Updated: 08/25/10

CHAPTER 37

WHAT I HAVE NOT SAID

YOU MAY FIND IT ENLIGHTENING TO NOTE

WHAT I HAVE NOT SAID.

I have not said there is no God. I said there is no Religious Creator God or Religious Maker God as described to us by the Catholic Church, Baptist Church, Muslim religion, Jewish religion, or any other church, religion or holy book (of which I am aware). If I define God as the personification of the natural forces of the universe, then, Yes, there is a God.

Remember, there is no God named “God.”

Since there is no known scientific need, physical reason, or moral necessity for this type of a religious Creator God, I hold to my conclusions. Until there are new facts to indicate a need, necessity, or a reason for such a religious God, or until there is some type of scientific fact that tends to prove the existence of such a religious God, I must be faithful to the brain given me by Nature. I must be faithful to honesty and to the Clear Thinking philosophy. I must honestly doubt any statement or claim not based on facts. Utilizing the Clear Thinking philosophy, one must honestly conclude that there is no fact, no need, no reason or no moral necessity for this kind of a religious God, as the religions now define the term, "God.”

If there were some other kind of non-religious God, how would we then define the term “God?” No one knows, no one can guess, no one can agree. No one can even imagine what kind of definition would encompass the term "Non-Religious God.” Some have tried by using the concepts and terms of, “First Force” or “Nature” and some have even suggested, “Life” or “Evolution.” Religion seems to have wasted all the unlikely definitions. Best of all, since there is no such thing as a religious God, no one worries about any other type of God. We are here and that is all we really know about the subject. Without doubt, there are universal forces at work and we need to better understand those forces. If you wish to call those forces “God” that is all right with me. Just don’t claim that those forces are intelligent without some kind of proof. Cause and effect is the only law of the universe and we need to conform to that law.

I have not said there are no unusual happenings in this world. There are many happenings for which we do not yet have an explanation. But there must be a natural cause and effect for all happenings, no matter what that cause, or what the effect of that cause may be. Otherwise, All science is folly and useless. A Just God would not and could not arbitrarily and randomly tinker with the daily affairs of man, upset his scientific endeavors, reduce nature to a plaything and steal the effect of some exact cause. Contrary to religious belief, God is not a thief. He does not use miracles to steal the effects of any cause.

I have not said there are no truths, or true stories, or histories in the holy books of the world. I said there is no Revelation of truth, no true revelation from a God in them. Some of the stories maybe true and did happen. What is untrue in these books is attributing to some God or Devil, the ordering of these events and the intervention of some God or Devil into these events.

I have not said there was no flood or catastrophe upon which the story about Noah hinges. I have not said there was no large boat that may have been used twelve thousand or more years ago to save some people and animals during what seems to have been a worldwide catastrophe. I said the story as written and understood is false. I said the story is unscientific and could not have happened as written, explained or generally understood.

I have not said the earth did not appear to stand still (described as the sun standing still). I said the earth did not stand still at the Request of a Jewish General who wanted the extra time and sunlight to kill as many of his enemies as possible. Several ancient myths (histories) describe a time when the sun didn't rise or didn't set for many extra hours. This was also a time of terrible catastrophes upon earth and seems to coincide with the ancient tales of the time in which a wall of water washed over the earth. This could have been the last time the poles slipped. Such a slippage would indeed cause the sun to appear still for some and the oceans to form continent-consuming waves. Much of our ancient coal beds were thus formed from dumped debris in ancient times.

I have not said there is no conscious knowledge of ourselves after death. I said, I sincerely hope there is, but I have little proof of it that will yet convince me. My hope is based on research into reincarnation type happenings and the natural concept of justice that is observable in all of Nature. Common sense and scientific knowledge says No! I guess I might know for sure later. I do not mind waiting - and waiting.

I have not said Believers cannot think at all. I said Believers cannot think logically and honestly in those areas where belief has become more important than the facts and truth of the matter. Believers cannot reach honest and logical conclusions when they accept some mistaken authority as being more truthful than the moral and scientific facts of the matter.

I have not said that otherwise intelligent people of high IQs believe all the doctrines and claims of their religion. I said there are some intelligent people who believe their religious leaders have proven or justified the beliefs and doctrines of their church. What I said was those of high IQs in the various religions need to rethink their beliefs in the light of Honesty and Clear Thinking as shown in this presentation of the HONEST MAN'S PHILOSOPHY. I said these people have probably never thought much about their beliefs and they need to. There is no room in the life of intelligent people for accepting as true these myths, fables and falsehoods. There are too many facts with which to deal without worrying about, or believing in, these fictions and myths. If you don't believe, you don't have to obey.

IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE - YOU ARE FREE!

I have not said everyone who honestly thinks will, or should, arrive at the same conclusions at which I have arrived. I said they should learn to honestly doubt and honestly think so they can find out if what I say is the truth. They should also honestly doubt so they can find out if what their holy books and religious leaders say is true. They must do the same for their politicians.

I have not said you should agree with me. My concern is that you clearly Understand what I have said. I am not concerned with whether you agree with me or not. Once you understand what I have said, your reaction becomes your personal choice.

I have not said there are no other intelligent or super intelligent beings in the universe. The scientific evidence speaks more in favor of other intelligence than it does against it. I said there is no evidence of supernatural beings in the universe that are made up out of spirit-stuff, who can interject themselves between cause and effect, who work miracles without using nature and nature's "laws.” If it can be done, or is done, it is natural and performed by natural means.

I have not said this earth has not been visited by other intelligent beings. They may well have visited earth and in so doing passed themselves off, or been accepted, as angels or gods. Some may still be here. I do not mock what I do not know.

I have not said Clear Thinking can automatically solve all of the pressing and distressing problems in the world. I said Clear Thinking is the best philosophy with which to seek solutions to our problems. Clear Thinking is the only honest philosophy, the only philosophy that deals with the facts and does not mess with hearsay, gossip, beliefs, testimonies, voices in their head, visions, revelations the unbelievable and prophecy.

I have not said there is no value in private prayer. I said a just God will not, cannot and does not answer the begging pleas of the self-deluded believers. Prayer may indeed have some advantage, psychologically, to a person in about the same degree, as does the practice of meditation or writing a diary. In fact, true prayer is just another name for meditation and should always be referred to as meditation. Such a quiet time may be the only time one steps outside of his daily routine and evaluates the events and attitudes of the past and present. It may be the only time one looks on the inside of his being. I do, however, wish you to be honest with yourself and call your time spent "in your head and in your heart" as meditation instead of the misunderstood term and concept called prayer. True prayer is the attitude of accepting what is. Prayer cannot direct God’s activity, nor can it change God's mind!

Another item about prayer is if there is something out there answering prayers, I would like to ask, Who is it? In addition, I would like to ask Why? Since a Just God would not answer prayer, just who is trying to get on our good side? What if you had a choice to follow the true God who did Not answer prayer (give you something for nothing) or follow the Ones who do answer your prayers and perform "miracles?” What if the ones who answers prayer have the emblem of the "winged serpent" on their chest? Might this not be that Anti-Christ - or something? Worry over that “bone” for a while!

I have not said the account of creation in Genesis is not true. What I said is the account in Genesis, as it is presently written and interpreted, is not true. The account in the first part of Genesis is a condensation of a condensation of a condensation of a condensation. That means the early Scientific accounts of the Sumerians were edited, reedited, taken out of context, important details left out and later presented as religious statements by later civilizations. These stories were originally written down by the Sumerians as scientific statements and as their explanations for how earth came to be like it is. They claimed this information was dictated to them by intelligent beings that the Sumerians said came from the sky in airships.

The early accounts of the formation of earth in the Sumerian tablets were their scientific statements, not religious statements. Their scientific statements and conclusions, are being reaffirmed daily by our own scientific discoveries. As science degenerated down through the ages, religion took over and substituted their own definitions for the earlier scientific terms. Thus confused, the terms translated by later civilizations and religions, missed the whole scientific points of the information given by the Sumerians about the Transformation of earth. If one reverted to the original accounts, the terms translated God or Gods would be translated as planet or planets with specific names for each planet named after some of the sky people, who were later, called Gods by the religions. "Ring of lights (or hammered out string of pearls)" was finally translated as "heaven,” but it should be translated as "asteroid belt.”

The term Gods, or Elohim in Hebrew, translates a word in Sumerian that meant "Sky People.” Their earthly name was given as, "Lofty Ones,” or "Sky People.” These terms were later translated as Lords or Gods.

TIME OUT FOR AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT.

In the Forward, I said the author (me) took what you and he already knew, or could find out and applied some honest logical thought to it. I did not base my honest logic on information to which you may not have access. I would be very surprised if more than one out of a thousand had read any modern translations of the Sumerian tablets. Some may be familiar with the Babylonian, Akkadian or Chaldean texts, but these are simply corrupted condensed translations and versions of the earlier Sumerian scientific records, which they say they received from the "Lofty Ones,” or "Sky People.”

In order to understand ancient languages, one must realize that language develops and is based on what a people already know, not what they may find out about in the future. In order to communicate, the people had to give names to everything. The names often came from the attributes of that which was being named. An owl, for instance, might be called a "night flying rat catcher,” "Whoo bird,” "horned night flyer,” "swivel necked bird,” or "big-eyed bird.” If we understood the phrase "horned night flyer," we would translate it as "owl.” If we didn't understand, we might translate it as "bat,” or even as "devil or demon.” So the whole meaning of the writing would be changed. This in turn would change other things in the writings.

After they named things, they learned to remember and pass information onto others, so they develop writing. Early writing seems always to be pictorial. If a writer wished to pass on the idea that someone had "lofty thoughts,” he might draw an eagle over the wrinkled brow of a man.

Thus, written language passes from primitive pictures to a type of short hand picture and finally to a stylized version with the original picture totally hidden. There is more than one way to write and pass on information. We write acoustically. That is, we write according to the sound of a word. Others write symbolically. That is, whole ideas are condensed into a single symbol or figure.

The Sumerian records on clay tablets (of which there are thousands still untranslated) had progressed in writing until one or two symbols represented what it would take us several phrases to say. Thus, a simple seal, or very small tablet can record an extensive amount of information in the Sumerian writings. So, by way of illustration, translate this into our words. (TGIF > USA. FBI & FAA - =.) That is, "Thank God it is Friday in the United States of America. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Aeronautical Administration are not the same."

In addition to that problem, there is the problem of idioms, that is, phrases that have nothing linguistically to do with the subject under discussion. We write about business and say, "That guy is so clever with his business, he could steal home." Six thousand years later, how would that be translated into another language? Is he good, bad, a thief, or what?

To translate from a complicated, abbreviated symbolic writing into a more specific phonetically written language, takes a great deal of additional explanatory details. One seal may take a whole page to translate. The earlier translators tried to condense their own explanations and ended up losing the real identifying characteristics of words like planets, heaven, god, gods, snake, lord, lords, etc. These words had conversational meanings and they also had specific scientific meanings and characteristics. (If I say, Big Bang, the scientists will interpret it in one way. A race car driver will see it in a different light and a fireworks maker will see it in still another manner.)

Today, we apply our own theological definitions to words that had specific scientific definitions in the Sumerian writings. Large portions of the first five books of the Hebrew Old Testament came from the later condensed versions of these Sumerian writings. To understand what much of the Hebrew Testament really says, one must look to the original source of the tales and accounts. That original source is found in the Sumerian writings, some of which are just recently being translated.

To better understand the stories and records in the Old Testament, one should read: THE 12th PLANET, by Zecharia Sitchin, Book One of the Earth Chronicles. There are seven or so more volumes. You need only read the first one to understand the major concepts presented by Dr. Sitchin from these Sumerians writings.

I am not asserting that the Sumerian records are true or correct. They may or may not be true. The position of Dr. Sitchin seems to be that the records do have a great deal of truth and true science and history in them. What I am saying is, much of the Old Testament is simply a rewrite and condensation of these accounts. The Jewish Old Testament has given these accounts a religious context and meaning, while the Sumerians claimed they recorded them as scientific and historical accounts. Whether the accounts are true or false, they are Not religious accounts and do not deal with religion in their original Sumerian editions. Now back to the subject.

I have not said becoming a Clear Thinker is easy. It is not! I said becoming a Clear Thinker is worth the price. It will change your life for the better. The rewards far outstrip the emotional and mental energy necessary to put reality and belief into proper perspective. Besides, there is no greater or cleaner feeling than to know you can be honest in your thinking and research. Honesty has a Very, Very high value once it becomes yours. The dishonest and the religious believers will never know that wonderful clean feeling. To believers, dishonesty is necessary in order to defend and extend the claims and promises of their religion and beliefs.

The greatest obstacle to Clear Thinking is the emotions. By and large the emotions are controlled more by believing, than by thinking (my studied opinion). The religious songs you grew up with, the old habits of attending church, the reading of the Bible, reading inspirational books and literature, the hearing of sermons, all exert a great deal of pressure on the mind (emotions).

Religion is like the pit viper that hypnotizes the bird into inactivity of the mind and body until the viper is close enough to gobble up the little bird. Did you know, You Are The Bird?

For a while, if you make a decision to be a Clear Thinker instead of being a believer, waves of nostalgia will wash over you when you hear one of the old songs on the radio, or hear the appeal of the evangelists. Your thinking mind knows the truth about the matter, but your emotions will say - "Ah! What's the harm?" Then is when you must see the viper and know the bird is not only you, but the bird is also your children, your friends and your loved ones. You need to remember, this whole nation is the bird. The viper wants you. The viper hates Honest research and Honest Clear Thinking! Honesty is your protection from the viper.

After you have gone through this a few times, your emotions will be reeducated to react according to the honest thinking that your mind is doing. It is also good if you can find a friend who is also an Honest Thinker. One way to find others like you is to suggest this book to them. After that, the rest is easy enough. You will have found a friend (or not a friend). In addition, I suggest you reread this book from time to time. You will discover new truths each time you read it.

I have not said everyone should leave the church or stay in it. I said those who learn to be Clear Thinkers and do stay in the church should seek to bring the activities of the church into harmony with the needs and realities of the world around them. They should try to change the doctrines and rules of their church that crush the desires and development of people who wish to be honest. And above all, they should teach their children the truth about the things around them. Children should be taught early to rightly divide the true from the false, the real from the imaginary. They should be taught they are responsible for their own mistakes.

For those of you who choose to stay in the church, it would be a service to your minister and the congregation to see that he gets and reads a copy of this book. You may soon notice a great change in his sermons and in his service to the church members. You may find he becomes a bit more tolerant and helpful to his congregation. He may become a bit more Honest.

Also, you may soon hear sermons preached against this philosophy of Clear Thinking (by those who haven't read the book). When you do, you may wish to reconsider your membership, because the choice IS between Thinking or Believing. The choice is between Honesty or Dishonesty.

I have not said all Clear Thinkers will, or should, seek to have the same goals, accomplish the same ends, mount a crusade, or engage in public debate. Every person is an individual, has specific abilities and talents and each one arrives at the truth of Clear Thinking from different and varying circumstances.

Among Clear Thinkers, there are many different emphases on life and on what one should do in society. Some are political or economical activists. That is, they are trying to do something constructive in a legal way about our present day problems and immoral laws. Others work through the educational system to make education live up to its responsibility to educate our children by teaching them to think, find the facts and communicate. (Learning to communicate includes learning the language of science, math, music and other important disciplines.) Others work through the religious system, trying to get the churches to do some of the necessary services to our underprivileged and needy. Some seek to undo the harm that has been done to our children. Some do what the average good citizen would do. They live their own lives, raise their own children and tend to their own business.

Then there are those like me who are trying to tell others about the Clear Thinking philosophy. We are sometimes called "Trouble Making Atheists.” That is to say, we try to explain Atheism or Clear Thinking. We try to explain the value and principles of Honest Clear Thinking. I guess you could call that trouble making if you were wrapped up in propagating a lie. They hate it when the light of Clear Thinking and truth is shown on their pet schemes for making money and deceiving people. Well, I guess "trouble making" is the correct term - from their perspective.

The Clear Thinking philosophy is tolerant. It does not try to use force or public pressure to present itself. It appeals to facts and reason alone. It doesn't burn crosses, boycott businesses, or break windows. It leaves that up to the morality of the believers and their love for doing the Will of God, which the worshipers proclaim. The Clear Thinking philosophy accepts people regardless of their former political, religious or ethnic background. We become brothers and sisters with the same last name (Clear Thinker), or “CT” for short. Add CT to your e-mail and see what happens.

There is a place for everyone who is a Clear Thinker. We do not have a bishop or even a clearinghouse that could give us assignments or pass along important information, or tell us things that we could be doing. But we do have eyes, ears and a brain. Just type “Atheism” into your search engine. We can see where each of us can do the most good and then we can figure out a way to do it.

Some of you will wish to continue thinking or studying about the philosophy presented in this book. Others of you will be in the position of standing in a neutral zone, caught between believing and thinking. Make no mistake about it. Be honest with yourself. The choice is between Honest Thinking and Dishonest Believing. Neither I, nor anyone else can, or should, do your thinking for you, or be your authority. My hope is you will become your own authority, doing your own thinking and your own investigation. (For additional study and information you may wish to go to my website: http://www.jovialatheist.com)

I have not said this book is the best presentation of the Clear Thinking philosophy or Atheism. I said this book is my presentation of this philosophy. This book is simply an overview of the basic concepts with some applications of the HONEST MAN'S PHILOSOPHY that I call Clear Thinking. Many have written better and with more detail about this philosophy than have I. My attempt has been to simplify, clarify and amplify Clear Thinking for you.

Some will say this book is not philosophy because it does not use the big and nebulous words so often used by philosophers. (Be thankful I didn't.) They will say it is too clear and simple to be philosophy. (It is harder to write clearly than it is to write nebulously.) They will say it isn't philosophy because it does not present a whole unified system. This is not Guessology. This is philosophy and deals only with what we can know for sure. Some will say it isn't philosophy because there are no footnotes in the book. (I put most of that information in the text.)

Some will say it isn't philosophy because I have not given sources for some of my observations and conclusions. There was no need to do so, because those things came from my own interpretation and thinking about the myths and tales of the ancient writings. My opinion is not important, so feel free to use your own ideas and opinions about these myths and tales. However, none of the Philosophy in this book is dependent upon those tales, or on my opinion. The HONEST MAN'S PHILOSOPHY is irrefutable, confident and well defended by its honesty, scholarship and truth. It doesn't need supports, crutches, wings or aid. This philosophy stands on its own bottom.

Some will say too many important questions have not been dealt with, or answered, like, “Where did we come from and where are we going?” I could Guess! But where would that take us? No one knows for sure the answers to those kinds of questions! Yet, millions of people and hundreds of religious clergy say they do know all of the answers. Do they? Where do they get their information? From a holy book? From their heads? From revelations? From visions? From religious textbooks? Why do their answers always contradict one another? And they also contradict the facts of science? Why can they never agree about what is on the mind of God? No One Knows! Why should I burden you with my guesses? If you wish, you may fill in the gaps and blanks with your own guesses. Your guess maybe as good as mine. Besides, it is good to have some mysteries in our life and try to solve them in our own mind.

The Clear Thought Philosophy is simply thinking, being honest and accepting no authority until you check the facts for yourself. The key to this philosophy is to use some honest doubt, do a little research and a lot of Clear Thinking. If you put honest thinking into practice, you Are a Clear Thinker (or Atheist,) like it or not.

I used the term Atheism in this book, because first, I wanted you to know what the book is about. Then, I wanted to show that the term "Atheism" is Not descriptive of the Clear Thinking Philosophy, falsely called Atheism. I also used it for its shock effect. Some people will be amazed when they pick it up. They will simply have to read it. I used the term Atheism for its curiosity value. Many people would like to know what an Atheist is, what his position is and how he could possibly rationalize the position, "There is no God." That is, there is no God such as the holy books and religions describe.

However, this book is actually about Honest Clear Thinking. There is really no such thing as "Atheism" as described by the dictionaries and religious works. I do not care if you call me an Atheist. I really am not an Atheist since there is no such thing. You can call me anything you like, but I am and try to be an Honest Clear Thinker!

I have not said all Clear Thinkers will or should call themselves, Atheists. I detest the fact the religions and governments apply the term "Atheists" to those who have learned and are learning to be Honest Clear Thinkers.

Now, it doesn't matter to me what you call yourself. You can call yourself, a Clear Thinker, an Agnostic, a Deist, an Atheist, a Rationalist, a Free Thinker, a Humanist, a Secularist, or anything else. You might just wish to call yourself, Free! How about a Justinian? Put any nametag on it you wish. The rose will always smell just as sweet and look exactly like a rose no matter what you call it. So, just be an Honest Clear Thinker.

I have not said all Clear Thinkers will agree on all subjects. There are always facts available to one person that are not available to others. Personal experience is full of facts for you to which I have not been privy. I have personal experiences that demonstrated facts to me that you may never encounter. But the beauty of it is, you can teach me from your experience and I can teach you from mine.

I have not said, nor claimed, that I have all the answers. In fact, some of you may be disappointed I have not dealt with more subjects. I have Opinions on many topics, but I do not claim my opinions are the only truth, or that they are a revelation of the truth. I have heard no voices in my head, nor seen things that others have not seen. I have spared you most of my opinions. (You are welcome.)

I would like to say a word to those, who after reading this book are still believers and who still plan to conduct their lives following and believing one of the religious faiths.

First, thank you for reading this book. At least you now know what a Clear Thinker is. You also know so-called Atheists are not evil or devils. You have learned your faith is a matter of where you were born, what your parents believed and where and when you have lived. If you were born in China or India, or Africa, you would likely have a different faith or belief and defend it as vigorously as you do your present belief or faith. Faith and belief are not just a matter of choice. They are much more a matter of chance. The only real choice you have is to do your own thinking, or let someone else do the thinking for you. Think about it.

For you who choose to remain religious, my hope is, you will follow the best teachings of your religion and set aside those harmful teachings that would make you prejudiced against those who are not of your faith. Set aside those teachings that would steal your ability to think honestly from you and your children. Follow the best teaching ever presented and you can sleep well at night knowing you are the best person you can be. That is,

DO NOT DO TO OTHERS WHAT YOU

WOULD NOT HAVE OTHERS DO TO YOU!

I have no big quarrel with you who remain religious. I only ask that you allow freedom to those other people who wish to use their Natural brains to think for themselves. It is true; thinking for yourself can cause some people to come up with unusual and different ideas. That is good.

In my case, I developed the Clear Thinking philosophy from studying the Bible, religious history and civil history before I even knew what real Atheism was. I read no Atheistic books until I was already a Clear Thinker. Indeed, I thought I was the Lone Ranger and I didn't even know a Tonto. We are talking L-O-N-E-L-Y here!

Imagine my surprise and relief when I found out millions of other people had held and do hold the Clear Thinking philosophy as their guide for life. I was absolutely delighted when I read "The Age of Reason" by Thomas Paine for the first time. I discovered Robert G. Ingersoll. He was recognized by his peers as the best speaker and writer of the English language during his time. You should check out some of his books.

One of the best books on the subject was written by Jean Meslier, a French Catholic priest who lived from 1678 to 1733. He left his book and his "LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT" to friends after his death. They were published secretly some years later and then translated into English. In my opinion, it remains one of the best books on the subject, provided one reads the unedited version. Some libraries still have the book (Superstition in All Ages by the Truth Seeker Press). It is worth anyone's time to read it regardless of your religious preference.

I discovered many other scholarly writers, some of whom had to publish their books in England, France or Germany. Then they had to be slipped into this country due to the religious censorship in the USA. Others were published or republished by the Truth Seeker Press, which is no longer publishing books since Mr. Johnson, the owner died. It has fallen on hard times. I do understand, it is now under new leadership and may resume publishing some needed and excellent books on Atheism and Free Thought.

I began to read the original biographies of great leaders and movers of society and found large portions of them were called Deists, Atheists or Free Thinkers. Then I began to read about the institutions of education, health and science. I found Atheists had started a great portion of them.

Here is a quote from Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc., about Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) in the "Medical and Health Annual" for 1989, page 108. It is titled: (I quote.)

[LEONARDO'S ADVICE: TRUTH BEFORE TRADITION.

There were two great characteristics in Leonardo's work. First, in the field of human anatomy as in other areas of endeavor, he believed in basing his studies on fact rather than on authority. He gave the world some excellent advice: If you find from your own experience that something is a fact, and if it contradicts what some authority has written, you must abandon the authority and base your reasoning on your own discovery of the truth. He was much criticized for this stand; many so-called wise men said that his ideas of anatomy could not possibly be true because some authority, some "mysticus" of the Middle Ages, had written down (out of his own imaginings, no doubt) that things were quite different. Leonardo cared little for the opinions of these people, however, and he expressed his opinion of them very pointedly: "I care no more for the wind that issues from their mouths than I do for that which issues from the hinder parts."] (End of quote.)

Leonardo was a Clear Thinker of the first order. If you wish to be a Clear Thinker and would like to know what kind of company you will be in after death (if there be such) you should read the life of Leonardo, Florence Nightingale, Voltaire, Edison, Tesla and don't forget Lincoln, Franklin, Thomas Paine and Thomas Jefferson among thousands of others.

If you decide to be an Honest Clear Thinker, you will be in some of the best company ever produced in this world. There is great need for the Truth of the Clear Thinking philosophy in our world today. You could be the one who can make something happen - right now. You could be the one who will cause people to Think. We need to get to work before it is too late for our country and our world.

LET'S DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT - NOW!

I thought seriously of starting a newsletter for all of those who are interested. In the newsletter, you could tell what you have been doing and you could read what other Clear Thinkers are accomplishing. From time to time one of us could have inside information about laws that are about to be passed, or about efforts to do some good work if several could get together to do it. There are many of you who may live in the same town, or even on the same street, but you do not know each other. A newsletter and this book could bring people together who are of like minds and live in the same area. Information on books available, meeting places and times could have a wider distribution. Even some ministers may wish to keep up with what is happening within the area of Clear Thought.

(Since this was written or completed [1989], a new field has opened up in the area of communications. The Internet and the World Wide Web has penetrated the horizon of the world like the rising sun. I found many good web sites. One is the Atheist Daily Briefing at http://www.atheistlaw.org/. To get on the excellent daily report of the Atheist News Service, e-mail (publiswrites@knology.net) or type in “Atheist News Service” in your search engine for their web site. I found the American Atheist on the Internet. Type in “American Atheist” and you will find their web site. I started my own web site and you may find it by typing in: “www.jovialatheist.com” on your search engine or browser.)

I am working on a bumper sticker, which will have no words on it. Instead, there will just be a picture of the Snake, which stands for wisdom, knowledge and thinking. When you see one of these bumper stickers, you will know you have a friend of like mind who lives honestly, works for justice, loves truth and loves his country. If you can't find one, then have one made. There is a good one on the back of this book. By the Snake, (of Knowledge and Wisdom) we can identify ourselves. Stick it in your back window, or on your bumper and find some like-minded friends. You will be glad you did.

Help get the Honest Man’s Philosophy to others

so everyone may have their own copy.

THANK YOU FOR READING THIS BOOK!
NOW RECOMMEND IT!

If you have read the HONEST MAN'S PHILOSOPHY up to this point, you are to be congratulated as a thoughtful, honest and courageous person. If you will read this book a second time, you are to be congratulated as an,

HONEST CLEAR THINKER.

I apologize for repeating myself in several places. It was necessary since some will skip through the book and will need certain specific information and ideas with that particular chapter.

AFTER THOUGHT

There are many places in the Honest Man's Philosophy where the author has made statements about the past, about biblical history, about ancient history and about the formation of the Bible and the early church. I didn't give you a battery of footnotes because they would have spoiled the continuity of the book and diverted your attention away from the main theme of this Book. For instance, Egypt is really the origin of Christianity by way of the Mithraic Church. To examine the full trail and impact of this truth would take a couple of volumes of information.

The main theme of this book is that you have a choice between honest doubt and dishonest belief. You have a choice between thinking or not thinking. You have a choice of following what some authority says is true, or of doing your own research, using your own mind and reaching your own honest conclusions.

There is not a normal honest person over sixteen years old who is not capable of doing just that - if they find the right starting point. The right starting point is "zero.” Do not assume that there is a god, a purpose or anything else. Then, and only then, can you ask the correct and honest questions. That is, "Is there a purpose or not? Is there a god or not? Is there a meaning or not?" Honesty forces a person to doubt, to think, to evaluate and finally, to arrive at conclusions that are honest and in harmony with the facts, with wholesome morality and with the truth of the matter.

Whether my conclusion, interpretation and opinion differs from yours on ancient history, the formation of the Christian church, on the formation of the Bible, on the contents of the Bible, on the cruel history of the early and even the modern church, it is totally irrelevant. My opinion is based on my studies. I have found the teaching from the church about the formation of the early church and the formation of the Bible to be totally false. The church denies their Mithraic and Egyptian roots by every means possible. Yet, all non-Christian sources plainly prove those Mithraic roots of the early church. Since I have not confined myself only to those things taught in the university and seminary textbooks, I sometimes bring some hidden information to you that makes for a different opinion than the accepted cultural or religious ones. I assure you my opinion is taken from a wide source of investigations. I may be wrong in some things and I am always looking for the latest information and discoveries. My position is ever ready to change in light of new facts and new discoveries.

I could have burdened you with a barrage of books, authors, texts, translations, interpretations, quotes and sources. I did not do this for several reasons. First, I wanted you to read the book. Many people will be interested in this topic, but if they see volumes of footnotes, references and numbers throughout the book, they may just lay it aside. Many people think to themselves, "I am not a scholar on this subject. I am sure I will not be able to understand what it says."

Second, for you, I tried to keep it simple. I tried to get you to Think. I tried to give you the scope of things without bogging down in a myriad of proofs, analysis, authorities and quotes. Every subject I brushed on in this book is available to you in any good library, bookstore or on Internet websites. I left tons of things out of this book in order to keep it to a quickly readable size.

I have not meant to offend any particular person's belief or religion.

I have meant to offend them all.

If I have overlooked your religion and belief, I apologize. Belief is the most terrible and destructive thing a person can do to himself, his family, his community, his state, his nation and his world. My friends, it is time to put away the childishness of belief and become Honest Clear Thinkers. Don't forget, you can Think and Grow to be happy and useful.

This book is not written to make you believe anything I have said. Rather, it is written to help you Honestly Doubt what I say and everything else that you have believed about religion, politics and what have you. This book is written to make you Think. It is written to give you a new starting point in life. You are being “reborn.” Myths do not become reality because you believe them. I have offered little to no proofs of many things I have written. But, I have offered you Common Sense and Honest Clear Thinking so You can find out what is true and what is false. If you are interested, overwhelming proof is available on the Internet and in any good public library.

Now the best of health and life to you!

THAT'S ALL FOLKS.

By the way, I have not said that once you read this book you are through with it. This book and this philosophy are like the "Tar Baby" in one of Joel Chandler Harris' Uncle Remus' stories. The more you fight it, the more you are stuck in the wisdom and truth of it. Once you read it, nothing can remain the same. What I am saying is (as far as your life is concerned) this is just,

THE BEGINNING!

Thomas E. Blaylock

Updated: 04/15/08