Unbelievable? Sadly No

Posted on 19th Aug 2025 by Cassandra

I was going through FaceBook this morning and encountered this item from ABC7 a news outlet in Los Angeles and Southern California. You will see an all too familiar type of headline.

It was not the headline which took hold of my attention. It was the reaction emjois. Now Facebook being Facebook you can expect a few twisted and ignorant souls to put up laughing ones when there is a human tragedy and also thumbs up when Trump’s administration does something. After all it’s FaceBook where the ignorant, ill-informed and prejudiced of any political stripe be it Right or Left congregate.

The aspect which disturbed me was that there were approximately 200 thumbs up (maybe more now and worse 150+ whose reaction was to put the laughing face. A quick glance at the comments revealing one GIF ICE – themed support.
These twinned actions say much about a corrosion of the common sense of Humanity. That folk can support or mock the misery of children, vulnerable and frightened small individuals does speak harshly about those folk.

Now down Humanity’s long jagged, ragged road there is nothing new in this. One of the most frightening creations we have to offer is mentality of The Mob, be it a howling scream missile throwing horde or a host of folk with access to social media. Of any political or social stripe by the way. Against these waves of irrational hate and screaming War can at times look positively sanitised ‘It’s nothing personal. It’s just business,’. It is also fearfully easy to be swept up in the emotions of a crowd whose passions have been ignited.

The most dangerous aspect of this mindless action comes from the Opportunist. The Opportunist comes in many forms. We think of them as simply charlatans looking out for no more than personal gain from ‘the rubes’. But there are those who harbour extreme beliefs who will sense the discomfort and anger, to harness it and thus have a fertile ground to promote those ideas. There are those who are possessed of a narcissism and thus will use any means to promote themselves. There are the professionals who are there at the behest of an organisation or nation to stir up the Mob, who will be quite unaware they are fodder. And there are those who just want their moment of Glory, not really sure where it leads. All of these types will work upon the crowd, turning it into a mob, mindless.
Now aside from the expert professionals and the more astute of the charlatans both of whom know when to fade into the background or ‘jump ship’ at the right time there can grow amongst the rest an unholy alliance between Opportunist and Mob. This being that the Opportunist delivers what The Mob want to hear, but The Mob will want more, howling for it, so the Opportunist begins to do at the behest of The Mob and thus the cycle picks up a giddy pace both parties locked into a whirlwind of emotion where all perspective is lost. The end leads to some type of destruction, either materially or of the Soul, sometimes both. For within this there will always be the danger of the element of retribution, and that comes in many forms.

To return to those foolish folk who applauded at that news item. They would do well to consider an incident where some of their own; close friends or relatives are attending a gathering, a rally. There is an accident, a fire in the building maybe, loss of life much injury. How will they feel in the aftermath of that horror and tragedy to see thumbs up and laughing emjois along with cruel comments?

The door swings both ways.

And since there appear to be those who say they espouse Christianity, then they should meditate on the words of Christ as recorded in Matthew 25 verses 31-46

Say That Again IV? ( Now a Regular Series)

Posted on 2nd May 2025 by Cassandra

Preamble: This was going to be a very occasional series, a once in a while peak into the follies of folk….and yet under the tenure of the current president of the benighted USA there is so much material that begs examining this could be a frequent source of posts. (The title is the All-Age friendly version; let us maintain maturity and dignity….no matter how strong the temptation is to use ‘other phrases’)

Ok onto the latest person to be a cause for a contribution. I give you:

Pam Bondi, Attorney General of the USA who said at some recent Cabinet Meeting she said:
“Mr. President, your first 100 days has far exceeded that of any other presidency in this country. Ever. Ever. Never seen anything like it. Thank you.”

Thank you Jill Dennison of Fillosofa for bringing this to my attention

https://wordpress.com/reader/feeds/12093442/posts/5652672734

Let’s look at that again-
exceeded that of any other presidency in this country. Ever. Ever.
There were two ‘Evers’ in there.

This begs examination of the records, In no particular order.

George Washington President 1789 to 1797

Despite setbacks by 1781 he had led the continental army with French allies to defeat the English (the world super-power), leading to the 1783 Treaty which established the USA. As first president worked hard to set down the foundation of the USA. He wished to serve as president without a salary, had one imposed upon him by Congress. Worked to ensure the USA was an established nation. Set up an effective government through being a good judge of character and ability. Believed in toleration and no state religion.
(Trump in comparison – avoided the draft, referred to the buried at Arlington as losers, insulted every American shot down and captured over North Vietnam by a cheap jibe at Joe Biden. Renowned for accumulating riches. His style has confirmed a polarised nation. Poor judge of character when choosing Cabinet. Willing to embrace The White Christian forum to gain support)

John Adams President 1797 to 1801

Experienced politician before taking office. Despite being patriotic defended British soldiers against charges of murder after Boston riot. He ignored the political patronage and office-seeking which other officeholders utilized. Navigated the nation through a time of internal disagreement and foreign crisis despite not being a natural politician and possessed of a mercurial temper.
(Trump by comparison – Inexperienced in all forms of governance. Populist willing to court extremists to keep his power base. Seeks patronage and financial rewards. Divisive when a nation is in crisis. Inept at diplomacy. Lets his moods and temper dictate policy)

Thomas Jefferson President 1801 to 1809

Experienced politician. Drafted the Declaration of Independence. At his inaugural address struck a note of reconciliation and commitment to democratic ideology. Lowered the National Debt. Disliked pomp walked to his inauguration. In this age his slave ownership hangs over his social reputation and he experienced setbacks on the international stage. Still maintains a reputation as a Founding Father and one of the builders of the nation.
(Trump by comparison – Again divisive. Has increased the National Debt. Unsettled the economic situation. Expects all the trimmings of the office. Has never drafted any document which contributes to the foundation of the USA)

Franklin D Roosevelt President 1933 until his death in 1945.

Took office at a time when the US was in the throws of the Great Depression. Set up the New Deal through government spending. Reformed laws to rein in Financial ill-judgement and speculation also reformed Labour Laws. Appealed to the nation through his Fireside Chats renowned for their calm, mature, quiet approach, and his first inaugural speech with the phrase “Only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself”. Led the USA through WWII with probably two of the most difficult allies anyone could have Churchill and Stalin; as the USA took the strain in two theatres it can be argued Roosevelt played the major role in winning WWII. Worked himself to death.
(Trump in comparison: Again divisive. Caused chaotic economic uncertain. Has overseen the dismantling of reforms. Relies on confrontational, alarmist ill-argued rhetoric. Poor judgment in dealing with Putin, fails to understand the need to balance diplomacy. Has polarised the nation)

Theodore Roosevelt President from 1901 to 1909.

Although a sickly child improved his own health. War service. Invited Booker T Washington to the Whitehouse. Although though pro-business was a foe of business trusts ruthless use of Anti-trust law. He was the first president to help settle a labour dispute. He prosecuted corrupt Indian agents who had cheated Native Americans out of land parcels. Galvanised support for the Pure Food and Drugs Act. Despite hunting was also a conservationist. Navigated the financial panic of 1907. Placed the USA on the world stage.
(Trump in comparison- Placed on some claimed health issue to avoid military service. Has no interest in conservation. Happy to think of racists as ‘Good People’. Does not mind what business practices are enacted as long as it serves him. Making a mockery of the USA on the world stage.)

Those are just four with brief summaries. In addition we could mention Harry S Truman who little known beyond Washington took up the task, maintained if not increased the USA super-power status, also personally paid off a loan term financial debt (As opposed to Trump who seems to make a career out of not paying)). Ronald Reagan who arguable built up US self-confidence from a low point. L. B Johnson who brought in the Civil Rights Act, was the one who got the Kennedy agenda through Congress. Richard Nixon who in spite or because of his demons passed environmental legislation arguably made the world a safer place by playing Russia off against China and opening up China to the world.

And what has Donald Trump achieved which can compare to those listed above? He has ignored the Constitution, as noted above failed to unite a nation, in fact encouraged its polarisation, again and it bears repeating dismantled some of the structures which hold a state as being supportive of its people, in playing to his support base encouraged a climate of hostility, fear and suspicion, shown scant regard for minorities and underprivileged and those are just a few.

Now maybe, just maybe we should let the Council for the Defence have their say:
‘Your Honour. My client The Attorney General was making reference to the quantity of work accomplished by The President in his tenure,’

Council for the Prosecution speaks:
‘Your Honour. I would point out that this can be called a fallacy. The quantity and speed of processing quantity is not a valid measuring device for the administration of a nation. The administration of a nation should be judged by the stability and the unity of consensus when passing legislation of enacting by presidential decree. For the long term results will be the one by which matters are judged,’

No it will not do Pam Bondi. It simply will not do. You cannot defend a divisive, egotistical fellow who seeks approval for the mass movement which is based on one section of society. It will not do at all. Not when you are looking to the long term prospects of a complex vast nation such as the USA. You are trying to compare a small minded populist polemicist with intellectual giants or hard working patriots. Administrators use influences remain embedded into the nation.
You are found wanting in your judgement, perspective and simple maturity.

For additional readings in this series

Say That Again?
Say That Again II? (Once a just post now a ‘Whenever It Happens’ Series)
Say That Again III? ( An Occasional Series)

A Few Words On Folly Of The Monumental Proportions.

Posted on 20th Feb 2025 by Cassandra

I resolved sometime back I would not pollute any of my posts with a picture in any shape or form of that fellow who currently occupies the Whitehouse. It is a sad fact of history that all too often individuals who have no true qualifications or worth to be in positions of authority do by numerous acts not of their own making arrive there. That this talentless, spoilt child of privilege, possessed of mean vindictiveness and irresponsibly simplistic views, concerned only with his own image, malleable to the adulation of a movement who dreamed of such a figure and found it so he thus willing to embrace anything to keep them happy should be elected into that position will be something for historians to debate. Suffice it to say he has not earned the right to have his image on my posts.

It would appear that just when you think the fellow has made the most petty or inane statement he manages to find even deeper depths of ignorance or misjudgement.
He has dug even deeper.
He has called Zelensky a dictator. And yet sits down with Putin and how is Putin viewed? Is Putin a bastion of Free Speech and Tolerance? Double Standards, the act of complete folly. The US president by the way is also going down the path of the 1938 Munich talks by not including the nation in question in the talks. Please tell me I do not have to explain to you dear reader where the 1938 Munich talks led? Of course if I had to explain it to the current US President I would use 3-5 year age group book, and then speak very slowly, maybe using crayons as well; moving up the age groups I would rather explain to a teenager why they should tidy their room. And while we are on the topic, who was the person who howled ‘Unfair’ as the results of the 2020 presidential election came in? Democracy only when it suits him, a word with no value when he uses it.

There is no more to be said on this subject. Those two acts are all we need to know to illustrate than once again this fellow has no mature sense of proportion or capacity of knowledge to be allowed on the International Stage.

Just other one piece of commentary. Netflix have this new thriller series out called ‘Zero Day’. One of the techno-thriller-disaster themed sort. Someone hacks the USA computer systems and disasters take place. Robert Niro plays a retired President who is asked to find out who is behind it.

https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/81598435

https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/zero-day-netflix-comment/

Aside from the fact that it’s nothing new as a basic plot, my first thought was. Why bother with this distraction? This little fright-thriller? That’s not the current real-life America. Because the first thing the current president would do is blame the previous president. Then his court would pile in blaming everything they call ‘woke’. Evangelicals would start quoting the Book of Revelation. Quite frankly there is no point is watching any political fiction about the USA, what is actually taking place is far worse and frightening. (An aside: critics didn’t seem to care for the series either…..imagine me agreeing with critics…well, well)

I will take no more of your time, nor mine. You have enough evidence of your own. And you the poor 70,000,000 who knew what would happen I am so sorry for you.

About this guy. Vance, Trump’s Running Mate. A View From Across The Pond

Posted on 18th Jul 2024 by Cassandra

Vance

Of course there has been and is going to be a lot written about anyone who is chosen as a running mate in a US Presidential Election. The only ones that rule doesn’t apply to are incumbent VPs who unless they do or say something singular just get a few lines here and there and the odd photo.

Now Mr. J D Vance. For starters ‘J D’? I mean, that’s fine for a writer of novels ‘Another wonderful addition to the pantheon of work of J D Vance’ Yep, that sounds good. And he did it, didn’t he? ‘Hillbilly Elergy’. Or front man in an indy band ‘Once more J D Vance’s combination of lyrics and meoldic voice take us to places we can only dream about, I’d buy the album, straight off. But in a politican? I mean what are wrong the names James, David ? Surely those are sound solid all american names? ..JAMES, DAVID...VANCE. Some folk might vote for the ticket on that score alone ‘Truth be known, ah never cared much for the name Don-nald Trrump. Ah mean when y’all get down to it sounds too northern slick. Him a Noo Yorker an’ all. But he’ll be gone soon being in his seventies…An’ then we’ll get a fellah with a real name….James David Vance…Yup. Can’t go wrong with James-David-Vance,’.
Truth be known the name struck a chord in the memory, some sinister and then it came to me this morning….J J Hunsecker the monsterously creepy columinst as played by Burt Lancaster in The Sweet Smell of Success. What an unfortunate association…..No, must be my febrile imagination…Socialism does that to you; apparently.
Anyway, we’re stuck with ‘J.D’ I guess. Maybe it’s all to do with that book. Somehow though for a politician, a class who are supposed to be all about openess and honesty (stop sniggering you lot in the back of there), publically calling yourself ‘J D’ – well jus’ don’t seem right y’all . Sounds like….well…enter-tain-ment.

And there’s that index finger and thumb gesture with the other fingers held delicately forwards
Vance 2

Trump does that all the time, now he’s doing it. I know with the fingers held upwards it means ‘OK’ or ‘Cool’ .But that way? So prissy. Reminds me of a lesser Jane Austen character explaining to a salesman just what sort of toothpick he’s looking for. No, give me a clenched hand firm of purpose. I mean you don’t, see Putin being prissy do you?

Anyway those are the lesser, but physiologically telling niggles out of the way. (What do you mean I am nit picking? The republicans do it all the time? I recall Obama couldn’t wear a flag pin right, according to them anyway). Now let’s get to the important one relevant to the United (sorta) Kingdom anyway. Mr J D Vance’s recent observation about the UK.

The following is part open letter to J D but dear reader please feel free to take any part you like and use it in any way you care….

No kidding; the guy reckons Britain under Labour might be the first Islamic nation with nuclear weapons…..read this if you don’t believe me

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn07e2ep20no

Now it is something of a short-sighted and breath-takingly ignorant article of faith amongst british activists all of stripes that all americans are either devious, neurotic or plain stupid. Yet speaking as one brit who has defended the American in general for decades ~~klutzs~~ fellows like Mr J D Vance don’t make the task of defence against the last accusation easy, bearing in mind this guy might be a sneeze or a hamburger away from being President.

Hey J D. I say old chap, a quiet word or two

OK FIRST POINT J D. Pakistan- islamic country…wait for it….Has nuclear weapons! Kind of Counts ????? Now I know possession of a politcal or social or militray atlas may be way down your list of must haves. BUT since you were in the US Marines, and made much of the lessons you were taught. AND were a military journalist I would have thought you might have got the idea of which nations are nuclear powers into your nogging. You having political ambitions of the highest order an’ all. ‘Pakistan kind of counts’……Jeeeezzz Loooooeeezzzz!!

Now Second point J D. A few stats, as per last census.

Brits who consider themselves Christian (going to church optional) = 46%

Brits who consider themselves aethists and agonostics = 39%

Brits who consider themslves Muslim = 6.5%

Now while you are figuring out how 6.5% are going to take over 85+ (others)% with 18 muslim Member of Parliment in the Labour party total of 411 Members of Parliment. Let us look at a background.

The UK muslim electorate has expressed concern if not distrust at Labour (government) for Keir Stammer’s support for Israel’s right to be…. well Israel. Which is uncomfortable for Labour, but since Labour has a majority of 174 and the nation on the whole is focusing on internal issues the Muslim influence on government overseas policy is going to be minimal.
4,000,000 folk voted for the extreme Right-Wing party Reform. Convincing those voters to drift back even to the Conservative Party in the hard world of Realpolitik will be a task uppermost in some minds. Now go and work that out for yourself yo-yo.
Immigration is a ‘topic’ in the UK, but the simple idea that there are waves of folk of Muslim faith flooding in and thus taking over the UK. Well you are talking in a million a year J D, over 10 years, maybe . I’ll keep it simple for you….An’t happening

There are other factors which are subtle and work in quiet corners of places folk would rather not talk about in public and probably would go over the head of someone who thinks that Alex Jones is a source of information, so I won’t press you on that. However you are designated Interfering Fool for making an unwise statement which will be only of value to far right-wing thugs like the English Defence League and add another layer of problems for the Muslim population of the UK which suffers enough from intolerance and stupidity

Now we all sound off from time to time and make statements which are either meant to be sarcastic or satirical or just end up being plain wacko because we are either angry or have been ingesting too much of something, but that statement???…. The last time I heard something along those lines was from a very excited teenage London muslim lad who said there would be the Crescent flag flying over ‘Number 10’ (that’s where the PM lives J D), next year…..that was about fifteen years ago.

I suppose (big sigh), being on the side of US politics you are still fixed with that idea that Labour is an authoritarian, police-state, censorship, state imposition sort of party….like the 2025 agenda thing you guys have got going over there….Did I get that right? Or, like you, did I just make a stunningly inaccurate generalisation about politics in a nation I do not, nor have ever resided in.

Look J D buddy, if you want to hold that VP cum hopeful President post, you better do your homework on the nations you will be dealing with, otherwise, well somewhere down the road Europe is going to close its doors on the USA and quite frankly you are not big enough to stand alone, not up against Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, and a few other states who will climb on board. Well not unless you want to use those nuclear weapons? Now there’s an ironic thought, a religious fundementalist faith-based neo theocracy with access to nuclear weapons. Britain?……

Nope- Guess again.

Closing note: Honestly dear reader, Realpolitik Roger can comprehend and accept with hostility, hardened professionals doing what they do on the International scene, whether I like them or not, that’s part of History, sadly. What I cannot abide is half-baked Amatuers with perceptions so blinkered they make walking near a cliff edge in a fog with just a key ring torch a sensible move. Now they are the real danger.

J D Vance- Vice President….Could make some folk wanna wish Trump a long life- yep if you ask me…. that bad! (Proves there’s always someone worse y’know)

Take care all of you. We live in the Age of Yo-Yos

Of Perceptions, Explanations and more than a few Accusations (On My Faith Part II)

Posted on 29th Apr 2024 by Cassandra

Foreword: In addition to being a continuation from Part I
There’s Nothing Simple Out There (One Christian’s Declarations Concerning Their Faith and the Subject of Evidence. Part I)
The two together are also an expansion on a post from past August, which some might say. ‘OK that’s all we need to know. Give it a rest already’. That is your choice:
Religion. Another Viewpoint (With Some Assistance From Quantum Mechanics & Cosmology)
The intention of the two parts together is to seek to go deeper, and wider.

This post moves from the questions Physical (both Scientific and Historical) and into the more intangible concepts of the basics of Faith, Belief both in the Religious/Theological and also in the Social…. and also gives more space to a few polemics,

Therefore:
The Theological Perspective
The Social Perspective
Finally a Summary

In this I will mostly restrict my commentary to the Christian Faith. If I do refer to other Faiths, brevity will be utilised and sweeping generalisations avoided in areas which require a more detailed knowledge.

Theology / Religiosity / Faith. All from Within

Retrospect

In Part I I contended that when set against the backdrop of the Scientific Perspective with all the unexplored areas, by the same perspective there was therefore no reason to say a person cannot hold to a belief in a Deity. The non-existence of a Deity cannot be physically proven.

Folk will of course put forth their own arguments for that non-existence but will always come up against the problem that they cannot offer physical proof to support their case. And likewise neither can I point to the place where God is, as one would say a mountain. It all comes down to Belief, or which has equal importance Doubt. Some might argue that in a world which shows so many tragedies and harm upon the Innocent, Doubt is the most honest approach of the Three stances. And others would contend that in my last post I inadvertently produced a case for Agnosticism.

We seek out ways to perceive the Vastness in Space, Time and Reason. A journey we may never complete. Let that be so. However such knowledge should never stop us doing so.

On Some Assertions Concerning Religions / Faiths Etc.

Before proceeding I need to address two commonly made statements which appear to attribute to Theisms certain properties:

Religion Is The Cause of War

And so is Economics, so is Politics, so are Resources, so are Cultural Differences, so is The Desire for Independence, so is the Willingness to Be Led, and so is, so is, so is.
Claiming one cause is an unconscious attempt to let ourselves, that is Humanity off of the hook, the flaw in our natures in which we embrace War and its lesser relative Conflict.
Once more for Brevity’s sake, and using European thinking, of which they may like it or not Russia and the USA have embraced; yes there have been wars in which religion was a foundation. Looking at the European side of history.
Crusades (quickly to turning into a land grab, as well as alliances with Muslim states and wars with other ‘Christian’ states)
The French 16^th Century Wars of Religion (nobles changes sides and beliefs like socks- And Henry of Navarre Huguenot / Protestant turned Catholic – ‘Paris is Worth A Mass’)
30 Years War. One of the more obvious ones. (Except for the fact that Catholic France was in conflict with Catholic Spain and supporting Protestant Sweden)

So whereas it can be argued religion started the ones mentioned above, politics soon became involved and in various forms eased into the driving seat.
There is a line of arguments within professional Historians circles that the term is actually a Western perspective, and is just one facet of a myriad causes.
Basically Humanity is the cause of War, to assume if there were no religions there would be no wars is to assume something very peculiar about the conflicts between 1900 and 1950, to cite glaring example.

Religion Is The Opium of The People

There may have been a time somewhere between The Enlightenment and The Birth of Socialism / Communism that arose the argument for religion being something that the ‘Ruling Classes’ use to keep the population in line and to feel that all would be well if they believed.

Firstly as it will be seen from the experiences under authoritarian and atheistic regimes which entered the lexicon in the 20th Century, Religion was replaced by Party Doctrine as the ‘Opium’. Once more it can be pointed out that Humanity is very inventive in producing its ‘Opiums’. In Post WWII, in the West, Europe in particular religious observance went into a decline whereas materialism and consumerism went upwards ever upwards. In latter years the worship of Celebrity has become a factor, with a new schism of Influencer each bringing forth their adherents and of course nasty disputes between the various ‘belief’ systems.

Another facet of the argument that religion kept the population in check tends to fall apart when matters are exanimated under the microscope of History. Over the centuries there have been a constant list of uprising from the ground level, often targeting the established religious set-up. Far from keeping folk in check once the system is seen to be with its abuses ‘rebellion’ be it in another form of religion or in a secular approach will arise. Reformation. Rise of Communism; just two.

Be honest folks. The problem is People. Always People. It is no use blaming one system or another, WE are the ones who run them.

Religion In General. And Faith. Which Can Be Quite Separate

OK, having tried to get Religion off the hook and shift the blame where it belongs onto People, and with that theme in mind, let us consider that issue.

World Population 8 billion
Christianity 2.4 billion
Islam 1.9 billion
Hinduism 1.2 billion
Buddhism 520 million (0.52 billion)
Judaism 15.2 million (0.152 billion )
Also some estimated other religions 10,000 (mostly local) – exact numbers not available.

We could spend a great deal of time and effort separating those figures by differing approaches, gender, age groups, geographical locations and cultural implications. This would still leave us with a large portion of the population of the planet having a theistic belief. There one question which itself sub-divides and that is.

How much Faith is there in The Religion? When I use the term Faith I am referring not to a confidence in the beliefs I am asking of dedication to those core beliefs which transcend the Social Norms, The Customs, The Ethnicity, and The Political aspects ever present in Life and which also have an influence upon us. Religion contains a dual purpose: To Explain and to Codify behaviour. At the very root, foundation, call it what you will lies essentially a path to embrace community and seek out that ever evasive Better Way.

Now it would be naïve of me to write the above words without knowing full well that there will be a substantial number of folk who would at least shake their heads in disagreement, and possibly howl in outrage, when ‘everyone’ can cite numerous instances or bits of religious works which argue the opposite. And yet imagine if the majority of those believing in a deity took to violence. The world is tragic enough with minorities using religion as their excuse taking up arms. Of course that does attract news commentary, which is only natural. Yet there are folk of Faith, quietly working away to try to make Life Better. Relying on their Faith

I will offer you this, based on my Faith, and on reflection as to the numbers of people with a religious based Faith. I believe that there is room enough for all Faiths. I believe it matters not to me whether a person’s religiously bound Faith is different to mine. If they hold to Compassion, Respect and Tolerance as part of their Faith that is fine. The rest is just not important. We choose different paths, which evolved from myriad reasons. As long as we meet on those three principals. What does it matter? And how does that square you ask? Are there lots of gods then? Well I would say no, just many ways to receive a message.

Yes, I would get into a bit of trouble with the hierarchy. Being Christian and Catholic I am quite aware that ‘The Church’ does not like the concept of Relativism. Yeah, well I square that with God at some stage. That’s where the final say on the matter will be. Though I’m still working out my own personal theological notions. Kind of Quantum? Yes?

The Impact and Reaction to Religion in Society. (Inside Looking Out)

There is a lot that annoys me and saddens me about the divides which are going on. In this case I’m sticking back with Christianity as this is my home turf as it were’. That said I am not allowing this come between me and my good atheistic friends here on WP.

Firstly, I repeat have no time for these quasi-fundamentalists who are only using religion as a convenience to fit their prejudices, their privileges, their hypocrisies, hates, fears and hysterias.

Secondly I would make a general appeal to a section of the atheist Community.
Will you please stop packaging all of us with that aforementioned group. You don’t do that with races, do you? And it does not occur to some that the remarks they make are downright offensive to us as well? I am sure these are mostly directed at the quasi-fundamentalists? But stop to think for a moment? Are you not profiling us all? Mock the hypocrites sure. But lay off basic beliefs will you? Just ask questions. Don’t make accusations or offensive remarks, or mock. That hurts. And by the way says more about you that it does about a moderate believer. Some of the throw away lines I have encountered are mere mirror images of the MAGA style self-identifying ‘believers’ ‘Religious BS’ is a common one? Seriously? Has the accuser ever spoken to a Christian who also embraces scientific teaching, the whole of Cosmology (well as much as we know)?
Sadly this is another fracture line. Society is filled with them.

Currently there seems to be three types of religion. There’s the uncomplicated Faith based one which is down to personal choice. There’s the Community one, in which folk of similar beliefs meet up and share. Those two overlap. And there is, as is usual in Human History the one which is used for Political Purposes and is soaked in Hypocrisy and Self-Service.
The latter has it’s partner in crime in Politics itself, where the political beliefs are twisted through the same processes of suiting the purposes of a party or grouping. Places where Sincerity is a variable commodity. Truth is that which is convenient to the group. And only the Opposition is guilty of Hypocrisy.

Therefore I have to say, all those charges which are placed at the doors of Religion will be equally fitted into Politics, Social Movements, Social Interactions and so on. In short Humanity is Guilty as Charged.

Summary

So, where do we draw the line between types of Belief? A person has a secular belief, be it, say, Social, Scientific or Political. They hold to that belief. They hold to it strongly. They will demonstrate an opinion which others strongly object to, some will say their belief is illusory, and a threat. In the broad scheme, where is the difference therefore between faith in The Religious or The Secular. In the scheme of Human dynamics is there a difference? People hold fast to something.

Think on this one.
Many will say they hold true to Democracy. A laudable ideal.
However….In the disaster that was WWII Two Democracies (well for White folk that is) with colonial mentalities signed up with a violent totalitarian system to defeat two other like-minded totalitarian systems and in doing so allowed their ally to reap unjust rewards and while doing so caused the deaths of millions of civilians. Both those democracies along with other democracies also subjugated and caused large numbers of deaths amongst the populations of nations within their ‘spheres’ of influence. One Democracy had built into laws racial discrimination. Recently through its arcane flummery the same democracy allowed the minority vote holder into its position of president. A fellow of questionable qualities, opening the doors to new waves of Intolerance.

Do just these few examples mean that you hold Democracy to be something to be held as false and even to be despised?

You would prefer one of the other systems? Seriously?

If you set out to target Religion in general along ethical grounds then you had better be ready to target that which you hold close too. Are you ready to condemn it as false?

Finally. This I will assert, repeat to be precise.

You do not criticise a person for having a religious belief without endangering yourself of profiling and with it having a limited perspective. If a person believes in the equality of others irrespective of race, belief and gender; if that person cares about the state of the environment; if that person holds that scientific knowledge to date is to be respected, even celebrated; if that person sees flaws in all systems and ‘We’ could and must do better, while having a belief in a Deity; then why is the latter a ‘mark’ against them? Careful how you answer that; your answer may say more about you than you care to admit.

If you are unqualified targeting Religion as a concept, you are looking in the wrong place. Look around you. Look inwards too. Theists have to do that, everyday, if they do have Faith, that is.

These Days The World War Comes In Many Sizes.

Posted on 23rd Mar 2024 by Cassandra

Crocus City Hall

Crocus City Hall, Moscow 22nd March 2024 .It was 14, then 30, then 60 then 93. Dead. Injured? It was many, then a 100. How many escaped? Not known, but they will carry scars. Maybe they will be fearful of being in a crowd, never to go to any event again, fearing they may hear screams and gun shots. Will they ever sleep naturally again. Then multiply by numbers by relatives, friends, associates.

They were going to a concert. To have a good time. Enjoy themselves. Forget the troubles of the World. Maybe ease the pain of the loss of someone sent to Ukraine. Parallels to many Israelis back in October 2023. They were going about their ordinary lives. Just like Americans who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time in 83 mass shootings in 2024 (Up until February that is).

They weren’t in combat. They not were fitted out for fighting. They weren’t even living in dread. Not like folk in Port au Prince. Folk in Gaza. Folk in the Sudan. Folk across the Sahel (look on a map for yourself). In Congo. In Nigeria. In Pakistan. In India. In Philippines. In Malyaia. In Myanmar. In Mexico. In Ukraine. In Yemen. And that list goes on and on and on. World War. Not neat. Not one side vs another. That’s out-dated, washed away amongst the mudslide of agendas and causes, and the debris of alliances; mostly based on Hypocrisy.

Somewhere there is at least one record tallying up the estimates of non-combatants being killed. And someone will be parsing those numbers up into those unfortunately killed in cross-fires. those who were living near strategic targets, those slaughtered in some frenzy of hate and those who starve or sicken untreated because of a lack of resources. As if there is some comfort in pointing out that portions of those deaths were ‘unfortunate’. Like the police chief in To Have and Have Not says laconically about the death of the American tourist caught in cross-fire ‘It is unfortunate’ .But it’s war. What can you do?… Don’t start one? Or is that just a painfully innocent a suggestion.

Nothing worthwhile is easy to solve.

Crocus City Hall, Moscow 22nd March 2024. Dead, dying, injured, traumatised by being there, traumatised by association. Multiply that by the number of wars, rebellions, militias, gangs, mercenaries, authoritarian states, hate-groups. Some calculation. Like one of those massive boards that physicists and mathematicians have to use.

There will be the usual dash to social media to pump out the agenda. Blame this group. Blame that nation. ‘I hate…. I’m gonna blame them’….. ‘Yeah me too’. The keyboards must have been hammered over the last 12 hours.

And there will be those who will justify, or glorify those who walked into Crocus City Hall on Moscow 22nd March 2024 and killed ‘in the name of’. Like the killing of non-combatant folk of a nation is going to make any state think ‘Oh gosh. We were wrong. Sorry,’ Russia, Israel, USA, China. Four classic examples of what happens when you tread on their toes, their majorities. No, they default to ‘Someone has to pay,’ Like any group, any region, any nation with a grudge or agenda really, deep down, worries about the loss of non-combatant life. Like any of those listens to any protest across the world.

Crocus City Hall, Moscow 22nd March 2024. It’s 115 dead now. Four suspects held. Flowers being left at the site, people donating blood. It’s what ordinary folk do. Do something. Meanwhile as expected both the Ukrainian and Russian governments or security services make claim, counter claim and ridiculous assertions abut the other side. At least the ordinary folk are doing something constructive.

World War. As in a world beset by wars in all shapes and sizes, many so deep, convoluted and old that the original reasons were lost somewhere and there’s only The War. You could claim Political Expediency, Culture, Religion, Poverty, Corruption, Old Enmities, New Ones, Suspicion, Communal Hysteria; take your pick; add another, there’s no shortage.

But what to do? No use saying ‘It’s Not my Problem’. USA.Back in the 1990s what was going in The Middle East, Saudi Arabia, ‘The Gulf’ Lebanon was not ‘Your Problem’. Sure the government sent armies and folk got killed, which was a shame. But nothing to do with you. Then came 9/11- direct Cause and Effect and the USA went into several sorts of hysteria which is still plaguing you today.

And why do European nations and the USA wonder why folk from other nations are flooding into their lands. War. Famine through War. Why else should folk be so desperate?

In these days of hyper-travel, hyper-trade and hyper-communication what happens somewhere will eventually find its way in some way to your door, even if it is but an increase the cost of your favourite…..

Crocus City Hall, Moscow 22nd March 2024. It’s our problem. It’s our tragedy. It’s our concern. And that nagging one, deep down inside. The one place where you get into the tangle of Cause & Effect, of Apathy and its distant cousin Selective Outrage, of Disassociation, of Assumptions Without Thought, and the rest. The one where we have to ask ‘Was That Something To Do With Me?’ Hopefully not. Hopefully you started out as innocent bystander who tried to do something constructive, even in a small, small, hardly noticed way, a ripple. Me? Involved in a war? You’d be surprised how far the reach is.

Still, bear this in mind. It takes a lot of folk a long time to make a World War. And there are never simple answers.

One thing though. Those who beat the drums loud, and long. Folk who give you one liners as solutions. People who claim that killing their neighbours is the only solution. Mobs that blame an entire people for the crimes of a government. Ones who claim they have a direct line to a deity who says its OK to kill.

They are liars, wretched creatures. And irrespective of the differences in their politics, religions, races and locations, they are all the same. Hate mongers. Blights. Bloodied hands by deed or association.

Crocus City Hall, Moscow 22nd March 2024. Take some time out today to think of the victims.

It’s a regular event in some parts of the world.

Bothered by Having to Think? We At Save-U-Tyme. Have The Answer!!!

Posted on 11th Nov 2023 by Cassandra

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Are you confused by all these folk who say they are Experts or Commentators, with degrees and what they claim to be experience? Taking up all that time you could use watching Reality TV, Car Adverts, Film Action Trailers, Adult Entertainment?

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As much as you’d like to sit and watch, say Fox News 0de42132-47ba-415a-bfc1-6c60034d55c5_text

You might have really important things to do like

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Nothing is Easy. Nothing is Straightforward. Populism is a Mirage. Humanity Does Not Get The Last Say.

Posted on 8th Oct 2023 by Cassandra

This is another of those complex wandering posts of mine. My defence is in the Title. There are no simple solutions. The script of Life is long and complex and Humanity is not the principal writer either. I thought images were needed too. The news is coming in thick and fast this year, at least it seems that way.

You will see this post contains a number of those images. These are of the consequences of wars and those of Nature’s Environmental activities. They all involve suffering and great loss of life. Those of the latter could have been minimised if the nations involved were not strangled by wars or by governments with fundamentalist, opportunistic or cheap squabbling agendas. Thus they are all linked by actions, reaction or interaction. There are underlying tragic themes of inevitabilities, some because this is how the way The World works, others because of Humanity’s short-sighted and narrow-minded follies, failing to learn that the ‘last war’ was not glorious, but was due to a miscalculation, one which continues to happen over and over again.

We start with War. Because nothing sells so well as War. Right? It’s buried deep into our frameworks. Warning: The Sardonic will be at work here– Every war can be justified, by all sides. It’s so simple. Of course, there are costs. But those can’t be helped, can they? After all ‘We’ had no choice, if We started it; it was because of because of ‘Them’, they were the threats. Look at our histories (well, the ones we wrote; not theirs those are all lies). So Reader let us start by looking at latest headliners in Gaza / Southern Israel

Palestinians Celebrate The Hamas Attack on Israel

Then Suffer The Aftermath

One Way How Israel Would Like Us To See It

Then Reality Came To a Music Festival

Meanwhile another war with ancient roots but with modern implications for ‘US’ (ie The West- these days usually comfortably two-steps removed from conflict but it’s getting closer)

Ukraine….

And lest we forget….

SUDAN

A Picture and its Story: Girl survives air strike that killed her family

YEMEN

MYANMAR

NAHORONO KARABAKH

And this entire region

We didn’t even cover all of the wars. And we have not looked at the inter community violence which springs up in many nations or has festered at the low key for years. So there will be no room here to consider all of the Human Rights, Regional and International Implications, much less the matrix of causes.

Meanwhile there are the constant reminders that despite the Deity complex some folk think Human posses or the antics of The Unholy Faith of Denial the Dynamics of this world has the last say, not us.

Earthquakes – No we cannot tame them. Unavoidable. BUT if there was less spent on wars, and tighter holds on corruption the damage to structure and life could be lessened

Afghanistan

Morocco

Syria

Turkey

Fires – Reading Books by Hack Deniers or Populist Politicians will NOT make these stop. Nor can these events be intimidated by guns. In some cases the luckless can’t outrun even outdrive these.

Smoke billows upwards from a planned ignition by firefighters tackling the Donnie Creek Complex wildfire south of Fort Nelson

Canada

Greece

Hawaii

Floods– Common enough you say. In Libya this one was helped along by a decade long series of wars. Nearly 4,0000 recorded deaths; 9,000 missing, that was at the time of the event.

And we have not considered Famines nor Diseases nor the Serious Poverty that takes lives slowly.

The weighty truth being that none of these events are new by any means, a scroll through history will bring you examples of all these events and similar, even larger losses of life. However what shakes the fatalistic and providing you live in the comfier parts of the First World, complacent view is that TODAY.

We have the countless examples of what does not work

We have the technology to ease the suffering

We have the wealth to invest

We know how Corruption works

We have the scientific knowledge to open our eyes to solutions.

The problems being, aside from the Age Old ones of ignorance, prejudice, greed and so on. We know have a system that can spread lies world-wide at the touch of a button, and We fall for them, or We say the events are nothing to do with or, or What Can We Do. We also can twist technology to make it cause harm, theft, fear and hate. There is nothing corrosive or destructive We cannot do if we switch off our consciences and compassion.

Ah Dear Reader. It all seems hopeless does it not? What can you or I mere small individuals do against such Flaws of Humanity or Forces of Nature?

I’ll offer you this yet again

There are no simple solutions.

The world is a complexity of cause and effect. I’ll give you one example. If cocaine and heroin had not become chic drugs to be indulged in by the comfortable as a recreation or the desperate as an escape and if the use had not be made ‘everyday’ in media and entertainment there would not have been the demand. If there had not been the demand there would not be the proliferation of powerful drug cartels in poverty struck nations. If there were not such desperate circumstances there would not be floods of immigrants. Why the surprise? There has been a northwards drift in the USA for decades? Walls? Border Patrols? You’d need a small border and a Communist style state to cope with the flood of the desperate. I could give you a Cause and Effect in Europe too. Yet….apparently the simple solution is more border patrols and populist governments. That is just a summary of one Cause and Effect and an addition.

We come back to this then:

No populist solution will work to any problem, be it on the Left or the Right, or the Activist. Look at those pictures again, and again….and again. Is any one of those problems going to be solved by a line of spluttering outrage on social media? Is anyone really going to sort it all out in a few months? Do throwing paper towels help? Or suggesting one community moves out of an area? Or denying what is happening? Or blaming just one side?

Neither you, nor I can stop what is happening or what has happened in the above images. What we can do though is adhere to a few factors. Compassion. Respect. Tolerance. Neighbourliness. And turn our backs on those who Deny and Distort. Those who spread Hate and Ignorance. Those whose incompetence and unsuitability is masked by Populism.

Of course nothing will stop The Earthquakes or Volcanoes. Or Extremes of weather. But We can minimise the effects, for there are efforts being made. We can support those, and not listen to those babbling about socialism a subject they evidently know nothing about.

And there is the adage to remember which seems to be have many origins and is still being passed down:

“It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness”

One person’s small efforts then? The intolerant still haven’t got the notion that ‘Snowflake’ is the stupidest insult ever. Why do they they think blizzards are comprised of? How do they think they can’t get their fancy cars out and about? Lots and lots and lots of snowflakes then?

Or lots of folk with little trowels working away, all together.

That’s how you actual drain a swamp.

Assuming draining the swamp is a good idea.

And by the way. If you do hit someone or throw something at them, don’t complain if they return the action. Those who start something don’t always get to be the ones to write the final script.

And to repeat; because some folk just don’t get it. Nothing is easy. And for those completely shorn of sense. Not everything that happens in this world is the result of a conspiracy.

Do something positive, help someone in some way.

It’s a start.

Look at the above. We have to start, somewhere.

Religion. Another Viewpoint (With Some Assistance From Quantum Mechanics & Cosmology)

Posted on 22nd Aug 2023 by Cassandra

WorldReligions-164107922-c72cce704d4d4521962046df4fa8ce3f

NB- This will also be very long, because the subject matter is not to be fitted into snappy one-liners. It will also be very short of quotes; the reason being quotes with the best will in the world (or especially, the worst will) are going to be selective to argue a case. I’m not going to fall back on that. This is simply my view, in my words…. ok, with a few links just to illustrate complexities in the science side. I leave it up to you to go seeking evidence one way or another.

This is another one I have started out (in my mind anyway)- several times. You may recall I earlier on this year felt obliged to voice a common challenge Christians face and I would venture to suggest folk of other faiths face at times:

One Christian’s Confession

Now my faith remains, yet so do those misgivings over some aspects taught to us. This post is not about those issues though. This is about the experience of being a Christian, in a Middle (Aside: Cosmically speaking there is no ‘The Middle’ as we know it. Only your own perspective from your local focal point. The Universe does not subscribe to our limited perceptions -that’s me mixing religious and scientific by the way). The Middle I wish to discuss is the one which sees; on one side an abrupt generalised dismissal of all theistic belief and believers and on the other side those who do evil and sheer opportunistic folly under the guise of theistic belief. In this case, of course, I repeat I use the Christian perspective, it would be crass to impose upon the beliefs of the moderates and liberals of other religions.

There is a particular reason why I gave a nod to ‘Quantum Mechanics’ and that relates to a concept known as The Waves -Particle Duality, in short having two properties at once. Have fun reading this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wave%E2%80%93particle_duality

This has its parallels with the majority of Christians. The majority accept the status of The vastness of everything through the scientific lens while adhering to their faith. That actually takes some doing. As one Jesuit priest astronomer said ‘Every day I study the stars I am challenged’. After all we have a Bible to go on while on the other hand we have the wealth of knowledge which goes from the wonderous massive magnificence revealed by Cosmology down to the mind-stretching infinitely small domain of Quantum. And everything in between. One Being brought all that into existence and can also claim they know everyone one of us. How is that supposed to work?….Uh????

That’s where Faith, be it leaping or just standing still, comes in. Now the majority of us have A Faith. This comes in many forms. I ask you to pause and reflect on that. Think on what you hold true to be in a view, a relationship, something which is always there in your background. An aspect which appears to be steadfast irrespective of the rest of the world around you. Think deep on that. That’s a Faith. Faith transcending what seems to be the case of the world around you. It exists despite the apparent practicalities you have come to learned. It defies the logic you have been told is so. And sometimes part of its nature might be founding wanting. You’ll find a lot of that in Quantum. There, I am back with the Quantum-thing again. Research still continues there into the contradictions and the apparently evasive. Thus any Christian honest with themselves and the relationship with their Faith has met doubts, unsatisfactory conclusions, mysteries which remain just out of reach. Those do not stop us believing. The question is not finding ‘An Excuse’ or ‘A Platitude’ to answer the difficult issues. It’s a question of going In Deep, to use Faith as a foundation to work from. If you consider Science you will find in its history that answers or solutions were and still are being constantly overturned because they do not fit the model. Let’s look at that. From A Middle. Or using cosmological metaphors to be more analogous. From Planet Me.

The Bible – An average moderate Christian gets a bit queasy about parts of The Old Testament, particularly the opening books. These seem to support incest, genocide, suppression of women, the punishment of same-sex relationships, heroes and figureheads having multiple sexual relationships and that’s before we get to ‘A Jealous God’ who is likely to wipe you out with a snap of the fingers because of some minor misdemeanour. Such passages are leapt upon by intolerant Fundamentalists who gleefully announce their excesses of Hate, Intimidation and Violence are but carrying out the Word of God, while their atheistic opponents have the easy task to use the same as evidence that these beliefs are flawed. And the Moderates get lambasted by the Fundamentalists as not believers and going to Hell (Hoorah!) while Atheistic folk look aghast and say to any moderate ‘But how can you belief that?’

OK. If we look at the Four Gospels used in most branches of Christianity we have at the centre Jesus. Basically the Son of God sent into our world to take on Human form and ‘suffer death’ to cleanse us of all our sins, Past, Present and Future. The Four Gospels reflect four different reporters of the story. Nothing wrong with that, have you ever encountered an event in which ALL of the reports are exactly the same. Really? No you haven’t. Anyway here’s another old post of mine concerning that subject:

A Case for The Christian Easter Actually Happening

The New Testament Gospels have their own issues. Though nothing as useful to the Fundamentalists as they can take out of context from The Old Testament. However the two parts are linked and whereas there are some branches who will claim you don’t need the Old Testament because Jesus’s coming into the world did away with those books, unless you are looking to play a lazy Anti-Semitism card, that don’t work.

But here is the aspect which bears repeating over and over and over about the Old Testament. Firstly it is a collection of written accounts based on oral accounts, or in some cases religious interpretated historical events OR codes of practice based on the social circumstances of the time. Secondly the accounts are translation of one of several versions of local languages and dialects, using poetical imagery, which have been translated into Greek and then into Latin and then into English (at least once each)…so you can imagine that what was said, why and when, would likely be not perfectly translated and represented in today’s English (whatever version). In short you just don’t go looking for a bit underline it or dog ear your Bible and say ‘Ah-ha! That’s why I can be terrible to other people!’ Theologically speaking we’re also a flawed, cussed and arrogant lot, thinking we know best, which is why God has to keep telling us we’re wrong. Not that even Jesus’s supreme sacrifice on the Cross seems to have sluiced out our flaws. Thus quoting ‘bits’ to suit your intolerances- that is a load man, you are just bigoted- period! (Apologies to the late Michael Herr for plagiarism of ‘Despatches’- again)

Change of tack again. Just to personally slip back to The Science Area, Quantum and Cosmological (Very, very, very small and very, very, very big). There I was with three puzzling issues trying to comprehend Christianity, AND Quantum AND Cosmological, when gradually they all slide into place. All three cannot be taken at what seems to be a swift-throw away face vale, all need some study, pondering, and ‘gosh are they not hard to get around?’ There appear to be contradictions, there appear to be unfathomable, no one appears to agree on one set of rules, laws or perceptions, and so on. Thus it came to me, ‘this is how it is’. Nothing is straightforward, nothing can be encapsulated in a simple few words. All needs study and reflection. All is the same. For me the melding of the perspectives of Science and Religion became a most liberating time. Giving room to deal with the challenges, like trying to comprehend 150 billion galaxies (not stars) in the observable universe or getting your head around the Quantum concept that the nature of a particle being affected by it being observed OR your Belief and Faith being tested. No need to worry about The Purpose of Life. It just is.

One aspect of the Theistic and Atheistic conflict which strikes me as having an Irony the size of one of those Galaxies, is the way some arguments on both sides get hung up on the same piece of English estimate of what was originally said. Like somebody says the World was created in Seven Days because it says so in the English, and then somebody mocks the religion because of what a fundamentalist said, as if we all believed that. The Irony being that both sides are buying into the same statement. It’s like the fundamentalist has convinced the atheist, this is something to argue about. As if the description of the Time Scale matters. Or that everyone believes it or should believe it has only one direction and value, which by the way it doesn’t.

Navigating back to the Quantum and Cosmological aspects of this post, I would suggest brief visits to sensible academic sites, where you will encounter a variety of views, suggestions and ideas (avoid the calculations that’s like reading a theological treatise on The Holy Trinity concept- your mind will spin). There is a great deal out there based on Laws, however there are always differing the interpretations and the suggestions that those laws might not have actually always been quite that way. The whole is an ongoing process. Everything is ongoing. We are children learning, or being wilfully difficult.

From my own perspective I reason that if this is the case, and since God set the whole in motion, it follows a simple reasoning, that resorting to Confirmation Bias is not the satisfactory way to seek deeper into one’s faith and beliefs. Working on the basis that God is perfect we cannot be perfect because we are not God, therefore being flawed we have to work through a great deal of difficult and challenging questions. Just like Cosmologists or Quantum Physicists are involved with. There we are again; the two concepts are intertwined. Including those times when a person can get frustrated or discouraged by the immensity of the task. To emphasise once more, Nothing Can Be Neatly Fitted* Into How You Want It no matter how good or bad you wish to portray it. The closest you will get to that is with a Human Flawed Perception of ‘Things’

And there is that troublesome word again ‘Human’.

Religion– Used by more than a few as an excuse for war, or other acts of violence, or just intolerance. And wilful ignorance of or objection to progress, even when benefitting from that progress. Also, a handy tool for the hypocrite and the opportunist. Of course, I could put up a pretty good case against any form of secular governance on the same basis. There again let’s be neat about it and condemn Politics and Religions all in one go. Isn’t that *neat-ly fitted? What we need is good honest scientific progress?

Progress– We have much to be grateful for in the research into atomic and sub-atomic particles. Look how much Quantum has revealed:

Applications of quantum mechanics – Wikipedia

Mind you that research into the atom and its constituents did lead to the splitting of the atom and observing the release of energy….and sorry folks but…. Nuclear Weapons. That is the trouble make an advance and the next thing you know some Human grouping talks about weaponising it. Weaponry doesn’t spontaneously evolve, Humans develop it. You find a Human idea and you are going find a benefit and a mis-use, also several loud and long arguments about how to approach and utilise that idea. Humans, that’s the issue folks. Not just Religion then. Might as well throw Economics into the mix.

I could go on and on with more analogies, examples, arguments, discussion and so forth. Why, gee, I haven’t even got around to the question of The Historical Approach, nor the sometimes amusing, sometimes hysterical lengths both sides of the divide will go to support their point. Both using out of context statements, hurtful language and demonstrating Intolerance and quite a bit of Ignorance in pursuit of that good old Confirmation Bias. Don’t try and drag me or several millions others into either side of your squabble. We’re waiting to sort it out with God, as far as we are concerned, that is where The Last Word is. And there are those for the record who in addition to being professional scientists are theists too. It’s all a question of perspective

Basically limited thinking in a Universe about 14 billions years old and possibly 90+ billions light years…..errr…big? While at the other end of the scale particles which don’t do as we might think they should. Basically, arrogance in trying to claim we know the mind of the Being that brought the Whole into existence….Apparently only in one language, to a selected few, of one race or creed….Yeah like that’s going to resonate through the Universe, which God created.

Try this:

Tolerance

Respect

Compassion

Co-operation

You can even add on a few positives if you want. How and why you believe doesn’t matter to me as long as you are trying to stick with those….Not easy. WE can agree of that. Yes?

Now it would not be such a post without a part set aside for some impassioned commentary. So, as parting words, for those who do not visit my site, will most likely not read this. For everyone else this is what I have to say to them in that unlikely event they arrive and stridently tell me I am wrong.

Do not tell me that it is the Will of God and that Jesus Christ died on the Cross so that you could persecute others because they don’t fit your ideas of gender, are the wrong colour, because they were forced into medical choices for situations you did nothing to help with, because they seek out Our Lord God along different paths. Don’t you dare. I renounce you as Christians.

And …Over to the other side. Do not tell me that to follow my Faith is somehow dangerous to society, and I am to be shunned for my beliefs, that I am wrong, because quite frankly you know nothing about me and all you are doing is profiling, just like any other narrow minded hypocrite. The other side of the coin. I renounce you too. And don’t try and tell me it is all a delusion because you cannot take me to the place in the Universe and categorically say ‘Look this is where God should be, and there is nothing,’. You may believe it, but you cannot tell me I am wrong for believing otherwise. And sorry some guys but some schools of Logic haven’t got a place in this debate. This is a Science and Faith zone. Your Latin quotes won’t cut it here.

OK, for the rest of you guys who read my posts. Read and questions and poke holes if you find them. I know you all and respect your concerns and questions.

Also I confess to a smidge of mischief, mixing Religion, Quantum Physics and Cosmology into one post. But, I’m one of those (not the first) who just could not resist it. It had to be done. They cannot be avoided.

When Obnoxious Knownothings Effluviate

Posted on 5th Aug 2023 by Cassandra

I tell ya ‘ s’all sqwoke

Foreword: Sometimes it’s difficult to to deal with a serious topic which has some ridiculous undertones without flippancy, idioms and sarcasm turning up, along with a few barbed side-swipes at linked subjects.

Well loud folk, you who left Dogpatch because it was too liberal and sophisticated for you I really have to throw you a slightly out of date can of Bud Light and a cd of K D Rock I was using as a frisbee. For your wealthier fellow travellers who made their bucks hogging the media who although agreeing with you would never be seen in such vulgar company as yourselves I am sending them exactly the same. Yes, you out there with your very large detached houses, fine wines, several cars and a good accountant, because for all your pretensions to ‘standards’ and frequenting locations where people of substances go, you are no better than the collection of loudmouths are the end of the bar on a Friday night. So Big thanks guys.

But, soft I hear you ask, Dear Reader. Why Roger, do you feel inclined to lavish such gifts upon these undeserving folk? Those who are currently trembling at putting the TV on in case they are traumatised by the sight of women playing with might and main at the Women’s Soccer World Cup, while being more manly about injuries than their male counterparts when they should be at home in kitchens and having babies?

Why simple, Dear Reader. Until these reactionary, insecure, narrow-minded, bigoted, ridiculous folk started howling like they’d placed their large or over-sensitive posteriors on thorns I did not have a clue about this word ‘Woke’. And since one is simply Nobody unless one keeps up with trends, new words and suchwhiches I have to thank this clutch of persons of limited perceptions for enlightening me. And is that not a sweet Irony? Ignorant folk enlightening. Ah Dear Reader you just have to adore The Law of Unintended Consequences

Now by analysing the blatherings and ragings in columns, squeakings on YouTube, incomprehensible mouthings on TV channels and radio and also what are classified as reviews of films, programmes and books by lesser wannabes I have reached two conclusions.

The first one being that the original use of the word was by folk who wanted to appear hip, sharp and on the point about social issues, equality and progress. Why they didn’t use more eloquence and thus leave behind their detractors is a sad reflection on these times. Any lapse into anything more than a sound bite (or is that byte?) seems to lose traction for some folk. Like those with tragically short attention spans who start wailing ‘boomer’ the moment your point of view goes beyond one sentence. So going back to the original issue, apparently you had to be ‘Woke’.

Onto the second conclusion. Since the first conclusion revolved around discussing such topics as equality, social issues and progress (but not ‘Tolerance’- ah well can’t win ‘em all) , there would obviously be a reaction from those who wish for things not to progress, not be equal and have lesser folk not knowing their places. In these days of coded social media such folk could hide behind phrases as ‘Freedom of Choice’ (sub-text; I choose to be intolerant and bigoted) ‘Quotas’(sub-text: I was in line for that promotion not that more qualified and able woman) ‘Incel’ (sub-text ; I am a (bad word) inadequate whose social skills are so awful no girl would go near me). Meanwhile it got so confusing with UK Left Wing Politics ‘Look. I am not anti-Semitic. I just disagree with Israel’s policies (sub-text: And ‘we ‘all know every Jew supports Israel). Now though thankfully whenever someone loudly complains in a media something is ‘Woke’ then we know they are a Right-Wing, Reactionary, Intolerant Racist or Misogynist. Everything is so much simpler again. We know they don’t approve of LGBT rights. We know they only read selected parts of The Handmaiden. They don’t want ‘those’ people at the top in politics. And so forth. And therefore the title of this post.

Although, Dear Reader, as we know in this world, nothing is ever simple. Thusways unless someone is White, loudly heterosexual while being obnoxious we don’t know if they are a complete jerk by nature or whether it is the circumstances of their situation (Although in Clarence Thomas’ case it is easier).

Let us not forget we also have Cancel Culture. As this allows everyone of every race, creed, religion (or not), politics, sexual orientation, preferences for trees or hedges in their gardens, ownership of cats or dogs, whether to use adverbs or not in their stories etc to be as intolerant or offended as they like to anyone, even to some poor shlub who made a harmless comment on the colour of socks, we shall not discuss this here and now. Just beware of saying anything to anyone.

In the meantime, as a final remark. ‘Effluviate’ is to generate effluvium – foul smelling vapour or gas from waste products, but I guess you knew that already…

Gosh….I do hope I don’t get cancelled for being a Show-Off.

I wonder if I’ll get called ‘woke’?

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