This picture from my non-religious perspective

This is a shot I captured whilst walking through Waverley Cemetery on the Bondi to Coogee walk that I recently posted about here. It is a stunning walk, even the graveyard was fairly picturesque.

The picture below was inspired by my friend that stood in this spot to get the great effect. I liked his image that much I had to do the same.

For me, this photo sums up the reasons why I am not religious. For some, this photo is a sign. A message from a higher power that has incorporated two things in life into one glorious view for us to marvel at. A person no longer with us that has been glorified by God at this moment when people are present to witness it. I didn’t look at the gravestone, however I can imagine this moment of spirituality for some would increase tenfold if it was a person with the same name or birthday. We seek patterns and coincidence and love when they occur.

But of course by taking a step to the left or right this picture would not be the same. It would simply be a gravestone with the sun behind it. The same if I held the camera higher or lower. For this shot to work, I had to make it work.

This does not mean that I don’t appreciate the view. This may be my favourite photo I have taken on this recent trip and I often look at it. I love it and not being religious doesn’t take my appreciation away from it. But it does help me to understand that in life we look for such patterns and apply a meaning because it is fun. It makes us feel good and telling ourselves that there is a logical and non spiritual reason why this often occurs is nowhere near as enjoyable as putting it down to something unexplained or wiser than us.

I am not very good at it, but I enjoy trying to differentiate between what I think is true because is it logical and what I think is true because it feels good. We are a very emotional species that likes hearing the truth when it makes us feel warm inside. If it makes us feel crappy, the truth is an inconvenience and this is substituted for a more pleasant alternative. Of course this is my personal belief but this is exactly what I was doing when I was a younger, more religious person. I see it as a blessing and a curse having OCD that I obsess over things and if I think I am believing something contrary to evidence because it feels good, the obsessive part of my brain won’t let it go until I find a rational reason as to why I believe it. If I cannot find one, I stop believing it. This is why I am the person I am now, with my current blog and opinions on religion and atheism. I used to be a lot more direct and not as compassionate in my opinions on religion once I had left it, however I know what it is like to feel rock bottom and having at least something to cling to and this has helped me to transform my blog into a one that anyone of any faith or opinion can reach out too and speak openly on. Of course some religious people are dicks, as any human is capable of being, so my rule is if you are nice to me I will be with you also. The golden rule if you will.

But yes, back to the photo. I think it is good to see this photo with logic, as with life itself. Not to just see it and assume something that reaffirms a belief but break it down and ask questions, maybe contradicting your own opinion. Yes it is good positioning, however why does the cross have to be at an angle for it to work? Why does it have to be this gravestone? Why a graveyard where the person has already passed and the sadness already suffered? To ask questions feels like breaking the shackles for me and liberates us of the thoughts that we have always been told to think, and opens up doors we feel uneasy about opening. Sometimes in life we are so grateful to open these doors and when looking back, do not want to imagine a life in which we didn’t.

 

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Happy blogging,

Sam

Realisation

Think about it. We read fiction to escape a mundane reality that in reality, is not that mundane.

Imagine seeing this sunset for the first time with no prior knowledge of the sun at all, seemingly sandwiched between these two trees. How far away would you estimate it to be? Is it right there between the trees? Is it directly above the small boat below? How would you possibly know without trying impossibly to reach it without ever getting there?

To know that it is in fact 93 million miles away is incredible. It is no longer a mystery and this makes it even more amazing. The fact that despite this vast distance, the sun still manages to dwarf the small boat that is close enough for me to swim to deserves so much recognition. I guess because it is all we have ever know we so rarely take a moment to watch it disappear behind the ocean.

We don’t need to hide from reality to enjoy life, some things in life are much more mind blowing and magical the more we get to know about them. I am sure there are plenty more unimaginable facts out there waiting for us once we put our books down to a much more exciting reality.

There must be a reason why we are so obsessed with reality and chat shows, soap operas and talk show DNA tests. To be so entertained by watching people live normal lives, where is the fun in that? Do what you want of course, just make sure your time is spent wisely and know that this is a better time than ever to learn about the truth so many humans have sought and sometimes been killed for, for centuries.

Solace.

It is a shame that as I grow older, I feel safer in areas away from people. This should not be the case, it has always been safer to hunt in packs. Now, the busier the venue, the more uncomfortable I feel.

Shortly after hearing of last nights attack my mum called, as is often expected after such an event. She told me she was about to call my sister and wish her luck as she is going climbing today… and to stay safe. I reassured her that I am much more content with my sister climbing a mountain than walking through a city.

How perceptions change. I do not know if this is a sign of the times or my realisation that humans can be pretty awful, more than I knew in the bubble we all grow up in as children. Nature can be brutal, but it isn’t brutal to intentionally cause suffering. This is why I cannot hate a violent storm or natural disaster, as tragic as they may be I take comfort in knowing that it wasn’t due to evil. Lightening doesn’t strike to scare you and the rain doesn’t pour to bring you down. It may scare you and bring you down but without the sadistic intention. Some people may believe such events are repercussions for human decisions, not that I have time for those people.

I am having a 24-hour withdrawal from social media today and all of the opinions, claims and blames that will no doubt be forming after yesterdays news.

Today, give me a beach, calm waters and a dog and I am happy.

Imagine

Times change. Buildings rise and empires fall. As inconvenient this must be for those at such times of change, imagine if we didn’t allow any adaption. As I grab a sandwich and coffee I’m staring at this view out of the window and pondering… What would our place in this world be like?

We wouldn’t marvel at architecture of the past. We wouldn’t strain our necks gazing to the roofs of high rises penetrating the rain clouds above and out of view. We wouldn’t appreciate classical music and understand what paths were carved leading to the radio hits of today. We would simply be in an era like every other. The same, changeless era. We would share so much with past generations that they would be of no interest. I love change and thinking in new ways, even if people don’t want that kind of thinking in our society. Should I care if my opinions aren’t welcomed?

Did musicians care when introducing the electric guitar despite the controversy? Did Martin Luther King care when making his voice heard in an age of segregation? It’s not my duty to care, it is the duty of the opposition to have the willingness to listen to new perspectives and consider the possibility that, just maybe, their beliefs may crumble to dust like the buildings of past, hostage to time. I’m not saying that I am the one creating the new, I’m simply excited and not offended that something new is constantly around the corner. 

Misdirection

It says the viewpoint, yeah. But is it?

Is it a viewpoint that they have decided based on their own perceptions? A viewpoint that they deem safer and good enough for you, sacrificing the opportunity for greater views or increased perspective?

Is it a viewpoint that has been preached to everyone, distorting your view behind the masses whilst a deceitful minority look the other way? I worry so much of life is wasted in this way. We rely on others around us to teach us the way, which has been taught to them by others. We are all mislead in life, sometimes by people with a hidden agenda, at times by people that didn’t know better from people with a hidden agenda.

Viewpoints and directions are good, just be aware that there is always the possibility that more is being missed in the process, whether it be truth, beauty or greater satisfaction in whatever took you there in the first place.

Rose tinted sunglasses

Isn’t our sun incredible when it isn’t trying to kill us to death? Bright enough to blind us and hot enough fry an egg. We are always quick to praise ‘perfect’ nature, despite doing so much to avoid it from finishing us off…

I would much prefer honesty when talking about nature. Why do we constantly hear that our world is too perfect to not have a creator, told by people wearing glasses and hearing aids, spending a shit tonne of time using air conditioning and sun cream? Nature is awesome but it can be a right little shit at times.

Images taken in Langkawi, Malaysia and Palo Duro Canyon, TX.

FYIWDWYTM

Malaysia, my first time in South-East Asia. My first time in Asia at all, in fact. Stepping foot in Kuala Lumpur for the first time I wanted to explore and receive some great recommendations from locals, even more so in Langkawi as I felt I would have limited contact with people on the small Island. Using Tinder as my local guide, (that’s right, Tinder) I found some great spots… it isn’t simply an app for casual sex and overly optimistic romantics looking for love. I love using the app when I am abroad, there is no quicker way to chat to people in a certain area. Who else in history has had this opportunity?!

Do religious people use Tinder? I don’t know. There is a beauty in finding alternate uses for such things, a more innocent use if you will. A life hack that my parents couldn’t have had access to, my grandparents would have read about it in science fiction. One place I was recommended by a pretty Malaysian girl that I didn’t ever meet (I didn’t meet anyone on Tinder during the trip, just for the record) was the Ruang Bar. I had no idea where it was until I sat on a bench facing a makeshift bar made out of wooden crates. It was only when my friend and I placed our cocktails onto the drinks menu that I realised where I was. The bar I was told about! A very fun night unfolded.

Some people avoid alcohol not because of health reasons, not because they dislike it either, but because they have been told to avoid it in preparation for judgement in an afterlife.

Thank goodness I am not one of those people.