Many of the ideas expressed here regarding organized religions and their various myths and dogma as well as their various insupportable deities will be considered by most readers "reductionist", counter-productive, anti-humanistic, even degenerate. To more than a few, they'll be thought of as "the work of the devil"; looked upon as the misbegotten beliefs of a cynical, obsessive, murderous, fanatical, mentally unstable Nazi heretic (basically, the wording my wife used in her first critique of this endeavor). Please be aware that I'm not advocating the overthrow, violently or otherwise, of any organized religion, denomination, sect or cult. I'm not advocating the overthrow of anything (I'm not, after all, the FBI, the CIA, the ATF or the Republican Guard). After reading these essays, there are some who have told me and others who will tell me that I miss the whole point of humanity and existence generally, and particularly my own, in believing as I do. Despite this possibility, however, I have no doubt about the elevation of my spiritual and moral outlook on life as a result of my ultimate acquiescence to natural reason.

The vast majority of mankind is, of course, at least familiar with the concepts, teachings and philosophy of one or another of the major organized religions of the world. Most of this majority adhere to and, to one degree or another, agree with the basic, moralistic tenets of these religions as a way to realize the innate or instinctual need by our species for spiritual appreciation and "meaning" in the chaos of life. These dissertations following are not meant as a threat to the spirituality, faith or belief of any individual no matter what his or her religious affiliation. Cynical? They may be, but most of the ideas expressed herein have been around in one form or another since the first ape/human began to wonder "Why am I here?" Also, keep in mind that one man's cynic is another man's realist with circumstances, nurturing, intelligence and education being the engines of differentiation.

The singular intellect of humankind is predicated on the facts of imagination, free will and a unique realization of the inevitability of death. The concepts, theologies and philosophies of the traditional organized religions of the modern world are one result of this imagination, free will and realization.

The alternative arguments presented here (contentiously, and often crudely) are another result of individual imagination and free will. These alternatives are also known as "free-thinking", a particularly nasty phrase to the passionately faithful, most of whom, obviously, have no idea of the positive intentions (as opposed to nihilistic rage) with which I undertook this project. The a priori rejection by the fanatically religious (and even the moderately devout) of the ideas presented here is just one aspect of the narrow-mindedness fostered by the dogma of organized religion. I realize that most readers of this missive will argue that scripture, theological history, and more than a few thinkers of far more advanced intellect and education than myself are an overwhelming counterpoint to these ideas. To that, I can only answer: look around you, people, and tell me that, after 2000 years of modern religion and untold eons of "pagan" religion, mankind has elevated itself to the point where any allegedly perfect deity would be proud to call it "creation"! No matter what your beliefs about the traditional notions of "god", one thing you must concede: had there ever been a "higher power", whether known as god, yaweh, allah, Buddah, Vishnu or satan, based on the historic state of human existence, it would have had to have been a piss-poor manager.

One truth I want to make absolutely crystal clear in undertaking this project: the leaders of and apologists for ALL faiths, denominations, sects, and cults are as intolerant and as single-minded as I will be considered here. One has only to read a few news articles and editorial columns a week to see just what I mean. Lack of religious commitment (or satan worship or atheism or agnosticism, depending on the source of the theory) by mankind, especially in the Western nations, is blamed for every ill ever suffered by human society, especially lately in the wake of the rash of murderous behavior by schoolchildren, not to mention the political platform du jour that would attempt to re-invent our nation as a christian theocracy. We have a vast majority of people here in the United States who maintain that religious doctrine and faith in the deity of choice is a harmless and popular, (if not particularly intellectualized) method of attempting to obtain moral happiness, contentment, fulfillment, spiritual peace and enjoyment of life. Yet, I wonder how warmly catholic women, gays, minor faiths and the families of six million dead Jews feel the embrace of christianity! I wonder how warmly the coptic christians of Egypt feel the embrace of islam! I wonder how warmly devout christians feel the embrace of buddhism! I wonder how warmly islamists feel the embrace of Vishnu (hinduism)! I wonder how warmly the protestants and catholics of Northern Ireland feel the embrace of each other's denominations! I wonder how warmly Palestinians on the West Bank in Israel feel the embrace of judaism! Couldn't we instead blame the state of our world on the intolerance of religion? To all those who maintain a casual respect for superstitious deities and an uninformed and dictated adherence to religious dogma in the assumption that it's harmless, relieves them of the responsibility of reason and that it "makes me feel good", I ask you to please take an occasional moment to reflect upon the historically mortal prejudices and the needless slaughter necessitated in the perpetuation of your "comfortable" creeds. Take a moment also to reflect on your unquestioning adherence to the dictates of your "faith" and ask yourself if you'd rather be complacent and ignorant or comfortable and truthful.

How can we as intelligent beings continue to have faith in the superstitious concept which has provided a means and a focus for hatred not only lately but through the past few millennia? Whether the object of worship is a "benevolent" deity (god?) or an "evil" deity (satan?), it's obvious that unreasoned or programmed perceptions influence individual disappointment and disillusionment which often drive the frustrated to violence. As one "small" example, an all-too-human acceptance of theistic doctrine seems to have provided the catalyst for the disappointment and disillusionment which drove a frustrated John Salvi to kill two workers and to wound several others at two separate Planned Parenthood Clinics in Boston a number of years ago. Salvi confessed to committing his actions "in the name of Jesus" thereby adding to the unconscionably lengthy list of deistically inspired acts involving intolerance, hatred and violence. The lies, deceptions and contradictions inherent in our judeo-christian culture here in the U.S. has apparently convinced way too many people that belief in unproveable deities is the only means by which they can justify their lives; that an illogical infatuation with divinities will improve life around them; that the obvious chaos of the universe, with its attendant evil and tragedy is a mere glitch in "gods plan". As for most of the victims of violence, religiously inspired or otherwise, faith and worship are called upon by the survivors of hateful violence essentially because the vast majority have been programmed from infancy to think of their grief, loss and disillusionment as "gods will". Unfortunately, this same programming also leads a disturbingly large segment of mankind to perpetrate hatred, to initiate violence, to needlessly contribute to the chaos we all, no matter our faith, must endure. These are difficult things for me to understand and, therefore, one of the motivating factors behind these essays.**

Apparently, very few of us have had the intelligence to equate the tragedies and triumphs of life with the obvious chaos of existence. Since so very few of us seem to want to acknowledge this chaos as fact, the promoters and apologists for the judeo-christian ethic as well as all others, need scapegoats and finger-pointing to explain 10,000 years of natural and instinctual hatred, intolerance and discontent, one major cause of which mankind seems determined to ignore. Unfortunately folks, in our chaotic universe, there is such a thing as religious intolerance and needless to say, this intolerance will remain unmitigated at least until societal, intellectual and cultural values change. While I'm often accused of irremedial cynicism, I am hopeful that humanity will eventually become much more adaptable to cultural improvement leading, thereby, to a measurable lessening of earthly chaos. I anticipate this improvement to be an evolved and realistic result of our ultimate condemnation of the mortally created, unrealized deistic dogma historically mired in misinformation, myth and superstition. The influences of various cultural values upon a society, either fuels or suppresses hatred. Deistic religion will often be a catalyst or an object of hatred but will rarely mitigate hatred. Life is, after all, about survival, procreation and perpetuation amongst chaos. Faith, compassion, sacredness and superstition are merely mortal adjuncts to natural processes.

Another answer to those who wish to argue about the ideas expressed here from the point of view of the indispensability of theology and the various deities common to our modern existence is the fact that, whether right or wrong (and who's to REALLY say?), the beliefs adhered to and propagated by the "faithful" are the result of the unremitting brainwashing inherent in organized religion...to the (prayed for) exclusion of all reason! It is, after all, very difficult to ignore and outreason more than fifteen hundred years of tradition, dogma, myth and superstition even when very few of us understand exactly what most of it means. On the other hand, right or wrong, based on logic and reason, I've come to my own conclusions as regards religion, the idea of a "supreme being", and the meaning (or meaninglessness) of life. As a result, I have found that I could never have faith in, nor believe in any of the traditional organized religions or their multitudes of deities again even if I wanted to. I know too much about their fallibility; I've reasoned my way far above and beyond them. Truthfully, it seems obvious that the perpetuation of "gods" and religions is based almost exclusively on our elders' feelings of obligation to subject us to a version of deistic propaganda when we were children essentially for the sole and simple reason that their elders felt the same misplaced sense of obligation to shove this propaganda down their throats when they were children.

An example of the incredible convolutions we all experience (albeit, some more reasonably than others) in dealing with the question of religion and the existence of "god" is alcoholism, a problem of some familiarity to many, if not most of you who may be reading this. Is a person who suffers this "illness" (or addiction) a better person for turning to whatever the deity of their faith as a means of relieving him- or herself of this problem (through Alcoholics Anonymous, for instance)? Considering this "faith", is it not, in some measure, the fault of the alleged deity that they were afflicted with the problem in the first place? Is it the alcoholics' fault, or simply a malfunction of natural processes that he/she ignored the supposed influences and preference of the deity in creating the problem for him/herself? Am I, or anyone with the same basic beliefs as myself, any less deserving of life, spirituality, respect or free-will because I/we don't happen to believe in this deity or any deity at all, do not have a problem with alcohol and have, therefore, one less reason to assume the dogmatic validity of any allegedly "benevolent" deity to relieve myself/ourselves of a problem which I/we have managed, through good sense, to avoid? (See "Confusion, Addiction, Reformation and Just Plain Crazy")

That said, the following Manifesto is a heartfelt and absolute denial and disavowal of organized religion as I perceive it. Any discussion of the ideals presented here are intended for idle conversation only. This is also meant to be read with an open mind. All who read this (assuming they read the whole thing) must realize that they have their ideas, I have mine. If you want me to understand your ideas in any meaningful way, you can write your own "manifesto" in your own words explaining your own reasons for your beliefs without quoting the generic, contradictory and essentially incomprehensible rhetoric of the "bible", the "scriptures", the "koran", the "torah" or any other purported "word of god" and I'll be happy to read it (but not necessarily agree with it). I'm seeking gut reactions to religion and the idea of deities, not stale dogma dressed as "learned discussion".

The Manifesto is a product of my education, upbringing, experience (religious and otherwise), frustrations and general disillusionment with organized religion in my quest for meaning or purpose to life in the universe generally and on this planet in particular. And I don't mean merely my own life, but all life from its origins.

The Manifesto is a reflection of fifty years of life in or influenced by these United States. Again, it is not intended as a threat to any individual religion, philosophy or race of people. It is intended to be a strong difference of opinion with the majority of traditional religious and deistic propaganda throughout the world. It is intended as a clarification and edification concerning my PERSONAL philosophy and beliefs. It's just the way I think and one can agree or disagree as one wishes, just don't think these views can be changed without a fight. I'm not anticipating any change in your perceptions of religion, spirituality or faith, don't anticipate a change in mine. If, however, the arguments presented here should, by chance, change anyone's principles, ideals, philosophy or viewpoint regarding deistic religion or anything else, such change will be the result of logical thinking rather than intent.

All quotations and facts (at least those statements presented as facts) included in the Manifesto and elsewhere in these essays are based on my own interpretation and the inordinate amount of reading I've done throughout my life covering a wide variety of topics. I haven't spent a whole lot of time confirming any facts or quotations lately but I'm pretty sure most of them are accurate.

Of course, there are a few individuals out there who do agree with most of the ideas which I present here and, for that, I am grateful. This semi-free-thinking business can be lonely (not, however, as lonely as I once thought).

Before you tell me I'm full of shit, consider the following quote from one of the great American writers of our time. Although as I understand it, the author was, at least at the time of her writing, a devout religionist, I forgive her that since she has expressed perfectly and economically the reasoning behind these essays:

Page written by: Eric D. Tallberg

October, 1998