Ping-Pong
PING!
What does ping cause you to think of? Is it the sound of a paddle hitting that little white ball, ahead of the pong?
Rhetorical questions are important to those of us who talk to ourselves. Do you? I believe we all do, don’t you? I know, like me, you have to question what you see in your life; you have too.
Not only question but analyze, and think about.
Of course it’s difficult to put thoughts like these on the white screen. Why? I have no idea. For that matter how much analyzing does one need about ‘ping-pong?’
Do you remember those you knew in school? How were they back then, and how have they changed since? We know they have (changed) because life changes us all. ‘Life Experiences’ they are called. I suspect that if we all experienced the same things, we would, what? That would be odd wouldn’t it? We’d all have the same thoughts and opinions, don’t you think?
Or would we?
Of course we’ll never know will we? Some of those I knew in school have passed on, but of those still alive, have they changed? And before we leave, what about those who have passed on? How were their lives changed before their demise?
What about our teachers, our parents and other adults back then? I remember the guy in my home town, who always wore his religion on his sleeve; he was always worried about your soul. When I got older and become an adult myself, I had to tell him to quit worrying about my soul. I don’t think I hurt his feelings, I just intensified his worry about my soul.
What is a soul anyway? We talk about it all the time but has anyone ever seen one? If so, can you describe it? Wouldn’t it be good if we knew what it was and what it looked like, since we might be headed to a place where souls hang out? Or, are we?
Some of us believe there’s no such thing as a soul, hence the question of where our souls will go is mute. But what about those who believe in a ‘religious ever lasting life?’ Ah yes, that question prompts another one. One that has puzzled so many of us who don’t believe, or at least doubt the religious teachings.
“How does anyone know - what nobody knows?
Which throws the ball up in the air for anyone to bat in a direction they want, thus causing the mass confusion of thousands of differing opinions flying around. Which is one reason I prefer being an agnostic. In fact, it’s a mystery to me how anyone can believe any old theory that is laying around, and throw all others in the dumpster.
Oh I know, or at least I think I know, that without religion our world would be in trouble. But, maybe it wouldn’t be. Might it be better? We all know folks who are not religious but yet, fit our definition of good and decent people.
Does religion keep us in line? Does the fear of ‘nothingness’ cause some folks to sign up for religion, (which at least offers a heaven) that perhaps keeps killers from killing, and robbers from robbing? Maybe, but if nothing else, I believe religion offers a ‘golden ticket’ from this mess we call ‘life.’ A ticket that when ‘punched’ will take us to a glorious place, where everything will conform to our own moral order.
So it follows that if we want to go to this better place, we must choose the "true religion" (if we mess up here there will be trouble) and then align ourselves to its teachings, in order to keep our record clean.
And if we don’t have religion to keep us upright, and we fall into the quagmire of non-believers, does that mean we are going to some sort of hell? Why would that be?
Ever wonder what causes an atheist to be an atheist?
Just an Opinion.
To be an atheist you have to be convinced that your opinion is the correct one. How arrogant is that? But, doesn’t that apply to us all?
After all, you have to be arrogant to think that your opinion is the right one, when nobody knows.
Actually, I believe that 99% of us are really ‘agnostics’ (like me) or at least ‘closet agnostics.’
For how can one not doubt, in this world of unknowables?
PONG!