Einstein said that - the most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.
Yes, this is true. Especially if we experience the mysterious while standing up serious with our heads, and not frightened or timorous on our bended knees.
Science, at its best is a rebellion against authority. At its greatest, it is a rebellion against religion. Science is not science unless it deals with reality not as a mystery, but something worthy of understanding especially with logical, if not mathematical, clarity. Poch Suzara
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Walter Cronkite
Walter Cronkite was famous as the most honest personality in the American US Television industry of the 20th century. He always concluded his nightly CBS news with the gracious sentence: “And that’s the way it is, good night.”
Walter Cronkite could have been more famous and honest, however, had he summarized his nightly sick TV news for the tens of millions of his frightened viewers with this truthful words: “And that’s the way it shouldn’t be, good night.” Poch Suzara
Walter Cronkite could have been more famous and honest, however, had he summarized his nightly sick TV news for the tens of millions of his frightened viewers with this truthful words: “And that’s the way it shouldn’t be, good night.” Poch Suzara
A Great Civilization
“A great civilization,” wrote Will Durant, “is not conquered from without until its has destroyed itself within. The essential causes of Rome’s decline lay in her people, her morals, her class struggles, her failing trade, her bureaucratic despotism, her stifling taxes, her consuming wars.”
In our modern world, The USA is another civilization on the way down – thanks to our never- ending supply of mediocre and faith-soaked politicians. They are much more in love with freedom of religion that's destroying America rather than respect the freedom from religion that precisely made America the greatest nation the
world has ever known. As an American citizen, I am so sad for America. Poch Suzara
In our modern world, The USA is another civilization on the way down – thanks to our never- ending supply of mediocre and faith-soaked politicians. They are much more in love with freedom of religion that's destroying America rather than respect the freedom from religion that precisely made America the greatest nation the
world has ever known. As an American citizen, I am so sad for America. Poch Suzara
US Foreign Policy
The United States government can best serve foreign countries by staying out. Especially those foreign countries that are rich in natural resources. Freedom and democracy can never flourish in any country by making its poor people filthy poorer. Poch Suzara
ALL GREAT RELIGIONS
All great religions have their holy books that are regarded as “divinely inspired.” The Christians their bible; the Jews, their Talmud; the Muslims, their Koran; the Buddhists, their Sutras; the Confucians, their Analects; the Taoist, their Tao-Te-Ching; the Hindus, their Bhagavad Gita; the Vedantists, their Upanishads; etc., all written by superstitious crackpots inspired not by any reference to a telescope or a microscope, but only to a silly horoscope. Surprisingly, they were all very correct when they wrote about nothing. Un-surprisingly, however, they were all very wrong when they wrote about something. And to think that in this 21st century we humans are still hating and killing each over the correct interpretation of such ancient literature whose authors never even knew anything about the molecular basis of life, or that life is related to all other forms of life on this earth. Poch Suzara
Hume’s Dictum
It is far more crucial for a wise man not to believe, but to know. Indeed, to find out, as the wise man has no beliefs. Thus, the difference between a theologian and a scientist.
The theologian wants to believe; he does not bother to discover or to know. Specially more. He pretends to know that he already knows the truth. The search for the truth, therefore, means a waste of time to the theologian. Poch Suzara
The theologian wants to believe; he does not bother to discover or to know. Specially more. He pretends to know that he already knows the truth. The search for the truth, therefore, means a waste of time to the theologian. Poch Suzara
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Open Letter to the United Nations
OPEN LETTER TO THE UNITED NATIONS. Our world is wracked with malevolence and embroiled in violence not because of too little, but because of too much religion. Indeed, religion has always been and still is in the business of multiplying hate rather than be with the efforts of dividing peace and love and grace for the human race. The Christians do not understand their own Bible. The Muslims do not understand their own Koran. In fact, if both believers took the trouble to read and understand each other’s holy book, they would learn that their scriptures are based upon older sources written by primitives who were more at home with horoscope but not the telescope or the microscope. Sacred books should be about dignity of the human community, and not about contrary beliefs that inspires enmity or hostility. To those of us who have no religion, it is frightening to visualize that the Christians, the Muslims and the Jews can now, with nuclear weapons at their disposal, reduce our planet into a lunar landscape. A civilized way, no doubt, to solve at the same time, the problem of human population explosion with a bigger and wider and higher explosion. Bertrand Russell wrote: “More than half of the population of the world is under-nourished, not because it need be, but because richer nations prefer killing each other than keeping poorer nations alive and helping them to achieve a higher standard of living.” I said it before, I say it again: if we were all atheists we could learn to live together in peace with all men. I am myself proud of atheism because in the history of the mankind, there never was a war declared by atheists against other atheists. Indeed, as atheists, we know that humans are no different from the animals, except only by a little. We atheists, however, do not want to throw that little away. We hold on to our sense of common humanity. In the meantime, the preparations for religious war are only making poor people in poor countries become poorer. It is time for religious believers to stop making a mockery of what human life should be. It is time to stop wasting precious resources against each other in purposeless hate and futile violence. Bertrand Russell said: “There lies before us, if we choose, continual progress in happiness, knowledge, and wisdom. Shall we, instead, choose death, because we cannot forget our quarrels? I appeal, as a human being to human beings: remember your humanity, and forget the rest. If you can do so, the way lies open to a new paradise; if you cannot, nothing lies before you but universal death.” Far worthier than the Muslim family or the Christian family or Jewish family or Hindu family or Buddhist family is, in fact, the precious human family whose continued existence is in doubt. It is time to love and appreciate the one and only real purpose to life, and that is, for the sake of our children and grandchildren, we must leave this world a little better than we found it, at least in the humanitarian sense, or there is little reason for our having lived. Sincerely, POCH SUZARA - Bertrand Russell Society, Philippines, pocholosuzara@gmail.com Feb. 26, 2006
Monday, February 20, 2006
Letter to the Philippine Free Press
Feb. 20, 2006
The Philippine Free Press
4th floor, Great Wall Bldg.
136 Yakal Street,
San Antonio Village,
Makati city
Gentlemen:
If my piece on Jerry Lewis was worth publishing in your magazine, why did you have to mutilate it and deleted the controversial portion out of it? If I had the courage to write what I wrote, what happened to your own courage to reprint the piece as it is and not to reflect how highly informed you people are with college education.
Religious hypocrisy, political expediency, distaste for veracity, and indeed the habitual distortion of reality are among the ailments that make for our sick society. It is regrettable that so prestigious a magazine like the Philippine Free Press should devote its influence to increasing and justifying them.
Attached is my original piece on Jerry Lewis. It is only a few days old. Your Free Press magazine is almost 100 years old. What a shame as I always thought that with age comes maturity, responsibility, and the courage to struggle for social sanity.
Sincerely, Poch Suzara
c.c. Jerry Lewis, USA
Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation, England
Blog
The Philippine Free Press
4th floor, Great Wall Bldg.
136 Yakal Street,
San Antonio Village,
Makati city
Gentlemen:
If my piece on Jerry Lewis was worth publishing in your magazine, why did you have to mutilate it and deleted the controversial portion out of it? If I had the courage to write what I wrote, what happened to your own courage to reprint the piece as it is and not to reflect how highly informed you people are with college education.
Religious hypocrisy, political expediency, distaste for veracity, and indeed the habitual distortion of reality are among the ailments that make for our sick society. It is regrettable that so prestigious a magazine like the Philippine Free Press should devote its influence to increasing and justifying them.
Attached is my original piece on Jerry Lewis. It is only a few days old. Your Free Press magazine is almost 100 years old. What a shame as I always thought that with age comes maturity, responsibility, and the courage to struggle for social sanity.
Sincerely, Poch Suzara
c.c. Jerry Lewis, USA
Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation, England
Blog
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Jesus Admonished
Sell all you have and distribute to the poor and you will have treasures in heaven.
I ask: If what truly matters is treasure in heaven, what do the poor gain from what they are given?
In the meantime, the misery of the poor is not due to the laws of nature. It is due to the religious institutions. Indeed, such institutions never cease to preach: - blessed are the poor for they shall inherit the kingdom of God. Poch Suzara
I ask: If what truly matters is treasure in heaven, what do the poor gain from what they are given?
In the meantime, the misery of the poor is not due to the laws of nature. It is due to the religious institutions. Indeed, such institutions never cease to preach: - blessed are the poor for they shall inherit the kingdom of God. Poch Suzara
The bible as Best Seller
The bible has been and still is the best seller in any bookstore in the Philippines. I ask: how do bible messages promote spiritual growth as a people; enhance moral development as a nation; and, more importantly, advance common human decency in this Asia’s oldest Christian country?
The simple truth, however, is that we are deeply ignorant of bible contents because the priesthood industry has consistently warned every one to read the bible but only under their strict moral interpretation, if not spiritual guidance. To me, it only proves that the bible was written not for Filipinos, or written even for the Jews - the Chosen people of God; in fact, nobody knows for whom the holy bible was written for! Poch Suzara
The simple truth, however, is that we are deeply ignorant of bible contents because the priesthood industry has consistently warned every one to read the bible but only under their strict moral interpretation, if not spiritual guidance. To me, it only proves that the bible was written not for Filipinos, or written even for the Jews - the Chosen people of God; in fact, nobody knows for whom the holy bible was written for! Poch Suzara
In the New Testament
According to Matthew, Jesus said: Everyone who acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge before my Father who is in Heaven; but whoever denies me before men, I will also deny before my Father who is in Heaven.
I ask: what it does not matter if Jesus made those promises or threats! In the end, however, what counts is if those approvals or denials have anything to do with the original mission of Jesus on this earth which was to destroy the devil. Indeed, the devil is still alive and perpetually spreading deviltry especially in the Philippines - Asia’s only Christian country since the 16th century. Poch Suzara
I ask: what it does not matter if Jesus made those promises or threats! In the end, however, what counts is if those approvals or denials have anything to do with the original mission of Jesus on this earth which was to destroy the devil. Indeed, the devil is still alive and perpetually spreading deviltry especially in the Philippines - Asia’s only Christian country since the 16th century. Poch Suzara
Philosophy and Religion
In philosophy, it is possible to disprove something. I love it as I love reason. In religion, however, it is never possible to prove anything. I hate it as I hate faith. Indeed, faith has only to do with believing; it has nothing to do with knowing or
discovering, and my favorite - questioning! Poch Suzara
discovering, and my favorite - questioning! Poch Suzara
THE BROKEN HOME
The broken home that makes for a broken child is not as harmful as the loveless home that makes for a loveless child. A broken child can be mended with love and affection. The loveless child, however, stays emotionally crippled for the rest of his life. There are a lot of these emotionally crippled individuals who are quite famous in Hollywood, California. They all play parts in the mediocrity, if not in the American insanity that promote their own popularity via the movie industry.
Even more terrible, however, these are also the emotionally crippled individuals who end up as politicians in government and feel they have the right to invade a foreign country and shove democracy down its throat. Then they convince themselves how wonderful it is to live in the land of the free and in the home of the brave. Poch Suzara
Even more terrible, however, these are also the emotionally crippled individuals who end up as politicians in government and feel they have the right to invade a foreign country and shove democracy down its throat. Then they convince themselves how wonderful it is to live in the land of the free and in the home of the brave. Poch Suzara
Jesus Revealed
“I am the way, the truth and the life.” John 14:6. I ask: under this theological revelation, how did Jesus, as the Son of God, alleviate pain or spread the sympathy for human suffering and poverty in this world? So much so that in his own community no one need have been that ungrateful to shout “Crucify Him!” “Crucify Him!” Poch Suzara
Jesus Replied
What shall I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus replied: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”
Unfortunately, by the time I am through loving the infinite God with all of my heart, and soul, and strength, and mind, - I will be so exhausted in that I will have no more time to love my neighbor nor have the energy to love even myself. Poch Suzara
Unfortunately, by the time I am through loving the infinite God with all of my heart, and soul, and strength, and mind, - I will be so exhausted in that I will have no more time to love my neighbor nor have the energy to love even myself. Poch Suzara
Jesus Preached
Love your neighbor as yourself. I ask: What if your neighbor were a congressman? Poch Suzara
RELIGION
Religion is a childish toy, and it is played with guilt and sin in the playground of ignorance. Religion profits not divinity. The profits are all for the priesthood industry. Indeed, all the organized religions of the world today are among the top most richest organizations in the world. Poch Suzara
FAITH AND BLIND FAITH
Faith is not wanting to know what is true. Indeed, faith is the best excuse we have for being thoughtless so that we may continue to feel blessed living in darkness. In fact, blind faith is the season for keeping away from the light of reason.
Poch Suzara
Poch Suzara
SPIRITUALITY
The path towards spirituality has nothing to do with embracing sacred lies and other pontifical delusions. On the contrary, the way towards spirituality lies through questioning everything; especially questioning the Revealed Truth as it has yet to be revealed. Poch Suzara
Caesar and God
Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s. Matt. 22:21. This is all fine and dandy, but not, however, since we find both God and Caesar are already rendering unto each other first and foremost. If God renders unto Caesar’s the things that are Caesar’s and Caesar renders unto God the things that are God’s, where do we go to render to whom? Hello, Philippines - the only Catholic country in Asia! Poch Suzara
THE PUNY MIND OF MAN
“The mind of man,” wrote John Calvin, “undertakes all that is perverse, base, and impure and always remains involved in hypocrisy and deceit.”
I ask: what vital role has Christianity played to make our politicians in government and our theologians in church all together be less perverse, less base, and less impure and no more involved in hypocrisy and deceit in the Philippines?
Now I am told that I have a mind that is puny. Oh yes, indeed, since I am human, my mind is just as puny as your mind and just as puny as the mind of the theologians and the politicians.
So how come you religiously frightened morons pretend that you have a mind that understands the mind of God? As if God has a mind since God is not human? Poch Suzara
TURN THE OTHER CHEEK
For the sake of peace and harmony, Jesus exhorts his followers with these words: “But I say unto you, that ye resists not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.” Matt. 5:39
I ask: what is so noble about turning the other cheek, if one knows that each time he does so, he is earning his salvation in heaven, while the one who strikes is earning his damnation in hell? Poch Suzara
I ask: what is so noble about turning the other cheek, if one knows that each time he does so, he is earning his salvation in heaven, while the one who strikes is earning his damnation in hell? Poch Suzara
BIBLE MESSAGES
I see no truth behind the traditional benevolence of religion. I do not think one religion any better than another. I think, however, since it is older than Islam, Christianity has brought far more darkness, misery, crime, and suffering, and far more evil and tyranny than any other religion. Especially in this Asia’s only Christian country since the 16th century. One need not read Philippine history for evidence. Just read and study the bible and discover the horrors of divine grace for the human race. Intelligently read the bible is the most potent force for atheism ever conceived by inspired writers of God. Poch Suzara Twitter# Facebook# Google#
Gilbert K. Chesterton
"The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried."
Chesterton ( 1874-1936 ).
I ask Mr. Chesterton: Have you heard of the Multiplication Table as the perfect model of truth? It has been tried for thousands of years, and without hate or wars. It has always been tried and found useful, always precise and certain and free from all temporal dross! And to think that the Multiplication Table as a perfect model of truth is not even mentioned in the bible - a book written by inspired authors of God.
In the meantime, Christianity thrives not on love, but on hate. This is symptomatic of a viciousness in Christianity that few people care to acknowledge. For all of its alleged concern for the “poor” Christianity does its best to perpetuate suffering but calls it “sacrifice” which easily transforms into hate – hate of each other down here for the love of God up there; specially while believing that this world is coming to an end as predicted by Jesus in his own time some two thousand years ago. Poch Suzara
Politicians and Theologians
We have good politicians in our government. We have good theologians in our church. Unfortunately, however, it is not enough to be good; especially if one were only good for nothing. Perhaps, in the centuries to come, our politicians together with our theologians would have learned to be good for something. At least be better professionals in learning to stop making a mockery of everything. Poch Suzara
In the Bible
In Genesis, it is asked: “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (18:14); and Jesus, more than once, said that “all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27).
I ask: is it possible for God to make Filipinos love fellow-Filipinos and to love the Philippines too?
What is so precious about God’s gift of Free Will if the Good Will were more socially beneficial, and indeed, more harmoniously functional? Poch Suzara
I ask: is it possible for God to make Filipinos love fellow-Filipinos and to love the Philippines too?
What is so precious about God’s gift of Free Will if the Good Will were more socially beneficial, and indeed, more harmoniously functional? Poch Suzara
God of the Filipinos
The bible clearly states what God said to Moses: “I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Exodus 3:6.
There is nothing in the bible where God also said: I am the God of Juan De La Cruz, I am the God of Gomez, Burgos, and Zamora, or I am the God of lapulapu.
In the meantime, the failure of our values continues to inspire and to generate the success of social insanity in the Philippines. Poch Suzara
There is nothing in the bible where God also said: I am the God of Juan De La Cruz, I am the God of Gomez, Burgos, and Zamora, or I am the God of lapulapu.
In the meantime, the failure of our values continues to inspire and to generate the success of social insanity in the Philippines. Poch Suzara
The Bible Says
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit. Colossians 11:8
These words must have been written by an inspired moron spoiled with silly theology, but totally ignorant of the beauty and power of philosophy – the Queen of all her daughters – the sciences. Poch Suzara
These words must have been written by an inspired moron spoiled with silly theology, but totally ignorant of the beauty and power of philosophy – the Queen of all her daughters – the sciences. Poch Suzara
Filipino Leader
We admit that even if we do not have a strong leader in government, we do have a Jesus, the strong leader of our church. Never mind if Jesus was born a Jew in Israel some 2,000 years ago. Never mind if Israel is not a Christian country as it is a Jewish State. And to think that this is the same Jesus who admonished: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not with him.” John 2:15.
Think of it: as Christians, if the bible tells us to love not the world, why then should we love the Philippines? More to the point: if we do not love our country, why should we love one another? And as we all struggle against each other in order to exist, we might just as well love God up there and hate one another down here! Poch Suzara
Think of it: as Christians, if the bible tells us to love not the world, why then should we love the Philippines? More to the point: if we do not love our country, why should we love one another? And as we all struggle against each other in order to exist, we might just as well love God up there and hate one another down here! Poch Suzara
IF THERE IS A GOD
If there is a God, it just seems fair that such a God should be existing not vaguely somewhere way out there but clearly right down here. For example, inside a church, a mosque, or a temple. Where God could easily be accessible to anybody in desperate need of help or protection of the innocent.
Well, if God lives inside this church or that mosque, or that temple, how come there is much pain and suffering in this world?
Oh God, my dear God, how do you get rid of evil? As the bible claims that everything is possible with you, is it not possible for you to destroy the devil and deviltry - a promise already made by your own Son Jesus some two thousand years ago?
In the mentime, the bible admits: God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands. Acts. 17:24 Poch Suzara
Well, if God lives inside this church or that mosque, or that temple, how come there is much pain and suffering in this world?
Oh God, my dear God, how do you get rid of evil? As the bible claims that everything is possible with you, is it not possible for you to destroy the devil and deviltry - a promise already made by your own Son Jesus some two thousand years ago?
In the mentime, the bible admits: God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands. Acts. 17:24 Poch Suzara
The Philippines
The Philippine archipelago is composed of 7,100 islands, large and small. Because of rugged topography, marked by wide rivers and deep creeks, high mountains and ravines, not to mention sea channels, most of the 88 million Filipinos live in 16 regions, 79 provinces, 1,496 municipalities and 41,943 barangays are islolated for lack of road and bridges. The isolation is one of the reasons for the slow economic growth.
Perhaps, the break-up of the Philippines into three – the Republic of Luzon, the Republic of Visayas, and the Republic of Mindanao -- might facilitate more growth and development as independent smaller nations minding its own viability and manageable economy. Poch Suzara
Perhaps, the break-up of the Philippines into three – the Republic of Luzon, the Republic of Visayas, and the Republic of Mindanao -- might facilitate more growth and development as independent smaller nations minding its own viability and manageable economy. Poch Suzara
IN SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES
In Southern Philippines – the Christians and the Muslims have been hating each other since the 16th century.
These are actually Filipinos hating other Filipinos. On the one side, the Filipinos hating the Muslims for the glory of God; and, on the other side, the Filipino hating the Christians for the glory of Allah.
No doubt, the Christians have faith in God; and, the Muslims have faith in Allah; unfortunately, however, faith has nothing to do with wanting to live in peace under common decency with those who do not share the same faith as we have. Poch Suzara
These are actually Filipinos hating other Filipinos. On the one side, the Filipinos hating the Muslims for the glory of God; and, on the other side, the Filipino hating the Christians for the glory of Allah.
No doubt, the Christians have faith in God; and, the Muslims have faith in Allah; unfortunately, however, faith has nothing to do with wanting to live in peace under common decency with those who do not share the same faith as we have. Poch Suzara
AS ATHEISTS
As atheists, we have made our point clear. Our outrage is not directed against this or that war-like nation, Jews or Gentile, Muslim or Christian, but is aimed at the psycho-neurosis called religion, the most harmful idea ever conceived by the superstitious crackpots of the ancient world. Religion is an evil responsible for more deaths than all the plagues combined. As atheists, our clearly expressed outrage is against that superstition that has brought man nothing but fear, suffering, death, turmoil including the whole gang of raving lunatics such as the Robertsons and the Grahams and the burning Bushes of this world. Poch Suzara
Friday, February 03, 2006
Jerry Lewis
I met Jerry Lewis at his home in Beverly Hills, California in l967. He had already heard about me from my sister. Especially about my activism having been primarily responsible for setting up the Philippine branch of the Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation in l964. We were then struggling against the Vietnam War in particular; and, against the concept of war as a way of settling international disputes in general.
Jerry’s greeting words to me: “Hi there, Poch – you poverty-stricken Filipino!” I retorted: “Hi there, Jerry – you rich-stricken Jew!” Jerry looked at my sister, laughingly said: “I like this brother of yours.” Jerry indeed, is a great comedian and, I must add, on and off the stage - a great man.
I salivated with envy as I was particularly impressed with him not because he was such a world famous Hollywood celebrity, but because of his huge personal library of great books. A few he himself had authored.
His son Gary of the Playboys, an equally famous singer and rock drummer ( I am a jazz drummer myself ) married my sister - Jinky. Sadly, it did not turn out to be a happy matrimony. After three years, it ended in a divorce. Both, however, have an only daughter – Sara. She is married now with two children – the first two great-grandkids of Jerry Lewis
Since 1966, every Labor Day, the Jerry Lewis Telethon has already raised more than a BILLION DOLLARS to fight and to find the cure for Muscular Dystrophy – a disorder of the skeletal muscles characterized by weakness.
Despite the existence of the American Medical Association, and the Food and Drug Administration, and its partner in business – the American Pharmaceutical industry that’s dearly protected by the Federal Trade Commission - there are more cases of Muscular Dystrophy victims in America today than ever before. Hopefully, the cure is just around the corner.
For my part, though I have neither the ability nor the popularity to raise billions, I too, have been fighting, in my own little ways, to find a cure of a disease of the worst kind. It continues to infect a great many people worldwide. It is called religion – born of fear and ignorance and superstition. Indeed, religion is what is keeping our world poor spiritually and backward scientifically. In America, a billion dollars can be raised for healing, but trillions of dollars are readily available for killing. Thanks to religion and its ability to spread more fear, ignorance, and superstition everywhere throughout our world.
In the meantime, Jerry Lewis continues his own fight to help financially find the cure for muscular dystrophy in America one day. I ardently wish him more power and success in his humanitarian works and dedication. Poch Suzara
Jerry’s greeting words to me: “Hi there, Poch – you poverty-stricken Filipino!” I retorted: “Hi there, Jerry – you rich-stricken Jew!” Jerry looked at my sister, laughingly said: “I like this brother of yours.” Jerry indeed, is a great comedian and, I must add, on and off the stage - a great man.
I salivated with envy as I was particularly impressed with him not because he was such a world famous Hollywood celebrity, but because of his huge personal library of great books. A few he himself had authored.
His son Gary of the Playboys, an equally famous singer and rock drummer ( I am a jazz drummer myself ) married my sister - Jinky. Sadly, it did not turn out to be a happy matrimony. After three years, it ended in a divorce. Both, however, have an only daughter – Sara. She is married now with two children – the first two great-grandkids of Jerry Lewis
Since 1966, every Labor Day, the Jerry Lewis Telethon has already raised more than a BILLION DOLLARS to fight and to find the cure for Muscular Dystrophy – a disorder of the skeletal muscles characterized by weakness.
Despite the existence of the American Medical Association, and the Food and Drug Administration, and its partner in business – the American Pharmaceutical industry that’s dearly protected by the Federal Trade Commission - there are more cases of Muscular Dystrophy victims in America today than ever before. Hopefully, the cure is just around the corner.
For my part, though I have neither the ability nor the popularity to raise billions, I too, have been fighting, in my own little ways, to find a cure of a disease of the worst kind. It continues to infect a great many people worldwide. It is called religion – born of fear and ignorance and superstition. Indeed, religion is what is keeping our world poor spiritually and backward scientifically. In America, a billion dollars can be raised for healing, but trillions of dollars are readily available for killing. Thanks to religion and its ability to spread more fear, ignorance, and superstition everywhere throughout our world.
In the meantime, Jerry Lewis continues his own fight to help financially find the cure for muscular dystrophy in America one day. I ardently wish him more power and success in his humanitarian works and dedication. Poch Suzara
Thursday, February 02, 2006
A Word Missing
There is one last word missing in God’s 5th command - Thou shalt not kill. At the rate the human heart has been more proned to hate than to love in this world since the beginning, the one last word missing in God’s 5th command is the word: - HATE. Poch Suzara
The Supernatural
The problem with the existence of the supernatural is that it exists only outside the human brain! How could we possibly believe in the existence of the supernatural that does not even exist inside our brain? How come, on the day we arrived on this earth, none of us had brain to know anything about the existence of the supernatural? Poch Suzara
Women in the Bible
Woman as written in the bible is depicted as the main cause of the Fall of Man, and why men are corrupt and depraved. This is obvious in the Old and in the New Testament. When Jesus, however, said, love one another, he was referring to men, not to women. Poch Suzara
Stephen Hawking
Is a brilliant scientist on a wheelchair who writes books with his brilliant mind even as his body fails him. In his Brief History of Time, Hawking wrote: “Throughout the 70s I had been mainly studying black holes, but in 1981 my interest in questions about the origin of and fate of the universe was reawakened when I attended a conference on cosmology organized by the Jesuits in the Vatican. The Catholic Church had made a bad mistake with Galileo when it tried to lay down the law on the question of science, declaring that the sun went round the earth. Now centuries later, it has decided to invite a number of experts to advise it on cosmology. At the end of the conference the participants were granted an audience with the pope. He told us that it was all right to study the evolution of the universe after the big bang, but we should not inquire into the big bang itself because that was the moment of Creation and therefore the work of God. I was glad then that he did not know the subject of the talk I had just given at the conference – the possibility that space-time was infinite but had no boundary, which means that it had no beginning, no moment of Creation.”
In this world, we have, no doubt, monuments to human mediocrity; but we certainly do also have men of science like a Stephen Hawking who is a monument to the human spirit. Poch Suzara
In this world, we have, no doubt, monuments to human mediocrity; but we certainly do also have men of science like a Stephen Hawking who is a monument to the human spirit. Poch Suzara
God and Allah
One would think that after all these past centuries of conflict and misunderstanding, God and Allah would have already smoked the peace pipe to enjoy peace and goodwill with each other. Both should have already inspired their respective followers – the Christians and the Muslims to stop the hate and the killing of each other for the glory of the either. But no! These supernatural brats apparently want to remain like a couple of supernatural brats for the rest of eternity.
I beg of you Christians and Muslims – why don’t you dump your respective beliefs and stop emulating supernatural childishness? Neither God nor Allah is worth loving or dying for. Let’s all live in peace together and have faith in each other for the sake of global sanity. Let's all enjoy peace on earth and goodwill to all men for the sake of our human family. Poch Suzara
I beg of you Christians and Muslims – why don’t you dump your respective beliefs and stop emulating supernatural childishness? Neither God nor Allah is worth loving or dying for. Let’s all live in peace together and have faith in each other for the sake of global sanity. Let's all enjoy peace on earth and goodwill to all men for the sake of our human family. Poch Suzara
Only in the Philippines
We start everything with a prayer. We end everything with a prayer. Indeed, in this only Christian country in Asia, when all else fail, we only say more prayers. After all, what is important to us is our faith in divinity. Never mind the failure of our values or the success of social insanity in this Asia's only Christian country. Poch Suzara
There is Nothing Wrong
There is nothing wrong with either the admission or the belief that something exists beyond our understanding. What is ludicrous, however, is when we love, worship, and adore that something, specially if everyone else knows absolutely nothing about that something. Poch Suzara
National Catholic Almanac
According to the National Catholic Almanac, “God” is defined as “Almighty, Eternal, Holy, Immortal, Immense, Immutable, Ineffable, Infinite, Invisible, Just, Loving, Merciful, Most High, Most Wise, Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent, Patient, Perfect, Provident, Supreme, and Incomprehensible.
I ask: If God were incomprehensible, how did any one come to know about the twenty-two other supernatural qualities of God. Poch Suzara
I ask: If God were incomprehensible, how did any one come to know about the twenty-two other supernatural qualities of God. Poch Suzara
A Logical Unity
“A logical unity,” wrote Bertrand Russell, “is at once a strength and a weakness. It is a strength because it insures that whoever accepts one stage of the argument must accept all later stages. It is a weakness because whoever rejects any of the later stages must also reject some, at least, of the earlier stages.”
For my part, I reject the earlier stages of what’s written in the Old Testament, and I therefore cannot accept the later stages of what's written in the New Testament. It is as simple as that. Poch Suzara
For my part, I reject the earlier stages of what’s written in the Old Testament, and I therefore cannot accept the later stages of what's written in the New Testament. It is as simple as that. Poch Suzara
Generosity
Giving away things you might need in the future is the true measure of generosity. Otherwise, giving away things you want discarded is not generosity. It is a mockery of charity. It is a form of religious vulgarity. Poch Suzara
If we only Knew
If we only knew for certain that there is life after death, and that death is more superior than life, then suicide should be a happy remedy out of human misery. We fear death, however, because we know absolutely nothing of its aftermath, if any. At any rate, how can the dead human body decomposing and rotting recognize and enjoy at same time the lively experience of life after death?
For my part, instead of contemplating on death, I would rather try and substantiate the words of a famous atheist – Bertrand Russell: “I consider old age a time to struggle for human decency – like any other.” Poch Suzara
For my part, instead of contemplating on death, I would rather try and substantiate the words of a famous atheist – Bertrand Russell: “I consider old age a time to struggle for human decency – like any other.” Poch Suzara
The Theologian versus the Philosopher
The philosopher values the life of the mind. The theologian, on the other hand, values the life of the soul. Unfortunately for the theologian, the soul cannot be understood without the power of the intellect. The philosopher therefore is a far more superior thinker than the theologian can ever hope to be. Poch Suzara
The Creative Mind
In the material sense, a man may be worth something. But if he remains thoughtless to the good life – one inspired by love and guided by knowledge, his life in the end will be worth nothing. It is not worldly possessions, but the creative mind that is clearly the major aspect of who or what we are that matters. Francis Bacon admonished: “Seek ye first the good things of the mind, and the rest will either be supplied, or its loss will not be felt.” Poch Suzara
Passport to the Next Life
It’s easy to apply for a passport issued by the church to travel to the next life. All that’s required is baptism in holy water. What’s hard to acquire, however, is the visa to go to heaven. It requires a lifetime of fear, ignorance, pain, suffering, misery, poverty, stupidity, and indeed, insanity. And to think that everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die. Poch Suzara
The Greatest Failures in Life
The greatest failures in life are those who live with the right answers to wrong questions. The greatest success, however, are those who question everything as the answers, with few exceptions, in time, become obsolete. Only the few have the courage to question what has always been taken for granted. The many, always living in fear, question nothing. Indeed, they hate the power of a question. What they love is faith. Faith has the power to make people timid comfortably, if not lazy mentally. In the Philippines, however, faith has even been quite a success as the engine generating the failure of our values that is promoting the success of what makes us the Sick Man of Asia. Poch Suzara
Notice
Ever notice how God is never around each time he is needed or wanted. Even his son Jesus, who took on a human form, after a few years on this earth, some two thousand years ago, decided to disappear out of sight away from everybody!
In the meantime, churches are empty on Sundays in European countries. It is the same situation in the United States. The ones who still go to church, however, are the Filipinos. They do not believe that God is everywhere. We have been taught to believe that God can be found, somehow, only inside a church or a cathedral. Poch Suzara
In the meantime, churches are empty on Sundays in European countries. It is the same situation in the United States. The ones who still go to church, however, are the Filipinos. They do not believe that God is everywhere. We have been taught to believe that God can be found, somehow, only inside a church or a cathedral. Poch Suzara
On Being Negative
Those who fought to abolish slavery were considered “negative” by the slave traders. Indeed, slavery was eventually abolished by those who were negative toward the evil business of slave trading. For my part, I am known to be “negative” too in my fight to abolish religious teachings in our schools, colleges, and universities. I would rather be “negative” in the eyes of the religious morons spreading silly faith in the supernatural that's keeping us selfish, greedy, stupid, and insane as a sick and a corrupt society as ever. Poch Suzara
Knowledge is Power
Knowledge is power; but that’s only half true. The other half that is true is when knowledge is put into effect. It then becomes a real power which is defined as the production of desired effects. Poch Suzara
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
A Strong Leader for the Philippines?
It is highly recommended that Jesus Christ be the one and only strong leader for Filipinos. As if Jesus Christ, who was not born in the Philippines, should have anything to do with Filipino values and beliefs.
Jesus Christ was born in Israel that today is not even a Christian country. It is a Jewish State. If Jesus Christ, who was himself a Jew, was never a leader in his own country, how and why should he be a leader in the Philippines? As a matter of fact, where is Jesus Christ? He is not even in Israel today? Nobody knows where Jesus is! Even the Filipino bishops do not know his whereabouts!
What we need in this country is not a strong leader but a strong system of education that gives birth to a strong people and, indeed, a strong nation. Unfortunately, our system of education has nothing to do with science developing the human intelligence. Learning in our schools, colleges, and universities is mostly about religion: - the preparation for the next life; or, worst, about the preparation for the coming of the Lord who will solve all our troubles and problems in this life. Poch Suzara
Jesus Christ was born in Israel that today is not even a Christian country. It is a Jewish State. If Jesus Christ, who was himself a Jew, was never a leader in his own country, how and why should he be a leader in the Philippines? As a matter of fact, where is Jesus Christ? He is not even in Israel today? Nobody knows where Jesus is! Even the Filipino bishops do not know his whereabouts!
What we need in this country is not a strong leader but a strong system of education that gives birth to a strong people and, indeed, a strong nation. Unfortunately, our system of education has nothing to do with science developing the human intelligence. Learning in our schools, colleges, and universities is mostly about religion: - the preparation for the next life; or, worst, about the preparation for the coming of the Lord who will solve all our troubles and problems in this life. Poch Suzara
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Family Planning Bill 3773
It is not surprising that there are many who find nothing but the devil’s work in the Family Planning Bill 3773. These are the same fellow-Filipinos who remain obedient to God’s command, especially the 4th: - Honor thy mother and father. Even if millions of the nation’s children exist filthy poor and malnourished in the streets of our major cities.
As if strength of high moral character or even a high I.Q. is a requirement to bring forth children into this world. Consider the physical position that a man and a woman must assume in order to multiply and replenish the earth: It has got to be one of the most contorted positions mindlessly designed by would-be mothers and fathers.
Honor is not something freely given. It is deserved as it is earned with dignity.
In the meantime, it is not a crime in the Philippines to let children live off garbage in the streets of our sick society. But if these poor children somehow survive and grow to up to be rebellious citizens embracing anti-democratic or even anti-religious values, it is not a crime to have them killed or salvaged by the military as that is “war” in defense of freedom and democracy.
As a people, we have yet to get beyond the so-called sanctity of life, and begin to understand and appreciate the quality of human life in the Philippines.
Forget the promises of those allies in the sky. Let’s start paying attention to needs of humanity. Where is our sense for common human decency? Must we really be all that perpetually serious promoting the success of our social insanity? Poch Suzara
As if strength of high moral character or even a high I.Q. is a requirement to bring forth children into this world. Consider the physical position that a man and a woman must assume in order to multiply and replenish the earth: It has got to be one of the most contorted positions mindlessly designed by would-be mothers and fathers.
Honor is not something freely given. It is deserved as it is earned with dignity.
In the meantime, it is not a crime in the Philippines to let children live off garbage in the streets of our sick society. But if these poor children somehow survive and grow to up to be rebellious citizens embracing anti-democratic or even anti-religious values, it is not a crime to have them killed or salvaged by the military as that is “war” in defense of freedom and democracy.
As a people, we have yet to get beyond the so-called sanctity of life, and begin to understand and appreciate the quality of human life in the Philippines.
Forget the promises of those allies in the sky. Let’s start paying attention to needs of humanity. Where is our sense for common human decency? Must we really be all that perpetually serious promoting the success of our social insanity? Poch Suzara
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
The five senses
The five senses – feeling, seeing, tasting, smelling, and hearing - basic in man as taught to us in school during our formative childhood years have turned out to be not scientific at all. There are more.
Notice how not every one has a sense of rhythm or a sense of melody or a sense of harmony to become a musician; or possessed with a sense of power like most of the corrupt politicians in government? Or the sense of clarity in a philosophical pursuit. Or the sense of symmetry on a dance floor? Notice as well one’s sense of intellectual balance to become not a fanatic. Scientists discovered these additional senses in man. The original five senses were purely the conclusion of the obsolete theology based upon the virtues of religious mediocrity and not based upon the pursuit of veracity. Poch Suzara
Notice how not every one has a sense of rhythm or a sense of melody or a sense of harmony to become a musician; or possessed with a sense of power like most of the corrupt politicians in government? Or the sense of clarity in a philosophical pursuit. Or the sense of symmetry on a dance floor? Notice as well one’s sense of intellectual balance to become not a fanatic. Scientists discovered these additional senses in man. The original five senses were purely the conclusion of the obsolete theology based upon the virtues of religious mediocrity and not based upon the pursuit of veracity. Poch Suzara
Bertrand Russell
Bertrand Russell considered religion as a disease born of fear and a source of untold misery to the human race.
To think that the atheists in the United States today are frightened by the theists. So much so that American Atheists no longer want to identify themselves as atheists, but as “rational.” They do not want to hurt the feelings of the superstitious leaders, specially those in charge of the US government. What’s happened to America? Is it still the land of the free and the home of the brave? Poch Suzara
To think that the atheists in the United States today are frightened by the theists. So much so that American Atheists no longer want to identify themselves as atheists, but as “rational.” They do not want to hurt the feelings of the superstitious leaders, specially those in charge of the US government. What’s happened to America? Is it still the land of the free and the home of the brave? Poch Suzara
The Failure of our Values
If what is happening in our sick society were due to the will of divinity, it follows that as the Sick Man of Asia, we must be just as sick as the angels in heaven we all love; and, we are also just as sick as the demons in hell we all fear. Religion, indeed, is a disease born of fear and ignorance and has certainly been the main cause of the failure of values generating the success of political stupidity, cultural depravity, and social insanity in the Philippines. Poch Suzara
My Greatest Achievement in Life
I was able to engineer my own expulsion out of high school. It paved the way clear for me to seek not only the answers to my own questions, but precisely to formulate for myself better kinds of questions that my mediocre teachers in school ignored, if not disparaged, or even, at times, ridiculed. Imagine the power of education not as a matter of learning the right answer to stupid questions but simply to learn as a lifetime adventure - how to always ask intelligent questions! Poch Suzara
Filipino Progress
Filipino progress can only be born of questions and doubts. Barren of questions and other inquiries the TREE OF FILIPINO PROGRESS will never grow.
In this only Christian country in Asia, we are, indeed, a grace in the rat-race for salvation. We should be more of a grace in the race for civilization. Poch Suzara
In this only Christian country in Asia, we are, indeed, a grace in the rat-race for salvation. We should be more of a grace in the race for civilization. Poch Suzara
Curiosity
Curiosity killed the cat. At least, before the animal died, it had a sense of curiosity. Most humans are killed, especially in war, not to satisfy their sense of curiosity, but to die in battle to promote political stupidity, if not to generate religious insanity. Poch Suzara
A Simple Truth
If God never listens to the Pope’s prayer to deal with the existence of the devil, why should God listen to your silly prayers to deal with existence of a Poch Suzara?
I am Told
I am told to fear not the future because God is already there. But if God has not been here in the present nor there in the past, why should God be anywhere in the future? To play more Hide and Seek games? Poch Suzara
How to Read
I loved the Christian Brothers at De la Salle University. They taught me HOW to read. Then I hated them. They dictated to me WHAT to read. And to think that these teachers were the same religious crackpots who also frightened me to believe that God gifted man with a free will. Poch Suzara
According to Christian Beliefs
According to Christian belief humans are depraved and corrupt. If this were true, why would God have a depraved human for a Mother and have a corrupt human for a Son? But then again, If Jesus and Mary were such exceptionally decent people, why didn’t God create them in the beginning? Why create a depraved Adam and a corrupt Eve to turn out guilty of the original sin? And to think that both Adam and Eve were never taught of the Lord’s Prayer: “Give us this day our daily bread, and lead us not into temptation.” Poch Suzara
I love Atheism
Atheism is not the rejection of natural morality. It is the rejection of supernatural morality as concocted by silly deviltry begat by theology. Poch Suzara
If God does not Exists
If it were proved that God does not exist – would it be still necessary to be an atheist? Oh yes, it would still be necessary to be an atheist. Look how the Christians and the Muslims have been cutting each other’s throats? Only because one tells the other: Thou shalt have no other gods before me! If we were all atheists – there will be peace on earth and goodwill to all men. Atheists do not kill other atheists to prove to each other that God does not exist. In fact, in all of man's
history, there never was a war declared by the atheists against the theists. It was always the other way round - killing atheists by the theists always pleased the good God. What a bunch of barbaric morons!
Poch Suzara
history, there never was a war declared by the atheists against the theists. It was always the other way round - killing atheists by the theists always pleased the good God. What a bunch of barbaric morons!
Poch Suzara
Death In Religious War
In a religious war, dead Christians is God’s plan to populate Christians in Heaven; and, dead Muslims is Allah’s plan to populate Muslims in Paradise.
As an atheist, I hope both God and Allah will grow up sooner and learn to stop playing deadly games against each other. Both supernatural beings are achieving nothing lively or even anything healthy. It is just plain terrestrial insanity. Poch Suzara
As an atheist, I hope both God and Allah will grow up sooner and learn to stop playing deadly games against each other. Both supernatural beings are achieving nothing lively or even anything healthy. It is just plain terrestrial insanity. Poch Suzara
Bertrand Russell
A great many Christians believed Bertrand Russell was an evil man devoid of gratitude with God who created him.
Indeed, Bertrand Russell did not waste his life having faith in mediocrity or praying daily to a divinity. He had no taste for theology as he was a great man of logic, mathematics, and philosophy.
Russell devoted 70 years of his life in the search of the truth. He was honest and frank to admit his failure in not having found the truth. He said others might find if we can all continue to search for the truth. As for the rest of his life, since he died at the age of 98, he devoted much of his days struggling for world peace. Russell hated the nuclear bomb. He organized the “ban the bomb” international movement. He was always on the side of humanity. He was never prepared to meet universal death to prove the stupidity behind global insanity. Poch Suzara
Indeed, Bertrand Russell did not waste his life having faith in mediocrity or praying daily to a divinity. He had no taste for theology as he was a great man of logic, mathematics, and philosophy.
Russell devoted 70 years of his life in the search of the truth. He was honest and frank to admit his failure in not having found the truth. He said others might find if we can all continue to search for the truth. As for the rest of his life, since he died at the age of 98, he devoted much of his days struggling for world peace. Russell hated the nuclear bomb. He organized the “ban the bomb” international movement. He was always on the side of humanity. He was never prepared to meet universal death to prove the stupidity behind global insanity. Poch Suzara
Mental Torture
The most painful kind of mental torture a thoughtless man can experience in life is to think that he could himself do a little thinking. Poch Suzara
The Irony of a Stupid Man
The irony of a stupid man is that he actually has the intelligent impression that everybody else is just as stupid as he is. Poch Suzara
Genesis
“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void: and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. “
I ask: where was the inspired author located while he was actually reporting creation then going on? Did he actually see or hear God said, Let there be Light? Poch Suzara
I ask: where was the inspired author located while he was actually reporting creation then going on? Did he actually see or hear God said, Let there be Light? Poch Suzara
Cathedral
A cathedral is grand work of art with great building materials erected with engineering skills. But isn’t God already everywhere on this planet and already present in the billions upon billions of galaxies. Why would the Supreme Being need
a House of God established on this tiny atom called earth? Isn't a cathedral a monument to human stupidity? Poch Suzara
a House of God established on this tiny atom called earth? Isn't a cathedral a monument to human stupidity? Poch Suzara
Theology
Theology has been in a bankrupt state of affairs during the last many decades that the most the theologians can do these days is to brag that it was they were the first who discovered the power of science. What a pathetic and a dishonest group of liars these theologians are! Ever since the birth of science, the theologians have not ceased envying, hating, fighting, opposing, threatening, imprisoning, torturing, burning at the stake, hanging, and executing men of science. In the Philippines, our own national hero - Jose Rizal was indeed executed by the Spanish theologians.
Bertrand Russell wrote it simply: “Science, while it diminishes our cosmic pretensions, enormously increases our terrestrial comfort. This is why, in spite of the hs of the theologians, science has on the whole been tolerated.” Poch Suzara
Bertrand Russell wrote it simply: “Science, while it diminishes our cosmic pretensions, enormously increases our terrestrial comfort. This is why, in spite of the hs of the theologians, science has on the whole been tolerated.” Poch Suzara
Religion
It is the greatest evil that continues to keep our world in the dark. Religion has crippled the minds of children, distorted the minds of men, and twisted the hearts of women. No doubt, religion teaches one to be good; unfortunately, to be good for nothing. Look where faith has taken the human race since God knows when? In this 21st century, the majority of people still need to have faith in a lot superstition nonsense in order to feel that life has meaning. Poch Suzara
Saturday, January 21, 2006
The new name is "Rational"says Marshall Brain
The new name is "Rational" says Marshall Brain:
It is time for us to recognize as a society that there is no such thing as an atheist. Let me help you understand why this is the case.
Do you believe in Leprechauns? Probably not, because Leprechauns are imaginary. Yes, there are lots of books, movies and fairy tales dealing with Leprechauns. People talk about Leprechauns all the time. Leprechauns even have a popular brand of breakfast cereal. But that does not mean that Leprechauns exist.
We know that Leprechauns are imaginary. Why? Because there is noevidence for their existence. Despite all the publicity Leprechauns get, normal people dismiss storybook creatures like Leprechauns as myths, and rightly so.
If you do not believe in Leprechauns, what are you? Are you an aleprechaunist? Of course not. You are normal. People who do not believe in Leprechauns are completely normal.The new name is "Rational"
In just the same way that we don't use the word aleprechaunist to describe the people who do not believe in Leprechauns, we should not need the word atheist. We should be able to say, "I am a normal person" and be done with it.
The problem is that, in America today, if you say, "I am a normal person," what everyone assumes is that you mean, "I am a Christian." Currently we are a minority, and as long as we are a minority we need a name.
It is time to choose a new name for those of us who know that all human gods are imaginary. There are two good reasons for picking a new name. First, the word atheist is overloaded with extraneous meaning right now, most of it negative. Second, there is no reason to define ourselves as the opposite of theists.
My response:
This is about more frightened childish nonsense. Leprechauns hold no power over schools, colleges, universities, including governments, especially the US government today. Leprechauns hold no power over the minds of men and the hearts of women as the belief in A SUPERNATURAL BEING does. We atheist must fight evil no matter how religious evil is. Atheists should stop hiding inside the rational closet. Come and out and fight the evil that is perpetually keeping our world in hate and in war - this belief in the existence of a good God. We atheists must never be ruled by the theists. To begin with, we must never shy away from the word ATHEIST. For my part, I thank God I am an ATHEIST. Poch Suzara
It is time for us to recognize as a society that there is no such thing as an atheist. Let me help you understand why this is the case.
Do you believe in Leprechauns? Probably not, because Leprechauns are imaginary. Yes, there are lots of books, movies and fairy tales dealing with Leprechauns. People talk about Leprechauns all the time. Leprechauns even have a popular brand of breakfast cereal. But that does not mean that Leprechauns exist.
We know that Leprechauns are imaginary. Why? Because there is noevidence for their existence. Despite all the publicity Leprechauns get, normal people dismiss storybook creatures like Leprechauns as myths, and rightly so.
If you do not believe in Leprechauns, what are you? Are you an aleprechaunist? Of course not. You are normal. People who do not believe in Leprechauns are completely normal.The new name is "Rational"
In just the same way that we don't use the word aleprechaunist to describe the people who do not believe in Leprechauns, we should not need the word atheist. We should be able to say, "I am a normal person" and be done with it.
The problem is that, in America today, if you say, "I am a normal person," what everyone assumes is that you mean, "I am a Christian." Currently we are a minority, and as long as we are a minority we need a name.
It is time to choose a new name for those of us who know that all human gods are imaginary. There are two good reasons for picking a new name. First, the word atheist is overloaded with extraneous meaning right now, most of it negative. Second, there is no reason to define ourselves as the opposite of theists.
My response:
This is about more frightened childish nonsense. Leprechauns hold no power over schools, colleges, universities, including governments, especially the US government today. Leprechauns hold no power over the minds of men and the hearts of women as the belief in A SUPERNATURAL BEING does. We atheist must fight evil no matter how religious evil is. Atheists should stop hiding inside the rational closet. Come and out and fight the evil that is perpetually keeping our world in hate and in war - this belief in the existence of a good God. We atheists must never be ruled by the theists. To begin with, we must never shy away from the word ATHEIST. For my part, I thank God I am an ATHEIST. Poch Suzara
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Gearing Towards Economic Recovery
In his piece published in the Philippine Star today, Vicente G. Roxas wrote: “Efforts should be geared towards the satisfactory solution of the current economic crisis through an increase in productive capacity and productivity which will generate our overall production in the three sectors: the Agro-industry, the Agro-Business and Technical Vocational Education and Training Program. To attain the objective, the following policy guidelines or measures may prove helpful: “Love yourself and country next to God. It is quite unfortunate that a good number of our fellow countrymen do not put this into practice. Apparently, what they do believe is love GOD next to yourself or to your country, obviously for self-aggrandizement.”
I ask Mr. Roxas: have you heard of Filipinos who got filthy rich for believing that God is bad? And yet, millions upon millions of Filipinos are filthy poor for believing that God is good! Perhaps, as an expert economist, Mr. Roxas can further expound why our stupid economy should have any connection with our stupid theology? Poch Suzara
I ask Mr. Roxas: have you heard of Filipinos who got filthy rich for believing that God is bad? And yet, millions upon millions of Filipinos are filthy poor for believing that God is good! Perhaps, as an expert economist, Mr. Roxas can further expound why our stupid economy should have any connection with our stupid theology? Poch Suzara
Top Filipino Economists
Top Filipino economists are still insisting, as a matter of fantasy, that the biggest problem confronting the nation today is how to pay our external old debt of $65 billion dollars.
These economists are not even ashamed of themselves. As a matter of reality, our biggest problem is how to catch and put in jail those corrupt officials in government that made such loans not to benefit the nation, but to deposit into their personal bank accounts such foreign loans. Well, more loans are needed for the nation and, as we are acquiring more loans, how come the nation is getting poorer and sinking deeper into the economic quagmire?
As a matter of reality, however,, the biggest problem of the nation is the population explosion. Two million babies are born every year in the Philippines. Whatever economic productivity, if any, we may achieve, it will be just eaten up by more mouths to feed. Thus, instead of the higher, only the lower standard of living.
The trouble with our God-fearing, college-educated and faith-soaked economists is that they feel so blessed by God. Specially when they see Filipinos smiling and proud of their lower standard of thinking. As if with our poverty as a people and bankruptcy as a nation God will continue to bless this Pearl of the Orient Seas – the only Christian country in Asia.
It is all about the same stupid economy in cahoots with stupid theology year in and year out: the religious insanity ever playing the major role to keep up with the economic insanity of this God-forsaken country. After all, according to our Christian values and beliefs, the more we suffer, the more sacrifices we make for the Lord, the chances are better for the Philippnes to remain forever famous as the only Christian country in Asia. Poch Suzara
These economists are not even ashamed of themselves. As a matter of reality, our biggest problem is how to catch and put in jail those corrupt officials in government that made such loans not to benefit the nation, but to deposit into their personal bank accounts such foreign loans. Well, more loans are needed for the nation and, as we are acquiring more loans, how come the nation is getting poorer and sinking deeper into the economic quagmire?
As a matter of reality, however,, the biggest problem of the nation is the population explosion. Two million babies are born every year in the Philippines. Whatever economic productivity, if any, we may achieve, it will be just eaten up by more mouths to feed. Thus, instead of the higher, only the lower standard of living.
The trouble with our God-fearing, college-educated and faith-soaked economists is that they feel so blessed by God. Specially when they see Filipinos smiling and proud of their lower standard of thinking. As if with our poverty as a people and bankruptcy as a nation God will continue to bless this Pearl of the Orient Seas – the only Christian country in Asia.
It is all about the same stupid economy in cahoots with stupid theology year in and year out: the religious insanity ever playing the major role to keep up with the economic insanity of this God-forsaken country. After all, according to our Christian values and beliefs, the more we suffer, the more sacrifices we make for the Lord, the chances are better for the Philippnes to remain forever famous as the only Christian country in Asia. Poch Suzara
Friday, January 13, 2006
A Thinking Filipino
For a great many years, I prayed daily on my bended knees but received no response. Then I started to think daily with my head.
It got me into more responsible thinking. As a grown-up man, I no longer bother with childish prayers. I gave up trying to change the mind of God. God, after all, is immutable. Poch Suzara
It got me into more responsible thinking. As a grown-up man, I no longer bother with childish prayers. I gave up trying to change the mind of God. God, after all, is immutable. Poch Suzara
Faith
Religions in general and Christianity in particular have always been an impediment to our growth as a people and to our development as a nation. Consider faith: how it has crippled the Filipino mind. Faith has subverted our natural ability to question, to learn, to discover, and indeed even to love one another and to love our country. In fact, due to faith, we have never ceased praying to Mary, the Mother of God, to pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death, amen. For my part, I think it's unfair that in the eyes of Mary, the mother of God, she has not ceased looking at Filipinos as having no purpose in life other than just be sinners in the Philippines. Poch Suzara
The Immortal Soul
God in heaven will judge the immortal human soul that all this time apparently could see, hear, taste, feel, and smell. But if that were the case, why would the immortal soul need a mortal human body on earth to begin with? More to the point: if God created heaven for happiness and created earth for unhappiness, why bother to create earth for unhappiness to begin with? Poch Suzara
Hereafter and Herebefore
I never worry about the hereafter because I never worry about the herebefore. I do not recall existing before I was born. If I never existed before birth, why should I worry about not existing after death? Immortality of my personality is neither a feasibility nor a possibility. It is, in fact, a ridiculosity. Poch Suzara
Free Will
If God gifted man with a Free Will, why would his first command be – Thou Shalt have no other gods before me? Who are those other gods? Where did they come from? Who created them? Were they not gifted with Free Will as well? As the song goes . . . what's going on? Poch Suzara
Dangerous to Society
“It is not disbelief that is dangerous to our society; it is belief.” George Bernard Shaw.
This is right on target. May I, however, add: especially if we respect such beliefs that are baseless, aimless, rudderless, reckless, and thoughtless. Poch Suzara
As An Atheist
As an atheist, I do not retreat in the face of threats or punishments dispensed by theocratic terrorists. They are only more interested in protecting their own power and glory indulging in their vanity. Theocratic terrorists do not care to promote humanitarian ideals for the happiness of the human community in the here and the there nor in the hear and the now. Poch Suzara
Jesus and Education
And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. Matt. 18:2-3 It is obvious that Jesus did not give a hoot about the value education.
For my part, I have no wish to go to heaven. I do not wish to enjoy happiness in the company of little children happy with immaturity for the rest of eternity.
On this earth, however, I would rather listen to Bertrand Russell: Most children wish to know until they go to school; in many cases it is bad teaching that make them stupid and uninquiring.
In the meantime, the bible totally contradicts Jesus: “My friends, stop thinking like children. Think like mature people.”
( 1 Corinthians 14:19 ). Poch Suzara
For my part, I have no wish to go to heaven. I do not wish to enjoy happiness in the company of little children happy with immaturity for the rest of eternity.
On this earth, however, I would rather listen to Bertrand Russell: Most children wish to know until they go to school; in many cases it is bad teaching that make them stupid and uninquiring.
In the meantime, the bible totally contradicts Jesus: “My friends, stop thinking like children. Think like mature people.”
( 1 Corinthians 14:19 ). Poch Suzara
Reality and Fantasy
As an atheist, by merely being in touch with reality, I appear like a lost damned soul in the eyes of my God-fearing friends and relatives, specially as they are in closed touch daily with fantasy. Poch Suzara
All Religions
All religions of the world came from only one source:- God; unfortunately, God does not exist. Otherwise, if there is a God, there would only be one intelligent religion. There would be no need for the existence of many stupid religions that’s keeping our world wracked in mutual hatred. Poch Suzara
Honor Mother and Father
The 4th commandment: honor thy mother and father. I ask: how exactly could a son or a daughter obey this commandment of God if his or her father were a politician and mother is just one of the many wives of the politician who has also sired some other 27 illegitimate step-brothers and step-sisters?
Oh yes, God’s 4th commandment - Honor thy Father and Mother- is a sick and an insane commandment. On the contrary, it is mothers and fathers who should love and honor each other as decent parents. In this way, no millions of street children need live like sick animals in the sick streets in our poor country – the only Christian country in Asia since 500 years ago. - Poch Suzara Google# Twitter# Facebook#
Why
Why something rather than nothing? Precisely. That something is the entire universe itself of which, as basic energy, we are all part of. As energy can neither be created nor destroyed, we will always be a part of that something.There is nothing outside the universe. We will always be a part of the universe, whether we like it or not. Forget nothing! It does not exist. Poch uzara
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Yes, I am a Pinoy
Indeed, I am proud to be a Pinoy. I am happy to be a citizen of the Philippines. I am also proud to have Spanish, American, and Filipino blood in me.
The shame, however, is that we Pinoys continue to love, worship, and adore anything foreign specially a foreign God called Jesus who was never a Filipino as he was born in the land of Israel that today is not even a Christian country, but a Jewish State.
We Pinoys should have our own local God. May I suggest the thinkers and philosophers amongst Filipinos? How about Jose Rizal – our national hero – why don’t we start studying seriously and learn from this courageous Filipino thinker who said that it is better to be truthful to each other than continue spreading mediocre, if not sanctimonious, - lies about ourselves. Indeed, to love our country and not to love that pie in the sky by and by.
It is time we Pinoys stop the business of easy believing; instead, we should begin to appreciate hard and serious thinking. We should stop having faith in a lot of sacred nonsense, and begin instead to think for ourselves. It is not the responsibility of foreigners to think for Filipinos or to think for the Philippines. Poch Suzara
The shame, however, is that we Pinoys continue to love, worship, and adore anything foreign specially a foreign God called Jesus who was never a Filipino as he was born in the land of Israel that today is not even a Christian country, but a Jewish State.
We Pinoys should have our own local God. May I suggest the thinkers and philosophers amongst Filipinos? How about Jose Rizal – our national hero – why don’t we start studying seriously and learn from this courageous Filipino thinker who said that it is better to be truthful to each other than continue spreading mediocre, if not sanctimonious, - lies about ourselves. Indeed, to love our country and not to love that pie in the sky by and by.
It is time we Pinoys stop the business of easy believing; instead, we should begin to appreciate hard and serious thinking. We should stop having faith in a lot of sacred nonsense, and begin instead to think for ourselves. It is not the responsibility of foreigners to think for Filipinos or to think for the Philippines. Poch Suzara
Thursday, January 05, 2006
We Filipinos
We Filipinos must extricate ourselves up and out of our ancient superstition that’s only giving us more faith in sacred illusions, if not some other biblical delusions. Such evils need not be placed at the foundation of our essential beliefs and other social values.
That there is power in prayer has got to be among the first sacred concept that must be thrown out the window. Otherwise, in the centuries to come, if we continue to believe in the power of prayer, we Filipinos will just continue to accomplish the same nothing as a people, and we will just continue to achieve the same nothing as a nation. Indeed, we will just continue to oppose each other not for the sake of developing or accomplishing something, but only for the purpose of recycling to death the same nothing. Poch Suzara
That there is power in prayer has got to be among the first sacred concept that must be thrown out the window. Otherwise, in the centuries to come, if we continue to believe in the power of prayer, we Filipinos will just continue to accomplish the same nothing as a people, and we will just continue to achieve the same nothing as a nation. Indeed, we will just continue to oppose each other not for the sake of developing or accomplishing something, but only for the purpose of recycling to death the same nothing. Poch Suzara
Unsolved Mysteries of the Universe
In recognizing the unsolved mysteries of the universe, the scientist does not kneel down to supernatural explanations. He stands up to the natural explanations, if any. Otherwise, he suspends his judgment and seeks not obscurity, but evidence for the sake of clarity. In his “Brief History of Time,” Stephen Hawking wrote: “Ever since the dawn of civilization, people have not been content to see events unconnected and inexplicable. They have craved an understanding of the underlying order in the world. Today, we still yearn to know why we are here and where we came from. Humanity’s deepest desire for knowledge is justification enough for our continuing quest. And our goal is nothing less than a complete description of the universe we live in.” In the same book, Hawking also wrote: “So long as the universe had a beginning, we could suppose it had a creator. But if the universe is really completely self-contained, having no boundary or edge, it would have neither beginning nor an end: it would simply be. What place, then, for a creator? Poch Suzara
The Wealth of the Catholic Church
The wealth of the Catholic Church in the Philippines comes mostly from its priests who can determine who will go to heaven or who will go to hell. If a Filipino died in a state of mortal sin, he will go to hell. If he died after the priest gives him extreme unction, he will go to heaven. Before reaching heaven, however, he must spend years suffering pain in Purgatory. The situation in Purgatory can be diminished considerably by indulgences which is money paid to the priest for saying mass for the souls of the dead. Holy Mass can be purchased wholesale or retail. There are discounts offered and therefore big saving to be made buying it wholesale. Billions of pesos that are then remitted each and every month to the Vatican State. Poch Suzara
Jesus – The Man
“Concerning his son Jesus Christ our Lord, which is made of the seed of David according to the flesh” – Romans 1:3 – meaning Joseph was his father; moreover, “God sent forth his Son, made of a woman,” – Galatian 4:4 – meaning Jesus was human with no reference whatsoever to the miracle of a divine virgin birth. And to think that this is the same Jesus who proclaimed that: I am the way, the truth, and the life: No man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6. Was Jesus really a miracle worker? Did he perform major or just minor miracles. Take his resurrection, a minor miracle. It could have been a major event had he not allow others to get him crucified dead on the cross. Remember, Jesus could even walk on water or raised back to life the dead. Take again, the Second Coming – a minor miracle. If His mission on earth were a major miracle during the First Coming, what need is there for a Second Coming? And to think this promise was made some 2,000 years ago and it has yet to be delivered. Poch Suzara
MELCHISEDEC, King of Salem
“For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him. . . . Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.” Heb. 7:1. See also Genesis 14:18 Where is Melchisedec? How come no one has met or seen this fellow? Where on earth is he hiding? Why is he unwilling to share his fantastic experience in life with the rest of mankind? I, for one, would like to see Melchisedec reveal to us the Revealed Truth as written in the bible. Poch Suzara
My Former Classmates
My former classmates at De La Salle University laugh at me because I read a lot. I laugh because they only pray a lot. I read a lot to be rich in spirit. My former classmates pray a lot to be poor in spirit. In school, we have been taught to believe that to be poor in spirit is something of a grace from God.
Poverty of the mind is the worst kind of poverty. The greatest of wealth can only come from mental health. To be poor in spirit obviously means enjoying lies and deception and other forms of superstition. For my part, I enjoy searching for the truth. In the meantime, the success of social insanity in the Philippines is the exact reflection of what it means to be proud of one's so-called "education." Poch Suzara
Poverty of the mind is the worst kind of poverty. The greatest of wealth can only come from mental health. To be poor in spirit obviously means enjoying lies and deception and other forms of superstition. For my part, I enjoy searching for the truth. In the meantime, the success of social insanity in the Philippines is the exact reflection of what it means to be proud of one's so-called "education." Poch Suzara
1st AND 2nd WORLD WAR
The last two world wars were indeed fought by and among Christian nations: in the first, between England, France and the United States on one side, and Germany on the other. In the second, between Germany, Italy and (the only non-Christian) Japan on the other side and England, France, the United States and several other European countries on the other side. Yes, in these two world wars, the contending sides surely did pray to God for victory. The victorious then thanked God for listening to their prayers. The counties defeated prayed to God for vengeance.
Bertrand Russell wrote in his NEW HOPES FOR A CHANGING WORLD – that the painful thing “about our time is that those who feel certainty are stupid, and those with any imagination and understanding are filled with doubt and indecision.” Poch Suzara
Bertrand Russell wrote in his NEW HOPES FOR A CHANGING WORLD – that the painful thing “about our time is that those who feel certainty are stupid, and those with any imagination and understanding are filled with doubt and indecision.” Poch Suzara
ONLY IN THE PHILIPPINES
Steal small and you will end up in jail like a damned fool. Steal big, however, and you will be treated with respect and admiration. In fact, as a big-time thief, you immediately qualify to be a candidate for a high government position. And if you campaign by declaring yourself a man of deep faith in God, you have more chances to win in the elections by landslide. Poch Suzara
I AM AN ATHEIST
Yes, I am an atheist. I do not believe in the God of the Catholics; neither do I believe in the God of the Protestants. I also do not believe in the God of the Jews or the God of the Muslims or the God of the Hindus. I do not even believe in the God of the Americans – the Almighty DOLLAR. Consider the Millions of American families derailed and destroyed yearly due to the worship of this powerful American God. Poch Suzara
A GOOD TEST
“A good test of character: when we do wrong, who do we blame? Philippine Star, December 10, 2005.
Speaking for myself, I blame entirely the system of education. In school at De La Salle University, after having our minds twisted with fear and our hearts distorted with more fear, we were then taught to believe that God is always available at any time to forgive our sins and our crimes. As long as we do not miss going to confession regularly and not miss sunday Mass consistently where we can donate to the priesthood industry in the name of charity. Poch Suzara
Speaking for myself, I blame entirely the system of education. In school at De La Salle University, after having our minds twisted with fear and our hearts distorted with more fear, we were then taught to believe that God is always available at any time to forgive our sins and our crimes. As long as we do not miss going to confession regularly and not miss sunday Mass consistently where we can donate to the priesthood industry in the name of charity. Poch Suzara
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