doing as much commentary as I do on others’ blogs. I just love to write, it doesn’t really matter where…

              Liked by 4 people

            5. You’re welcome. 🙂

              The way I look at things is … I have my viewpoint and beliefs. They work for me. They may NOT work for anyone else. Therefore, I don’t see it as betraying my personal perspective by discussing (not arguing or dictating) other spiritual outlooks. In fact, it can be rather informative.

              Just a sidenote — after leaving the church, I did a lot of reading on spirituality (not religion). I found many things I agreed with (and still do). However, I often avoid mentioning/discussing any of them because hardcore atheists often lump everything into one bag (Christianity) –and I’m sure you know how that turns out.

              Liked by 3 people

            6. But, it is those in-between areas (or altogether different) that hold the truth. I am an atheist because I don’t believe in god. I never said there couldn’t be a third way. Quite possibly the greatest deception between the two choice paradox we always face, is choosing between faith and atheism. Personal spirituality and truth is always found outside of the two choices. Outside of left or right, conservative or liberal, are all distractory techniques that divide. The truth may not lay in the middle, but somewhere else altogether.

              Liked by 4 people

            7. I agree with you, Jim. But I’ve found many (on either side) seem to feel it’s their way or no way. As an example, I write in my book that I believe in a “Universal Presence.” It’s undefined, yet those on both sides of the “issue” will come up with a definition based on their personal beliefs.

              IMO, the “truth” is what works for YOU. And from what you’ve expressed along the way, I feel this is also your perspective.

              Liked by 3 people

            8. I’m very indifferent to spiritual things. Maybe realism is spiritual? I don’t know. I do think it allows me to be a decent third party observist. I do however, agree that there really are no secrets to life. That is a religious lie. That’s the big deception. All the power and all the knowledge is within us…and for us alone to achieve homeostasis.

              Liked by 3 people

            9. Yeah, I’ve had a bit of experience with that. They love to tell me I’m not a true atheist. But that was like a critic telling me I wasn’t a real poet. I guess I’m not a feal human either. But hey, whatever I am is what I am. And whatever you are is what you are. Thanks for the disclosure.

              Liked by 4 people

    3. Hello Rawgod. I do not believe in Karma. I love the idea, but as Jim said many people who do shitty harmful acts seem to do better than most. I also do not like the way I see it used in India where people who are suffering, very poor, or have disabilities are thought to have caused this by their karma in a prior life. The people especially the higher ups in income and power use it to justify not helping the lower classes. It is as wrong as the prosperity gospel teaching of the mega churches in the USA. Have a great night and a wonderful new year. Hugs

      Liked by 4 people

      Reply

      1. Same to you.
        I did not know it is being used that way in India now, but I can see where the higher castes would love it. Maybe that’s why Trump wants to kick all the “gimps–his word, not mine” out of America. I cannot even believe he said such a thing, my apologies to you for even bringing it up.
        Thank you for your input.

        Liked by 2 people

        Reply

          2. Wrong answer, SE.
            I was asking the significance of your conversion comment. I did not understand your meaning. Guess I should have been more specific. Sorry.

            Liked by 2 people

            Reply

    5. I don’t. It just appears that way sometimes, but more often not. But when we hear of someone getting their just dues for say,being hateful and cruel, we feel it’s true. But many a rotten person goes on being rotten, but lucky until the day they die. And many a good decent person has a shitty life, through no fault of their own, until they die. And there’s no afterlife to have it all “righted”, so it boils down to “it is what it is” and the luck of the draw.

      Liked by 4 people

      Reply

      1. Or the unluck of the draw? I think for Karma to work it would have to be an afterlife principle. That way no knows anything for sure and you can feed the oppressed and poor and eternal line of bs about how they’re just getting what they deserve.

        Liked by 2 people

        Reply

      2. Thank you, Mary. What upsets me is that instead of “no fault of their own,” believers say it is their fault because of what they did in past lives. I respect that you do not believe in an afterlife, although that isn’t quite what reincarnation could be called, but especially if there is no continuation of any kind of life there can be no karma. Well said.

        Liked by 4 people

        Reply

        1. I don’t believe in an afterlife or reincarnation. I think when you’re dead your dead and gone. If anything remains of energy of some vague consciousness ( which I doubt, but..) it is used or recycled in a way that we don’t “know” it. Kinda like you can recycle parts of a computer whose hard drive has failed, but it’s just parts and they have no “knowledge” of any once existing hard drive. That is gone.

          Liked by 2 people

          Reply

          1. Yes, I caught that, and had hoped I responded with respect to your belief. That it is not my belief may have crept through in my choice of words, but it was not intentional. I am sorry if this was the case.

            Liked by 2 people

            Reply

            1. Oh my…no need to apologize. I have nothing against anyone who believes in an afterlife or reincarnation. None of us really know, right?

              But I don’t like the way Christianity uses the afterlife as some kind of prize for the select few who just happened to be born in the right country with the right religion and the right interpretation of the correct dogma. It’s pure arrogance.

              But some kind of reincarnation based on true karma of how you treated people or at least tried to and how you cared for the environment, I would have no problem with that belief true or not.

              And if there was some energy quantum consciousness field thing, which would be way over my head, I’d be fine with that too and in fact would welcome that version most.

              Liked by 2 people

            5. Lol. Wasn’t necassary, but thank you. I hope you can find someghing of value for yourself. And please feel free to comment. I like being challenged.

              Liked by 3 people

            6. Everything is electrically charged. Scientifically the “field” is probably pretty accurate. And with that fits spiritualism/connection, animism, and so on. The earth is our mother and the universe hers. We’re all connected in that respect, and in probably more ways than my jumble of neurons can perceive.

              Liked by 3 people

    1. Thanks John. I just had to laugh. They got me, but never again. I still shake my head a bit when I recall the story. Happy new year boss. Thanks for all of your excellent input this year.

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply

  5. Hello Jim. I have often wondered at request prayers. I can see an egomaniac narcissistic god wanting and loving praising prayers, just like tRump has his cabinet secretaries all praise working for him before they can start the meeting. Oh shit the christian god is tRump. I do have a hard time understanding request prayers. The god you are praying to is all knowing and has a perfect plan ( don’t count the many times his plans go stepping in shit upside down and he has to start again ) and here you a imperfect human are requesting this god change his perfect plan to accommodate you, an imperfect human, to change that perfect plan to make you happy. Fuck off all the other people and all the other things that depend on that perfect plan, change it so you can have x or y or your wants are put first. WTF. Really talk about thinking you are so ever the center of the universe. Talk about self importance. Talk about not caring if a child is starving to death as long as you get a better parking space at the mall that you are praying for. We make plans in our home remodeling when Ron is working on stuff to keep the cats safe when what he is doing could be dangerous to them. They don’t like being shut out of a room or being shut in the bedroom and they will howl and plead to get to be in the middle of it. But we know better. If I believed in a God, humans would be like our cats and god would be like Ron or I. We can not give into them as it could be dangerous for them. Yet humans think their God changes his plan, his activities, his perfect plan to accommodate someones wish for their loved one saved, their team to win, their car keys to appear, their money to increase all the while kids are starving and dying from horrible parasites and illnesses including poverty to near devastation and slavery in other parts of the world that their god ignores.

    Thank you Jim, sorry I get a bit worked up on this topic. I do get angry. How dare these entitled, well fed, comfortable, safe people claim their god is protecting and helping them, while they refuse to see the horrors others are going through and the total uncaring lack of response from their god. I am reminded of the woman who claimed her home was saved because she prayed the tornado would change course away from her home, and it did. As she was praising her god for saving her home, her neighbors on the next street over had their homes and some of their lives taken in complete devastation from that tornado she claimed god moved to that place for her. She was oblivious to the suffering of people she knew on other streets because she felt her god had done her a favor.

    Sorry for the rant. You did not deserve it. I wish you, your family and your pets a grand evening, a wonderful new year, and health and happiness. Many hugs

    Liked by 6 people

    Reply

    4. Oh Scottie, I love it when you get all stirred up like that. Yes, why do we let them get away with their delusional rants?!? They must be told, put up or shut up about their magical thinking. Resurrection? They must be kidding! GROG

      Liked by 5 people

      Reply

    5. My feelings exactly. It’s like a plane crash and three people survive and 8 die. The surviving ones and their family praise and thank god. The ones that died and their families find support in a god that for some mysterious reason let them die a senseless death.

      The surviving ones don’t see their arrogance in supposing god liked them better or has a plan for them.

      And the dead ones family rejoice in a god who just let their loved ones die and saved others.

      Pure delusion and insanity and arrogance.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

  6. Thank you, Jim, for your pithy post, probably the last one for 2018. I look forward to even better posts from you in 2019.

    Conversion = Born-Again Christian
    Deconversion = Born-Again Atheist

    I would also like to wish you and your family a wonderful festive season with a special post of mine at https://soundeagle.wordpress.com/2012/12/12/season-greetings-from-soundeagle-merry-christmas-happy-new-year-and-joyful-holiday/

    Happy New Year to you!

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  7. Jim, the Mormons; How do they do it? Thanks for your post and Happy New Year.
    It continues to amaze me how these deluded souls (missionaries) can convince supposedly sane people into believing the Mormon fantasy. As you said: “Mormon missionaries ask you to pray to believe “if these things are not true according to the desires of your heart””. This is, I think, the beginning of the hypnosis of belief of being special, “according to the desires of your heart.” That is the scam! Once convinced of being a chosen child of God, it is possible to believe anything, even the BoM. GROG

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

    1. I think it was Victoria (Neuronotes) did a post a couple years ago that explained the psychology of this unique little process. Essentially it amounted to ones openness and the phraseology of it was nearly a guarantee you were going to get the answer you sought based on the way you asked the question. Take someone that is sincere in their search and just offers up their soul to know, and the answer will be yes, it’s true. you have to admit most Mormons are very sincere in their quest. The perfect candidates for the most unlikely conversion.
      I wish she’d pop back on the radar. Her insights were rock solid. I’m only paraphrasing.

      Liked by 5 people

      Reply

    1. I’ve spent the last couple of of hours trying to wrap my head around octonions—special numbers that reference eight dimensional space. The numbers have been found linked to fundamental forces of reality and understanding octonions are leading to new models of physics. The lead researcher explains her findings and while other physicists are grasping the concepts, I am struggling to imagine it. Yes, there are people that smart, forging ahead in realms few can grasp, but redefining the world we live in. These numerical properties behave more like electrons, and noncommutative properties of math. But on the other side we have a Bible and an incoherent ontology that nearly half the world is glued to. Wouldn’t it be amazing to have tenfold the number of problem solvers pull their heads out of archaic religion and help out? I’m pretty confident the last two Einstein’s wasted their potential in Bible college. I say enough! But hey, that’s just me.

      Liked by 4 people

      Reply

  9. The arrogance of x-ians! Or (insert religion here.) How dare they pray to a god to change things in their lives, when it was their god that put them in the bad spot to begin with! (Assuming you believe all of that nonsense.)

    I never quite understood how they could be so damn needy as to pray, when they already supposedly know, that their gods are the reason for everything they have or don’t have. Don’t they understand that they are nothing but pathetic sinners, valueless souls unless they are busy kissing a gods ass? That god doesn’t have the time or the concern for your lousy problems.

    It seems to me they want or need to be sychophantic worshippers of their abusive god, and at the same time have the balls to beg for things that this god is already supposedly responsible for, in the hopes of changing his fucking mind. Like I said… Arrogant bastards. Hell if I was a god I’d smite every son of a beeotch that dared to bother me with their petty bullshit.

    Why in the hell would anyone even want to play that game? It sounds darn well like it is bordering on insanity to me.

    Meanwhile in the real world, people without gods just get shit done cuz it needs doing, and no gods are necessary to enjoy a productive and happy life. One of these things makes sense.

    Liked by 6 people

    Reply

    1. It is a conundrum of being in love with an imagination. Really though, when you take that first step to believe the unbelievable, nothing has to make sense ever again. Faith fills the gaps your good ol common sense left at the pews.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

      1. …and that right there is why I was never able to become a believer, despite trying to! I went to church at a few points in my life, I tried to believe, it’s just the part where I had to leave my good sense at the door that did me in. I’d hear the preacher say on numerous occaisions something that just rubbed me the wrong way, I was sitting there thinking how could they possibly get “this” from “that” and I’d look around and everyone was nodding in agreement or doing the amens, I just couldn’t fucking do it.

        And I no longer have the urge to try 🙂 I can’t imagine living in some fantasy land, and having to move back and forth between fantasy and reality. Again, it just makes no sense. To me anyway.

        Liked by 3 people

        Reply

        1. I think you have to maintain a bit of a split personality to live by faith for what you know can’t be so. Happy new year Shell. Always a pleasure buddy.

          Liked by 3 people

          Reply

  10. When I read your title of this post Jim, I immediately thought “Oooo! Jim is tackling the Xian Catch-22, absurd, Grace vs Election vs Predestination” — that ironically, and with no surprise, the majority of faith-based Xians cannot comprehend, ignore, or never knew of its 4th – 5th century CE controversy! — “and biblically-based, doctrinal contradictions that will NEVER be resolved… except by utterly blind, child-like FAITH!” 😆 IOW, that part-n-parcel empty counter-argument of “Deconverted Xians were never True Christians ™. 😵

    But alas, this was just as intriguing and provocative than my presumption! Thank you Sir. 🙂

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

    1. Even the writers couldn’t get that right, and left this for us to ponder—
      —For by grace are ye saved through faith…not of works. —Ephesians 2:8,9
—Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. —James 2:24
      Wait? What?? Lol. They made it up as the went along.

      Liked by 5 people

      Reply

      1. “They made it up as the went along.” Yep! And over way too many centuries as their power-base (the Roman Empire) was crumbling and/or changing, or both really… if one studies ALL the reasons the empire fell and the Roman Catholic Church filled the void — in the West that is — then it too crumbled when Copernicus, Galileo, and just add all the rest once we FINALLY got out of the Dark Ages and more detached from the RCC! Only to fall in other, revised religious scams and minefields. LOL! 🤣

        Although I shouldn’t be laughing so hard about that last part, should I? 😉 😛

        Liked by 5 people

        Reply

        1. It’s a neat trick, but not real funny. I know though that’s how I felt when I eyed the scam. I just had to laugh. I’m pretty cautious now with everything. Except Fox News. They’re strait shooters. ☠️⚔️🔪
          Ha!! Gotcha!!

          Liked by 3 people

          Reply

            1. I haven’t even seen it for a few years. I just can’t. Happy new year! Looks like Seattle is going to be in Cowboys country. That’d be fun to share a few drinks over

              Liked by 3 people

            2. Are you a Seahawks fan? LOL

              I’m pretty sure you know that I’m not an NFL fan anymore — a game with only 11-mins average of actual game-play but 3.5 hours of commercial, referee, injury, video-replay interruptions! 😮 — for many reasons too long and infuriating to list here. (yawn) WARNING! Don’t get me started on why I am not a Jerry “Moron” Jones Cowboys fan. However, as a kid I was indeed a BIG FAN of Tom Landry, Tex Shramm, Staubach, then those brief platinum-golden years of Jimmy Johnson, Aikman, Emmitt, Irvin, Harper, Novacek, Moose Johnson, and a plethora of defensive All-Pro Monsters… all of it made possible BY Landry, Shramm, and Jimmy Johnson, not Jerry “Moron” Look-at-me-on-TV Jones!!!!

              Now, if you wanna talk about the world’s Most Beautiful Game and truly THE most popular game — futebol/football — in the entire world, no contest whatsoever, then my fine Gentleman, I can go until next year with ya! Hahahaha! 😛 No, seriously… I can passionately talk about it in crazy depth, on any level, for a long, LONG TIME. Hah!

              Liked by 4 people

            3. I actually quit football too when Cam Newton refuses to go after the fumble. It was rigged. LG and I haven’t seen a game since. I just needed an excuse to have some beers on the patio with you and bullshit. I’d even watch hockey for that.

              Liked by 4 people

            4. LMAO! Umm, hockey is a much better offer Sir. 😉

              But you’re right, I’d drink with ya no matter where we were at — even inside the holiest church or on most sacred holiest site, pick one, any! — and bullshit with ya while we have our dirty boots propped up on the Tabernacle in Salt Lake City or the Ark of the Covenant in Jerusalem, etc, and have a spit-toon nearby… that we never hit, not even close! The company and fine debauchery along with the most evilest of liquid spirits would suit me divinely. 😈

              Liked by 3 people

            6. Just one word of caution: should you decide to visit that Tabernacle, please refrain from signing your real name and address into the guest registry or you’ll be contacted by local LDS representatives at a later date. 🙂

              Liked by 4 people

            7. “…at a later date” and a really, REALLY late time in the night(?)…

              when myself and loved ones are asleep in bed, hoody-bags yanked over our semi-conscious heads, and wrists zip-tied behind our backs later? Is that what you mean? 😳 😬

              Liked by 4 people

            10. Invite them in…that’ll get the neighbors talking. Especially on the return appointments. Hell, invite them all over for coffee and booze

              Liked by 2 people

            11. Come now, Professor. Everyone knows the “perfect game” is cricket. Watching a bunch of people trying to whack a ball with a stick while getting pleasantly blitzed on champagne while pretending you understand what the heck they’re doing and muttering “tut tut” every once in a while is a great way to kill an afternoon.

              Liked by 4 people

          1. Yeah. The man was a real peach. He railed against reason (“Reason is a whore, the greatest enemy that faith has; it never comes to the aid of spiritual things, but more frequently than not struggles against the divine Word”), unabashedly encouraged the execution of heretics and blasphemers (particularly Anabaptists) in his commentary to Psalm 82 and pretty much wrote the blueprint for the Holocaust.

            It boggles the mind how anyone modern person possessed of good conscience could remain a member of the Lutheran faith in light of that knowledge.

            Liked by 4 people

            Reply

            2. That’s a good point. Perhaps the only thing they know about their founder is that he stood up against the big bad pontiff of Rome and reinstated the one true doctrine.

              Liked by 3 people

            3. That is the party line. All the founders have the same story. Fighting the failure of establishment and energizing a base through fear, capitalizing on their oppression—Eric Hoffer

              Liked by 4 people

  12. I’ve always wondered about the whole concept of prayer. Like Scottie said, the whole idea seems contrary to the idea of god that most religions promote. God is perfect. God knows all. God knows what was, what is, and what will be. God has a “plan” for all of us. So when you pray for something, aren’t you therefore attempting to undermine god’s plan? One would think that a true believer would just unquestioningly accept whatever happens. No wonder prayers are never answered. All we’re doing is pissing him off.

    Liked by 6 people

    Reply

    1. Well, rarely does anyone think it through until they have to. Then it’s years of splitting hairs to make excuses for the poor outcomes. It’s like the Noah story. It sounds like a good idea until you analyze it. Happy new year GRouchyy. All the best to you.

      Liked by 4 people

      Reply

  14. I need to read these sooner. Next day gets long.
    I wrote on my FB page today – “Definition of New Year’s Day: hours of TV commercials interrupted by meaningless moments of forgettable football monotony. A&M won convincingly last night over a team that shouldn’t have been there. I forget who (see?).”
    I agree that the relief I felt when I opened up (to me and the world) about embracing my atheism was akin to unloading a gorilla I’d been carrying most of my life. That bull shit gets heavy.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    1. It does get heavy. Holding a bag like that as the real life we wanted and dreamed slips past in so many ways. Death bed studies show number one regret is usually living life on others terms, always blending in and hiding your dreams. At least I got 32 gooder years to go. Happy new year Bill!

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply

  15. @ Jim @ Professor T, really am I the only gay teenage boy forced to watch American football because it is a manly sport that will make me more manly, who found a deep appreciation for the 49ers Joe Montana ass! Really? I couldn’t name one other person in football but I could point that butt out of a police line up! I hated every second of being made to watch American football. Now if maybe I had been exposed to the football of the normal rest of the world I would have found other delights , like say David Beckham. I would have been a glued to the TV, a sports fan rabid teen. Oh well, wrong country and wrong orientation according to my adoptive parents. Lots of love and remember to laugh a lot, keeps them guessing. Hugs

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

Leave a comment