I didn't think my 'milestone' post would come so soon, but I've just spent well over an hour listening to some of the most depressing nonsense I've been subjected to (outside work) for the best part of some time. There was a middle-aged Irish couple sitting on the next table to me in the pub, having a long and unavoidably audible mobile phone conversation with either a family member or friend, who is seemingly about to give birth to a child - who will be born addicted to methadone. The woman's advice to the prospective mother was to stay away from social services, and go to mass instead, and to pray for 'what ever you need' to Padre Pio, one of the most egregious charlatans to ever disgrace an organisation rightfully notorious for charlatanism. What conceivable chance has that unborn child got? None, that I can see. The sooner organised religion is consigned to the dustbin of history, far, far the better.
Love & best wishes to all
Sammy B
Love & best wishes to all
Sammy B
Hello Sammy
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on reaching your 2000th blog posting.
I have to give you full marks for "staying power". It's certainly an achievement I could never manage!
I do check in as often as I can and read all your posts, but most of the time, I cannot think of anything meaningful to add to what you've already said. Most of the time I am in complete agreement, as indeed I am with your closing comment:
" The sooner organised religion is consigned to the dustbin of history, far, far the better. "
What chance has the poor child got ?
But the way things are going in the world lately, what chance has any of us got ?
Warmest regards - Dave
Hello Dave
DeleteI don't know whether it's staying power so much as bloody-mindedness, the determination to have my say, even if hardly anyone - honourable and valued exceptions like yourself notwithstanding - is listening. Even so, I didn't expect, when I began all this in February 2010, to still be around 2000 posts later.
As to your closing question, some chance, but not as good a chance as before the current rise in greedy, selfish, fascistic nationalism that seems to have become all too prevalent of late. And, of course, the reactionary forces of organised religion have been nauseatingly eager to jump on the fascists' coattails, as ever. How will it all pan out? Who knows?
Love & best wishes
Sammy B
Hello Sammy
DeleteEveryone is different, my experience of religion very likely will be different to the next person, but here's my two-penneth:
As a child in the fifties and early sixties, I was routinely shunted off to "Sunday Schools" of various denominations, until the age of about 9 or 10. By which time, my protestations and non-compliance began to impart even more pressure on my parents' by then, already faltering marriage. They gave up!. Curiously, I cannot remember either parent ever attending a church, other than the obligatory weddings and funerals at anytime during my formative years. Yet, in their "wisdom" they continously allowed a complete stranger in funny cloths, in a draughty old building, to mess with their childs' mind, presumably because they thought "it would do him good". If that's not "abuse", then I don't know what IS.
Until about ten years ago, I always identified myself as being "agnostic", prefering to keep an open mind, leaving the church door open, "just in case" . . . .
My life was truly in turmoil, and I was forever beating myself up psychologically, because of the bad person I thought I had grown up to be.
Then one day, the fog of all that childhood indoctrination cleared for a moment, and I was able to see through the hypocracy and lies I had been brought up on. The very same hypocracy and lies that were slowly robbing me of my sanity, filling me with self-hate because of my "sinful thoughts".
Finally being able to see past the bull***t, I very quickly realised several things:
You don't need religion to be a decent person.
You don't need religion to tell right from wrong.
You don't need religion to have morals, principles and ethics.
All you need is regain control of your own mind, and start thinking things through for yourself. The rest is relatively easy.
What I can say is this:
After finally throwing off all the "religious" and "spiritual" baggage. Things have been a lot easier to deal with. Yes, I'm still the same person I've always been, I've still got issues to deal with, and I have set self-imposed boundaries that I will not cross, designed to keep me, and other people safe. I don't need a religion for any of that!
Religion, politics and business are close bedfellows. All three feed on power, and rely on an abilty to instill fear and dependancy on those weakminded enough to be sucked in to a web of deceit.
Kenny Everett once said:
". . . the catholic church was a business, and a very clever one, I wish I'd thought of it!"
Keep up the good work, Sammy
Warmest regards - Dave
Hello Dave
DeleteOddly enough, my atheism came about because I was exposed to so much religion as a young person, not because of any familial pressure, but because I was a church chorister, who, rather than putting my brain in neutral like most of my peers, actually thought about what I was hearing every Sunday, leading me to the conclusion, by the time my voice broke at 14-ish bringing my singing 'career' to an end, that it was all utter nonsense. My scepticism deepened still further as I approached and entered adulthood and I began to learn what depths of damage and oppression organised religion had caused, and sadly continues to cause to this day. Absolutely the most pernicious invention mankind has ever inflicted on itself. Thank you for your comment.
Love & best wishes
Sammy B
I believe that's the best written comment I've ever seen on a blog post. Echos my own beliefs and thoughts too.
ReplyDeleteHello
DeleteI agree wholeheartedly. Thank you for commenting.
Love & best wishes
Sammy B