Leaving Christianity – Oh What A Relief It Is!

Although I left Christianity over 20 years ago, it took a long while for me to erase the doctrines that had been embedded within my consciousness for 15+ years. It was not an easy road.

As Stephen Van Eck wrote on the Deism.com website: “Once sucked into the parallel universe of Christianity, [a person] is too intimidated by threats and rationalizations to attempt escape. Even thinking along alternative lines will induce severe feelings of guilt.”
Writing my book helped tremendously because of all the research and reading I did. Learning how and why certain doctrines of the Christian faith (e.g., final judgment, burning fires of hell, Satan and his demons, the end-times) were introduced into the faith was extremely liberating … and removed a ton of guilt and fear.

I also found out some things about the Bible. As many others, I had been taught the Bible was “God’s Word” (even though the interpretation of what “He” said varies considerably among denominations). Through my studies, I discovered that much of what is in the bible is the result of stories, epics, myths, legends, proverbs, etc. that were passed by word of mouth from one generation to another. This is particularly true of the Hebrew Bible, but intrinsically typical of the New Testament scriptures as well. Can you imagine the burden that was lifted when I found out I wasn’t genetically inclined to sin and thus in need of someone to save me from being human??!?

Contrary to what one might think, the many discoveries I made did not turn me into an atheist. However, I definitely do not believe in a supernatural being who lives somewhere “up there,” who can be manipulated by prayer, or who has a “will.” Rather, my image of “God” is far more encompassing and has nothing to do with religious belief. In fact, I’m extremely reluctant to even use the word “god” because of all its connotations.

In any case, I find my life so much more fulfilling now. Truly, what a relief it has been!

Leaving Religion

For the enjoyment of those who were once devoted and avid believers but discovered the truth behind the curtain …

Leaving Organized Religion

 

I Have No Words …

South Carolina is one of just two states where women can face criminal charges for illegally getting abortions.

Now a group of state lawmakers wants to take that further and allow the state to impose the death penalty on women who undergo the procedure.

H.3549, titled the “South Carolina Prenatal Equal Protection Act of 2023,” would ban abortion and criminalize it as homicide, meaning women who get abortions could face penalties ranging from 30 years in prison to a death sentence.

It has more than a dozen sponsors in the state’s House of Representatives — most of whom are members of the ultra-conservative, 20-member South Carolina Freedom Caucus, including its lead sponsor, Republican Rep. Rob Harris of Spartanburg County — though that number has dropped since the bill made headlines across the country.

According to Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R, the legislation has “zero chance” of becoming law.

I hope Mr. Massey is correct; however, to even bring such an action into the public arena horrifies me!

(And, IMO, if there are any women among the bill’s sponsors, they should be hog-tied and hung in the public square!)

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SOURCE

Customer Service

I just read an article in the NPR newsletter that said a recent survey showed Americans are more unhappy with the customer service they’re getting than ever. I personally agree.

Although customer service can (and often does) involve one-on-one contact, I tend to think most of us complain the loudest about the service (?) we receive when we have to place a phone call to remedy a situation — and almost inevitably, we are met with a bot along with seemingly unlimited wait times!

For me personally (once I have pressed innumerable numbers to get to the appropriate department), I dislike reaching a person who is (most probably) based in another country and English is his/her second language. I already have difficulty hearing due to wearing hearing aids, but then I have to deal with someone who has an accent!  (I almost want to dance a little jig when I reach a person who speaks good English!)

Although telephonic automation is the go-to word for most companies nowadays, some do offer an email or online message system on their website — and for me, that method has worked the best. (I nearly always get a helpful response. 🙂)

What about you? How do you feel about today’s “Customer Service”? Have you found some companies are better than others in how they respond? What are your thoughts about the telephone “wait times?” And what about that “on hold” music?!!?

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Image by S K from Pixabay

The Presence of Life

Someone on another blog recently made this comment about potential life in the Universe …

[T]here are billions of planets, the likelihood that at least one will have conditions capable of giving rise to life is good. Indeed, the sheer enormity of numbers makes it highly probable.

Do you agree with this reasoning? Why or why not?

Just as an FYI, I do not agree. I feel life on this planet was a chance event. I do realize this is not the common thinking by some individuals of the scientific bent (as indicated in the above quote); however, considering the size and composition of the universe discovered thus far, I find it next-to-impossible that “life” —as we know it— is a common, or even an inevitable, occurrence.

There are those who have advanced the theory that “non-intelligent” life may be possible (I’m not going to touch that description), but as one source noted:  Observing signs of possible microbial life in exoplanet atmospheres is currently just out of reach. 

So I ask again … do you agree with the above-quoted comment? Why or why not? And if you agree, I hope you will offer some thoughts on whether you think the life might be humanoid … and if it is, does it know “God”??? 😈

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Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Tidal Wave of Truth?

In today’s “viewpoint” section of the local newspaper, someone pointed out how WRONG everyone was about the Jan 6th event because the film that was aired on Fox by Tucker Carlson totally showed that it was a peaceful demonstration.

Read on …

Okay folks, if you are one who openly supported the J-6 committee and their “deadly insurrection” tripe, you may wish to avail yourself of the opportunity to slip quietly away into the night before the tidal wave of truth washes over you

If it weren’t for that pesky mid-term election, the democrats in Congress would still be holding the J-6 video tapes incommunicado. Elections have consequences, as they say and thus Tucker Carlson has come into possession of said tapes and began airing them on Monday evening. A bitter pill for many, I am sure, to watch the J-6 committee’s narrative being destroyed.

Sadly, all that remains now, is for the wrongly convicted to be released from imprisonment.

It’s simply mind-boggling that people are so easily convinced when it aligns with their personal viewpoint. (And if we’re honest, this can work both ways.)

I tend to think there will be a rebuttal to this in tomorrow’s edition. At least I hope so!

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Image by Jensen Art Co from Pixabay