Thoughts of a Freethinker

I just read a long review in the New Yorker of three books devoted to the concept of monotheism. Going back to the earliest recorded history there has been a struggle between those who want to control their followers by admonishing there is only one god and the many other gods that come and go. Over time, many of the public in many countries at various times have needed more gods.. For those of us with limited backgrounds in ancient history, it is easy to surmise the struggle. The Old Testament, parts written up to something like 7,000 years BCE, contains the Commandment, Thou Shalt Have no Other Gods Before Me. I take from that there were other gods. They just needed to be ranked correctly. There is surviving written material suggesting all the people of the original Israel were not on board with this order and enjoyed some other gods. Then Christianity comes along with an updated idea of the Jewish God. The God 2.0 was less prone to killing people than the previous version. But a pro...

When someone in the anti-abortion industry came up with the idea of a "heartbeat" bill for state legislators there must have toasts around the room. That a heart beat has to define the beginning of a human being was the celebration.  This followed 50 years of preaching that a human life existed at the moment the egg was fertilized by a sperm cell. This never caught on outside whacko religious circles so some arbitrary new definition that no one could argue with was needed. We now know the "heartbeat" definition was no more successful than the "moment of conception" from decades before. There is no heart at that time. There are nerves firing and they should be called "nerve firings." But the anti-abortion industry called them "heartbeats." Politics being what it is, there is no money (votes) in being truthful. That is why the Republican dominated Wyoming legislature and Governor passed another "heartbeat" bill. Some commented i...

It is not common in the part of society or internet that I live in to encounter a full-fledged review of Satan. The late Pope Francis made headlines a few years ago by saying "Satan is real." Probably it was in answer to a reporter's question and not part of a prepared speech. I never read he talked about the threat of Satan in prepared remarks.  No doubt Satan is preached about often from the pulpit. But it is unusual to find an article lambasting him on the Christian sites I visit. That is why I enjoyed reading an unusual piece devoted to the evils, intentions and defenses of Satan. I don't have credentials as a literary critic. But I have noticed all gods, and imaginary god enemies, have back stories. Whether telling stories around a fire or in a movie, the characters must be established early in the tale. The Greek gods had back stories about infidelity and mischief. God has backstories of floods and anger. Then he mellowed out just a bit. Jesus was a bit cranky a...

Russell Moore is a big name in conservative circles. He held a high position in the Southern Baptist Convention and is now editor of Christianity Today.  Today he posted he has concluded those who "prophesy" the end of the world are not influencing politics but are influenced by it. Can I hear a "duh?" Every person, in the faith or outside of it, has known this since forever.  Maybe Russell is beginning to understand sociology. That is, entire religions, not just crazy offshoots and end times and such, come from cultures and their politics. Christianity arrived at a time when the old Pagan gods had become not so exciting. People were wishing for something besides the Roman Empire. They didn't find their new religion when the main character, Jesus, was born. It came along a long time later when the rumor began that its main character had beaten death. Of course by then no one had seen Jesus--it was all tales passed down around fires. Russell Moore is serving the ...

Have any readers here fasted. I did it for a day or two several years ago. It was a post Vietnam War health thing. I had a book about fasting, long since disappeared. Like everyone else, I do a brief fast before blood tests every year. I "fast" between about 6 PM and 8 AM.  Fasting for religious purposes, however, is about something else. I'm a little suspicious about why it is advocated. The link supposedly gives us an explanation, it's humbling or it puts one closer to the divine. I've heard explanations about going sleepless--that is puts one in touch with some spiritual sense.  Could it be fasting and sleeplessness are about delirium? That is, they provide a buzz or light headedness that some enjoy and it can attribute to their religion?  Perhaps fasting can be put into the long list of things in the Bible we must not eat, must not wear and must not think. Growing up in an evangelical church I can add several taboos that are not in the Bible. That was years ag...

With another milestone year coming up it means more discussion about "who we are." That is, what kind of country did the founding fathers envision? Writing about this by current Christian pundits invariably includes quotes from speeches or writing by Washinton, Madison, Franklin and so on. Often used is a quote from George Washington's last speech as President which included the notion that religion is needed to promote order.  We note that Washington did not mention Jesus or sin. His original work in establishing a stronger government from that of the 13 colonies was motivated by tariffs charges for moving goods through some colonies. We don't see that mentioned by Christians during this period of Mr. Tariff, Donald Trump. It is not mentioned, either, that Washington disliked communion so much he left church before the ritual. Apparently, forgiveness of sins did not weigh heavily on him. Franklin at one point in his life wrote about his theory each of the planets had...