New Year, New Adventure

First came Susi's Soap Box, then PhiloSusi and now I have a website where all my thoughts will go.

IWriteHer.com

Please join me there. And/or you can like the FB page - I Write Her 

That's where you'll find me sharing my guts. :)

Privileged, I Am

It's not hard to see I'm privileged. Looking at that wheel, I fit neatly into many of those categories.

I'm fortunate. Plain and simple. Being privileged gives me opportunities and options in life. I accept that, but don't automatically respond that it should afford me better treatment in life.

For all those out there who are embracing privilege at the expense of others, please stop acting like you are entitled to it. In reality you are just lucky!

Haphazardly winning that jackpot of  fortuitousness isn't a virtue or worthy of applause. It's by chance you are who you are.

Shame on you for thinking you can look down on those with less privilege. As if you are better.

Right. 

Yes, you are privileged, but also, an entitled and truly despicable human being.

Betrayal

Your actions made me feel like I wasn't special to you.

You claimed...

     I was important to you. Did you show it?

     I was a good friend. But obviously not enough for you.

     You loved me unconditionally, but I was too much to take.

     I was unique and different, but I was too combative because of the way I think.

     I was such a role model, but truly too honest for you. What with all the speaking out so much.

     It's good that I'm honest. But I just wasn't sensitive enough to others.

But I was just being me.

And you didn't know how to take me.

Then I doubted myself because of you.

I shouldn't have.

Our connection ceased to exist because of selfishness. Your selfishness, and your ego.

A war of two individuals whose permanent solution ended up in no victory for either side. And you gave up while I was actually still fighting for us. 

Then I let you go.... willingly.

Self-preservation was required.

I realized that all you would do is continue to injure me.

Just know...

I am important.

     I have value.

          I am special.

               You will never fuck me over again.

Just Waiting For You To Die...

... misogynists
... bigots
... racists
... willfully ignorant
... intolerant of others
... black and white world viewers
... self-absorbed people using any means necessary to promote their world view
... extremists, in thinking and in action, in any subject matter
... anti-intellectuals or anti-progress
... arrogant people
... manipulators

but what I hate most - the above indoctrinating our children! The only good thing is, the more of you die the less indoctrination that will occur.

Myself and others will continue to point out what is inherently wrong with your attitude, shut you down at every turn and ensure that others don't follow your way of thinking.

We promise.

Old Day, Same As The New Day

www.vosizneias.com

It's not a new year, it's just another day. Let's be clear. Nothing changes from one day to the next. If your 2016 was shitty, it will be so in 2017 UNLESS something affects your circumstances either by chance or actual intentional interventions.

I find it mildly irritating that humans like to pretend that a man-created calendar provides an illusion that things will just mysteriously change on their own. They don't. Or that because it's a new year your resolve will be stronger. It won't if you didn't have the determination to begin with. Please stop with all this nonsense of making resolutions at the beginning of the year. Fucking change your life around when you notice it sucks (if you can) or get help from others who will contribute to it being turned around. Maybe then at the end of the year you won't feel quite so sorry for yourselves and then be grateful that your life was actually pretty good all things considered.

And this thinking that "oh no, so many good people lost this year!"... well duh!!! People die, that's a fact! Are we shocked? Do we lament? Of course. Who wants their favorites to die? Is it all very sad? Of course. But this is life! We are born and we will die. We're not immortal, we're live human beings that will eventually cease to function. And news flash, it's only going to get worse as the heroes and idols we grew up with are getting older just like us. 2017 will probably be a higher death toll statistically, and it will include more of our own circle of close people. Let's start being realistic, people.

Celebrations to put the year behind us and usher in the new is a way for the human mind to get over the crap they had to deal with. Every year there are shitty situations peppered in, and at the end of the year there is a hope that the next one won't be as hellish. That's it. Call it what it is. But thinking that we're going to look back at less problem-free times in our lives and they will magically come back the next year is just wishful-thinking. Think about it. As we get older we are so much more exposed to situations that could turn bad, and we are also more responsible for things (usually, unless you're just an immature asshole or never been in that position where you could be) where there is a possibility of something going wrong. All these things continue to escalate UNLESS we make choices that change that to minimize problematic times for ourselves.

And life doesn't give a shit, so remember that. Bad things do and will continue to happen. You either are in the path of it or you are not. Prepare, and secure yourself and loved ones for those moments that are out of your control; then deal with them as best as you can in the aftermath.

Wishing you a  HAPPY NEXT DAY,try to understand it's not a guarantee.

Imperfect Word

 clraik.com

Recently, a Christian friend told me she believed the bible is the "inerrant word of god". Naturally, a chuckle escaped knowing what I little I do know about the history of the bible, but enough to make it suspect as a credible source for a God, and specifically for a Jesus. I composed myself and proceeded to discuss what she believed.

We are all familiar with storytelling and how generations will pass down their knowledge from one to the next by word-of-mouth. Let's assume that the practice of oral tradition was used to pass down the information we find in the Bible. As most people were illiterate at that time when this Jesus supposedly lived, it stands to reason that most of what was compiled in that book is just mostly what 'stories' they heard. "Increasingly though, scholars are pointing out that the Gospels are entirely literary creations, and heavily borrowed from one another as well." says David Fitzgerald, author of Nailed: Ten Christian Myths That Show Jesus Never Existed At All. There is also the evidence that scribes in some situations either didn't copy properly, and even inserted different meaning into what they were transcribing. They were writing, not transcribing.

Add to that, we only have fragments of this alleged inerrant word of God until nearly the end of the 2nd century. Again, fragments not complete books which to compare to the current books we do have full versions of today. The ones we do have complete books of - Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus - didn't appear until the 4th Century, and they differ from each other - and both differ from our New Testaments.

When presented with this information she didn't agree it was possible that the inspiration of God would change what was the truth, so the passing down of information would remain consistent.

Ok, let's say we accept that. What about the alterations by scribes, intentional or otherwise, when new texts were commissioned? She didn't know about the information about the fragments, but even that bit didn't deter her because the passing down of information was the truth and sacred. She agreed there could be mistakes by the scribes, but believed that ultimately, the information published in the good book today IS the inerrant word of God because what made it into the books was what He wanted to represent. The Word was accurate.

Now let's finish this to its logical conclusion. If this is was her reasoning, then it follows that prior to the establishment of the current text some of the text was not the 'inerrant word of god. That is what my friend was saying. What ended up being what Christians currently believe is the truth, through and through, no mistakes.

I guess my only question after that would be - Why did he fuck all the other people into believing something wrong? What is up with this dude? How is that loving providing your people with something that is possibly wrong?

Just one more reason to think this is all bullshit.

In All Things, Do Good

TalkIslam YouTube

If you replaced this man with a truly kind, loving christian - it's the same message. Each have interpreted their holy texts (or had them interpreted for them by a truly kind, loving denomination/congregation) and taken nothing, but goodness from it.

What it boils down to is the text is subjective because there are mixed messages in each of those books they read. It's cherry picking. Either the individual IS good and WANTS only good for himself, other people and this world or the person IS bad, and wants only to dole out the same craziness and chaotic directives from that holy book they cling to.

And when I say good or bad, I'm speaking of their intention. Individuals choose the actions they take because of what their natural bent is, their care growing up and their life experience which has shaped them.

Would I prefer to have no religion, absolutely. Let's understand that a human being knowing where their intention comes from - themselves - is a far sight better than those who claim who they are and what they do comes from a god. Having said that, I would still rather have a deluded person intent on being a force for good in this world than an asshole who is intent on harming all others in the name of their religion.

"We The People" NOT "Our God Is A Mighty God"

BeSecular.com

Just because you have a personal relationship with Mr. Skydaddy does not dictate the outcome for "We the People". Making a personal decision to be ruled by an invisible man doesn't equate to a legal responsibility for him to rule the rest of the country, believers and non-believers. Stop interjecting religious law into secular law!

And also, please stop being misguided to thinking this is a Christian Nation... it is NOT! Do just a little bit of research (this is just a small start to get you in the right direction), and you will find our forefathers were indeed interested in keeping church and state separated. We are a secular nation because the historical dudes realized true freedom comes from allowing all to express their beliefs in this country, but legislating it would give religion opportunities to make decisions in a process where faith and beliefs just don't belong.

Our country has a long history of religion trying to creep back into having a strong-hold.

Don't let it!

Christmas: Starbucks Style - It's All Good

Josh Feuerstein is at it again. He's doing his part to fuel the fictitious War on Christmas with his latest YouTube video. And apparently, some of you are following your leader.

Guys, do you not get that we don't give a shit about you celebrating Christmas however you choose? No one is forcing this tradition away, from you or at all! Starbucks and many other establishments want to include all and let them celebrate it however they want. Them changing their advertising eliminates nothing about how you want to celebrate Christmas.

"This year we wanted to usher in the holidays with a purity of design that welcomes all of our stories," said the company's vice president Jeffrey Fields."

Now, excuse me. I'm going to Starbucks and telling them my name is Happy Holidays to counter all the foolishness about this being some kind of battle instigated by the secular community to eliminate Christmas.

AND I'll let them know I LOVE their red fucking cups! #HappyHolidaysStarbucks

Christians And Muslims Both Love The One True SAME God

You'd think there would be harmony when they have the most important thing in common - the big guy they worship is the same. Both religions have similar ideologies. Each want the same things. Their holy books (Bible, Quran) are almost identical. These cults may worship in slightly different ways, have traditions and rituals which are dissimilar, but in the end the god they all believe in is the same. 

Jesus and Muhammed - the two spokespeople for their religions, each proclaiming their god is the greatest of all, and the only one to be followed and worshiped. Think about that for a moment... take your time. 

IT'S THE SAME GOD!!!

According to both religions, if you truly do believe in the one true god, it's all good and you are safe. The ultimate goal of religion is the persuasion of the masses to believe in the righteous and holy one. It would seem they have succeeded in both camps!

So why such a need for animosity for the other and/or this incessant desire for dominance in the supernatural realm?

Seriously, why can't you all just get along? Because the only thing you are proving to the world is that it's really not about YOUR ONE TRUE SAME god, it's about wanting to establish yourselves in the position of being better than your almost identical counter-part.

And that's not godly, that's pretty fucking immature.

newreligion.eu