5 Steps to Secularise Yourself (and lead a happier life)

1.  Remove ALL religious language from your vocabulary.  This sounds maybe like a strange idea but if you come to think of it, by using religious swear words, you are effectively using the fear that the church instills in people in your every day language.  For example, 'bloody hell' - I use this in amazement - I do not believe in 'hell' and I most certainly don't think there is an even more gruesome of 'hell' that exists that is in any way 'bloody'!!!  Therefore I have come to the conclusion that to keep using it is to perpetuate the fear-mongering beliefs of the church.
     The list is incredible if you think about it.......'bless you' for a sneeze........'for god's sake' for just plain annoyance............'god only knows' for something you can't explain.........it really has to stop - it's quite annoying to think that I have been programmed to spout this rhetoric and I wasn't even brought up in a religious family!! Again, this goes back to just how far and wide the church's grip on society reaches.
    This idea has also made me think that almost all swear words are the by-product of the church - could this be to turn public opinion on any detractors? I don't know.

2. Don't get married. Yes, I said it. Don't get married.  You may be asking yourself, 'Why not?', first I would like you to tell me exactly why you should get married.  Many people get married in a picturesque church (that they have only set foot in to check that it is 'pretty' or 'quaint' enough for their wedding) and never return thereafter.  Is this is in line with the idea of Christianity? I hardly think so.  Therefore, if you are not in any way a practising Christian, why on earth do you want to go to the church to hear an ancient man in a robe tell you that you are allowed 'to kiss the bride'?! C'mon!!! Please!!
     Another reason is that, if you truly love someone, why do you need to commit to a contract in such a way?  If you truly love someone, I see no need to involve anyone but yourself and your partner in the relationship (and perhaps later on, children).
    Let's say that you do really want to get married. Fine - in some countries it is legally an advantage to be married to your partner.  Just don't go to the church - go to the registry office where it is illegal to mention god (hmm, I wonder why that idea was made into LAW??: ) ), it is also a procedure that does not detract from you and your partner's love for each other by constantly putting 'god' between you and if anything, concentrates more on you and your partner, as most anyone would surely want.

3. Don't have a funeral at the church.  Now, this is similar to the idea above yet it is also a slightly more sombre tone.  A cremation (in the UK at least) is the alternative to a church funeral.  Again, why would a non-religious person wish for a religious figure (who they had most probably never met) to bid them farewell steeped in beliefs & traditions that they themself  never practised or believed in.  If you are the next of kin, speak yourself about the deceased loved one or relative; tell stories, smile - it doesn't all have to be so grim, being positive is arguably a very good way of dealing with grief.  Invite others close to the deceased to speak also, along with anything else you see fit. After all, this is one of your loved ones we are talking about - you have the power to decide how best to say goodbye - don't feel obliged to let a stranger in robes come in and take control just for convenience's sake.

4. Don't capitalise 'god'.  Why should this be a proper noun? Surely all 'things' worthy of being proper nouns (countries, cities, days, months, etc EVEN religions) can be proved to actually exist.  Until that time, don't give undue respect and importance to such an idea that, by capitalising it, will lead to prolonged belief in such archaic ideas.

5. Don't allow your children to be forced to partake in any form of religious activity until they are 18, hence no longer children and able to make an educated decision.  This is particularly aimed at schooling as I vividly remember receiving plenty of Christian education in primary school (during my most formative years), whereas at home it was not practised or even mentioned.  I do, however, remember a boy from a Muslim family sitting outside the assembly hall when all religious instruction was taking place.  If all parents requested that, schools would be forced to not delve into such a personal pursuit, such as religion.

In the words of the late, great Bob Marley, 'Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery; None but ourselves can free our minds'..............so go out there and practice what you preach   (d'oh! ;-)  ...........put it into practice!! See, it's not so hard after all! :)

Doped Youth

It does certainly appear that any form of institution, be it political, social or religious, is really scraping the barrel if it openly pursues the indoctrination of children, practically from birth. One thing that has always struck me as strange is how children can be baptised before they can speak - a little way off being able to make an educated decision on such matters one might say.

I also find it strange that in all forms of Christianity, with the apparent divinity of their beliefs in Christ & God, that there is a need to baptise children as soon as possible; surely if there was such evidence that gave us all this undeniable conviction that what the Christian churches preach is absolutely true, we would all eventually end up going to get ourselves baptised sooner or later as we would see the proverbial 'light'. Yet this is not the case. The connection between education and religion is not favourable to the church; higher levels of education mean lower levels of church attendance and vice versa - strange coincidence.

Then, one might want to consider the parents' point of view; they are often not practising believers but they do it to keep up with the next door neighbours and not be thought of as different. Or perhaps because their own parents would like to see their grandchildren baptised as they were. Hence, it is self-perpetuating, revolving not around so much faith as keeping up appearances and perceived social pressures.

As a child I remember wanting to be baptised because I saw many other people's children baptised. I clearly remember asking my parents 'Mum, when can I get christened?', the response came 'when you are older you can decide whether to do so or not'. I'm still waiting to see the light and so far I have only perceived a dimly lit candle, slowly burning down with rather dim prospects for the future. Don't get burnt by the wax on the way down, friends.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_and_children

http://www.zuneboards.com/forums/religion/36803-indoctrination-children-into-religion-esp-christianity.html

PS In afterthought, after reading the caption in the image, if Jesus said 'let the children come unto me' then why do the good-natured church goers not let them do so and leave them to make up their own mind?! One last little irony i suppose......

The CIA

I'm currently reading 'The Secret History of the CIA; Legacy of Ashes' by Tim Weiner (Doubleday, 2007). It tells the tale of the CIA as a rather inefficient and inept outfit that, through its numerous misconceptions and naivities, has cost the world several unwarranted conflicts. Everything the author refers to is sourced at the back of the book. It must be said that it is from the off a critical view of the CIA and in no way offers them any positive feedback, for which it's kind of hard to believe but then you could say that anything positive they have done would not be worth reporting right? Well, either way, it's a warts and all look into one of the world's foremost intelligence outfits in a way that no-one (at least to this author's knowledge) has done before. After reading this, I had a browse on google videos and this documentary appeared. It is evident that again there is an underlying reason for making such a film, which the author makes clear from the start. It is titled; "In Lies We Trust: The CIA, Hollywood and Bioterrorism - Official Release".Both of these have given me a new insight into the course of modern history, especially the cold war and its numerous sub-plots, twists and turns. Take a look.......

Thoughts on 'Gomorrah' by Roberto Saviano

Having not long finished reading the book 'Gomorrah', by Roberto Saviano, I thought I'd just give some thoughts on it myself.The book itself is quite an interesting read, especially for those who are living in Italy, as it is a daring account of one of the most sinister and feared dangers present in many societies today; the Mafia element. Now this is not your typical Don Corleone-family-business-type-stuff; on the contrary it shows how the Mafia bosses are forced to live in constant hiding, despite their wealth and riches, for fear of being caught by the police. It also recounts the story of Don Pepino Diana, a local preacher who was assassinated after he refused to bow to the code of silence induced upon the communities in which the Camorra operates. He made a stirring speech criticising the Mafia, of which the most stirring line was 'Per l'amore del mio popolo non taceró' ('For the love of my people, I will not keep quiet') after witnessing years of Camorra activity in his area.

There are many more such characters in the book and it is certainly worth a read. The worst thing about it is that, with its various insights into the Mafia grasp on certain apsects of Italian society, it leaves the reader with a profound sense of rage and feeling of ineptitude as for every person who, just like Don Peppino Diana, chooses to stand up against the Mafia, there will be at least another 1000 who for fear of their livelihoods, businesses and families will not be inclined to do so as the threat of the Camorra is still very real. (I apologise but there are no equivalent videos in English)

Roberto Saviano has refused to leave Italy conceding that that would be a victory for the Camorra. Unfortunately for him, he now has a price on his head and has to live in similar conditions to those of the Mafia bosses he details in the novel - in a state of constant fear and protection.

As always, here are some relevant links;

The author's website aiming to promote anti-mafia movements and activities

http://www.robertosaviano.it

From the same site, a review of the book by the Toronto Star newspaper

http://www.robertosaviano.it/documenti/9278/125/129

Some images of an anti-Camorra event

http://napoli.repubblica.it/multimedia/home/5246124

An article describing the death threats issued to the author by the Camorra

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/naples-gangsters-order-author-of-gomorrah-dead-by-christmas-961414.html

There was also a petition against the Camorra on the 'La Repubblica' newspaper's website yet this seems to have disappear (strange?) It has tens of thousands of signatures. IF you do want to sign, the only current one I can find is this;

http://www.firmiamo.it/sign/petition/perobertosaviano

'Kymatica' - What do you think?

A brief synopsis; a look at (mainly) American society and its inherent flaws due to an overtly capitalist, and hence corrupt, system.

This documentary provides many interesting talking points, so many in fact that it would be pointless for me to try to summarise them here.....watch it above and let me know what you think.

The mistreatment of animals was particularly graphic and also the theory behind the birth certificate being a way of an individual joining the capitalist system from birth was interesting...........let's hear what you think!

'Fight the real enemy'

She said that she had nothing against the Pope when she did this; I can’t help but think that she was merely made to feel guilty by the OTT response by the world’s media. The Pope is the head of the Catholic church true, but he is no different to anyone else in that he is not infallible (a decree introduced at the end of the 19th Century by the then pope for political reasons to weaken any would-be detractors), he too makes mistakes as Sinead O’Connor says she did with this act.

One thing that cannot be denied is the unnatural way in which members of the Catholic church are made to keep in line with ‘God’s will’, which in turn, has led to a abnormal amount of child abuse in the church itself.

One theory is that, as in Catholic families homosexuality is not tolerated, many closet homosexuals felt they had no option but to ‘follow their faith’ instead of offending their family and possibly even God. Where is the liberty and equality in that idea I hear you ask……welcome to the wonderful mindset of the Vatican.