I have been thinking about fear a lot lately. It has become a reoccurring feature of my day to day life. I have read a lot about different types of fear and phobias, entire conversations have shared those things that make our skin crawl. I’m not entirely sure why this issue has reared its ugly head so regularly in recent weeks but it strikes me as important.
There’s this spider at work that is reportedly quite large, living somewhere behind the refrigerator. I’m not scared by spiders; even the venomous species instil a cautious respect in me rather than fear. For the best part of my life I have been scared of wasps, irrationally so. However, I seem to be growing out of it or something similar because I can now sit with one flying around me, I can catch them in a glass and release them; all of which I see as a more constructive response than fleeing in terror and squealing like a child. Anyway, this spider seems to have some people at work worried.
All of this has asked me to consider what I am afraid of and the more I think about it, the less straightforward things become. To the best of my knowledge I am not afraid of any particular or popular archetypal nemesis; spiders, heights, the dark, etc. I’m not afraid of being physically attacked or emotionally hurt. After a lot of thought I think I am scared of two things; myself and other people. I think what worries me most is my potential; my inability to meet my potential and do great things, and my potential to be not so great. Everyone has it in them to be angry, resentful, hateful, jealous and cruel. I am not proud enough to deny I have in my lifetime been each and every one of these things.
Arguably the opposite of feeling scared is to feel brave. I don’t remember where I heard this said, perhaps a particularly cliché episode of C.S.I. or something similar; “bravery is not the absence of fear, but the mastering of it”. To be brave is to know your fear and feel it every single day like an itch and yet to live your life as if it wasn’t there. To be brave is to make decisions completely unhindered by your fears or concerns and without a second thought.
My point, if I have one is this: I know what I’m afraid of and I know what I have to do or be to overcome them. But I’ve spoken to so many people about their fears recently that I wonder what they will do? Set aside the spiders, wasps and heights; what are we really afraid of, deep down?
The Pope has finished his visit to Britain and has now returned to Rome
The first thing I need to say is how much I respect an individuals right to believe whatever they choose (as individuals) to believe. I think faith can be very important; it provides comfort and happiness to many people around the world. I would never mock anyone for their faith. In return I insist that no one judge me on my own brand of atheism.
So what is my problem with the Pope? In my opinion he can be compared quite comfortably and without exaggeration as the Papal George Bush. His ability to vocalise nonsense and bigotry is formidable. This is the man who says that the AIDS epidemic cannot be combated by using condoms.
“[AIDS] cannot be overcome by distributing condoms – it only increases the problem”[1]
This dangerous attitude will condemn many people to suffer and die from HIV and AIDS in Africa and across the developing world. Some of you out there might think that I’m exaggerating and ask if it is not down to every individual to use common sense. However, to ask that question is to under estimate the sway and control that the Vatican
Thou shall not use condoms, thou shall not abort a pregnancy, thou shall not be gay; are these teachings any different from other religious, fundamentalist beliefs? I do not hesitate to say they are not. How then can we justify a State Visit for this fundamentalist Pope to a multi cultural and liberal society that hasn’t been a Catholic nation for centuries? Just in case you were not aware, because his was a State Visit it was inevitably paid for by the taxpayer.
That’s right, YOU paid for his visit to Britain Britain Britain
Let us not forget the role secularist attitudes in the Catholic Church played in the discrimination of Jews before and during the 1940’s. Let us not forget that Hitler was a self proclaimed Catholic and on numerous occasions claimed to be doing the work of God. I don't think the Vatican should be allowed to erase its historical ties with the Nazi Party so easily. Particularly when they are so willing to lay blame on the atheistic doorstep. There are some criticisms of the Pope because of his association with Hitler Youth in the 1940’s. I think this has to be over looked in any fair criticism. Many ordinary German boys were conscripted into the Hitler Youth and Party membership. There was no realistic option of refusal. It has been argued that the ordinary German public and in fact most of the soldiers didn’t really know about the Holocaust, or at least didn’t know everything.
None the less it was an ill advised comparison, accusation and complete lie. This is why I compare him to the former U.S. President George Bush. His ability to utter P.R. gaffs is quite considerable but where Bush was often a source of comedy, the Pope is a source of controversy, deception and falsehood.
So where do we go from here? Shall we expect a State Visit by the Ayatollah of Iran in the near future? Anyone who can find an objection to his visit that can not be applied to the Catholic Pope might win a prize. Surely it is time to be brave and cast of the shackles of institutional religions? Every individual can be free to believe in Jesus, or the Prophet, or Buddha, or not at all. What we don’t need is an institution that is in no way representative of any God, let alone any free society. If God exists, I doubt he needs a middle man on earth.
Every single one of us is a miracle. Take that how you will; spiritually, statistically, philosophically, logically. As it should be; the choice is yours.
Bravo! An articulate, intelligent and reflective grumble Warner, I agree with you wholeheartedly. I award you a shiny sixpence. Lets see some more...
ReplyDeleteBrilliant. Really enjoying your blogs, Sharon
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