About a year ago, Here in Inuvik there was a World Interfaith Symposium, I think they called it, and they hosted "Debate on the Existence of God",there was an Aboriginal man, actually I think he would call himself Gwich'in but regardless he was there to represent the "native world view", there words not mine... there were also Buddhist, a Sikh, Christian, and Muslim Perspective presented...
It was a cordial event at the very least and the moderator, wasn't really necessary because everyone knew that before and after the event the world would be the exact same as it was before. And my thoughts were this;
1) this debate is moot, if they really wanted a debate they would have had some agnostic's and atheists there to present a godless world, instead they had a pacifist Buddhist who seemed to avoid confrontation as if it were the Plague.
2) if your going to have someone representing "the native world view" best to do your research and not get a practicing christian... we'll say although he was a well spoken man, he was a little jaded...
3)why a World Symposium here in Inuvik... were only 3400 people, albeit a fairly diverse group ethnically I suppose but here... really seems like an excuse for people of these religions to see the Arctic on their congregations dime...
4) none of this Debate represents my worldview, and while I enjoy learning about other religions, As I have grown older have become more and more set in my ways, which I imagine most people do. I guess that's why so many religions have kids programs, "sunday school" was what it was called when I was a kid...
So now to my own world view, that there is not some Omnipotent being in the sky, or heaven. I view the entire concept of religion as a construct of the human mind. If you want an explanation of the Universe I don't have one that more elegant or believable then Darwin's Theory, String Theory or Quantum Theory. Yes some may argue that they are in fact called theory's but I would bring to light that in any explanation of something as complex as the Nature of our existance, the world arround us, the reason people have sentience, is exceptionally difficult to prove definitively. One must seek out the most likely explanation by building concepts that are coherent, supportive and logical.
The other obvious issue that people may have with this worldview of mine when I reject the idea of monotheism, polytheism or any form mythology with gods, demi-gods, or super-beings. is that my world view is just as human constructed as theres.
I believe that just because you are raised in a certain corner of the world that the faith that your parents ascribe to doesn't necessarily mean that that is the one you should. I encourage people to study theism as a reflective tool, a study of the human psyche. I think when you learn the biblical stories, the buddhist principles the greek mythologies, inner-workings of the catholic church, the ideology in the quran, an so on and so on, you begin to see that every belief set is really just the creation of people. Every religion is a reflection of the people of the time, each religion has its own ideologies, principles and hierarchies. Those who create religions believe that doing so will better the lives of those around them creating a moral code of behaviour, they use the human emotions of guilt, shame, sin, want, desire, compassion and love to influence human behaviour.
I look at these structures and look at my own world view, and I believe see that all people want to be good people, contributing to society, accepted and active participants in the lives of those around them; in a word; social, I believe thats what human nature is. Now you could raise the point of serial killers and suicide bombers but I'd still say that all people are born good and that it's the promising a utopian life after death, or being raised in a neglectful, or abusive manner that has turned them into the people that they in fact are. I don't see why people need to pray to some deity above. Life is in fact an unimaginably beautiful thing; we really should be out there soaking up the wonders of the world when were alive, because once your dead the only thing that remains in the memory of you, and a carbon based shell of a body that will decompose at varying rates depending on where and what happens to your corps.
A friend asked me to explain a truly religious experience without a god, and I think it's easy. Say the birth of your first child or the survival of a horrific car crash where the probability of survival is exceptionally low. I'd say that I don't have to understand the cell devision and duplication of the human Embryo to revel in the beauty of life. I understand how wondrous it is to love someone or something unconditionally. I acknowledge that as a living being I have the capacity and capability to make new life. But no god or gods is responsible for my actions or creations. Furthermore the human brain is a thing of mystery but it is not completely a puzzle either. The human brain is always searching for meaning and relevance and it naturally links things together even when they perhaps have no connection. So if for your entire life you've been told that near death experiences, or when someone lives when statistically it isn't probable are miracles or acts of god, then you too will likely believe this as a proof of gods existence. However if you look at it from the perspective of a person attempting to explain the events to them self, or as the automakers safety features working or trained medical staff readily available then perhaps god has as much to do with it as the tooth fairy, or the easter bunny.
Anyhow I think this rant is more then long enough, and I think that my world view is making itself clear, I don't want to come across as a militant Atheist, although I'm certainly not a pacifist either. I have religious friends and Atheist one's too, and I'm not about to blow anyone up or start a war because we don't share the same worldview. I don't think this blog will change the world but maybe just maybe I'll connect with another person and they'll think, "I like that" or "that makes sense to me". And thats why I'm writing, to connect with people, maybe you think I'm a kook or maybe you'll laugh to yourself. I just like getting my thoughts out of my head and on to "paper" I guess because there isn't a meeting every week to hammer home a theology of Atheism doesn't mean I don't think about it.
No comments:
Post a Comment