My Thoughts on RELIGION

Why? Can't we talk about it? Of course we can. People make us not to. How silly? But let's not argue, that would be foolish.

If you argue about religion, it will bring anger and perhaps endless quarrels as to what and who is right and wrong. Religion has obviously made we humans more aligned with modern living. It is alive and well. If it is not, then we have only ourselves to blame. Unless we opt to be atheists, we fear God and things we consider as GODs. Humans came as creatures to this planet Earth, the process of evolution has relentlessly changed us Homo Sapiens into “high breed” beings where thoughts and morals control our living today. We have changed from the killing animals we once were, hunting for food to survive, to the most mannered animals we now are. But we still kill, domesticate animals, slaughter them and eat them. We called ourselves civilized. And ironically, we also use religion to slaughter them and we say it is acceptable.

So what has religion got to do with life and how we think? Is it a guide, some kind of a rule, an unseen order that we ought to follow because some great men made it as such, Jesus, Mohammad, Buddha. "Who is Jesus?", some have asked, “Is he God?” Now, let that be answered by God himself. I am in no position to say he’s not for I am a Christian and I honour every religion on the face of this Earth. Neither do I want to ask why a Muslim can marry 4 wives. That’s their religion, their teaching be it right or wrong, and it would be foolish and a waste of time to argue on such topics. That brings us to the fact that religion is indeed a guiding star in our lives. We see it, watch it, learn about it, cherish it, quarrel over it and treasure it. It guides us on, forever twinkling.

Michael York of Bath Spa University College, Bath, UK defines religion as:
"A shared positing of the identity of and relationship between the world, humanity and the supernatural in terms of meaning assignment, value allocation and validation enactment. A religion need not accept or believe in the supernatural, but it takes a position on. Likewise, some religions deny the reality or at least value of the world, but they still take a position."

Another says "The word 'religion' comes from the same root as the word 'ligament.' Ligaments connect muscles to bones. So the root word means, 'to connect, to bind, to tie together.' "Religion' literally means, 'continuously tying it all together.' Is it not therefore, an obvious deduction that that which is supposed to help us tie it all together should not be used to tear us apart?"

So don’t quarrel over it. It’s stupid of you to. In the worst case scenario, we all have to tolerate one another and understanding can help us tolerate.

No Harm Done to Talk Politics A Little

Wow, it's great to be back after a long spell!

That's the problem with us, human beings, we can forget things and we come up with all kinds of excuses when things don't turn out to be what we have wished for. Sometimes we cursed, although not intentionally, it is bad. In my case, I will not make any excuses. I just wanted a break and I had it. So I am back.

Our mind is a powerful machine that can turn the world upside down, not physically but in the abstract, if we want it to.We are builders, creators, destroyers of our own.

I have been watching the political scenario developing in Malaysia over the past couple of months and interestingly enough, our PM has indeed been trying his utmost to win the hearts of the rakyat. It also tells me that things are not alright in Malaysia when he started to cross swords with the opposition in the socioeconomic arena besides the normal political gambit. The Budget he announced lately was mildly acceptable by the majority but I thought the 500 ringgit as bonus for civil servants is not helping many "fence sitters" in the civil service who were expecting for more. Poor guys! Oh sure, we do get them, the "fence sitters" in the civil service. Many are sitting there quietly but supporting the PR groups. I have a few friends who are, certainly. Well, that's their choice which is democracy working.

Elections in Sarawak will soon be called and it seems we shall be seeing many "old" faces, tough incumbents facing not a plastic wall this time around but a brick wall being put up by DAP, PKR, PAS and their supporters. They are by far way ahead when it comes to internet strategy based on my personal opinion. Let's see how well our BN friends will climb and overcome the brick wall. Just don't fall!

I am incidentally from SPDP or the Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party and the candidates from Miri belonging to the Sarawak United Peoples Party who know me will need my support and the Party's support. As SPDP is very much part of BN unless Datuk Seri William Mawan thinks otherwise, any BN candidates in the 3 Miri State constituencies will be supported by us in SPDP. That's a fair deal.

Politics is politics, sometimes you have to play it by the ear. wow!