Belief Analysis—

So, you’ve decided to join (insert worthy cause or religion here) but your not sure if you really understand everything just the right way. A friend finally tips the scale with some wise words—”what the hell, just give it a try and see what’s up—you’ve got nothing to lose”. So you employ the time tested wisdom of the ages, deciding on hormones and a hunch.

This is the very scientific technique most humans use to abandon using the scientific method of inquiry. This is how my parents joined the John Birch society back in the 60’s. It was a perfect fit as all their fears were realized by highlighting everything the group opposed, as central to the doctrine.

“Hatred is the most accessible and comprehensive of all the unifying agents. Mass movements can rise and spread without belief in a god, but never without a belief in a devil.”—Eric Hoffer, 

It is important now and then to scrutinize your own beliefs to make sure you are fearing the right things, but how to be objective in this process requires two things. First, find out what the opposition says and vehemently disagree with it. Second, convince yourself these are your beliefs that simply mirror the group—or is it the other way around? Now you forget (a pinch of doubt stirred, can go a long way, trust it)

Can anyone for one moment be the Buddha, unbelieve for a time and be the observer? Hardly likely, but the key to clarity is unbelief, so what to do? Employing the scientific method to belief (the problem) is a difficult task. For one, you have already decided the outcome by belief, skewing the interpretation of data. No, if you want to know what you believe, we must ask someone who doesn’t believe it.

“To continuously evaluate whether a being is good requires moral judgment, which requires moral autonomy, therefore it is not possible to continuously evaluate if a being is good while also worshipping it. Therefore, worshipping necessarily requires abandoning one’s moral responsibility, which is immoral“—James Rachel

Surpassing belief, which is simply withholding judgement until the outcomes of those beliefs are scrutinized by a third party (falsification) is the first step to liberation. Unless you’ve scrutinized your beliefs with the scientific method, an opposing view and an outcome based analysis, your beliefs are merely cans of hot air—in fact they are not even yours, or you, but the views of the group that through osmosis has hijacked your mind by a meme you’d swear was your own—until it isn’t.

To identify the real you, we must step away from belief mode—and like magic you will see the things you believed and fought for were not you at all. So distance a moment and relax—letting hormones make your decisions in haste adds a whole extra layer of insanity to conformity.

Surpassing belief mode and it’s limitations is likely the greatest challenge ever facing humanity. The appeal to belief in faith as a virtue appears to be the root problem of all problems.

The Element of Illusion

First let me preface, I am an atheist. There are arguments for “something else”, but I don’t know what that means. I am not protective of my atheism (finding what people call god would be a prize winning effort) but I do struggle with the term and how it’s been defined beyond the reach of understanding.

Life itself is some type of illusion (deceived by our own relativity?) What you see on the surface seems so real and tangible (mass) yet is hardly anything tangible at all but energy (what is that?) and According to Einstein, energy and mass are equivalent (that’s the message of E=mc2) But our interpretation of how solid an object is purely relative. How would we know any different than what we are relative to our surroundings (insert puddle analogy) It seems so “there”, but is only a form of energy, which we know little about.

In physics, the kinetic energy (KE) of an object is the energy that it possesses due to its motion. KE= 1/2 mv2. In emergency medicine, we alway want to know how fast the car was going, etc, so the severity of injury and patterns can be predicted. Stopping that motion releases a lot of joules, and how quickly it stops is the difference between life and death.

Earth is energy in form, hurling through orbit at 66,000 mph and spinning—and the energies accumulated to reach that speed it still possesses.

Ideas on the other hand, have no energy. Life has evolved into the lazy mans game, gaining 90% of our knowledge by opinions and papers, instead of experience. There is little horse-sense applied to solving problems, but persuasion turned to belief rules the culture. While utility inspired the idea, now the idea has a life of its own. Man, now disconnected from his environment lives in a life of barriers—and through opinion develops ideas on how to master that environment.

Since the idea has no mass, the end of arguing over beliefs would drown without a whimper—no explosions or mass casualties. It would be like cancelling church during a pandemic. Would anybody have even noticed if it weren’t for a few showmen insistent on keeping there ideas alive for cash flow?

Anyway, Christian influence has the world at odds—because of belief (everyone is compelled to take sides) The appeal to faith also uses no energy, but is the path of least resistance where belief now trumps utility—now the way of the world. The nature that evolved the man no longer exists. There were more sustainable philosophies, but it appears to be too late for that. We are now in the puddle of belief, and for most of the world it’s a perfect fit.

On Doctrine

“In order to be effective, a doctrine must not be understood, but has rather to be believed in. A doctrine that is understood is shorn of its strength“—Eric Hoffer

A doctrine to be effective must be viewed from the heart, not from the brain, to maintain staying power.

“The devout are always urged to seek truth with their hearts and not their minds”

Rudolph Hess, when swearing in the entire Nazi party in 1934, exhorted the hearers: “Do not seek Adolf Hitler with your brains—all of you will find him with the strength of your hearts”.

It is obvious today more than ever that the true believer is just that—a believer that doesn’t understand the doctrine. Everyone else is doing it wrong sounds familiar, and many Christians are now despising Christianity—the outcome of the doctrine.

When we fully understand the doctrine (like we do the nazi party) we can no longer believe in it based on its historical and current condition—we capitulate to self doubt, ride it out, or leave.

“Atheism is proof that the doctrine can eventually be understood”. That is evidenced in the current exodus.

Spending a lifetime ironing the contradiction of abrahamic religion is imperative from the beginning that conundrums existed to sustain the longevity of the movement.

“If a doctrine is not unintelligible, it has to be vague. If neither unintelligible nor vague, it has to be unverifiable”—Eric Hoffer

To secure a lasting movement, Christianity incorporated all three—and the proof is in its longevity.

It’s hard to imagine that this trifecta was accidental, since every single point of doctrine is Alpha and Omega of contradiction.

License plate Jesus home near me

Where the Evidence Leads

If we draw conclusions by simply following evidence that developed naturally from the vast variety of sources (not just our select cultural few) maybe there is something rather than nothing. Let me give you an example.

Is the entire world crazy, or is it reasonable to accept that billions of humans have spiritual needs, unique perceptions, meditations, visions, dreams, and complex neurologies? Then, add the possibility of the data stream, akashic record, or 3D computer simulation, to those skilled in the meditative arts, or the paranormal tendencies of certain neurologies, the worldwide congruent teachings and vision quests of the shaman, the voodoo acolytes, those historically rich in the metaphysical oneness of reality and non-ordinary reality (non ordinary today) they do not even remotely resemble the god of Abraham or any form of omnipotence. Nor does it even remotely resemble Jesus, unless you want to discount every other human experience by creating your own evidence and forcing a lesser way through power.

Perhaps there is more to the story than the judeo-christo-muslim interpretation of the monarchial boss that has NEVER produced the desired results except—add more faith and fight it out. Even physics can merge with spiritual energy and matters of matter, which appears to be just energy anyway.

Viewing all the evidence with a blank slate I could safely say, that if independent research of all these experiences and possibilities were laid on the table, comparing it all without the coercive bias and threat of hell, it does not equal the god of the Bible or Quran (take your pick) and the nearest thing encapsulating science with all the other available information we would find panpsychism—the closest, non-contradictory reality to every idea but one.

“The first peace, which is the most important, is that which comes within the souls of people when they realize their relationship, their oneness with the universe and all its powers, and when they realize that its center is really everywhere, it is within each of us“—Black Elk, Oglala Lakota

“Crazy Horse dreamed and went into the world where there is nothing but the spirits of all things. That is the real world that is behind this one, and everything we see here is something like a shadow from that one“—Black Elk

Christianity is not a naturally occurring religion. It is a foreigner to a strange enough land.

Two New Elements Discovered

At the core of religion we find it relates to science after all. After peeling back the layers we find…nothing. No substance, no proof, no matter, no bliss, but “under intense geographic pressure to believe”. Delusionite©, discovered years ago in the ancient Near East, now has been added to the periodic table. “We have conclusive evidence of its existence by the invisible features that affect all other matters through exhaustive explaining”

Having elements of stagnation, it appears mobile and spreads in viral epidemiology. Unfortunately it bonds easily with Pretendium©, which has no mass or atomic weight and easily crosses the blood-brain barrier, causing hopeless waiting.

Belief is merely a guru challenge—a psychological barrier placed before humanity. Until we can transcend it’s limitations, we are not collectively responsible enough to handle the truth, so we occupy our time in endless debate over who has the best imagination.

Faith vs Integrity

The life of faith is in a race with integrity. The trick is to die before the vector of integrity is tempted to intersect faith before the finish line. Development of integrity can cost you your soul. Dying in unscrutinized belief is the safer bet. Have no fear. Your faith is the sure safety that nothing will change until you get your catastrophe.

Meanwhile, be content in the outcomes of faith which we have witnessed now for two millennia. Don’t complain, and please no worries. This is the life you choose through belief.

“The impression somehow prevails that the true believer, particularly the religious individual, is a humble person. The truth is the surrendering and humbling of the self breeds pride and arrogance. The true believer is apt to see himself as one of the chosen, the salt of the earth, the light of the world, a prince disguised in meekness, who is destined to inherit the earth and the kingdom of heaven too. He who is not of his faith is evil; he who will not listen will perish”—Eric Hoffer

“Ye are the light of the world”. What do you say to that when everything faith touches lives in a constant state of regression? Living in the past, hoping the future ends. Would a good god condemn you for truly not believing? Seems to me such integrity should be rewarded.

Testimony—Relieving Your Doubt Through Repetition

A testimony or “witnessing” is known as a statement that is based on personal experience or personal knowledge. A statement is accepted on the basis of person’s testimony if his or her asserting it renders it acceptable, ie; conviction, eloquence, or sincerity. We can also, rationally accept a claim on the basis of another person’s testimony unless at least one of the following is found to be true:

1 The claim is implausible;

2 The person or the source in which the claim is quoted lacks credibility;

3 The claim goes beyond what the person could know from his or her own experience and competence (children)

When it comes to testimony, how trustworthy are you, the source, in separating what you want to believe vs what you’ve been taught to believe vs the inherent bias of culture, demographics, and perception? If you know your church is “the one” sanctioned by Jesus, how can others know theirs is “the one” True Church© too. Maybe they’re coat-tailing on a bad idea? It’s happened before.

If you fallen to religion, just be grateful it wasn’t Jehovah’s Witness, Mormon, Catholic, AOG, Money Church of Osteen™️, Copeland, Dollar 🤡, Comfort or Ham. Id hate for you to look silly. And for the loners out there, your close. Really close.

As far as children witnessing for any religion, who’s testimony do you suppose they are they sharing? But it’s so cute… Hmm?

Religion Deemed Too Big to Fail

If religion in America were a country, its $1.2 Trillion in tax free income (2016) would be the 15th largest economy in the world. Too big to fail? Subsidized religion would be interesting, to say the least.

The economic bailout of 2008 cost $700billion to keep institutions we hate in business. Imagine how soothing it will be to bail out religion to sustain its lengthy crash? It could however, be worth ending the futility of its unmet objectives by natural selection—for extinction.

It would be worth a few bones to retrain the ministry into something useful—like carpentry or green technology. They don’t typically pay unemployment insurance for themselves or other church employees. It’s a risky business when there’s not enough crisis to keep membership up.

It may be deemed too big to fail, but it would be worth it. A quick dose of reality, then, after the weeping and wailing we can get on with living. Transcending belief mode will be an incredible period of discovery.

Faith vs Ethics

The greatest contribution of atheism is the provision of a firm basis for ethical conduct. Atheism explains that morality is a social obligation but not a passport to heaven and salvation. The theistic belief in divine retribution sidetracked moral behavior. Believers were more prone to please the god of their imagination by prayer and ritual than to conform to rules of moral conduct“—Ramachantra Rao

This is the dividing line between worship and personal responsibility. To please god is obedience to belief, even if it’s socially divisive. One excludes, the other includes. Doesn’t really matter what religion you believe, it is that you believe anything at all.

“We have the impulse to resist evil, but through faith permission is granted to inflict it. We step beyond the believers mindset; not content for their own sake, but like a dangerous meme is spread. Not out of genuine concern, but religious mimicry”.

Extended Phenotypes

Genetically predisposed to do something useful, the beaver naturally builds a dam with no training from its specie. Some of the ingenuity is quite amazing, being copied in principle by human engineers and hydrologists.

Birds also build nests operating automática with no training required, it’s hardwired and as natural as eating.

Humans build shelters too, and take notice when it is lacking. “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” Luke 9:58

So what is it that humans naturally do, or even usefully tend to with no training? What are we programmed to do?

Through the course of religion we have been trained to wait, to believe empty promises that have yet to come to fruition. To ignore what we see, in favor of words. To propagate wishes as truth, and most importantly, place more importance on what we don’t know than what we do. Maybe we don’t know anything, and that’s the problem.

In a recent study interviewing patients in palliative care, the number one regret was what they worried about when life was good. Humans like to worry—though we all know the uselessness of it so we nobly call it concern, then live a life fighting back nature vs accepting things as they are, infighting our lives away over two false premises—out of worry panted by another.

Left or right, or which religion most closely aligns with what I’ve been conditioned to believe—then fight for it, all distractions from being you, which when we finally learn to do it, is pretty awesome all in itself.

“Man, sometimes it takes a long time to sound like yourself”—Miles Davis

Anosognosia and Religious Certainty

Anosognosia is a neurological deficit in self-awareness, a condition in which a person with a disability is unaware or in denial of its existence. This disability we are addressing today is belief—regarded as personal achievement or a high mental destination, where “I believe” has become the pinnacle of religious thought. But what is belief other than a set of imaginations that have been carefully honed to pacify existence? There’s no substance to it at all.

Scientific beliefs are corroborated, falsified, tested and reviewed, then applied to produce a result or technology (we have satellites in orbit with these ideas) that actually produces something.

Religious beliefs are simply compared imaginations with other hopefuls for the mere sake of believing. And today, religious belief of any kind (even strictly opposing views) are respected for the simple fact they believe something, or anything at all. Certainly any belief is more worthy than unbelief—at least they have a chance, right?

Yet, belief is nothing more than a set of ideas that may sound really neat (or morbid) but is simply wishful thinking—assigning it some strange importance that will outwit nature does not make it real. But, we’re sticking to it against all reason, turning the mere idea into defensive pride, renaming it faith (which is the arrival at what?) all the while these fascinations do nothing to transcend humanity from this long monotheistic stall.

“Anosognosia is a lack of ability to perceive the realities of one’s own situation. It’s a person’s inability to accept that they have a condition that matches up with their symptoms“ (1) These religious beliefs occur despite significant lack of evidence or the predicted outcomes.

“Go to, thy faith hath dug you a hole”.

Note On My Old God

If the ultimate, monotheistic plural god of Abraham doesn’t exist, would that mean none of the others do either?

As a believer I was so used to discrediting the other gods for so long (way to easy) I never bothered to look into them. I suppose I don’t know enough about them to believe in them, but do I know enough about them to not? Can you not believe in something you’ve never invested?

For now I’ve just let it all go. No chasing belief or fine tuning incredible imaginations to disguise my final destination. It’s really out of my hands. The Christians already control the cosmos with their prayers anyway, so what am I going to do?

“Belief is meant as a temporary waypoint to prove a premise, not a destination in itself”

How did belief become a virtue (rhetorical question) anyway? It is a worthless position of pride faith clinging to someone else’s hopeful imaginations with an argument. It’s all quite ridiculous, really.

“We will never progress as a society until we overcome belief mode and transcend the neurological trappings of faith”.

Reincarnation—Uh, Thanks but No Thanks?

After another round of worthless debate, my criticism of faith is now considered a belief system. I disagree, but I do need a belief to counter the destructive belief of modern monotheism. Forced to unbelief by the non-results of Christianity—I am a believer it has wasted years of peoples lives.

I went to town today to pick up some supplies. Everyone is in a hurry, to and fro like a street corner hooker trying to buy a moment of happiness. Traffic was a disaster and nobody smiling. Where is the happiness in America?

Speaking to my wife on the way home today about reincarnation—after looking at the still growing population and the stressful, non stop anxiety of colonialism, if reincarnation is real, I think I’ll just pass on it next time around—unless I could maybe go back in time.

Aphorisms on Faith

Faith is an attachment to formative persuasions—an idea anchored by self doubt initiated by that same persuasion.

Faith is being directed into contemplating an idea, simply from hearing the questions.

Faith is pride in self deprecated belief absent of independent thought.

Faith is a solidified by the hormonal response, comforting human insecurity and the propensity to be easily deceived.

Faith is a comforting hope that elevates esteem without intellect.

With faith we build barriers between exaggerated reaction syndrome and acceptance. It allows us to blend rather than confronted with raised eyebrows—A state of beliefing though verbal and superficial physical obeisance. The idea of obedience supplants behavior.

Faith is merely stubborn pride repackaged as a virtue. Thought convictions played on insecurity without substance. Really nothing to fight over, but since beliefs are now the pinnacle of human intellect, challenging belief has become an affront to character.

Faith is a tightly held imagination your hope is true—then defending that right to hope with an argument.

Faith is what you resort to when you can’t reason your beliefs.

Faith is a state of mind that allows mediocrity to supplant achievement.

Faith is the result of fusing human limitations into cultural mediocrity. Since there is nothing a believer can do to un-fall this fallen world. Acquiescence defaults to hope.

Transcending belief mode and its limitations will be the key saving humanity. Faith allows the world to end on hope where action is needed.

By choosing a prearranged faith, dogma substitutes authenticity with platitudes.

Faith in your belief turns hope into intellectual and spiritual starvation.

Faith is the evidenced in human stagnation—clinging to the past and the failure to live in self confidence

Mule stables, Fort Spokane—1880

Promises Promises

His covenant was to be everlasting, and they should possess forever the country he should give them. Now it is plain these promises never were realized.

They have never been fulfilled concerning the great blessings with which they were to be favored. For although they won a few small victories over some poor nations whom they plundered, this did not prevent them from being conquered and reduced to servitude, their kingdom destroyed as well as their nation.

And now the remainder of this unfortunate nation is looked upon as the vilest and most contemptible of all the earth, having no country, no dominion, no superiority. Finally these promises have not been fulfilled in respect to this everlasting covenant which God want to have for filled to them because we do not see now nor have we ever seen any evidence this covenant has been fulfilled. On the contrary they have been for many centuries excluded from the possession of the small country they pretended God had promised that they should enjoy forever—Voltaire

Now it is propped up by the United States. Like all of Christianity is propped and joined with governments, for it cannot stand on its own merits. The one foreign domain ignorant enough to believe the imposters who feigned to be prophets and who, in order to more easily deceive the ignorant and simple minded, boasted of acting and speaking by the Spirit of God. The saddest part about believing in a god as the head of your nation—living conceited while vastly overestimating your greatness. Boasting the power of a god who requires the wealth and missile systems of another country to enforce its scripture.

The ritual heritage that we are so fond of it in detail descends from animal sacrifice, colored clothing, blood, livers, bird crops, and kidneys. Animal skins, dung, smoke, foreskins and certain measures of oil with wine—the whole being offered and infected by dirty ceremonies as filthy and contemptible as the most extravagant performances of magic.

The Art Of Theism

Theism abuses ideas to promote their own source of validation by degrading all of humanity—breaking them to the lowest level of creature vs lifting them up.

Theism is the ultimate display of pride in self doubt—only through faith can you be whole, which is pure rubbish.

Theism writes disingenuous attempts to promote the will of a deity they readily admit escapes comprehension.

Theism promotes faith so humans fail to act of their own accord—waiting for guidance when deep down they already know what to do, lacking confidence because of the same faith.

Theism persuades men to condemn other men for their genetics and lack of Jesus in their culture.

Theism demonstrates mans ability to dismiss pure reason to pacify insecurity.

Theism teaches faith in god (the ultimate idol) which is merely a substitute for our own achievement and effort—reality teaches us there’s nothing like finding contentment through doing something for yourself and achieving self worth through accomplishment.

Theism is the ability to nurture pretending, believing, and hope, into an honor, resorting to faith when you can’t reason your belief

Theism has constructed a god that requires us to wait for reward—convincing believers that true peace is after life and conjures one to waiting instead of making it so now.

Theism is to abuse faith—a temporary principle of discovery by making it the pinnacle of achievement.

Theism is the arrival at nothing; mere thought convictions without substance or positive results. How long does an idea deserve to meet its objectives?

Theism is the ability to dismiss hard evidence of historically poor outcomes by believing that it’s convictions are not the cause of the outcome (but everywhere it planted it’s flag, cruelty followed)

The strongest of faith cannot endure once we know truth, but is then often secured by pretending and group pressure. Faith however, cannot exist with the slightest amount of proof. It is imperative there is no proof. Proof would not destroy religion, but it would kill faith and it’s ill affect on the human race.

Theism is a way of challenging death…while still dying.

Theism is a way of assigning meaning to random chaos, blaming a devil for the ills in the world then punishing those that don’t believe that—for merely a different thought.

Theism attempts to use reason to explain belief by clinging to traditions molded before reading was common.

Theism embraces the thought that humans are incapable and justify misplaced devotion to imagination. Humans are actually pretty awesome. But by belief they can be persuaded to do the unthinkable.

Theism rewards mere thought conviction and words as something of substance and will punish those that don’t have them.

Theists practice the art of exaggerated importance. Honoring strong faith (which is simply stubborn pride) stemming from a challenge in reverse psychology. Who can claim belief most earnestly in the face of knowledge reaches the pinnacle of faith.

Initiation Mythology—A Rite of Passage

Abrahamic mythology has raised a barrier to western progress and thought the past two thousand years. It’s a truly despicable way to think about things—convincing much of the world that they are unworthy, incapable, and merely orphans created out of nothing with no mother, and no true father either—but by adoption we can be tolerated (for how long nobody knows (insert platitudes* here) but god, who can do nothing wrong in his wrongs.

It is only by grace we are allowed to slog around as incompetent creations of clay, owing our very existence to the father who created us. We deserve to be punished at any and every moment, and the only reason it hasn’t happened yet is the kings guess. He has but one son who is the object of his affection, while the rest of us grovel prostrated in front before him—born guilty and on constant probation with his watchful eye never resting it’s intrusive gaze.

That barrier requires us to crawl to it, to obey ourselves into gods good grace. We owe him everything, primarily because he created us out of nothing, and without him we may not exist at all. You owe him and are forever in debt, and are to thank and praise him no matter how dismal the circumstance.

The test is not to believe and submit as they have us believe, that is done most automatically, deceived from birth to death—we are all under the rule of the collective minds that go nowhere as a people but round—forever postulating and dissipating our spent energies back into the cosmos. The test is to not only not believe it, but also to transcend its limitations—it’s influence, and become a contributor. The first step is unbelief. There is an entirely positive way of seeing the world and humanity, but we have to earn our independence because we deserve it, not because it’s been handed to us.

Paul, if anything, was as a guru placing a test—a barrier in front of the people as a rite of passage. Presenting a circuitous, seemingly unsolvable conundrum before humanity as a means of control until they are ready for the next level.

*platitude/ pladəˌt(y)o͞od/ a remark or statement, especially one with a moral content, that has been used too often to be interesting or thoughtful.—Enter religion…

The Transmission of Faith—Now What?

Imagine a moment I’m projecting my consciousness on you—there, that was easy.

That is the beauty of religious belief. It takes no effort nor academic discipline, but is lauded as type of high achievement. Belief was never intended as an end-point, but a proving ground, a temporary waypoint to truth. We test our theories and improve them, retest and share them, accept criticism and hone our hypothesis into a working physical model that creates actual things—results.

Resting on belief we find there is nothing to do, no equations to solve, no advances in the general knowledge of humanity, so we take to the road and teach the technique on others—and believe harder, like concentrating on it could bend a spoon. Dreamy philosophies of heaven and celebrated archaic battles in hairsplitting, immoral grandeur.

It is not natural to believe in god. How many have found god having never been persuaded, presented, or indoctrinated by another mere mortal? The true wonder of nature hits us the first time our toes touch the grass as a child. It’s real and you know it! That wonderful mystery spawns curiosities and appreciation all on its own. Through beliefs we quickly quell the desire for discovery, resting on our smug fat butts with a specially tailored shortcut to never knowing anything—Faith

Like a kid that found his dads hatchet, what are we to do with all this free time? What else is there to do but injure yourself and everything around you? And thinking about thinking about belief. Whoa! That’s deep!

Real Faith—The Faith of an Atheist

It is not about the science. Atheism is the ultimate expression of faith—letting go of the idols of gods with complete confidence in the central mystery—we are the midst of it, swimming in it and completely surrounded. We are It. How else would you know but that it is so central as our being we cannot consciously recognize it.

“Atheism in the informal sense is a profoundly religious attitude. An attitude in life of total trust of letting go. When we form images of god they are all really exhibitions of our lack of faith—something to hold on to, something to grasp.

When we don’t grasp we have the attitude of faith. If you let go of all the idols of faith you will of course discover that what this unknown is precisely, the foundation of the universe, which is precisely you.

It is not the you you think you are (it is not your opinion of yourself) it is not your idea or image of yourself, it is not the chronic sense of muscular strain which we usually call “I” You can’t grasp it, of course not, why would you need to? Suppose you could, what would you do with it? You could never get at it!”.

And so there is the profound central mystery of the attitude of faith—to stop chasing it, to stop grabbing it. Because if that happens the most amazing things follow. All these ideas of the spiritual, the godly as this attitude of “must“—”And we have laid down the laws which we are all bound to follow“. This is not the only way of being religious and relating to the inefable mystery that underlies ourselves in the world—you.

“If we cling to belief in God, we cannot likewise have faith, since faith is not clinging but letting go“—Alan Watts

Physics and philosophy are converging into what is, while religion, the restrictive band (the choke point) is digging another ancient foothold to maintain control through fear and deprecation—

A-theism—Order of Operations Explained

Matt—Atheism can’t exist without theism. You can’t deny a God who doesn’t exist. Therefore, atheism is proof of God.

Me—Atheism is actually proof the writers were wrong. Man can be tempted more than he can bear. And BTW, atheism precedes theism so your argument is fallacious. I only learned I was a worthless sinner and needed god from missionaries telling me so. I was born atheist.

Mattie—A- is a prefix to theism, it modifies it to mean the opposite.
Therefore A-theism can’t exist without theism.
Learn how words work.

Me—The word theist may precede the word atheist, nothing more. Theists that criticize the limitations of speech lack common sense (faith again). You have no argument. I was born atheist as you were. You just take the bait—I don’t. Wordsmithing doesn’t change the order of operations.

Mattie—If you were born an atheist why does God bother you so much?

Me—There is no god to bother me. Evidence however, would actually kill faith. You still have faith, therefore you have no evidence. Truth 1:3

Matt—Dude, we just reconciled the Bible with ALL physical evidence and empirical observations. I hope the hole in the sand where you keep your head is comfortable.

Me—I’m quite comfortable watching you unwind.

Matt—That’s called whining.
Your desperation is palpable.

After losing on the word atheist he quickly came unwound to insults. His site is fringful wishes to prove the Bible through science. Might be interesting if the hate and ignorance wasn’t so “palpable”. Cheap entertainment if you have a moment.

Careful to engage, it gets ugly fast. Put colorstorm and branyan together in a bottle of steroids on LSD and voilet! But you can judge for yourself (unless you’ve already submitted your brain to god)

moon after sunset

Want to Believe

“Humanity desires belief and will sacrifice good sense to get one“—then pay dearly for the ability to hope and pass the litmus test—to have enough belief to be saved.

They pay with their wallets, of course, but what is the real price of fervent belief in ideas that fantasticize spiritual meaning?

Subterfuge—”deceit in order to achieve one’s goals“. Shortcuts to meaning are impossible to produce the desired results—Settling for meaning by way of fear is diminished capacity—through belief we can ignore our deficiencies for third party recompense.

Turn-key, prepackaged, big-box religion has an interesting, if not completely arrogant approach, using subterfuge to present group enlightenment and personal salvation while shortchanging the creature. Firstly, exacting guilt where there is none, chopping humanity down only to notch it back to an average, mediocre, lifetime dependency.

If I believe Jesus is savior and son of god, I can be saved. If I don’t believe this version from lack of evidence and consistency I will be damned to eternal torment—so basically handwaving contradictions and errant outcomes are tests of faith that must become a way of life to keep your senses. Who would present such a far-fetched and cruel story and believe god is good, merciful, kind, and love?

“The truth will set you free“, not belief, not faith. The key to discovering truth is unbelief, for by it we reject incongruity without adhering to systems that stifle our ability to see the world for what it is.

By submitting to belief our journey is carefully guided down the path of mediocrity. The current state of affairs is the objective reality of subjective faith.

Shouldn’t Truth Unite?

“Truth always divides due to the existence of lies. I fear and reverence God. I also love Him more than life itself. If you sought Jesus Christ through His Word and prayer with as much fervor as you use to argue and debate His non-existence then you would see the reality that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life“—tjcole

If truth divides and not beliefs, why are Muslims fighting Buddhist and Christians fighting Christians, all jockeying for the perfect wording to prove their truth—and killing for it too? Real truth is easily identified because it is universal (we find these truths to be self evident) They don’t require dogmas.
Like, if all men are created equal, that is final. If they are endowed with inalienable rights, that is final. Nothing of a religious doctrine should suppress one group over their genetics. Christianity is a walking contradiction when it comes to human issues.

Picking real cherries does not make me a Christian…

The Great Potential of Humanity

Religions, no matter how absurd are protected by law because they cannot stand on their own merits. This buffer allows absurdity to be honored as a virtue.

Religion has at every age kept the human mind in darkness and held it in ignorance of its true relations, of its real duties, and it’s true interests. It is but in removing its clouds and phantoms that we may find the source of truth, reason, morality, and the actual motives which inspire virtue—Jean Messlier 1704

What are the true interests of humanity and, what’s stopping us?

Foundationally wrong, religion nurtures self doubt. You are not “worthy to loosen his shoe” and but a vile sinner from birth, but ONLY through belief in Him? Without god you are nothing? I completely disagree. That is not the path my friends. The human being is quite possibly the most versatile and creative creature of all time. Misguided in this phase of belief, but by unbelief can “put away childish things” such as faith in a god that has yet to meet its objectives.

Man has proven quite capable, even dragging along the dead weight we’ve accomplished great things. Imagine if we all embraced discovery? Imagine if we truly loved our neighbor and collaborated in an honest reality? We are quite capable of taking care of ourselves. Man has proven quite resilient with his teaspoon of dust and sprinkling of consciousness, in spite of the extra baggage. We have the capacity to unite and become incredible, but it will never come by way of religious belief. They had their shot.

Contradiction—Enduring Faith

In a nutshell, the less you believe in Christianity, the more likely you are able to understand it. The ability to handwave and justify contradictions is erased by unbelief. That is a big plus towards a firmer reality. We’re not talking one or two contradictions, but a massive patchwork—it’s thematic

In pharmacology there are statistically not eight prescription medicines you can take without drug interaction—basically at that point, taking medication to treat side effects of medication.

Christianity’s circuitous contradictions are so frequent, they now use contradictions to explain the contradictions.

Only through unbelief can we see that this is the great mystery of the kingdom—how does he get us to do that?

This is exactly what happens when you concoct a story without thinking it through. It may sound convincing at first, but as we peel back the layers they have to add another. Today we have no other institution on earth so grand where built-in redundancy is another million volumes of contradictory explanations—per year!

Diabla cooling off after a long run up the mountain.

Believing in Faith vs Practicing Beliefs

Religious believers of every fashion you can imagine cover the globe in a philosophical, often self-satisfied smugness—that the believer actually knows something. I would prefer they start using the term, “embracing ideas”, since the stigma associated with the words “faith”, or “belief” connotes too much religious autocracy. Having a personal relationship with a supernatural god you can’t comprehend, see, touch, even imagine, also just sounds so…crazy. Ok? But I hear it’s worth it…only later.

Embracing a good idea, relieves one of the burden of delusional psychopathy, may actually calm personal nerves, reduce anxieties, defeat self depreciation, and promote good behavior. Regardless of this new trend (as of now) faith and belief are terms that should be absorbed back into the cosmos, stricken from the record.

That’s an idea I can embrace, espouse, grasp, and hold on to—without faith hijacking the conversation with a damaging, self-imported debasement that is no longer useful. Belief is not an honorable trait, nor is faith worthy of accolades. It’s simply a decision, a conviction of thought in one’s own weakness to believe in something that is not around to help.

Thought Convictions—We Believe

Parroting religious commentaries as a expression of faith is matter of lazy economics—what would you do or think if nobody told you what you believe? “We believe” is the easy road well traveled.

Fostering the thoughts of other believers “we believe” in the attempt to justify the harmful outcomes of the gospel message, biblical immorality and contradictions of scripture is a cheap attachment to faith—the easy-economy of thought transfer to a faith that was inculcated by the same source that details what “we”, the group believes.

We believe what you truly know of faith can only come from your own observations, not lifting quotes and cleverly worded circuitism from the concept of religion from those that have a vested interest in your belief. The true measure of faith can only be viewed through a lens of unbelief—the third party observer. To an unbeliever it’s quite obvious the whole setup is a scam. Tis a fact. Not from the group mantra of “we believe”, but in–spite of your indoctrination can you openly measure the worth of an idea—and in spite of your groups stimulated dopaminergic machinations.

We believe one can’t simultaneously believe the wordy coercions of others and objectively evaluate who god is, or even who they really are. At that point we believe you have effectively allowed the persuasion of others to hijack the person you will now never come to know outside the influence of the herd. The same herd that will betray you the moment you desist believing the way they do.

What you or anyone else decides we believe, doesn’t change it into a truth. Mimicking popular sayings and catchy phrases should actually be a trigger warning your mind has been hijacked.

Challenging ones belief stimulates their fight or flight, solely for the arguments sake is belief defended. It has no substance but a hope. Challenging someone’s hope puts fear and adrenaline in overdrive.

Belief is not even that important to mankind, but it cannot be helped. Many hate the fact they are tied to it.

Even after the onset of unbelief the doctrine lingers against your will.

I attended seminary four years so someone could teach me what to believe—then I became the teacher, letting other young minds know what they believe.

They were all as I, in it to win it for the parents sake, for their lack of faith and their constant prayers that a child might believe what they believe. That weirdness all seems like a lifetime ago.

A Good Verse

With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who have been made in God’s likeness“. James 3:9

This could be a scripture about jealousy, but it’s not favored that way among believers. If you want to know the best part about being a god, look to those who the writers curse. The nature of those most like god—it is those that make their own ideas and choose for themselves how they will live, then live well beyond the framing limits of religious obedience.

We are despised for charting our own path. We are despised for plucking off the fruit of knowledge. Dogmas are meant to service those that rely on others for guidance and inspiration. This is quite offensive to James who believed everyone should have to have their brain sucked out through intangible thought convictions—through faith and submission.

Ruminating on Belief—

Belief holds only a temporary benefit until a premise has been proven, not a goal in itself—when do we move on?

Understanding your human nature is an important key to resisting the patterns that sustain anchoring bias—that deep tendency to adhere to the first information acquired on any given subject. Ruminating that first morsel—a lifetime of informational cud chewing. How hard is it to change what you’ve been taught in ignorance of the subject, then believed? It takes a miracle, but let’s face it, in those first moments of exposure we’re all ignorant—and gullible to the authority, whether it be parents, professors, or pastors.

Then comes the backfire effect, a near universal, automatic reaction to repudiating evidence of your mere faith, which strengthens your beliefs in spite of better solutions—digging in, protecting those little nuggets wrapped up in your skull when new ideas or evidence is counter to what you believe. Norepinephrine is released in the brain when facts are presented counter to what we believe, creating a fight or flight (or stubbornness) to adopt new information. Religions grow from this stubbornness of human hormones and hardwiring.

Take Darwin for example; He himself was attuned to this phenomenon and lamented his discovery, struggling to procede openly with the Origin of Species because of the effect it would have on everything and everyone he knew—very aware that the reception his evidence would bring a fight.

No matter the spiritual belief, people take great comfort in what they already understand—even if it is a garbled mess to everyone else. Replaying their same old themes—reruns that are familiar and predictable. In today’s world we have to adapt quickly to keep up with technology, processes, and the devices. But belief is a special carrot, hampering progress with archaic, inerrant faith—the comfort zone, the one tool of the devil that keeps you enslaved to your biggest weakness—that overburdened ability to believe what you are initially told, even when it’s obvious it isn’t true.

Just believe. Convincing your mental self by answering your own prayers (you know that talking to yourself thing where you reason away your own mind) and making excuses for the writers inadequacies and failed promises.

Give up and let god? That is the literal example of human damnation—Abrahamic religions ability to stop the flow of actual growth and progress through mandated belief (then we defend it out of hormonal response).

Our perceptions are much more faulty than accurate. It’s no wonder the majority of the world believes something that can’t be seen, measured, or heard—craving that super hero to comfort their struggles—simply because they were told one exists and we are obligated to say yes to a fault.

Faith is pretending not to trust your poor judgement—which is using your own poor judgement to allow someone else to chose your path for you. Understanding your physiology is the key to moving on.

Having the Need to Believe—Breaking the Faith Trap

Religion—only valid for those with emotional/physical needs and of course, those who desire status and dispense it. But for people normally adjusted and naturally content—the confident, it holds no truth at all. Need itself makes religion real, then, obligation perpetuates it long after confidence is restored by the group and belief refrains its senses. Those who need it cannot understand how a meaningful life can exist without it. Them that seek out religion due to overwhelming cultural pressure but don’t need it, continue to search from church to church, finally finding their way in the fringes of belief in their own, underwhelming way. It can be uncomfortable for a species expected to believe in something—to not believe in anything at all. Humans generally will believe nearly anything, so belief of any kind is more culturally acceptable than non-belief.

Christianity is now adamant is has the answers to life’s questions—questions they readily admit they have no answer for. Now relegated to god-opting scientific claims and ultimatums with no proof—but convinced we must join with them to have wisdom from a god they cannot know nor comprehend.

Christianity’s use of the endocrine system to manipulate feelings along with the subtle nuances of human neurology, perception, and need—into an almighty god whose opiums for the masses conjures naivety. The organizations that offer you hope dispenses the drug. Addiction is now propagated by a meaningless entity, no longer relevant to the whole.

How much time do we honor belief—the mere agreeance to an unfounded idea? How long shall faith be revered and cultivated as a quality, celebrating ignorance by claiming mere belief as sacred?

You are the meaning. Holding on to purpose through religion only leaves you conceited with a surety that shortchanges discovery. Your true escape from the doldrum of life naturally comes by way of accomplishment. Accomplishment that is thwarted in reliving the ills of perpetual worthlessness week after week, year after year. We have the ability to create a more meaningful existence than anyone can do for us. But those confronted with poor conditions of existence look for anything transcendent to make lives worthwhile.

Now the religion that gave people hope in their once hopeless situation has become a generational crutch, self serving its own existence in spite of the fact that it’s people have moved on.

The unproven idea of a savior is truly relegated to a set of neurons and thought. No physical change has been made, but thought is the key—and the proof that the power is generated—then manifest in and by you.

An honest religion would counsel you to leave it behind when it’s objective is met, empowering you to live your own meaningful existence on your terms. Religion is only true until you’ve found your worth and no longer need it, but they would never admit that.

Tokens for Faith—The Carnelian

Beset the shifting, sliding darkness my seer-stone has been polished smooth by the friction of my cotton-lined pocket—and the relentless downward stroke of my thumb. She has traveled the years of my world idly doing her fortuitous task, tirelessly emitting it’s magical energies to guide—to protect and strengthen me. All the proof needed? I am still here, alive against many odds. It’s a miracle in true aggregate. The once rough, slightly chiseled edges are now smooth and pearly soft as it has molded me all these years to gradually be its equal—and solid.

Find a quiet stream-

Resting nicely on its banks-

Casting woes and stones- ©

While skimming rocks across the deep current one stone must always remain—partnered in my right pocket never to take flight. It alone guards me with a curious protection and wisdom only known to those who understand such things. My belief is proof, trued to me and secured these 50+ years—The carnelian, a mixture of silicas, chalcedony, and impurities of iron oxide combine to protect me from negative energies of the universe and give me power. In spite if its bloody tone it allows me to see things. My thoughts and ideas I credit to her, for out of nowhere they arise without explanation.

Fearing the day I feel to find it missing—frisking for its whereabouts will be a day of anxiety, tragedy, and despair swiftly leading to my misfortune (it’s happened, believe me) Although life has dealt me twists and turns of affliction, how much worse might things have been without her? I will carry her to the next world in my ashes.

Today I am home with the winter sun-beam reflecting, blinding, snow-white as my carnelian (or possibly I am hers) recharges in the window sill. Winters are hard to rejuvenate its magic, but as luck would have it, today was a brilliant time to be home. She sits collecting cosmic energies in a metal bucket of sage and lavender, primed by the radiant sun to guide me another day, or week. Then, by the light of the nights full moon, the transference and cleansing completes the cycle. A Full Moon can clear a crystal’s negative energy and recharge the positive energies it holds, with the right intentions, of course. I won’t leave home without it.

—Carnelian crystal represents the hot cauldron of the lower three chakras. It’s associated with taking bold action with its fiery spirit that stimulates the root chakra, helping circulate vital energy to your center, which contains your deepest sexual desires and powerful creative instincts. Whenever you’re called on to perform, carnelian will embolden your abilities.

Is it this belief in things that makes us bold, or a weakness that empowers humans to accept chance as its guide through faith? The evidence in the power of the carnelian (or any other proper mineral) surpasses all modern religious dogma. Esoteric and divining crystals, white magic, oracles, witchcraft, shamanism, reiki—curanderos more valid than the religious options of the day. In reality the power is in ourselves. Believing strength comes through other sources may be easier to accept than self empowerment. That means personal responsibility.

Think about that, while I go consult the bones…

Mere unBelief—The Most Heinous Sin

Simply believe the abstruse and become a trusted member of society. The fact that one does not believe “the story” turns them an immoral criminal with shifting values, no? Worse—simple unbelief is the grossest of moral crimes and self decay.

Meanwhile, belief in something not seen—ever, in prayers answered—never, and confessing allegiance to a cause that has failed its objectives—forever, is the highly honored tradition. Am I missing something here?

Yesterday I realized how wrong I must be when Ryan (Dolphinwrites) stated “to prove a point is not as important as really seeking” This is like warming yourself by thinking about a fire, sunning your mental self from the dungeon of faith by an imagined beach, where thoughts are only valued by belief in ideas that have never grown the body of Christ to fruition—ever!

Each dream of fulfillment dying at the last breath of life never to be realized—consummation zero, with bliss the dying wish of every faithful—but to seek is the important part—and it must be a search within the defined parameters of religion to be of value. How has this become the gold standard of honor? Oh how the easy and absurd has become the respectable, the permissible, where foolish is the pinnacle of promise.

Pick any religious system of any kind—and it is belief that is respected and protected, while evidence be dammed and agendized—with belief nigh unto death erasing the checkered past and offers love and acceptance by the believers themselves, while mere unbelief of the decent is a ripening for hell.

Perceptions In Reality—A Walk on the Beach

Competition amongst the gods we imagine leaves an ominous gap in interpretation of existence, nature, and purpose.

Join me along the pier for a quiet mid-week stroll. See the snow-capped mountains in the distance while the gentle waves lap against the pilings. Feel the warmth of the sun washing ashore in a whispering, summery breeze, watching an orca, otter, and bottle-nose dolphin frolicking around a piece of large, weathered driftwood. One might call this a spiritual experience. I may say—god is magnificent; or, the creator certainly knew what he was doing, perhaps, pleased with his creation. We could all agree that together, we saw all those things and experienced them in an emotional, or inspirational way. Beauty is a stimulant that we all appreciate. It stimulates our senses (and hormones) while rendering thoughts of contentment. One thing we would all concede in our discussion is we saw a whale, a dolphin, an otter, and breathtaking scenery.

A discussion might follow; god is great, the master creator, followed by nature is amazing—obviously the god of love made this for us—while the scientist mind may imagine eons of selfish genes, double helixes, cataclysms, and the intricacies of diverse life that evolved from the primordial ooze over millions of centuries in different ecosystems and evolutions.

One of these ideas can be proven.

At once, without warning, the whale thrashes the otter into pieces, shaking it violently, tossing it high above the surf, then swallows it nearly whole.

The excitement stimulates the immediate ecology, and a passing salmon is chomped and swallowed without chewing by the dolphin. Reason would immediately favor the scientist. The religious could then pull-start their apologetic motors whirling about higher purposes, the ways of god are mysterious, or god knows best.

The facts suggest that differing neurologies and experiences create vastly different interpretations and perceptions of everything we view. All of us are different, and that is obvious we create our own belief. Some desire a creator (or succumb to the idea) from their training and influence, then manufacture an ideal that suits their purpose, adding personal touches to make sense of the senseless.

Each congregation has as many beliefs as there are people. Take away the churches, and the same would be true. It is you—not god that has generates purpose. I create my own—the believer inherits purpose through conformity and lives a life of pseudo-reality—by choice. And the evidence that shows how hard it is to escape your past indoctrinations.

The Modern Lucy—Ancient Survival Manipulated

Peering carefully, cautiously behind every corner…slowly, quietly, intently approaching every closet, while maginations hide under every bed—every time, chills of air send pilos erect, pupils dilate, blood pressures rise. Skin sensitivity doubles…with caution…ready to flee, or to fight, only to hide in worry another night. After arranging the room carefully—so no objects come alive in their darkened states, can a moment of peace descend dreary into sleep.

Why is this acute imagery laying in wait, alive beround every corner? Where did all this ritual come from? Survival. Who is it that survived the ages to become us? Where did we arrive to this overdeveloped sense, particularly at night?

It is this inherent caution, this fear, that is easily manipulated by religion. Playing on millions of years of survival instinct, the preacher paints a picture of a loving father figure to protect you from evil. If you can only imagine…just a bit more

Since the industrial revolution and the formation of modern survival, we have leaped beyond our multi-generational evolution. Changes that took 100’s of thousands of years are now shoehorned into a century. The preachers gold is our lumbering evolution. Fear is still a best seller…

Feeding Turkeys—A Model in Proselytizing

“Long awaited news presses against the nervous silence of worry—to know is better than to guess, to believe is more folly than friend, for the tidings of faith piques naivetés vice—belief has no boundary nor moral”

Winters are pretty hard for the wildlife here on the mountain, so we feed the turkeys and the deer—just enough to get them by. On occasion a lone turkey comes looking for whatever they can find, but when I throw out some bread, they immediately calls all their buddies—sounding their turkey food bell and in comes the rafter. They then spend their time fighting over the purported good news…”the wintery wheat and rye appears like manna on the crusted snow” I guess they just can’t help themselves. It’s natural. The biggest difference I see between turkeys and Christianity—the bread turkeys fight over actually has a health benefit—not the poisoning, cankerous imaginary bread infecting the planet. The ‘bread of life’ is to embrace willful ignorance. Whole wheat is much less circuitous and boring.

How Belief Underperforms

I am curious to know how the universe happened, I’m just not convinced—in any way it was a who that made it happen—therefore there is no why it all happened. Once you realize there is no god, the simplicity of life brings peace—and how it all happened loses its urgency. Although I am quite curious and will someday have more answers, I’ll wait rather than believe in a god to simply satisfy an impatience to want answers with no effort, then act like I found something special by being controlled by a plug-n-play corporate religion. “I believe” is a foolish notion lacking quality of character and discipline. How does this happen?

Sales 101 plays on the trusting, gullible mind of the human. Controlling the conversation is as easy as asking a question, then filling the psyche with so many bullshit points that the ill-prepared are not prepared to answer. Ray Comfort uses this technique on natural atheists in his exposé videos. How come the banana man never asks one of us?

What I Believe—

I believe that mere belief without evidence has been unjustly elevated to the gold-standard of ones knowledge and character.

I see intense belief in anything is a seedbed of tribalism—

That belief undermines real academics and embraces mediocrity.

I know when belief is required to be part of group, the group will betray you over unbelief.

I’ve observed and experienced the key to understanding the mysteries™️ is unbelief.

I understand the universe is a diverse array of energies and dimensions where some people are attuned more so than others to it.

I believe the foibles of human neurology, perception, and bias need to be understood at a grade school level to promote tolerance of difference and friendship—all of us!

I notice that religious beliefs need to be protected by law because they cannot stand on their own merits.

I observe herd instinct, peer pressure, indoctrination, and impatience supplants reason.

I believe the ability to hand-wave contradiction and fallacy hardwires neurons through repetition and submission. The problem is now in the physiology.

I believe faith should never be the end-goal of intellectual achievement.

I found that submitting your will to belief in god/allah, or any other godform disempowers the best part of human nature, delays intellectual advancement and personal achievement.

I would wager belief should never be intended as a solution and should be the least respected of all professions.

I believe that mans impatience has allowed him to be conned by men of self importance. Now the prisoners drive the ship.

I think that humanity is much older than we realize, that man has appeared on the scene several times in multiple generations of geologic time—things are much stranger in the past than we realize. We are much more capable than we realize too.

I believe that any belief should be able to provide some empirical data, and transition from belief to pure knowledge in a reasonable amount of time.

I’ve observed that big box religion and one-size-fits-all dogmas are inadequate to provide the needs of nearly 8billion differing physiologies—evidenced by each member choosing for himself the parts of morality and teaching (s)he already knows.

I believe people’s beliefs are merely hunches, feelings, intuitions—guesses, if you will, they’ll divide their families and friends over. I also believe that is immoral.

I believe coffee was the second greatest product of plant evolution.

Ten Reasons To Question Belief—In Anything

A lot has been said here over the past year. 352 posts and over 13,000 comments (thank you) since this all started. I have learned a lot from all of you ‘common atheists’, and that was my goal; To find the truth, not be told what to believe. To share with you all what I’ve learned, not what I’ve been schooled by professionals with a stake in it. With deeper understanding comes change, and with that change I’ve learned that exposing the blatant inadequacy of religion and the faith/belief numbing that has enveloped the human family is built on ten psycho-neuro premises. There are more, but these will do to persuade any reasonable person of the gullibility and delicate nature of human neurology and perceptions of truth.

We have traveled but a short distance in a great journey. We have honed our skills and perfected reason beyond the walls of religion. We have hammered on the fallacy of faith, fallibility of scripture, where it comes from, how it starts—the tricks of the preachers trade—while the duped are now running the con, and against all reason by way of contradiction, it’s a societal expectation…to believe. Why? What is the pressure inside most everybody to rush to believe—anything!

But, it is with little understanding of their own condition that they perpetuate the hoax on the unsuspecting gullibles, newborns, children, adults taking sides, and those human-herd tendencies that condition us to follow. To fit-in to a group based on belief that will turn on us over mere unbelief. It’s borderline c.r.a.z.y (sometimes you just gotta spell it out)

We don’t believe because we want to. We just do—everything! Always just believing what we are told (look at the success of fake news) Humans aren’t trustworthy with their own minds! Here they are in no particular order—for everyone, not just the other guy!

1. Cognitive Dissonance

2. Illusory Truth Syndrome

3. Confirmation Bias

4. Pluralistic Ignorance

5. Logical Fallacies

6. Neurotheology

7. Contradictions

8. Fear Appeal

9. Dunning-Kruger

10. Reason.

Please be aware of your own human condition, including the foibles and quirks of perception and neurology—before believing anything! (including shadow people). We can break the faith trap through awareness of humanism.

—Why Religion Fails

Positive changes in religion are slow but happening. This improved faith bolsters an all-time low attendance with a lagging morality resistive to catch up to what decent people already know. They are inching their way towards the ultimate truth—all the while holding the book of books that for centuries has held all the answers to life’s important questions—that never came to conclusion. How long shall we give it to prove it’s efficacy? 2000 more years? 3000? “Just have faith”—then, just have more faith is is approaching eons of prophetic adjustments and obvious ostriching.

Thanks to the Bible, Quran, Bhagavad Gita (and some really nifty commentary) we know how the universe was made, how man was created, how to create a self-serving excuse for a system of morality, what happens when you die, and most importantly, why—why the gods created this artificial world and subjects to worship itself with all vainglorious self-admiration—in his glory, of course.

When starting any endeavor, is it wise to start with the worst possible, violent, ambiguous, contradictory vision statement and SOP? Especially how to treat your slaves and concubines (bonus material). Today we have workers rights posted at every business. Thanks to the Bible and 2000 years of tries, we got a new morality based on the demands of mere people and unions.

Religion fails because it is designed that way. Where it succeeds is convincing you of its own importance then inspires perpetual tail-chasing, thereby stalling equality and true freedom, crippling the minds of men from doing what any three-person committee, or mom and pop could do on their own—only better.

Religion is failing because it is false. It fails because it is based on dreams, spectral evidence, pseudo-facto temporal lobe seizures and superstition. If fails because it is inceptualized by control freaks, dreams, guesses, men of words and power. It is an imagination that no longer can be rationalized as reality.

It is evidenced by vast numbers wanting to break away to try their own versions. Every single person can do it better with their own ideas of right and wrong—and that’s the way it should be.

We alone hold the power. Whatever the initial intentions were, religion is now a self perpetuating fraud. No one knows who’s started it, no one knows how to shut it down. That, is up to us too. And it will happen—bit by bit.

Born Again—Again

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.

Polemic Arrival

As a relativity new anti-godder, turning fifty years of faith into something worthwhile has been revelationary. After escaping the indoctrinations of my youth, dismissing the false integrity of faith (the ability to compartmentalize fallacy and contradiction) produced a truth—the key to understanding the mysteries is unbelief. The ultimate of which is the ability to accept a god in yonder heavens sitting on a throne, even in a supervisory role of the universe.

Compromise has become difficult in this arena. The compromise I’m able to make is between ideologies that do not involve belief—in anything. How can one such as me, with zero belief in any form of god, come to agreement on particulars of supernatural belief when all can and has been explained quite nicely by reason, logic, or one of the sciences? I cannot.

I can’t believe in Jesus just a little bit, nor Allah or one of the Hindu gods. This is an all or nothing game where accusations unfold about my anger towards god, or having sin in my life, or I just don’t understand the scripture. I do understand it quite well. Five years ago the apologists would be backslapping with my level of understanding—now, I was never a true Christian.

So now I’m a polemic. I’m not angry at the religious, because I know the trick and the psychological hold belief and faith (which are required before knowledge) but I am keenly aware of the foibles of placing and defending a value on mere belief. Belief is by its very nature supposed to be a transitional state that is supplanted by reality, not an end-game achievement. Guaranteeing the ultimate reward of eternal life by believing has shown people will believe anything attached to a prize after death. The list of incredibly duped cults is proof we are easily fooled. I believe passionately in nothing. Where is the compromise going to take place debating ambidextrous doctrines of imagination?

Photo by Arkenaten 2018

Less Belief Please—Save the Planet

“I don’t believe global warming is manmade”

“I believe the earth can take care of more than we can do to it”

“I believe when things get really bad, Jesus will return and rule in righteousness”

The latest argument I’ve seen is “volcanoes emit 100 times the amount of CO2 that humans can create” True? However, earths atmosphere is very thin. The earth is a stabilized environment based on millions of years of nature. We, and all other plant and animal life are adapted and evolved to this amount of natural pollutant in our atmosphere. Adding 1% can create catastrophic change neither us nor the planet can tolerate. Here’s a smaller sampling to illustrate.

Most organisms are very sensitive to seemingly small changes in pH. For example, in humans, arterial blood pH normally falls within the range 7.35–7.45. A drop of 0.1 pH units in human blood pH can result in rather profound health consequences, including seizures, heart arrhythmia, or even coma in a process called acidosis. The body functions in many ways to maintain homeostasis (equilibrium). On an even easier scale, a 1% rise in body temperature kills bacteria and viruses. Not too hard to think through a thousand repercussions to seemingly insignificant changes.

Since the Industrial Revolution, the global average pH of the surface ocean has decreased by 0.11, which corresponds to approximately a 30% increase in the hydrogen ion concentration (pH is logarithmic).

The life we take for granted is a very delicate balance evolved over millions of years. I believe that belief in errant beliefs is a faith based problem in the US. You don’t have the faithful or economic right to pollute the air I breath. Not even a little.

Right now we pump 2.4million pounds of CO2 per second into our atmosphere. That 38.2billion tons per year. No problem? I believe that is too much based on the data and my extensive training in physiology. And physiology is only one discipline to apply.

Just a small sampling of world cities. None of which is a manmade problem.

The Gullible Human

“It’s not that superstition and New Age so-called “beliefs” and fundamentalist zealotry are something new. They’ve been with us for as long as we’ve been human. But we [now] live in an age based on science and technology, with formidable technological powers”.

“We need a way of skeptically interrogating the universe with a fine understanding of human fallibility”.

“If we are not able to ask skeptical questions, to interrogate those who tell us that something is true, to be skeptical of those in authority, then we’re up for grabs for the next charlatan political or religious who comes ambling along—Carl Sagan “A Way of Thinking”

Grasping at Straws—A Lecture on Faith

All our efforts at a spiritual life are prompted by self-interest—Alan Watts

Yet again, the promise of Christianity to make one a better person through faith, to dispose self interest for the greater good of mankind, to nobly tame the natural man through the submission of will actually intensifies self interest. The intent does not produce the desired outcome—again. Christians are Christians at the promise of reward and the escape of death. Fear is the underlying motivation of all perceived good in the name of religion. God (the writers) would have you believe you are doing it to please God, but the farther one goes into fundamental belief the more arrogant and self serving that interest becomes.

“Psychotherapy and liberation are completed in the moment when shame and guilt collapse, when the organism is no longer compelled to defend itself for being an organism, and when the individual is ready to own his unconscious behavior”—Alan Watts Psychotherapy East & West (1961)

Be-lief comes from the Anglo-Saxon root lief, which means to “wish.” Belief is the fervent hope that certain things are true. A wish

Faith is contrary to evolutionary laws of altruism and self sacrifice for the good of others. Promoting the general welfare through be-lief has put obedience to pious men of words above natural good sense and love—Talk about living a conflicted life. The harder one tries the farther they get from the destination. Like the expanding universe, the more we measure our lives through faith, the farther away they delve into confusion and self interest—the self perpetuating life of grasping at straws.

The Many Denominations of Unbelief

Understanding evolution is one way to atheism, and by far the most popular Christian finger-pointing bullet point I come across. But, as deconverts, this reason which we eventually come to understand is very low on the list. In fact many believers accept both evolution and creation can co-mingle (if that is your reconciliation) Personally, I shied away from evolution and only knew the basics of that faith by drawing from a poisoned well.

Comparing the goodness, mercy, love, and outcomes of Gods word, to what we read in scripture and what we see objectively certainly raises an eyebrow. Not just on a few cherry picked points either, but in a systemic, parenterally obvious display of contradiction. It’s widespread virtually on every point.

Prayer certainly did some of us in. Match up a couple of unseen miracles in a generation and you can sell enough tickets to support entire cities. It’s that rare. The pilgrimage sites are living proof that miracles are so rare, people will travel the entire globe to get a glimpse of the mere location—or speculation. Miracles are merely events unexplained in the mean-time. But, dig a little deeper and every one has an explanation, unless one is afraid to look. Prayer works the way mindfulness works. Pretty simple concept to achieve what you focus on. The miracle is you!

Scientific understanding of how the brain functions in a group, or in a crisis is another stopper. While faith thrives in non-evidentiary vacuums, it falls apart quite nicely for some when the evidence is presented. Neurology is a quirky business, that’s why the controlled testing. We now have a pretty decent understanding of how we are fooled, even by our own doing at times, out of sheer desperation.

Then, like my brother, he never even believed a word of it. The entire scam is a bullshit point some personality types just see it from the onset. Lucky them.

There are more, but only one can begin the journey to learn them all, which I consciously avoided for many years. Prayer was the beginning and the end for me. The contradictory nature of the gospel and scripture took a close second. The other points are just the cherry on top.

Fostering Ideas—Free Will

Having thoughts come into your head by a long chain of incidental contact, can give one the strangest ideas, sometimes harmful, sometimes brilliant. It is then our responsibility to either foster the idea, or reject it. How do we do that if free will is at such a premium?

Is it a good idea to foster an idea that has no proof in reality, but is seen by many as an overall benefit to the species?

Religion is the idea that keeps giving (and taking) with unintended outcomes, that, not only don’t work for the skeptic, but they don’t work for the believer either.

• There are no miracles
• Prayer is never answered by a god
• The idea of peace on earth has never materialized even with a majority citizenry and leadership.
• Love is still at a premium
• Where’s the bliss? Isn’t it time to show me the money, after taking so much of mine for so long?

Collaboration outside of your circle of belief is critical to sound reasoning. Occasionally I’ll throw out an idea to the group to get validation. Sometimes the post gets a lot of comment, but nothing directed at the idea itself (you’re all too kind sometimes) but when that happens I go back to the drawing board to adjust my thinking.

We may not have the free will to generate our own ideas, but do we (I hope) have the ability to foster them, or filter them? Do we have that choice? Is this filtering ability the difference between a skeptic and a true believer—or psychopath?

Recalling, computing, pondering, is overwhelmed by the datas you foster. Those conscious choices, what you read and watch, have a profound impact on our output. One can rarely consider something they’ve never heard of. Choose wisely my fiends.

Believing We Don’t Believe

Isn’t it strange that testimony is to be taken at faith value, while lack of faith requires an explanation?

I do not believe there are any god(s) or a God or GOD (somehow the spelling matters) in any dimension in or outside time and space. Yonder heavens? Nope. The evidence is not compelling, the story too bizarre, nonsensical, and violent. And the promises…no signs follow anyone that believes.

I would offer this though, “if” there was a god, if this were a test, the ultimate test to prove your worthiness is this; do you have the integrity to not believe against overwhelming majority, in spite of being naturally superstitious, human herd instinct, and massive indoctrination to follow the crowd—to call out the immoral morality of the Bible for what it is, and to separate yourself from a doctrine that espoused suffering of any kind?

Do you have the decency to call the genocides of god or his people what they are without excuse, despite repercussions of mistrust, labels, constant pressures and fears? Simply the word atheist conjures a myriad of falsehoods aimed relentlessly at the person who simply won’t align himself nor suck up to a god/belief system that is the lifeblood of contradiction and conjecture, division and hate.

“Straight is the gate and narrow is the path, and few there be that find it”. Are we the few? This is the test. This is the sacrifice. Many of us have lost all our friends and family by distrusting a system that calls god good, while all along we see the the exact opposite and refuse to adopt the mantra and blatant contradictions.

Jonathan-2 Loy-0 —And the Number of the gods

Some comments are just too good to stay buried in the warehouse. It was a coin flip between Swarn and Jonathan this week. The latter has won the internet this morning.

Loy—”Was the number zero invented, discovered, or revealed? How does the invention / discovery / revelation of zero differ from that of God? Both derive from abstract reasoning, not directly or primarily from empirical observation”.

Jonathan—”For one, there is no place in the history of the number zero where the claim of divine revelation is found

A lot of things in the sciences, first exist as a hypothesis (which is usually a product of reasoning), then if the empirical observation matches the proposed hypothesis then the hypothesis is given credibility.

Einstein theories of relativity as is many things in theoretical physics were largely gotten through abstract reasoning

Direct and indirect empirical observation and experiment are what are used to validate an idea.

Even in mathematics, because you came up with an idea through reasoning, does not automatically make it correct. In mathematics, the idea has to be proven.

If you want to prove that god is mathematical axiom, then go ahead,

But if god is a supernatural being that created the universe then you need to have empirical evidence

Thinking about it, zero and god are very similar. Zero was created by man, so was god. Zero is nothing, so too is god”

Here’s the comment link if interested https://jimoeba.wordpress.com/2018/10/09/horrible-ideas-inspire-the-most-philosophy-faith/#comment-9722

And if you’re not following, here’s Jonathon’s blog. He doesn’t post too often, but worth the follow when he does.

The Bible in the Barrel

Fall, 1988—While surveying nearly 800 miles north of the 49th parallel in Canada’s wilderness, time swallowed an abandoned homestead. Vacant sounds that once teemed the soil and timbers—like a still-shot from a ghost town, a lonely and staggered cabin held on from memories of a past love and dead dreams. No sounds of children nor echoes of ranch-work, only a flutter of birds escaping the hollowed rafters broke the silent still as we approached. The crew, focused and shuffling lodes across the the clearing slowly woke the silent void of near twenty years.

Behind the try, a rusted steel barrel leaned un-statuesque, gently yearning for the earth to bring her home. I loosened the ring and pounded off the rusting lid to look inside.

My survey crew was a pretty rough bunch at the time. José, our resident Latino catholic thought it was left by god—for us”. He said, (in his Mexican accent) “no matter where you go jefe, no matter how far, Dios lo ve todo, mal jefe!” “It’s probably still there because they ran out of matches”, I fired back! Either way (or maybe another) we were in the possession of the holy bible for the night. We made camp and The crew passed a bottle. Chuck had mothering duties for the day, so he got a fire and some food on the grate as darkness fettered us in a cloudy, moonless night. It was cavern black looking beyond the fire—we faded to sleep.

Hoards of black crows broke the morning silence at dawn. We all stumbled around to get our bearings, stoked the fire and coffee’d up for what was supposed to be a long day, but, curiosity piqued us into a more human task, and by chance, or maybe drawn-in by an unsettled past, we started our day with a quick look around the homestead. Chuck, still half unzipped in his sleeping bag, shouted, “hey boss-man, look at this”. He was thumbing through the Bible looking for a good passage to quote me—he liked disingenuous humor at my expense, but this didn’t seem too funny by the look on his face. Flattening the creases he unfolded a paper in his hand and started to slowly read, like a translator.

“This cabin and 40 acres is claimed by me, William Granger. I came here in the summer of 1964 and built this cabin with the tools I could carry. In ’65 I returned with my wife Carol, our son Eli and daughter Caroline. Abandoning my loves and home is cowardly hard to do, but all that is left for me is to save my own life from one last unknown tragedy. My boy disappeared in ’66. We never found him. He would be 14 today, if this is September 14, the day of my departure”.

“We all came here with a trust in god. I and my colleagues convinced my wife of the lords providence—by faith we would thrive. This book you are holding is the last thing on earth I would impart to a decent man. Its only task now is holding this note in hopes it can at least do that until somebody finds it, should I fail to return. While many of the words are poetic and wishful, the promise of healing and signs that follow them that believe with the lords bounties are false premises only an untested fool would believe. You all survive down below because of people. Nothing more. My horse was killed by wolves while he was on the line. Then my hogs. My wife and daughter I love are in deep graves just east of the clearing. I moved them out after the spring thaw to their permanent rest. Look east between the two tallest cedars if they’re still standing. Two small rock piles mark the spots. I leave them here and plan to return as soon as I can. W. Granger, 1970″.

Humanity took over our crew. We looked around for the day, found some odds and ends, toys and tools and tack, but nothing of importance—That, lies between the cedars that stand guard. We cleaned up the grave sites and packed our gear for a short move. Another 20 years it will all be forgotten. I took it Mr. Granger got sidetracked, lost, or died in his failure to return—I guess the road home has forks in it too—I’ll see if I can locate this Mr Granger.

The Answer

So much of life is searching for answers, prying back the layers to find meaning or substance, years of true devotion and commitment and in the end, the answer was an easy or obvious solution hidden in plain sight. John, over at Nowhere Tribune posted a concise and worthwhile book review about a missionary who came to the realization that people around the world were happy without the gospel and Jesus. He also notes that the higher your level of devotion and study of the Bible and Christianity, the more likely one is to leave it. We are going about this atheism all wrong! All we need to do is promote in-depth bible study. Spread the word! And give John a quick read if you have a moment.

Uninhabitable – The Idaho Wilds and Religion

Going for a long drive today thru Sunday to surprise my pops for his 85th birthday. To get to southern Utah from NE Washington I had a couple of choices—I-84 through Boise to I-15, or take the Idaho panhandle on I-90 crossing a good chunk of Montana, and finally back into SE Idaho on I-15. I’m staying in Blackfoot and have another 7 hours to drive after 10 hours today. So much of Idaho is uninhabitable for humans. 115 mountain ranges and 5 million acres, including the number 1 most remote place in the lower 48 states, means you have to avoid most of it and go around it. Central Idaho’s multiple rugged mountain ranges makes it a long, long drive. Without avoiding the tough places, it would be near impossible to get through it.

Religion has a similar story. If you stick with the easy roads and the good parts, it doesn’t sound like a bad trip. The catch phrases along with the kind stories and gentle scriptures hold little solace when comparing the “rest of the story” which is most of it. If you had to get to Utah through the wilderness of Idaho, chances are you’d never even attempt the trip. With religion, make sure you check out the bad parts first. If you do, you may just go another way altogether. The road around the truth is just a fraction of its roots.

“verify most carefully, his book of words and then you’ll see, but by and by the search from me, had eyes that crossed with dotted tees and woeful were the histories. I read and pondered every verse, the lord it seemed he was a curse, that opened eyes on every verse” Jim

Spectral Evidence

Spectral evidence was used in court during the Salem witch trials. If someone (which they did) testified that they saw the shape of a person in their room at night in a dream, it was as good as them actually being there. The council then determined that the shape of a person was the same as a person, even though they had alibis and were miles away. Also, if one had a dream with a black cat or a wolf, that too could be used as evidence against the persons spirit proving they had connections to witchcraft based solely on an accusation. This is still the mindset we are up against.

Believing you saw something that might be a vision, might be historical, might be god, might be true, can be shared with others and accounts as hard evidence to Christians everywhere. It doesn’t matter that it can be explained neurologically, or that it can be explained naturally as a bump in a road, or that it can be debunked with updated methods or knowledge, to superstitious believers of gods that is irrelevant.

The Mysteries

Nothing unravels the mysteries like unbelief. That is the key. They want us to believe, then have us solving unsolvable puzzles the rest of our lives that are easily thwarted without faith. They say with god all things are possible—the opposite is true as always.

The blinders of belief in god are the ultimate distraction to a fulfilling life. The mysteries of god are but a controlling distraction designed to waste time in conjecture. Religion is the divisive wedge that separates. It’s only complicated with faith in the absurdities of a god.

Gods Absolute Morality

I was told in a comment section that gods absolute morality is only found in Christian faith. I asked him to name an absolute, unchanging moral truth of the Bible, and this was the closest he could go. “I’ll cite to you what seems to me to be about as near to an absolute moral statement as I can think of. In Matthew 12:31, Mark 3:29 and Luke 12:10 it is written that Jesus told people that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit cannot be forgiven in this world or the world to come”—But what if I have not received this Holy Spirit through revelation? I’m told my ego has kept me from accepting jesus.

It this the closest example of an absolute found in scripture. I would like to learn more. Something concrete and unchanging in the Bible’s exemplary moral standard.

The Good Shepard

Canaan Dog Breed

Keeping the flock together and protecting the sheep is the Shepard’s primary job. Most shepherds take care of sheep, although they may be responsible for goats as well. They often work in isolated areas and may work independently except for the assistance of herding or guard dogs.

The Canaan dog has a 3000 year history in the Middle East. Since the Shepard has derelict his duties in keeping the flock together, they frequently send out missionaries dogs to keep the herd together. The dog will say or do anything to return a sheep to the fold, and when resisted will resort to tactics of deceptive counter attacks and growls and even nips and verbal assault.

Propping terms like “The Good Shepard” would indicate a Shepard that has a tight flock, well protected, cared-for with medical needs, properly fed and trusted. How’s he doing? Remember, we never see what we hear when it comes to religion.

According to the Borgen Project, about 793 million people are starving in the world as we speak. Medical cost is the number one cause of financial ruin in the US, and worldwide more than 200 million children lack basic healthcare. Children of developing countries are twice as likely to die from treatable disease. Diarrhea is still a leading cause of death in many countries where 4 of 5 women lose at least one child before puberty.

He protects the flock—how many beheadings by Muslims are considered collateral damage too good to intervene for the just cause? The church is scattered with strange doctrines no-one group or person can agree on. Gods mercy is played with a blind eye of false hope and excuses with the wisdom of an abused spouse protecting her attacker. Gods bounty is shared amongst the wealthy nations that use manipulation and deceit in a system of cruelty and monetary deception to most of mankind, where the purveyors of faith sit on piles of hypocritical cash, leaving it to god to care for the poor, teaching them lessons they have no idea how to interpret. The children die a slow and torturous death for their own benefit though not a soul can figure out the riddle of why, but claim from the rooftops that god is good. Good for what?

So how is our Good Shepard doing? Even those that claim to be his sheep are in constant peril beneath his footstool. He has done nothing to protect even one person. Are things EVER what they say it is?

I Was Never Saved and Prayer has a Confirmed Victory

Gaylord (comment at your own risk) has just proven to me prayer works. He says “What you mistake for smugness is confidence in who God is. You were never really saved. It was 50 years of outward appearance but no spiritual substance. People do that all the time in church, just as Jesus showed us in the letters to the church in Revelation. God answers my prayers quite often. For example, we evangelicals who support the President have prayed for the plots against President Trump to be exposed and for the plots to backfire on the schemers. In recent weeks we’ve seen that happen with members of the deep state being demoted or fired from the DOJ or FBI and their plot being exposed”

“The Bible teaches that God moves in the affairs of men quite often. The deep state is trying to cover their shenanigans up, but God has moved in the hearts of some of the men and women in government agencies and in Congress to uncover their wicked plots. Deny the Lord’s hand all you wish, but he’ll continue to answer our prayers–just like he did when Trump moved the US Embassy to Jerusalem after Trump rightly acknowledged Jerusalem as Israel’s capital”.

Uh, men established modern day Israel, and now men have moved the embassy to Jerusalem.

Insanity Bites

She says “I am a total conspiratress, love thinking outside the box, unraveling mysteries, discovering what is lurking beneath the surface.

Loves thinking outside the box so much that she has joined the free, lockstep, mindless thought of 80% of the U.S population. Looking below the surface? Then how can you possibly adhere to religion other than a blind willingness to follow the masses—in your own, outside the box way? Once you decide to believe in obvious nonsense, all reason is tossed out, followed by absurd accusations that the rest of us just don’t get it. She’s wrong. We do get it, we just don’t buy it.

Here is the first comment on the thread, and yes, the masses historically have been wrong before.

“To insist that 80% of people, those claiming to believe in God, even loosely, are just indoctrinated, victims of an elaborate conspiracy, all part of a great Christian hoax, is just symptomatic of some really flawed thinking.”
Hey, sometimes it takes a while for some of to get up to speed“

Simplicity of Non Belief

I am curious to know how it all happened, I’m just not convinced in any way it was a who that made it happen. Therefore, there is no why it all happened. Once you realize there is no god, the simplicity of life brings peace, and how it all happened loses its urgency, although I am still curious and will someday have more answers. I’ll wait rather than believe in a god to simply satisfy the impatience to want answers with no effort, then act like they’ve found something special in a plug-n-play religion. “I believe” is a foolish notion lacking quality of character.

Christians Needed

Sponsors of a double blind study on healing faith are searching for healthy christian volunteers to apply etiological methods to find causation of Conviction Syndrome. Religious conviction rarely never coincides with truth, as faith and fact are diametrically opposing forces. Conviction Syndrome has maintained pandemic proportions for millennia and its time to do a reality check. I had a patient one time tell me she was supposed to be taking placebo, but she was out and that’s why she was calling the ambulance. Mama did raise a fool, now didn’t she?

• Belief is not fact nor truth
• Feelings canbe are manipulated
• Lies confirm testimony
• Truth can be boring or unpleasant, but necessary
• Reality promotes real progress
• Emotions are not the spirit
• Prayer never works. Period
• Need makes people gullible
• Preachers lie to keep you tithing
• Fear sells
• Missionaries never tell you what the internet can
• Placebo is a psychological trick. Religion is placebo
• If you try to succeed on your own, your road to success will be much faster without prayer and waiting.
• There is no substance in ontology
• Validation is the number one reason people share their faith
• If a religious explanation requires further explaining, it’s bullshit.
• Religious truth spew is philosophical wording to convince with flattering speech.
• Religion is detrimental to human growth and unity.
• If your faith has you questioning the worth of others, it’s wrong

If you need to have faith in something that makes you think you are worthless without it, that is an abusive relationship. Get out

If you qualify to participate in this study, you are part of the problem. Seek help from an unbeliever.

The Sting

The success of a good con is greatly dependent on the “mark” or marks being unaware that they have been duped. If you remember the movie, they faked their own death in the end to seal the deal on the con, and shift the blame to another – The police. In this case they used guns, but it is an ageless tale, and if done right it can work every time. The surviving victims of the scam then tell the story in their own way to create an urban legend, and its corroborated by the fake police that were in on the deal. I saw this movie. (3min) at a drive-in when I was a kid. I wonder where they got the idea?

Newman and Redford are making me feel my age. Recently I turned 55. This movie came out in 1973 when I was ten. Jeez

How Pretending is a Bigger Problem

Hush tones and inside jokes, comments like “I’m not racist but”, “hey look at that”, and pass judgement on people you have no idea about their history or what type of person they are. Saw it all the time in the faith. This is their way of life. One must be good with the lord watching you, surveying us 24 hours a day, even in our sleep, and even the hushed tones are not exempt from the ears of the lord. Below is a terrific quote. Some of this is new to me, so forgive me if this is old news.

“Some people I know who are atheists will say they wish they could believe it. Some people I know who are former believers say they wish they could have their old faith back; they miss it. I don’t understand this at all. I think it’s an excellent thing that there’s no reason to believe in the absurd propositions I admittedly, rather briefly, rehearsed to you.

The main reason for this, I think, is that it is a totalitarian belief. It is the wish to be a slave. It is the desire that there be an unalterable, unchallengeable tyrannical authority, who can convict you of thought crime while you are asleep. Who can subject you — who MUST indeed subject you — to a total surveillance, around the clock, every waking and sleeping minute of your life — I say of your life; before you’re born, and even worse (and where the real fun begins), after you’re dead. A celestial North Korea. Who wants this to be true? Who but a slave desires such a ghastly fate?

I’ve been to North Korea. It has a dead man as its president. Kim Jong-il is only the head of the party and head of the army; he’s not head of the government or the state. That office belongs to his deceased father, Kim Il-sung. It’s a necrocracy, a thanatocracy — it’s one short of the Trinity, I might add. The son is the reincarnation of the father. It is the most revolting, and utter, and absolute, and heartless tyranny the human species has ever evolved.

But at LEAST you can fucking DIE and leave North Korea. Does the Qur’an or the Bible offer you that liberty? No! No, the tyranny, the misery, the utter ownership of your entire personality, the smashing of your individuality, only begins at the point of death. This is evil; this is a wicked preachment.” – Christopher Hitchens

So they continue. They present a pious side while secretly living as you or I might, but the constant life of deception carries over into laws, and schools, and the solid footing of Christianity is all built on hiding the true self. PRETENDING. Never show the real you, and it is a habit of deception and farce because they are being watched. Dress the part, play the part, speak softly and hide your pious racism, but keep touting that you and the faith are well.

Behold My Hands and My Feet, Jesus We Have a Problem

“But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭24:37-39‬ ‭KJV‬‬

37 billion acres of land and an estimated 108 billion modern humans have populated the earth.

That about 10 resurrected zombies per habitable hectare after the return of the jesus. Here’s the problem though.

According to scripture, the mainstream views, and along with our example of Jesus having scars in his hands and feet, the consensus is one of trouble. It is truly zombi-ish in all accounts. “An hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth”

We will have the same bodies.

There are many Scriptural reasons for believing that we will be raised with the same body that died. First, Christ was raised in the same body He had before He died. We know this because the tomb was empty (Luke 24:1-6) and because His resurrected body retained scars from the crucifixion (John 20:25, 27). Since Christ’s resurrection is the pattern that our resurrection will follow (Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Cor. 15:49), then we will also be raised with the same body.

But what about Cremated or exploded wartime bodies. This is going to be interesting.

“If” any of it were true, his followers are looking for another season of walking dead, where the maimed, and the halt, and the disfigured roam around for 8 octillion years, loving each other and carrying gunnysacks full of the totally dismembered and cremated living.

And since the pope says all animals will be in heaven too, look like it will be standing room only.

No Limits

Outside of the climbing community, you may have never heard of Brooke Raboutou. She is 17 now, and in the climbing world is a seasoned veteran. Before age 12 she had 7 world records and was among the top .001% of the climbing community.

Great achievements are fought for and won by pushing ahead, challenging the norms, and breaking through stereotypes and accepted rolls. Religion is the exact opposite. You can spend your entire life trying to prove some event happened in the past that is based on drip fed morals, gender restrictions, and denying ones self worth without a god. Or, you can blaze new trails, climb to new heights, explore new ideas, and make something great. Spending your life immersed in the faith of something that has proven to be a failure in advancing human kind is going away. Yes!

Here is a video Brooke did at age 11 when she already had 7 world record climbs.

And at at age 8 Video (3 min)

More on Climbing Grades

Nothing’s Changed. All is Well. Well?

The manifesto of the LDS church, says “The Lord will never permit any Prophet of this Church to lead you astray”. I guess not allowing children of gay couples to be members of the church slips in behind this prophecy. It is hurtful, and one of many missteps of the church leadership. Spending most of my life in the church, hearing is believing when it comes to the faith, and only approved sources will suffice. I have been out a few years now, but yesterday I ran across this thread on FB, and the sheep are alive and well. These comments are in response to a book recently published about problems with Mormon culture.

“Read the conference talks and follow church leaders first”

“Honestly, I think you’re getting a bit big for your britches. I am looking for messengers from my father. I’ll be passing on this one and sticking to authorized church publications”

“None of you seem to understand anything about the problem with this … these writings are identifying a perceived issue with LDS society / culture and pronouncing a fix … This is exactly squarely in the realm of why we have a prophet and apostles … it is their key job … Do any of you ever wonder why a man not called to the position would choose to do the exact job our church leaders are called to do … To espouse this mans work is a full on admission that our leaders and by extension Jesus Christ failed to give us “ enough “ information or the “ whole “ story … Were I to write a book or dissertation the last place on earth I would seek a subject is in the realm squarely where our church leaders operate … like I would have some “ additional “ information to add … but this is where this man feels he needs to operate”

Heaven forbid if your narrow bubble of belief should be challenged, scrutinized, or improved upon. If and when you decide to take a real and honest look at what your doing, leave me a note so I can help with your new atheist blog.

Raised in Religion, Born a Heathen

This theme has popped up a few times this week, so I thought it worth a look. Apparently all the apologetics and convincing in all the world is another contradiction. God chooses you to be his servant, you cannot choose him. He will appear to you in some form or another and make you his believer. “Many are called, but few are chosen” (MT 22.14) and you were chosen and anointed even before you were even born. (Jer 1:5)When I hear Christians tell me that I was never truly converted or I would have never left, I just had to laugh. I was a “by the book” obedient servant, and called upon god daily, read the Bible and kept the commandments. Repented often, and he never came. I was a heathen, born to a religious family. I wasn’t called. Two of my brothers are heathens too, for they never felt god call them. They were smarter than me, and bailed young, but my parents were so proud of “the good son”, I couldn’t let them down. But I never felt it either. I had convinced myself, but no light came on. “Big day for a chosen servant of God comes when God reveals Himself to His servant for the first time and sends her/him. God comes Himself; He does not send anyone” Article Here. This is just one of countless Christian articles on this topic. So, until god shows up, you are all off the religious hooks, so to say, and I commend you for your goodness without god. And apologetics is pointless, proverbial bs, with the end game a predictable neurotheological response. In your head. This is another point to set one above the other with a smugness and a wink, “that you know”, and people do lie, and say they have felt it too because of peer pressure and personal inadequacy. A psychological card is played at this point. “But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.” The natural man is the unbeliever. So the word of God is telling us, unbelievers cannot receive in and believe in the spiritual truths that lead to salvation. The spiritual truths include such things as Jesus dying for sin, Jesus being God in flesh, Jesus physically resurrected from the dead, etc. An unbeliever can understand the concept, but an unbeliever does not accept them and received them. So, if a person who claims to be Christian acknowledges these types of spiritual things, that is a sign of his regeneration. Only regenerated people are saved”. Anyone in the church care to admit they are not a saved one? Tell me I can’t understand until I believe, is a mind game to pad the rolls of the churches. Now that I have left, how can it possibly matter since I was never selected in the first place? “He may appear in His countenance or you hear His voice call and speak to you”. So until that happens… Adieu.

“Prove all things, hold fast to that which is good” 1Thess 5:21

It’s not the churches. I can tell you Christianity is a calculated, money making machine that will say Anything to keep you on the rolls. Scientifically calculated music and lighting, voice roll speeches and lies from the pulpit to induce trance-like positive feelings and call it the spirit.

Most of you know my story, and I put this scripture to the rest. Not one thing works as it’s presented. Ambiguous beliefs and morality coupled with endless attempts to validate faith, and bogus prayer that is a waste of time. It was even in the dogma. “Pray like everything depends on god, work like everything depends on you”. Do yourself a favor….just skip the first part and go to work. The entire church experience is a propped up shell game of non answers and conflicting “beliefs” from every denomination. Nothing can be verified, and nothing works as it is supposed to. So go ahead. “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”Don’t feel guilty for looking.

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:21‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Mau Goddess Bastet

I believe the Egyptians were on to something when they acknowledged the cat (Felis silvestris catusas) as a god. Bastet, a half human and half cat, is the closest representation in Egyptology to the Christian god YHWY. Cats toy with their victims who never know why, and the mouse, inferior physically, has to submit and quietly wonder what it all means. Never having to explain “why” and inflicting and allowing misery on those that don’t understand, is the YHWY way. The warring nature of Bastet is a shoe-in that would fit nicely into Christian history.

God for a Day

My old medic partner won “CEO for the day” contest of a billion dollar company. It got me thinking, what if I could be god? What would I be, and what would I do? Well, I only have one day here every few thousand years. I can’t be everywhere and I’ve got a hundred million galaxies to take care of. I care about my creation and it would be nice to take the best care of it, so I would leave good instructions. Hiding out for no good reason would get pretty old.

The first thing to do, is have my tech guys fix the transmitter. Clear communication to everyone free with online support and a top notch customer service team. I would have a worldwide live news conference and spell out line by line without ambiguity of what was to be expected for civility and fairness and love to all people. This would take about 10 minutes. It would also eliminate the middle man (preachers) but I have something else for them. 🔥 I would not monitor everyone’s sex lives, but warning, the earth is only so big. Easy now. There’s still cause and effect and consequence. Nothing I can do about that. You know who I’m talking to!

Hour number two, food distribution to the hungry. Here goes, “Let there be food to all the hungry”. And it was good. I would end the waiting and answer the prayers that the other guy has been ignoring. I’m not a big fan of prayer anyway, so we’ll add extra support staff that you can actually see and count on, and just have a good life. No more games.

Childhood cancer, and all other cancer and disease…Gone. Poof. I am all powerful, and I don’t see a need to inflict misery on people to prove a point they don’t understand.

I would end animal cruelty and using animals for food. Then I would teach you alternative options to provide safe, heathy and delicious food without having to slaughter everything that moves. They should be able to enjoy their lives too.

I would end pollutive technologies and show you safe alternatives to even cooler stuff.

I would eliminate all taxes and healthcare would be free. I have ways to show you this is totally possible, and actually quite enjoyable. I have ways to look at things you haven’t thought of, so I’d get you up to speed.

Lastly, I would tell the catholic guys they misspelled a word. The word was “CelebRate”. With an R.

It is hard to talk about being god, without using the word “I” a lot. Is this a display of his narcissism, or is it just me?

And as for that question why do all this trouble? It’s just always been this way. I’m no different than you. “If” there was a god, why the game of hide and seek and misery? Why not just be really cool?

Apologist Answer Ratings Chart

Dedicated to those who keep trying, even though they’re wrong.

Loosely interpreted scripture, tightly bound comments, and microfibrical folicular linguistic divisions (hairsplitting) has caused gastro-apologist scientists to develop a groundbreaking new ratings system to analize [sic] the words of apologetics budding superstars.

Macroscopic analysis of answered questions leads scientist to believe only comfort points are ever addressed, while the truly damming portions of obvious facts are left underserved or proctacally [sic] ignored, resembling answers given in diagram seven, where only bits and pieces of even philosophical arguments are allowed to enter the discussion.

While the acclaimed apologists feel like the image type 4, the disparity between feelings and fact are a unique christian problem, where truth rarely comes into play in their belief system, as this Box of bible facts illustrates.

Frequency and regularity have been consistent in the pastors blogging, allowing for continued observation of the stall tactics mentioned. And, as electronic data is easily tracked and difficult to wipe clean, the pastors words are readily available for examination.

Health department officials have recommended the above “full” facility be pumped and renovated into a two-seater to accompany fellow blogger and church spokesman Juan BrainYawn for prolonged verbal consultations.

How are they doing? Your feedback is important to us. Please rate apologists Mel and John using the Wong-Baker pain scale above, 10 being a bad job, and 0 being a good job, and include any helpful tips or comments.

Comatized by Belief

Finding the right words to describe what you don’t believe, can sometimes be a little tricky. I was commenting on Dr Seggy’s site and I just had to make up a word, since nothing has adequately described how the religious have blindly defended a factless hypothesis of a god to explain our existence. Vehemently defending that belief that took no effort to get, and requires no effort to maintain, yet act like they are gut shot if you question the validity of their faith or their story. Comatized by belief, and blinded by faith in supernatural, abrahamic religion is anything but righteous, provable, or even sensible. And we have to explain why we don’t believe what apologetics, archeologists, science, or believers have failed to show evidence of. Go figure.

Are We Getting Any Better at All?

In 1918 world population was 1.8 Billion people. The world record 100 meter dash of 10.6 seconds was set by Donald Lippincott from the United States. 100 years later with 7.6 Billion people we have managed to shave off one second, bowing to Usain Bolt from Jamaica. With all the advances in science and nutrition and training. 1 second! With 6 Billion more people to choose from!

Maybe, we’re more intelligent? Have we learned to discard the notions of childhood fable and superstitions? With almost all available knowledge at our fingertips, not much has changed.

In 1910 approximately 34.8% of the world population was Christian. In 2010 that number was about 32%. A 2-3% decrease. Islam is up 10% but with a population growth of six billion people worldwide, number went from the 225,000 range to 1.5 billion Muslims, with Christians coming in at 2,260,440,000. Muslim fertility rates are much higher, and projections show a dead heat by the year 2050 Muslims and Christians will be near parody [sic] with equal percentages at about 30% each of the world population. CHARTWhy is it so hard to abandon the superstitious god worship? I know that conversions are down, and most of the growth comes from fertility rates as islam has reached a self perpetuating critical mass, just as Christianity did in the past. It’s going to be up to our kids to get us past this stunt in our growth. Press on, but be patient. I think we’re close to big changes in the next few generations.

“I contend that we are [all] atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours”. Stephen Roberts

S.O.A.P. For Atheists

Developing observation skills are of key importance when working as a paramedic. About 25,000 times I had responded to assess, treat, and transport patients in various stages of life and death. In our state we use the SOAP format to document patient contact.

S: Subjective is what you are told by patients, bystanders, witnesses, police, other personel. Also patient history, meds, allergies, and so forth. Clues like medications and last time they went to the doctor for the current problem can tell you a lot about you patients underlying conditions, and if this ever happened to them before, and so forth.

O: Objective is what you find during a detailed exam from head to toe, ECG, blood draw, labs, vital signs or other modalities as needed.

A: Assessment/Diagnosis

P: Plan is what you have done to treat the patient. Airway, splints, procedures, medication IV’s, shocks, etc. Preferably all documented in order.

The first two, the S and the O, are the focus of today’s topic.

In Christianity we are told many things of Gods love and his eternal goodness, perfection, wisdom, protection and so forth. God is love, and god answers prayer and cares for your needs. What we actually see is a completely different story. Our examination does not match the nature of the call.

What we find in scripture, the physical world, and from the pulpits is another story altogether. And if the followers of god are trying to be like him, we are in for a world of vanity, jealousy, incoherence, miscommunication, arrogance, ambiguity, murder, slavery, genocide, contradiction, oppression, eternal torment, shifting morality, lying preachers, pious racism, land grabbing, famine, fear, guilt, and diplomatic tension. But this will be good. “Very good”

What I found when comparing what I was told in the church, to what I actually saw as obvious evidence of how things really were, nothing was as advertised. Short Video of Chief Dan George and a salesman.

Christian Incoherence

At least 5 times we were accused yesterday of making incoherent statements regarding the origins of morality. Incoherent? They keep using that word. I don’t think it means what they think it means.

You want incoherent? Try delving into the world of a blood cult. Explain religious genocide, rape, plagues, slavery, war, animal sacrifice and burnt offerings, causing that sweet smell that dissipates into the nostrils of the loving but jealous warlord in the sky, and call it scripture. Then ultimately worshipping a cross symbolizing human sacrifice. They essentially are paying homage to an old book while chanting in unison that conjures up images of the Temple of Doom. Christian incoherence begins by deifying atrocity, and then trying to justify it and make it look pretty. Incoherent? Celebrate a man that sent his wife and son into the desert to die, then goes back to his other son to sacrifice him to an invisible god and then mutilating his penis. If you want to here incoherence, listen to religion try to explain how this was all good…Very Good. And perfectly infallible.

Common Sense

The term “common sense” is used frequently, mostly due to the the “lack of it” in other people. The majority of people think they have it and others don’t. While common sense has been studied as far back as Aristotle, and various definitions or applications can be noted, here is my definition. “Common sense is the ability to solve problems by applying a wide variety of experiences or learning to accomplish or complete a new task, or the ability to integrate or adapt by applying prior knowledge from a variety of experience or disciplines.

This being said, most people do get along fine in the world. Each finds their niche and have their own way of doing things. But here’s where the problem lies; In religion and other superstitions the “common sense” passed down from generation to generation stunts human potential. The Common knowledge that is part of the molding of common sense is off the mark and makes rational decision making impossible. I once had an eleven year old foster daughter whose mother was a mentally ill and superstitious religious woman. The girl could not make a rational decision of any kind, and often quoted her mother about various topics. It was a real life waterboy situation. Her baseline was skewed with certified confusion, only not to her. In her mind we were wrong, mom was right.

Raising children in superstition and religion can be an awkward awakening when actually faced with reality, where what you know conflicts with the real world. It can be a psychological mindbend, and for many the only way to swim out is complete reversal and abandonment of the old ways. One foot in and, one foot out is a forever unbalanced act of will.

Here is a pretty good wiki page about the history and concepts of common sense.

Thrib Nigriv

Thrib Nigriv is the opposite of virgin birth. This is commonly known as copular denial. “I don’t know how this happened, kind of denial. Ketamine induce sexual activity brain altered denial. Denial is a clever way one maintains innocence through excuses and unlikely tales. But it also causes problems. If you give up your virginity before it’s time, remember, your cover story may change the course of history. We don’t need any more of that.

The Second Oldest Profession Is Lying About It

How to Separate the Facts from the Myths?

Some excellent points from Ark in yesterdays post, and some unanswered questions from Mel, who is not taking a fundamental approach to believing the Bible, such as the Adam and Eve story or Noah’s ark, but we are to believe in the virgin birth and the resurrection. Other than some place names in the Bible that we know exist, how can we determine which is fact and which is fable?

Science Basics, Religion Basics

I could tell you how many times we’ve heard this week that atheists have faith too, but I’d have to re-sift through a mile of apologetic comments to make a count. Contrary to what continues to be parroted, most of science is based on reproducible fact that is no longer theory. Although some of the more advanced ideas are currently in developing phases, most science is provable on a daily basis. Water boils at 212f or 100c at sea level. Every time. Objects fall at 9.8 m/s squared. Every time with wind resistance calculated for mass. If I jump off the 325 foot bridge by my house I will fall 4.49 seconds and travel 81.4 MPH at impact releasing 77,616 joules, since I weigh 75 kilos. Every time. If I want to have my buddy in Norway cast a bronze statue, I can send the alloy formula to him based on a variety of aluminium bronzes of differing compositions and he will make the exact alloy I could make here in Washington. All lab testable for density and purity. Human life requires a tightly controlled pH level in the blood of about 7.4 and during illnesses we can regulate it pretty well with interventions. We also know how the body maintains this homeostasis in great detail. I could go on, but the point is almost everything in our lives today is explainable by science. Pretty good odds someone is getting it mostly right. Except one point. So now it’s your turn. Let’s show some proof on prayer and some proof it works. Ready…..go! If that’s too hard pick another topic. Revelation, faith healing, authenticate your creation story, find some evidence of the Exodus. Ok …go again. Just one. Why is it so hard for religiosos to admit prayer doesn’t work? They all know it doesn’t work! (Except when casting tornados into adjacent neighborhoods) Also, as a side note, religion is also testable for density

Here is a great article researching the efficacy of prayer in a medical setting. Be sure to read to page 2 as it really sums up some of the psychology which prayer may actually be harmful in clinical settings.

How we do it?

First we pray and wait for the Holy Spirit to inspire us. Then, based on conflicting messages we choose the answer that best suits us. When things don’t work out we ponder what god really meant, then usually stick with our bad decision based on initial inspiration and ask others to pray too. We don’t want to admit prayer doesn’t work, or give off the message that god is wrong. That would be near blasphemous.

Healing Notes

By solely being born to a family of religious tendencies, I oft said things that made the greatest of past bigots roll over and groan. They weren’t my words but fathers. By sheer luck I was born to a fundamental Christian home that prospered according to strict obedience to biblical law as they had the most perfect sense about it. “Every jot and tittle” as they say, was of supreme importance and likely right as father whip would convince even the finest heathens of its truth.

Father partied and played the girls when he was young

Father came to Jesus and his freewill took our freewill away

Now we all obey god or else father whips us with a belt

I can quote scripture I learned as a young child that keeps me close to Jesus

When I am older my children will never see a bible because I don’t think people like being preached or slapped

Mother caught me playing with myself and I am going to hell with all the other filthy people

Jesus died because of me.

When I am older maybe my children will find god on their own. I hope not.

American Atheist Converted at Medjugorje, Bosnia

One of my very best friends went to the pilgrimage at Medjugorje, Bosnia while vacationing about five years ago to see Our Lady of MedjugorjeHe went as a skeptic. I want to give you just a short history of one of the smartest people I know. He has the best memory recall of anyone I have ever met, loves to study the sciences and religion and many other disciplines, and he is currently active in coaching and teaching at a collegiate level.

He went up to Medjugore completely convinced it was nonsense and looking to see what all the talk was about. He came down as a believer. He saw the apparitions and the images dancing in the sun. He could look directly at the sun and suffered nothing. He felt something special he can’t explain. Raised catholic but operated as an atheist since late teens. Now he is an active catholic and a 100% believer. He can’t explain it. Can you? I can’t help but believe there is a logical or psychological explanation. One thing I do know, the Catholic Church regards the first visit to the children a miracle. They are remaining skeptical about the continued messages delivered by Mary.

Phil also stated that “not everyone that goes sees it. Only those meant to see it I guess” Another question I would pose, do people that have no prior knowledge of the site see the miracles? It’s not obvious what your mind is going to do with the stored knowledge and expectations or reservations of any specific event. Here is some good read and video if you haven’t seen it, and this is an email answer I got from Professor Taboo. “Bottom-line? Neurological and endocrinological explanations are quite plausible in all cases of ‘paranormal’ activity and visions/hallucinations. The pilgrimmage/hike in Medjugorje, Bosnia contributes to those physiological conditions…. as they do in other parts of the world. When large groups/crowds all participate/perform the “worship” together, it makes it all even MORE intense — the Placebo-effect.”

Further reading and Other Insights

Believers and Make-Believers – Is there a difference?

Believers in Make-Believe were congratulating themselves after two hours of debating and attempted grandeur. Is it possible to “win” a debate when all if your evidence is complete horse shit and smug showmanship? I read where John Lennox “wiped the floor ” with Dawkins. With what? Make-believe? The pluralistic ignorance of religion is strong. has some sweet history of success in other arenasNorth Korea is the current leader several Muslim countries all tied for 2nd place. Keep moving and agree. It’s safe there. But nowhere on earth can beat the USA in pluralistic ignorance about biblical histories that have been debunked years ago. Accepting fraudulence is a way of life for make-believers. Remember the story that broke about gold plated chariot wheels found in the Red Sea. “What they found strewn across the bottom of the reed sea has shaken the religious and scientific community,” says Rood. “Cameras mounted on remote-controlled submarines revealed coral-encrusted chariot parts, horse and human remains strewn like battlefield wreckage on the bottom of the reed sea.” Years later they are still working the story which was fake news. Snopes. But there are new stories still on the web pushing this. Is it only here you can “be all that you can be” by hanging on to the disproved and claim a cover up is hiding the truth. Only in Christianity can you quote gospel commandments as gods law given to a prophet that didn’t exist. If you’re wondering “am I the only one?” No. You’re not!

Famous Apparitions

How much more proof do you need?

Masterpiece!

This here piece from my Ugandan connection to the atheist world. Dr. Seggy just gave a perfect glimpse to religious devotion. Well worth your time! Bravo Doc! Sometimes someone else just nails it for you!

Panama Apocalypse

It happened again. A 5.7 quake in Los Santos Province of Panama near my home there. The world is ending and god is coming to wipe out the sinners and wrap the believers in his arms for eternal hugs and stuff like that. My evangelical neighbors down there are hoping to be alive to see it all play out. And they hope its soon and they will be lifted up in rapture to god while massive bloodshed and revenge and vengeance for all those wicked homosexuals and atheists unfolds. Not sure why they want to be around to see all the carnage other than the mind of a blood-cult, pious, holier-than-thou baptist saint shouting out SEE, SEE. We told you so!

I think if god existed he would judge Christians for the way they treat gays and unbelievers and other faiths. One of their core tenets is that in the end god is coming to destroy all of us. They pray for it. They welcome it. It’s in the doctrine. Meanwhile nothing gets solved while they sit and wait behind a line of piety drawn in the sand of self righteous racism and bigotry. They fight every social advancement and scientific progression. That’s who they are. That’s why I write!

Richard Dawkins on The Cosmos

“Even if we don’t understand how it came into existence, it’s not helpful to postulate a creator because a creator is the very kind of thing that needs its own explanation. It’s a hell of a lot harder the explain how a god came into existence than to explain how a simplicity came into existence”.

Oxford Museum of Natural History Dawkins vs Lennox

Religious Feel Right

William James says “conversion indicates the process by which a consciously wrong, unhappy and previously divided self becomes consciously right”.

A study in the psychology of conversion

Why do Hard When Simple is Hard Enough?

I used to write a lot of songs and they just kept getting more and more complex, when finally my buddy said, “why do hard when simple is hard enough”? Musicians have made great music with two and three chord songs. Simple is beautiful. Perfecting simple is outstanding.

It is easy to get mired down in the weight of all the information trying to sway you this way and that. Try this: Go someplace quiet. Throw all your preconceptions and indoctrinations in a big pile and burn it. Think what it would be like to face everything you ever learned about religion was a lie. It’s a pill that needs to be swallowed. Think how easy this is without someone trying to influence you in order to validate themselves. Try to show a little self awareness and open your mind. You don’t need convincing circular conjecture and apologetics to know the truth. The truth rarely needs a footnote, or, an explanation to an explanation. You can’t justify one iota of doctrine, or one miracle or prayer unanswered without rationalizing the deficiency of god or being outright deceived. The cliches don’t solve your problem. They are these; “You pray in your time, and god answers in his time”. “We can’t imagine the wisdom of god”, or “He is testing your faithfulness. We just can’t comprehend god”, or “he wasn’t meant to be healed because god is testing his faith”. Why would god need to do that? These are some of the most common excuses for god, passed on from generation to generation. When you look at the objectives there is nothing here but excuses and ambiguous text of archaic language allowing for multiple interpretation and confusion. By design.

I know. I was in it for 50 years and nothing added up. I had several “spiritual” experiences that were based on lies. Positive emotion is not the holy spirit testifying to you. Feeling good by passing off your responsibilities to another entity is psychological feel good. Nothing more. Nothing has changed but the feeling someone is watching over you. They aren’t.

You don’t have to know the science behind it. I didn’t. All you have to do is face the reality that you might be wrong, and look at the failures of religion openly and honestly. It’s about three things. Power, control, and money. Every institution is corrupt. You think religion has escaped unscathed? Hell, they’re the ones that initiated all the corruption. Pointing fingers, deflecting and distracting. The devil has no horns. That is the trick. The devil wears a suit and tie and holds a microphone. Quit making excuses for gods and failed preachers and let’s start working towards something productive instead of wasting millennia of time running in circles chasing hidden meaning of ancient writing that doesn’t come true.

Why do hard when simple is hard enough? Life is pretty peaceful since dumping the hope of an invisible being that instills guilt and racism and has a history of mass destruction and murder. Why do hard when simple is where you find true peace. That is a motto to live by.

2 James 6-9 found! New scripture Predicts Trump

I came across these while rummaging through some old papyrus I found in the basement.

6 Thus saith the LORD, Verily verily I say unto you in the last days one shall rise up in a choice land across the great waters and perform secret works of darkness upon all nations of the earth. And in those days all men shall use one voice to be heard every man in his own tongue like a river to every dwelling upon the face of the earth.

7 And secret works of darkness, and lascivious defilers of their own selves at war with many nations. And no man shall know the truth as all things are confusion and strife with knowledge abounding and fleeting truth as a slippery serpent.

8 Many shall cry lo here, and lo there, as the death of all nations creeps inward, the groaning earth will rock to and fro like a ship tossed on the waves of the deep. And the rulers of men work secret combinations to ensnare all the inhabitants of the earth with gold and with silver and with precious stones while blackness pours from all the deep places filling the earth with smoke and dust in all the waste places where no man shall hide.

9. Hear ye, hear ye children of the most high god. Repent for the hour is nigh that all the valleys will be raised up, and all the mountains shall be swallowed to the great depths, and all those that slumber shall open the earth wielding the sword of justice to all those that cast their lots for the son of evil masking as righteousness as the dawn trump sounds, boasting in the wisdom of a fool.

10 If any man adds or takes away from these sayings, blessed be his name for creativity sake. Hell why not? The scribes did it all the time. Interpretation is the key to good scripture. On an interesting note, neither America or the internet are in the Bible. How did they miss that? It’s ok. I fixed it.

Celebration Occasion

After 88 years my old high school friend’s dad finally accepted Christ in his life. They are ecstatic and praising god. Although cumbered with terminal illness and a morphing pain pump, the hospice nurses at the facility were gracious enough to let the family sing to him and pray for him and read scriptures to him. He was reborn!! He accepted Jesus. Praise god! Finally at the end of his life he saw the light. Can one be saved in this altered condition? The poor guy finally caved in. They posted pics of kids and grandkids reading verses and singing to their bedridden captive audience. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. But I did see it plastered on FB 2 days. Thoughts? Am I a sacrilegious bastard?

Here’s just one of the comments “He didn’t believe until now. We have had MANY conversations over the last 37 years, talking about the validity of the Bible, the statistical evidence. Once you understand those things, it almost takes more faith NOT to believe. ❤️ He finally was able to reconcile his science background with faith in Jesus, understanding they didn’t conflict”.<

All I can say is sarcasms sanctity surely swirls swiftly since Saturday’s savorous save. Jim

Ten Commandments

Which of the ten commandments has been most effective at preventing crime? Which one has stopped the most carnage, adultery, lying, and so forth? Do you have a personal experience where in a heat of passion and you were just about to kill someone, and you thought, wait! That’s against the rules?

Where is the Insane Asylum??

This must be the new go to argument against atheism. Twice in two days. I just learned from A bit of Orange that because I don’t eat my young I have already rejected atheism and I’m ready to be saved. Don’t bother checking his site as he blocks any comments he can’t answer. Here ya go.

“I don’t doubt that you and your family love each other. I merely point out that atheism offers no basis to give value to love or priority to your duties as a parent or spouse. On atheism, there is no good and evil, so the difference between loving your children or killing and eating them differs only in the normative evolutionary path our species has taken thus far, and the moral code AGAINST killing one’s children forced on western culture by the Biblical worldview. Other animals eat their young, why should YOU not do so if we are merely animals as Atheism claims?

Also, your love for each other is merely chemical brain states, such as being hungry. When you tell your children you love them, then if they were REALLY atheists, they ought to respond, “Oh, you are?”

Here’s my point- if you love your family and know that loving them is BETTER than killing and eating them, then you have already rejected Atheism. I believe you do love your family. I just want you to see that you are already rejecting atheism. After that, you may see that you have a heavenly father who loves you, and is waiting for you to come home”.

#JesusLovesYou

And JB poses this beauty only in order to sidetrack the conversation as he does. “Where do you get the idea that Christians shouldn’t kill natives”? Because of evolution and atheism we we would actually justify the stronger spaniards in killing pacifist natives that don’t comprehend killing. It wasn’t natural for them, and he can’t see that it is unnatural to use a law/bible to justify slaughter.

He doesn’t really know that it is mostly natural to not kill. Only a law splitting Christian can master that.

Why would anyone reject a humanist view that protects life and promotes freedom better than religion?

i would like to explore a solid answer to these thoughts though.

Might is not Right

Bartolome De Las Casas sailed to the “New World” in 1502 and recorded many of the things he saw in his book, “The Devastation of the Indies”: Quote – “With my own eyes I saw Spaniards cut off the nose, hands and ears of Indians, male and female, without provocation, merely because it pleased them to do it … Likewise, I saw how they summoned the caciques and the chief rulers to come, assuring them safety, and when they peacefully came, they were taken captive and burned … (The Spaniards) took babies from their mothers’ breasts, grabbing them by the feet and smashing their heads against rocks … They built a long gibbet, low enough for the toes to touch the ground and prevent strangling, and hanged thirteen at a time in honor of Christ Our Savior and the twelve Apostles …

Then, straw was wrapped around their torn bodies and they were burned alive … When the Spaniards had collected a great deal of gold from the Indians, they shut them up in three big houses, crowding in as many as they could, then set fire to the houses, burning alive all that were in them, yet those Indians had given no cause nor made any resistance …They would cut off an Indian’s hands and leave them dangling by a shred of skin … they would test their swords and their manly strength on captured Indians and place bets on the slicing off of heads or cutting of bodies in half with one blow.”

On every island Columbus ‘discovered’ he planted a cross, claiming ownership for his Spanish Catholic patrons.

I do think the spaniards were doing there religious duty here according to Ezekiel. “When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.”

‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭3:18‬ ‭KJV‬

The Finite Human Mind Cannot Comprehend

I’ve heard this one before, but I just want to know who gets to determine what I can comprehend? I think we’re ready now. Go ahead. Explain it.

Now I know how few people depend on Answers dot com for their religious questions, but this did get 7200 confidence votes from a guy named fowl1. Good job. Thanks for the material Christians.

Wednesday Affirmation

Illegal Atheist

Here’s what happens when the church runs the state with tight control and coerced belief in god. Believe or die! I had a comment a few weeks ago from Indonesia and he stated that he had to use careful wording or be accused of blasphemy. Saudi Arabia atheist are declared terrorists.

Even some US states have laws on the books forbidding atheists from running for office. Christianity’s moral high ground is to demonize non believers and elevate themselves with accusations instead living with integrity. Atheist represent 0.1% of prisoners in the US. We’re not that bad. Really!

How do you make someone believe something they don’t?

Closet Arsonists

Mom died a few years back, and at 80 years old my dad remarried. His new wife is a very devout Mormon and her testimony is so powerful. She said, “I just know what I know. I don’t know why, but I just know this church is the true church, and when I know something I just know it”. Let me tell you something else this big, bright, child of god knows because she learned it at church. She knows that “gay men are closet arsonists”. That’s right. Arsonists! “They may not always start fires, but they want to, and that’s why they’re called “flamers”. LDS Relief Society teaching manuals may not carry the message, but it may even be worse that the faithful can have these ideas and beliefs on their own! Big problem with belief vs fact and reason. So, what do you call a fat pompous know-it-all bigot? Well, sometimes you call her mom. Everyone has someone in their life don’t they?

Personality of a True Believer

True believers as defined by Eric Hoffer have personality types that need something or someone to latch onto. About 35% or more of the population craves someone else make decisions and rules for them to live by. We spot religion 35 points before tipoff! Here below is a telling statement about religion, and this quote is not even about religion, but personality types.

“True believers are not intent on bolstering and advancing a cherished self, but are those craving to be rid of an unwanted self. They are followers, not because of a desire for self-advancement, but because it can satisfy their passion for self-true believers “are eternally incomplete and eternally insecure.”(1) Well if that doesn’t just about nail it.

He continues with this-

Before ending this section, I want to talk about the people who are most susceptible to conversion and joining mass movements. I am convinced that at least a third of the population are what Eric Hoffer calls true believers. They are joiners and followers … people who want to give away their power. They look for answers, meaning and enlightenment outside themselves.

This personality type will always be with us. They look for some sort of spiritual leader, whether it’s religion, multilevel marketing groups, or the Jidda. Some place they can shed their burdens or gain acceptance in a group. Even a mythical one.

“In my years of conducting seminar trainings, I have constantly run into true believers. All I can do is advise them to seek the True Self within, where meaningful personal answers will be found. I teach that the basics of spirituality are self-responsibility and the attainment of self-actualization (being compassionate, while also accepting others without judgment, expectations, blame or attempting to control.) But most of the true believers just tell me that I’m not spiritual and go looking for someone who will give them the dogma and structure they desire”.

So maybe Atheism should be a belief system. Do we need a mantra and some chants and promised salvation to tap into this untapped resource? Nah.

Believers sq + need x acceptance is congruent to Religion. I love math!

There’s an Atheist Flag?

When I saw this article about the atheist flag going up over the Ten Commandments monument in New Hampshire, I thought “we have a flag?” Um. No thanks, I guess. I’m slightly new at this, (about 4 years) but my first instinct is this; I just left a belief system to navigate my own way in the world without the help or belief in deities and other superstitions and myth. I belong to nothing. No organizations, no clubs, no nothing. Is atheism a belief system to be held up on a banner? Is it wrong of me to not be affiliated with another emblem designed to group me with other likeminded individuals. Are there guidelines and a rule book shortly to follow? When do we fly it half mast? Could we, as a distressed minority fly it it upside down? I get the point of equal access and all the legality and fairness, it just doesn’t settle well with me. I am open to other thoughts on this. I am a little skeptical after what I’ve been through to trust someone else to speak in my behalf. Maybe I will change my mind? I value the knowledge and opinions of each of you and appreciate your experience and passion. What’s your take this? I may be old, but I’m slow!

Inside Out

Usually you all know nothing about how your efforts here in presenting Atheism and Humanism can affect just one person once in a while. But you all have stuck with it. I see many familiar names from when I was posting religious spew on your blogs a few years back. I was pretty nice about it but was curious too. Having my own belief questions I wanted to see how my arguments stood up outside of the faith. I tried to have an open mind and really see things from another vantage point.

One day I was asking some questions and interjecting my beliefs, and I mentioned I was really just trying to understand but would never leave religion. Violet (I think was the name) jumped in and said “you will”. “That if I really was serious about learning about life outside of faith that I would eventually leave it”. That really stuck with me and I stewed on it for quite a while. She knew if I saw what was real outside of that lens that I would at least know a decision had to be made. Believe it or don’t believe it. It was a choice! How right she was! That moment was pivotal in my deconversion.

I have always sought truth the best I know how. I don’t care to be right, I just want the truth wherever that may be. If I’m wrong I’ll admit it. I won’t defend a position I know in my head is wrong. That moment started a long search outside of the church and its approved doctrines and materials. Actually took about three weeks of full time searching and trying to justify staying in the faith. Once I peeked at the reality and reasoning there was no going back. After 50 years of church and Jesus I walked away. My wife and kids were in Panama City on vacation during that time. When they came back to the jungle I told them what I wanted to do and why. My wife had done her own looking and promptly agreed. We gathered up all of our church crap, the manuals and home school religious items and scriptures and burned it all. I burned books! Never regretted it for one moment. Free baby!

Anyway, I just wanted to thank you all for your insights and mentoring me in your blood soaked heathenistic pagan smart ass ways. Sometimes good sense does rule the day. Life without church is life indeed! Glad somebody told me! Is an excellent example of how I felt. Thanks Shiarrael!

Where is Violet anyway? Haven’t seen her in quite a while. Give her my regards if any of you know her.

Born Theists Lite Version

Bill the Bad Atheist has a short follow up over at his site if you want to take a peek. Be curious to see what some of you have to say. My overall feeling on the topic is we are comparing something with nothing, and wind up with a riddle as an answer.

Who are We Really?

Misconceptions about atheism are so common I sometimes feel like a minnow in a piranha pool. Mention you’re an atheist or humanist, and immediate visions of the horned immoral boogeyman appear in people’s heads. Who are we really? In your own words maybe give a line or two about what you think people should imagine when they hear the word “Atheist”.

Photo by jim-thecommonatheist

Cambutal, Panama 🇵🇦

Radical Atheistology

Four things or five you need to start deconverting from any invisible mythical sky god religion.

1. Read. Read more than just the official versions your church allows. You’ll be surprised what they hide from you. If you all ready know? Shame on you and skip to step 2. Stop apologizing for them. Read something contrary. You’ll be surprised at the common sense kindness of the atheist community. Smart, accepting, and reasonable. Not for power, not for money, not for control. For a free mind and acceptance. For peace. Really!

2. Observe. Even the simplest observation on your own time can easily overturn the miles of apologetic writing your church has split hairs to write. Don’t forget to look around you. Take a hike in the canyons. The earth is older than that. Cmon man! And there’s more!

3. Critical thinking. For instance, the jesus story has been told almost verbatim by several ancient civilizations long before Christianity. Virgin birth, half man, half god, dies to save everyone, celebrated at Christmas time and they were gods. But hey! This time it’s for real. Right! Think about it. Look it up. It’s all out there. Just peek outside the box. You’ve been duped! And there’s more!! Way more.

4. Whiskey. Relax. The world is not coming to an end. No one is coming out of the sky to save or rapture you. It’s up to us to fix our situation. So let’s put away the waiting for Jesus and praying for the end to come soon and get to work. We’re wasting time. A lot of time. Enjoy life and be brothers and sisters. Religion divides what otherwise would be whole. Try it. What is there to lose. What you’ve been doing is not working. Give it a chance! Peek!

If you’re still here this might be for you. I have a secret surprise I’ve waited for the end, and this is very typical of the folks I’ve met. They are liberated from guilt and they are happy. They have a high moral standard based on natural laws and consequences and we love the earth. A true deep desire to preserve the world. Our way of life

Follow some atheist books and blogs. The basics will get you by, but there is a world of good reading and real knowledge out there.

I was a follower for 50 years I’m sorry to say. I’m actually a little embarrassed by it. I walked away a few years ago from the mind games, guilt, ambiguous doctrine, cover ups, brainwashing, poorly translated mythology I was supposed to analyze and work out my salvation. If I guess wrong? Oops. Sorry jim. You’re going to hell. It was all a trap to keep me payin and prayin and obeyin. Believing a stifling dogma has consequences that restrict growth of the mind and well being. And I defended it!

respectfully–jim, the common atheist

Did I miss anything?

Acronyms and DSRD

I was training a newly hired EMT to enter his reports in the computer, and shortly after writing a practice report we got a call to go out for an MVC. We transported a minor injury patient to the hospital and since the new guy tech’d the call, he wrote the notes. Medical people use a ton of acronyms, and as I was reviewing his report I noticed some strange ones I’d never seen before. He stated ” PT found in FPS, A/O X4 PWD, airway intact. Pt with MLLUA and ALSOF. I thought “huh”? I called him back to the office for a minute to explain. “Oh, FPS is front passenger seat”. And MLLUA is mild laceration left upper arm”, and ALSOF is “abrasion left side of face”. I said “Aaron you can’t just make shit up on these reports. No one knows what these mean except you”. There is a long list of accepted acronyms and I gave him a copy to work from. Heres a small sample.

Aaron appears to be mixing religion and work here, since “make it up as you go” is a common tool for building credible rapport in the churches.

I’ve heard some faith promoting whoppers during my time in the church. I felt the spirit (emotion) over outright lies and fabrications. I’ve seen the faithful tie silly things together that show god is with them every step of the way. From found car keys to successful surgeries, god gets the credit. When things don’t go your way he gets a free pass. If uncle Eddy survives the heart attack,”praise god”! If he dies, god took him home to heaven. He knows what’s best for you. Right?

WARNING– What you about to read might cause you to think.

Preachers tell lies and twist stories to convince you that god is real and their religions are right. They desperately want you to believe what they believe. They will tell you things to drive your emotions. That feeling is not the spirit. It is a manipulation tactic to get devotion and keep you in faith to give themselves power and money. Do not believe it. You have been tricked by professionals that prey on people during vulnerable times in their lives. Do not buy it. You already possess everything they have to offer. It’s already in you. You can do this without the bs of a religious dogma. Waiting for god to answer your prayers is a waste of time. Time that could be spent working out your own future, free of charge and free of mental bondage.

DSRD = dumb stuff religions do

Faith + Fiction = Miracles. Here have a bible

Free Jeep Rental $50

Cozumel is usually a pretty good idea. We stayed at an all inclusive resort with the dive club, and of course while you’re in they try to get you to the timeshare presentation. Usually I won’t go to these, but we had nothing going on for the day so we figured “what the heck”? Get a free jeep for the next day and just say no to everything in the sales pitch. What could it hurt?

I’m a math guy on just about everything, so I did the calculations and we could buy this timeshare for what we were already paying as regular guests. Not a great deal. It was like the Outlaw Josie Wales and Ten Bears. ” I’m ain’t promising you anything extra”. So we walk with our Jeep coupon and the next day go to the counter. With tax and other fees it was $50. $50 for a free Jeep. Hey! This reminds me of church! We had to pay for something you’re supposed to get free. Being an exmo, going to long boring meetings and was a way of life, and getting pressured to do things you don’t want to do is really the way of life. In the end, what was supposed to be free from jesus cost 10% of your income or no blessings. No exaltation, no temple marriage, no important callings. Nada. It’s the equivalent of buying free tap water. Pretty good scheme.

Many thanks to everyone here for sharing your insight, knowledge, and cynical as hell anti- religious wisdom. WP was a big part of my deconversion.

Sometimes a Stranger is Fiction

I got a flat tire last year on a remote gravel road, and as I was changing my tire an old blue sedan came barreling up the road. I called to my dog but he was so engrossed in a hunt for field mice he wouldn’t hear me. Right as the car approached my dog bolted my way across the road and bam! The car never slowed down or stopped. My dog laid in the ditch. He was dead. I sat there. I think most of you have lost a pet before. No explanation can tell you how devastated I was. I cried. I prayed. God help me. After a little while had passed I collected myself enough to finish my tire, and just as I was about done my dog licked the back of my neck. I was in shock. In complete joy. How? No way! As I held Roger I saw a man hurry across the road and down a steep embankment. I shouted “hey”! I ran to the edge where I last saw him and he was gone. Nothing. I knew what I had seen. I knew my dog was now alive and not a scratch on him. God had sent his holy angel to help me. Thank you Jesus thank you Jesus. God hears our prayers, and in our most desperate times he is here for us. To comfort. To heal. To help.

Should I post this story on Facebook and ask for likes, amens, or shares. I could strengthen testimonies with a story like this. The problem is … it is just a story. Total fabrication. While most church stories contain a wee bit of truth, I’ve seen first hand how they grow bigger and better with time.

The churchers and their preachers embellish nearly everything they say to tug at your emotions then attribute it to god. And I’m not even close to exaggerating here. Just last week god the father and the son and the Holy Spirit visited a friend of mine in the form of three hummingbirds! What the hell do you say to that? If people are looking for miracles, they’ll get them. Or see birds. (Below is the area where none of this occurred)

Dammit Jim

Finally they named a beer after me. They must have talked to an old station manager of mine. I used to hear this 10 times a day when I would go off script and ruin his reputation. But he and I used to have some long talks about religion before he fired me. He was an atheist and I was a (cough cough) Latter Day Saint. My favorite one liner to his comment that “you can’t know this stuff. You can believe it, but you can’t know it”. I told him, the reason you can’t know it is because you don’t believe you can. He’d say “Dammit Jim”. Then he’d go on to tell me what an idiot I was. Bob, you were right. I was an idiot. Rest In Peace old friend.

Now when I see this ridiculous circular reasoning as an outsider of the faith, I remember not so long ago how I was that way. Faith is an unreasonable guide. It commands that you believe a lot of nonsense. Just wish my beer had a better rating.

Why the “What have you done for me lately Church” is hard to leave

As soon as I was old enough to safely go to church my parents brought me before the congregation and I was given an official name and a blessing. A name which would be recorded in the records and make me an official unbaptized member of the LDS. I was about a month old! Hey, thanks for that. Of course I don’t remember this, but those blessings take place the first Sunday of each month just before Fast and Testimony Meeting, where the members share their beliefs with the audience. This was the beginning of the indoctrination of Jim, as for the next hour I would listen to many testimonies that day about how true the church was, and how god played a role in various members lives that week. “I know this church is true” was proclaimed from the pulpit and into every rooms intercom. Even while I was in the mothers lounge, i could hear the testimonies of those who would soon be raising me in the church. Hey! No second opinions allowed either. Whenever a stray Mormon would stand up to bear his soul, and offer how he really felt about the church he would be escorted out. No second opinions needed! This is the true church!

At home it would continue. Exposed to everything mormon. Pictures of jesus and prophets and primary songs. Family home evenings every Monday for twice weekly indoctrination. Family prayer morning and night along with personal prayer. They even taught me what to say. How thoughtful.

Progression of church member Jim

Baby blessing –check

Baptism at 8. -check

Priesthood at 12 -check

Early morning Seminary 4 years. Check

Higher priesthood at 19-check

Temple endowments -check

Mission -check

Marry in the temple- check

Children -check

Memorize countless scriptures and songs – check

Endure to the end– hmm. Not so fast.

Pay Pray and Obey

Keep paying

Questions. Not allowed

Endure to the end, endure to the end

Learn the things you weren’t supposed to learn.

Be bold enough to question

Church court and discipline

Attend in shame.

Fade away. Resign the church. Lose all your friends. All!

In the Mormon faith you are taught if you don’t endure to the end, keep the commandments and keep paying your tithes til the day you die you won’t be saved. You can lose your salvation. Everything done to the children is focused on member retention. Keep you engaged. Don’t give you time to think. Here is how they did it to me

Scoutmaster 15 years. That’s an extra day at the church every week

Early morning Seminary teacher entire school year 8 years total

Home teacher to multiple families each month 30 years

Young men’s presidency 6 years

Adult Sunday school teacher 4 years

Ward missionary 4 years

Finance clerk 2 years

Membership clerk 2 years

Elders quorum presidency 8 years

Multiple tours in some of these callings. Oh!, and work a full time job to support my family.

I was also a pretty good speaker so I would give talks frequently on Sunday.

Frequent temple attendance

Temple initiatory worker 4 years

Veil worker 4 years

By the time I was 50, I had done about 75 years of service callings in the church. This is fairly typical, but not good enough. Pray pay and obey til you die if it will account as nothing.

It’s no wonder it is so hard to see the fallacy of your ways when it is all you know. Variety makes things right.

Don’t forget to look around you. Be humble. You might be wrong

Smug if by Faith

Recently looking at a little bit of Mel Wild, and just ran into this comment thread where John Z got gamed by this dude up above (in his own mind). He claimed victory several times, ignored questions, and was generally wrong about everything, but he backed it up with the hard, solid evidence of faith. He smugly won the day, and no amount of reason could sway his internal victory as the checkmates rolled off his keyboard. As instructed in the thread, I have prayed about it in Zande’s behalf. I also took the liberty to bless his food. I got the answer I desired by randomly opening the Old Testament, and in miraculous, ambiguous fashion from forgers inspired by god I was made to see the light. The post and comments is exactly why children don’t play ball in the men’s league. No matter the score, we can all claim victory! This was a painful display of zeal without knowledge. I could only guess, but is Banyon from the US where hanging on to disproved myth is a badge of honor? I have a relative that just knows what she knows. No amount of overwhelming evidence can shake that. No sound reasoning can spoil it. “Be humble. You might be wrong” only applies to the faithless I suppose.

ps.. I would link the thread but is just too painful. If you missed it, lucky you.

Jesús Viene

(Jesus is Coming) According to a coworker of mine, almost every local, national, or world event is opening another seal, or relates to 1 of 4 horseman or a prophetic fulfillment. I believe him a lot because of the TBN podcasts he listens to all the time. And I mean all the time. So he really knows. He’s actually super smart, and he wrote a letter to president Obama, and now Trump. Still waiting to hear back but his warning about the coming apocalypse needs to be heard by the higher ups. Why does he do this? Two reasons. God spoke to him. The train blared its horn right when he said amen to a prayer he was offering. That was a sign. And 2, he’s worried about us. He’s not worried for himself because he is going to he taken up. Miss the whole thing. But really, what a nice guy.

Christians Unaware

Evidently I have the light and don’t even know it. Jesus is working through me, and I don’t even know it. Twice this week I had brief discussions about my non belief, and twice my mere countenance was attributed to Jesus working through me. And I would be a Christian if I understood the message. I am a “Christian unaware”. (Billy the kid 2nd left in a rare photo with Pat Garret on right)

But see the reason I’m not Christian is that I do understand the doctrine. I also understand the control mechanisms at work. I also understand that if I pray, nothing ever happens unless you look really hard for subtle non existent hints that your prayer was answered in some way other than what you wanted. For your own good. I also know I can get spiritual followers by telling big emotional lies that mimic the spirit. I also understand that to make sense of it takes a lot of hairsplitting explanations and then you have to just decide to believe it because that is the only way it makes sense.

Off The Wall Here

I went through this as a kid. Finally some awareness to a horrible practice in the Mormon church. Please take a minute to read some of these testimonials highlighted at the bottom of the article. Sign the petition if you feel inclined. Although I no longer am affiliated with the mormons, I think it’s important to protect these innocent kids until they have the ability to get out of this mess. https://invisiblescubit.wordpress.com/2017/12/07/petition-already-protecting-children/ This is an embarrassing part of my childhood and important to get this out there. Thanks everyone. I think you’d be surprised how long this has been going on. Happened to me in the 70’s.

On The Problem of Good

Once in a while you stumble across something so contrary to the main views of the world that is so compelling, so convincing, that you really have to evaluate what you think you believe. As a fairly new deconvert, I found this a compelling and contrary view of good and evil, and it presented itself very plausible and convincing. A work that is very hard to counter without interjecting words like “belief” and “faith”. Another reviewer on Amazon put it well–“The research and supporting argumentation is frighteningly persuasive and would pass any Doctorate board of review.” Thank you John for the excellent work. Much appreciated! You can find the book here. On the Problem of Good (The Owner of All Infernal Names) https://www.amazon.com/dp/154247793X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_t4wkAbD9VC5W1

I’ve been Proselytized!

A nurse at work told me yesterday I seem like a believer. Are you? I said no, I don’t believe in any gods at all. Nothing. She got a puzzled eyebrows raised look on her face for just a second and told me “wow I’m surprised. You just seem so nice and have that way about you”. I guess you were all supposed to look like monsters. (not sure who to credit here. Got it from Bill’s site at badatheist)

We had a nice conversation though and she offered me the best book she ever read that convinced her to Jesus. She was so sure I just hadn’t had it explained to me proper. (Just what I want to read. More apologetics). Let me be honest I said. I won’t read it. I’ve read a ton of them and I just don’t believe any of it. Not a lot of atheist in my neck of the woods(at least that will admit it). I’m pretty sure I was her first based on her stutter. I gave her my top three reasons and she bore me her conversion story. It was all pleasant enough, but she couldn’t really grasp the fact that I’m just not interested at all. Nunca

The Antithesis of Answers

In Christian apologetics the most complex answer is the best one, because it is the only one that will wear out the investigator to the point where they just look at the overwhelming picture and say, “well, 2 billion people can’t all be wrong. Can they”? I was embroiled in it for years explaining the defense of the Mormon faith until I got too tired. It went against my simple solution brain. Even the best thought out answer requires additional explaining and hair splitting. You really have to choose to believe or not. It’s that simple. Then if you believe it you’ll know it’s true. Got it!