Religion – The Atypical Political

I was a little apprehensive about writing this piece, because what authority do I have? I hold no degree in “Gender & Sexuality studies” like the writer of this drivel. Then I decided that if people can write politically acceptable articles based on nearly nothing, then I could do the same, only a bit less acceptable – ‘cause why the hell not.

That’s it.

I’m saying it.

I think traditional gender roles are beautiful.

It took a few years of consideration but the movie Deerhunter did it for me.

There is a meaning and a priceless value to intense emotions, so intense that they scar you physically as well as mentally. I personally have cherished every bursting surge of life that a rush of uncontrollable emotion brings – this is why people often take drugs if they are feeling understimulated by their day to day routine. This is why people have casual sex, or go paragliding, or get into street fights. These are all short term, life affirming moments accorded us by our fellow humans.

But there is truth in saying that ultimate transcendence, in the form bestowed upon us by Nature herself, lies in birth and death. In between those two events of a person’s life there are countless opportunities that allow us to experience these core feelings to varying degrees, such as the ones mentioned above.

I think it is fair to say that two concrete manifestations of these events are war and childbirth.
Continue reading “O Glorious Gender”

I’ve been reading a few religious opinion blogs lately, and out the window goes all I thought I knew to be true! I was always incredulous of people who disagreed with the likes of Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris, but now I can see how much these smart alecs misunderstand about religion. A “God delusion” it may well be, but how can we deny its importance?

I think that what we atheists refuse to acknowledge is the significance of our own species’ history. We are too quick to turn our noses up at the faith and lifestyle of those who came before us, assuming we are at the peak of human progress. Unfortunately we have no way of knowing what history was really like, having been skewed by a narrative. We are eager to assume that the reason “they” didn’t accept or respect non-traditional ways of life is because it was, well, simpler types, simpler times, following the diktat of a centuries-old fantasy fiction novel over a thousand pages long that they actually had time to read in those boring old pre-Internet, pre-TV days.

Well, here it goes. I’m willing to take that extreme position of accepting and tolerating those who stand by those traditional values, because who in the hell am I to assume that people of the past were dumber than me? A 25-year-old first world baby, with no ambition not only for myself but for all of mankind? I’m first to say I couldn’t give a damn whether our species survives or not; this, my friends, is a direct result of our beloved individualistic Western “civilisation”. This is where we are now. It’s every man for himself accompanied by some sad illusion of mutual solidarity. Continue reading “True Privilege”