This I Believe October 30, 2008

I just posted a comment on the Atheist blogger’s (mentioned in my last post) post about my personal belief in people’s right to freely believe or disbelieve. I figure my comments pretty much describe what I believe. So, here is my confession of faith before you make a marriage proposal or a thousand dollar (OR MORE) donation to me.

I would be one of those Libertarians who are pro Christianity for many reasons. I’ve heard D’Souza. He is toxic. But I’ve also heard many interviews with Hitchens. He is equally prejudiced and nuts. Yeah, well, I believe in true objectivity which means seeing the bad as well as good in everyone.

I just wrote this personal post http://emberglow.wordpress.com/2008/10/29/are-bailouts-any-good/ . I used your post on Mark Twain’s observations on religion. My post shows how we’re all in a fix of one kind or other. Religious belief or disbelief is a very very personal matter.

I have gone through super Christian phase and I have come out of it as a moderate. But that does not mean that I would even dissuade any boy or girl, man or woman from going that way. Everyone must find their own answer. As long as we respect and respectfully leave each other alone (when we totally disagree with each other) it is OK.

People must have the right of conscience and ”pursuit of pleasure” within reason without the interference of any other parties. If someone wishes to think or hold opinion that men having anal sex with men is wrong, Let them think so as long as they do not actively harm homosexuals. If some people want to hang fancy lights on a plastic Christmas tree in late December, let them do so. And if there are people with exactly opposing opinions derived from their own reason, experience and conscience, fine. That should be the golden rule.

Human beings will always bicker and disagree with each other. Divorce is one proof of that!

Added, 1^st November 2008

GodlessZone said…

Ember: Your post exhibits a certain amount of schizophrenia. You take opposite positions at the same time. You say you believe in true objectivity. But you also say: “Everyone must find their own answer.” The latter is not obejctivity but subjectivity in an extreme form.

That said, I agree with your general view that people should leave each other alone.

October 29, 2008

Ember said…

I meant objectivity as in against holding rigid and exclusive opinions. We all must have an open mind. Both D’Souza and Hitchens are so very calcified in their opinions and prejudices that they can hardly be called Objective.

I am no deep student of philosophy but I side with Kant. He wonders, ”Two things fill the mind with ever new and increasing wonder and awe, the more often and the more seriously reflection concentrates upon then: the starry heaven above me and the moral law within me.”

Then he’s also stated, ”Accordingly, there must be something whose nonexistence would cancel all internal possibility whatsoever. This is a necessary thing.”

It is agreeable with my instincts, sensibilities, reason, intuition etc. But then someone may find it totally hypothetical and reach totally different conclusions. I can respect that if that conclusion has been arrived at by sincere and thorough reflection. I am objective in that sense. Objective within reason.

If someone says he can rape women and children, murder people because there are no laws or no morality in this nihilistic soup of a universe, I cannot allow that, regardless of the fact it affects me or not. You may say in this sense I am subjective and hope others are too.

October 31, 2008

Are bailouts any good? October 29, 2008

Weeks ago there was this multi-billion bailout scheme going on in the U.S. and that fired up a debate whether shoddy management or business decisions should get rewarded with taxpayer’s money. I for one opposed it, be it in America, Europe or Brazil. In recent years I have subscribed to Libertarian politics and philosophy of life. I want maximum freedom to the individual and least government intervention regardless of the fact that government becomes a big brother or big nanny- just stay away and we will feed you with our taxes. I admit government is very necessary to ensure our security, conduct or facilitate our human affairs, legislate civil laws and make sure people obey them. Obeying good laws is how freedom and justice can be protected in any civil society made up of free individuals.

But beyond that basic government function I do not need a nanny state. A government IS a BIG NANNY in most Western countries except USA which harbors world’s most Libertarian state and society (though it is withering away). But anyhow, this was my logic when I said, DO NOT HELP THE FAILURES. I of course meant those fat ass money grubbing manipulative schemers. I did not mean the unemployed, people going through physical and mental handicaps, single moms and dads with responsibilities much beyond their individual needs and capabilities. It is our Christian duty to make sure they’re taken care of. I emphasize Christian because this duty is not derived for any feel good human emotions it is a divine duty-  written in the Bible ( including Apocrypha!) as  well as our Conscience- that we have towards all human beings, Christian or non Christian.

Why am I lecturing you? Well, I have every right to. Most of this year I have been unemployed or semi employed because of a number of reasons one of which was minor but recurring unlucky health problems. I am fine now. But all that time that I’ve not been employed never once I took advantage of a number of government benefits that are available to me. I rather charged my credit card to pay my rent, buy groceries, fix my ailing old car, buy an odd medicine like an odd jock itch cream {kidding }. Now for the first time in my 28 something years I am in debt and have a rising interest. BUT still, I do not want government money, despite the fact I have dutifully paid my taxes for years.

I hate to toot my horn but I have been a sappy dude in the past who has contradicted his stand alone and suffer alone mentality. This was when I was actually a CHURCH GOING Christian. Now I am more like a  stay at home and enjoy the cofee on Sundays Liberal Christian or a Christian Agnostic or a Rogue Christian some might say.

Some years ago I USED TO attend services like those meant for very old and infirm. Whichever church I went to I always- shyly and blushingly- hid $10 or $20 in my fist and slid it into the donation pouch or basket (whichever one it was). I never wanted people to know how much I was giving and I was under no obligation to do so. I was poor back then too but I had no debt and small income to get by rather easily. But I did  give  secretly because I thought those churches were doing some real noble things. Years later now I know, if I was smart enough to let those secret acts of charity be on record I could at least get my tax on those dollars back. Well…..

They say what goes round comes round. Maybe it’s true. But who is the intercessor? Is it man/woman/transsexual or God? Mr. God has always been silent in my case. But I will not stop trusting Him and once in a while bitch and moan before Him and make Him very uncomfortable like some of the psalmists did. Are you listening God? It’s I!

N.B.- It was interesting to note that Mark Twain held strong objections to literal Christian faith. Some of his observations are quite witty (as they ought to be). Here’s a link from some Atheist Blogist (blogger) who has nicely aggregated Mark Twain’s Blasphemy. Fun Read.