A Philosopher's Vignettes Chapter 2: Divine Echoes: Belief And Authority

These chapters explore humanity’s relationship with divinity, emphasising that we should mirror a God of Love. Society’s mistake is believing one logical thinker can create the universe. The commandment ‘Do Not Kill’ is contradicted by John Lyly’s 1578 quote, ‘All is fair in love and war.’

The first natural law may be to defend your logic, but it is followed by Do Not Kill. God’s love is shared with the world; no one can possess, keep, or own it. Love is a free-moving spirit.

When you build a house, you always start from a blueprint. If you don’t follow the design, you’re creating something different.

It is the same as an impersonator pretending to be a god, but they have no idea how to behave or the mentality of a God. In saying that, the impersonator sounds like a dictator.

A photographer wants to take a good photograph or paint a beautiful scenic view. If you don’t include all the details, you won’t get the whole picture, understand, or comprehend. Admiring a personality like our Jesus Christ, you aim to emulate their status.

However, a few atheists look up to no one. They believe in self-preservation and their legacy.

We should aim to be godlike, not self-like, but godlike with a kind heart, one who shares their love.

Ask an atheist where they came from, and some will say from their parents. Our ancestors had a forgotten knowledge of our origin. Why can’t atheists honour, respect, and pay homage to their existence, awareness, and understanding?

Since some people do not believe in divinity, this could explain flaws in our leaders’ decisions.

For hundreds of years, the royal households have ruled nations. Due to economic stress, a philosopher writes a few words about oppression. Then, to pour salt on the wound when a psychopathic atheist picks up the mantle for change. Usually at the cost of lives.

Some notable leaders have been identified as atheists, including Vladimir Lenin, who led the Russian Revolution and founded the Soviet Union.

He mixed his beliefs with those of Karl Marx, a philosopher, economist, and revolutionary socialist. Vladimir Lenin took power in November 1917 during the October Revolution.

He led the Bolshevik Party to overthrow the Provisional Government and establish a new administration. The death toll estimates vary widely.

The Red Terror was a campaign of political repression and executions carried out by the Bolsheviks, resulting in 50,000 to 600,000 deaths between 1918 and 1922.

Additionally, the Russian Civil War (1917-1922) saw significant casualties, with estimates ranging from five to ten million deaths.

Seven million people are believed to have died between 1927 and 1949. The winner was Chairman Mao Zedong, the founding Father of the People’s Republic of China. Are these the characters society should admire?

Examining their conflicts, China’s wars primarily revolve around economic enforcement. Benito Mussolini, an Italian fascist dictator, partnered up with Hitler. To enforce their beliefs, they have slaughtered innocent lives.

The above names have left a legacy that has scared humanity. These influential men have moulded the present from past mistakes into the future.

The future doesn’t look bright from their vision. How many men since the Romans have led nations with an illogical viewpoint of nature, humanity and the universe?

Because they don’t believe, the abovementioned have encroached on another’s spiritual beliefs and enforced a failing economic system. Famous British philosopher Isaiah Berlin said, ‘Freedom for the wolves means death to the sheep.’

The above statement is a cry for economic freedom. It’s also a metaphor implying that leading figures or the authority are the wolves and the citizens are the sheep. Is the wolf afraid of losing his position or role as alpha male?

Why are you keen to control another’s freedom?

Does it make you feel like a god when you can break another’s will and control their freedom?

Are you that bone idol?

It raises the question of how a life-and-death situation would be resolved in their mind. Faith means being the lamb, as demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ. Do Not Kill. This is something an atheist would never do because their self-serving survival is their priority.

Interestingly, no U.S. president has openly identified as an atheist. However, some presidents have been speculated to be non-religious or have had periods of doubt:

Abraham Lincoln (1861-1865) had ambiguous religious beliefs and was known to question traditional Christian doctrines. However, considering the men mentioned earlier. His stance on the slave trade showed his empathy and compassion for humanity.

Unlike Lincoln, Andrew Johnson (1865-1869) had no clearly defined religious beliefs and was not actively involved in any church.

1. He was not sympathetic to the black struggle.
2. Honesty is the first part of honour. There is a clear demonstration of unsavoury characters and a clever politician.
3. If the general public were fully aware of this detail, would they have voted them into power?

They may have left a respected legacy in some quarters, but to many others, it’s hell on Earth.

Tarring every atheist with the same brush would not produce a balanced viewpoint. Singer and songwriter John Lennon sang, Imagine.’ He painted an idyllic place through music, which means he can’t be all bad.

Leonardo da Vinci’s (1452-1519), Vincent van Gogh’s (1853-1890) and Pablo Picasso’s (1881-1973) paintings have lasted the test of time because their work is true to life. If it is a false impression or interpretation that no one will remember, then what does it mean?

Follow The Manual

Leonardo Da Vinci said, ‘Where the spirit does not work with the hand, there is no art.’

The comment implies that Da Vinci could feel another force influencing his hand.

This feeling from within brings a question: how does the inner voice become visible?

How can a thought not heard by the many be made to be seen, heard or understood?

Is the inner voice different from the persona of the person this inner voice is emanating from?

That conscious voice might sound like you, but does it think and act like you?

Does it even talk like you?

Having a thought no one hears, who will understand that idea is not your thinking or concern?

Then again, everyone is tone-deaf when someone stands up to speak up, and no one hears the alarm or sees the distress.

Words are essential; write them down; when thoughts are conveyed on paper, they are ready to win a debate on the subject matter.

In other words, everyone sees the writing on the wall.