” LEST WE FORGET “

The first meaning which the OED gives the phrase is to avoid the risk of our forgetting the soldiers who lost their lives fighting to protect ours. But for old crocks like me it suggests the challenge we face in remembering all sorts of things. We lose – or rather misplace – essential items – notably keys, glasses, documents – more often than we care to admit. It is embarrassing but we are frequently obliged to seek the help of others, after our own fruitless search. The wasted time, effort and frustration could be reduced by a minimum of self-discipline. I have discovered the obvious advantages of deciding on and respecting chosen locations for these essentials. Either we carry them with us permanently or decide on, and respect, a given place for them. Sometimes it is worth underlining the obvious.

RIDENDA RELIGIO

THE TEMPTATION TO RE – BELIEVE

Old folks face the danger of doubting that death is the definitive end of existence and that there ain’t no more. The only thing that can destroy doubt is evidence – and there ain’t any, not the slightest proof that we have an eternal soul. There never has been and there never will be. “Rock my soul in the bosom of Abraham” is still a good song.

RIDENDA RELIGIO

OLD FOLKS ARE A BURDEN FOR OTHERS , CARERS INCLUDED

This is not exactly Breaking News. But we Old Folks (Old Farts ?) should try to put ourselves in these others’ mocassins. We are not the only . . . patients (?) they look after, some far more in need than ourselves. By the time they get round to visiting us, they have probably had to face patients’ needs far more demanding than ours. It is in our own interest that we should make their tasks as pleasant as possible. Whatever difficulties they have faced before visiting us, they do their best to provide what we need. If perchance they are not in a good mood, the least we can do is not to make their tasks any harder. Full cooperation and a pleasant disposition are the minimum we owe them.

RELIGIO RIDENDA

GOD , SOULS , AFTER – LIFE : HOGWASH !!

Many – the majority – of my fellow-atheists would be appalled if they heard one of us say this of – hopefully not to – believers. It is a perfect example of the story I tell in my blog about the preacher’s sermon-notes : “Argument weak here, shout like hell !”. We have no right to insult theists, though we are free to ridicule their credulity. Believers deserve respect, even though their beliefs do not. You will not find such language in my blog. We are entitled to criticize the religious hypocrite, but we shoot ourselves in the foot if we descend to insulting the sincere believer.

RIDENDA RELIGIO

THIS BLOG IS UNIQUE

Billions of people have believed, for twenty centuries, that the Gospel stories are true, that God – a given – really became a man, Jesus of Nazareth, a miracle-worker and preacher, an innocent man condemned to die crucified for our sins – thus becoming, supposedly, our Redeemer. The four versions of His life, the Gospels, are believed to be factual, historical accounts, justifying the faith of Christian believers for the last 2000 years. I not only believed and practised the Catholic faith but became a priest and professor of Theology. My blog reveals why I renounced religious credulity and became an advocate of atheism. It is the only atheist blog with such credentials.

RIDENDA RELIGIO

PREPARING FOR EASTER

It starts today with ashes on head bent,

But I have forgotten what that meant.

The hardest to give up was grog

With its magic, medicinal fog.

Whoever invented bloody Lent ?

THE DEAD DON’T DREAM

Why do we dream ? It would appear that we really don’t know. But it is a function of the brain, and the brain-dead can’t dream, notwithstanding the Bard’s famous “To die, to sleep, perchance to dream – ay, there’s the rub. For in this sleep of death what dreams may come ?” Shakespeare was a poet, not a brain-surgeon nor a psychologist. Death means that the brain no longer functions and that we cease to exist. There is no survival of a “soul”, just a bunch of decomposing cells. We may or may not be remembered but no longer exist, let alone being capable of dreaming.

RIDENDA RELIGIO

WHAT IF PEOPLE STOPPED PRAYING FOR ME ?

Does anyone seriously believe they are keeping near-nonagenarians like me alive by their prayers ? What sort of a God do they believe in ? “Nope ! No prayers for Frank for the last six months. He won’t wake up tomorrow.” I appreciate people keeping me in their thoughts (and reading my blog) but keeping me in their prayers suggests that their God depends on them to keep me alive. Stop praying for me and I’m dead meat. Whence my mantra . . .

RIDENDA RELIGIO

WHERE THE HELL IS HE ?

The curious thing about God,

I told my students in the quad,

Is that He’s supposed to be everywhere

Though in fact no one has seen Him anywhere.

If you agree with this just nod.

RIDENDA RELIGIO

THE TROUBLE WITH THE SERENITY PRAYER

“God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the Courage to change the things I can, and the Wisdom to know the difference”. The problem with this well-known, insightful advice, is that it is a prayer. Leave out the “God” bit, and it makes a lot of sense. There are things we can change and others that we cannot. We may be able to prolong our life, but we cannot avoid our death. Better to accept the fact. We can promote peace but you and I cannot eliminate war. But there are things we know even we old folks can and should change, for example, our impatience with and impoliteness towards family members and even those tireless professionals who take care of us. The Serenity born of realism and the Courage to make necessary and possible changes are within our grasp.

RIDENDA RELIGIO