How it all began?
Do we really need to know "how it all began"? So much so that we will believe in any fantasy that claims to know the "truth." The Earth is 4 billion years old, the universe is older. Barring any major asteroid strikes, the Earth will still be around for another 2 billion years. We cannot know "where it all began."
Indoctrinated to Hate the Humanity
One Mr. Jubair Ahmed sent the appended poetry to Texas A&M University listserv, AM-BSALIST@LISTSERV.TAMU.EDU. Even though it is much polished and civilized than the actual doctrine of the 6th century, it contains insult and hatred addressed to those who do not follow his scripture. The listserv and its members of other faiths tolerated discussion and promotion of a particular religion for years. But this time one Ms Sumitra Biswas humbly asked some obvious questions for such hatred to the others. At long last, the community realized that it was not fair for Mr. Ahmed to put such a hateful poetry in the listserv and Sumitra was appreciated for bringing up the issue to the light.
Should we confront absolutist arguments?
I describe myself as a humanist and atheist. My moral code comes from my upbringing within a society that values relationship over confrontation.
Sin sounds strange and strong
"Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall," wrote William Shakespeare, expressing the concept of sin in his own way, painting with his pen a vivid picture of "sin" and "sinners". The mysterious concept of sin starts in religion as a way of introducing the supremacy of a perfect God, while Satan emerges from mystery, as eternal evil seems to be produced out of an eternal entity.
Excerpt from "History of the Conflict Between Religion and Science" By John William Draper
Will modern civilization consent to abandon the career of advancement which has given it so much power and happiness? Will it consent to retrace its steps to the semi-barbarian ignorance and superstition of the middle ages? Will it submit to the dictation of a power, which, claiming divine authority, can present no adequate credentials of its office; a power which kept us in a stagnant condition for many centuries, ferociously suppressing by the stake and the sword every attempt at progress; a power that is founded in a cloud of mysteries; that sets itself above reason and common-sense; that loudly proclaims the hatred it entertains against liberty of thought and freedom in civil institutions; that professes its intention of repressing the one and destroying the other whenever it can find the opportunity; that denounces as most pernicious and insane the opinion that liberty of conscience is the right of every man; that protests against that right being proclaimed and asserted by law in every well-governed state; that contemptuously repudiates the principle that the will of the people, manifested by public opinion (as it is called) or by other means, shall constitute law; that refuses to every man any title to opinion in matters of religion, but holds that it is simply his duty to believe what he is told by the religious institution, and to obey her commands; that will not permit any temporal government to define the rights and prescribe limits to the authority of the religious institution; that declares it not only may but will resort to force to discipline disobedient individuals; that invades the sanctity of private life, by making, at the confessional, the wife and daughters and servants of one suspected, spies and informers against him; that tries him without an accuser, and by torture makes him bear witness against himself; that denies the right of parents to educate their children outside of its own Church, and insists that to it alone belongs the supervision of domestic life and the control of marriages and divorces; that denounces "the impudence" of those who presume to subordinate the authority of the Church to the civil authority, or who advocate the separation of the Church from the state; that absolutely repudiates all toleration, and affirms that the Catholic religion is entitled to be held as the only religion in every country, to the exclusion of all other modes of worship; that requires all laws standing in the way of its interests to be repealed, and, if that be refused, orders all its followers to disobey them? This power, conscious that it can work no miracle to serve itself, does not hesitate to disturb society by its intrigues against governments, and seeks to accomplish its ends by alliances with despotism. Claims such as these mean a revolt against modern civilization, an intention of destroying it, no matter at what social cost. To submit to them without resistance, men must be slaves indeed!
A week of carnage - mass murder of animals
This is the week of carnage. Apparently, God, gods and goddesses have given the sign – they demand blood. Man's inhumanity attains a crescendo when he sacrifices innocent animals on the altar. During this week, Nepal's ground will be soaked with blood from decapitated heads of thousands and thousands of buffalos. This is all to satisfy the whims of goddess Gadhimai. Do people really believe she would deliver the goods?