Where does Time go?

Its been awhile since I have posted on here, I even had problems logging on as I had forgottten my sign in name. I try to use different ones for different sites to give my self some protection.

My aim as noted before is to consider faith - non-faith issues. As a non-believe I am far from happy that religious people claim to be the last word on moral isses "because that is what God/prophets/saints say is right. We are fairly rational beings (some of us) and can decide for ourselfs what is right/wrong without haviong to depend on what some said/wrote long long ago. I mean being written/said long ago doesn't mean it is right just because its old.

I am certainly against some of the so called "Christian " groups who wave their bibles as the answer to everything, while using very selective quotes to "prove" their point. While ignoring the bits they don't agree with.

But one thing faith groups do have is ability to organise and do things while other sit and aurgue, about how to help the poor and those in need. Atheists tend to be more selfish about actively helping others, or so it seeems - please somebody show me an active athiest group that helps the poor.

I'm currently reading God's Politics by Jim Wallis, a book written mainly about Americia and current Bush politics. Wallis hasn't all the answers, as he is a committed believer in God but his world view is certainly one I can support. And he points out the flaws in the current policies/beliefs in Americia.

I have also recently looked at a number of web sites that "prove" that god and the bible are imaginary. So many don't really knock God down as they miss the target they aim for and are far too cynical about religion to be convincing. (even to a non believer like myself)

The jury is still out - faith organisations are still the main source of support and refuge for those in need. When people help each other out of conviction that it is right, rather than a belief that an invisible being said they should, I would feel better about non-faith. But until the day comes when all the poor and needy can count on help without having to turn to those with the delusion of a god. I will give grudging support (and money) to those groups - so many of which are church based - because humanity badly needs the help they provide.

The Excluded

One thing that struck me on my wanderings though blogland, and the land of comments posted on news sites, is how unrepresentitive of the world, as a whole, the comments are. Generally the middle aged middle class, students either at a university or recently gaduated and the younger skilled workers are the only voices to be heard. There are one or two elderly but these tend to be from a middle clas or skilled background.

What is missing is the view point from those who tend to be put off by the strident, over rehearsed articulate middle class and those who cannot afford a computer plus dial up or broadband fees.

It is not always inablity to own a computer but in poorer areas those with computers or other goods become easy targets, and are frequntly burgled and goods stolen, and even with insurance replacements are not always possible.

Perhaps it is contridiction but the poor,elderly and those with a less academic background are almost completely absent. A few can and do appear on sports sites to discuss football. And some are very well able to put a coherent auguement together, on a subject that appeals to them. But few venture out to discuss world affairs or politics. Or am I being completely patronising?

Ok so self selection is hardly new but the WWW is by and large a talking shop that brings some sections of society together, but not others, The potential to bring more people from dissimilar backgounds to discuss and share their thoughts and beliefs is been lost because so many are unable or will not take part.

I am not advocating free computers for all, after all with so many living at stavation level there are other priorities - but connection to the internet should and could be made cheaper. Perhaps a form of broadband that can be switched off to save costs?

As a case in point the current conflict in the middle east has brought out supportors from boths sides rehashing the same old tired aurguemnts. There are quite a number of Israeli postings - in English - putting their point of view. But where are the Lebanese? Their voice is not heard. There maybe some non-english sites whre they post. But in a world dominated by the Anglo-Saxon American view, and their support for israel, how can the lebanese view be taken into account when it cannot be heard. So many comments are so obviously badly informed, but there is no information to base a more pro-Lebanse view point.

I am a great supporter of the internet and its potential to bring people together, but we must all remember there are so many more who cannot debate with us because of lack of access. As well as those in some countries who are blocked by government censorship censorship from contributing.

Not much t o say

I not really in the mood for bloging tonight, not had much sleep for a few nights - too warm to get comfortable, woking over time today. My brain is numb. I have some thoughts I want to put here about how the psycological cruch of a belief in a god/higher power/whatever, seems to be helpful to many. But it will keep until I feel more ready to develop the aurguement.

Life, the universe and everything

Greetings

Welcome to my first post proper in this blog. I have decided to use this area as a place for general thoughts on the weirdness of life in geneal. I have a political blog Pipes of Pan so I intend to keep this bit as politically free as possible, although politics enters all area of life at some time.

What I would like to consider as a theme running through the blog is to examine the following: - How necessary is religion? Can one live a spiritual life without believing in a God? And can you become a good, moral and fulfilled person without religion? I believe life can be lived without an imaginary friend, but can I prove it?

Yep its a tall order, and the answer may well be 42, as Douglas Adams suggested as the answer to "Life, the universe and everything". Time to go and do some thing useful with myself.

Testing

Greetings

this is just a test post more to follow when I get the blog profile up & running.