Synaptic Plasticity

Let’s get this straight, shall we?

In every theological discussion I hear or become a part of I seem to find myself inexorably mired in the same swampy mess. This usually consists of myself or others, in the atheistic minority, slagging slowly through the same tired misconceptions and arguments in an attempt to communicate rationally. I can not tell you how disheartening it all becomes. Why, it happens with such regularity I can catch a whiff of it coming from a mile off, usually before I have finished reading the second posting of yet another Christian apologist professing to appreciate the chance to openly discuss their differences in perspective. Let me attempt to sum this up, at least from my point of view.

Atheism is not a religion!


1)  I attend no weekly service.

2)  I practice no dogmatic rituals.

3)  I do not presume to foist my personal opinions off on every person I meet regardless of what they think or feel.

4)  I do not take offense when my beliefs are challenged.

5)  I do not live in fear of hell-fire or damnation.

6)  I do not presume to know everything nor be an authority on any subject.

7)  I am perfectly capable of maintaining a high-moral standard without a God.

8)  I was not coerced into not believing in God.

9)  I did not suffered any dire circumstances that turned me against God, as I do not see any evidence that there even is one.

10)  I do not worship Satan, a Christian based mythological being of which there is also no evidence.

11)  I have faith without religion or God.

12)  I experience love, awe, and wonder…all without God.

13)  I do not care if you do believe in God.

14)  I do not hate Christians or any other believers that aren’t committing atrocities against others in the name of their God.

15)  I do care if you try to rule over me using your God as an excuse.

16)  I do find some value in the Bible.

17)  I do not believe creationism or intelligent design are, in any way, scientific.

18)  I don’t feel a need to fill gaps in my understanding or knowledge with an excuse like, “God did it!”

19)  I do believe we have a choice.

20)  I am happy.

21)  My children are happy.

22)  I do support a secular government.

23)  I do care about what the future holds for everyone.

24)  I am not in need of your prayers nor your intervention.

25)  My life is full of purpose and meaning.

26)  Lastly, not knowing what will happen after I die does not upset me, I will cross that bridge when I get to it.

Here’s a church sign for you…

No I suppose it doesn’t, but it sure as hell feels divine!!!

For The Record

On more than one occasion I have been confronted by statements asserting, without foundation, that to be an atheist is to be without hope therefore giving rise to amoral behavior. I believe the concept that is meant with this sort of statement is more like, since you fear no repercussions from God then why should you feel any need to hold high morals or practice them? I am here to set the record straight, at least on my behalf. Why should anyone need the threat of doom and Hell-fire to behave in a moralistic or civilized manner?

Amorality, as defined by Wikipedia, is the quality of having no concept of right or wrong. I feel I have a fairly good grasp of what is considered right and what is considered wrong, most of which is derive through my own personal experiences as well as feeling a great deal of empathy towards others. It is also quite clear to me that I felt empathy for others, one of my stronger intuitive devices, since long before I ever had any concept of God, faith, or the afterlife.

I’ve spent over half of my life entangled in the web of deceit, called religion, only recently to have come to the realization that I alone had the power to free myself from such crippling bonds. Yes, I said crippling, and I most certainly meant it. If any of you don’t feel completely crippled by your own inner voice when it is constantly admonishing you for not being a perfect Christian, then count yourself lucky. I on the other hand have, and still do suffer from the repercussions of horribly low self esteem, largely due to my religious background.

There were many times in my God-fearing days when I felt the most debilitating conflicts within myself. One part of me felt this sense of joy at being a part of something bigger with a divine purpose, while the rest of me felt like the most unworthy, loathsome creature to have ever drawn a breath. Many of you know what I speak of, even if you won’t admit it. Can you remember going through puberty? How suddenly your entire body felt as if it were on sexual fire, nearly all the time? I’d wager the vast majority trembled in horror at the thought that you not only enjoyed, but might be discovered masturbating. How filthy did you feel? How many of you still do? For those of you that still feel shame, my heart goes out to you.

During the years of my youth, when I walked the path of the Christian believer, I can honestly say I participated in more immoral acts than I have ever committing or participated in since I opened my eyes to the mountains of lies that religion spews forth. What does that say about the kind of moralistic effects religion, God, and faith have on people? I think it speaks volumes about just what kind of influence they have. Blinding us to ridiculous taboos, giving rise to far more twisted immorality than is even fathomable by any sane person’s standards.

Were you to run into me on the street tomorrow, you’d never know what my beliefs or lack thereof are. Why? Because I am a human being first and foremost, as are the rest of you. No matter what you or I believe that is the one common ground we all stand on. We all live, love, dream, and in the end we all die. Just because I feel there is very little likelihood of an afterlife doesn’t lessen what I have here and now. In fact, it makes every single moment of my life more precious than ever. When was the last time you told the people you love that you love them? Do it! Don’t wait until later. What if there is no later?

No God ever conceived of can heal the pain and regret you will suffer if that later isn’t there and you never had the chance to tell them how you really feel. I assert that as a fact from personal knowledge. Those of you who think God will take it all away are very deluded. You can try to bury it under an all consuming faith or belief in something, but believe me, it’s still there.

So when you wake up in the morning, and you go out into the world, stop for just a second and think about what I have had to say. Spread a bit of kindness with a smile, speak kindly, and bind nothing to your thoughts and heart to embitter your outlook, have hope and grant it to someone else as well. This is what we know is real, the here and now. Don’t waste it worrying about an afterlife that most likely isn’t even there. Sing in the shower, learn something new, create something wonderful, do whatever it is that lets you shine through. That is the only legacy that is certain.

Your God is sick and twisted!

I suppose from time to time I lose sight of the world and current events as I hunker down and apply 100% of myself to work, family, and my educational pursuits. I hardly ever watch the TV or the news. After what I heard yesterday I am so very glad that I don’t.

I am a member at a local gym here and do my level best to get there to work out Monday – Friday after work. Lately my work-outs have consisted of power-stroke lap swimming coupled with more rigorously paced laps for cardio training.

Each afternoon my son enjoys his afternoon siesta in the waiting area and my daughter follows me into the locker rooms where she plops down in front of the TV and watches an endless stream of news media that is always being broadcast.

After swimming I usually listen to all the stories she can remember, sharing a bit of my personal opinion on some of the subject matter but mainly I listen to her thoughts on things. I feel like it gives me a much clearer picture of the kind of person my daughter is inside. I think she’s brilliant and often subject to teenage irrationality, but none the less she is a very good person inside.

So…yesterday afternoon I walked into the locker room from my swim and my daughter begins to relay the only news story I think she could hold in her mind after having heard it all. This is uncharacteristic and I felt it said a lot about the impact this kind of news has on people. She was angry, and sickened, and feeling impotent to do anything about those feelings. I must confess, the story has lodged itself in my mind and I cannot seem to make it go away.

A 19 year old man staying in a motel in Houston, TX while seeking work as a…”get this”…minister (that figures) actually placed his 2 month old daughter inside of a microwave and turned it on for up to as long as 12 seconds. My stomach rolled, my mind raced through a ton of information on how microwaves actually function, and I felt as if I might actually have to sit down for a minute to gain my composure. I did not want to fuel my daughter’s already highly emotional state with an episode so I just stood there and struggled within myself to remain calm on the outside. To be perfectly honest my mind is still shrieking in terror and my heart aches for that infant.

Now I am wondering, just how appropriate was that subject for the media to present. While I believe in free speech, I know I could have certainly gone my whole life without ever knowing this horrible thing had happened. And I wish my daughter had missed that particular broadcast. Does free speech mean we should spread news covering such heinous topics of torture and stupidity? I mean really, I keep thinking about how so many ancient cultures were drawn to public slayings as a form of entertainment. Perhaps it is just my own ill response to this story that colors my opinions. Haven’t we advanced beyond the point where things of this nature still draw crowds of onlookers?

What’s more…this guy certainly wins an award for being one of the more persuasive arguments against believing in God. I will state for the record here today, that if God does exist I’d still refuse to follow his example or direction. So next time you think “God” is telling you to do something, stop and think about what you are saying and about the ranks of morally twisted refuse you are committed to becoming a member of.

Bumpypoo & Monkeybutt

Agnostic == Atheist

Praise be to the Almighty Milk Jug!!!

But wait!!! Which is the One True Milk…whole, low fat, skim, chocolate, soy, strawberry…man looks like I am back to square one.