probably not benevolent, or anything for that matter

I see something like this and think about the marvel of natural selection and how we've evolved over time. The body has figured out how to isolate these nasty little bacteria and protect us from who knows what. No, I don't think that God made it this way. God can't be credited with everything amazing and then take no responsibility for the bacteria.

Some would posit that God gets the glory no matter what. The idea that our world was designed in order that praise be received by a god makes no sense to me. When I think about all the evil perpetrated upon innocents, suffering and abuse cannot glorify any kind of benevolent god. Malevolent is a more apt describer.

disbelief is not a choice

I did not choose to disbelieve. As I educated myself by reading and listening to science and theology related materials, which as a believer I would not have read, belief gradually fell away. This article from Psychology Today explains that people don't one day just decide they will no longer believe. It took some time before that day in which I realized I was no longer a believer. And I was okay with it. Actually it was a bit exhilerating to realize that I had so much to learn regarding things which I had ignored before.

Would believing be a better life than the life I live now? Perhaps. Could I do it again? No. I don't see it as possible anymore. That fairy-tale life has been extinquished from my heart (brain). How do you ignore knowledge and reality? Once the knowledge is inside the brain and understanding comes about things that most of humanity accepts, there is no reason to go back and believe what I previously believed. My worldview paradigm has shifted and I see things very different now than I did in the past.

me

 

 

atheist....

 

christianity threatened by evolution

This article by Paula Kirby says it perfectly. What she writes describes succinctly how I changed my mind about evolution and creationism. I read and listened to both of the books she mentions later in the article that were written by Dawkins and Coyne. These are two excellent books for a "layperson" to read who really wants to know about evolution. I never gave myself a chance to understand the theory of evolution during my days of religiosity. The word in those circles was that evolution was "evil" and creationism was reality. Now I see this as totally opposite.

Back in the day, I "believed by faith" what was taught in Christian circles. Belief requires no proof. I can no longer live using this mindset. (Too much faith gone bad I suppose.) The theory of evolution is backed up by proof. It is a scientific theory much like the theory of gravity or the theory of thermodynamics. The reason Gov. Perry says that it has "gaps" is because it does. Even though Perry meant it as a disparaging remark, I don't see it that way. Gaps are part of the scientific process. Scientific gaps do not beg to be filled-in with gods however. Scientists fill in gaps. That's what they do.

Since the theory was first introduced by Charles Darwin 150 years ago, the gaps have gotten smaller and smaller. They're being filled in over time by science. Religion attempts to fill in the gaps with an invisible unprovable god. This is the reason why creationism should not be taught in our schools as a science subject. Teach it in church if you must, but not in school.

Read or listen to one or both of the books...  The Greatest Show on Earth by Richard Dawkins or Why Evolution is True by Jerry Coyne. They changed my outlook completely. You do have to read with an open mind desiring to learn something new though. A closed mind never sees what it doesn't want to see.

10 commandments for the 21st century

1. Treat others as you would reasonably want and expect to be treated if your roles were reversed.

2. Never bear false witness to the young and incredulous.

3. Do not pass on traditional myths, manipulations, and superstitions as being cultural heritage.

4. Never imply to the young or naïve that you know what you do not know. They will respect you much longer.

5. Admit that in nature there are no mysteries, just temporary ignorance of natural facts.

6. Study and work with discipline to learn and then teach the great, beautiful, amazing scientific facts of nature.

7. Enjoy helping the younger generation excel beyond their ancestors as they stand on your reliable shoulders.

8. Do not be afraid of the truth learned in gentle, consistent, rational discipline. It will make you and your students responsibly free.

9. Teach your youngsters to use every available scientific tool to appreciate all of the real world.

10. When you offer your shoulders for your youngsters to stand on, be very careful not to face backwards toward the darkness of the superstitious past but rather forward toward the light of their future.

“These 10 simple guidelines can help you make our world better for having lived in it. Enjoy this life deeply.” Stephen F. Uhl, Ph.D.

looking back (a little)

In the past I've always hesitated to link to the first blog I ever wrote three and a half years ago. I called it Restoring Love, but the writings show more of a person searching for reality in a world of religious confusion rather than someone restoring love. My goal was restoration but the more I searched, the farther I moved away from where I had initially planned to go. It was about 15 months after the start of that blog that I transitioned to this one. Later in 2009 I threw off all religious belief and began living my life as an atheist. Since then I've been reading books which are helping me understand how the human brain causes people to do things that are not as rational or logical as we suppose.

How did I live in the religious world for so long without questioning it, without really proving to myself that it was the best path for me? I'm beginning to understand now. It was my human experience.

why dark?

April and May were dark as far as this blog goes. My step-father-in-law died and I've been a bit overwhelmed with all that follows from such an event. My husband's step-father was 89 years old. He lived a long, full life and was very involved in his business up until the end. The business has fallen into our hands at this time and involves time and energy and a learning curve which we are adjusting to. Hopefully a balance will be found soon between the new business, daily involving ourselves with his widow (my husband's mom), and maintaining what was in our hands previously.

I will write a bit about how this experience has reinforced my new found ideas about life and death, hopefully in the near future.