A valid complaint about “modern” atheism is that it
posits no pleasant alternative. If there’s no Ultimate Reason, why bother doing
anything? Like every other know-it-all philosopher, pastor, and “life coach”, I
have the answer.
Fun. I’m here to enjoy life. To maximize pleasure and
minimize pain. It’s what mankind has always tried to do, by codifying it with
religion and culture, or justifying it with cold hard reality. Most of the
ancient moral codes remain valid, they are the basis of stable societies.
Acting fairly and honestly makes people more likely to
return the favor. Cultures based on such simple precepts thrive for millennia.
Cultures based on greed and violence eventually break down in chaos, fighting
among themselves for the scraps. Hmm. So I will “do as I would be done to,”
because this makes life calmer and more pleasant. Why not use our energies for
building and bettering, instead of brawling and bombing? Way more fun.
My offspring are the keepers of the sacred DNA, my only
“after-life.” I try to parent well since this is my only chance. I love every
precious moment with them, right here, right now. Seeing them thrive brings me
joy. This is not magic, it is instinctual survival of the species. And we have
lots of fun!
If you have no family, simply find somebody to love.
Plenty folks out there need some, gods know. Those who love are, by definition,
part of a loving universe. The vicious and greedy create the opposite.
Since nothing really matters, life is stress-free. No
need to be depressed when you screw up, it doesn’t really matter. If you feel “successful”,
good for you, but stay humble--it just doesn’t matter. Relax and enjoy!
Those who die owning lots of crap have traded their
time on the planet for cold plastic and steel, industrial crap spewing from mines
and oil wells and manufacturing plants. Sounds like hell!
If work or life sucks, grit your teeth and get through
it, chin up. Accept the problems you can’t fix; buck up and fix the ones you
can; then go have as much fun as possible. And instead of praising a corpse, do
something useful, like, say, helping people. This counts as fun because it
feels good, whether for humanity or for the Ineffable.
Special bonus: some of the natural instincts you were
taught were ‘sinful’, like using intoxicants and getting naked, are lots of
fun! Two survival rules: Moderation In All Things, and, Consenting Condom-using
Adults Only.
If you want to believe in an Invisible Super Being, or
any other Infinite Cosmic Explanation, go ahead. Even some atheists still pray
when all else fails. Prayer has the same power it always had. Why not, if it
makes you feel better? (Prayer made me feel childish and silly—if I was a god I
would tell my followers to quit groveling and get to work.)
God knows I tried to believe in It. But the more I
read and studied and, yes, prayed, the more plain the truth appeared. Every
religion is “true”, which means none are literally true. We are a cosmic
miracle, wonderful and exciting all by our silly selves. No other explanation
is required. So why not have a little fun?
“Do not believe in something because it is reported. Do
not believe in something because it has been practiced by generations or
becomes a tradition or part of a culture. Do not believe in something because a
scripture says it is so. Do not believe in something believing a god has
inspired it. Do not believe in something a teacher tells you to. Do not believe
in something because the authorities say it is so. Do not believe in hearsay,
rumor, speculative opinion, public opinion, or mere acceptance to logic and
inference alone. Help yourself, accept as completely true only that which is
praised by the wise and which you test for yourself and know to be good for
yourself and others.”
The Buddha, The Kalama Sutta, Anguttara Nikaya 3.65,
Sutta Pitaka, Pali Canon
Life is one long dark comedy, and laughter our chief survival
weapon.
15 comments:
Amen.
Jeff, I was just eavesdropping. I'm glad to know you're giggling. Here's my take - when we pass back through the veil, some of us are going to be disappointed, some pleasantly surprised, and a small minority will hardly notice. No idea which group I'll be in. Randy
Good work Bro. Spoken like a Prophet. That is the real message of good religion (the kind that binds us together) as apposed to the labeling and division that drive us apart.
The simple day to day relationships and challenges are our ultimate reason for being. And yes, following the simple moral principles we learned in primary makes this reality measurably more tolerable. Labeling yourself an Athiest merely draws another imaginary line in the sand. We are all a result of the same creative force. Creation is not over. We are part of an ongoing expression of Life. Some attribute this to an amazing cosmic accident. Some say it is all by design. In a practical sense, it makes no difference.
Thank all you peeps for spending some of your valuable time with me.
Thank you Sister Lisa over in the amen corner. I joke to my dad that this blog is my weekly Sunday School lecture.
Thank you Brother Randy/Rebecca. (I experienced similar spousal computer name confusion when I shred an e-mail account with Dudine. Also, women get higher class spam than men, I noticed; weight-loss pseudo-science and Discount Coupons rather than BonerMaxx.)
“Through the veil” is a nice death euphemism, and I like your afterlife reaction options, especially since none were “screaming in Brimstone Lake.” Due to a profound youthful near-death experience, my wife’s afterlife is real as life. But considering the common fate of humanity heretofore, I won’t believe in any post-life community until someone can point it out on a map. Eavesdrop anytime bro, my nonsensical yapping is on the Interzone for Everyone to suffer.
Thank you Brother Red. You are right, “belief” or lack thereof makes no practical difference. Recently a goodly Christian woman kept “witnessing” to my “unsaved” ass until I finally said, “Look, even if there was a god, what good does that do me?” Y’ still got to get up and go to work in the morning, y’ know?
My grander intent was to counter the atheist stereotype. We’re not baby-eating suicidal nihilists—not every day, anyhow. (Baby meat is too expensive!) Also, for the record, I ran with the Baptist gang for a while; their “once saved, always saved” theology means I already have a Golden Ticket, just in case!
Thanks again y’all.
Oh my goodness! Is that what the Baptists really believe? If so, why doesn't everyone just get a Golden Ticket and then live life to the fullest?
Depends on which Baptists, but, yes. They offset their theoretical forgiveness with judgmental ass-holiness.
Funny how that works. The Mormons have no hell, and three heavens, the worst of which is so nice we would kill ourselves to get there, they say. Yet they are as inflexibly rule-bound and sanctimonious as any Jesus Club.
Mr. J, keep up the good work man! I enjoy reading your shit. For the most part its all exactly how I think on a daily basis, especially this write up.
Thanks for reading Mason, glad you enjoyed it. Hope Yuma is treating you well.
Yea man everything is going goo down here. I will be up in the Wood for most of December and half of January so I will make sure and stop by and say hi you you and Mrs. J
Please do. I work nights but we're always up and aboot in the afternoons. We'll always feed ya, too!
Jeffrey, I enjoyed this entry greatly. It was great to feel that old jeffjonesness again. Thanks for sharing. I agree with every word. My atheism has brought me more peace than "belief" ever did.
No longer "unknown"
Thanks for reading homey. I scribbled a lot of crap but every now and then did good 8) Someday we should have a visit.
I'd like that. we come thru there a few times during the summer on our way camping. I'll call.
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