WOTMQ: Fully Deconstructing, Part II
Having recognized that your former religion has damaged your heart as well as you mind, what do you do? How should I know? Honestly, I don't really have any answers. So instead, I just yapped on here about my own journey and how certain actions I took, and ideas I embraced helped me become a person who's a little more empathetic, understanding, and fair-minded. Not valid in all states. Void where prohibited. Batteries not included.
Thanks again, gang, for helping me make these videos available. I hope you also watch these videos on YouTube when they go public — and in particular, read the comments. WE really do have an impact with this stuff. If only to bring a smile to the face of someone going through a difficult time or having a bad day. That's no small feat! And totally worth it! I just LOVE that we can make that happen. And I do mean "we!" 'Cause I couldn't do it without you! Enjoy!!! B
Comments (11)
IMHO, Christians would be more correctly labeled as followers of Paul than of Jesus.
Terrific video, Brian. Ties in nicely with Robert Sapolsky, who's latest book "Determined" obliterates the idea of free will. As you keenly point out, 'liberal' Jesus was fairly empathetic -- sadly, not so of his modern followers or of most religionists. Hitchens had it right: "...religion poisons everything."
The mention of DNA and Native Americans not being Hebrews made me recall the scene in Blazing Saddles when Mel Brooks plays a Yiddish-speaking Chief. In his autobiography he mentioned that they decided on that as the best way to satirize the casting of European-descended people to play Native Americans in movies. Little did he know he was also satirizing Mormons. Not the intended target but took a hit anyway. It's pretty sad and funny when a belief system is so bonkers that it gets hit with collateral satire.
LOL!!! Collateral satire!
Ordered both the Emotional Intelligence and the Thought and Knowledge book. Thanks BriBri!
Damn! I should have affiliate links. LOL!!!
My ears perked up when you mentioned Mortimer J. Adler. I'm from Chicago and I crossed paths with him a few times. I've read most of his books, and I too own the Great Books. Adler was on the fence about religion in his younger days, but he converted to Anglicanism/Episcopalianism towards the end of his life. I stopped following him when he published a book on angels (The Angels and Us), though I do return to his earlier writings from time to time.😕
I think a that Angels stuff ending up in he introduction to the great books series, if I'm remembering correctly. Ugh!
Brian my journey to atheism was so much easier than yours. Being brought up in England and the Church of England and apart for the intellectual journey the C of E bored me to disbelief haha
It all boils down to luck, pure and simple. Even (especially) when it comes to yours and my aging infirmities: luck from nature and from nurture. I also crossed paths with what we call "emotional intelligence" years ago, and it has helped me realize that so many of our so-called "leaders" in this world are emotionally stupid. Honestly, I have to question if any of the oligarchs that run this planet have ever read, or heard, or even watched Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." They seem hell bent on behaving in a way that says: "If they would rather die, then they'd better do it, and decrease the surplus population."
Yeah, my experience in dealing with quite a few wealthy people is that wealth is isolating. The more wealth, the more isolation. To the point where the super wealthy don't even know that there are people in the world struggling and suffering, let alone care. They're generally focused, like a laser beam on only one thing — acquiring more wealth.