This year I shall be humble, I shall not be ashamed of not knowing and requiring to learn. The shame of not knowing is the biggest impediment to learning for me. 

observation

I was shocked when people in America showed atmost prejudice against Atheists, more than towards other religions which are against their religion, like Islam or Hindu. Recently I realised that lot of people in my day to day life also believe that people who believe and fear God are more righteous, less likely to cheat etc! God fearing people are more trust worthy!

This is such a shock me to, Daily we read in the news paper corrupt people donating huge amounts to temples, Godmen horror stories, priests abusing children and what not ? Are they not reading this? 

There are people on my facebook declaring religion and hence god, is the root of all human problems. They are so vocal, I almost believed that such a view  is much more common than it actually is. Its is a very small percentage who have that kind of view.  The consensus in not only in America but India as well is that god fearing person is somehow better

:-) 

So if you want to create a good image better to keep you Godlessness to yourself my friend, along with your voluntary childlessness, partnerlessness, dislike of dogs/cats/children/chocolate/ice cream and feminist views :D

Tim Farron was the leader of Liberal Democratic party in UK, He has recently declared that his previous statement that "gay sex isn't sin" is false, He has confessed that he does indeed believe that gay sex is sin, as he is a devout christian.

I am thinking how much like a gay person he is. I mean being a christian and believing in sin and such and then being a liberal. No camp will accept him. Liberals would want him out, what kind of liberal doesnot support LGBT rights? And conservatives and the right wing - may want him in, but He wouldnt  want to be with them because he is, well, a Liberal. Such an odd category and stereotype defying person. Who cant fit in anywhere.  Just like a gay person would be ( in pre 2010 world? )  :-)

Inheritance - selfishness

Buddha is criticised by some people for leaving his wife and kids and going in pursuit of enlightenment. Selfish. Is it selfish?

Caring for our child and our wife is our duty. Caring for our parents our family. 

What happens if you are enlightened and you start treating everyone as your own? What if you have same amount of love for any stranger as for your own? If you care for yourself more than your family you are selfish, if you care for your family more than for strangers you are still same level of selfish, but it helps keep the society running and stable. 

So when some people transcend the level of family group they may come across as weird or selfish to us. 

To an extent because of governments and taxes we are caring for strangers indirectly.

I was asked a question in a course, if your neighbours child is very smart and your child is average, would you pay for your neighbours child to go to medical school rather than yours? We do it today, by paying taxes and the govt subsidies the seats for children based on merit. Taxes are somewhat of an equaliser that way. 

We are doing it because we are forced to do it, if we were asked to do it voluntarily we would be accused by family for being selfish. 

When things become critical we start being more reasonable, if it became vital for our survival that the best kid becomes doctor and our lives depended on it, we would obviously all pay for education of neighbours kid to be a doctor. 

Our values and morals have very small context, they are not universal. It is to make the present society work, they dont apply to all and everyone. Ever the modern liberal values.

so many billions of humans - If they turn around, we have so many people to do the work to fix this as well... so may be cancer cells can become stem cells :)