Prayer, The dark side.

I will personally fire a kamehameha wave at any omnipotent deity that would listen to my prayers before helping the countless (well, not really countless, but more of I'm too lazy to find the actual number, but it's likely over 2 billion) of people that needlessly suffer, and that's just the people I'm taking into consideration here. I haven't even looked at the billions of animals and other lifeforms that are abused.

Now, I understand as to why someone would pray.
They think that it actually does something. Well at best it is a placebo, at worst, it's extremely harmful, because it leads people to neglect processes that would actually be helpful.

Yet I have another reason for not praying. I don't want the help of a magic sky man. Even if there was 100 percent undeniable proof that a magic skyman existed I wouldn't ask for it's help. That's just sad. I can't even think of doing that. That's no better than cheating, rigging the system, taking steroids. If I were able to do well on a test because I prayed to a god, then there is something inherently wrong with that test, because it is not testing my intelligence, it is testing my ability to beg a superior to help me. Also if this being helps me before a more needy creature, then that shows a lot about the character of this being.

But I suppose I am being too harsh. There are plenty of people who put a genuine effort in, and then ask that god look over them. I suppose that is understandable, I have no contempt for such a request, but I think it is a little silly. What this does is it gives credit for your actions, and for the actions of the people that helped you to a being that doesn't actually exist. Really, if you can do something with god's help, you can do it without... though I suppose for irrational actions like flying planes into buildings filled with innocent people, or shooting abortion doctors, one would need "god's" help, because there would be no rational reason for committing such an act and believing it to be a good thing.

Anyhow, this is the way I see it.

If you want to help fight a disease, instead of giving money to a church or a temple, or whatever, and asking for god to help rid the disease, donate that money to a research fund, that is working to cure the disease of your choosing.

Instead of praying that god help you with your test, or football game, or interview, take those minutes to practice, or just relax.

Instead of trying to make a deal with the big man, like help me win this lottery and I will donate 1000 dollars a year to a poor person, work hard to make lots of money, and then donate that money to those in need (and as a bonus you'll actually be a morally good person, as opposed to a bargaining scumbag who thinks is paying a small fee for a large reward.)

Anyhow, that's my reasoning. It's why I never honestly prayed to a god. I can't recall if I ever thought that god was real (To my knowledge, it was just a pretend thing... at least that's what I remember concerning my earliest recollect-able memory), but as far as memory serves, I always disliked participating in prayers and other rites of religion that are supposed to bring forth the help of god.

Some say, "God helps those who help themselves" I say, "Those who help themselves, help themselves."

Also, head over to god-comics.com for a laugh, though some of the comics are pretty graphic. They are also hilarious, like the one I posted up top.

Science, Destroyer of Creativity? I think not!

So here we go again.

I haven't blogged in a while, but I'm back. This is simply a topic that I can't be silent about.

Now I know many people think science is a close minded way of thinking but to the contrary.

I'm going off of something a friend of mine said, "I'm surprised you're going into an applied arts program, you think with science, so you always think inside the box, most artists are religious because they aren't inhibited by only what's real."

Now I must say.. It's not that I lack an imagination.. it's simply that I don't call things that have no evidence, fiction. And I enjoy fiction very much.. usually in the form of anime and video games.

However what interested me was the comparison that was brought up. Science is narrow minded, but religion is not..

BLASPHEMY!!!

Science is by far the most open minded field in all of existence. You can claim whatever you like, you're in no matter limited to only what the books say. The only catch is that if you want to claim that something is true. You need to back up your claim with facts. If science has a theory, and newfound facts contradict the theory, science revises the theory.

On the other hand, religion is pretty much as close minded as things get. One is not allowed to question it, one is not allowed to challenge it, one is not allowed to present evidence against it. No matter what kind of evidence one presents it doesn't change it's delusions. It claims to be the absolute truth, and it won't alter it's stance until it's PR is in danger. If one presents contradictory facts to a religion, the religion simply says. "This book is the book of truth, and I'd rather believe the word of some bronze age writers than the meticulous work of scientists who have access to much more knowledge and better equipment. Since this book was written by my imaginary friend, I will throw out the facts that are in front of my face."

There's also another difference.
We need Science, but we'd be better off without Religion.

Just compare the amount of suffering that has been a result of listening to authority and absolute truths without first questioning them. Science has progressed to make our lives better. Yes, the increased technology has lead to more lethal weapons.. but it's our imaginary friends, and our irrational pride, statism, and piety that leads to those weapons being used.

Whether it be the word of gods, god kings, or whatever. Question everything, doubt everything, scrutinize everything. If they can back up their claims good for them. However, in most cases when someone tells you not to question something, it's because, they don't actually have the answers.