Altruism and Motifs

First, I would like to apologize for the gap in postings. Second, I would like to discuss, or expound on, the ideas of morality, religion, and altruism. 

So, I am sorry this post is late, I realize it is hard to make a blog your favorite when the blogger only posts once a week. In my defense, I have been rather busy of late; what with school, frisbee, looking at bicycles on the internet, getting fucked up and my other daily/weekly activities (and I started rock climbing!), blogging gets unjustly pushed to the pack burner. No longer, my friends!

Now to my second topic: recently, I have found myself discussing and pondering the idea of morality and the role of religion in society(as a whole, and its development). My view point is from existential, god does not exist, enjoyed Ismael and Time, Sex, Power a lot, currently reading Nietzsche, biology, etc, etc corner of thought. I have the idea that religion is, in fact, an opiate of the masses, and that we use it, because it is very easy, as a way to cope with existence, death, and purpose, among other things. I found myself, without thinking of Marx(as I have above) relating religion to alcohol; that without it, people would be forced to think and delve and reason out things. And yes, many would come to grave nihilistic conclusions, maybe everyone. Conclusion such as: there is no purpose to life, we are meaningless, and so on. Would man have gone extinct via suicide without religion as a purpose/comfort? Was religion an evolutionary adaptation to cope with our massive brains and their ability to reason and conjecture?  

A second facet of this is the idea of morality with or without religion. There is the popular idea that it is impossible to have morality without religion. But I say this is false, and I think if anyone were to critically think about it, they too would find it to be false. If it were not, were does altruism come from? Certainly religion(I am using Christian ideals a la the ten commandments, but I think all popular religions are applicable) brings about good deeds, but most definitely not all of them, will a normal non-religious, not even agnostic person, act with careless abandon on a quest to satisfy their physical wants? because their is no higher power to judge them? I havn't.  Conversely, does this mean a religious person will not? Or that even the most devout is more moral?

And this brings about the people that lead lives of suffering and hardship because they believe there is a reward waiting for them in the after life. The misfortunate people that sacrifice all of the worldly for an after death promise. To me this is a tragedy.

Well, I've run out of steam but this is what has been going through my head, along with bike frames which I've been researching a lot, as I'll be building up a new fixed gear. Please hold all hipster related jokes and quips. 

Also, this friday there is a poetry slam at the underground that I will be competing at, so come support if you want! It's at 8pm. and I guaranty you won't be disappointed. By me. Killing it on the mic. And after is a screening of an old slam: Sherman Alexie v. Saul Williams. Sick.

You might see these guys: