What we (I) gained by declaring myself an atheist.

What we (I) gained by declaring myself an atheist.  Last day I list a few thing that I lost. Today I will elaborate on the much larger list of the gains. This is not only number of things but the size of some of those things.

First cutting down to reality, and building up from first principals allows a great deal of clarity. People can believe whatever they like but if it is not real, they are simply living a delusion. There is no point in entering their delusion to debate them; that is simply a waste of time. The bad part is that they are educating their children into the delusion, and teaching children delusional thinking is just child abuse. I was raised in such a delusion, and my parents died in such a delusion/illusion. When we are just learning it is a delusion taught by others. When we become adults and take responsibility for our lives, it becomes an illusion we do to ourselves.

Until we recognize that belief systems are false, we do not see them as delusions. That is the sad part of religions. Religions are about control of people and money for the 1%, the overlords. It is not about helping the poor, for if it was there would be jobs with training, that could lead to a lifetime of profitable work. Instead we buy cheaper imports, and stop producing more expensive local products. Countries that it are cheap to live in, produce labor rich products, while countries with resources sell those resources. Oh well, in the end we all just die off anyway. This country need to control our economy and set some tariffs on imports and exports. Softwood lumber should have a export tariff to protect US industry by a Canadian tax, not an American tariff.

Clarity, truth, ethics, virtues, values, beliefs in general become much clearer. Now more philosophy readings make sense, and some of that is not true for current times yet. It is not to say they are untrue, but our values may be somewhat different. The world is overpopulated, and population moves from overpopulated to less overpopulated. But when we are overpopulated we need to say stop, regardless of the conditions those others are living in. There are too many people, that is the root of the problem. It is self destroying to allow more influx when we are already overpopulated, and that must take presidency over the conditions they are fleeing. A big cull is coming. Where and how will it be? That is for others to decide, but we need to take a stand, just as the English have with Brexit. Political starts at the grass roots, not with the 1%. Enough is enough. Religion is bullshit. God free is the way to go forward with reason as our guide. Charity must start at home. This includes not taking on unmanageable debts by governments at all levels.

Confidence, not that I am necessarily right, but that two groups with exclusive positions cannot both be right. Numbers of believers does not mean right either. Often both groups are just wrong. Eg: Christians, Muslims, Buddhist, Confucianism. Many of there views cannot be rationalized, and that which cannot be rationalized is likely wrong. That alone is the strongest argument against religions. That which is similar may be correct, and that leaves sound ethics, social relationship between pleasant and positive people, and little else. All the supernatural stuff is just guff. Oh well.

It all leaves me not concerned about those who are not rational. They live as they do, think as they do, and it does not matter to me anymore. The prime directive applies. Do not metal in the affairs of alien civilizations. 

Are we individually making the decision or is it being sold down the line by the 1%? We atheist are likely correct and independent. The religious are under the control of the 1%. Which are you?