Propheting From the Rapture

The world was supposed to have ended yesterday with millions of people disappearing and earthquakes and other calamities for the rest of us.

I mainly am curious about what those believers think now.

The sad part is that many of them drained their savings account purchasing ads for the end of the world, stopped saving for their children's college, quit their jobs, and sold their homes. As per usual, probably the state will have to take care of these people now so the stupidity is actually costly to the rest of us, too.

Spiritual

People don't really need the fear of God. They need the fear of other people.

Religion and Defectors

Last week the NYT had a really interesting article on Scientology. I started reading stories from ex-scientologists online. It's fascinating how people get indoctrinated into a system and how the system targets people. It's like how magic tricks and hypnosis work better on some people than others.

Ethics and Environmentalism

I have been reading Beyond Growth by Herman Daly, and in the introduction, he talks about motivations for environmentalism. He points out that it is ironic and not very honest when scientists and environmentalists, who are often atheist, try to motivate people to be environmentalists by appealing to religion. Scientists and atheists do not believe that there is a higher purpose for life or reasons why things are the way they are. The explanation for life is based in physics and the ability of beings to procreate. Thus, on the one hand, it is odd that scientists do not have a good moral motive for protecting the environment. They feel this way, too, and that is why they try to use religion to provide a motive for environmental protection. Religion implies that there are absolute morals rather than morals being a social construct. Thus, it does seem like religious people should be more active in the environmental movement, and some certainly are. Daly talks about how religion and philosophy is needed to motivate environmentalism and concern for future generations.

I thought it was an interesting discussion. On the other hand, there are many scientists and atheists who do feel that there is no particular motivation for environmentalism or preserving the human race. These people are thus consistent in their views, and I certainly share that view to a certain extent. I don't think it's really a tragedy if humans really go extinct, and I'm not really sorry for all the species that have gone extinct already. However, I do have my own view of ethics and justifications for life. I think there are good evolutionary as well as immediate benefits to being ethical, and thus, I don't think you need to believe in a God to develop ethics. I feel motivated to work on environmental sustainability because I generally like when things are done efficiently and when things are being improved. I also like systems that correct for themselves and can last for a long time. I think this drive is based on how I feel emotionally, not necessarily whether it makes logical sense. I don't feel motivated to construct a logical reason for why the idea of sustainable resource use makes me feel better. In that sense, it is like a religious belief. I feel conflicted about bringing up the discussion of religion and philosophy of environmentalism. It's kind of interesting, but at the same time, I don't like to focus on it because I think people should find their own reasons. However, maybe it's necessary and really needs to be a foundation for the environmental movement.

The main alternative to scientific materialism, one that still takes science seriously, is the process philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead. This view is radically empirical. What we know most concretely and directly, unmediated by the senses or by abstract concepts, is our inner experience of purpose. That should be the starting point, the most well known thing, in terms of which we try to explain less well known things.

West Wing

Obama as the inspiration for the Matt Santos character

Oh, and I saw Richard Dawkins speak today in Berkeley. It was thrilling! And he signed a book for me. AWwwww. A truthful description of the man.

Prejudice

Today I was thinking about how I am prejudiced against white Christians. I think it's because they traumatized me when I was a kid. Haha. Well, they tried to convert me all the time because otherwise I'd go to Hell. When I was little, before I knew what God or religion were, other little kids would ask me if I believe in God. I said 'no' a couple times but people reacted badly so I just started saying 'yes'. Later, in middle school I started telling people I'm Buddhist because people knew about freedom of religion, but you still had to have a religion.

I'm not really prejudiced against black Christians, though, because they don't try to convert me, and also they sing gospel music.

But seriously, I was thinking about recommending this girl to this company but then I saw on her Facebook profile that she was a fervent Christian, and then I didn't want to recommend her anymore because ew. I wonder if it is unfair. She isn't that Christian in person.

Is Christianity Good For the World?

The article

Religious people too often confuse their religion with spirituality. They are a bit different... It is quite possible to be spiritual and not religious.

Speaking of Religion

here is what some people have to say about suicide bombers. Richard Dawkins is an evolutionary biologist who wrote the Selfish Gene and made up the word "meme." these days he's wholly devoted to spreading atheism.

Discovering Your Destiny...

So some weird kid handed me this pretty flyer today.

"Discovering your destiny - or finding your true purpose in life - can be a lot like finding your way around campus during the first days of your freshman year - easily overwhelming. Yet finding your purpose is the only guaranteed road to true fulfillment and eternal significance in life. It is the only answer for your heart-level quest for a life that truly matters.

This November 2nd, you are invited to begin discovering your destiny through the timeless principles of the Word of God."

Sponsored by Ambassadors for Christ

There are way too many Christian organizations on campus. Religion is like, hey, are you lost? We know the answer to all of life's questions, and we'll tell you how to live so you don't have to figure it out for yourself. Religion is for lazy people!

Anyway. At least they have free food...