Α1. Awake to Brilliance

“If there’s a God, why doesn’t he expose himself?” said uncle Bob, while pantomiming a lecherous flasher

opening his trench-coat. I empathize with such blasphemous, laissez-faire, and admittedly comical sentiment.

Since most pious people are hypocritical and mean, ridicule and resentment is expected. Besides, organized

religions have shattered into pieces.

Yet anti-religion fails too. I’ve relished atheist Bill Maher’s movie Religulous (ridiculous religion).

However, his movie ends with bombs exploding, leaving pertinent questions unanswered.(1) Irreligious people

are often selfish and antagonistic, causing more problems than they solve.

Others say that politics can solve humanity’s ills. Some champion technology; some champion

psychology; others trumpet interesting philosophies. Yet people of every persuasion are generally closeminded

and antagonistic or anything goes relativists, and therefore completely ineffective. Since these issues are astro-

nomically important, I’ve dedicated my life to following another path, and to opening hearts and minds. Two ge-

Two general camps produce superfluous rhetoric: Religious self-help books inflate your ego and tell you to seek

“God” (often emotionality and conflicting opinions). Some promote sectarian bias; others, merely “feel good”

books. Secular self-help books also inflate your ego. They tell you to look within yourself, while others are ne-

gated or ignored.

Most people need admonition, not encouragement, while those on society’s lowest rung need en-

couragement and self-affirmation (we get those two switched around). Since the advent of ego boosting books,

society has worsened instead. So critical works are indispensable; they address problems so they can be fixed.

Shockingly, humanity’s timeless values which worked throughout the ages have been scrapped for modern id-

eas. Yet we’re usually worse off. So don’t assume we have the truth. Assume that we have swallowed lies.

A Little about Myself

I’m a unique person most say is highly intelligent. So my perspective may shed light on various issues where

others cannot. I’m single, without children, and retired from employment at age forty. These factors gave me

a colossal advantage; many years and unlimited opportunities to research and develop my positions.

While others boast of success with human relationships, I do the opposite. Being an outsider, I’m

qualified to understand what’s wrong with society. Hence, my overarching goal is social advocacy. By delving

into sad past experiences, I attempt to help others who are presently in those situations. I don’t dwell in the past,

I’m saying that I’ve been there, you’re not alone, and we will forge ahead. I admonish society, encourage the

downtrodden, and elaborate on unpopular positions, as popular positions have already been explained. Even

viewpoints which forcefully oppose yours can be more useful than beliefs you dispassionately agree with. I’m a

rationalist, history student, and science lover who bolsters his positions with logical reasoning, while encourag-

ing dialogue or debate. The crucible of debate forges truth. And truth has nothing to fear. Quoting poet John

Milton: “Let her [truth] and Falsehood grapple; who ever knew Truth put to the worse in a free and open en-

counter?”2

I’m bold and straightforward in my beliefs; as a wise man said: “Some people must be hit right

between the eyes with a two-by-four just to get their attention.” Most people retain the convictions they were

were raised with, regardless of logic or practicality. So our ingrained presuppositions must be broken to facil-

itate change. Passivity or even assertiveness often fail, while aggression and provocativeness can ignite change.

Radical changes in the 1960s through social upheaval are prime examples.

Supposed Sources of Truth

Those in authority often gain their position from winning a popularity contest. Two people with identical titles

have had exact opposite views, while both claiming to be right. And leader’s reputation and livelihood depend

on what they’re currently promoting, so they don’t dare admit they’re wrong, while non-professionals aren’t

trapped into any system. Authorities’ time is also squandered on administrative duties and wasteful bureaucra-

cy. And power certainly corrupts.

Specialized degrees supposedly indicate wisdom and knowledge. However, advanced education

breeds arrogance and inflexibility. People may be educated on what benefits them, not what’s good for others.

Besides, all religious, political, and philosophical groups have been proverbial wormy apples. Even medicine,

science, and technology have been corrupted. Therefore I relish the nourishing aspects, while spitting out the

worms. No one group presents an untarnished example of humanity, a brilliant beacon of virtue. If that were so,

these arguments would have ceased.

Do not trust television, newspapers, schools, or even scientific or religious groups to tell the truth

about human nature. Frequently, whoever runs these institutions only has their own interests in mind; they de-

monize those who expose their lies.

Popularity

People often submit to popular consensus. However, one definition of democracy is two wolves and a lamb

voting on what to have for lunch. Instead, by exorcising herd mentality we will progress. Consider the follow-

ing story: A vain emperor places an ad for a tailor to make him the finest suit of clothes anywhere. A swindler

answers the ad, saying that the best suit of clothes requires a fabric invisible to anyone who is incompetent or

hopelessly stupid. Afraid of appearing unfit for his position, the emperor psyches himself out until he actually

believes the clothes are real. So the swindler finishes “the suit” and mimes dressing the emperor. The emperor

then parades in his “new clothes” before his subjects, who were also brainwashed by the pretense. This goes on

the entire evening. Suddenly, a geek in the crowd cries out “But he’s completely naked!” shocking everyone to

their senses. So everyone else takes up the same cry and demolishes the deception.(3) Delusions reign in socie-

ty. However, these delusions aren’t just an embarrassment, they are extremely harmful. “In time of universal

deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”-------------George Orwell.4

Love of Humanity

Although love always wishes the best for others, love is constantly perverted into supporting other’s immediate

gratification. By advocating restrictions on behavior you might be accused of “hateful nonsense.” Yet love oft-

en entails forgoing gratification to obtain greater gratification much later. Sometimes love requires negating

gratification for some to obtain gratification for many, or negating gratification for many to obtain greater gratif-

ication for another group of many.

Love even calls for curbing the gratification of many to support the few, such as our tax money

supporting the handicapped. It may even call for permanently restricting natural behavior in view of higher

goals. So everything I cover, including philosophy, science, religion, psychology, technology, money, comm-

unication, social interactions, sexuality, gender, race, and politics, is based on love whether you recognize it or

not.

Assume Nothing

Make no assumptions about my beliefs based on my chapter titles, skimming through my book, or reading only

one chapter; I will be misunderstood. This is not your typical book; it is a series of nonfiction persuasive argu-

ments crowned by a science fiction satire. Some chapters are lengthy because I must keep the subjects together

so my book is not read in piecemeal fashion and readers miss my point. Some topics do not stand alone and

rely on other sections to bolster my position. So are you ready to be wowed by truth? Then read on.