"Role model" is such a responsibility for a freethinking vagabond such as myself.I just chastized someone yesterday because he thought I was inclined towards "liking credit".
But a wise man once told me to never refuse praise, it is counter-intuitively immodest. So thank you.
If I appear to know anything at all, it is because we collectively have much to learn.
A simpler English than this would be what the writers at "The Economist" call "
globish", not English anymore. I sometimes like to exercise my linguistic scholarship, so if I do not delve into the etymological similarities of "ichi
ban" and "number
one",
kasri and
castle, or the Sankrist roots of Indo-European languages, please do indulge me. It might as well enrich the variety of stylistic delivery, further enchanting the sometimes pedantic content.
The godhead idea, at least in it's Judeo-Christian format and Islamic extensions, is mankind's prepubescent infatuation with an overly exuberant - even dangerous- misplaced optimism. It is not surprising that some people held to this notion some 3,000 years ago, or even as late as 100 years ago. But we simply must see the convergence towards the debunking of the god idea.
If you want to know more about "Secular Humanism" and challenge some religious notion that religion holds a monopoly to good conduct, you may want to check Charles Taylor's (not the former Liberian warlord president, rather a Canadian philosopher) book called
"A Secular Age" . It is a bit on the academic side but very informative. Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris and Richard Dawkins are popular authors with more accessible material on secular humanism/ atheism.
Our country need many movements. A lot of people are doing humanitarian work through NGOs. Having an organization of atheists on the other hand is a hairy subject, partly because it is hard to establish a doctrinal organization for such a freethinking society. It has been compared to "herding cats", not much unlike being a mod at JF and ensuring that every thread is posted in the right sub-forum, and that the Kirangas of the forum are not bashing other users or being lynched by others. I feel for
Invisible and team.
I am curious to find out the reason you say "history will make a faster cut than science". In any case history can be reconciled with and even found on science by using scientific methods. The main ideas being openness, allowance for calibration, and a test based verification process.
Watatuua? Our country is not ready for atheism, not to say that pushing for reason should slack (which is also not to say that atheism/ secularism should be evangelized, that would make it just another religion).
My family is happy due to a very enlightened religiosity. I come from clergy stock, actually from the vicarage on one lineage, another one has Muslim roots, so I am well balanced and I guess the Christian influences meet with the Muslims and they cancel each other out. They still pray daily. It has it's practicality if one is solely looking for a simple practicality.
I have studied with Jehovah Witnesses (as I have with many a religious group). The control structure is out of this world. It's like a sort of Christians "Nation of Islam", complete with farcical and even nonbiblical sectarian disciplinary edicts, pronouncements, publications etc. But they are very dedicated to their faith.I only wish people would be as dedicated towards more practical matters.
The zeitgeist of the world is riding the arrow of time towards a less religious world. Even as we are seeing that a less religious world, to the chagrin of the mullahs and cardinals, need not be tantamount to a less humane world. We have seen religiosity plunder the trust placed upon it, while secularism shines despite being shortchanged as a blasphemous scourge of a rampant and wanton modernity.
Full enlightenment towards this end of the secularism spectrum is a function of education. Non educated people will always be afraid to think freely and therefore consider certain topics "taboo" and "blasphemy". Educated people will view this as the remnant of a naivete of a bygone age.
I have written enough for now, I need to read some more so that I stay updated and relevant, and gather more views to write about.
Thank you for your vote of confidence. We are in the minority and it is even more important for that reason to encourage each other at a time when some people do not believe that some people do not believe.