Democracy

I often think about the “shape” in which we find our country. It seems that our elected officials are little more than squabbling brats. They have lost the art of compromise and diplomacy.

Arizona passes some tough laws on immigration and the opposition takes it to the Supreme Court. The SCOTUS upheld the law and the President decides he doesn’t like that so he in effect, defies the SCOTUS. The congress passed a law, the affordable care act and the opposition takes it to the Supreme Court claiming it is unconstitutional. The SCOTUS declares it constitutional and immediately the opposition takes it to task to repeal it.

I guess that is democracy in action but it seems like we are headed down a rabbit hole.

 So what is democracy? The dictionary defines it:

1. A system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives-
2. A state governed in such a way
3. Control of an organization or group by the majority of its members
4. The practice or principles of social equality

In a some what dated article, I found this definition:

“The concept of democracy is often expressed in terms of “thin” and “thick” definitions. At its most fundamental (or thin) incarnation, democracy is synonymous with popular sovereignty or majority rule: a system of governance in which the people choose their leaders by casting votes. Also known as electoral democracy, this definition describes the processes by which a government derives its authority or mandate. But, most agree that this is only one piece of the equation. What the government does with this mandate, how it rules, and the outcomes that are produced must also be factored into a (thick) designation of democracy. Thus, what we know as democracy in its ideal form generally also includes governance by rule of law and the protection of civil liberties, or liberal democracy. Though how these two basic components of democracy – electoral and liberal – are represented may differ, it is widely accepted that a truly democratic system of governance must comprise both. The extent to which it does so will determine its quality and durability. In the words of Thomas Jefferson, without liberal democracy, electoral democracy is “nothing more than mob rule where 51% of the people may take away the rights of the other 49.”

Electoral democracy is the process by which leaders gain public office; liberal democracy results when clear limits are placed on what they can do when they get there.” http://worldsavvy.org/monitor/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=183&Itemid=297

Two of these seem to be at odds:

1. Control of an organization or group by the majority of its members
2. The practice or principles of social equality

How can we have majority rule and equality? Do we really have a country where the majority rules? i.e. the electoral vote  Do we provide equality for all members of our society. i.e. Gays and Lesbians, Transgender … atheist?  Are we working on it? I think so.

In spite of what John Adams said in 1763 our democracy is not perfect it seems to be better than anything else out there.

Democracy... while it lasts is more bloody than either aristocracy or monarchy. Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There is never a democracy that did not commit suicide.
John Adams
 http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/john_adams.html#ZeqPHvlp57YIRAsI.99

  

In my humble opinion, where we seem to have gone awry is in the power department. As I began this rant I was appalled that the SCOTUS has been so “dissed” but as I conclude I think another John Adams quote sums it up.

Sep. 5, 1763 - from a letter published in the Boston Gazette

Unbridled passions produce the same effects, whether in a king, nobility, or a mob. The experience of all mankind has proved the prevalence of a disposition to use power wantonly. It is therefore as necessary to defend an individual against the majority (in a democracy) as against the king in a monarchy.

Atheist are fools...really?

There is a huge controversy occuring in Tennessee about prayer at government meetings. I think this comment sums up a lot of what has been said about the Christian bible.

Matthew Arnsdorf · Berea, Kentucky

Your Bible states that atheists are fools, yes. However, you have no evidence outside of your own Bible (as Christianity has no basis outside its own holy book) to back up such a claim. Christians only believe in Christianity "for the Bible tells me so."

To blanket-sweep atheists as fools is to ignore the inescapable fact that people who entrust their entire lives to a series of books put together by oppressive governments in the name of God are actually disallowing themselves to live--a rather foolish act in any educated person's opinion.

The Bible also states that God loves all mankind and yet, simply for being born as sinners (i.e., apparently not intelligently designed), are condemned to death (Romans 3:23 and 6:23). The evidence that God loves all mankind is apparent in that he had his own son slain in a pretty nasty m...anner to cover the sins of humanity. At first glance, that's sweet and all, but if that's how he treats his own son, how can we expect to be treated?

If you would not mind thinking for yourself while you read the Bible, you'll find it is replete with gaps in stories, contradictions, unacceptable cultural norms, and ultimately a God who is unworthy of worship from anyone. Genesis 1 and 2, for example, from the outset give two totally different creation myths. Read closely and use your brain; stop parroting what others have told you is right and determine for yourself what is right.

The Christian version of the fate of my eternal soul is a wee bit secondary to immediate considerations in THIS life on EARTH and will remain so until I've been given sufficient reason to believe a fiery place of physical torment is going to make my non-physical soul miserable and it is more desirable to spend eternity with a mass-murdering split-personality maniac who kills his kid because he likes creatures he made with dirt.

Christian theology makes absolutely no sense whatsoever and there is no actual evidence to support any of it. It also rips off theologies of ancient pagans, even taking the festival of Yule to be the traditional birth date of Jesus and the fertility celebration of early spring, often called Ostara for western pagan cults, to be the time of Easter.

I will grant you that the conclusions I drew in this comment are, of course, only my opinions, but unlike you, I backed them up with actual examples rather than spouting off ignorant nonsense.

If you cannot engage in civil, intelligent discussion, why are you here?

Is a religious experience evidence for God?

So many of my friends and relatives who are believers tell me that they "know" god exist because he has spoken to them or they have been touched by the holy spirit  but I am not convinced. I think I understand that they are speaking of a feeling. A feeling of euphoria or peace or just incredible happiness. I have had it too. I have it when I hear a certain song or hear my grandchild cry for the first time. I have that feeling when my children tell me they love me  and when my dogs cuddle with me. Sometimes it is stronger than others but it is, nevertheless, a wonderful feeling. When I was a believer it happened in church and I called it a religious experience, but does it prove that god exist? I think not.

As I have grown in age and knowledge, I have come to understand that whatever the feelings we have in our bodies begin in our brain. Good or bad, pain or pleasure it is all in our heads, literally. I have a great deal of pain at times and though it is real pain, I can take a pill that blocks that pain by affecting my brain. I'm not a doctor but my understanding is that certain chemicals can interrupt the messages received by the brain. Pain medication does not cure the problem but interrupts the signal and therefore makes me feel that the pain is gone. I think religious experience is similar in that the brain is affected by some stimuli and reacts by flooding the body with happy chemicals.

I recently read an article by Dan Barker of FFRF fame and he has some interesting things to say:

God is imaginary.

But imagination is real.

So . . . the religious experience is a real experience. It happens to many believers in all religions. It happened to me.

It can STILL happen to me. Even as an atheist, I can make my mind go back into the “religious experience” mode and relive all those very real feelings. (What a weird sensation for a nonbeliever! I don't do it very often, but every couple of years, when I am all by myself, I will try it out, just to see if my brain has changed.) They are powerful and motivating feelings. When I was a believer, those experiences, though not necessary for my faith, were very confirming of my faith.

I particularly like his analogy to the monster at the window:

For example, you wake up one night screaming from a nightmare, sitting up straight in bed. You wake up the whole house. Your palms are sweating. Your heart is racing. Your breathing is quickened. No one can deny that you have had a very real and powerful experience. But there is no monster crawling through the window.
It is all in your mind.

So now what can I say to my friends when they say they "know" god is real because they have had a religious experience? Nothing, because they would only be angry because I am trying to spoil their fantasy, and they wouldn't believe me anyway.

Why do atheist even bother with the god question?

I have thought about this for sometime. Often my Christian friends will ask me "Why do you care?" so I want to try to answer that now. Not for every atheist because we don't all agree on much but only from my point of view.

First, I care about my friends. If you were being sold a bill of goods by a known con artist, I would not be a very good friend if I did not tell you what I know about the guy. In the end I can't make the decision for you but I do think that it is my responsibility as a friend to provide any information I have which might help you to make a decision.

Second, I care about my country. We have one of the highest crime rates in the Western world and in correlation to that we are the most religious! This country was found on principles of freedom. Europeans, sick of the stifling oppression of the church, sought a new world, a better way of life. Funny that, because now most of Europe is far ahead of us in the peaceful pursuit of happiness. They have lower numbers of religious people and lower crime.

Finally, I care about humanity. As we continue to evolve we learn more about what works to promote peace and well being for ourselves and our fellow humans. Humanity is not perfect and likely will not ever be. We continue to learn through trial and error, through our failures despite best intentions, and through the acquisition of knowledge. My hope as an atheist is that the myths that have ruled much of humanity will be exposed and that each individual will understand that he is capable of making a difference in the world without superstition and fear.

We have only one lifetime and doing all we can to make it better for ourselves and those who come after is a worthy purpose. What could be better than to know that I have helped someone to think for herself, to give up on fairy tales and seek out knowledge without fear?

This is the good one!