December 28, 2007
The good news this time round is that the year is ending, and very soon, I would have to make some new year resolutions. Another good news is that my Internet connection is now proven to be working great for me and I can, once again, blog and surf the net. Now that Christmas is officially over (though some pious people still consider it to be lingering as it is the "season for giving"), it's time for me to get serious with what remains of my assignment. Besides, I still get some verbal persecutions from some Christians, who are obviously pots calling the kettles black, that my opinions are naive or nonsensical.
Everyone of us are naive in different perspectives. Ignorance, well, is of course inevitable to some extent regarding certain subjects or matters. I cannot say that I'm not ignorant of everything. In fact, there are still some things which I could be ignorant about. But what concerns me is that many religious people do not admit that they are seeing only one side of the argument, and that is their own argument. They do not accept the views that there are more things out there than just God, God, and more God. To them, God is the way, the truth, and the life, the ones who believe in him shall live a better life than those who don't. Plus, they have a bonus of going to heaven while the rest who fail to believe in God goes to hell.
It is the similar to telling a person that if he chooses to become your friend, then he will benefit from your love and kindness, and everything good that you are willing to give to him. But if he turns his back on you and refused to become your friend (not your enemy), simply because there is not enough solid and valid evidence or reasons to do so, you are going to smite him or treat him like your enemy when the time comes (if the time - end time - really comes). Such faith is arrogant in my opinion, and I refuse to accept such arrogant statements from fundamentalist Christians who think that their God is the only God to life of salvation or truth (which is questionable because truth in reality sense is biased).
Every religion, in fact, has their own teachings that encourage people to do good and be moral, because initially, we are filled with conscience, which took place in our minds. Our perception of the world and the way it is made provides us the ability to create an imaginative utopia in which we could put our sense of hope and trust in the invisible, mystical, and unknown, which is supposed to be far greater in superiority and strength. Thus, it could well reflect how our ancestors perceive the rising of the sun as the beginning of a new day, and of a new hope, and that there is an element of god in it, which was eventually viewed as the source of life itself. There is some probability that our ancestors were mere sun worshippers.
- Man's religion, all from the very beginning of recorded time, is filled with symbolism and traditions as he tries to do something to put himself right with forces greater than he - his creator (could have been a fire, a cloud, or a mountain). As man became more sophisticated, he became more sophisticated in his concept of really what that power was above him. But with all those traditions came symbolism (Bill Jenkins).
Besides, other teachings such as Confucianism and Buddhism emphasized that we should not do unto others what we do not want others to do unto us. Doesn't it sound familiar that Jesus also once said this? By the way, Buddhism and Confucianism existed far longer before the birth of Christ. The Hindus believe that Krishna had a miraculous birth who was sent here on earth to do miraculous deeds, just like Jesus. Both were persecuted and ascended to heaven. Other ancient gods such as Mithras, was born on the 25th of December (notably long before the birth of Christ), whose miraculous birth resembled that of Jesus. Yet, Mithras was considered by the Roman Empire to be a pagan god while embracing Jesus during its Christianisation. And when deciding when Christmas day (the day Jesus was born) to be held, the church authority chose December 25th as the official date. What a coincidence (well, there is a lot more to say it is similar, rather than just coincidence)! And what politics! The aztecs worshipped Quetzacoatl as their creator god, whose birth is of a virgin birth to the goddess Coatlicue. Like Christ, Quetzacoatl died, and was ressurected into heaven.
There are many similar stories to that of the life of Jesus Christ, that appeared thousands of years before the birth of Jesus. According to the Naked Truth (1991), there were other 16 men before Jesus who claimed to be the son of God; who were claimed to have a virgin birth; and the mother had the name of Mary, or derivative of the word Mary; who were in the temple scolding and training the elders by the age of 12; who the ruler of the land fearing that the son of God had been born and try to put the first born to death; that they were asked by someone greater than they to move away from the land they were born to a foreign land to save their lives; who began their ministry at the age of 30; who ended their ministry at the age of 33; and who were killed on the cross.
This happened in 16 different events prior to Jesus: Krishna of India (1200BC), Hindu Sakia (600BC), Thammuz of Syria (1160BC), Vithoba (552BC), Iao of Nepal (622BC), Hesus of the Celtic Druids (834BC), Quetzacoatl of Mexico (587BC), Quirinus of Rome (506 BC), Prometheus of the Greeks (547BC), Thulis of Egypt (1700BC), Indra of Tibet (725BC), Alcestis (600BC), Attis of Phrygia (1170BC), Crite of Chaldea (1200BC), Bali (725BC), and Mithra of Persia (600BC).
It just had to be so, that Jesus lived the same pattern of life, death, and had the same ressurection claims as did those 16 men and many others who were before him. This is certainly not about religion, neither has it got to do with faith. But we're dealing with historical facts and evidence. Certainly, if this was the case, it is therefore not a coincidence that these men who lived at different times had the same living and dying patterns like Jesus. It would be absurd to think that it is not a coincidence as they were all false prophets, for they do not know any better from the day they were born anyway (that is, if they ever existed according to what was claimed and passed down through generations). It all boils down to one common conclusion, that religion thrives in age old myths and generations of strongly held superstitions that formed traditions of untested beliefs into unshakeable truth, which are passed down through sheer passage of time and through the power of institution.
The origin of such beliefs began in primitive times when man have limited knowledge of what the world is like. To them, it may have been a harsh living condition within an unfriendly environment filled with natural disasters (i.e. volcano erruptions, earthquakes, lightning and thunder, tsunamis etc). And late at night, while staring into the sky filled with stars, without a slightest clue of what they were, our ancestors could have marvelled at such breath-taking sight (without knowing that they staring into a deep time machine), and thinking such complexity might have come from an unknown and unseen force much greater than they were. It is marvelous how humans have the ability to create images far more superior than he is and turning them into a force that empowers him to do the greatest works, deeds, and sacrifices anyone could ever think of - a mirror of all powerful nature gods and countless myths that surrounded them. It is this creation of myth and legends all around the world, that became traditions and symbols to be worshipped by humans of various origins. For example, it was the mighty Thor that created thunder with the striking of his hammer whose lightning bolts sent terror down to the earth below. At night, when it became cold, dark, and frightening, Baphomet, prince of darkness, was believed to be the one who came out to rule. At dawn, when the sun rises, it was perceived that light had come and defeated the darkness - it became none other than god's sun, the light of the world.
Human beings have the ability to think logically, rationalise and reason, as well as having the power of imagination. All these abilities equip us to adapt to our environment by constantly seeking, discovering, and questioning ideas or answers to bring ourselves one step closer to progress and most importantly, survival. However, man's weakness lies in the confusion between logic and imagination. When man are faced with issues whereby he does not have, yet, a solution to them, it is almost very likely for him to create or imagine an alternative solution (even though it is practically a wrong one) in order to resolve that problem. Therefore, just because the world and its biological make-up seems complicated in many ways, it is assumed that there must be a creator behind such perceived creations.
For those who misinterpret my point of view about where I was coming from, I wasn't personally against Christians or people of other religions. To say that I am personally attacking their faiths is an intelligent way of making these individuals an idiot of themselves. Because firstly, if questioning and challenging faith is something not to be done other than respecting it and tip-toe away, then there is absolutely no proper conversation regarding the conducts of man. After all, what I am discussing about so far is that we do not need the primary elements of religion to do good and be moral. Yes, religion teaches man to be a moral person, to be kind, to love, and to be generous. But, on the other hand, religion can be a force for man to do the most evil things on the face of the earth, and most of these deeds are done in the name of God, and literally according to what was stated in their scriptures or holy books. Theologians may argue that their scriptures or holy texts should not be interpreted or taken literally. Well, if scriptural books like Deuteronomy, Numbers, Judges or Leviticus should not be taken literally, then how well must it be interpretted? By revelations and not by explanation and reason? The historical accuracy of events written in the holy bible and other similar books still remains questionable till this day and fundamentalists still refuse to open themselves to reason and continue to have faith in an invisible and conceivably supreme being. To them, God is real, and everything about the bible is true.
Well, have they ever thought otherwise, like what if they were wrong? It seems like many of them are quick to condemn and reject scientific ideas that contradict their religious beliefs and holy texts. Besides, many of them are quick to judge perspectives coming from unbelievers and ask, "what if you are wrong?". Well, if I am proven wrong, I would gladly admit my mistake and move on. But will they do the same? What if God never existed? Would they still cling on to their bronze-age faith despite all the forthcoming scientific evidence and advanced discoveries in many years to come? Only time could tell.
Let's not be quick to judge, but be ready to question everything.
