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8
Joseph Conrad and my Heart of Darkness: Otherwise...Why would we be here?
I saw no reason to be limited geographically by the accident of my birth, so early on in life I decided I was going to test out a host of countries in which to live. One needs at least two years in a land to develop at least a minimal understanding of it, so I divided the average lifespan by 2 and figured I'd get to experience at least that many countries. A few became more interesting than I expected, so I broke the 2 year rule. I was also never religious, at least after about age 12, but the various widely subscribed superstitions of humanity made me curious. Why did some superstitions catch on so well in some places, and fail in others? What in each culture made something click, whereas it would fail miserably in another? Is existence fate, or something where humans have 'dominion' and a bit of control? How might that be reflected in a land's development? (That's another whole thread for you, Gamma.......no way Francis Bacon could have been anything but from a Judao-Christian background.) I've had two careers, and both allowed for extensive travel and a peripatetic lifestyle...a 'diplomat' and a hedge fund manager. The first sent me lots of places, the second became much more flexible as the internet took hold. In terms of the favored national superstition, I've lived in lands where folks embraced Jesus, Yahweh, Buddha (and its associated religions like Shintoism and Daoism), Allah and Shiva/Krishna and the other 10 million deities of that belief system. I developed my own way of describing 'morality' in ways particular to each faith. For example, in Buddhism and probably Hinduism, if a person does something wrong, and nobody else knows you did it, then it's not wrong. In Islam, if one does something wrong and isn't instantly struck down by Allah, it musn't really have been wrong. In Christianity, if one does something wrong, punishment will be meted out after death, when one learns that it really was wrong, although most rules are pretty clear. In Irish Catholicism, one is punished even if they don't do anything wrong, just to remind them they can never get away with anything. In Judaism, what does this Yahweh guy know about wrong? I've now settled in Thailand, where the ostensible faith is Buddhism, but it's really that old fashioned paganism with a thin coating of Buddhism spread on top, like marmalade on toast. It IS, contrary to what foreigners who embrace it say, a religion every bit the same as the other few thousand belief systems humans have concocted to make sense of existence and provide hope for a better and endless future. At the retail level, every religion is the same: false hope. I have found that the most honest faith is Hinduism. Ideally an adherent eschews all worldly goods and needs, but in my experience the majority of believers want first to experience great wealth, admiration, and endless babes "just so Krishna knows I'm sincere when I say I don't want these things, as how would I really know unless I've had them?" Excuse me, Gamma, for describing my own journey in terms of faith (in reality I'm just endlessly curious about everything, which is why I'm now here), but the thing that baffles me the most is the concept of good and evil as reflected in the Christian god and Satan. Growing up in the US, I was taught it is that ultimate bad guy Satan who makes us do things like lie, cheat, steal and engage in infidelity or maybe even put our appendages in forbidden places (I never have put it anywhere except where nature intended). Oddly, all of those are minor peccadilloes compared to tsunamis, earthquakes, child cancer and other maladies inflicted by an "all loving" and omnipotent deity. A marital infidelity can get one eternal damnation, but killing 400,000 humans via a tsunami is either a "mysterious way" or part of a "Master Plan". The Christian god is a great job if one could land it. Maybe next life, eh? My final comment about religion is that most of them place great importance on female virginity. This is something I really don't get, as I remember the few times when I dallied with virgins, back when I was one myself or shortly thereafter, and I do no recall them as particularly entertaining. I'm happy to leave virgins to the pious; give me a woman who knows what she likes from experience! Now THAT is heaven/Nirvana. Oh, and welcome to Thailand! -
8
Shocking cruelty: Child abuse claims haunt Chiang Mai orphanage
Ban Dek Dee Orphanage? -
3,888
LTR Visa is Now available for Long Term Residency
Great, thanks for your help. In my case I have a rental contract, proof of ownership and bank statements showing rental income. I hope this is enough. I am currently gathering all documents and will submit my application next week -
9
CNN Faces Major Layoffs as Mark Thompson Plans Cost-Cutting Shake-Up Amid Ratings Slump
CNN have been exposed as the biased liars and cheats they are. The election coverage was the worst ever. Even stooping to doctor a vidio inteview with Harris to try and make her credible. -
1
Thailand Woos U.S. Film Crews with 30% Cash Rebate Policy
No mention of where the "cash rebate" is coming from. Does this mean that the Thai government will rebate 30% of all spending in Thailand by the production company? Would be nice to hear more detail. Could be a big incentive to film here. -
2
Houthis Missile Attack on 2 U.S. Destroyers in Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Pentagon Confirms
I Hope retaliation will be swift and strong Isralie style. Those rebels have been attacking ships in international waters for years. -
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Ottawa Teens Arrested Over Alleged Bomb Plot Targeting Pro-Israel Rally
Canada is a weak country with politicians who have no clue what they are doing or have done nor are qualified for their roles. They, like all western countries have been sleep walking into a disaster. Not to mention, this specific group has no intention to integrate, only harm and try to convert you to their radical religion.- 1
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