Last Musings For 2011: Is There A God?

Truly fascinating how these remarkable link ups to cyberspace and social media would easily present you a group of interesting individuals of different cultures and beliefs. A really thought-provoking night brought me to a thread of discussions about God and his non-existence. As much as I would want to participate in the discussion, having to argue about the existence of a higher presence and religion is a very complex and delicate matter that I dismissed the thought and decided to keep it to myself (well, almost). I am not a psychologist nor a sociologist nor a philosopher nor a cosmologist nor a theologian. I am far from being one because I'm an engineer who just happen to outwardly express her personal opinion about the matter, but I do take interest in the subject and have read quite a number of decent books expressing topics of evolutionism, creationism, Scientology, atheism, pantheism. As far as I've understood the complexity of such subjects, focusing on human evolution, including the development of man's emotional structure, logical reasoning and analytical thinking which later led to the formation of civilization, the invention of religion would likely to happen and it is inevitable. The same thing with the invention of government and political systems through innate human characteristics of leadership. On a macro view, Religion and God are two entities which are bound for singular context. When we say Religion, it is a collection of fundamental set of beliefs passed along every generation and when we refer to beliefs in religion, something or someone is subject for worship. Although the definition of the word varies as it is also subject to evolution. One particular modern-day definition I found that really caught my attention is religion as a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values which is the most accurate definition of what religion is by far based on other definitions I've read. God, on the other hand, is most often conceived of as the supernatural creator and overseer of the universe and when we talk about God, most of the time our tendency is to ask which God one refers to and then we easily distinguish the individual's religion and provide us an overview of his culture which will make us understand his behavior. However, if we dissect Religion and God, we could personally create or imagine a clearer framework of what these two entities are. This is where the root of all the confusion and misunderstanding lies which formulate the never ending arguments of no conclusion. It is like having 10 people read a book written entirely metaphorical and at the end of the activity asking them what the book is about finding out that every interpretation is diverse. A product mostly of the culture they have acquired and adapted. But imagine this applied to billions of people. Your ideas would seem a speck. But a tiny portion your ideas may seem, every opinion is important. It can only attest the human capability to think for itself without the will of a higher force other than just mere curiosity. And to elaborate on my personal interpretation of the following, I do not solicit further argument, just a way to personify ideas in the form of a blog entry.

Astronomy is the most essential element of the creation of religion. Archaeological evidence of many ancient cultures demonstrates that celestial bodies were the subject of worship during the Stone and Bronze Ages. Amulets and stone walls in northern Europe depict arrangements of stars in constellations that match their historical positions, particularly circumpolar constellations. These date back as early as 30,000–40,000 years ago. Although this is not the oldest evidence of the origins of religion. The earliest evidence of religious thought is based on the ritual treatment of the dead. Most animals display only a casual interest in the dead of their own species. Ritual burial thus represents a significant advancement in human behavior. Ritual burials represent an awareness of life and death and a possible belief in the afterlife. Paleolithic burials date back as early as 100,000 years ago. History about the origins of religion could go on and on. Since I am inclined to an evolutionist view, in my opinion, Religion is the deepest part of man's emotional structure. It is the test of man's passion for his existence and it is also subject to evolution. During the course of man's brain development, the expansion of this growth not only lies within but is shown in traditions, practices, beliefs and culture which mainly led to various transformation of systems may it be political or religious. The same thing with God. When man can no longer find coherent answer to his queries he turns into a presence higher than his own, a force, similar to science with its physical laws. God is the deduced product of logical and analytical thinking at the limits. It is the cognitive dissonance of most people to conclude anything unexplainable a result of mystics concerning God. It is the test of man's ability to evaluate and explore, the test of intelligence and when combined, God and religion, it is the assessment of your spirituality, your entire being the humanness.

Earlier this December, I went down to search for a book I needed to accomplish a small project of mine, creating my own Dobsonian telescope. I have been recently engrossed with night photography that I got the enthusiasm to build my own telescope. An alarming rate of published atheist books actually struck me. Written by the famous Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris and many others. Although I do not have anything against the idea of atheism, the apprehension of such is how people, particularly students recognize the points given through explicit statements that have the tendency to affect them psychologically and emotionally. Actually, reading a thread on facebook regarding the non-existence of God is so inculcating, individuals may actually acknowledge. What's even more surprising is the sudden appearance of militant atheists and when I say militant, they shame your beliefs and substitute their own. They attack you with their numerous unpleasant scenarios and how God has not made his presence felt during those times. Certain delicate subjects that a believer would find insulting, simply because insulting one's belief, religion and God is like wounding his entire being, his humanness. This is mainly the reason why I never argue about religion, spirituality and God because at the end of everything, usual result is the non-popular idea always being ostracized. The customary dispute is what science has not proven, does not exist. But Science is nothing more or less than a method of inquiry based on hypothesis testing facilitated by data collection. It is distinct from, though intimately connected to logic and rationality. Notably, the concept of falsifiability is key to this tradition, hypotheses must be stated in such a way that they can be dis-proven with but one antagonistic observation. Science doesn't prove a thing, but that doesn't mean science is useless. What science does is pare away less plausible explanations for any given phenomenon, thereby hopefully leading us closer and closer to the truth about the phenomenon. And yes, Science has not proven the existence of God but it has not dis-proven his existence as well. I know I've claimed that I follow an evolutionist view and Richard Dakwins is an evolutionary biologist but I do not conclude that there is no higher force governing the universe. Every time I look up at the sky and see these sparkling lights above me while I'm trying to capture them nicely, I can't help but think there must be something that made everything I see. I cannot allow that we came from nothing. The beauty this world presents us is inconceivable that I'd like to believe in Spinoza's God.


As a closing remark, arguments about religion, faith, and God is letting ideas free and allowing it evolve into a different breed that could freely swim in the depths of all unanswered questions but still they will remain unanswered...

New Tattoo For New Year

Planning to get another tattoo either before this year ends or earlier next year but most likely it'll be next year, probably February or March. I'll be getting an Ouroboros possibly at my back at the center where my spine is just 2 inches below the nape.

I'll be having this as a symbol of my persistence, for in life we continuously experience death and rebirth. This one's gonna be near my lungs.

This isn't actually my first tattoo. I had one just last August this year. What I had was a teeny weeny G-clef on my wrist near my pulse which simply means that life is nothing without music.

Unnecessary Stuff

Funny how I titled this entry "Unnecessary Stuff" yet took some time to find a cute picture to give the reader an overview of what this blog entry contains.


Still cloudy outside the reason why I'm stuck in my room and things start running inside my head. I know it's not so me to write about something emotional like this, but I have my sleepless nights too you know? It's 2:30 in the morning here as I wrote this with whatever that goes inside my head while listening to some post-rock music. Music really affects the mood you are in I believe so, and as of this moment, this very moment, while my fingers dance across the keyboard forming these inert words of unexplored emotion, I can't help but shed tears. I shed tears about something I am in denial of. Something that I have always been in denial.

I said I have never experienced, felt for that matter but I did, I have a couple times actually. I was just too afraid of rejection. That if I ever confessed to someone of how I truly feel, I will constantly be rejected and before that happens, I bury everything deep down and it's so deep, no one can ever reach it not even myself. I guess I have repeatedly done this over and over that I've gotten used to it to the point of being accused of insensitivity which is quite untrue. I am actually "very sensitive." I feel what you feel just by looking at you. I can sense what you're dealing with just by talking to you. I can actually cry over without any logical reason staring at the sun but most of the time the moon does that to me. This might be the reason why I love ambient and post-rock music. I love art. I love walking around getting into unfamiliar places. I love watching people thinking of what their stories are about. I appreciate little stuff but not show them. I have been hard on myself for years and I don't know how to escape it or if I ever will. This problem that I had, of continuously being afraid, made three of the precious people in my life disappointed and I regret all the chances that have presented themselves in front of me which have been badly ignored. All the unexplored possibilities that were cut short because I just don't have the guts and I don't know where to buy, get some guts or if I can do it myself.

I'm lost. I'm confused. I'm beaten up. I felt it and have lost my sanity. And I will still deny it because I'm afraid. I'm scared to love.

They say this world is not a cold dead place but I'm dead. I died a long, long time ago but I'm still waiting for my Necromancer.

My Next Astronomy Project

I have been an amateur telescope maker since grade school but I never did follow up on it because my mom wanted me to focus on my studies and so I did. I made my first Newtonian telescope when I was a 5th grader. Not really aesthetically appealing but does the job somewhat decently.

Anyway, since I recently involved myself into astrophotography after experimenting on the Lunar Eclipse time lapse with nothing but a tripod and a cheap semi-DSLR camera, my love for ATM came back and I plan to capture everything I see this time and explore deeper with regards to telescope design. I'll try to understand the Dobsonian telescope first and maybe realize something in the process which would enhance its capabilities, maybe. I stumbled upon a website which would be a great help for starting up the Dobsonian telescope. Well, in case you're wondering, Dobsonian came from the surname of John Dobson who popularized amateur astronomy.

Here's a sample pic of the outcome once everything's done:


I'm also planning to make a cool time lapse video like one of the below clips plus I'd love to layout a post-rock song to it too. Something from Explosions in the Sky I guess or Sleep Dealer or No Clear Mind, so many to choose from and all of them bands are amazingly great.

The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place

I need to constantly remind myself of this.

"The Earth is not a cold dead place..." - Explosions in the Sky

God, how I love post-rock.

...of Christmas and Musings

Christmas made me realize how "small" our family is and we're not even complete during the noche buena. My grandma decided to go back to her province on the 24th due to an errand, my aunt on the other hand spent her Christmas at the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa "seriously" while her son had a conference in Malacañang. Thank goodness my dad's youngest brother had no other plan but to celebrate Christmas in their house so we got to visit and celebrate noche buena with his kids.

Anyway, before we went to my uncle's house, we got to visit Ayala Center for their spectacular lights but I didn't know Symphony of Lights isn't actually located in Ayala Center but in Ayala Triangle Gardens rather. So stupid of me. I should've taken much beautiful night-photos in there. I guess I'll try to visit the place before this year ends.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! :)

Geminid Meteor Shower (12/14-15/2011)

I should have posted this right after the event but usually it goes to my facebook account first.

Anyway, since I've gone interested in astrophotography, I regularly visit NASA's calendar of space events and have read about the Geminid meteor shower. The Geminid meteor shower will be visible in the Americas at Dec. 13 to 14 and Dec. 14 to 15 around Asia and Australia.

Cloudy between 22:00-1:00. Waited for about 3 hours to get a clearer sky. Around 2:00, clouds began to disperse and stars are becoming visible. Set the camera with the following settings: Moon was taken earlier in evening 20:00-21:00 with aperture not too narrow around f/5.8, ISO 80, and exposure time of 1/200 (fast enough to capture the moon's detail, this is where I went wrong my first try). About the stars, totally different setting. Aperture is not too wide around f/3.0, ISO 400, exposure time of 15 to 30 seconds, varying. Out of 200+ star photos I've captured, I was only able to get 2 decent Geminid photos but it was worth the wait. Activity ended approximately 5 in the morning.

“You only get one shot at life. Why waste it on sleep?” - Gustav Graves