Slightly Random Thoughts

Note: I don't feel up to writing limericks today... I'm too uninspired. I'm at the nadir of limerick-ness. Sorry, readers, I'll write some soon. Tomorrow, maybe. :)

I know I have been ignoring this blog, dunno why. Anne and Absconding haven't posted in a while too... The blogs appear to be stasis, and it's hard to gain lost momentum. But let me make an effort.

Movies and Stories

I have tried to post intermittently on my favourite movies... and there have been three posts so far: Before Sunrise/Before Sunset, The Godfather and Anand. Two are still to come, and there will be a final post on other good movies. Hope you like my recommendations. I'm also going to review a film sometime in the future: just a test review, some film which I haven't heard a good or bad word about.

I posted a story a few back on the blog... and I got good feedback. I am working on a few more ideas, and an unfinished story. I may not be able to write serious poems, but I hope I can write stories well, and creatively. I'm not going to stop writing poems; atleast don't plan to. Besides, I don't get much time, storywriting or poem-writing is a time-consuming process. I also have to make up for my poor knowledge of fiction if I want to write some.

Atheism

Recently I saw a very interesting article on Anne's blog about agnostism and the "new atheism". For starters, "agnostics"are people who don't accept or deny the existence of God, and won't until there is evidence for or against. Basically they are in favour of an empirical answer, not an argumentative one.

I used to call myself an Atheist, now I prefer agnostic. The difference is not just in the noncommittance, it's in the way one views the world. For an agnostic, atheists fall in the same group as believers: after, their beliefs aren't based on reason either. Both sides are equally dogmatic, for me.

When you read some atheists, like Russell, it becomes apparent their problem is not with God: it has to do with religion. Many see religion as harmful, a vice. Arguments that it helps people are shoven to the side. We are shown evidence of religion breeding dogmatism, cruelty, and hampering right actions and new discoveries.

It not evident which side to take. This is different from the problem of God: it isn't just scientific evidence. It's the problem of determining whether a world can live without religion. I personally believe it can be done: but I don't think it can be done quickly, or with a call to atheism. It can be done with the gradual awakening of a scientific and moral sense in us.

But all of us need faith and the ability to distinguish between good and bad. It is feared that in a world of atheists, there will be no moral boundaries. But every thinking atheist or agnostic will tell you that he or she has aview of good and bad, right and wrong. It may not be based on a holy book, but it will be subject to change and argument. Even holy books have different interpretations.

I'm done with my rant. To those who survived: think about religion, God, and it's importance in the modern world, and discuss it with others. It's not an unimportant issue, I feel. Religion dictates how (and where!) millions live, and loathe. It should not escape scrutiny.

Article in focus

This is just... sad. Banning the letter x.