Theological and Revolutionary Musings

JulienP · Black Bloc

Theological and Revolutionary Musings

This is something I've being mulling over for a while, so here goes.

As an Atheist (although I have verged on Agnosticism sometimes), I do not believe there is a god (yes this is stating the obvious). Whether he (or she, let's not be sexist here) is the god of Judaism, our god the father, or Allah of Islam, I don't believe he (she, it) exists. Now you can't prove this, but you can't prove the flying spaghetti monster doesn't exist either, now granted there's a load of texts supporting the existence of a God, whereas there isn't for the flying spaghetti monster, but still. So I am about 90% sure he/she/it doesn't exist.

However for the purposes of this argument I am going to say that he/she/it does exist. It is partly based on a hazy memory of a play about Irish navvies in the 19th century, the name or plot I can't remember, but it isn't relevant. What is relevant, however, is one of the lines in the play. When a navvie is asked by a missionary whether he believes in God, his response was something like (you'll forgive me, it was a few years ago now, the memory is somewhat hazy); "believe in him, aye, tolerate him more like". Hilarious, well I found at the time anyway. Yet the point it raises is an interesting one; that should a divine being exist that you don't have to see it as something totally positive.

The way this can be seen is in five questions which I once heard Tony Benn say he would always ask if he met a powerful man; "If I meet a powerful man, I ask five questions: What power have you got? Where did you get it from? In whose interests do you exercise it? To whom are you accountable? And, how can I get rid of you?" We can use the same approach for a divine entity.

Starting with the first question; what power does this god actually have? We're told through the various faiths that he is all-seeing all-knowing, in other words omnipotent. However how do we know this? Could this be a sham? Could the myth and fear of his/her/its power be keeping us asking the truly searching questions. Let me put it another way; can he/she/it really strike us down with a bolt of lightening? If not, then why are we not questioning him more often?

This question of what power this divine entity has leads us conveniently onto asking where on God's green Earth he/she/it got them from? Did this divine entity always have these powers? Or are they a badge of office? If they are a badge of office then by what right does he/she/it still have them? If they are born with those powers, then surely it's time he/she/it gave them away? However for sake of argument we will say that god is an office with powers like any other office.

Leading me on to the next question, in whose interests are the powers of the office of god exercised? Ours? Just life on Earth? Or all life-forms across the universe? Or are other divine beings responsible for these? If it is just the beings on Earth, and other divine beings are responsible for other planets, then he/she/it is not really omnipotent (or divine for that matter). If this power is therefore exercised in the interests of all, how does he/she/it reconcile the inherent differences of reconciling the wishes and needs of so many different peoples on different planets, in different galaxies, quadrants, universes dimensions etc? Simple fact is, it must be a pretty hefty task even for someone so powerful and amazing as that. Do we really need a generally overseer? If I am honest I am sure the myriad life forms in all universes, time zones, dimensions, quadrant, galaxies and systems will get along just fine on there own. However, if I am wrong, and we do need something in overall command of the whole operation, would it not hurt to try somebody different in the position of god for a wee while?

If this is so then how do we go about doing this? You see because if god has been in power for so long, and has not thought about handing over, then I doubt the person will go willingly. I mean as far as we are aware even to people of faith god is not really accountable, it's really a one-way thing. If you believe, you have to believe everything, and worship and obey etc. You have to explain yourself to him, but does he to you? Never! Now granted according to mythology god did create the whole universe, and I suppose you could see this as his thing, he made it, so he gets to play with it. Except playing here, means playing God, in a very literal sense of the word. No I'm sorry he is not accountable to anyone, not even the people who believe in him, means only one thing we need to get rid.

Lack of accountability and a desire and need for fresh ideas are not the only reasons for carrying out our own bit of regime change. Let us look at the facts here. Here is a man (or a woman or a thing) who has been in place for according to him 6,000 years, and according to us a billions of years. Since our planet formed and humans evolved he has been telling us to worship him. Now I ask you, what kind of ego do you need to have to want to be worshiped by everyone do or three times a week communally and several times a day privately? It also does not set the best example to our children. No-one should be worshiping anyone, liking yes, complimenting by all means, but getting on your knees or bowing? It is that kind of hierarchical authoritarian thinking that got so many monarchs overthrown. There is also the apparent need for the guy to be associated with every good initiative going. He/she/it apparently created the universe (ok, fair enough, you may have kicked the whole thing off), but he/she/it then insists that he/she/it is responsible for the Earth, the human race, all other animals, (and I therefore assume all animals on all other planets, see above paragraph). This is one big ego, Tony Blair is nothing compared to this.

So here is what I am trying to say, we should not stand for it any longer. I mean why does he/she/it still get to be god, (heck, why even did he/she/it even get to be god in the first place), we should all have the opportunity to have a go. Once we've ousted him/her/it, I would suggest (but I am open to other suggestions here) elections every five years, anybody over the age of 18 can stand or vote, and no-one can serve more than a maximum of three terms. My manifesto: solve the universe's problems and abolish heaven and hell on the grounds that the principle is elitist. Face it god, your days are numbered, to quote Karl Marx you are the opium of the people, well not anymore. To sum this up even quicker; God, you are the weakest link, goodbye!
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Teapotboy · Black Bloc

steven · Black Bloc

Teapotboy · Black Bloc

Nah he was really regretting putting it - was determined to change it before people noticed, so I am keeping the document "authentic"

JulienP · Black Bloc

If I had been intent on editing it, I would have done so before I posted it up, or at least before anyone had the chance to read it.
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Big Brother is watching YOU!

Teapotboy · Black Bloc

Oh I convinced you in the end then? Good good

JulienP · Black Bloc

Well kinda, however I am rather disappointed that nobody has attempted to take my arguement to pieces yet. Was it really that good? Wink

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Big Brother is watching YOU!

SimonM · Black Bloc

You're 10% sure the flying spaghetti monster exists?

JulienP · Black Bloc

naivehottie · Black Bloc

The one thing I'd ask for clarification of is the definition of God. There seems to be th assumption God means the Judaeo-Christian sense. If referring to that kind of God then fair enough, but the article is not applicable to a deist God. That is one that created everything and set natural laws in place etc. but generally leaves things be on the Earth and doesn't demand worship.

JulienP · Black Bloc

higuy · Black Bloc

I have been overlooking this post for quite a bit, having expected the latest in the great radish debates to have kicked off. However on closer inspection tonight I see what are quite interesting thoughts not going to much scrutiny. So here goes - I suppose i can reply from a strictly Catholic viewpoint, as that is what i was brought up to understand:

Johnny P · Black Bloc

What!!! Do you know anything about quakerism at all? You have probably picked the worst example of a dogmatic institutionalised religion you can find.
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"...a society that believes in nothing is particularly frightened by people who believe in anything." Bill Durodle, Director International Centre for Security Analysis, Kings College London

naivehottie · Black Bloc

Johnny P · Black Bloc

...i see

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"...a society that believes in nothing is particularly frightened by people who believe in anything." Bill Durodle, Director International Centre for Security Analysis, Kings College London