Listen to the most recent episode of my podcast: Diego Garcia: A quest for Justice https://anchor.fm/john-thiongo/episodes/Diego-Garcia-A-quest-for-Justice-e242v33
From Coconut Plantations to Military Bases: The Complex History of the Chagos Islands
Podcast Link https://anchor.fm/john-thiongo/episodes/Diego-Garcia-A-quest-for-Justice-e242v33
- The Chagos Archipelago is located in the deep Indian Ocean, approximately 500 km south of the Maldives archipelago.
- The archipelago consists of seven atolls comprising over 60 islands.
- The French established coconut plantations in the Chagos Archipelago in the 18th century, and it became part of the British Indian Ocean Territory in 1965 after being ceded to the British in the early 19th century.
- Between 1967 and 1973, the British government forcibly removed the Chagossians, the indigenous population, from the islands to make way for a joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia.
- The forced removal of the Chagossians remains a controversial issue, as does the sovereignty of the archipelago, which is disputed between Mauritius and the United Kingdom.
- The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution calling for the United Kingdom to end its occupation of the archipelago, and the Chagossians continue their legal challenges for their right to return to their ancestral homeland.
Geographical location and size of the archipelago
Located between 5 and 10 degrees south of the equator, is the Chagos Archipelago. The archipelago comprises seven atolls – Peros Banhos, Salomon Islands, Nelsons Island, Three Brothers, Eagle Islands, Danger Island, and the largest atoll, Diego Garcia – that are spread over approximately 640,000 square kilometers of ocean, making it one of the largest marine protected areas in the world. The islands themselves are composed mainly of coral and are low-lying, with the highest point on Diego Garcia reaching just 22 meters above sea level. Despite their small size and isolated location, the Chagos Archipelago is home to a variety of unique flora and fauna, including sea turtles, coconut crabs, and several species of coral. The natural beauty of these islands is awe-inspiring, and it’s no wonder that they have captured the imagination of scientists, environmentalists, and nature lovers around the world.
An aerial overview of Diego Garcia: “Diego Garcia – Landing Approach” by Serendigity is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0. To view the terms, visit https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/?ref=openverse.
The Chagos Archipelago was once home to a small but vibrant community of people known as the Chagossians. These indigenous people had lived on the islands for generations, building their homes, fishing, and farming. However, in the 1960s and 70s, the British government forcibly removed the Chagossians from their homes to make way for a joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, the largest island in the archipelago. The forced removal was a traumatic experience for the Chagossians, who were given only a few hours’ notice to leave their homes and were forced to leave behind their possessions and way of life. They were shipped off to Mauritius and the Seychelles, where they were left to fend for themselves with little support from the British government. Many Chagossians still harbor deep resentment towards the British government for the way they were treated and for the loss of their ancestral homeland. Despite numerous legal challenges and campaigns for their right to return, the Chagossians have yet to be allowed to return to the islands they once called home.
Plantation buildings used by the evicted former occupants of Diego Garcia : Steve Swayne from Maleny, Australia, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
“West Island, part of Diego Garcia group” by Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/?ref=openverse.
The Chagos Archipelago’s sovereignty has been the subject of a long-standing dispute between Mauritius and the United Kingdom. Mauritius was a former British colony and was given control over the Chagos Archipelago by the British government in 1965, shortly before the forced removal of the Chagossians. However, in 1966, the UK signed an agreement with the United States to establish a military base on Diego Garcia, the largest island in the archipelago. In order to make way for the base, the Chagossians were forcibly removed from their homes, and Mauritius claims that the UK’s decision to separate the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius was a violation of international law.
In 2019, the International Court of Justice issued an advisory opinion stating that the UK’s separation of the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius was illegal, and that the UK should end its administration of the archipelago as soon as possible. Despite this ruling, the UK has not yet relinquished control of the archipelago, and the issue remains a point of contention between the two countries. Additionally, the Chagossians have also fought legal battles for the right to return to their ancestral homeland, but these efforts have largely been unsuccessful. The legal disputes over the archipelago’s sovereignty are complex and ongoing, and their resolution is yet to be seen.
Why are these small islands important?
The Chagos Archipelago holds significant strategic importance to both the United States and the United Kingdom. In the 1960s, the UK granted the United States permission to establish a military base on Diego Garcia, the largest island in the archipelago. The base has since played a crucial role in US military operations in the Middle East, including during the Gulf War, the War in Afghanistan, and the Iraq War. The base’s location in the Indian Ocean provides easy access to key areas in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, making it a valuable asset for the US military.
For the UK, the Chagos Archipelago is also strategically important due to its location in the Indian Ocean, which is a key shipping route for trade between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The UK’s military presence in the archipelago also allows it to project its power and influence in the region. Additionally, the UK has established a marine protected area around the archipelago, which is the largest in the world and plays a crucial role in protecting the ocean’s biodiversity.
The strategic importance of the Chagos Archipelago to the US and UK has made it a highly contested territory, with legal disputes and political tensions surrounding its sovereignty and control. While the archipelago’s natural beauty and unique ecology are important, its military and strategic significance cannot be ignored in the ongoing discussions surrounding its future.
Military base establishment
In 1966, the United States and the United Kingdom signed an agreement to establish a military base on Diego Garcia, the largest island in the Chagos Archipelago. The base was intended to provide a strategic location for the US military to support its operations in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and the Indian Ocean region. The US began construction of the base in the late 1960s, with workers and equipment being transported to the island from Mauritius and Seychelles.
“USS Greenville (SSN 772) enters Diego Garcia’s harbor.” by Official U.S. Navy Imagery is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/?ref=openverse.
The construction of the military base on Diego Garcia required the removal of the Chagossian people from their homes on the island. The US and UK governments claimed that the Chagossians were a hindrance to the establishment of the base, and forcibly removed them from the island between 1967 and 1973. The Chagossians were not given the option to return to the island and were instead resettled in Mauritius and Seychelles.
Today, the military base on Diego Garcia is one of the most important US military installations outside of the United States. The base has been used to support US military operations in the Gulf War, War in Afghanistan, and Iraq War, and is a key component of US military strategy in the Middle East and Asia. Despite the controversy surrounding the base’s establishment and the forced removal of the Chagossians, the US and UK continue to maintain control over the archipelago and the military base on Diego Garcia.
Military activities that have occurred on the island
The military base on Diego Garcia has been used by the US for a variety of military activities, including aerial surveillance, refueling of military aircraft, and as a logistics hub for US military operations in the Middle East and Asia. In addition to these activities, the base has also been used for the detention and interrogation of terrorism suspects.
After the September 11, 2001 attacks, the US government established a network of secret detention centers around the world, known as “black sites”, where terrorism suspects could be interrogated without access to legal representation or the protections afforded by international law. One of the “high-value” detainees believed to have been held at the site include Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. He is believed to be one of the key architects of the 9/11 attacks. Diego Garcia was one of the locations where these black sites were established, and it is believed that several high-profile terrorism suspects were held and interrogated on the island.
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed Prime suspect of the 9/11 attacks: By ChuckHolton is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/?ref=openverse.
The US government has been criticized for its use of black sites and the treatment of detainees in these facilities. The use of Diego Garcia as a black site has also been the subject of legal challenges and political controversy, with some arguing that the UK government was complicit in the US government’s actions by allowing the base to be used for these purposes.
In recent years, the US government has stated that it no longer operates any black sites and that the detention and interrogation of terrorism suspects is now conducted in accordance with international law. However, the controversy surrounding the use of Diego Garcia as a black site continues to raise questions about the ethical and legal implications of the US government’s actions in the fight against terrorism. What is more worrying are some of the counter effects of this illegal occupation such as the indian occupation of Agalega.
Indian military occupation of Agalega: is it inspired by the U.S. activity at Chagos?
Agalega is a small archipelago located in the Indian Ocean, approximately 1,100 km north of Mauritius. The archipelago is made up of two main islands, North Agalega and South Agalega, and several smaller islets. The islands are situated on a coral atoll and have a combined land area of approximately 2,600 acres.
North Agalega is the larger of the two islands, with a length of approximately 12 km and a maximum width of 1.5 km. South Agalega is smaller, with a length of approximately 6 km and a maximum width of 1 km. Both islands are relatively flat and are covered in dense vegetation, including coconut trees and mangroves. The surrounding waters are home to a variety of marine life, including coral reefs, fish, and sea turtles.
The archipelago has a small population of approximately 300 people, who are primarily engaged in fishing and agriculture. The islands have limited infrastructure and are largely dependent on imports from Mauritius for basic goods and services. The Indian government has been involved in developing infrastructure on the islands, including the construction of an airstrip and the expansion of the island’s port facilities. The strategic location of Agalega in the Indian Ocean has also made it an important site for military activities and surveillance.
In recent years, the Indian government has been expanding its presence in the Indian Ocean region, and as part of this strategy, it has been investing in the development of its military infrastructure on the island of Agalega. The Indian government has been working to establish a naval base on the island, which will serve as a key location for surveillance and military activities in the region.
In order to facilitate the establishment of the naval base, the Indian government has been occupying the island and has been working to develop its infrastructure. This has included the construction of a new airstrip, the expansion of the island’s port facilities, and the installation of radar and other surveillance equipment.
The establishment of the naval base on Agalega has been met with some controversy, particularly from local residents who have expressed concerns about the impact of the military activities on their way of life. Some have also raised concerns about the potential environmental impact of the development on the island’s delicate ecosystem, including its coral reefs and marine life.
The Indian government has stated that the development of the naval base on Agalega is aimed at improving its ability to respond to security threats in the region and to strengthen its strategic presence in the Indian Ocean. However, the establishment of the base has also raised questions about the broader geopolitical implications of India’s expanding military presence in the region, particularly in light of increasing tensions between India and China in the Indian Ocean.
Why Algalega
Agalega is strategically located in the Indian Ocean, making it an important location for military and surveillance activities. The archipelago is situated approximately 1,100 km north of Mauritius and is located along major shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean. As such, it provides India with a key location from which to monitor and secure its interests in the region.
In recent years, India has been increasing its presence in the Indian Ocean as part of its broader strategy to strengthen its strategic position in the region. The establishment of a naval base on Agalega is a key part of this strategy, as it allows India to improve its ability to monitor and respond to security threats in the region.
The strategic location of Agalega also makes it an important location for India’s efforts to counter China’s expanding presence in the Indian Ocean. India and China have been engaged in a competition for influence in the region, and India’s establishment of a naval base on Agalega is seen as a way to counter China’s growing presence in the region.
In addition to its strategic importance, Agalega is also home to valuable natural resources, including fisheries and potential reserves of oil and gas. The development of these resources could provide India with an important source of economic and strategic advantage in the region.
Conclusion
The issue of military occupation is undoubtedly a critical issue that demands attention and resolution from the international community. The Chagos Archipelago and its indigenous people, the Chagossians, have been subjected to displacement, human rights violations, and a loss of voice as a result of the ongoing occupation by a large military superpower. Despite the efforts of the Chagossians to fight for their right to return to their ancestral homeland, their voices have largely gone unheard, leaving them in a state of limbo and uncertainty.
Moreover, the situation can be described as a form of colonialism, where a powerful state has taken control of a territory and imposed its authority on the local population. The displacement of the Chagossians from their homeland to make way for a military base is a clear example of this, where the interests of a colonial power were given priority over the rights of the indigenous people.
The consequences of the forced displacement have been devastating for the Chagossians, who have been uprooted from their homes and separated from their communities. Many of them have been forced to live in a deplorable state in Mauritius, struggling to make a living and support their families. The impact of the occupation has not only affected the Chagossians but has also raised concerns about the sovereignty of the archipelago, which is still disputed between Mauritius and the United Kingdom.
It is crucial that the international community takes action to address the issue of military occupation and colonialism in the Chagos Archipelago. The Chagossians must be given a voice and their rights to their ancestral homeland respected, while the sovereignty of the archipelago should be determined through a fair and transparent process. It is only through a concerted effort by the global community that the Chagossians can hope to reclaim their dignity and restore justice to their lives.
Legalize It: The Holy Herb That Will Save Our Nation
Cannabis commonly known as Marijuana is a psychoactive drug derived from the cannabis plant. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the main ingredient in the drug although there are over 483 known compounds in the plant. The consumption of cannabis has various mental and physical effects such as altered mental states, impaired short-term memory, relaxation and increased appetite. At high doses it can cause symptoms of anxiety, paranoia, psychosis and delusions. Cannabis can be used for recreational, pharmaceutical, and spiritual purposes.
The cannabis plant
Medical cannabis
Medical Marijuana can either be smoked, vaporized, eaten or consumed as a liquid extract. Medical marijuana can be used to alleviate pain, control nausea and vomiting and increase appetite. Marijuana can also relieve symptoms of Crohn disease, epilepsy, Multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease. Medical marijuana is highly preferred to opiates as it is less addictive and does not cause kidney problems and ulcers. In addition, the drug can be used as a painkiller for multiple sclerosis cases as it does not have the sedating effects of opiates. As a muscle relaxant marijuana can help tremors in Parkinson’s disease, interstitial cystitis and fibromyalgia. Marijuana can also be used to treat glaucoma, nausea, and also manage PTSD in
war returnees.
Benefits of medical Marijuana
Recreational cannabis
When smoked cannabis causes a euphoriant effect, increased appetite, poor psycho-motor coordination, and impairment of short term memory. In addition, the drug can cause altered perceptions, increased sensation, increased libito and distortions of time and space.
Spiritual cannabis
Cannabis was used in the Indian Subcontinent as early as 2000 BCE. Shamanic and pagan cultures use the drug to ponder deep philosophical thoughts related to people and the society. In ancient Africa marijuana was used to increase appetite and relieve hemorrhoid pains. Hemp worship was also dominant in some communities such as the Bashilenge tribe who lived in modern day Congo. They believed that the drug helped find evil and used to take it when traveling or going to war. The Senusi people of modern day Libya also cultivated hemp for large scale use and for use in religious ceremonies.
The bashilenge smoked weed in their religious ceremonies
The Assyrians, Egyptians, and Israelites obtained cannabis from Aryan cultures and mostly burned it for incense as its aroma was believed to be pleasing to the gods. In fact, cannabis pollen was recovered from the tomb of Ramesses II.
Criminalization of marijuana
To gain background on the criminalization of marijuana I am going to follow through its criminalization in the U.S and in Kenya. In the U.S the prohibition of the drug started in 1906 and was dominant in the 1920’s. The regularization in the U.S was through the marihuana Tax act of 1937. Interested parties indicate that the law was meant to heavily tax the hemp industry which was offered a cheap paper pulp alternative. The 1970 controlled substances act outlawed the medical recreational and spiritual use of marijuana. Nonetheless, some states have passed laws that contradict federal law. In 2012, Colorado and Washington became the first two states to legalize the both medical and recreational cannabis use.
In Kenya, cannabis was banned by the British East Africa Protectorate under the opium ordinance. It was only in 2018 that the late Ken Okoth tried to push for legalization of cannabis in the country. In a letter written to the national assembly speaker, he petitioned for the dropping of cannabis related convictions and institution of amnesty measures. In his letter he argued that the legalization of marijuana would boost the country’s economics and provide jobs. Since then, there has not been a sufficient push for its legalization in Kenya until the declaration by the most interesting presidential candidate George Luchiri Wajackoya. He not only promised to legalize bhang but has also made it the base of his economic recovery plan.
The late Ken Okoth: The first Kenyan legislator to push for legalization
The 1913 ordinance Act: The colonial law that banned the herb
Legality of Cannabis globally
The are few countries that have fully legalized the recreational and medical use of marijuana they include:
Canada
Georgia
Malta
Mexico
South Africa
Thailand
Uruguay
19 American States and
Australian Capital territory
The growth of medical cannabis has been tolerated in 44 countries including Argentina, Australia, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Thailand, the United Kingdom, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Legality of cannabis Worldwide
Cannabis in Canada
Since its legalization, cannabis use rose from 22% in 2017 to 27% in 2021. In addition, the country’s retail cannabis sales were at $2.6 billion in 2021. Although consumption increased, there were less criminal convictions from drug usage. The legalization has also helped improve Canada’s economy by adding $43.5 billion dollars to its GDP. More specifically, the industry generated $11 billion in national sales and $29 billion in capital expenditure. The recreational cannabis industry created 98,000 jobs and provided $15.1 billion in tax and government revenues.
Cannabis in Colorado
Colorado was U.S first state to legalize recreational marijuana. The economy of Colorado experienced a boom after legalization. The growth rate between 2015 and 2018 was:
2015–>4.4%
2016–>2.4%
2017–>3.1%
2018–>3.5%
Colorado’s GDP growth rate also surpassed the national growth rate in 2019 while the employment rate rose by 2.1%. With an unemployment rate of 2.7% Colorado ranks as one of the the best state economies in the US. The legalization also increased Colorado’s population by 3.2% in 2015 and provided business licenses to 41,144 individuals by June 2020. Between January 2014 and April 2020 over $7.7 billion worth of marijuana was sold in the state which generated $1.2 billion for the state government. In 2019, the total tax revenue from marijuana was $302 million. The legalization of Cannabis also helped improve tourism in Colorado whereby it attracted 82.6million U.S based travelers who spent $22.3 million and generated $1.37 billion in tax revenues.
Cannabis in Uruguay
Uruguay was the first country in the world to legalize recreational marijuana. However, it enforces a strict regulation where all buyers are required to register with the government. In addition, the drug is only sold at pharmacies with a 10 grams per week maximum. The Uruguayan government is heavily involved in cannabis regularization where only 12 state pharmacies sell the drug and only two private firms (Symbiosis and International Cannabis Corporation(ICC labs)) are licensed to sell the drug. The legalization of cannabis in Uruguay has helped reduce drug trafficking in the country. In addition, the country was able to generate $7.3 million in cannabis exports in 2019. The lucrativeness of Uruguay as a cannabis state has attracted various companies such as Aurora which launched a $220 million bid for ICC labs.
Cannabis in south Africa
South Africa is the only African country that has legalized recreational marijuana use. However, unlike Canada and the state of Colorado, the county has not adequately commercialized the product. Some of the challenges for commercialization are the high export and manufacture permits at $579 and $1586 respectively. Still the country’s president believes that the legalization would help the country increase foreign investments and provide over 180,000 jobs.
Should we legalize Cannabis in Kenya
YES.
In a corruption free country, the benefits from marijuana would be immense. The government should borrow a leaf from the states of Washington and Colorado in the U.S and Canada to learn how regularization can be implemented with the least social impact, while also improving tax revenues and individual farmer incomes. Furthermore, it is the white man and not us who banned the holy herb.
Sources
The Plagiarism of 2 Kings 19 and Isaiah 37
Christianity is the world’s largest religion with over 2.5 billion followers globally. There are various factors that have catalyzed its global acceptance, such as being the religion of the colonizers of the modern world. Still, the philosophy of meekness, love, and mercy could also have aided its acceptance. Despite its acceptance, it has been ridiculed by scholars owing to some inconsistencies in scripture that contradict reason, conventional history, and the scientific method. I would have to write volumes of commentaries to address some of these contradictions. Though, I chose to focus on one case; The plagiarism of 2 kings 19 and Isaiah 37.
The links to the two chapters are listed below:
A brief account of 2 Kings
The book of Kings provides an account of the falling divided kingdom. Most of Israel’s rulers are wicked and only a few good rulers govern over Judah. Finally, the kingdom of Israel is destroyed by the Assyrians and that of Judah by the Babylonians. The key themes in the book are the punishment of those who disobey God, the fulfillment of David’s promise, and the truthfulness of the prophets of God. The book’s time of writing is placed between 560 and 540 BCE. Though the writer of the book is not known, scholars suppose that it is Jeremiah who authored the book. However, Jeremiah did not travel to Babylon and it is clear that the final section occurred in the Babylonian exile.
Brief Account of Isaiah
The book of Isaiah is the first of the major and later prophets of the Old Testament. According to scholars, the book can be outlined in three parts. Proto- Isaiah (1-39) with the original words of Isaiah. Deutro-Isaiah was written by an anonymous writer in exile and Trito-Isaiah (55-66) a collection of unknown prophets. According to the book, Isaiah lived through the reign of Kings Uzziah, Ahaz, Hezekiah, and Manasseh. Thus, the Proto- Isaiah books can be placed between (740-701) BCE.
Key Dilemma
Why are two books written by two prophets living in different time periods contain the same information in verbatim?
The most obvious answer Jeremiah copied Isaiah
Unless Jeremiah did not Author 2 Kings.
If Jeremiah really wrote the Book of 2 kings. How could Isaiah have told the story of Hezekiah whilst Hezekiah was never born?
Unless Isaiah never wrote the book of Isaiah.
Overall, looking at the chronology of kings during the times of Jeremiah and Isaiah. There is no way the two books could have been published by these authors. If one were to justify the credibility of the texts. It would only make sense if the books were written by other authors.
If that’s the case, were these authors truly inspired, since the books are based on the credibility of prophets?
Religion presupposes that we should follow the teachings of scripture without question. But such an inconsistency whether placed with intent or by mistake creates more questions than answers on the credibility of the World’s most trusted book.
Is there a fact-based defense to this discrepancy? I would really like to be enlightened
P.S. When the dilemma is solved I will continue the second section of the paper.
Current Verdict: The contents were plagiarized by “lazy” scribes, not written by inspired prophets.
Cultism: Is your religion a cult?
On July 29, 2021, I created a post that got some believers triggered
But why would I make such a controversial statement? Of course, I knew it would get most people irked. More importantly, what was the root of that formula?
Let’s start by understanding the difference between a cult and religion.
Cult
In modern English, a cult is a social group that is defined by its unusual religious, spiritual, or philosophical beliefs, or by its common interest in a particular personality, object, or goal.
Characteristics of cults
- Unquestionable commitment to a charismatic leader
- Punishment for questioning/ deviating from cult beliefs
- Mind-altering practices
- Self-exaltation or exaltation of the group’s leader
- Leader is unaccountable to conventional authority
- Persistent conversion
- Exclusionism/ protection from the outside world
- Monetary motivation
Definitions of cults in Christianity
In Christianity, cults can be described as all religious groups claiming to be Christian but falling far away from Christian orthodoxy. The diagram below shows the relationship between the Conventional believes and the introduction of novel beliefs as described by Howard P. Becker.
From the Christian perspective, cults tend to follow an unconventional doctrine that differs from mainstream Christianity.
Some of the presumed cults from the Christian perspective include:
Unity church
- They are the authors of the daily word devotional.
- Involves the practice of positive Christianity.
- The followers are spiritual but not religious.
- The church accepts all the good in people and does not follow a specific ritual.
- They also believe that God is a spiritual energy that is present in all Humankind.
Jehovah witness
They are an apocalypse-focused Christian denomination that believes in the imminent destruction of the current world and the construction of a new world over the old one. They have some distinct beliefs such as rejecting blood transfusions, military service, and trinitary worship. They also believe that Christmas, easter, and birthdays celebrations have strong secular ties and should not be celebrated. In addition, they are involved in shunning practices and door-to-door preaching.
Currently, they have about 8.7 million followers involved in evangelical activities.
Mormon Church
Has over 16 million members, 51,000 missionaries, and over 31,000 congregations worldwide. It was founded during the second great awakenings period. The denomination does not believe in trinitarianism and uses three religious texts including the Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and the covenants, and The Pearl of Great price. These doctrinal differences have made orthodox, catholic, and protestant Christians shun them as a Christian denomination. The church conducts humanitarian services as well as engage in affairs of sexual purity, fasting, Sabbath observance, celestial marriage, and polygamy.
Christian science
A Christianity sect that believes that prayer is the only valid form of treating ailments.
Overall, to the layperson a cult can just be defined as a religion I do not like.
Religion
Can be broadly defined as a social-cultural system of beliefs, behaviors, morals, and practices that relate human elements to supernatural elements.
Characteristics of religion
- Supernatural beliefs
- Sacred places and objects
- Moral codes
- Rituals and ceremonies
- Sacred texts and stories
There are over 10,000 religious systems worldwide with over 84% of the world population believing in some form of religion.
So, the key question is: What is the difference between a religion and a Cult?
If a cult encompasses all the elements of religion, does it not qualify to be one?
Most Significant/Extreme Cults
Heaven’s Gate
A 1970’s religious movement that believed that God was an Alien.
However, the beliefs of the movement were dented when their leader died of cancer in 1985 and was not carried to heaven by a UFO. Consequently, they changed their belief patterns and argued that the body was merely a container of the soul.
In march 27 1997, 39 of the group’s followers committed a suicide ceremony. The date of the suicide coincided with the approach of Comet-Hale-Bopp.
Branch Davidians
They were founded in 1955 after their reforms to the SDA doctrine were rejected. The cult came to prominence during the 1993 Waco siege when the ATF bureau raided the facility following sexual abuse and illegal firearm ownership violation claims. The Branch Davidians were able to put a 51-day standoff that saw the death of 4 ATF agents and 76 followers.
Unlike most sects, the group did not have an organized doctrine which led to various squabbles among their leaders.
The family international
The movement was founded in 1968 and recruited people into communes that communicated with their leader, through letters. By 1972, the group had over 130 communes worldwide. However, the group was disbanded in 1978 following massive accounts of misconduct financial mismanagement and sexual abuse.
Later the Group changed its name into the Family of love where it used Flirty Fishing (Sexual converts) to increase fellowship. It is reported that the technique was able to reach over 223,989 people and achieved 100,000 converts.
Key beliefs:
- Spiritual helpers such as the Goddess Aphrodites, Merlin, President Nixon among other celebrities.
- Keys to the Kingdom: A belief that the leader was given ultimate spiritual authority.
- Belief that they are sexually engaged with Jesus
The Peoples Temple
Was founded in 1954 and involves a combination of Christian belief systems and communist ideology. Its left-wing ideology of racial equity helped it gain a wide followship of more than 3000 followers. In 1974, the movement purchased land in Jonestown Guyana to create the ideal Utopian socialist paradise. Also, he held a strong paranoia over a nuclear attack on American soil. Following reports of sexual abuse, their leader, John Jones, conducted a murder-suicide mass that saw the death of 918 people after the consumption of cyanide-laced flavor Aid.
Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God
The movement was not as popular as the previous movements. And for obvious reasons, it was an African cult. The cult was found by Joseph Kibweteere in the late 1980s. The movement believed that to avoid eternal damnation, one had to commit to strict adherence to the Ten commandments. The movement had its share of government conflict after reports of children labor and kidnappings.
The leader told members to sell all their property as they wait for doomsday on January 1, 2000. When doomsday did not happen the followers started questioning the leaders. A later date was set on March 17, 2000, where followers were invited to a massive party. Thereafter, the locks of the church were locked and all 530 people in the church burned to death.
Later investigations found 6 bodies in a pit latrine, 153 bodies in a public compound, and 155 and 81 bodies at two of the leader’s farms. The final death Toll of the movement is estimated at 924 people.
Order of the Solar Temple
Of all the common movements, the order of the solar temple must be the absurdist of them all. The movement comprises the elite members of society. Could be because of the Steep Joining fee. Its key beliefs are a combination of Knights Templers ideals and Freemasonry.
Murders:
- The execution of a 3-month-old child over claims that he was the antichrist in October 1994
- Mass suicides of 15 inner circle members in Switzerland in a last supper ritual and the mass murder of 38 other members. The bodies were discovered in underground chapels lined with mirrors and temple symbolism.
- Mass suicide of 16 members in versos France in December 1995
- A 5-person suicide in the Quebec Canada on march 1997
- The date of the mass suicides was observed to coincide with the dates of equinoxes and solstices.
When reading about the 5 movements the human mind clicks a single word; Cult. But why?
The cult analogy is based on how the movements started until their demise. Instances of mass murders suicides and sexual abuse dominate these movements.
But have conventional religious systems been involved with mass murders/suicides?
Actually, there is a great fear of Islamic terrorism globally. Rightly so, as the number of terrorism-based deaths annually at 21,000.
Christian faith-based deaths are hard to account for as conventional Christianity tends to label most new age religions as cults.
When going through history, Christianity has its share of atrocities. A fair share of them. The crusades, the conquest of Africa and the Americas, and even the most memorable justifications for slavery.
Thus, religion cannot be distinguished from cult on moral grounds, But from a social, cultural, and historical perspective.
Take this into consideration, Jews and Romans Labeled Christianity as a cult. Well, until emperor Constantine said they weren’t. Medieval Christians called Islam a cult, but somehow it withstood the test of time. Through the 19th century Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and followers of Scientology were considered to be in a cult. Though the society has accepted them as a religion.
Simply said a cult from an individual’s perspective is that belief system that differs from one’s own.
Is there a difference between a cult and a religion?
Well, there is a very thin line, an extremely thin one that is determined by time. If a belief system can stand the test of time, and gain a following then there is no way it is a cult but a religion. In fact, the term cult is a derogatory term used to describe minority belief systems that do not conform to one’s own beliefs.
Ancient Explorers: Mapping out the origin and movements of early man
For most of us who were a little attentive at elementary school. You must have heard of the cradle of mankind and how it is located somewhere is Africa. To be more specific there are two regions in Africa that claim that title. The Afar depression, that spans through the countries of Eretria, Djibouti and Ethiopia has been commonly been considered the first human ancestral home. However, findings from other parts of Africa tend to dispute this point of view. Such as, the UNESCO world heritage site located 50 km northwest South Africa that comprises a series of limestone caves that account for over 1,500 H. naledi Fossils and a 2.3-million-year-old hominid fossil. These findings have helped give the 47,000-area region the name “Cradle of mankind”. Despite being given the name, the region did not host the oldest ever hominid fossils, which were found in Chad and date as old as 7.0 million years. Since hominin fossils are distributed all around Africa, it is hard to pin point the actual cradle land for human kind.
If we first lived in Africa, how did we find ourselves in the other parts of the world. How did we move to Europe, Asia, and places as distant as the Americas? More importantly why did we move to these locations?
One big problem with dealing with prehistory is that we are explaining things that have not been historically documented. Furthermore, even the documented part of history might be biased as it only tells the tales of the victor. The interpretation can also be affected by the evolution of language where our interpretations may differ with the authors interpretations. Nevertheless, fairly accurate historical narratives can be formed from the study of fossils, linguistics, and genetics.
The evolution of early hominids can be explained by the savannah hypothesis which argues that climate change forced early hominids from trees, thus making them more adaptable to living on the ground. It was at 2.3 million years ago that the first hominid (Homo erectus) started moving out of Africa into the Eurasia Subcontinent.
Where are all the other hominids? That’s the principal question that most creationists will attack me with as I try to create this narrative of human movement. To answer that question, I would like to address the issue of extinction. Simply other early hominids might not be visible due to extinction events. Extinction can occur due to predation or even unfavorable environments. The most recent extinct species include St Helena Olive tree (2004), The Golden Toad (1989), and Tasmanian wolf (1936). Currently, there are over 15,000 endangered species whose extinction rate may be 100X or 1000X above the baseline rate. The discovery of H. Naledi also helped bring out a new perspective on the existence of hominid species. In this case, the dating of H. Naledi coincided was traced back to 300,000 years, a time period when H. Sapiens still roamed the earth’s surface. The existence of multiple species of man at the same time period shows the graduality of evolution and how it relates to adaptability and extinction.
Most significant, were the hunting strategies of some of the extinct hominid species. Archeological evidence showed that Hominids, such as the Neanderthal man used direct hunting methods where they ambushed large animals with man made spears. These hunting methods not only increased their survival risk, but also accelerated the decline of these food sources. As food sources became scarce so did their ability of surviving the environment.
The extinction of Neanderthals could also be attributed their social characteristics. It has been hypothesized that Neanderthal population was less than <100,000. These population were not localized but dispersed in different groups. Thus, there was low genetic diversity among these species. More interesting is how the mass extinction of Neanderthals corresponded with the arrival of H. Sapiens in Europe. The extinction could be attributed to a series of factors such as increased competition or even incidence of new diseases. Genetic evidence gives a different story. The analysis of Neanderthals showed that they shared many genes such as the FOXP2 which is responsible for the development of linguistic skills. Further, the neanderthal genes are still present in most European and Asian population. However, these genes are not present in native Africans.
The case of Neanderthals helps clarify the movement of H. Sapiens from Africa to the rest of the world. The movement is believed to have started between 70,000 – 100,000 years ago. The reasons for the movement can never be established, lest if the death can talk, but can be attributed to a series of factors. One of the key factors for the migration is the drying in the horn of 70,000 years ago that can be observed in some of the sediments derived from the Gulf of Aden. The examination shows that there was a significant climatic shift that saw the deterioration of weather conditions from a warm to a much drier climate.
Now that were have clarified why the Neanderthals are missing let’s try mapping our movements in early history. The first migrations out of Africa were those of the Homo Erectus who were then followed by the later hominids such as the H. heidelbergensis, (assumed to be the ancestors of Denisovans and Neanderthals). The Denisovans dominated the Asian regions. Evidence of Denisovans can be proved through DNA analysis whereby their DNA have been found in Papuan, Micronesian and aboriginal Australians. The Neanderthals, on the other hand, dominated most of the European regions. The migration of H. Erectus is believed to have proceeded through the Levantine corridor and the Horn of Africa. These migrations could account for the H. Erectus fossils observed in Gongwangling, China, Riwat, Pakistan and Ubeidiya, Jordan.
The modern man, H. Sapiens is believed to have emerged between 260 – 350 after the merging of Africa and South Africa Hominids. Expansions were mostly dominated to the to the Southern and central Africa regions. These expansions led to the recording of two major Ancestral clusters, one associated to southern Africa and another associated with Eastern Africa. A theory on expansion to west Africa cannot be clearly formulated owing to the Scarcity of Archeological Evidence.
Migration to the levant and Europe has been dated between 115,000 and 300,000 years ago. These expansions have been hypothesized to have reached China as early as 125,000 years ago. Though archeological evidence is still limited. Nonetheless, expansion of modern human populations were dominant starting 50,000 years Ago. For instance, H sapiens colonized Australia as early as 50, years ago surpassing the boundaries reached by H. Erectus. On the hand, expansion to the American Subcontinent is estimated at 25,000 – 15,000 year ago.
Overall, it is evident that the expansion of Humans was not structured but occurred in phases. However, it is evident that the ancestry modern human can be traced back to East African and Sothern African roots. Thus, if we wanted to understand the first man, then these would be the areas we would look at. But again, there’s that grand dilemma. When can we fully classify a species to be human like enough to be identified as one of us?
Sources
Waltham, T. (2009). Afar triangle: rift valleys and volcanoes over plate divergence. In Geomorphological Landscapes of the World (pp. 183-190). Springer, Dordrecht.
The Satanic Temple: A Liberal’s Journey to Eternal Damnation
You ever had of the most recent region. Well, it is called the satanic Temple. Gross name, Isn’t it? Know what? its rituals also look as bad as it sounds.
It is a non-theistic group based in the U.S with chapters in U.K, Australia and Canada. The groups founder is Lucien Greaves (Not his real name), but damn he also has that eerie look. The religious group uses satanic symbology to promote liberal ideologies of religious freedom, social justice and social equity. In its campaign the group uses various concepts including the use of dark humor, satire, and theatrical ploys.
The group believes that Christians have enjoyed too much religious privilege and that other religions should also enjoy these privileges. Interestingly, the group does not believe a supernatural Satan bad crates a literal image of Satan who they believe is their role model.
Religious basis of the Satanism Movement
The motivators towards seeking for a satanic figure can be traced to the biblical story of Adam and Eve. Satan followers believe that the devil is the liberator, since he gave humanity the gift of knowledge and liberated them from the shackles of mental slavery from the biblical God. The believers also make various biblical inferences for believing in the devil calling him the first entity that was able to stand up to a dictatorial God. They compare themselves to Satan whereby they believe that they exemplify Satan in the current society by speaking against the some of the overlooked worldly injustices.
Other biblical inferences used to support the devil include the story of Abraham, Job, and Jesus in the wilderness where the devil offered solutions to liberate the individuals from the suffering that was induced by GOD.
History
Being a new religion there is no much history to it rather than the fact that it was founded by some Harvard graduates in 2012 retaliating towards the creation of White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, an initiative that supported faith based movement through federal funding. The movement also appears to have borrowed some ideals from the LaVeyan Satanic movement that was founded in 1966 . The headquarters of the movement are at Salem, Massachusetts, Nick named Witch City. A city that is renown for it witch trials during the latter 17th century. The movement received tax exempt status in April 25 2019 meaning that the U.S. had recognized it as a religious and faith group with the freedom for expression and liberty.
Mission Statement
The mission of The Satanic Temple is to encourage benevolence and empathy among all people, reject tyrannical authority, advocate practical common sense, oppose injustice, and undertake noble pursuits.
Tenets
- One should strive to act with compassion and empathy toward all creatures in accordance with reason.
- The struggle for justice is an ongoing and necessary pursuit that should prevail over laws and institutions.
- One’s body is inviolable, subject to one’s own will alone.
- The freedoms of others should be respected, including the freedom to offend. To willfully and unjustly encroach upon the freedoms of another is to forgo one’s own.
- Beliefs should conform to one’s best scientific understanding of the world. One should take care never to distort scientific facts to fit one’s beliefs.
- People are fallible. If one makes a mistake, one should do one’s best to rectify it and resolve any harm that might have been caused.
- Every tenet is a guiding principle designed to inspire nobility in action and thought. The spirit of compassion, wisdom, and justice should always prevail over the written or spoken word.
Key campaigns
Grey faction – a faction fighting against satanic ritual abuse, a concept that was created during the 1980’s the created the fear of Satanists by portray them to be cannibalistic people that sacrificed babies, drank human blood and engaged in child pornography.
Prayer in schools – a groups of Satanists that promote Satanism in schools
Pink mass – an act of vengeance by the group where they performed gay acts over the grave of a Boston minister’s mothers grave. The ceremony was a mockery of the Mormonism believe that you can interact with the afterlife. They insist that the ritual turned the ministers mother gay in the afterlife.
Planned parenthood protests – Insistence on the liberty of mothers to make their decision on abortion
Baphomet statue- A goat headed winged idol that was crowd funded as serves as the religions symbol. Followers of the religion have been pushing for the istallation of the statue at the Arkansas state govenment headquarters.
After school Satan – A school initiative that sought to teach students Satanic thinking.
My thoughts
The new religious movement is a liberal movement that uses symbology to gain significance. The movement does not have strong satanic roots or theistic beliefs. The groups use of irony satire and dark humor has led to it high acceptance rate among young liberals. The relentless fight for homosexual, transgender, abortion, and religious rights has also inspired it popularity among the LGBT community. Moreover, the groups dark themes and public promiscuity have inspired more hippies to join the program. The growth of the religion could also be spurred by the growing number of atheists globally. Since Satanisim is an athiestic religion, it may favor the atheist that would like to oppose abrahmic religious belifs without having to submit to a controlling diety.
The ease of acceptance of the group presents a moral challenge for the society. The group promotes ideals that were traditionally unacceptable such as idol worship, sexual promiscuity (public pornography and nudity), homosexuality, abortion, and transgender practice. Though the leader is not charismatic, their ideals are, such that they can easily recruit people into the movement. Theistic Satanists have mocked the movement indicating that it is just a hippie mockery of satanism. However, the group’s ability to recruit more members proved that they have got the right approach to satanism.
The key concerns of the movement are some of the interpretations that some of them may gain from the movement. For instance, some members may seek a better understanding of satanism and even delve deeper into the principles of the Levayan Church of Satan, which has its own publication “The satanic bible”. Thus, the Satanic temple could be the nursing ground for Satanists who shall soon start stemming out at various places in the world.
Should we be wary of the Satanic Temple? Yes and Yes, for it form the perfect seeding ground for extreme satanic practices. For instance, some factions may develop that do no believe in a literal Satan. but worship a dietic Satan. Some of these faction may use satanism to justify the acts of necrophilia, cannibalism, human blood consumption, public orgies, liturgical parody, consumption of aborted features, and human sacrifice.
What are your thoughts on Satanism?
T.U.M (The Ultimate Machine)
It was another rainy day in New York, Carrel was walking to the facility’s tissue culture laboratory to finish work on the invitro culturing of mammalian cells. It was at the lab entrance that he met with Burrows, who gave him a glance on the quick walk to his work station. The lab was among the latest developments of the university, as institutions sought increase biological research spending. “Have you completed the culture for the spleen and bone marrow tissue.” Burrows inquired. “I had a long night preparing those cultures, though my observations confirm that we can be able to maintain leucocytes in vitro” Carrels replied. “That a great step carrel we should certainly make a publication to the Societe de Biologie, we do not want to miss the next funding deadline.” Burrows replied. “That’s what I was thinking about, however, we need to create a convincing argument to secure sufficient funding. These findings are quite impressive, since we can convince the university that we can develop an immortal cell line. This discovery will make us the pioneers of human anti-aging. We will be remembered as the creators of mortals.” Implied Carell.
Following the discovery, the professors published seven papers to the Societe de Biologie, however all the publications were rejected over the assertion that there was an error in the interpretation of the results. The main limitation to the publication was the inability of the scientists to prove that the cells were initially cell dividing or if they were ultilizing the cultured media or dead cells during division. Despite their failures, the two scientists had just created a new field of science that would dominate scientific research for the following centuries, the quest for human immortality. Various models were developed over the years but even the best embryonic models of the 1970s would not survive independently past a thirty-week calendar.
The basis of the immortalized cell line is that the multicellular cells have developed a mutation that allows them to evade cellular senescence by undergoing continuous cell division. The concept of the immortalized cell was applied in cloning where it allowed for indefinite propagation of target cells. Following various animal trials, the first human cloning experiment was implemented in the year 2037. After various ethical battles, Alfred Redman a patient who lost both limbs during the 2025 U.S-Iran was attached with limbs derived from therapeutic cloning. However, the achievement was not highly celebrated as neural scientists were advancing in electrical based implants that were funded by the 2045 initiative. On 13 august 2041 Alfred Redman reported feeling pain in his lower limbs. The following X-ray scan revealed that Redman had developed a cancerous growth due to mutation initiating from the inserted limbs. Two Weeks later the tumor growths were so prominent that he could barely move from his bed. Redman passed on in 5 October 2041, and that spelled the decline for therapeutic clonal implants. In fact, a consensus was reached by the U.S where any genetic life extension strategies were banned from application. A loophole that the 2045 initiative utilized effectively.
When Dmitri devoted towards the creation of an immortal human by 2045. Many laughed at him deeming him as a spoilt rich man who feels in scientific fiction to accomplish his goals. I did not make millions by just sitting down and waiting for ideas. I created myself from scratch and even in the future many people will reap from what I have created today. The year 2030 was the year prophesied by Moore. During this year the last Bitcoin had been mines and cryptocurrency prices were off the roof. Not to say the scams that billions of earthlings had fallen into by buying virtually nothing for exorbitant prices. The suicide rate was already on the rise as the digital revolution yielded more bankruptcies than tycoons. There were very few positives to pick in the year except for the French who had just secured their third world cup. The Veteran “Julian the Ninja” as they called him was already being praised by international legends Messi and Ronaldo. Their coach Viera had was among the few managers that secured the cup as manager and player in history. However, despite these feats the world was at tension of the war that was about to emanate between the gulf and the western world. The world economy was deeply dependents on the Chinese workforce while the U.S dominated industrial production. The Chinese growth as an economic power was on the rise as most of the resources generated from third world countries was channeled towards paying the ever-increasing eastern debt. These are the factors that catalyst the need for intelligent machines. For the first time in history, the American billionaires came together to save the west from eastern domination.
Enlightenment and Delusion: The extreme scales of human beliefs and notions on reality
Summary
Who are the enlightened?
Who are the deluded?
How thin is the line between these two concepts?
Are people who believe in the mystics deluded?
The podcast notes are in the previous blogpost
Enlightenment and Delusion
The extreme scales of human beliefs and notions on reality
Definition
Emmanuel Kant
“Enlightenment is man’s emergence from his self-incurred immaturity”
Where immaturity is self-inflicted following an individuals lack of courage and use one intellect or reason. Kant believed that most people are not enlightened since they cannot take away their immaturity yokes that have obliged them to institutions of authority and religious institutions.
Age of enlightenment
Philosophical movement that dominated Europe in the 17th and 18th century where English French and French writers believed the world could be changed through rational thinking. These ideals were key to the American and French revolutionists.
Some of the significant contributors of the era include:
Francis Bacon (English)– Presumed as the father of empiricism
Thomas Hobbes (English) – An empiricist with interesting ideals
Such as the remaining of obscure remnants of sensations after the sensory event and that understanding was some form of imagination.
René Descartes (French) – Mathematician and Metaphysis who developed various algebraic geometry techniques, snell’s-law of refraction, and the naturalistic account for the formation of earth and planets. Created a new though process for the mind body problem where an immaterial mind is connected to the brain.
Galileo Galilei – Astronomist who promoted the Copernican theory also disputed Aristotle’s theory on the four elements of earth, air, water and fire. Most significant is his 1633 summoning to Rome and heretic charge.
Johannes Kepler – Astronomist who devised the laws of planetary motion
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz – known as the last universal genius. Criticized Descartes view of the human body such as corporeal substance such as the argument that matter is infinitely indivisible.
Optimist Principle of the best – The current world is God best possible
Principle of contradiction – A proposition cannot be true and false at the same time
Principle of the Identity of Indiscernible – it is not true that two substances can resemble each other completely and differ only in number
Principle of continuity – no motion can emanate from a position of complete rest.
Differential and integral calculus
Pioneer of the modern calculator
Refined the modern binary system
Key ideas
Pursuit for happiness – push for political freedom, liberty and access to material opportunities (Philosophical)
- The pleasant life – enjoying every moment
- The good life – identifying our skills and talents and using them to enrich our lives
- The meaningful life – using our talents for the better good.
(Psychological)
Sovereignty of reason – The insistence on the use of rationalization and logic in thinking and decision making.
Empiricism – The belief that knowledge should only come from sensory experiences
Spiritual enlightenment
The definitions of enlightenment vary depending on the respective religion
In buddhism, the enlightened person is considered one that has reached a state of nirvana. In this state, one is able to eliminate all negative emotions and physical desires. However, the understanding has been altered in western literature where the believe that true enlightment comes from self-realization.
In Hinduism enlightenment is achieved by recognizing the self through training, knowledge of the scriptures, the renunciation of worldly desires. In Hinduism, one can be able to achieve full enlighten by reaching the brahman. The brahman in this case refers to the fundamental reality of the universe that explains all the diversity found in the universe.
In Jainism, enlightenment is achieved when one has concurred all his/her internal enemies and released himself or herself from the bondage of birth and death. The main tenets of Jainism involve non-violence, truth, non-possessiveness, honesty, and sexual consistence.
In Abrahamic religions, enlightenment can be explained through the principle of divine illumination (Numinous experiences). In this case, one believed that his or her actions are guided by a divine grace. The concepts can be seen in the saved Christian, the Sufi Muslim and mystic tradition of Kaballah in Judaism.
The fourth way
Set of teachings by George Gurdjieff a respected spiritual leader of the 20th century
Believed that the currently religious teaching have lost touch with their ancient tenets and were retrogressing to instances of mass psychosis. He argued that the human has ignored some of embodiments such as the mind, body, and emotion leading to an imbalanced state. Gurdjieff believed that the enlightened or woke human is one who has achieve self mastery by being able to control emotions, physical desires, and mental habits and abilities.
Basis of the teachings
Conscious labor – The ability to perform an act efficiently without exhibiting absentmindedness.
Intentional suffering – ability to fight automatism incidences such as material desires, food, daydreaming
Self-observation – the ability to reflect on one’s self without passing judgement for the actions
Need for effort – Ability of one to push to the limit even after exhaustion
Ability to deal with one’s contradictory needs
Great Awakenings
Describes periods in American History where ideology of Christianity were being spread against a high growth of secular rationalism.
The great awakenings used fear by referring to human beings as sinners who had made God angry. The key ideas of the awakenings include:
All beings are sinners
The wages of sin is going to hell
People have an emotional connection to God
In the second a wakening there was a surge in the number of churches in the country
The awakenings impacted the society by increasing the number of denominations, and encouraging nationalism and rights ideologies.
Delusion
A delusion is a belief that is clearly false and exhibits an abnormality in a person’s thought process. Thus, one is deluded he or she will hold firmly to the believes despite contradictory evidence.
Delusions are quite difficult to distinguish from overvalued ideas, which constitute some of the unreasonable ideas that someone holds.
Can be in the form of psychotic disorders
- Bipolar disorder
- Depressive disorder
- Delirium
- Dementia
Forms of belief
Normal belief
over-valued idea
delusion-like idea – gambling- the constant belief on one’s luck despite one operating against the house’s/bookmarker odds.
Primary delusion – it is unmediated by thought
- ununderstood
Factors determining delusional severity
- Conviction: The degree to which the patient is convinced of the reality of the delusional beliefs.
- Extension: The degree to which the delusional belief involves areas of the patient’s life.
- Bizarreness: The degree to which the delusional belief departs from culturally determined consensual reality.
- Disorganization: The degree to which the delusional beliefs are internally consistent, logical and systematized.
- Pressure: The degree to which the patient is preoccupied and concerned with the expressed delusional beliefs.
- Affective response: The degree to which the patient’s emotions are involved with such beliefs.
- Deviant behavior resulting from delusions: Patients sometimes, but not always, act upon their delusions.
Are religious beliefs a over-valued-idea/ delusion like idea?
Richard Dawkins (Famous atheist author) on religious delusion
His book the GOD delusion has sold over three million copies annually
Call’s religion the root of all evil for creating mass events such as:
Suicide bombers
Witch hunters
Persecution of Jews
Honored killings
Fraudulent televangelists
Also quotes Douglas Adams quote “Is it possible to enjoy a beautiful garden without believing there are underlying fairies”
One of Dawkins key limitations is the dependence on the Darwinist model to explain existence. Moreover, he is quite apathetic to the metaphysical.
Conclusion
Enlightenment has been explained both as understanding of the physical world, the self, and the ability to use ration to understand the world. Delusion on the other hand is a form of belief system where one is at disconnect with the current world. Delusion can occur on various scales and levels. Enlightenment and delusion can cross where one has a strong opinion of his or her beliefs. In such a case, the notion grows into a overvalued idea about one’s belief systems.
Sources
Hubert Hermans & Frans Meijers (2019) The pursuit of happiness, British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 47:2, 139-142, DOI: 10.1080/03069885.2019.1612515
Duncan, Stewart, “Thomas Hobbes”, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2021 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = <https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/spr2021/entries/hobbes/>.
Hatfield, Gary, “René Descartes”, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2018 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = <https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/sum2018/entries/descartes/>.
David Love, Who was Johannes Kepler?, Astronomy & Geophysics, Volume 50, Issue 6, December 2009, Pages 6.15–6.17, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-4004.2009.50615.x
Machamer, Peter, “Galileo Galilei”, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2017 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = <https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/sum2017/entries/galileo/>.
Kiran, C., & Chaudhury, S. (2009). Understanding delusions. Industrial psychiatry journal, 18(1), 3–18. https://doi.org/10.4103/0972-6748.57851
The Tjay pod 