I Am a Secular Humanist
I say the art of Religion was humankind's first fumbling attempts to explain the world, evolving into the Humanities and Science. It's foolish to think "secular humanism" is evil; all those words mean is: Being a healthy human in the real world.
Some read the opening of the Gospel of John again and again all their lives without ever recognizing what it says as plain as day. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." In other words: This story begins in the human mind. And the wondrous Human Mind created a word called God, and recognized there is a real quality called Truth, in the way a straight line is True, or a chord played well in tune, or a geometrical theorem. It's a concept worth living and dying for.
This story ends with the religious authorities having their own prophet sentenced to death for telling them, Stop this proud babbling about your god, and do some good for your fellow humans, especially the ones you feel are so inferior to you! His truth of mercy and justice for all humanity is the Good News, intended to replace the old pious ceremonies of an exclusive boys' club. The prophet's return alive from the authorities' murder, and his coming again for all humanity to recognize and adore, are True when recognized as metaphor, not a fairy tale to be swallowed as factual events. The exact same story is related in Woody Guthrie's song: "The part of Joe Hill they couldn't kill went on to organize!"
Back to the Bible... then follow the rantings of Psycho Psaul, converted from a bigoted murdering Pharisee to a bigoted ranting missionary, and ending with the hallucinations of John the Tetched, for the ultimate biblical lesson: See how religion can mess you up? Be careful with this stuff. But it also advises: let them who have ears hear, let the haters hate and the ranters rant. Not a great book, but not without some good lessons.
Some read the opening of the Gospel of John again and again all their lives without ever recognizing what it says as plain as day. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." In other words: This story begins in the human mind. And the wondrous Human Mind created a word called God, and recognized there is a real quality called Truth, in the way a straight line is True, or a chord played well in tune, or a geometrical theorem. It's a concept worth living and dying for.
This story ends with the religious authorities having their own prophet sentenced to death for telling them, Stop this proud babbling about your god, and do some good for your fellow humans, especially the ones you feel are so inferior to you! His truth of mercy and justice for all humanity is the Good News, intended to replace the old pious ceremonies of an exclusive boys' club. The prophet's return alive from the authorities' murder, and his coming again for all humanity to recognize and adore, are True when recognized as metaphor, not a fairy tale to be swallowed as factual events. The exact same story is related in Woody Guthrie's song: "The part of Joe Hill they couldn't kill went on to organize!"
Back to the Bible... then follow the rantings of Psycho Psaul, converted from a bigoted murdering Pharisee to a bigoted ranting missionary, and ending with the hallucinations of John the Tetched, for the ultimate biblical lesson: See how religion can mess you up? Be careful with this stuff. But it also advises: let them who have ears hear, let the haters hate and the ranters rant. Not a great book, but not without some good lessons.
70-79, T
