by A. Uiet Bhor Some of my writings on faith are seen to be a bit harsh, I saw nothing wrong with this, then I read an extract from a book detailing the author’s views on humanism. I disagreed with them, but I decided to re-examine my attitudes, and to set out my new position in this essay. This is just a brief sketch of my position, as a secular free thinker, and a critic of religion. Starting Off… Let’s get things strait, I’m not saying atheism or humanism will create utopias, that it is always better than theocracy. Reason and history shoes that you can have an atheistic tyranny, or one based on scientific knowledge, as well as a retarded tyranny, based on hatred of knowledge, and scientific progress, usually mixed in with the current religious dogma. This is not about atheism good, religion bad, I do not look only at the days when multitudes suffered under the shadow o...

From an Atheist to an Atheist by A. Uiet Bohr The following are my responses to a series of very good, basic questions from someone who felt unsure of his stance on faith. I answered him on the infidel forum, then came up with more additions, which I enclose in this set of his Qs in bold quotes and my As in plain. Dylan… “The issue arises in that I've read many studies indicating positive influences of religion on (mostly mental) health (happiness, less depression, more motivation, living longer, more harmonious relationship with one's spouse, quicker recovery when someone you are close to dies, etc). Most of the differences aren't incredibly large, but still substantial.” Me… Good questions, I think this is a problem for people who lose their faith but have no alternative "crutch" to use. There are many ways a person can be happy, regardless of religion, as for health, a healthy person, is one that leads a healthy lifestyle, exercise etc, faith has nothing to do ...

by Joel Atkinson I wonder if one single fundamentalist even knows who Joseph Campbell was. Well, thanks to my atheistic best friend, I now do (and actually have for several years). Joseph Campbell was one of those pluralistic nuts (or so they would no doubt say) who dared to see the beauty in diversity of culture and mythology and went a step further to criticize the way in which Christians, Muslims, and Jewish people get caught up in the metaphors of their mythologies to a harmful extent. "A harmful extent?", some may ask. Yeah, the extent to where the Jews of old invaded lands occupied by their native peoples only to slaughter them all, tear down their gods and sacred places, claim their land for themselves, and then stamp it with the always dependable "God said I could" bullshit excuse. Yes sir, the extent to where the Christians of only some few hundred years ago reenacted the same story when they came to this wild and free paradise called Amer...

by A. Uiet Bhor Introspection is an untrustworthy guide, I’d rather look to what is real, nature, and out best model of understanding it, in order to build a moral philosophy. Social Darwinism is disliked by evolutionists, it is too Malthusian, un-compassionate, so morality is created separately from the world of science, but there still is some pointers from Darwin’s work for the social engineer. Evolution was seen by Wallace has having nothing to say on the subject of morals, however the process can guide a philosopher in how to ensure the survival of laws. They key lies in the parallel of the environment shaping the animal, and the culture shaping the laws. If a species cannot adapt to new conditions it goes extinct, if it can it becomes a new species, if a law cannot remain relevant or keep up with society’s overall moral level it becomes archaic, backward, a retarding factor that society will grow to resent. You must set certain mechanisms in place with moral principl...

by A Uiet Bhor The three greatest events in recent western history was the English civil war, the American Revolution, and the French revolution, all three were sparked by ideals, eternal and great, without which the west would be a tyrannical hell, but idealism brings its own tyranny. First off there was the English civil war, the first fought against an absolute monarch, for democracy and liberty, the Leveller ideals of equality and the parliamentary concept of no taxation without representation. This was however quickly engulfed by the tyrannical dictatorship of Cromwell’s Puritan party. The ideals were lost, but not forgotten and England learnt an important lesson, which is why it still has a monarchy, to prevent any party, from taking too much power. The Queen my never use her power, but the army, air force, navy, and even postal service all swear an oath to her, not the party in power. English democracy is unique, rather than coming into existence through the epiphany...

by Joel Atkinson The high places will come back again. The sacred groves shall grow tall and strong and bloom golden in the sun. They tried to burn them down for their god. Their lord. Yet still they grow. Up. Up. Up and out and over and through and beyond, beyond, beyond. Where are the Canaanites? The First Men? The source that went boom and brought us forth in a spectactular scattering of star and sky? We've gone from the cave to the calf to the cross and we're way past due for getting back to the cave. Hell, even the calf would be better. So Moses came down off of the mountain with those big stone tablets in hand, still glowing from the glory of the god of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And when Moses saw that the Hebrews had brought forth from their fires a golden calf to worship, he was fairly unhappy to say the least. And people today will harp and harp about how wonderful it was for Moses and his god to smite the Hebrews because of their idolatries. How...

by Derek J. Sansone Moses was indeed an exterior force. He had a huge effect on humanity. But just because an exterior force confronts you, doesn’t mean we can't probe it with our minds to see if we desire to trust it. If you don't trust what Moses wrote it is only due to the lack of exterior forces that have not given you the necessary amount of desire to do so. Personal local (Social) construction is a part of global universal construction. What was happening to people in Asia effected what was happening to people in The Middle East. The Romans centurions were living out only what they were allowed to when whipping Jesus. Nothing is supposed. An effect can't possibly be deliberate. We don’t know the first cause...Evolution can’t give origin, neither can Theism…. We all observe a world of conflicting desires. That's it. Each of us interacts with the unstoppable mixing of inner-reflexive human necessities that our bodies automatically need. Our human bodie...