THE ORIGIN OF RELIGION
  • HOME
  • BEN'S BLOG
  • About The Book
    • BookStore
  • Reviews
  • About The Origin of Religion
  • The origin of spirit
  • FINAL CONCLUSION
  • Contact
  • Blog

BEN'S  BLOG
Click on "Archives" for all blogs since November  2013

My Theory and  Mission

11/2/2024

0 Comments

 
First, let's clarify the difference between a theory and speculation or belief. Science is grounded in observation and fact. A theory is built on those facts, tested, refined, and developed into a conclusion. Speculations and beliefs, on the other hand, are rooted in imagination, not evidence. Here, I will explain why my conclusions form a new theory, not mere speculation or belief—because they are based on facts and observations. Please read through to the end.
Facts and Current Scientific Theories:
  1. The universe, as we know it, is not in an eternal, steady state but is constantly evolving.
  2. All modern humans are of the same race, descended from a small group of survivors in Africa approximately 130,000 years ago.
  3. Awareness, consciousness, and memory are functions of the brain.
  4. The person you are is shaped by your memory.
The universe, as observed today, is not static. It is expanding and will either continue until it reaches "heat death" or undergo cycles of expansion (Big Bang) and contraction.
Historically, the concept of the "Great Spirit" was tied to the air we breathe—a natural life force essential to survival. Many ancient religions shared the belief that a small part of this life force (spirit) entered a person at birth and left at death. This widespread belief likely originated before the surviving tribe of early humans dispersed around the globe, eventually evolving into the only surviving human race. Many other human species, such as the Cro-Magnons, Neanderthals, Homo floresiensis, Homo heidelbergensis, and Homo erectus, did not survive.
Conclusion: The spirit or soul was once viewed as a natural force, not a supernatural one. Over time, speculation distorted this concept into something mystical and disconnected from observable reality.
Modern neuroscience has determined that awareness, consciousness, and memory are brain functions. Our sense of self is the product of memory. This is evident when brain function deteriorates, such as in Alzheimer's disease, where memories fade, and self-awareness diminishes. In cases of brain injuries resulting in permanent amnesia, the "self" tied to past memories, is effectively gone, and a new sense of self must be built. Memory is also unreliable—it can be distorted by false memories, mental disorders, drugs, and various other factors, showing that it is fallible.
Conclusion: When the brain dies, the "self" dies too. The idea of continuing awareness after death—an afterlife—is unwarranted speculation.
These conclusions, based on facts and observations, are discussed in my book Why You Won’t Go to Hell (Google it for more information). My theory concludes that the supernatural is a fabrication, a distortion of natural phenomena like the atmosphere. Belief in an eternal soul or afterlife in a steady-state universe is pure fantasy and belongs in the realm of fiction. Claims of spiritual awareness or near-death experiences (NDEs) have been debunked by modern neuroscience.
I welcome criticism and corrections--if they are grounded in real observations and facts. Mere denials or speculative arguments will be ignored.
I've accepted many friend requests, and if you consider yourself a real friend, I urge you to "share" this post. Ask your friends to share it too. Together, we can convince others that the supernatural is a myth, helping to dispel not just religious fear, but the widespread superstitions that plague society—such as astrology, ghosts, spirits, souls, karma, psychic powers, fortune-telling, prophecies, dowsing, lucky numbers, faith healing, and other unfounded beliefs exploited by opportunists to deceive the gullible.
Spreading this message is the final item on my bucket list, and I need your help. Please share now!

Picture
0 Comments

Biblical Morals

11/2/2024

0 Comments

 

It has been reported that in at least one U.S. state, the government has mandated that the Ten Commandments be prominently displayed in all schools. This State interference violates the principle of separation between church and state and should be strongly opposed.
The Ten Commandments, found in Exodus 20, are often viewed as a moral foundation. However, the first four commandments focus on worshipping a deity, portraying a demanding and self-centered god rather than providing moral guidance. Of the remaining six, five are basic common sense, while the tenth acknowledges slavery as a normal aspect of society, in fact, many additional laws in Exodus 21—which would also need to be included if biblical morality is to be taught, raises serious ethical concerns.
Critics argue that many of these biblical laws are not just morally questionable but outright harmful, as they appear to endorse practices like slavery, the death penalty, violence, patriarchy, sexual intolerance, and even colonialism. For example, Exodus 21 outlines rules for slaves (Ex. 21:1–11) and personal injury laws (Ex. 21:12–32), including the troubling command: “Whoever curses his father or mother shall be put to death.” Property laws, social rules, and regulations on trust and loans (Ex. 21:33–22:15; Ex. 22:22–23:9) are also mentioned, and many of these directives are far from moral by today's standards—some are deeply immoral.
The Golden Rule, the principle of treating others as you would like to be treated, predates biblical texts and represents a much more universally applicable moral standard than the Ten Commandments. It remains relevant and ethical today.
In conclusion, the requirement to display the Ten Commandments in public schools as a way to teach morality is a misguided demand that should be resisted by parents and educators alike. Instead, students should be taught empathy, tolerance, and critical thinking from an early age—values that foster moral development far better than outdated and problematic biblical laws.

Picture
0 Comments

A  Challence To Consider

11/2/2024

0 Comments

 
Questions for Theists: A Challenge to Consider
Here are a few important questions for theists, whether they are part of the general public, scientists, clergy, or philosophers, that must be addressed:
  1. Where did God (or any gods) come from?
  2. Why isn’t there a uniform, universal religion if a god exists?
  3. Why did God wait hundreds of thousands of years to reveal its existence to humanity?
  4. Why does God need humans to write texts to disclose its presence, and why are those texts so diverse and often contradictory?
  5. Why are the major world religions relatively young, only a few thousand years old, while religious beliefs and practices existed long before writing?
  6. Why did God create diseases and only provide humanity with the knowledge to fight them in the last few hundred years?
  7. Why does God allow the existence of so many conflicting religions, often resulting in hatred and violence?
  8. Why do natural disasters—typhoons, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, meteor impacts—occur if a benevolent deity is in control?
  9. Why has 99% of all life forms on Earth gone extinct?
  10. Why is there no verifiable evidence of a supernatural realm, and why must we die to allegedly experience eternal happiness or suffering?
These are just a few of the logical and legitimate questions that challenge the coherence of religious beliefs. I invite thoughtful responses that provide clear, logical explanations. Please avoid vague, dismissive answers like "we can never understand God's will" or other unsubstantiated claims. If you cannot answer these questions, I encourage you to reconsider your beliefs.

Picture
0 Comments

    Ben Vande       
    Weerdhof
    Andrews


    Retired Teacher
    Author
    Videographer






    Archives of
    previous Blogs

    December 2024
    November 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    May 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    June 2023
    April 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    November 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    October 2021
    August 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

    Click RSS feed for previous blogs

Ben's Blog

About Origin OF Religion

About THe Book

BooKStore

Contact

  • HOME
  • BEN'S BLOG
  • About The Book
    • BookStore
  • Reviews
  • About The Origin of Religion
  • The origin of spirit
  • FINAL CONCLUSION
  • Contact
  • Blog