Extreme as it may sound, the origination by humanity of the dogma of deistic religion, of gods, of Mohammed, Buddha, Confucius Vishnu, Jesus, Mary and Joseph, etc. seems, with our advantage of contemporary contemplation of history, to have sealed the doom of the human race. With its imaginings of deistic supernaturalism, mankind had barely begun its evolutionary destiny before, in its ignorant denial of reason, it conceived the processes that would assure its eventual and perhaps timely extinction.

Throughout history, the vast majority of mankind (including or, maybe especially the incongruous Jesus, et al) seems to have confused the worship of "god(s)" with the meaning of life and existence.* Where does this majority (and yes, I realize it's the majority...for now) get the idea that there is such a mysterious and elusive "meaning" to life? And where does this majority get the notion that the ideal known as a "creator" has provided this meaning? And if there were a "creator" of some sort, why would this deity, after so much effort to "create" a species such as ours, keep our "purpose" such a secret? I would remind everyone that we have received each and every one of our deistic ideas and notions not from "gods" but from...mere mortals!

When the various congregations finally figure out that they owe no fealty to "god" or Jesus or any other deities in order to confirm their own worth and to make their various individual lives as fulfilling, as comfortable and as meaningful to themselves (self respect?) and their times as possible; if these congregations begin to realize that our mortality is what existence is all about, religion and its "gods" will die. Religion is, after all, a fairly obvious fraud...it's sole purpose for existence in today's society is to endow us all with a non-specific yet oh-so-tangible feeling of guilt so that it can temporarily assuage that guilt and therefore accumulate power, influence and wealth. That's what religion does. That's ALL it does. It takes no belief in generic gods to expect from ourselves nor to provide ourselves and all others with comfort, respect, worthiness and, above all, some imperfect purpose to our existence. Using our strengths and recognizing our weaknesses, acknowledging with plain common sense our potential for decency and indecency, cultivating our morality and mortality will result in realizing our obligations toward ourselves and each other and will bring us as close to a meaning or purpose in life as we're ever going to get.**

It seems that in many cases, reformed smokers, reformed alcoholics, reformed drug addicts, reformed theists, reformed anything miss the point of both their afflictions and their reformation. Many have, I believe, consciously succumbed to their vices as a way to confirm their existences to themselves, to each other and in a spirit of rebellion, to their "gods". This seems obvious in that they use their various reformation procedures as a further (and often whining) declaration of "faith", worth and life.*** There is no arguing the fact that reformation of any ethical nature is most often a morally enhancing, courageous and sensible endeavor by any individual. Keep in mind, however, it ought to be undertaken essentially as a humanly selfish effort to correct an individual, earthly misstep, not as a sign that one has discovered the meaning of life nor basked in the glory of any "god". People, for obvious reasons, most often view the addiction/reformation process in the contradictory way preached by religion: they rely on the same supposed deity which allowed them to stray to help them reform. Like Pavlov's dog, they tend to react in this "dogmatic" way as a result of what I've harped on constantly throughout these pages: because they either refuse or are not interested enough to recognize the lifelong deistic propaganda and directed emotion in which they are enmeshed, often refusing to acknowledge for themselves the credit which is all their own.

For instance, as many people cite careers, money or influence, I use softball, smoking, the Manifesto and myriad other vices and perceived virtues as a self-affirmation of existence and worth and so on. The way I see it, I inflicted myself with any addictions I doubtless suffer through my own weaknesses; if and when I choose, I will use my own individual strengths, desires and conscience to reform myself. There is no doubt that the majority of mankind will continue (for the foreseeable future, anyhow) to credit "god(s)" for their multitudinous reformations and recoveries. If that misguided distribution of credit pleases them, that's fine. I will concede that at times, the therapeutic value (and that's all it is) usually claimed by religious "faith" can be of some use in mitigating the guilt which is inherent with theistic belief. My real concern is: at what cost to intellect and reason? I would want my own existence and self-worth confirmed not as a perceived reason for the self-affirmation of the rest of mankind to their deities but because mankind can appreciate that I desire it; not as another way-point for humanity on the mythical journey to "heaven", but because it's the right thing, the human thing to do; not as an acknowledgment of the "divine guidance" behind any of my possible reformations, but as a realization that I'm intelligent enough to recognize my own bad judgement. Whether or not we choose to ignore our addictions and afflictions or to reform is, therefore, entirely up to us and we should give ourselves, our consciences and our reason the sole blame or credit. "Gods" have nothing to do with either.

A further thought along those lines: why...besides lifelong brainwashing...does mankind continue to delude itself in thinking that religious "faith" is all we have to sustain us in loss and tragedy? How can one man's so-called faith sustain another completely different individual in his/her loss? As with addiction and reformation, the same deity that allowed loss (as we're taught from infancy) is supposed to be looked upon as a source of comfort, easing the pain of that loss. Now we're right back to the type of contradiction that blows the idea of generic deities right out of the water.

Now I know how Martin Luther King, Charles Darwin, and, yes, even Jesus felt!

George Santayana is alleged to have attended midnight mass unfailingly on christmas eve even though he had rejected all notions of religion and deism as a boy. Apparently, he felt that the ritual, music, ceremony and tradition of religious doctrine would rejuvenate his soul and provide an annual spiritual uplifting. While I understand and can empathize with his motivation, I have a problem with his methodology. Wallowing in superstition and intolerant deistic dogma seems an illogical way to rejuvenate the spirit and salve the "soul". A few quiet and contemplative moments of weekly, even daily self-evaluation and spiritual meditation on subjects and at moments of ones own choosing would probably accomplish just as much year-round. You don't need the forced conviviality and scheduled spirituality of religious "services" to refresh your self, you merely ought to realize that your innermost imaginings, the truth of yourself, your humanity, with its attendant agonies and ecstasies needs a bit of attention and recognition now and then. You can, I'm sure, set aside a naturally humanistic and secular method of accomplishing this. Unreasoned transcendental rite merely confuses, belittles and criminalizes us.

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Page written by: Eric D. Tallberg

Page Created by Eric J. Tallberg

October, 1998