I'm So Sorry

Firstly, to the guy/girl that voted on my pathetic poll, thank you. I have since decided that I will start writing about 2 of those issues, War and Global Health, since I have been reading a lot on these 2 topics lately anyway. And I believe many issues within them require a little "putting into perspective", as the media has been wrongly portraying these issues.

As you should know already, even if you are more ignorant than I am, these are extremely broad topics. You could do a degree on each. So each of the 2 topics will be covered over several posts and even then I'll be choosing specific topics to write on. For war, I'll be focusing on the more recent wars such as the Gulf War, Rwandan Genocide and maybe Iraq War, Afghan War and the latest Congo conflict. It will be unlikely that I will cover much of WW II. For Global Health, my main focus would be on Healthcare systems around the world, as well as maybe, depending on how much I can read, epidemics and health in developing countries.

Oh and I will start in a couple of days(bout 4), when I am done reading about evolution, for exam sake. It's a wonder how little I know about my ancestors.

Now for the main part of this post. I would like to talk about religious beliefs. You might or might not know that I am an Atheist, and have no intention whatsoever to convert to any religion. But here's the thing, I try my best to respect every religion, from Islam to Scientology. I generally do not like to discuss religion, as people get way too sensitive about it, and as you can see I rarely, if ever, crack a joke about religion, even if people around me do. Many racial jokes, all with no bad intentions, but none on religion. This, in fact, is the first post on this blog that I chose to discuss religion.

Just so you know, I do not mean to offend anyone with my views here, or to convert you with my thinking, but I believe I have a strong point to make. My particular qualm here is with "forcing your beliefs on to others". You see I respect your religion, and I hope you respect mine(or the lack thereof). I'd just like to add that, I am very grateful that the majority of my friends thus far have been very respectful of my beliefs, or perhaps I dissociate myself from those who do not. Hence, this is not a generalisation, but is only directed to the minority who are so narrow-minded they do not deserve that brain size of theirs that evolution has gifted Homo Sapiens(from my textbook, we have a larger brain than our ancestors).

In particular, I cannot accept the statement "If you do not believe in God/convert to Christianity, you will go to Hell," or its other variants.

I hope this isn't from the Bible(I don't read it, so I don't know), or from other religious books(New/Old Testament). And I believe it isn't. It is simply a misinterpretation of it.

This phrase is flawed on so many levels that if you use it, you will only demonstrate your stupidity to all those around you at that point of time(refer to brain size comment above).

I will not need to list out all those flaws, you wouldn't like to read it either. I'll just ask those who do use the phrase one simple question.

If I do not believe in God/Christianity, what makes you think I believe in the existence of heaven and hell in the first place?

If that does not justify not using the phrase, Darwin says you should "Jump".

Lastly, I'd like to say that, religious beliefs are not required for a person to be "good". Intentions are what matters. Spiritual beings are only there to guide us, not move us. Forcing your beliefs on to others will only make you a hypocrite, as I believe many religions stand for freedom. Freedom of belief, includes the word freedom. If you do not believe in Freedom of belief, may I please ask you not to complain when your government limits your freedom of speech in whatever country you may be in.

Now, this is not meant to disrespect Holy figures, as there are many that I highly respect and have done the world more good than I ever would be able to, even if given 9 lives, but as before, only to the minority who I consider "misled". It is to those who think that their sole purpose on this earth is to "force their beliefs on to others", to spread the faith. What good will it bring, may I ask? Do they think by doing so, they will bring more good to this world than a poor guy/girl that risk their life trying to find a solution to starvation, trying to reduce child mortality, trying to bring an end to poverty? I hope they do know that even a scientist who has a minor breakthrough, or an environmentalist is saving more lives than them.

I recommend the movie The Cider House Rules. Have a look at the Doctor that works at the orphanage, and his stance on abortion(or the lack thereof).

Oscar Wilde(hehe, again), got it all right.
"We are not sent into the world to air our moral prejudices."
If God sent you on to this earth to "force your beliefs onto others", he wouldv'e just as easily made the whole world believe in Him.

Of cause, by agreeing with Wilde I am being a hypocrite, but that is one thing no one is free from, right?

As to why I am an Atheist and wish to remain so, it would take another post of similar length to explain, and I do not see the need for it. After all, MY beliefs are MY beliefs.

Thank you. Looking forward to more important and more intellectually stimulating issues. Back to spider catching.