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Our society is a ‘DEWS’ society. Sorry, it’s best acronym I could come up with at short notice!
D = Democracy (self-explanatory really)
E = English (which only conveys the language used by the majority of society members)
W = Western (as distinct from Eastern. Not a geographical term, more more of a philosophical one)
S = Secular (again, self-explanatory)

What do you think?

“Why should I care what the society is called?” I hear you ask.
I’ll tell you - because like the USA there are religious groups / cults / churches in this country that want very much to emulate the Americans. To add something like ‘In god we Trust’ to our aussie currency and similar insanities so that they can steer us all down the same perilous path that the yanks are heading down.

Honestly, the time for complacency and tolerance of religious mania is well and truly over. Many Americans are beginning to realise that their country is becoming the laughing stock of the rest of the other western civilisations. We all know that politicians (usually republicans) are fond of proclaiming the USA as ‘one country under god’ or that ‘god prefers America’ or some other such inane drivel because they have to tell the majority of voters what they want to hear. In reality I believe the majority of US senators (well maybe excluding George W) are educated, intelligent men and women who just ‘play the game’ and spout this nonsense but are just paying lip-service to the extremist elements of their constituencies. But the danger in this is that it becomes ingrained into society and it will be bloody hard to extricate.

I was listening to the ABC local radio yesterday and caught the end of a caller who was proclaiming that ‘god told me he didn’t cure my mouth abscess because he wanted to rid me of the poison in me’ or some such nonsense. I don’t know what the beginning part of the conversation was about (and don’t really care) but I was amazed by the complete non-reaction to the statement by the ABC program host. Sure, silence really spoke volumes - but I believe that the time for tolerance of this kind of childish crap during interviews and similar stuff that is made public is over. The host needn’t come out with what we were all thinking, ie: ‘oh come on, you really are a w**ker aren’t you?’, but could have said something along the lines of ‘well, I don’t personally believe that your god told you anything and I’d thank you not to bring that kind of stuff here’ (or words to that effect!)

Too harsh? No, I don’t think so.

Some people believe that our morals and our altruistic behaviour is attributable to the ‘word of god’ or scripture but they are wrong. Like most mammals, humans are by their nature altruistic. Not only does this behaviour reap benefits for the family groups and society they inhabit but because we all (well most, the appalling ‘I don’t want to get involved’ type of behaviour that some members of the species exhibit can be explained but that’s the subject of another posting) but it is also ‘hard-wired’ into our brains. It makes us feel good to do something to help others.

If you were to ask the countless selfless people who have sustained terrible injury while protecting or saving a complete stranger whether they would do it again if they knew the consequences of their actions - most (if not all) would likely say that they would do it again in a heartbeat. These people didn’t need to be told this kind of behaviour from an ancient fairy story, they instinctively knew it was the right thing to do.

So, in closing this - longer than expected - posting, let me say this: I take exception to being told or described as living in a ‘christian society’. Again, I don’t and we don’t and in reality there is no such thing, anymore than there is a ‘christian child’.

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I found a few classic clips on YouTube from the Not The Nine O’Clock News team that say it all. The majority view on religions and all their hypocrisy, ridiculousness and downright silliness is summed up nicely in this lot. Enjoy.

The Apostles Creed -

General Synods Life of Christ -

Gay Christian -

Songs of Praise -

and finally, we had to have the ‘A Day in the Life of a Stunt Pope’ (sorry about the quality it’s the only one I could find) -

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Explaining the new sins, Monsignor Gianfranco Girotti, head of the Apostolic Penitentiary said that numbers have shown that less Catholics in Italy go to confession, with 60 percent no longer participating in what is considered one of the most important sacraments. Girotti also recognized the growing problems of abortion, pedophilia, and a widespread habit of “making do without God.”

I find it odd that he should lump ‘making do without god’ (I read that as no longer needing the primitive belief in a sky-god but taking responsibility for oneself) in with abortion & pedophilia. The latter is certainly a problem (and a crime) but the former is neither.

The catholic church’s ridiculous and criminal stance on birth control and condom use is a worse crime against humanity than any of the new ’sins’.

This church would have to be high on the list of outlawed/eradicated religions or cults - I wish in my lifetime, but I doubt it sadly.

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So, here’s my positive contribution for the day.

Do you have doubts about your faith? Do you wonder if it’s really fair that your church leaders are getting increasingly wealthy while you struggle to pay the ‘donations’ to them? Or do you just struggle to reconcile your beliefs with what you have learnt about the world?

Ok, if you do but you still feel the need to continue your beliefs, then here’s some help.

I believe that most people have faith for two main reasons -
1. they have a fear of what happens after they die and
2. they find comfort in prayer to a ‘father’ who is always listening.

Did you realise that you can leave your faith in a supernatural ’sky-god’ behind but still believe in an alternative that satisfies both reasons for your need to believe? Well, you can.

You can be an atheist and believe that there may be a ‘place’ or a ‘plane’ that your soul (for want of a better word) can exist after death. Call it heaven or whatever you like but you can believe that a place exists like this (in the natural rather than supernatural universe) if you desire. But here’s the important part - believe that this place exists for EVERYONE regardless of whether they believe in a saviour or a god - EVERYONE.
Why on earth would a god create a place like heaven but then insist on a ‘membership card’ that you can only get if you praise his name. Is he that lacking in self-confidence that he needs the praise of mere mortals? No, sorry I am absolutely certain that if such a place exists it will be accessible for all, regardless of race, religion or creed or whether you prostrate yourselves at the feet of a super being.

Now to the second common fear.
We all need to feel that someone cares about and listens to us. Sometimes we feel desperate to have this feeling. It’s completely normal and human.

When I was going through a very low point in my life I remember walking along secluded beaches and believing that I was holding some kind of conversation with my dead father, or a ’spirit guide’. It comforted me greatly. I’ve since grown as a person and am in a far more happy life situation and I personally no longer need to have this belief, but I can completely understand and accept people who do.

So, why not do this instead of praying to a god? I find it far easier to believe that some kind of ’soul’ of a deceased close relative or a ‘guide’ (you may believe it is someone who has been ‘allocated’ to you) would listen to my thoughts than an omnipresent god who must be far too busy calling for people to join him (ie: killing) or creating worlds to be the slightest bit interested in my humble affairs.

So, there you have it - simple, positive and entirely practical. No mysticism required. No religion. No god. As John Lennon said, ‘Imagine’.

Finally, know that there are dangers in this that you should know about. Firstly, you are very likely to be able to release your past beliefs extremely quickly. This may well give you problems, especially with friends and family. Some faiths require your belief as a condition of their ‘fellowship’ - you don’t need that kind of false friendship. Find friendships that are based on mutual respect and love not conditional ones. Hopefully relatives will be more accepting of your change of beliefs - just be open and honest and respectful of theirs.

Secondly, you may experience depressing episodes where life seems pointless, but trust me, you will get past that when you understand how wonderful life is and how precious every minute of being alive is, you will find a true ‘inner peace’ that is far more satisfying that any false religious ‘experience’. I find myself more positive and happy with every day. I don’t feel any sense of ‘inner loss’ from finally accepting the reality of life as it really is, in fact, I enjoy life more now than ever before.

I really hope that this has been of some help to you.

Oh, and no, my words are mine alone. They are not ‘the devil’s’ or any other fantasy creature, just honest words from a fellow human being who actually cares what you are experiencing. That’s why I wrote them. No other agenda.

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