Ah. Sweet music.
I've been listening to Pandora a lot lately, and thereby obtaining a lot of new music. Part of me feels guilty that, here I am, finding incredible artists and stealing their music...I mean, artists I respect! For shaaame! Right?
And I admit, a part of me is deeply ashamed. And I wish I had all the money in the world with which to buy endless music to fill my life, and share with those around me forever, because I would love nothing more than to find some way to reimburse them for sharing their talent with the world! But I don't got that kinda scrilla.
So, in an effort to rationalize my treason, I present you this. It's the truth, with a quasi bullshit methodology. It's my life.
I wouldn't go so far as to say I've given up a lot as an atheist. I would say I have gained a sense of personal responsibility that I fail to see in so many others...you know the kind. But in order to maintain certain things like faith and spiritual upliftment, I've had to be rather creative. Ok, well not like it was brain surgery or anything, but I turned to music. What really happened was, somewhere down the line, I opened myself up to all music. I'll fuckin give anything a chance. Some of them just get one, but at least they got that. This philosophy in music has been a critical part of my entire life philosophy. I know most of you are my friends who know me and would probably agree that I'm a decent person, and though my own philosophies wouldn't work for everyone, they seem to have done a decent job on me...I'm just speculating here, but I feel good about that.
My point is this, something so fundamental to my core beliefs, well, wouldn't that be classified along the lines of a religion? Or at least a strong philosophical type of doctrine, equal to that of a religion? Follow this path of bullshit with me...
I may not have a church, but when I go to a concert, I am definitely at a place of worship. I may not be able to financially support the cause, but I definitely have given generous tithings towards deserving movements I feel are important. I am an active participant in this part of my life. I could just show up on your fuckin doorstep with a cd in hand and tell you all about the good word of Gomez. You know this. I've had an epiphany people! I am a god damn Jehovah Witness, ninja style. I might attack you on the train, assualt you with my deep love of one of the greatest bands you've never heard! You will listen, and you will like it.
Ok, so it has some holes. But, in this emerging secular world, we are really venturing into unexplored territory. We can only learn so much from history. I don't plan on ending my belief structure, and I think secularism will continue to dominate, which leaves a new position open for opiate of the masses. I think music is a most excellent choice. Just think about your ipod here. If it was suddenly taken from you? The internet? Bit Torrents? Your local record store? Even live music... How heartbreaking is it? ...I think I'm starting to have an anxiety attack. Let's move on.
This may all seem like a bunch of bullshit to get free music, but really, it's how I feel. I don't see a flaw in anything that really helps me understand that we are all connected. That's all we've really got, that's the meaning of life as far as I am concerned. Six billion people on this planet and if I stretch out my arm far enough, I can feel the impact of all them, and may be able to one day affect them all as well. It can happen. I may not be able to well define it, and I have yet to find it, but without the right wording I still know how to live it, and, I really must say, I quite enjoy it.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Riddle Me This...
I was on the Christopher Moore forum today, and someone posted a thread that asked this question,
"A seven year old asked...what is water made up of? What would you say?"
Most people responded with good ol' H20. Another suggested a bunch of fun experiments to let them decide for themselves, but my favorite was actually the answer the chick gave to the kid,
"Water is an entity. It cannot be broken to pieces. It is a God. It is an element. A base. Like fire. These have the power to create and destroy. These basic elements control each other. "
I replied telling her how much I liked this answer, though if it were me giving it I might have amended it to say "water is an entity, made of hydrogen and oxygen. It is a god..." I also said that the right answer basically comes down to how the kid thinks, and how she thinks.
Everyday I am amazed at how much of an influence adults, especially parents, have on kids. The only difference between rearing and raising is that in raising there is one person who is in control, in rearing, inevitably, control changes ownership.
But that's not what it got me thinking about. I absolutely love that answer for water (my amended version of her answer that is).
As an atheist, I pretty much get to form my own opinions, and this is what this is going to be about, my opinion.
I've dealt with people across the spectrum when it comes to god/God; people who are doubt driven, if there's doubt have faith; people who believe in the animistic nature of the earth, but are still nagged with that intelligent design, how could something this beautiful be just a chance? I found atheists who have made an institution out of the separation of church and state, becoming the monsters they fight; and those who find solitude in science, neither god nor magic, just science.
But even moreso are the people like me, stuck in the middle. We make the journey our own, finding our own mish mosh of ideals. Some we can name, others we just feel, not having found the right word for it. We call ourselves agnostics or atheist, but it doesn't matter because people have their own names for us. So why do I bother calling myself an atheist?
Well, for one I don't believe in god/God. I don't believe that we are all a part of someone's grand theme. I accept the responsibility of my actions, and understand that I am not in full control of my life, but neither is anything else. I can't plan all the details, but I can make the best of my situation. I can make mistakes, and know that I made them, and that I want to make amends for them. I don't think everyone can do that. I don't mean you can't do that, I just mean, there are people out there that really do not want to take responsibility for anything! These people need religion. It's a blessing of a curse, intelligence, and not all of us are ready to accept it. That being said, I think that intelligent people can still be religious. I do not mean they can’t; I’m talking about a particular scope of religion, along the lines of fanaticism.
"A seven year old asked...what is water made up of? What would you say?"
Most people responded with good ol' H20. Another suggested a bunch of fun experiments to let them decide for themselves, but my favorite was actually the answer the chick gave to the kid,
"Water is an entity. It cannot be broken to pieces. It is a God. It is an element. A base. Like fire. These have the power to create and destroy. These basic elements control each other. "
I replied telling her how much I liked this answer, though if it were me giving it I might have amended it to say "water is an entity, made of hydrogen and oxygen. It is a god..." I also said that the right answer basically comes down to how the kid thinks, and how she thinks.
Everyday I am amazed at how much of an influence adults, especially parents, have on kids. The only difference between rearing and raising is that in raising there is one person who is in control, in rearing, inevitably, control changes ownership.
But that's not what it got me thinking about. I absolutely love that answer for water (my amended version of her answer that is).
As an atheist, I pretty much get to form my own opinions, and this is what this is going to be about, my opinion.
I've dealt with people across the spectrum when it comes to god/God; people who are doubt driven, if there's doubt have faith; people who believe in the animistic nature of the earth, but are still nagged with that intelligent design, how could something this beautiful be just a chance? I found atheists who have made an institution out of the separation of church and state, becoming the monsters they fight; and those who find solitude in science, neither god nor magic, just science.
But even moreso are the people like me, stuck in the middle. We make the journey our own, finding our own mish mosh of ideals. Some we can name, others we just feel, not having found the right word for it. We call ourselves agnostics or atheist, but it doesn't matter because people have their own names for us. So why do I bother calling myself an atheist?
Well, for one I don't believe in god/God. I don't believe that we are all a part of someone's grand theme. I accept the responsibility of my actions, and understand that I am not in full control of my life, but neither is anything else. I can't plan all the details, but I can make the best of my situation. I can make mistakes, and know that I made them, and that I want to make amends for them. I don't think everyone can do that. I don't mean you can't do that, I just mean, there are people out there that really do not want to take responsibility for anything! These people need religion. It's a blessing of a curse, intelligence, and not all of us are ready to accept it. That being said, I think that intelligent people can still be religious. I do not mean they can’t; I’m talking about a particular scope of religion, along the lines of fanaticism.
How this goes back to children…I think it is enthralling, really being able to see someone grow up, whom you’ve influenced, and begin to watch them make their own choices, and knowing that one day they will make huge decisions like I’ve worked my whole life to try and get together, and that biology isn’t my only legacy. My influence can reach as far as I’m willing to travel, physically or mentally.
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