o0o Thursday August 27th 1998, 11:43 pm o0o

I had some interesting conversations today about things ranging from life after nuclear war to religion with heavy doses of moral and social responsibility thrown in.

The discussion with Sean was, in part, a response to our current situation with Afghanistan. we somehow got on the subject of nuclear war and pondered three options: Life on a radiated surface, Life in space, and life in an underground bunker shielded from the radiation. we agreed that life in an underground bunker was what we'd want, given the choice. We then went about designing our bunkers.

We figured 5 years in the bunker waiting till radiation levels were low enough to return top-side, and that any smallish even number of people was acceptable. we were afraid of social structures involving odd numbers especially 3 people as they are often more unstable and the cabals that form more vicious. I believed that as long as resources (oxygen, food, water, and heat) and personal space/privacy were available the group could function indefinitely. Sean believed that psychosis was just a matter of time.

Though we never discussed the size of the bunkers, we did talk about systems it would need. A large supply of water (1000+ gallons) with a water purifying system that could salvage most of the used water was important. A large storage of dried food and a garden that could sustain the group would be needed. Plants in addition to the garden would be used for oxygen. we'd use full spectrum lights, powered by cycles and a system that generated electricity from the processing of waste products, and a highly reflective surface like mylar to support the plants. Heating, ventilation, cooking and filter systems were not fully discussed.

For the decor I wanted a very top-side oriented setup, Sean thought black stucco or granite walls would be nice, womb like I guess. We spent easily a half an hour on this discussion that ended with the comment, "Or I'd just watch the shock wave, because it was pretty. And then none of this would matter." some stuff on the need for society followed.

Religion is a common topic of discussion with my mom. she'll usually listen to me rant and provide obstacles for me to overcome. I believe that religion exists primarily to ensure that the masses have a strong moral and ethic code that would prevent social unrest, allow society to function, prevent disease, and provide a strong since of duty in times of need. with everything else being filler that is relevant usually only to the time and place the religion was founded. I'm a very spiritual person; I believe in God, but I do not believe in organized religion.

My main grievance with organized religion is the power given to certain men to continuously interpret and filter the information given to fit a certain earthly ideal. this has allowed for countless numbers of schisms to form and, in my opinion, lowered the value of such institutions. While such manipulations of scripture, using it as a tool to generate support, can be helpful to society (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Mohandas Gandhi, Mother Teresa, etc...) It also can be very harmful, just look at the bigoted hatred that right wing senators are trying to pass off as morals.

I want people to think for themselves, to form there own reasoned judgments. I don't want people blindly accepting what their moral and religious leaders feed them; I've seen to much of that and believe it moves people away from God.

Well, I grow weary so good-bye for now.

- 12:32 am

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