Thank God I'm An Atheist

This is a hot topic in the Indonesian blogosphere at the moment, thanks to Rima Fauzi's post Why Religion Doesn't Matter At All, which can also be found on Indonesian Matters.

Two weeks ago Rima emailed me with a set of questions "for an experienced blogger from a new blogger". I do have a lengthy post in response nearly ready which I was hoping to post today. However, thanks to what I'd like to call an Act of God* because it happened without warning, I haven't, apart from my title, managed to finish it.

Ah, age and the thought that life doesn't get any easier, or more understandable, as you get older.

And how can one answer age old questions to which there aren't any pat answers, without sounding glib or, worse, trite? That's been my difficulty. I may sometimes try to look at things from different angles, but only because what I want to say needs to be original in order to be read and responded to.

That Rima's writing has produced so many comments on both sites, several of which are scholarly and and most well-thought out, is an indication of the growing maturity and confidence among blog readers, particularly as few seek to proselytise. Also it's perhaps even more encouraging than the topic being discussed that Indonesians now feel able to express ideas and philosophies which run counter to established and accepted viewpoints.

However, in a country which expects citizens to have a religious label on their I.D. card, and as religion is the topic of choice, it is probably useful to clarify which religion suits you best.

For that, try Belief-O-Matic™.
Answer 20 questions about your concept of God, the afterlife, human nature, and more, and Belief-O-Matic™ will tell you what religion (if any) you practice ... or ought to consider practicing.

I did, and this is the Jakartass Religious Profile.

--1. Liberal Quakers (100%)
--2. Secular Humanism (100%)
--3. Unitarian Universalism (95%)
--4. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (85%)
--5. Neo-Pagan (76%)
--6. Theravada Buddhism (74%)
--7. Orthodox Quaker (73%)
--8. Taoism (71%)
--9. Mahayana Buddhism (67%)
10. New Age (65%)
11. Nontheist (64%)
12. Bahá'í Faith (61%)
13. Jainism (56%)
14. Reform Judaism (53%)
15. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (43%)
16. Sikhism (41%)
17. Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (40%)
18. Hinduism (40%)
19. Seventh Day Adventist (39%)
20. New Thought (39%)
21. Scientology (38%)
22. Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (32%)
23. Jehovah's Witness (28%)
24. Eastern Orthodox (23%)
25. Islam (23%)
26. Orthodox Judaism (23%)
27. Roman Catholic (23%)

But no animism?
.....................................................
*We had a scheduled power cut in our part of town which lasted from 9 this morning until 5 this evening. When we contacted PLN, the state electricity company, to complain, they told us that they'd had many complaints because, although scheduled, they had failed to notify anyone!

At times like these, I wish I believed in a God who practised divine retribution
 

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¶ 7:30 pm