Who founded Christianity?

At first thought, many would think it's Jesus. But no!

Similar to Buddhism, it is his followers/disciples who founded Christianity. Fundamentally, Christianity is based on the teachings and life of Jesus Christ.

It is said that Jesus was a Jew and he was even sentenced to death for blasphemy by the Jews themselves. (A Jew is someone who practises Judaism).

I don't subscribe to the religion but I like the teachings of Jesus. He is one Prophet that everyone should look up to. Love, forgiveness, and brotherhood are the main theme of Christianity. That's what I like about his teachings.

He who have not sinned shall cast the first stone

Since I don't read the Bible, I'm not sure if this is told in the Bible. But I have watched a scene from a movie about Jesus and I heard him uttered this phrase. I'm no longer a practising Catholic but I still admire the teachings of Jesus Christ.

The story goes like this.

A woman was running for her life away from an angry mob. The mob were not just chasing her, they were also pelting her with stones as they chased after her all because she has committed adultery.

Soon, the mob cornered her and violently pelted her with stones. Thankfully, Jesus happened to be around and he saw and heard the commotion. Quick enough, he walked in and stood in between the mob and the woman. He then uttered this famous phrase,
"He who have not sinned shall cast the first stone"

Immediately, everyone stopped what they were doing. Embarassed by their actions, the mob dispersed and walked away.

Jesus then said to the woman, "go forth and commit this sin no longer".

Perhaps, Jesus should come and spread this message to our Malaysian politicians and religious officials. They are not angels and yet they want to be our moral police.

Although I am an atheist, I admire how Christians preach one to forgive and love their enemies, INSTEAD of killing their enemies.

Buddhism is not a religion!

I have always knew that.

Buddha has never preached any religion at all in the first place. It is his followers who created the religion - Buddhism. Buddhism is supposed to be a philosophy.

There is an article in TheStar featuring Gary Gach, the author for The Complete Idiot's Guide to Buddhism. He clearly stated "Buddhism is not a religion". He is right!

From what I understand about Buddhism, Buddha preached that one should live a simple lifestyle. The more desires/temptations you have, the more you will suffer. So, live a simple lifestyle to end those suffering! Yet, I have seen a Buddhist monk driving a Mercedez. That is so extravagant!

What are the teachings of Buddha? It basically centres around the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path.

The four noble truths are as follows:
1. Ordinary life is suffering
2. Suffering is caused by desire to satisfy oneself
3. We end suffering by ending those desires
4. follow the 8 fold middle path

So, let's practise Buddhism by following the Noble Eightfold Path: right understanding, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration.

Buddha asked his followers not to idolise him. So, to practise Buddhism, you don't need to shave your head, wear a robe, be like him, and to pray to him. That's what Buddha did not want you to do - to idolise him. So, don't idolise Buddha. Buddhism is actually a philosophy.

All you need to do is just to live a simple lifestyle and be compassionate! And most importantly, do good for the sake of goodness!

Why do Chinese eat Mandarin oranges? The answer is...

Family Unity/Family Reunion!

Told ya...the answer is very simple and pragmatic. You may want to read my earlier post first.

First of all, one can easily peel off a Mandarin orange unlike a Sunkist orange where you need a knife.

So, the Professor explained that during Chinese New Year, the head of the family will peel off a Mandarin orange and distribute piece by piece to each of his family member (assuming in a big Chinese family setting) in a typical round table. So, it helps to cement a stronger relationship between each other during Chinese New Year. Ultimately, it fosters family unity and togetherness.

The same goes with steamboat and yee sang. It made everyone and each family member far away to come together to enjoy a meal together during Chinese New Year - only once a year. It made sense, doesn't it?

So, it has nothing to do with luck, according to the Professor. Well, I agreed.

Hmm...I think I should have blogged this during the Chinese New Year period to coincide with that celebration instead of now. :)

Why do Chinese eat Mandarin oranges?

I attended a talk once and there was this Professor who posed this question. So, why do Chinese eat Mandarin oranges during Chinese New Year? There was a long pause before someone finally uttered 'good luck' as the answer.

The Professor (who is not a Chinese) replied that 'good luck' is not the actual reason why Chinese eat Mandarin oranges.



I like this question because it made everyone dumbfounded when he said that good luck is not the original reason why Chinese eat Mandarin oranges. I always know that Chinese love following old traditions without knowing the actual reason behind it.

I believe that some unscrupulous businessmen have been telling everyone to buy their mandarin oranges during Chinese New Year for 'good luck'. Indeed, mandarin oranges sound like 'gold' in cantonese.

When the Professor finally revealed the actual reason why Chinese eat Mandarin oranges in the olden days, everyone was surprised. I find the reason to be very logical and very pragmatic.

So, do you think you know why Chinese eat Mandarin oranges during Chinese New Year? No, it is not good luck.

Come back to me once you know the answer. In fact, the reason is just very simple and pragmatic. So think about it.


Perhaps, you can read my blog post here again
http://gabrielgim.blogspot.com/2008/12/philosophy-2.html
'Empty your cup so that it may be filled; become devoid to gain totality' (Bruce Lee from the Tao of Jeet Kune Do)


In another words, it explained that you should...
Erase everything what people have been telling you all these years and you should instead find out the real truth.

So, stay tuned...

Or click here.

Philosophy #4

"You can choose to blame your unfortunate circumstance on fate, bad luck, or a bad decision"

Ok, it is time for some philosophical lecture again. I heard this quote from a certain character in One Tree Hill. I'm not a fan of that TV series but I was walking pass the TV when I heard someone blurted that out. I thought it was a thought-provoking quote, just suitable for me to put pen to paper on this.

To adopt a practical living, one should neither believe in fate nor luck. If one believes in fate, it means that his/her destiny is fixed. So, what's the point of working hard to achieve success? No matter how hard I try, there will be some setback because I'm destined to fail. So you see where it is heading?

Furthermore, believing in luck encourages the gambling habit. Oh, I think I have some luck today, I should buy 4D today. Awww, I missed the number, I'd blame it on my bad luck. Gambling is all about playing the game of probability. It has nothing to do with luck.

You yourself determine your destiny! There is no short cut to success.
If you study hard, you will score well in exam.
A footballer who trains diligently will perform well in the field.

Donald Trump claimed that success is attributed to one's talent and brainpower. I agree to that! There is no good luck to it. You work hard, you reap the success. Simple as that.

When something unfortunate happens, think back again...was it your fate, bad luck, or bad decision?

Now wait...
Since I'm down with some respiratory disorder, should I blame it on fate, bad luck or bad decision? That's a tough question, I have to admit. Gee. :) But certainly not fate! I don't believe in luck either. Bad decision perhaps. I must have walked to the wrong place at the wrong time and somebody spread some germs to me. Or what if it is not an infection afterall and it is something worse?

Many of my kind hearted friends have prayed for me, some had persuaded me to return to religion and some had asked me to pray, which I did albeit being an atheist. Perhaps, it's time for me to embrace Catholicism once again because I know that sometimes certain events and incidences are beyond our control which may require divine intervention. Contemplating, contemplating.....

Alright, back to the philosophical discussion.
To put it in a nutshell, you yourself carve your future!

#3 - The core atheistic philosophy

"Do good for the sake of goodness."
This is the staple principle for any atheists around the world.

If you see a hungry dog. Feed it.
If the dog needs shelter. Give it a shelter.
If someone needs help. Help that person.

Somehow, we can easily see many people today do 'good' not for the sake of goodness but with some intention. We all can see a very good example during the chinese vegetarian month. Out of a sudden, everyone becomes vegetarian in that month. Why? Is it because they do really have pity on animals? Or they are doing just to please their Gods? Tell me. Some even go to the extent of becoming a vegetarian only on the last day of the vegetarian month. This is not really a sincere act, seriously! If one is really a vegetarian, I'm pretty sure that person is an animal lover. Guess what! Those so called people who goes vegetarian were seen hurting stray dogs. Yes, that's right.

So, what's the point? You become a vegetarian but the next day, you hurt a stray dog. Furthermore, these people park their cars haphazardly along the roads just to enjoy their vegetarian meals yet knowing that they are jamming the road. Where are the manners, veggie people!

On the issue of dogs again, I come to know some people who keep dogs not because they like dogs but they do it hoping to get something in return from their Gods!!! Oh my....

The point is...do good for the sake of goodness. Period.

Philosophy # 2

' The classical man is just a bundle of routine, ideas, and tradition. When he acts, he is translating every living moment in terms of the old'
Bruce Lee (1975, p. 16) The Tao of Jeet Kune Do

Please read it, understand it, and absorb it. Bruce Lee was referring 'it' to the Kung Fu filled with unnecessary classical patterns and movements. Therefore, he created his very own philosophy of the martial arts - Jeet Kune Do. I am applying that philosophy in my atheistic philosophy.

Remember the last time you are observing a routine traditional ceremony. Ask yourself whether it has any purpose, function or value in it. It it does not, discard it.

'Empty your cup so that it may be filled; become devoid to gain totality'
Bruce Lee (1975, p. 14) The Tao of Jeet Kune Do

If it does not contain any purpose, function, or value, why are you still observing it? Why are you following the footsteps and shadows of the classical man - our ancestors? The classical man who lived 999 years before us....why are we following his shadows?...when we are living in the 21st century. When you follow his shadows, you are actually trying to live in the times of your ancestors.

We are living in the present with the Internet right in front of our eyes!

Unlearn all those unnecessary ceremonies, traditions, and routines. Empty your cup! Fill your cup with your own way of living!

Apply this very important philosophy right now!

Listening to the classical man is about understanding the routine, traditions, shadows, and his wayward beliefs. 'You are not understanding yourself' (Bruce Lee, 1975, p. 17).

Listen to yourself and understand yourself.

The Philosophies of Gabriel Gim - The Way of the Atheist

If Bruce Lee could write The Tao of Jeet Kune Do, I should start writing my own philosophies on the way of living as an atheist. Hmmm...let's call it...The Way of the Atheist.

By the way, this blog was initially intended to be dedicated to my very own writing of my philosophies but somehow I lost tracked and diverted into a dogs' rights activist. But I am indeed a strong advocate of dogs' rights.

Nevertheless, let's start writing!

My very first very controversial philosophy.
Here goes..

'Men created God'

That's right, folks. Men created the word god and everything related to god. We don't see animals praying. So why only humans pray to god? Because, they themselves created god.
I strongly believe religion was designed as a guideline to one's morality and consciousness. But the followers have always interpreted religions in a different way to the extent that the major religions in the world have turned into something iconic or symbolic, into a club, into an organisation or a society where one can bond with each other and starts to advocate their beliefs to others.

I believe religions should be ripped of all its Godly supernatural beliefs and we should go back to the core of religion:- Philosophy and morality!

There is no god but men's god. It is our past ancestors who have created god. So, why are we believing someone who lives in the times of the barbaric era and when there is no Internet and space shuttle in those times? Why are we believing in it when we have not seen it? We believe in God because of the bounded societal culture we are living in. Only a few of us could break free from this barrier and started thinking scientifically and philosophically about the truth of the universe. And I am one of them:- an atheist!
Are you?

Try to reflect on yourself one day and ask yourself why are you still doing what your ancestors have been doing for the past 999 years? Times have changed and so must you!

From this very first philosophy of mine, Men created God, it lead me to my second philosophy which I shall discuss in the future.