Forward unto the breach...

So I've more or less finished the little black book. 

I can honestly say, I've read better stories than that one but it seems to be popular so I shan't give it a poor review. Instead, I'm going to display shock that some people need this book to tell them what is right and what is wrong and how they should beat themselves for being human and beg for forgiveness. I don't really find this idea attractive because to me, it symbolises people who cannot take responsibility for the actions they make and need (I'm not going to be subtle about my opinions for a moment) a make-believe character to accept that burden for them.

Seriously?

Are these people unable to think for themselves entirely? Sure, Jesus was supposed to be the Shepherd to his flock but that was just an analogy! People aren't born to become sheep, to become slaves to an ancient, backwards and obsolete book written by men hundreds of years after the subject died.

Allow me to just rewind there for a sec.
The Bible was written by Man.

Humans make things up. We are really, really good at it.
We also get stuff wrong, exaggerate and generally enjoy a good and imaginative story. Nothing wrong with that but when people believe these tales to the extent that they will kill without hesitation on the name of one of the main characters... That is the precise moment it becomes an issue.

Religion can be a danger to our society in my opinion. It is most certainly a threat to our minds and ability to see reason. And that is why I cannot see religions lasting for much longer. We will eventually outgrow it as humanity matures enough to no longer need a bedtime story to feel safe. Our ability to criticise is more intrinsic than our need to believe in fairy-tales and it shows in secular countries like the northern European countries and the UK. The population is generally happier, wealthier and the Government usually works, is less corrupt and change comes because of people being being educated enough to challenge the people in charge.

So. These are my opinions on religion.

Apologies for any offence caused.

My views up until now.

I used to believe that people who believe in a deity could not be reasoned with.
I was very firmly of the mindset that religion stifled people, that it "Denied observation so that faith can be preserved," where as "Science adjusts it's views based on what's observed." Thank you Tim Minchin. While my opinion has not changed about science, recently my view on religion has shifted.

I am grateful I don't live in the US.
You want to know why? This is why.

Reading through this makes my head hurt in so many ways. It hurts my head because it shows how cloying and pervasive religion can be, but then it also shows that a small minority of Atheists are complete dicks about it.

The UK is a largely secular country as is most of Europe. In my opinion, secular countries have better educated, more vocal populations that are sceptical of those in charge and not afraid to ask questions. Compared to the mire of the US, we have it easy. Compared to the US, I think our religious population is decreasing.

I'm grateful that the vast majority of religious people in the UK at least have a functional understanding of the basics of the scientific world. Even if it doesn't interest them. We generally don't have people preaching in the street at passers-by that they are going to hell unless they convert to their particular brand of Theism. That would seriously get my goat. But the most invasive form of religion we have are Jehovah's Witnesses (no offence towards any JW's that may be reading) and the worst they do is go from door to door and give a brief over view of the organisation and leave a few leaflets. Even then it is generally met with icy reception or homeowners asking them not to bother calling again.

I've yet to meet someone who is majorly religious and yet possesses the same passion and depth of knowledge in science as I - chiefly physics and astronomy, but I have a Christian friend who claims that he is very interested in science. I would like to see how deep this interest goes. I may be able to teach him a few things.

I mentioned that my girlfriend is religious. The fact that I am with a religious girl who's morals or tenets demand that there is strictly no sex before marriage should show that I am a guy who not only respects her person, her opinions but her religion as well even if I don't believe what she believes. We work pretty well. Her family doesn't force their religion on me, I don't force my scepticism on them. It's how I wish all religion could be.    

In the beginning.

Hi there,

Thought I'd try something more personal to me and a lot of people. I'd like to state from the outset that through this blog, I intend no disrespect towards anyone or their beliefs, faiths or creeds. If I say anything that offends, please accept my pre-emptive apologies as I know everyone has a limit and I might not know if I over-step.


So a little more about me. 
I am an Atheist. Or more specifically, a weak Atheist. I do not believe that God(s) do not exist, I simply cannot believe in them because of the way my mind works. I am a very logical person and a very scientifically literate person. I place my "faith"- as it were - in controlled tests that are repeatable and produce real, tangible results.
I am on the Asperger's spectrum. Albeit incredibly mildly - but detectably. This probably compounds the lack of "Theism" that I entertain. Feel free to ask questions about it if you wish. I'll do what I can to answer them.
I have a religious girlfriend. She is a "Born-again" Christian like the rest of her family and I get on with all of them just fine. I even attend church services with them every now and again and I am an active member of the youth group that her church provides for the younger members of this city. It's a nice distraction after the Voyager-like "year-of hell" I've been through.

What I hope to achieve with this blog.
Well, I suppose I hope to allow both religious and non-religious internet users to read this and gain an insight to a certain aspect of the global community. It is a way for me to document my dealings with religion and how I feel about it. It will also hopefully show that even we, without the varied methods of religion, have decent morals, respect for others and are generally (and genuinely) nice people.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Aldur