Doctrine on an Opiat
Well, this is one is a bit of a scourging topic. Humans in general have lived on this planet, as far as the facts have been presented to us, long enough to create a great many things. Long enough to believe in a great many forms of existing. To hunt, to gather, to create, to acquire, to worship, to rebel, to serve, to control, to guide, to destroy, and to just exist.
We only know what others have left us. And for only the amount of time that has permitted us to understand what has survived without constant care and/or protection. Some of the things that we discover and share are ignored or misunderstood. Some of the things eventually become lost. Let alone things that have been destroyed on accident or on purpose. To never be known to the ones that come after. Then, there are some things that we find, that defy any truth that ever was real. Things twisted or corrupted by long since forgotten perceptions. Things based in some part to be true (as logic dictates), that were changed to suit what was once a dominant and ignorant force of influence. And finally, some things that we may never know the truth of. Because it has been not only protected and cared for. But kept secret from ever being shared to any future awareness.
Worship is one thing humans have lived with since before any form of solidified kind of communication was discovered or invented. To bend the knee, to bow, something to become subservient to. Be it an element, a natural occurring event/force, a stronger being, a divine source, an animal, an object, or even an idea. Worshiping anything, for some, gives a human life focus and a purpose to live. It doesn’t even have to be something real that the one who worships believes exists.
So, what is up with the whole mass worship thing? Hundreds of thousands… even millions of individuals, worshiping the same thing. Most all of them having somewhat similar structures of serving. However claiming the source of this worship, to be the true “thing”. While all others somehow, got it wrong. You know I am talking about religion right? Organized, cataloged, researched, and preached. All over the globe. Different perceptions refining a mass scale system of living in service to something.
Let’s take the whole atheism perspective out of this observation for now. I want to focus on a simple fact that exists in the present. How long have we actually been here? Not based on belief, but based on what we can actually see, touch, and experience. We can’t actually see religion. We just see people “doing things.” We can’t touch it. It is just a set of rules we are encouraged to follow. But can we experience it? Yes. But that doesn’t help us in knowing that one simple fact. Well, there are books. We can “hold” and read what others have written down. So yeah, I concede that we can see and touch those things at least. Then again, those things are still fairly new. Both based on sight (or hearing for the visually impaired). We know our species existed long before books. There were scrolls before books. Yet, still not old enough. Ok, what about stone/clay carvings? Certainly those are old enough. Sure, stone carvings have been around longer than the others. And that is where things get really interesting. Religion, way back then, is WAY different than any religion now. So, how old is the oldest you may inquire? 70,000 years ago is currently the oldest form of religion we have discovered so far. A people that worshiped a snake (or a python). Found in a cave located in Botswana Africa. Seventy thousand years is a very long time in a single human life span. It really doesn’t give us any answers though. Is there an early religion that does?
Well, the earliest form of belief that gives us a broader perspective answer is 4620 years ago. Quite a jump from 70K don’t you think? This is from the Sumerian culture in southern Iraq. Which used to be called Mesopotamia by the Greeks. Which was once before that, called Sumer. And what did they worship? Well, according to a great number of scholars, they worshiped aliens. Yeah, you read that. ALIENS! Beings from outer space. You might be thinking to yourself, what a bunch of horse $#!+. Aren’t aliens just a thing that happened like 77 years ago? Like worshiping a giant snake is any more ridiculous? Well, you can actually see a snake! Yes, that is true. However, the more you recede from the past to get closer to the present, you start to see repeating stories and systems of beliefs. One could argue that, the farther you get into the future, the more amalgamation from multiple religions you see. Seriously? Yes actually. Repetition of similar stories reappearing with uncanny accuracy for hundreds of years, spanning into all parts of the globe. The grand-Pooba of an example is Christianity. Obviously based on the life of Jesus Christ. (Which started only 2229 years ago. Which is calculated in actual years. Not by the years dictated by our current calendar. 28AD did not actually happen 1996 years ago. We have actually gone through a few calendars in our history and lost some years in the process.) Christianity has apparently adopted quite a few different religions into one mega religion (kinda like Voltron). Which in turn has birthed a plethora of other religions from its inception. So where the heck is the proof you presented?
Well, the 70K one isn’t much help. Aside from knowing we were around at that time and obviously at least a little before then. The Sumerians believed that aliens made us in their image for the distinct purpose for serving them in some “slave” fashion about 300,000 years ago. And Christianity? That religion claims we have only been around for 6,000 years. Does that help? NO! How the heck does that even come close to proving anything? Well, the Dharma religion is about 2300 years old and claims we have been around for 100,000 years. Yeah, that doesn’t really prove anything either. In summery, any proof that anything is real, is by how old we ourselves believe in such a history. Knowing a fact proves existence, not belief.
Welcome to religion folks. Where faith is as mailable as Silly Putty.
It just gets weirder from here on out.
You know, like L. Ron Hubbord’s made up religion. I know what you may be thinking. How can a science fiction writer be the creator of such a silly system of beliefs and be considered a religion? Think for a moment. Out of all the religions that have ever existed, do you actually think Scientology is the silliest? I dare you to look up “The weirdest religions in the world” and compare any of them to the worshiping of a giant snake. To me it seems we just got more creative. Like, how far do you think we can take this idea?
Hello Atheism. This being the cynic’s religion. The belief in “the truth” that all religions are bat$#!+. Yes, it may not be classified as an actual religion. However it is still protected under constitutional law in the same manner that protects all other religions (in the US). And there are even three variations of this system of beliefs, if you can believe it. There are agnostic, non-believer, and non-religious. As if there has to be such specific definitions.
Did you know that Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism actually accept atheism in their own system of beliefs?
“Ain’t that some $#,+?”
Me myself? I am not an Atheist. Not to say what I believe in does not make me seem like a lunatic. I just know what I have experienced, what I have seen, and what I have touched. I know what I know. And I also know that I don’t know enough. You could say that my religion is my own. And despite the definition of the word, it is all I currently have to work with. Which works for me…
Until of course, the voices start singing show tunes. If that ever happens, Brigantia help me.
