This final installment on religion peeks at Atheism and human inter-relations. Whatever a person wants to believe and live by may melt together when, peace, justice and some prosperity is present and available to all to some extent. New tech and innovation will change all the price structures and distribution of goods world wide. This in turn will boost the value of all local resources and local labor and skill sets equally in every region of the world.
“So it is the doctrinal
misuse of scripture; and the misunderstanding persons have of the value these scriptures contain that
cause so many to define themselves as agnostic or atheist.”
Comic Book Shaman
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12-1
“As these designations are not doctrinal or even
progressive in nature they serve chiefly to cut short any unwelcome
conversation concerting religion.”
Comic Book Shaman
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12-2
“The unfortunate thing for practicing atheists is
that they deny themselves of valuable aspects of religion, that benefit many
others, and in doing so they make a (generally false) case for religious
persons to regard them as being without morals.”
Comic Book Shaman
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12-3
“As a personal cost of declaring atheism one in
effect places herself squarely in the center of the universe; and so from
that perspective all else revolves around herself.”
Comic Book Shaman
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12-4
“The mere fact of accepting the existence of a god in some form
instead sets her into an orbit; one in relation to all others: a more useful
and valuable perspective for all persons.”
Comic Book Shaman
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12-5
“In general an atheist may deny herself the
benefit of prayer, reasoning that prayer is a thing one does to appease God.
This is a sad miscalculation, for prayer is not for God but for our self!”
Comic Book Shaman
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13-1
“Prayer acknowledges that there is something we do not comprehend or control.
This element is the spark that makes life a constant source of joy and
sorrow, as we make them, our prayers serve to clarify our priorities and our
intentions.”
Comic Book Shaman
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13-2
“Prayer is a real way to know ourselves and to
guide us through difficult times; and give hope when we feel hopeless. The
value of prayer to a person cannot be overemphasized, even detached from any
religion or doctrine.”
Comic Book Shaman
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13-3
“Upon reflection, the atheist doctrine is the
weakest of possible beliefs because it is only and entirely “the egress” as in
Barnum’s Museum; the door out of theological considerations of any sort.”
Comic Book Shaman
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14-1
“Unlike religious beliefs, that offer at least some
guidance in material and spiritual questions, atheism demands that all
religious consideration must cease in my presence; and asserts that it holds
no validity, and this denial trumps all discussion.”
Comic Book Shaman
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14-2
“Although this aspect of atheism is largely seen
to be true, it should not be seen as a wholly negative thing. Rather in most
cases this is a well-earned defense mechanism many adopt as a shield from the
unwelcome imposition of religion upon them by others. Here again it is well
to recall; do not let the things we know blind us the things we do not know.”
Comic Book Shaman
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14-3
“This expression of complexity in terms of study
of religin must be seen as doctrinal, and an issue of debate and dispute,
to a greater or less importance to each person it concerns. I do not see this
expression as contradicting the things other persons believe in or have faith
in the Bible or other sacred scriptures. That is as may be for each to decide
for herself.”
Comic Book Shaman
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I've collected and enjoyed George Herriman's Krazy Kat since I was a child, and in five decades I have never tired of or lost the thrill his work gives me. What's more, since his work is publicly owned, anyone is free to use and benefit from Herriman's genius. Such was the intent of copyright laws before Congress passed bogus copyright law that handed Disney corporation the ownership of our world popular heritage.
Intellectual property rights are directly connected to social justice and economic equability. This appears a small and petty issue in a world of war and terrorism, but it looms large in denying an avenue of advancement to all creative individuals. Consider that there are thousands of shared cultural properties, characters, characterizations, books, music, films more than 50 years old that would be freely available for the public to publish, adapt or deconstruct as they like. Just as Walt Disney used public domain properties to build a core fortune in the past.
The good and the bad need to come together and even out in this world. The divisions among us are clear and all economic in origin. The key to safety is not keeping persons imprisoned, but in supporting Variable Universal Happiness. When everyone has a safe place, food and education available; when 3d tech changes the way goods are designed, manufactured and delivered worldwide; when the world's economies are driven locally; and fossil fuel use is cut in half: all confilcts can be reconciled, all crimes forgotten. I betcha!
To cap this trio of my final installment concerning religion, this is my reading of the outline naming ideas and concepts; Sweet Neurology of My Heart that I assert affect us all, and are keys to affecting each our own physical brain chemistry.http://shamanprocess.blogspot.com/2015/02/sweet-neurology-of-my-heart.html
