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By Tom Pain
May 28, 2006 My frequent readers could know that I shy away from most of the religious wars on site. I find they fall into three categories: deists versus atheists, my religion versus your religion, and religion in politics. I don’t engage in the first. I believe each and every human since time began has had to come to a personal belief about the beginning and future of our species. Yes, for many their concept was shaped, if not rigidly molded, by a prevailing organized religion in their society. But, I also know that in a person’s “heart of hearts” there were many who doubted those organized ethos. In fact, it is that innate “freedom of thought” of our psyche that drives our need for the actual freedoms of our other senses, to hear, say, touch, taste, and see freely. I would never argue against anyone’s interpretation of that which is unknowable or their right to hold that belief free from persecution. Thus, I don’t join those fights. But, if asked, I would say it is exactly that above truth, that each and every human has had to personally answer those questions about the origin and future of our species, that sways my opinion. I believe current human cognition of the powers and forces that set our universe spinning, charted its direction and growth, and will determine its ultimate destiny might equate to a second grade education in the Omniscient Independent School District. The chance that anyone with whom you might discuss these subjects has the right answers is as likely as a second-grader winning the Nobel Prize in some science category. There are a handful of really brilliant second-graders at any one time, but none has ever won the Nobel Prize in Science. Yet, throughout our Kindergarten, First, and now, Second grades, as mankind’s concepts of our universal origins has grown and changed, there has been that one constant. Every person ever has had to answer to him/herself those questions. Evolution has shortened our tail, elevated our height, and expanded our brain size, but always within that brain was the need to come to a conclusion about our origins and future. I know you can’t, but try to think of anyone who has never contemplated those questions. Everyone has a “belief.” I think there is a reason for that and I suspect the reason is beyond the comprehension of all but a few genius second-graders among us. Have you ever noticed how few friends of their own age genius second-graders have? Those who wage the second war on U-K, “my religion versus yours,” are fewer in a strange juxtaposition to the world’s reality. Religious wars began before the birth of Christ (using our calendar’s signpost) and have continued non-stop since. We are in the first stages of what could be the biggest religious war ever. Billions of people will hurl themselves at each other in gory death rage to support their religion, yet very few among them can even wax lucid on the differences between their religions – other than the high level “brand names” and “logos.” That same percentage of ignorance is reflected on U-K. But that is well, because the argument, my versus yours, is soooo lowbrow. Organized religion is a Hydra whose many heads wrap around the world. Like that mythical beast, organized religion seems to grow two new heads for everyone that is cut off. Are you with me so far? I have this sense that there is some intelligence and guidance to the universe and yet reject organized religion. That leaves the third warriors, those who push or fight religious issues in our political system. I don’t usually join these frays because many involve moral issues and I don’t really see a place for state or federal government in moral issues. But I do see a place for society or local government in promoting adherence to group morals. Thus, I cannot argue with those seeking to legislate morals in our state and federal governments, because I don’t agree. Yet, I can’t argue with their opponents because I’d allow local legislation. I also can’t argue with the opponents because they too want legislation - they want legislation that legalizes those activities considered immoral by others. While I don’t want laws restricting morals, I do not want legalized immorality either. I want immorality curtailed as much as possible, but believe it society’s duty or the arbitrary choice of a small locale, not big government’s responsibility. So I don’t get involved in the religious frays for the most part, unless something very obvious requires noting. Such as: the importance of the Middle East in the world’s future. Who could have known? Middle East oil equals power. Whoever controls that oil will be one of, if not the, most powerful country over the next 100 years. The U.S. is one of a select few countries with the potential for controlling the entire Middle East, and becoming the most powerful country. Since we’re already most powerful, we have the best chances for winning. Iran is in second on that select list and then there’s a drop off to third, China. To a lesser extent now, but a greater extent before and hopefully, in the future, is fourth place, Iraq by nature of its geographic location at the Middle East’s crossroads.. The USSR used to be our equal rival in the Middle East, but they’re battling Israel and Saudi Arabia for 5th spot now. Of the top three rivals, the U.S., Iran, and China, which have aspirations of world domination? Some could argue that the U.S. does. There is no doubt that Iran does, if not in political name, then certainly in the name of Islam. Their strategy to win control of the Middle East is to win the minds of the people. China? I don’t get the sense of world domination in a proactive way from them, although I would not be surprised should they become most powerful just from wealth, intelligence, and population. If they become most powerful, it will be because they beat us at our own game – business. Thus, I’m more afraid of Iran, America is strong in business but we’re weak in religion. We’re losing the battle of minds in the Middle East. And our business strength requires oil to run. Iran has the world’s second largest reserves; Russia has the largest. Iraq is high on that list. If Iran can win the minds of the Iraqi people (the majority in both countries are Shia), we would immediately move into a large second-place tie with every other Middle East rival behind Iran. The Iran/Iraq alliance would be staring straight at the heart of the Saudi oil fields – which would be our last bastion of oil supply in the Middle East. After the Saudis monarchy eventually succumbed to the pressure of the Shia religious storm, we’d be a second rate country in the world before long as the cost of oil devastated our economy. How could Christian mythology have hinted at some of these same dynamics? How could it have centered on the Middle East as the scene of the future cataclysmic events it predicts? Why would civilization spring from and later return to, the same patch of desert? “Just coincidence,” you say? Mankind could just as easily have risen in North America, or Australia. That book of mythology could have just as easily predicted our final days to occur in a mythical, far-off land. “It is just coincidence,” you say. This second-grader isn’t nominating himself for the Nobel Prize, but I would suggest humans stay tuned for the next thrilling episode of this season series. What has seemed like coincidence might suddenly make sense. What seemed insignificant even though it dwelt in the minds of each and every human that ever gazed at a navel, might suddenly seem significant. And even though I suspect myself and almost everyone else to be wrong in what we personally decided were the origins and future of our universe, I think as a group our differences will suddenly converge in the same understanding. See you next year! Third grade is gonna be fun, I just wish I could be here when humans finally graduate. ------------ About the author Tom Pain: Just an American boy with so much common sense, it hurts. Email: thomas.pain@direcway.com Comment on this article here! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com. 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