Manny Almario on Rizal as an Atheist

You assert that there is no indication of Rizal being an atheist agnostic in his writings. Now here are quotes from his Fourth Letter to Father Pastells: "Well now my faith in God, if faith be the right word for the outcome of a reasoning process, is blind, blind inasmuch as it knows nothing. I neither believe nor disbelieve in the qualities which many attribute to god, and I can only smile at the definitions and elucubrations of theologians and philosophers, concerning this ineffable and instrutable being. I have this conviction that I stand before the Supreme Problem ... "I do not believe ... in any revelations which each religion claims to possess. [That should include Bible.] Upon impartial and careful study, one cannot but discern in these revelations the human imprint and the marks of the times in which they were written. No indeed. Man makes his own god according to his own image and then attributes to him his own works, much like the Polish magistrates who used to choose their king only to impose their will on him. .... "I believe in revelation, but in the living revelations of nature which surrounds us everywhere, in the voice speaking out through nature -- powerful, eternal, unceasing, incorruptible, clear, distinct, universal as the Being from which it comes." (Translation by Raul J. Bonoan, S.J.) To Rizal, therefore, nature and god are one. Each created the other. Nature created man and man created god. The above passage showed Rizal an agnostic, and therefore an atheist. Poch Suzara

Why the Philippines Must Catch Up with Atheism

Why Atheism Won’t Succeed in the Philippines June 23, 2012 by Hector Gamboa I used to embrace atheism and I used to be active in the Philippine atheist forum and community. However, during the past few years I find myself being drawn away from atheism. Did someone “save” my wretched soul and showed me the path to eternal life and salvation? No! I still believe that there is not enough evidence yet that I have witnessed and experienced that would offer sufficient proof (and arguments) for the existence of the theistic god. Given that my view on the existence of the theistic god hasn’t changed, why do I find myself being drawn away from atheism? If atheism is favored by science, evidence and reason, why is it such at a disadvantage against religious beliefs that often comes with credulity? The biggest word that comes to my mind when I think about this question is “Arrogance”. As long as arrogance lingers amongst the vocal proponents of atheism in the Philippines, I just do not see it prospering in the country despite the feeding programs, conventions, public debates and media mileage its organizations have. Response by Poch Suzara, Grandfather of Atheism in the Philippines I invite you all to carefully read God's first commandment: "THOU SHALT HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME." This means God does not to believe in the existence of other GODS - and that makes God an ATHEIST. Well, this logic puts you frightened believers in a worst situation since you all believe, love, and worship a God who is an atheist! And you people are not even aware of it due to your blind faith! In the meantime, I ask: what is the problem? If God, in his own image and likeness, created me to be like him - an atheist - one who does not believe in any kind of Gods - why should that bother any of you faithfool believers? Poch Suzara

I WAS ONCE AN ATHEIST BULLSHIT

Yes, indeed, there are individuals who claim they were once upon a time an atheist, but not any more. One would hear them admit: “I am now a theist as I finally found God.” This is religious bullshit. In the first place, we have been taught to believe that God is already existing here, existing there, and existing everywhere. Therefore, what need is there to have found God? And if we ever found God, how would we know that God is a Catholic? In the meantime, whoever heard of an intelligent unbeliever who found more truth by reverting back to his being once again as a dumbstruck believer or a religious sap in grade school? To begin with, there is no such animal as an atheist pretending to be an atheist. Atheism is a courageous life style. Never a cowardly or a pretentious life style! We atheists say what we mean and mean what we say. We have no fear of the unknown; no fear of the mysteries. We have no fear of death. We atheists do not believe in the hereafter because there never was, to begin with, a herebefore. We atheists love life as much as we love this world. No matter how imperfect this world has been and still is. We, as atheists, have no need of a God, or an angel, or a devil, or some holy ghost in a heaven or in hell in order for us to live the good life – one inspired by love and guided by knowledge. We have no need of lies and deceptions to make life worth living. We have no need of illusions or delusions in order to carry on with others with more confusion. Indeed, we atheists, have no need of the invisible means of support called "God" or "Allah" or "Yahweh." And contrary to what you frightened faithfools say about us atheists - we DO believe in something bigger, higher, and greater than ourselves: - we believe in our family, in our country, and indeed, we believe in the whole of humanity on this earth as something of the greatest treasure found anywhere in the universe! Poch Suzara

Prayer as a waste of Precious Time

Praying is like a rocking chair - it will give you something to do, but it won't get you anywhere. Gypsy Rose Lee

Prayer is like a pump in an empty well, it makes a lot of noise, but brings no water. Lemuel K. Washburn When you talk to God, it is called "praying." When God talks to you, it is called "hallucinating."

Our culture of corruption comes mostly from God leading us always into temptation despite our daily prayer to God to "lead us not into temptation."

In the meantime, the Son of God Jesus, crucified on the cross, cried out loud: "MY GOD. MY GOD WHY HAS THOU FORSAKEN ME?" I ask: in prayer, whatever happened to the Father and Son relationship between Jesus and God, his Father? Poch Suzara

There are more theists and than atheists in the Philippines

Quote: According to the article below, there are 0.7 atheists in the Philippines or 0.8%; there are 92.5% theists. In reverse, there are 0.8% atheists in all jails in the Philippines and 92% are theists. How wonderful! Submitted by John Piermont Montilla. Cheers, Poch Suzara

Religious mediocrity or Political Stupidity

Most men never rise above viewing things as object of desires- hence their misery under intellectual timidity; but to see things purely as object of understanding is to rise to the freedom of enhancing one's intellectual capacity. Indeed, none of the higher mental processes are required to keep one' faith in Catholicism. However, the advocate of change, progress, and development, on the contrary, must have a certain degree of intellectual courage in order to be able to conceive of anything different from what exists. For my part, under our freedom and democracy, I have the right to write what I want. And it is matched by another right just as powerful: the right of others not to read what I write. My freedom of expression includes the freedom to shake some sense into our college-educated politicians in or out of government that's keeping us Filipinos spiritually poor as a people; and, morally bankrupt as a nation. I said it before, I say it again: the freedom of thought is far more precious than the freedom of expression; for, devoid of thought we can only express, at best, religious mediocrity; or, at worst - political stupidity. Poch Suzara

Rizal's Letter to the Young Women of Malolos

HOLA! In observance of Rizal Day, allow me to share with you my most favorite quote from Gat Jose Rizal's "Letter to the Young Women of Malolos" as well as his suggested points of reflection... ====================== "I do not expect to be believed simply because it is I who am saying this; there are many people who do not listen to reason, but will listen only to those who wear the cassock or have gray hair or no teeth; but while it is true that the aged should be venerated, because of their travails and experience, yet the life I have lived, consecrated to the happiness of the people, adds some years, though not many of my age. I do not pretend to be looked upon as an idol or fetish and to be believed and listened to with the eyes closed, the head bowed, and the arms crossed over the breast; what I ask of all is to reflect on what I tell him, think it over and shift it carefully through the sieve of reasons. FIRST of all. That the tyranny of some is possible only through cowardice and negligence on the part of others. SECOND. What makes one contemptible is lack of dignity and abject fear of him who holds one in contempt. THIRD. Ignorance is servitude, because as a man thinks, so he is; a man who does not think for himself and allowed himself to be guided by the thought of another is like the beast led by a halter. FOURTH. He who loves his independence must first aid his fellowman, because he who refuses protection to others will find himself without it; the isolated rib in the buri is easily broken, but not so the broom made of the ribs of the palm bound together. FIFTH. If the Filipina will not change her mode of being, let her rear no more children, let her merely give birth to them. She must cease to be the mistress of the home, otherwise she will unconsciously betray husband, child, native land, and all. SIXTH. All men are born equal, naked, without bonds. God did not create man to be a slave; nor did he endow him with intelligence to have him hoodwinked, or adorn him with reason to have him deceived by others. It is not fatuous to refuse to worship one's equal, to cultivate one's intellect, and to make use of reason in all things. Fatuous is he who makes a god of him, who makes brutes of others, and who strives to submit to his whims all that is reasonable and just. SEVENTH. Consider well what kind of religion they are teaching you. See whether it is the will of God or according to the teachings of Christ that the poor be succored and those who suffer alleviated. Consider what they preaching to you, the object of the sermon, what is behind the masses, novenas, rosaries, scapularies, images, miracles, candles, belts, etc. etc; which they daily keep before your minds; ears and eyes; jostling, shouting, and coaxing; investigate whence they came and whiter they go and then compare that religion with the pure religion of Christ and see whether the pretended observance of the life of Christ does not remind you of the fat milch cow or the fattened pig, which is encouraged to grow fat nor through love of the animal, but for grossly mercenary motives. Let us, therefore, reflect; let us consider our situation and see how we stand. May these poorly written lines aid you in your good purpose and help you to pursue the plan you have initiated. "May your profit be greater than the capital invested;" and I shall gladly accept the usual reward of all who dare tell your people the truth. May your desire to educate yourself be crowned with success; may you in the garden of learning gather not bitter, but choice fruit, looking well before you eat because on the surface of the globe all is deceit, and the enemy sows weeds in your seedling plot. All this is the ardent desire of your compatriot. JOSÉ RIZAL MINA TENORIO mina@likhaan.org

Filipinos have yet to be healed by the Apostles

When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. Luke 9:1 I asked it before, I ask it again: How come, in the whole of Asia, only the Philippines got to be converted to be a Catholic country, but not all Filipinos are Catholics; and, how come the apostles of Jesus dismally failed to cure diseases of Filipinos as they are now more known worldwide as the SICK MAN OF ASIA? Poch Suzara

Sick Belief Creates Sick Society

Respecting false beliefs is just like having faith. It is not wanting to know what is true. For my part, I have neither respect for holy baloney; nor have I faith in sacred salami. After all, it is not healthy disbelief, but sick belief that creates a sick society. And just how sick are we existing under our sick society: Aside from having an Army, Navy, Air force; and having an NBI, CIS, and Philippine National police, and God knows what else - look how we still need to hire security guards to protect life and property everywhere in this only Catholic country in Asia. What's happening to us Filipinos is not due to the dismal failure; on the contrary, it is due to the great success of Catholicism via its schools, colleges, universities, and seminaries in this only Catholic country in Asia since the 16th century. Poch Suzara Twitter # Facebook# Google#

Catholicism - a great success in the Philippines

Dear Lourdes, It is easy to determine who is responsible for the poverty, social insanity, political stupidity, in a word - historical misery keeping our country poor, sick, and backward. NO! It can hardly be the men and women and the high officials installed to work with, or be a part of, - the Philippine government. After all, not one of them is an atheist, or a freethinker, or a humanist, or a scientist, or an unbeliever of the faith - THEY ARE, IN THE MAJORITY, RAISED AND EDUCATED IN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS, COLLEGES, AND UNIVERSITIES; AND, IN THE MINORITY, RAISED AND EDUCATED UNDER THE BELIEFS AND VALUES OF IGLESIA NI CRISTO, DATING DAAN, EL SHADDAI, JESUS IS LORD MOVEMENT, AND GOD KNOWS WHO OR WHAT ELSE. I said it before, I say it again: Catholicism is not a failure in the Philippines. On the contrary, Catholicism has always been and still is a great success in this only Catholic country in Asia since the 16th century! As an Atheist, I rest my case! Best wishes always, Poch Suzara

Not Hate, but to love our country

For my part, as an atheist, I have no interest in loving a Godup there by hating one another down here. I am not interested in a system of rewards and punishments. I do not see that the purpose of life is to be prepared and secured for death. I live without any sense of heaven as a place of reward; or, hell as a place of punishment. To believe that human life temporary on this earth is but the preparation for the life of eternity after death invites not love, but hate, - of one's country! Poch Suzara

Jose Rizal and Charles Darwin

To kill an error is as good a service as, and sometimes even better than, establishing of a new truth or fact. - - - Charles Darwin My dear reader, can you name me one Filipino as product of college education in any of our prestigious universities in the Philippines - such as La Salle, Ateneo, AIM, Assumption college, University of the Santo Thomas, and so on - who has substantially contributed to the betterment of our society? Especially by exposing with intellectual guts the religious lies and political deceptions that is keeping us poor and aimless as a people; and, keeping us backward and rudderless as a nation? In fact, who has exposed the religious lies and political deceptions that have historically kept us Filipinos famous only as the Sick Man of Asia? I don't know about you readers. For my part, I can name only one great Filipino - Jose Rizal. To think that the power, wealth, and glory that had him executed is still here with more power, wealth, and glory in our country today - the Catholic Church - the owners of schools, colleges, and universities such as Ateneo and UST where Jose Rizal, as a student, and who had already began to intellectually question the sensibilities of his Catholic education. I said it before, I say it again: the truth hurts; but lies and deceptions are far more damaging and can last for a thousand years. - - - Poch Suzara

Read the bible critically, seriously, and Judiciously

Why is it that you frightened believers never bother to seriously read your own holy bible from cover to cover? You just depend on us atheists to read for you and to reveal to you the REVEALED TRUTHS as written by INSPIRED AUTHORS of God. Listen: Melchizedek the Priest -Priest of the Most High God. This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever." Hebrews 7:1-3 So obviously, when you believers shout to high heavens that everything has a cause and that God is that first cause of everything - then WHO or WHAT caused the existence of Melchizedek - without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or an end of life..." More to the point: how come Melchizedeck always here, always there and always everywhere present but chooses to imitate God to only ne always OMNI-ABSENT? Hijos de tootie-frootie y patooties! CONIO! When will you frightened religious saps ever going to wake up to the TRUTH that RELIGION ENCOURAGES STUPIDITY AND AN INSUFFICIENT SENSE REALITY. It promotes nothing but dead uniformity under holy baloney mysteriously mixed with sacred salami. All for the sake of a silly divinity always keeping us aimless as a people and rudderless as a nation. Poch Suzara Twitter# Facebook# Google# Atheist#

The Catholic Church in the Philippines

The Philippines is home to many of the world's major religious congregations, and today these include the Augustinians, Recollects, Jesuits, Dominicans, Franciscans, Carmelites, Salesians, and the indigenous Religious of the Virgin Mary. As a matter of truth made simple, however, the Catholic church in the Philippines is no longer a church. It is now more known schools, colleges, and universities. Poch Suzara

I SHALL RETURN

I have great respect for General Douglas MacArthur. He was a truthful man. During the Second World War, he promised to return with a bigger army to assist fellow Filipino soldiers fighting the Japanese in the Philippines. He simply said: - “I shall return!” He did so in two years time. Jesus, however, the Son of God, who cured diseases, who could walk on water, who raised the dead back to life, the Savior of Filipinos, after getting crucified on a cross, promised that he will return soon. Jesus made that promise some two thousand years ago. College-educated - Religiously frightened faithfools are still seriously waiting for Jesus to return. I ask: to return to accomplish what? I am sad for my parents, grandparents, great, great, great, grandparents. They all believed this bullcrap promise of Jesus returning within their own lifetime. What a lot of holy bible garbage! But then again, I have more respect, more love and affection, more admiration for Jose Rizal. When he died for his country, he stayed dead. When Jesus died on the cross to destroy the devil, he did not stay dead. He resurrected on the 3rd day back to life presumably to try to find some other ways and means to fuck the stupid devil dead for good. Poch Suzara

Power of Love comes from the Power of thought

Never belittle the power of thought. love comes from the power of thought. Indeed, devoid of thought love has NO power. Poch Suzara

Oh Jesus, Where are You

Millions of your Filipino followers are filthy poor; but your Filipino leaders-Evangelists are filthy rich. All, however, rich and poor alike, are waiting for your return. What’s holding up the show? Where are you Jesus? It has been more than 2,000 years already. Why did you make a promise you could not deliver in due time? Time has elapsed! Oh Jesus, my dear Jesus, do you know that millions of Filipinos who are college educated Catholics have to earn a living overseas. These are in foreign countries that do not even believe you are the Son of God who performed wonderful miracles or that you are the Savior of the world! Oh Jesus, my dear Jesus, while you lived on this earth, did you really have to squander your supernatural powers on frivolous nonsense? Instead of bringing mankind a cure for heart disease and cancer, you only used magic to curse a fig tree. Instead of ending birth defects and infant mortality, you filled pigs with demons. Instead of ending world hunger and illiteracy, you changed water into wine. Instead of showing men and women how to walk with dignity and self-respect, you only showed them how to walk on water. Instead of raising dead Lazarus back to life, you ignored raising dead minds and hearts to benefit society. Instead a punching to death a boy who had accidentally hit you, wouldn't it been better if you punched to death the devil responsible for the sins, crimes, and in your own community? Oh Jesus, my dear Jesus, the worst kind of poverty is the poverty of the mind and heart. This is the kind of poverty that seems endless as a scandal in the Philippines. Thanks of course to your Catholic church - the owner of more than 1,000 schools, colleges, and universities teaching us Filipinos that you will soon return and we therefore need not worry about tomorrow because, at any rate, God will provide and will take care of our tomorrows. In the meantime, my dear Jesus, the Catholic Vatican bank is the richest, most powerful bank in the world far richer and more powerful today than the United States Federal Reserve Bank. Poch Suzara

More Finite Garbage written in the Bible by Inspired authors of an INFINITE God

Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him. But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves. Numbers 31:17-18 The Lord will strike you with the boils of Egypt, with tumors, with the scab, and with the itch, from which you cannot be healed. Deuteronomy 28:27 Note: could you readers really believe that God could inspire his authors to write such garbage in the holy bible" Indeed, whenever a verse or a chapter in the bible is unreasonable, and you believe it as the word of God,you are considered to be a good Catholic. And if the verse or chapter in the bible were greatly absurd and infinitely stupid, and you believe it, you are a saint. I asked it before, I ask it again: how and why should the INFINITE mind of God inspire such FINITE minds of authors to reveal the REVEALED TRUTH in the bible? And to think that bible messages are the basic information behind our system of education, and also behind the Philippines and its Constitution! Is it any wonder with distorted minds and twisted hearts we Filipinos can not even fathom why precisely we are more known throughout the world as the Sick Man of Asia? Poch Suzara

Sick Bible Messages for our System of Education

Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him. But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves. Numbers 31:17-18 Indeed, whenever a verse or a chapter in the bible is unreasonable, and you believe it as the word of God,you are considered to be a good Catholic. And if the verse or chapter in the bible were greatly absurd and infinitely stupid, and you believe it, you are a saint. And to think that bible messages are the basic information behind our system of education, and also behind the Philippines and its Constitution! Is it any wonder with distorted minds and twisted hearts we Filipinos can not fathom why precisely we are more known throughout the world as the Sick Man of Asia? Poch Suzara

Jesus Loves the Failures and the Losers

Jesus loves the failures and the losers of this world. He couldn't give two hoots for the great men and women who brought enlightenment into this world of darkness. Jesus is a Savior of what? How did he bring light into the world to brighten the hearts and mind of mankind; especially the minds and hearts of Filipinos - the victims, not the masters, of Catholicism in this only Catholic country in Asia? Jesus sought to save the world. Surely no one looking at the world today can say that Jesus succeeded. His plan of salvation was a failure; it did not work out as Jesus intended. An ideal teacher is needed now as much as 2,000 years ago. If the world is gradually improving, as seems probable, it is in spiteof the superstition of the past, not because of them. Jesus did not provide the knowledge so much needed by man today to enable him to shape his course through life. No one knows how to live correctly, how best to meet each situation, what action is suited to the occasion. Jesus did not tell us what to do. His sayings are interpreted in so many different ways. He failed to predict the needs of the future. Jesus did not explain relations between man and wife, nor between employer and employee, nor how to educate children, nor how to preserve health, nor how to make a living, nor how to prevent war, poverty and suffering. Jesus gave little practical information and his spiritual advice was not clearly enough expressed to enable man to apply it to modern conditions. Jesus neglected to instruct people how to live. His knowledge of the world was less than that of a La Salle high school expelled student Hijos de tootie-frootie-patooties, Wake up already! We are now living in the 21st century! Poch Suzara