Sparky Kronkite
Spam Eater Extraordinare'
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2000
- Posts
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Again, this Patryn thing - got me a thinkin'……….. (Oh no, you smell something burning?)
This………….. On Life, Religion and Death - Today.
The main root of my philosophy and ideas on this subject, and many other's - is based on this simple premise - stated here three different, yet same ways. I believe this to be humanly innate, from the beginnings of mankind.
1) Superior intellect is easy prey for evil.
2) When one finds themselves in a position of power (power meaning superior intellect or "in privilege" of superior intelligence - data, information etc..) then they are "more open in accepting the allure" of greed.
3) Those "in power" are more easily swayed to misuse that power - thus enabling and ensuring themselves - more power. They think.
Note: I am not saying, "Power always begets evil." I'm saying that, "Power leaves one more susceptible to sway toward evil ways." There's a big difference between "being evil," and "being more susceptible to its allure."
Now, knowing my strong belief in that - also know that I believe……………..
That Religion (all Religion's it doesn't matter) at its inception, its creation, its manifestation - within, without and intertwined around and through our human existence - has always been, "accepted and practiced," because of its "great value to civilization." And that value, particularly considering those Religions of centuries and even millenniums ago - was to "provide an example." An example of good, bad, right and wrong. An example for all people (but mostly for those people far less intelligent than those who might be in power) - on how to live their lives. Religion was generally fostered and promoted by good people, usually men who were intelligent, men of high intellect, and these men promoted Religion because of its value toward civil humanity and its inherent value of, "checks and balances." Important checks and balances that Religion provided regarding "those in power" - the Kings, Queens, Czars, Military Leaders etc., - those "other" powerful people - who were also highly intellectual people - and those who found themselves so easily swayed toward abuse of power, greed - and what those promoting Religion might call - sin.
So……
Smart, good guys - invented, nurtured and promoted religion - to provide and teach good and positive examples for living life - for the less smart guys (nearly everybody else) - and to provide a system of checks and balances to protect those same "less smart guys" from getting ripped-off and abused by - those "other smart guys," those who were quite possibly evil guys, who found themselves in power (for whatever reason, usually blood, either - lineage or spilled) and were so often swayed to rip-off - those less smart.
A circle (a cycle) of good and evil - intellect and ignorance - rich and poor? Religion - Power - the People.
But, but, but - let's think - back then………… way back then…………
Life on this here rock was pretty easy and unsophisticated - until Steel, Gun Powder and the Printing Press came along - and even then - nothing compared to the grand upturn in, "information accumulation of the common man," as when electricity hit us. Even as late as the late 40's, right after the Big One, WWII - when aforementioned information accumulation - or learning for the common man really began to skyrocket - life was pretty simple. Most people, most people, most people - didn't think much - they didn't have the tools, the information on which to expound. To think. To wonder. Religion was necessary - especially back then. Until just about 50 years ago when it is, that I believe that Religion, the need for Religion began to do a slow fade.
Most people - well, let's say about half - of the people alive on this planet today - really do, think about things. They've got a relatively, even considering their parents, only one generation before, a large amount of knowledge (heck, they've learned a lot of stuff) with which to expound their thinking. They are, for the most part, very aware of what is right and what is not. They can ask questions and ferret out those who might be doing wrong, abusing power. They, the common man today, as an army of intellectual thinker's are quickly becoming the majority rather than the minority and thus - the need for Religion dwindles.
So in our current lives, and the lives of our children - "the need" for Religion is dying. For the majority today - it has done its job. And as long as we, as parents pass along "the rules" properly - there will continue to be a shrinking need for Religion. We just don't need it - (to actually go to church, to pray) - we already got it. All the current numbers indicate that this is true. Young people generally don't go to church, they don't pray, out loud at church anyway. Their life rules are established - they know what is right and wrong and it's all reinforced everyday, everywhere, in every media outlet. From Kojak to Colombo, from Dr. Laura to Rush, from Telly Tubbies to Barney - what's wrong and right, what's good and evil is "in our face" everyday. Yes, I can understand how a frustrated individual might come to commit a sin, a crime, and do something wrong - but I rarely understand or believe it - if this person indicates that "they did not know" they were doing wrong - bullshit - (usually, except for some true psychoses) - they are lying. Most people know when they are doing wrong. Punish them.
So Religion is a dying system of checks and balances that was necessary in the past. This do to the greatly expanded intellect of the human race in recent years and a current majority of earth populace who all do, actually know right from wrong.
But what about Death?
Because of all this - Death is more worrisome than ever before - for most. Why? Our increased intellect and ability to wonder and ask questions, even though unanswerable, fuel emotions - that's why. Emotions torn between the residual effects of any given Religion and it's traditional teachings upon any one family or any one person - an individuals current high intellectual state of thinking/questioning and consequent moving away from that Religion - and of course the mystery of Death itself. It's difficult to say the least. More difficult than ever before.
We think about Death all the time and wonder things like - where will my soul go? Is there a Heaven? Is there a Hell? God? Jesus? Devil? St. Peter? Nirvana? Will I come back as a cow? Can I meet Jimi Hendrix in Heaven? Wouldn't Heaven be crowded? What about Hell? Hey, Hell sounds like it could be fun with all those sinners down there….. etc., etc..
This new intellectual questioning, this wondering, this fear, this increasingly more complicated fear of Death, has lead to some pretty wild stuff. A grasping at beliefs - a grasping for security. Something to help ease the angst, help solve the mystery - of Death. Some seek something new. Some turn back for the security of what they already know. Some find combinations of both. Many remain frightened, ignorant and even defiant. Fuck Death!
Well I think about all that stuff too. I ask all those rather stupid questions. And ya know - for people as smart as we are, as smart as we think we are - for us even to ask ourselves those questions - well it really seems stupid. How ironic. Naturally ironic I guess.
Lately I've merely thought of death - as change - a big turn - a new mysterious road. For the most part, I happen to like change - I look forward to it. Of course I do not ask to hasten it - I don't like change, especially mysterious change - all that much. But that's my current look at Death. Kinda like jumping into a big black hole - scary but could be fun.
Sure, I can have fun with Death and ask what if…………
What if you (Sparky) stand before St. Peter, in judgement?
I'd say, "Peter, your honor, buddy - considering my time, my history, my life on earth - I think I did pretty damn good, all things considered that is - you see, the Lord, he provided me with "this here brain I have," he put it in my head. He also put me down there, you know on Earth, during a time of a great knowledge boom and information explosion - and that particular brain he gave me - well it simply "thought what it thought." Ya know? And I must tell ya Pete - I thought "about it all" - at least everything I could think of - about good and evil and everything. So, Pete, your honor - buddy - in the end you see, I just did the best I could with the tools the good Lord provided me. I gave it my best shot.
Do with me what you will.
And those are my thoughts on Life, Religion and the big "D."
Today.
This………….. On Life, Religion and Death - Today.
The main root of my philosophy and ideas on this subject, and many other's - is based on this simple premise - stated here three different, yet same ways. I believe this to be humanly innate, from the beginnings of mankind.
1) Superior intellect is easy prey for evil.
2) When one finds themselves in a position of power (power meaning superior intellect or "in privilege" of superior intelligence - data, information etc..) then they are "more open in accepting the allure" of greed.
3) Those "in power" are more easily swayed to misuse that power - thus enabling and ensuring themselves - more power. They think.
Note: I am not saying, "Power always begets evil." I'm saying that, "Power leaves one more susceptible to sway toward evil ways." There's a big difference between "being evil," and "being more susceptible to its allure."
Now, knowing my strong belief in that - also know that I believe……………..
That Religion (all Religion's it doesn't matter) at its inception, its creation, its manifestation - within, without and intertwined around and through our human existence - has always been, "accepted and practiced," because of its "great value to civilization." And that value, particularly considering those Religions of centuries and even millenniums ago - was to "provide an example." An example of good, bad, right and wrong. An example for all people (but mostly for those people far less intelligent than those who might be in power) - on how to live their lives. Religion was generally fostered and promoted by good people, usually men who were intelligent, men of high intellect, and these men promoted Religion because of its value toward civil humanity and its inherent value of, "checks and balances." Important checks and balances that Religion provided regarding "those in power" - the Kings, Queens, Czars, Military Leaders etc., - those "other" powerful people - who were also highly intellectual people - and those who found themselves so easily swayed toward abuse of power, greed - and what those promoting Religion might call - sin.
So……
Smart, good guys - invented, nurtured and promoted religion - to provide and teach good and positive examples for living life - for the less smart guys (nearly everybody else) - and to provide a system of checks and balances to protect those same "less smart guys" from getting ripped-off and abused by - those "other smart guys," those who were quite possibly evil guys, who found themselves in power (for whatever reason, usually blood, either - lineage or spilled) and were so often swayed to rip-off - those less smart.
A circle (a cycle) of good and evil - intellect and ignorance - rich and poor? Religion - Power - the People.
But, but, but - let's think - back then………… way back then…………
Life on this here rock was pretty easy and unsophisticated - until Steel, Gun Powder and the Printing Press came along - and even then - nothing compared to the grand upturn in, "information accumulation of the common man," as when electricity hit us. Even as late as the late 40's, right after the Big One, WWII - when aforementioned information accumulation - or learning for the common man really began to skyrocket - life was pretty simple. Most people, most people, most people - didn't think much - they didn't have the tools, the information on which to expound. To think. To wonder. Religion was necessary - especially back then. Until just about 50 years ago when it is, that I believe that Religion, the need for Religion began to do a slow fade.
Most people - well, let's say about half - of the people alive on this planet today - really do, think about things. They've got a relatively, even considering their parents, only one generation before, a large amount of knowledge (heck, they've learned a lot of stuff) with which to expound their thinking. They are, for the most part, very aware of what is right and what is not. They can ask questions and ferret out those who might be doing wrong, abusing power. They, the common man today, as an army of intellectual thinker's are quickly becoming the majority rather than the minority and thus - the need for Religion dwindles.
So in our current lives, and the lives of our children - "the need" for Religion is dying. For the majority today - it has done its job. And as long as we, as parents pass along "the rules" properly - there will continue to be a shrinking need for Religion. We just don't need it - (to actually go to church, to pray) - we already got it. All the current numbers indicate that this is true. Young people generally don't go to church, they don't pray, out loud at church anyway. Their life rules are established - they know what is right and wrong and it's all reinforced everyday, everywhere, in every media outlet. From Kojak to Colombo, from Dr. Laura to Rush, from Telly Tubbies to Barney - what's wrong and right, what's good and evil is "in our face" everyday. Yes, I can understand how a frustrated individual might come to commit a sin, a crime, and do something wrong - but I rarely understand or believe it - if this person indicates that "they did not know" they were doing wrong - bullshit - (usually, except for some true psychoses) - they are lying. Most people know when they are doing wrong. Punish them.
So Religion is a dying system of checks and balances that was necessary in the past. This do to the greatly expanded intellect of the human race in recent years and a current majority of earth populace who all do, actually know right from wrong.
But what about Death?
Because of all this - Death is more worrisome than ever before - for most. Why? Our increased intellect and ability to wonder and ask questions, even though unanswerable, fuel emotions - that's why. Emotions torn between the residual effects of any given Religion and it's traditional teachings upon any one family or any one person - an individuals current high intellectual state of thinking/questioning and consequent moving away from that Religion - and of course the mystery of Death itself. It's difficult to say the least. More difficult than ever before.
We think about Death all the time and wonder things like - where will my soul go? Is there a Heaven? Is there a Hell? God? Jesus? Devil? St. Peter? Nirvana? Will I come back as a cow? Can I meet Jimi Hendrix in Heaven? Wouldn't Heaven be crowded? What about Hell? Hey, Hell sounds like it could be fun with all those sinners down there….. etc., etc..
This new intellectual questioning, this wondering, this fear, this increasingly more complicated fear of Death, has lead to some pretty wild stuff. A grasping at beliefs - a grasping for security. Something to help ease the angst, help solve the mystery - of Death. Some seek something new. Some turn back for the security of what they already know. Some find combinations of both. Many remain frightened, ignorant and even defiant. Fuck Death!
Well I think about all that stuff too. I ask all those rather stupid questions. And ya know - for people as smart as we are, as smart as we think we are - for us even to ask ourselves those questions - well it really seems stupid. How ironic. Naturally ironic I guess.
Lately I've merely thought of death - as change - a big turn - a new mysterious road. For the most part, I happen to like change - I look forward to it. Of course I do not ask to hasten it - I don't like change, especially mysterious change - all that much. But that's my current look at Death. Kinda like jumping into a big black hole - scary but could be fun.
Sure, I can have fun with Death and ask what if…………
What if you (Sparky) stand before St. Peter, in judgement?
I'd say, "Peter, your honor, buddy - considering my time, my history, my life on earth - I think I did pretty damn good, all things considered that is - you see, the Lord, he provided me with "this here brain I have," he put it in my head. He also put me down there, you know on Earth, during a time of a great knowledge boom and information explosion - and that particular brain he gave me - well it simply "thought what it thought." Ya know? And I must tell ya Pete - I thought "about it all" - at least everything I could think of - about good and evil and everything. So, Pete, your honor - buddy - in the end you see, I just did the best I could with the tools the good Lord provided me. I gave it my best shot.
Do with me what you will.
And those are my thoughts on Life, Religion and the big "D."
Today.
