This is priceless.

If I keep writing heresies such as this, I may be taken off the Atheist Blogroll. Hilarious.

Update:

Looks like the debate on the censorship of my ideas has begun.

Update:

The sad and inevitable conclusion.

Thank you for reading.

My last piece on this subject proved two things: firstly, that there is very little room for intellectual flexibility in a debate involving the existence of God, and secondly, that science will never sufficiently rule out the possibility of God’s existence unless one is willing to place one’s trust in science that it possesses the future capacity to explain all things. Though the debate was often convoluted and verbose, there was general agreement on the above observations.

I now wish to veer away from the realms of science and explore the notion of morality and its relationship to God’s existence.

Human beings have since the acquiring of sufficient intelligence to comprehend existence and become conscious of some notion of ‘self’, subjected most behaviour to the peculiar test of morality. Morality serves as a reference point to regulate behaviour and ensure some form of conformity to a presumed standard. Its accepted origin, no matter what the Greeks say, is firmly rooted in some form of archaic religion and a simple internet search would dispel any doubt of this fact. Most established religions would teach God is good, this is what He says, so this is our moral standard.

Secular teachings however attempt to divorce the concept of God from morality and instead offer an interesting alternative. The terms Good and Evil are replaced with Right and Wrong, and morality becomes the principle under which certain actions are adjudged as either right or wrong. Actions which are right deserve applause and appreciation while those which are wrong deserve punishment or at the very least, some cold-shoulder treatment. However, the question arises as to what constitutes the substance of morality which in turn labels an action either right or wrong?

To make things simple, let us take a clear example of a so-called morally wrong act: stealing. It is wrong to steal. Why is it wrong to steal? Is it because one should respect the property rights of others? This is however not a satisfactory answer, because the question arises as to ‘why one should respect the property rights of others’. The answer to that question doesn’t seem as obvious. So then is stealing wrong because our conscience tells us not to steal? This answer doesn’t hold much water either, since most of us do not have a conscience. Well, suppose we do, still each person’s conscience would have varied degrees of what he or she thinks would be acceptable conduct. Stealing someone’s car is definitely wrong, but stealing some flowers from an overhanging branch of your neighbour’s tree? Well, that isn’t really stealing, is it? Perhaps it’s because he wouldn’t miss it. So why is stealing really wrong? One possible answer is that it is ‘considered’ wrong by the average reasonable person or by a majority opinion. However, the average reasonable person doesn’t really exist. If he does, he certainly wouldn’t be average. Majority opinion on the other hand is another figment of some statistician’s imagination, since we can only ascertain what the majority might say though we cannot ascertain what they really think. Ask yourself ‘is it really wrong to steal a loaf of bread to feed your starving infant?’ Also, the average-majority conclusion puts us in a precarious position since this would lead us to further conclude that the content of morality and the ingredients of right and wrong are subject to gradual change. So in two millennia or so, stealing may be rechristened ‘permanent secretive borrowing’. No, that simply wouldn’t do. It seems therefore, that one is left with very few theoretical options as to a satisfactory answer to the question ‘why is stealing wrong’. However, one may answer this question by reference to a certain rational chain of thought. The logical sequence that follows is that stealing is wrong because it is contrary to accepted moral standards. These moral standards are accepted because they are derived from tradition and conscience. However, what is derived from tradition becomes rooted directly in some notional experience as to what really works in terms of sustaining society, while what is derived from conscience is directly attributable to the education system, one’s upbringing and, like it or not, a fair share of social conditioning. So, are these elements, often considered as infallible moral indicators, really that reliable?

The underlined conclusion on the question of morality is one which points to something utterly basic and quite simple: survival. In my opinion, the secular version of morality can only be explained by reference to an assimilation of behavioural patterns which through a process of trial and error has turned out to be most conducive for the successful survival of the species. Therefore, every action becomes either right or wrong simply by reference to whether it is directly or indirectly compatible with survival.

If one is in agreement with my hypothesis, the question remains, does one human being have the right to enforce moral standards on another? Do all human beings have an inescapable obligation to propagate the species, and does that obligation justify adherence to some moral code of conduct? Unless, we derive our moral standards from a higher power to which all human beings are subject to, the idea that equals can enforce a standard which is arbitrary and essentially self-serving seems unjustifiable. Therefore, morality must necessarily be derived from some external source for it to be sufficiently compelling. It must precede human thought and existence in order to demand adherence. If not, one is forced to concede that the fabric of our civilization is merely based on a well-refined and cleverly disguised version of law of the jungle.

Thank you for reading.

When your friends and loved ones return from abroad they often bring along gifts, goodies and some rather interesting, and at times exaggerated tales. Occasionally, one or two may also bring along a brand new accent. This has always struck me as curious since what an American or Englishman cannot achieve in a lifetime spent in the East, is promptly undertaken by one of “us” who spends just a few semesters in the West.

Is this necessarily a bad thing? We Sri Lankans left behind to fret about the dying economy and intensifying ethnic conflict, often view with suspicion and contempt those of our kind who achieve the feat of successfully adopting a foreign accent. “Oh gosh, guess who came back speaking like Yankee Doodle?” or “I didn’t know the stiff-upper-lip was contagious?” are common sentiments articulated in private.

However, I find that the phenomenon of accent switching can be attributed to two main reasons.

1. Our Colonial Hangover
2. Our Hospitable Nature

The reason many of us find ourselves switching to a ripe British accent as soon as we set foot on those green hills of England, is primarily due to the fact that a Whiteman’s accent is seen to be of a slightly higher and more prestigious standard than our own. It also has a lot to do with self esteem and how comfortable one is with the way he or she articulates the English language. Studying or living abroad is not necessarily the reason one speaks with this accent, but rather the valid excuse one uses to justify the switch.

The second reason I have listed relates to the most common excuse given by those who engage in an accent makeover. It is simply that persons abroad fail to understand the Sri Lankan accent thus requiring us to change our accent in order to facilitate greater understanding. This of course is entirely true as I have experienced it myself. However, what is curious is that Westerners living here for decades on end never seem to make this same switch. In fact those of us who speak to them mysteriously alter our own accents, momentarily adopting a strangely refined British or American tone without even the slightest affiliation to those nations.

Some of you may call this “doormat-like behaviour”, but I would like to remind you that not all people can achieve this feat. It takes true talent to speak in multiple accents without even the odd acting lesson for assistance. Some of us choose not to change our accents, while others simply can’t help the change. However, time and again we have proven our potential for flexibility.

I find it more likely that this whole accent switching maneuver is part of a common potential possessed by all Sri Lankans to morph in order to fit in better with the outside world. This is probably why we can get along with everyone else except ourselves.

Thank you for reading.

This is merely a momentary departure from the usual satire, so please bear with me.

(In this post: Find out how to import your old blog posts to your new blog site in just minutes)

After careful consideration, I have recently decided to shift my web log from WordPress to Blogger. The following piece seeks to highlight my findings and observations, which some of you may find useful.

Where WordPress wins:

1. It is most definitely a service provider with slicker templates and a more sophisticated overall design. However, you would be required to download an appropriate version of the WordPress blog tool and personally host your own site to truly appreciate this benefit. The free version which I had the luxury of enduring for a few months, offered very little room for tinkering.

2. It offers a wide range of statistics which enables you to track the performance of your blog.

3. It also permits the display of multiple pages, which somehow seems to be a feature in Blogger that I haven’t quite discovered as yet.

4. Finally, for those of you who enjoy a debate or two, it offers scope for the editing of both user comments as well as your own responses in terms of discussions that take place on your blog.

Where Blogger prevails:

1. It permits HTML editing. This is a priceless feature which the free version of WordPress does not offer. This ability to edit your blog’s HTML code essentially opens the window for countless possibilities.

For example, the lack of a statscounter is instantly resolved by including a code offered by service providers such as statcounter.com.

And of course, opportunities for revenue generating through the likes of Google’s AdSense, also open up due to such HTML editing capabilities. This provides an entirely new commercial dimension to the list of incentives to use Blogger.

2. It offers better design control over your blog. Blogger possesses a number of tools that enables template editing which ranges from fonts and colors to adding a feed from YouTube. Thus the scope for personalizing your blog is indeed far greater.

One of the main problems faced by bloggers who wish to switch between blog providers is the feasibility involved in importing old posts to the new blog site. I encountered this very issue in attempting to import my posts on WordPress to its new Blogspot location. The problem is now adequately dealt with through the use of a simple piece of software located here.

All things considered, I find the move to be a reasonably good one. However, the true prudence of this migration of sorts may only be tested with time.

Thank you for reading.

I was really discouraged by some of the filthy things said on my last post. I couldnt believe the amount of sick people who are blogging – I’m never going to write about personal stuff on this anymore because it just gives people a chance to say really bad stuff to me and about my family. So this time its about cricket! I really hope we win the finals today and we give the Aussies the worst shock ever! Some of my brothers friends keep bugging me saying we’re going to lose, but I dont care! I have a new Sri Lanka T-shirt and we are going to my aunts house for dinner and everyone will watch the match together… i cant wait! Some of my friends are going to CH but my mother didnt give me perm.

but its ok cos I know I’ll have fun anyways.

Anyway this is a short one to say GOOD LUCK SRI LANKA! I HOPE WE KICK AUSSIE BUTT!!!!

I mean he’s such a cad!!! I just don’t get it – why do people do all this stuff to each other? Can’t they control themselves??? And what’s up with my sister? She used to be a nice person!!! And I used to look up to her!  Now every time he comes they go to the room and lock the door! Specially when my parents are not around! I feel like telling!!!

Like the other day I was with my parents at the Golf Club when I heard about this bunch of people talking about the S word. And I think it was doing it before marriage! I was so disgusted! Our society is becoming like America where they don’t believe in Jesus anymore.

Anyway I tried advising my sister but now I don’t want to talk about it.

Why cant she realise that if something happens my parents will be heartbroken??? And if the baby starts crying I wont be able to study for my O’s.

Guys do you think I should tell my parents? It’s for my sisters own good right???

I really dont know why everything i say is wrong for some people – I dont know what else to do except ignore all the bad comments that are on my blog. I reeeeally hope they get a life soon! Anyway at least there are some people who like me. Thanks guys! You have no idea how cheered up I get when I read some of the nice things people say!!!! Anyway I haven’t written for a While cos I got my holidays and I’ve been hanging out with my friends and stuff. We went to Crescat for lunch and we also went for Ninja turtles… it was sooo much fun but there were some losers who were just disturbing us… but we didnt care! ha ha ha!!!!!

Anyways got some pretty good marks – except in Sinhala AS USUAL! My mother says I’ll have to go for tution from next month which majorly sucks…but then I cant afford to fail.. and O/L’s are getting closer and closer! Aaarrghhh!! I dont even want to think about it!

I got the highest in the class for Lit – and my teacher really liked my answer on Oliver Twist. She gave it to some of the children who got bad marks to read. I really like Oliver Twist. I went and watched the play last year as well – but that kind of sucked. I mean it was ok but it got really boring in the second half. I was falling asleep! Except for Fagin who was sooo good! But that guy who played Oliver was horrible! He couldnt sing a note – I don’t’ know who chose him! I was laughing soooo much!!!

My brother’s dumb friends will come during the hols as usual and bug me. There’s one who I like really reeeeeally HATE. He’s always playin these silly pranks and teasing me. But he’s kinda funny. Anyway, this one time he called home and pretended to be Kumar Sangakara. I ALMOST fell for it. But when he wanted to meet up I knew it couldn’t be him coz he’s  like supposed to be in the west indies!!!!! Ha ha ha! But this guy can be interesting at times…but I mean he’s a total ass and I TOTALLY hate his guts.

Anyway, I’m trying to figure out what to do for the hols. The rain is a little sucky coz the family plans to go down south wont work. SO I think I’ll stay home most of the time and watch moooooovies!!!!!! Yay!!! Suggestions please!?!

Guys I wrote this earlier but it got accidentally deleted – so i wrote it again – hopefully I wont have any more loser comments with people scolding me for no reason!

I got a letter through the van window today. We were passing St.Peters and this guy just threw the letter in! I was so pissed! I mean as if! I hate Peterites anyway. You guys should learn something from Thomians and Trinitians! They would never do that!!!! He said he wanted to meet me at Rock Saturday. And I dont even know him! Anyway I hate Rock. All they do is jump around and scream and use filthy words. So I would never go for someone who was a rock fan. My brother is in a band. But if my mother ever found out he would be soooo dead! hee hee…
Anyway I was really upset today – I almost cried. My reputation went for a six! All the children thought that he was my boyfriend or something! When they choose prefects this is the kind of thing that can go against you! Not that I want to be a prefect but this is just an example!
Come on Guys! Be cool! If you really like the girl then you wouldn’t do that to her! We would never go for guys who did such uncool tasteless things anyway!
Dontcha all agree?

Today was a sad day. They had put up the names for the new interactors and I hadn’t got chosen!!! I was so upset – and both my best friends got in! What do they have that I dont? I thought the interview went ok also – but then someone must have said something bad about me for sure. Anyway that teacher hates me – she must have cut my name from the list! I dont care anyway cos interact is obviously for losers. And I’m not one. Anyway all they do is make excuses to meet boys and hold stupid concerts and dance for stupid songs like stupid idiots!!!

Besides this “popular” interact club wants to do a joint project with us so obviously they didn’t want any pretty girls to meet any of the guys from that club. As if! I dont believe in flirting! Just cos they do they think that we are losers like them! Anyway the United Nations Club is better – at least its a REAL organisation! So I put my name for MUN. They are much cooler and nicer and they get to meet like the smartest people. So I’m happy – everything happens for the best!!!!!!

These interactors are so full of it.. they think that no one is as cool as them. Whatever!

People may think I’m too young to blog but young people can blog too k??? Just because we’re fourteen they think that we can’t contribute to important discussions like going out or education! Thats sooooo lame!!! I mean he-llo! We all have a voice and we should use it.  And anyway i think this is a good way to get more knowledge on experience and stuff and i can make friends who can advise me.

So I hope you like me… and respect me for who i am cos i can be in your face! (hehe)

Take care and love to all

until next time

WFC