Table of Contents
Main help menu
Close help
 
Delusions

When one person suffers from a delusion, it is called insanity.

When many people suffer from a delusion, it is called Religion.

Robert M. Pirsig

You can’t convince a believer of anything;

for their belief is not based on evidence,

it’s based on a deep seated need to believe

Carl Sagan

Reason is a whore,

the greatest enemy that faith has.

Martin Luther

The word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honourable, but still primitive legends which are nevertheless pretty childish.

No interpretation no matter how subtle

can (for me) change this.

Albert Einstein

But we all recognise the primary foible of frail humanity — our propensity for embracing hope and shunning logic,

our tendency to believe what we desire rather than what we observe.

Stephen Jay Gould

The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic

is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one.

George Bernard Shaw

Properly read, the Bible is the most potent force for atheism ever conceived.

Isaac Asimov

Believing in God is like believing

in imaginary seat belts.

It gives you a false sense of security

Roedy

Photos taken in São João del Rey, Minas Gerais,

July 28th 2009

Quotes inspired by the book I'm reading now,

"The God Delusion", by Richard Dawkins

COMMENTS
Endomorphin said at 8:07 p.m. on Jul 30, 2009:
"The God Delusion" is a wonderful book. Great photos and quotes. Thanks for sharing!
Rita.Mandarino said at 8:37 p.m. on Jul 30, 2009:
uau! Fotos bárbaras! Não conheço S.João del Rey mas um dia vou ver toda essa exuberante coleção sacra.
DocEna said at 8:38 p.m. on Jul 30, 2009:
Impressive sculptures from the Barroco/Rococo Period of Minas Gerais. The quotes have strong intelligent men behind them. Eduardo I beg your forgiveness for using so much space in this comment but when I read the Title and the Quotes, it reminded me of a text I read sometime ago that deals with faith, delusion, God and ourselves.

Faith is not what some people think it is. Their human dream
is a delusion. Because they observe that faith is not followed by
good works or a better life, they fall into error, even though they
speak and hear much about faith. ``Faith is not enough,'' they
say, ``You must do good works, you must be pious to be saved.''
They think that, when you hear the gospel, you start working,
creating by your own strength a thankful heart which says, ``I
believe.'' That is what they think true faith is. But, because
this is a human idea, a dream, the heart never learns anything
from it, so it does nothing and reform doesn't come from this
`faith,' either.

Instead, faith is God's work in us, that changes us and gives
new birth from God. (John 1:13). It kills the Old Adam and makes us
completely different people. It changes our hearts, our spirits,
our thoughts and all our powers. It brings the Holy Spirit with
it. Yes, it is a living, creative, active and powerful thing, this
faith. Faith cannot help doing good works constantly. It doesn't
stop to ask if good works ought to be done, but before anyone
asks, it already has done them and continues to do them without
ceasing. Anyone who does not do good works in this manner is an
unbeliever. He stumbles around and looks for faith and good
works, even though he does not know what faith or good works are.
Yet he gossips and chatters about faith and good works with many
words.

Faith is a living, bold trust in God's grace, so certain of
God's favor that it would risk death a thousand times trusting in it.
Such confidence and knowledge of God's grace makes you happy,
joyful and bold in your relationship to God and all creatures. The
Holy Spirit makes this happen through faith. Because of it, you
freely, willingly and joyfully do good to everyone, serve
everyone, suffer all kinds of things, love and praise the God who
has shown you such grace. Thus, it is just as impossible to
separate faith and works as it is to separate heat and light from
fire! Therefore, watch out for your own false ideas and guard
against good-for-nothing gossips, who think they're smart enough
to define faith and works, but really are the greatest of fools.

Ask God to work faith in you, or you will remain forever without
faith, no matter what you wish, say or can do.


Martin Luther's Definition of Faith:
An excerpt from
"An Introduction to St. Paul's Letter to the Romans,"
Luther's German Bible of 1522
by Martin Luther, 1483-1546
Translated by Rev. Robert E. Smith
.... said at 8:41 p.m. on Jul 30, 2009:
Você sabe que gosto muito dessas fotos sacras.
Excelente tabblo.
Ainda não li o livro,mas quero.
Agora, a minha opinião é que :
_devemos usar o bom senso,
sem críticas.
uns imaginários,
outros concretos,
todos vivendo e convivendo bem.
Parabéns menino!
Ebucar said at 10:31 p.m. on Jul 30, 2009:
Nossa, Enaldo, depois do seu comentário, eu vou é me recolher...
Está nos meus planos um dia ir a São João del Rey. Por que parte do nome em espanhol, você sabe? Esse pedaço, pelos meus poucos conhecimentos históricos, nunca pertenceu à Espanha... Ou será que estou é viajando
Lifequest22 said at 12:12 a.m. on Jul 31, 2009:
Something to think about.
Karsten said at 12:26 a.m. on Jul 31, 2009:
they make great art though...! Love this tabblo eduardo - cotes, fotos and the meaning behind it !! Exelent!
Wildthing said at 5:39 a.m. on Jul 31, 2009:
Nice shots, Eduardo. As for 'delusions'.........It doesn't matter what you do or do not believe in, as long as you spend your life doing the right thing when you can, and caring about more than just yourself. Good & evil are permanent fixtures; neither will go away. Being nice and showing kindness is far more rewarding and productive than being bitter and selfish. Common-sense, really. And it has nothing to do with religion, just a good state of mind.
Jesusgoz said at 7:07 a.m. on Jul 31, 2009:
Éste es, por encima de cualquier otra consideración, un tabblo necesario. Gracias, Eduardo. El hecho, queramos o no, podamos o no, es que las religiones son otras de las cosas que nos separan y, por lo tanto, que engendran conflicto. Un abrazo.
Lange said at 7:12 a.m. on Jul 31, 2009:
são fotos que remetem às minhas origens... adoro quando voce vai pra minas eu vou junto depois... e sempre que entro no tabblo... a oito é bem sugestiva... este pé?????
Moabjeeper said at 7:16 a.m. on Jul 31, 2009:
Nice quotes and good pics.
Tishfish said at 7:17 a.m. on Jul 31, 2009:
I agree with Doc and Mike. It is so easy to be kind and considerate and so hard to be cruel and vindictive.
Lange said at 7:22 a.m. on Jul 31, 2009:
me lembrei do vídeo que assisti por indicação sua aquele papo do Caetano com o Milton sobre Minas... ir a minas é conhecer o verdadeiro Brasil intimamente, lá tudo te leva a meditar... a sentir que somos mesmo brasileiros...
Liliana said at 9:01 a.m. on Jul 31, 2009:
¡¡¡¡Gracias, Eduardo, es casi otro regalo de cumpleaños, esta iglesia mineira!!!!! ¿Y vos decías "saudades da Argentina"...? ¡Saudades de SAo Joao del Rey! Esos angelitos barrocos y ese techo son tan prototípicos que ya están instalados en mi inconciente, en mi piel, no sólo en mis retinas. Excelente siempre encontrar otras vistas de Minas.
Hay unos pies que parecen verdaderos, ¿son...?¿Qué anda pasando en esos templos mineiros...?
Algunas frases son geniales, otras creo que intentan ser originales. Con muchas estoy de acuerdo pero con una NO.
I don´t agree with the quote written by Roedy : me and my family are alive because we had put our security belt during a trip. If we had´t, I would not been writting this, we would not here... So, the security belt, for me give not a "false sense of security". About the relation with religion... it is other subject but the comparation is not very "happy", in my opinion...
Siempre Bernard Shaw, perfecto.
¿Qué libro es ese que estás leyendo, un ensayo...?
Liliana said at 9:04 a.m. on Jul 31, 2009:
BTW ("de paso"): ¿quién es Roedy...?
Hhwind said at 12:03 p.m. on Jul 31, 2009:
Wow a great discussion, nice work great pictures, I have to agree with Mike be mindful, be compassionate, do all the right things thanks
Bravemoonbearer said at 12:13 p.m. on Jul 31, 2009:
I agree with Mike, Teo, and Doc.
Eduardo.affonso said at 12:27 p.m. on Jul 31, 2009:
LILIANA: Não tenho a menor ideia de quem seja Rodey, mas há várias citações dele na internet, e ele tem um site onde discute religião. Imagino que possa ser um pseudônimo, ou, até mesmo, um grupo, ou uma instituição. Quanto ao cinto de segurança, acho que vc pulou uma palavra: ele fala em "cinto de segurança imaginário". Os tais pés do santo a que vc se refere também me chamaram a atenção (tinha estado várias vezes nesta igreja, a de São Francisco, e nunca tinha reparado neles).

SOLANGE: E não há Minas mais profunda que essa barroca, não? Esses pés me pareceram mesmo um tanto pornográficos no contexto desta igreja...

DOREEN: It's easy to be kind and considerate only for those who have a generous heart. For the rest of mankind (much more than 50%, I guess...) beind rude, cruel, vindictive, envious or simply unkind is the natural behavior.

JESUS: Siempre he oído decir que la mejor manera de ganar un enemigo es hablar de religión, fútbol o política. Los irlandeses y musulmanes lo pueden confirmar...

MIKE, TEO & SANDY: I totally agree with you. Ethics, goodness, generosity are not property of religious people only. Bin Laden, Hitler, Franco, Pinochet are/were religious people, and they are/were not any better than Stalin, Fidel, Mao and other famous atheists. Religion doesn't make miracles - it may help people to refrain their bad instincts, but doesn't erase them.

KARSTEN & LINDA: I wish all my tabblos could make people think and try to see things from a different point of view. I like when people's photos & quotes add something to my beliefs.

ELIANE: Parece que o Brasil inteiro já esteve sob domínio espanhol, pelo menos em teoria, durante um período em que a Espanha dominou Portugal (preciso confirmar quando foi isso, mas me lembro de ter lido algo a respeito). De qualquer modo, o "del Rey" não é Espanhol, e, sim, Português arcaico. As duas línguas já foram muito mais próximas, já tiveram muito mais semelhanças. O local onde foi construída Belo Horizonte se chamava Curral d'El Rey, vc sabia?

CIDA: Não estou achando o livro grandes coisas, mas acho que vale a pena ler. Concordo com vc: é possível conviver com as diferenças. Li outro dia que os puritanos que fundaram os Estados Unidos saíram da Inglaterra não porque não pudessem professar ali o seu credo, mas porque ali não lhe era permitido obrigar os outros a segui-lo também...

ENALDO: I, too, think that faith without deeds is dead, useless. I read somewhere that faith alone is a menu with 2,000 pages - and no food. I am atheist myself, but most of my best friends are religious people, and I trully respect and admire them and their beliefs. I just think in a different way, and never tried to "convert" any of them, because each one of us has the right to make his own choices. I don't believe in soul, final judgement, sin nor faith, but maybe I simply have other names for such things: transcendence, justice, ethics, firmness or purpose. I deal with my finitude in a more realist way, I guess. Maybe I will remain forever without faith, maybe not. Who knows?

RITA: Quase não tive tempo em São João (foram só poucas horas), mas vale a pena uma visita.

CLAY: I haven't finished this book yet, but it does make us think about the mistakes and misinterpretations of most things we have heard since we were babies. It shows that some "truths" are merely theories... That's why my heroes are people Galileo, Freud, Darwin.
Chilla said at 1:15 p.m. on Jul 31, 2009:
Eduardo, you are always full of new ideas and demanding more than a casual glance through your Tabblos. Here you have chosen some excellent pictures to illustrate some thought provoking quotations here and people have responded with interesting and thoughtful comments. I was brought up in a deeply religious home and have heard Richard Dawkins speak on a number of occasions and I am none the wiser! But it is a fascinating debate! Thank you.
Liliana said at 3:18 p.m. on Jul 31, 2009:
E verdad, cinturones de seguridad imaginarios... Igual, ¿cambia muuuucho la metáfora?
Vuelvo a saborear esta iglesia...
Loes said at 5:57 p.m. on Jul 31, 2009:
Just a wonderful tabblo!
Sonnia said at 9:25 p.m. on Jul 31, 2009:
Quando eu era criança tinha um medo danado dessas estatuas, pareciam tão vivas que me seguiam com os olhos e sabiam tudo o que eu andava fazendo...depois, a gente cresce e vê que eram bobagens infantis, e admira a arte humana - mas olhando bem suas fotos, ainda bate um medinho atávico - tão reais e coloridamente perfeito cenário das minhas memórias!!! Parabéns!!!
Jigs said at 10:49 a.m. on Aug 1, 2009:
Eduardo, going through this tabblo made me realize how much I've missed your brilliant eye and wonderful photography! I gasp in awe and admiration at each stunning image here!
Leftofcenter said at 6:22 p.m. on Aug 1, 2009:
I always buckle up. I know it saves lives. you say you "respect" your "best friends" religious views- but the Pirsig quote is judgemental at best? still, your photography is great. that's why I'm here.
Alcamac57 said at 6:56 p.m. on Aug 1, 2009:
Cher ami, Vossa mercê não sossega e continua rodando por aí, hein? Desta vez foste à S. João del Rey. Penso em ir à S. José del Rey que é ali pertinho. Hoje chama-se Tiradentes. Se eu for mesmo vou tirar umas fotos e colocá-las no Tabblo. Suas fotos estão ótimas, mas os comentários... tsc, tsc. tsc... um pouco tristes e negativos. Tudo bem. Cada um no seu quadrado.
Por contraste, Bernard Shaw me fez lembrar de uma passagem da vida de Sto Agostinho: Quando ainda era ateu, numa noite ele viu na rua um pobre bêbado. Sentiu primeiro repulsa pelo pobre diabo mas depois inveja. Considerou que o bêbado alegre e ruidoso no dia seguinte estaria curado da sua bebedeira mas que ele, Agostinho, sóbrio, bem-nascido e educado, um intelectual "bon vivant", continuaria com suas angústias interiores dia após dia, por vezes sem encontrar sentido algum na sua existência.
Liliana said at 8:54 p.m. on Aug 1, 2009:
Alberto: oi!!!! Gostei muuuuuito da passagem da vida do Sto. Agostinho! Acho que o B. Shaw sempre provocava...
Vc vai viajar como no século passado fizemos tudos juntos, no trem com a Maria Fumaça, se lembra??? Acho que vocês, osdois juntos, vao me matar de saudades!!!
EMA said at 12:19 p.m. on Aug 2, 2009:
Um Tabblo muito bonito e, pelo que li até aqui, muito polémico. A religião dá mesmo para isso. Geralmente prefiro nem falar sobre o assunto. De qualquer modo quero dizer que gostei muito das fotos, e concordo com a maioria das frases ditas. Concordo principalmente com o que escreveu o Mike e com a sua resposta para ele, TEO e SANDY, mas haveria tanto para dizer!...
Lifequest22 said at 12:24 p.m. on Aug 2, 2009:
Maybe life is just one big Delusion.
Debdog said at 9:04 p.m. on Aug 2, 2009:
well, my mind is like Mike's comment ....there is room in the world for all of us...we must respect one another's beliefs...sometimes something has to be experienced first hand to exact a change...or reinforce an existing belief.
Eduardo.affonso said at 10:58 p.m. on Aug 2, 2009:
ANNELIES: Alberto (aka Alcamac) is one of my best friends since we both were 18 yo. He is one of those Catholics who exist anymore - never misses the Sunday Mass, always sees the world from a religious perspective, lives according to the principles of the Bible even when they may seem anacronic for most people. In his comment, he quoted St. Augutin and said "your photos are great, but the quotes... tsk tsk tsk, a little bit sad and negative. It's ok. Each one on its own square" (it`s a Brazilian expression, meaning each one has his own space, there`s room for each one of us in this world).

CELIA: I too think it's a fascinating debate, specially when it involves bright people.

ALBERTO: Citei vc aí em cima, mesmo sem a sua permissão. Sua citação do Santagustim me lembra aquela do Churchill que, ao ser chamado de bêbado por uma deputada, respondeu que não tinha problema, porque no dia seguinte ele estaria sóbrio - pior era ela, que era feia... Aguardo suas fotos de Tiradentes (aproveite para ir a Bichinho, que é lá perto!).

JIGS: It`s easy to make good photos of such wonderful baroque churches. But I wished to add something to them, hence the quotes.

EDITE: Sempre haverá mais a dizer, porque o assunto é inesgotável. Mas acho que atingi o meu objetivo: o contraste das imagens sacras com as citações sacrílegas provocou toda essa troca de ideias.

LINDA: Life is certainly the biggest delusion...

DEBBIE: I totally agree. Our ideas and beliefs are continuoulsy changing as we grow up, as we learn, and we have new experiences. One`s religiosity is not the same at 5 yo and at 15 and at 25 and at 50 yo. I have much more doubts than convictions now (and I used to be sure about everything when I was 17...).

LOES: Thank you! Baroque churches like this one are part of our cultural heritage, and tell a lot about how religion was treated centuries ago in this country.

SONIA: Eu tb morria de medo de algumas estátuas (as piores ainda estão por postar...). Me lembro da procissão do encontro, na semana santa, em que duas procissóes saíam da igreja por caminhos separados, uma dos homens levando Cristo e sua cruz, outra das mulheres levando Maria. Como eu era muito pequeno, ia com minha mãe, na procissão das mulheres, e entrava em pânico ao ver aquele Cristo doloroso, ensanguentado, todo de roxo, vindo na minha direção. Até que uma vez uma ventania se abateu sobre as procissões e, de repente, o manto de Maria rodopiou no ar, deixando ver que por baixo havia apenas uma estaca, com uma cabeça na ponta... Nem preciso contar quantos pesadelos tive com isso!

LILIANA: Quando vc vier para o Carnaval, organizamos uma excursão a São João, pode deixar.
Leftofcenter said at 7:14 a.m. on Aug 3, 2009:
Thx, Edu. I actually babafished his comment. I liked the "envy" story about the drunk being sober the next day but the well-educated intellectual atheist.................. yes, there's room for everyone (although some take up more space than others..)
Eduardo.affonso said at 8:21 a.m. on Aug 3, 2009:
Fortunatelly (or maybe unfortunatelly), I am just a plain atheist, not a well-educated intellectual... Sorry for the typos and mistakes (I missed a ""don't" when I wrote "he is one of theose catholics who DON'T exist anymore; mispelled "St. Augustin" etc). I know what you mean when you say some people take up more space than others - but our sistah has been very quiet lately... LOL
Leftofcenter said at 8:42 a.m. on Aug 3, 2009:
RS RS
Ira said at 2:58 p.m. on Aug 3, 2009:
" I know, that nothing I know... " Beautiful photos and difficult question of religion
Noe said at 11:14 p.m. on Aug 3, 2009:
Para empezar, todo el arte que tiene esta iglesia es bellisimo, los detalles que captaste con tus fotos son geniales como siempre, y las frases que utilizaste completaron un muy buen tabblo, saludos!
Mirella said at 3:16 p.m. on Aug 4, 2009:
Difficult concepts!!!!Fortunately we're free to believe in what we want to. What is important is TO BEE FREE. As ever, you make us think , and this is good!!!!!Ciao, amigo!!!!
. By the way, I like your photos, but not this kind of style : too much gold, to many 'ecstasies". I like S.Francis..........
Eduardo.affonso said at 6:32 p.m. on Aug 4, 2009:
IRA: Religion is a private matter, a personal choice that affect the way we face life (and death). I know that nothing I know, too... and my ignorance keeps my mind open.

NOE: Muchísimas gracias. La arquitectura religiosa en Latinoamérica tiene algo que está más allá de la reproducción de los estilos importados de España y Portugal. Hay algo todavía más conmovente, creo. Y oro, mucho oro...

MIRELLA: Freedom (of though, of sepeech) is one of the most essential things in life. I tend to be more "franciscan", too, but these golden altars are part of our history, culture, and I love them, in spite of all the contradictions they represent.
Add a comment
Flag this tabblo as "may offend"