Sunday, May 3, 2009
Losing
I started to lose my religion when I saw Vatican. Ironically, I was flabbergasted with the garishness of the church. I couldn't help but recall the number of Filipinos who suffered daily during the Spanish regime to build this church. Every gold in every frame represented Filipino lives lost in false adulation and in a pretentious promise of progress.
Catholicism and Poverty
Would the Philippines be more progressive had it not been Catholic?
From a geographic perspective, the list of Catholic countries in 2009 builds a strong case for the argument. Only 2 countries in G7 are Catholic countries. Spain claims to be 76% Catholic, but forward Catholic - supporting divorce and has progressive view on prostitution. Italians identified themselves as 87.8% Catholic. Outside G7, the long list of Catholic Countries are concentrated in in South and North America and a sprinkle across Africa and Asia. Around 80% of these countries are poor.
In an online forum, one good argument states that:
"Many of the impovershed countries are impovershed because of corrupt governments, not because of an adoption of religion. The two are mutually exclusive in the fact that they did not breed from each other. In fact, Christianity (specifically the Catholic faith) is based on the spread of religions to those countries from richer first world societies."
Is poverty and religion, really mutually exclusive? Other countries may have different realities, but let's look at the case for the Philippines.
- One of the primary reasons for poverty in the Philippines is overpopulation. And the powerful Catholic Church continues to discourage the use of condoms and pills, firmly backing the highly unreliable rhythm method. What happens is the uneducated poor continues to follow the rhythm and average 5-6 children per household. As the number of children in an impoverished household increases, the cycle of poverty increases. Until the poor are empowered by the right to choose how to procreate or just how to have sex.
- The irony of poverty is showcased during town fiestas. Even the poor family who eats only twice daily would lavishly serve a month's worth budget for relatives and unknown visitors in honor of the patron saint of that town. They would resort to borrowing money from friends, or from the friendly neighborhood "5-6", just to partake in this annual feast.
From a geographic perspective, the list of Catholic countries in 2009 builds a strong case for the argument. Only 2 countries in G7 are Catholic countries. Spain claims to be 76% Catholic, but forward Catholic - supporting divorce and has progressive view on prostitution. Italians identified themselves as 87.8% Catholic. Outside G7, the long list of Catholic Countries are concentrated in in South and North America and a sprinkle across Africa and Asia. Around 80% of these countries are poor.
In an online forum, one good argument states that:
"Many of the impovershed countries are impovershed because of corrupt governments, not because of an adoption of religion. The two are mutually exclusive in the fact that they did not breed from each other. In fact, Christianity (specifically the Catholic faith) is based on the spread of religions to those countries from richer first world societies."
Is poverty and religion, really mutually exclusive? Other countries may have different realities, but let's look at the case for the Philippines.
- One of the primary reasons for poverty in the Philippines is overpopulation. And the powerful Catholic Church continues to discourage the use of condoms and pills, firmly backing the highly unreliable rhythm method. What happens is the uneducated poor continues to follow the rhythm and average 5-6 children per household. As the number of children in an impoverished household increases, the cycle of poverty increases. Until the poor are empowered by the right to choose how to procreate or just how to have sex.
- The irony of poverty is showcased during town fiestas. Even the poor family who eats only twice daily would lavishly serve a month's worth budget for relatives and unknown visitors in honor of the patron saint of that town. They would resort to borrowing money from friends, or from the friendly neighborhood "5-6", just to partake in this annual feast.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Nihilist
Nihilism is the philosophical position that values do not exist but rather are falsely invented. Most commonly, nihilism is presented in the form of existential nihilism which argues that life[2] is without meaning, purpose or intrinsic value. Moral nihilists assert that morality does not exist, and subsequently there are no moral values with which to uphold a rule or to logically prefer one action over another. Nihilism can also take the form of epistemological, metaphysical or mereological nihilism.
The term nihilism is sometimes used synonymously with anomie to denote the general mood of despair at the pointlessness of existence that one has when they realize there are no necessary norms, rules, or laws.[3] Movements such as Futurism and deconstructionism,[4] among others, have been identified by commentators as "nihilistic" at various times in various contexts. Often this means or is meant to imply that the beliefs of the accuser are more substantial or truthful, whereas the beliefs of the accused are nihilistic, and thereby comparatively amount to nothing (or are simply claimed to be destructively amoralistic).
Nihilism is also a characteristic that has been ascribed to time periods: for example, Jean Baudrillard and others have called postmodernity a nihilistic epoch,[5] and some Christian theologians and figures of religious authority have asserted that postmodernity[6] and many aspects of modernity[4] represent a rejection of theism, and that such a rejection entails some form of nihilism.
The term nihilism is sometimes used synonymously with anomie to denote the general mood of despair at the pointlessness of existence that one has when they realize there are no necessary norms, rules, or laws.[3] Movements such as Futurism and deconstructionism,[4] among others, have been identified by commentators as "nihilistic" at various times in various contexts. Often this means or is meant to imply that the beliefs of the accuser are more substantial or truthful, whereas the beliefs of the accused are nihilistic, and thereby comparatively amount to nothing (or are simply claimed to be destructively amoralistic).
Nihilism is also a characteristic that has been ascribed to time periods: for example, Jean Baudrillard and others have called postmodernity a nihilistic epoch,[5] and some Christian theologians and figures of religious authority have asserted that postmodernity[6] and many aspects of modernity[4] represent a rejection of theism, and that such a rejection entails some form of nihilism.
Random
from Randomness Rules our Lives
If a woman has two children and one is a girl, what are the chances that the other child is also female? 50-50, right? But it’s not. The possibilities are girl-girl, girl-boy and boy-girl. So the chance that both children are girls is 33 percent. Once we are told that one child is female, this extra information constrains the odds.
If a woman has two children and one is a girl, what are the chances that the other child is also female? 50-50, right? But it’s not. The possibilities are girl-girl, girl-boy and boy-girl. So the chance that both children are girls is 33 percent. Once we are told that one child is female, this extra information constrains the odds.
in the Closet
Obama's victory is indeed a diversity milestone for US and for the world. My prediction is that a female President or Veep will be inducted in the US in my lifetime.
In the Philippines, we've already have 2 female presidents, which is great. What is not great is that I don't think there will ever be a non-Christian President or VP in my lifetime, or in children's liftime. FVR was the only non-catholic.
Why I like a lot of things about my country, I abhor marginalization based on religion. Many of socio-political problems in the country are due to religion. While women can enjoy equal opporunities in the government or even in the corporate world, there is unwritten discrimination against religion.
Case in point: would a succesful manager still be respected if the people realize that he is atheist?
In the Philippines, leadership presentations are delivered with generous reference to Jesus Christ. Something that would not be common in the US or Europe, or maybe even other countries in Asia. When John Maxwell, a pastor, speaks about many of his books, he would have a post-speaking session on his religious leadership principles.
Even the most professionally qualified and well-respected leader could lose his followers once people know that he is agnostic.
This is probably why I am still in the closet.
In the Philippines, we've already have 2 female presidents, which is great. What is not great is that I don't think there will ever be a non-Christian President or VP in my lifetime, or in children's liftime. FVR was the only non-catholic.
Why I like a lot of things about my country, I abhor marginalization based on religion. Many of socio-political problems in the country are due to religion. While women can enjoy equal opporunities in the government or even in the corporate world, there is unwritten discrimination against religion.
Case in point: would a succesful manager still be respected if the people realize that he is atheist?
In the Philippines, leadership presentations are delivered with generous reference to Jesus Christ. Something that would not be common in the US or Europe, or maybe even other countries in Asia. When John Maxwell, a pastor, speaks about many of his books, he would have a post-speaking session on his religious leadership principles.
Even the most professionally qualified and well-respected leader could lose his followers once people know that he is agnostic.
This is probably why I am still in the closet.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
+ and -
The Last Temptation of Christ (- -) was a great piece of literature. Contrary to what many people thought, it strengthened my faith at a time when I was on the brink of losing it.
It was Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ(+) on the other hand that started to plant questions on my mind. I did not agree with the statement that no one can be a hero in his own land. I thought that is absurd.
Visiting the Mona Lisa at the Louvre(+++) was an eye opener for me, more from convention and societal affirmation kind of way. I thought it was a waste of time, even if millions of people said it is a must see.
St. Peter's Basilica (+++++) at the Vatican City probably sealed the deal for me. I thought it was the worst edifice I have ever visited. It was a complete disrespect for people of my country and many others who funded that. A chip of the golden statue or one slab of the marbled floor could feed a whole town. The garishness I never understood. I probably never will.
It was Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ(+) on the other hand that started to plant questions on my mind. I did not agree with the statement that no one can be a hero in his own land. I thought that is absurd.
Visiting the Mona Lisa at the Louvre(+++) was an eye opener for me, more from convention and societal affirmation kind of way. I thought it was a waste of time, even if millions of people said it is a must see.
St. Peter's Basilica (+++++) at the Vatican City probably sealed the deal for me. I thought it was the worst edifice I have ever visited. It was a complete disrespect for people of my country and many others who funded that. A chip of the golden statue or one slab of the marbled floor could feed a whole town. The garishness I never understood. I probably never will.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
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