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The impression forces itself upon one that men measure by false standards,
that everyone seeks power, success, riches for himself, and admires others
who attain them, while undervaluing the truly precious thing in life.
~ Sigmund Freud
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Initial: Frederick
Profession: Psychology Undergraduate
Birthday: days left
Height: 1.76m
Weight: 63kg
Blood Type: A+
Waist size: 29-30 inches
Hobbies: Blogging; Reading; Songs & Movies; Chill out
Most Disliked Food: Anything crustacean - due to allergy
Favourite Songs to Sing to: For You (self-composed) & The Promise
Favourite Body Parts: Nose; Jaws
Schools: Pei Chun Public School (1989 - 1995); Chong Boon Secondary School (1996 - 1999); Nanyang Polytechnic (2000 - 2003); Monash University (2006 - )
Imagine there's no heaven, It's easy if you try, No hell below us, Above us only sky, Imagine all the people living for today...
Imagine there's no countries, It isn't hard to do, Nothing to kill or die for, And no religion too, Imagine all the people living life in peace...
You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one, I hope some day you'll join us, and the world will live as one.
Imagine no possessions, I wonder if you can, No need for greed or hunger, Or brotherhood of man, Imagine all the people sharing all the world...
You! You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one, I hope some day you'll join us, and the world will live as one.
You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one, I hope some day you'll join us, and the world will live as one.
February 17, 2008
I want to speak out, and at the same time, come out of my closet. I know that I cannot remain in my closet for long, and I know that my belief and world view shape the way I perceive things and behave towards others.
We live in a messed up world, with two main competing ideas. One of which is the idea that we have special hereditary features passed on by our parents who, they themselves, have gotten those features from their parents. The list goes backwards to the age of our primitive common ancestor, as primitive as the Australopithecus. Even the Australopithecus is not primitive enough. All thanks to Charles Darwin, and the rest of the remaining scientists, palaeontologists, geologists, and many other professions. Another idea which we now commonly face is the concept of creationism - the hypothesis which states that the complexity of living organisms has to do with a force of a designer, whom most religious institutions describe as God the creator.
With slight reluctance, I attended the weekend service with my girlfriend today. As usual, and not surprising for me, the pastor preached about some moral principles, which I wouldn't even bring myself to take down the notes. These moral principles are indeed very useful, and everybody in the secular society would definitely agree them to be so. Of course, no one likes to be immoral or do evil without any involvement of the 'push' factor. Any sane and normal intelligent being would agree to today's sermon (more like seminar) that we should have our own moral values that eventually build up our self-respect and relationship with others, which are the only things that would be durable in my opinion.
One thing I agree with the pastor is that religion is an institution just like any organisation or company one is searching to work for. There are many companies one could work for in this world, and the company that one chooses to serve in would determine the destiny of that individual. This is no doubt true. So my question would be this: Take for instance, we have ethical and moral company A, B, and C. Since we are free to choose the company we want to work in or for, why should there be a civil law stating that employees of the company that does not practice company A's business strategy would be jailed and sentenced to death? And yet, why would the law state that company B's method towards office cleanliness should be the way, and that any other company, that use another different method should be fined and their employees sacked? Finally, why would the law asserts that companies, which do not sell the same product as company C, be forced to compensate their customers and their employees are to be sacked as well? (Let us suppose that these companies use strategies with integrity)
This, of course, is nonsensical. Because if every company starts telling one another that their business strategy is the right way of approach according to the (silly) law, and that others' strategies would lead to bankruptcies, then this is the hindrance for innovation and would ultimately, put an end to entrepreneurship. Such method slows progress and defies economic competition. The purpose is not to start a quarrel of whether who is right or who is wrong, since there are no clear absolutes with regard to morality (not immorality). The main purpose for these companies is to mind their own business. It is the same with religion (company) and their scriptural texts (civil law).
It makes sense to me that we should all be good to one another, and to show respect, love, and be kind. We all have the potential to do the best deeds in this life time. On the other hand, we also have the potential to do the nastiest deeds beyond imagination. Our motivations stem not solely from the scriptural values we digest, rather, our human brain directs our path. Our human brain tells us what to do next, and how to react to our environment. It is our brain that controls our every movement of our body parts, even to the point of how we use our tones in the way we speak. The human brain is the central nervous system that doesn't sleep, as long as one is still alive. This is the reason why there are still many people around, who do not have any religious views or other superstitions, who are also happy, moral, and respectable individuals. Again, humans do not need religion to do good or be moral. I understand that religion keeps people together, but it also divides society.
What makes humans believe that there is such entities like "us" and "them", or "ours" and "others"? It is the notion of identity within a tribe. The problem with humanity is that of the social. Since the existence of our most primitive ancestors, social needs for adaptability and survival in this cruel environment is the 'push' factor for the need of self or group identity. Hence, the formation of tribes and nationality. Today, we are aware that the notion of race and ethnicity still have unresolved issues in this postmodern era. But what keeps us separated with nasty prejudices and bigotry is not our biological features, nor is it being part of the minority. Rather, it is the way we tune our minds to perceive and interpret our surroundings, including other individuals. Therefore, I am concerned that with racism, comes another nastier hindrance to society's progress - religious intolerance and bigotry.
One basic form of religious intolerance is when some individual proclaims that his or her faith is the true faith and that believing in it would lead to a better life here and after. Christians do that often, Muslims do that too (although not evangelically so), and to the Jews, they believe that their Holy Book is right and crucified Jesus in the end. Why pick on these three faiths? It is because of these three faiths, that had cost the lives of millions or more people. So if someone come to me and tell me that I would be a good person if I strongly believe in Jesus Christ, my reaction would be, "Really..?" Didn't Jesus say that transformation of an individual takes place in his own mind? This has got nothing to do with having faith. This is about being rational minded and acting accordingly to what must be done to one's own self. Once again, the message is very clear: Religion doesn't change a person. It doesn't motivate a person. It doesn't provide any scientific evidence that is satisfactory. It is but a philosophy that, with a slight tinch of God's supposed essence within its teaching, stained one of the best masterpieces.
So when anyone were to ask me if I'm an atheist, I don't think I would agree because I hate to use the term "atheist" to describe myself. The same goes for "agnostic" or "free thinker". These, like those terms "Christian", "Catholic", "Buddhist", "Muslim", "Hindu", or "Jew", are nothing but labels. It may be true that we do not label one another consciously, but sub-consciously and unknowingly, we have already labelled one another by uttering a simple sentence such as, "Would you like to convert so we can marry each other and live happily ever after?".
To me, I value knowledge. I seek for answers and other possibilities. Although I'm always questioning about the way things are or how things work, I do not fail to be opened to corrections whenever I'm proven wrong. That is the attitude that scientists like myself adopt. We may be sceptical, but it is a good thing. However, I do not agree that being overly sceptical would be any better, rather the key is moderation. The pastor preached that knowledge puffs up individuals, making them excited about explaining things that eventually (and usually) the church would disagree. They pointed out that these individuals start to question the existence of human beings and using logic to question this: who made the creator. Well, is it a joke to question everything in this universe? If it is even a slightest (laughable) sin to question the possibility of an ancient hypothesis of a creator being, who is supposedly the assumed God of the universe, just because that assumed phenomena is commonly subscribed to as the "majesty", then this is an example of an authoritarian authority that even democracy and freedom of speech reject. The congregation laughed loudly whenever the pastor sarcastically mocks evolution and sceptical scientists. Indeed, they should be thankful for the contributions these scientists have made to the society because of the application of their church-rejected theories into their priced research. Without these sceptics or scientific theories (such as evolutionary theories), these ungrateful church-misers wouldn't even have a chance to laugh or mock at them.
Am I to be blamed for losing friends or people I love just for my belief or disbelief alone? The danger of religious faith is that it separates people, divides society, and causes social disunity. In romantic relationships, it puts a pressurizing strain such that either party has to convert to undo his or her own principles or values to suit the other party's religious view. In close friendships, it eventually separates the commonality of identity within the group when the notion of faith is being brought up during a conversation. Between nations, differences of belief (or just disbelief) can cause mayhems and gradually take more lives than it can ever think it could save.
Do I deserve to lose my friends over the issue of faith? Perhaps.
Perhaps those religious people in church I used to know don't seem any friendlier to me any more. To them, perhaps I am their infidel, or Judas Iscariot, or a gentile, or whatever bad biblical names they wish to call me with. Did they bother replying my text messages? Nay. Cut the crap. Did they even bother to think I exist? I don't think so. To me, as an ex-Christian, I feel hurt, rejected, and utterly disappointed, not only with the church, or with the sermons it preaches every time, but also, many of those people whom I've made close contact with. God is out of the question, because if He's all powerful, all wise, and all knowing, he would have kick these people's asses.
(p.s. Sean, if you consider see me as your friend, I hope to be invited for a drink with you the next time you want to meet me... so I'd know that you've still not forgotten about me.)
Tonight, I come clear of my disbelief. And I've already stated my reasons.
February 14, 2008
If you think this blog is closing down, it would only be the day when neurons do not exist. I have been on a hiatus since I wasn't feeling very well for the pass one week. I had fever and a very bad throat infection. According to the terminology the doctor said, it was a form of bacteria infection due to my body's excessive heat and not forgetting, my long hours of study. I was really in a bad shape last week, being partially bed-ridden, having bad appetite, nauseatic, and uncomfortable. Well, I'm all recovered now, all thanks to the medicine and my girlfriend's love. LOLx
Today is a special day made public and therefore, not a special day, but still a day worth telling your life partner how much you really love them. For singles, I understand just how you guyz are feeling. By the way, it's perfectly okay to be single. It's not a sin. It's not a bad thing either. In fact, you have more time for yourself. This day is the day you can either stay home and watch some TV, blog, check out some youtube videos, or go out and hang around with your friends. I hope I've provided some good suggestions on how to take Valentine's Day less seriously.
And by the way, I don't think Valentine's Day is any day that special anymore. Not for me, even though I am happily attached to a wonderful girlfriend. To us, everyday is our Valentine's Day. I think.. no, we think, that Valentine's Day is such a commercialised day, passed down and secularly twisted from a traditional ancient Roman Christian festival, that almost everybody today thought it is THE day for flowers, candle-light dinner, and smooches. It seems that the canonised saint named Valentine of Rome was taken for granted long after his martyred death, and even some couples now have sex on this day without giving a damn of who the hell Valentine is. How sad. Anyway, it is a lesson here to tell us that dying for a great cause is honourable, but dying for a supernatural cause is delusional. Well, instead of dutifully honouring this day with our partner, why not everyone of us honour each and every day of our lives loving our partner willingly and wholeheartedly?
Singles, don't be disappointed if you can't get any dates on this day. It is not as if only on Valentine's Day that you should get a date. Don't follow the crowd, be special. Be unique and opinionated. The last time I remembered myself being single on Valentine's Day was February last year. Man... how lonely I must have felt. Back then, I just broke up with my ex-girlfriend and I was feeling a little disappointed and out of touch with my self-esteem. And yes, deep down, I wished that my ex-girlfriend would really come back to me and give us another chance. However, I realised that I should move on no matter what. I tried putting aside all these bad memories and negative opinions about myself and my life, and focused hard (and I mean, really focusing hard) on the future and my VIP (Very Important Plans). By keeping myself busy, showering myself with tons of knowledge - as much as I could possibly get - through reading and surfing the Internet, is a great therapy for me to get a head start on how to move on without a partner by my side.
Then one night, as I was surfing through the Internet, I found the girl whom I got really interested in. And she is now my current girlfriend.
Sometimes, things work wonders and we do not know exactly when we would meet someone who appreciates us as much as we appreciate them. I do not call this a coincidence, because coincidence is randomness, and randomness takes billions and billions of years to perfect. I do not think it is given to me by God either, because this would explain absolutely nothing. I think we do things based on our decisions and what makes two person tick is a form of agreement that has very much to do with selection. And mate selection is relatively equivalent to natural selection. I know this would sound a little superficial, but the fact is that attractive people do get attached pretty likely. How do I define attractive?
Being attractive does not mean having a great personality. I'm speaking in a man's perspective. This note is for male singles only. The exterior look of yours could very well let out your secrets. That includes your body language - how you sit, how you stand, how you walk, how you position yourself in anything you do. In fact, every position you take is a give away to the ladies on the kind of guy you are. If you are a secure person, someone who doesn't seem desperate for a mate, and is very comfortable being alone, any lady could be able to see it, that is, if she's observing you. If you are someone who is not very opinionated or a yes-man, any lady would still be able to sense it. This is very clear that not only your body language is doing the talking, but the words you say and the tone you use is a give away if any lady is smart enough to get it.
Relax, life is not about getting a partner to care for... and then have kids. Surely, there is much more things to life, than just merely getting acceptance. When I was in the darkest hours of my life, I feared for the terrible, I dreaded the worst, and I didn't like what I was going through. Sure, I went through a sudden yet traumatic break-up the last time, but through that experience, I learned so much during the times when I drowned myself with books and part-time job in a hospital. It was those times when I got drifted away into another "me", and without much notice, I am no longer über emotional or sentimental. Months later as I did some self-reflection, I realised that I have become more actualised myself. Thanks to my job, thanks to knowledge, and all thanks to the Internet.
Although I still feel sore whenever I think of my past, I still have to come to terms with the current situation and circumstance. Not forgetting my VIP (Very Important Plans) is the key to spur me on to the future. My dreams, my ambition, and my desires lie in the decision I make with my life today. What I'm embracing and pursuing is the determinant for what I would reap in the long run. Nonetheless, Valentine's Day is only but a day, but the courtship is still a long journey even after marriage.
Many of us wanted the truth in life. But seeking for the truth is only but a fantasy. There are many forms of truth that we would never know. What good would truth do to you even if you know it is? Is God the truth? If not, who is? What is? What is truth? How do you define truth? Is truth a reality? If it is, then reality is a fact. But a fact is still subjective because all facts are perceived. Perception is determined by our past knowledge and experience, and that, everyone of us have different experiences and ways of life. These differences are explanations for individual differences in human beings, and therefore, given the human condition, there is no absolute, and thus, truth is subjective. What can be more relative than this? There is no absolute, only relativity within perceived absolutes. So there is no rush to discover the truth. We can be certain about what is but we must also give a certain amount of doubt in anything that we discover.
I shall end with a food for thought. Instead of seeking truth, why not seek possibilities?
February 06, 2008
To all my Chinese friends out there... HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR!!!
For me, time just suck right now as my throat isn't feeling very well. I'm fearing for my life right now, and am currently drowning myself with tons of water down my throat just hoping that I would get better. I'm feeling cold as I speak right now and I really really detest this. I detest the fact that my exam was just so near this festival season and that I have to burn some mid-night oil to get the facts into my head.
Well, I'm sure some of my critics would mock me saying that I should have started revision earlier. Well, I knew I should have, but there were events not posted here in my blog regarding how I did my research for my lab reports. If they were in my shoes, they would have felt exactly what I felt. My research for my assignments were complete on blood, sweat, and tears. I have truly never been so hardworking since the day I entered university.
Guyz, I loved this reunion dinner I had with my parents, and sadly, I couldn't bring myself to eat more during that dinner. Everything looks scrumptious, but my stomach failed me, so did my throat. I hope I'd get better soon.
In fact, I don't mind people praying for me, since I myself know that I would get better sooner or later... just that this fear inside of me keeps me wondering if I would ever last that long...
I had a traumatic experience once... I am really anxious about getting another relapse. Currently, I don't know what else I could do except resting well, and cherishing every moment I have in my life, with my family, and with my girlfriend.
You should strongly consider majoring (or minoring) in Biology, Chemistry, Geology, or related majors (e.g., Biochemistry, Environmental Science, Forestry, Fisheries and Wildlife, Genetics, Marine Biology, Zoology).
It is possible that the best major for you is your 2nd, 3rd, or even 5th listed category, so be sure to consider ALL majors in your OTHER high scoring categories (below). You may score high in a category you didn't think you would--it is possible that a great major for you is something you once dismissed as not for you. The right major for you will be something 1) you love and enjoy and 2) are really great at it.
Consider adding a minor or double majoring to make yourself standout and to combine your interests.
