banksy

If you have not heard of the artist banksy, I recommend checking out his website at https://www.banksy.co.uk/

Thank you banksy. Robin Banks or whatever your name is. Thank you for your brilliant anti-war, anti-capitaist and anti-establishment images and ideas. Your messaging is super powerful. Street art, clearly understood and in the right location, is so important right now. Humans needs to hear other unfiltered human voices outside of the commercial mainstream. Thank you for inspiring others to take a stand in public and in a non commercial way. I particularly admire the Slave Labor mural on the clothing store and the shredded Love is in the Bin art intervention.

Why are so many Chinese people atheist? What do they believe in instead of a god?

I found this question on the Quora website at
https://www.quora.com/Why-are-so-many-Chinese-people-atheists-What-do-they-believe-in-instead-of-a-god

I am a complete beginner on this subject, but I found so much of this discussion enlightening. As I have no idea whether the web page above will remain as it is, I will give you the general ideas and then use some of the responses in the post to illustrate.

The idea conveyed by some of the responses is that a lot of Chinese traditions, culture and belief come from Confucianism and Taoism, which are closer to philosophy than religion. In general, instead of believing that there is an all powerful creator that rules over our lives, humans are responsible. In Confucianism, instead of things like the 10 commandments, there are values, such as benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom and fidelity. Taoists believe in self cultivation and living in harmony. The atheism tradition in China is a lot like humanism.

Jade Wong wrote:
Religion never played an important role in Chinese history,… Confucius said “How can you serve gods before knowing how to serve humans?” and “If life is not understood, how could death be fathomed?” She wrote that instead of religion, they believe in “love, integrity, politeness, hard work, honesty, loyalty, and treating our families well.”

Shao Jiang wrote:
“In the West: long ago, God had caused a great flood in the world. God wanted Noah to build an ark and God stopped the Flood.

In the East: a long time ago, there was a great flood in the world. A man named Daxie led people to work hard and eventually dredged the flood and defeated natural disasters.

Do you see the difference now? Yes, even in mythological stories, we Chinese have always believed in ourselves instead of relying on God to save.”

Zhou Wenda wrote:
“Lets compare the ancient myths:

Genesis: the God said, and happened.

Chinese version: Pan Gu made an axe, then chopped the chaos divided into sky and earth, then died. All body parts turned into everything.”

The Great Flood: the God punished all unrespectful human being, only the chosen was informed and survived, alongside sample of life forms he carried with the Ark.

Chinese version: Never gave a damn on how it comes since the flood was already here. The first disaster relieving chief-official built dams for 9 years, and it didn’t work, so the he got convicted and executed. Yu became successor of father’s duty. He devoted next 13 years dig canals and dredge rivers, drove the flood into ocean. Voila! All clans happily acclaimed him as next king.

A common question from outsider about Chinese atheism is: Don’t they believe anything DIVINE and INVIOLABLE?

In narrow sense, NO. Nothing beyond living human. That was how Chinese comprehend the universe belongs to both human and god, from pre-history age till now.”

Zhang Liyu wrote:
“Unlike Abraham’s religious, Chinese think that control the fate of the universe is not a personal God, but the universe itself.

we have the saying「顺其自然」[shùn qí zì rán] (Taoist Philosophy, means “to let nature take it’s course”)&「人定胜天」[rén dìng shèng tiān] (Confucian Philosophy, means “Man ‘s will, not heaven, decides.”)

For thousands of years, the true faith of Chinese people is only one「敬天法祖」“Reverence for nature, Follow the ancestors”.

Samuel wrote:
“I grew up in an environment which implied “respect [for] ghosts and spirits, but keep them at a distance” and disdained “religious fanaticism above rational reasoning”. “

Reina Stweart wrote:
“The Chinese are not atheists, in fact, the traditional Chinese culture is idealistic.

The Chinese have a different view of mythology than Westerners and are freer in their religious beliefs. In fact, China has always been polytheistic and pantheistic. But the Chinese do not care what religion other people believe in, they are simply not interested and believe that it’s not their business.

But for Chinese people, the most important “God” is their ancestors, who have passed away, but the soul will watch over them from the sky and protect them. Therefore, they always remind themselves of what they can and cannot do, because the souls of their ancestors are watching them all the time. When Chinese people do something wrong, they usually say that they feel ashamed because they let their ancestors down. They believe that, in everything they do, they are responsible for their children and grandchildren.

Generally speaking, most of the Chinese believe in karma…..So most of the Chinese people have a very strong moral sense, and probably part of the reason why China is one of the safest countries in the world is that they believe that no matter what they are doing, God is watching them, whoever that God is, and sometimes they don’t even know who it is…”

Quanicus wrote:
“Chinese people believe in ourselves, instead of a god. “

Toby Wilson wrote:
“This might sound peculiar to you, but when you stop believing in gods, it’s not necessary to get yourself a god substitute, like some kind of theistic nicotine patch. Gods are simply unnecessary.”

Terry Lo wrote:
How can over 1 billion European people not believe in my Chinese ancestors?

You sound like you believe in faith, so you most likely believe in spirits and such. Unlike your god, my Chinese ancestors ACTUALLY existed and there’s more than a little documented proof that goes back centuries to even millenia in some cases, with corroborating documented witnesses, records and texts as opposed to writings taken from the world’s longest game of broken telephone, centuries after the fact by semi-literate goat herders with no matching documentation by one of the single greatest empires in the world, the Roman Empire and their numerous historians and truly extensive records that survives to the present day.

Harry Xie wrote:
“It’s because we are are communist state.

That’s it. We may not have been that religious in a western sense because of the thousands years of secular rule, but that doesn’t mean Chinese have not been spiritual
…..
Many religious people in the west says the Chinese government suppresses religion. That’s silly. The constitution says everyone is free to choose (or not to choose) a religion and that article is pretty well respected in practice. It implies that no religion is allowed to seek any advantage over another. As a result, religious teachings in schools and any public space (where a mandatory presence is required) is deemed illegal based on the ground that they violate the freedom of practising a different religion or not practising one at all (with exceptions in some autonomous areas). “

What to do with garbage and compost

We will compost all your organic waste for you, but there is no garbage pickup here and no garbage dump within 50 km. As such, other than organic wastes (including diapers) which can go into the compost, and recyclables, which can go in the recycle bins provided, guests are requested to pack out what they pack in. Nevertheless, there is a garbage can and several recycling bins in the community building. There are also several composting buckets for all organic wastes beside the kitchen sink.

Organic waste (including food or diapers) deposited into a garbage quickly becomes a health hazard with associated bad odor and pest infestation. As such, guests are requested to never deposit organic waste into the garbage or recycling bins. In the past, there have been guests who mix all of their garbage, recycling and organics into one or more bags and leave them behind. It then becomes necessary for me to immediately dump these bags and sort the recycling and organic wastes out, as If I don’t do that, I will need to drive 50 km to the dump within the next couple of days in order to avoid odor or rodent problems.

I often wonder about people who leave garbage behind and particularly those who leave cigarette butts on the ground. Do they not notice that there is not one cigarette butt or scrap of garbage on the ground? Do they not realize that I need to pick up every tiny bit of garbage that they leave behind. The worst time waster for me is having to pick up tiny bits of plastic (micro-plastics). Someone once pulled an old disintegrating tarp out of the back of their truck, leaving hundreds of tiny bits of plastic on the ground. It took me hours to pick up each tiny bit.

Quite a few people leave food behind. Microbes belong in the compost, not in the garbage. I love composting and other types of organic matter recycling. I have several compost streams and love examining the diversity of life in each. My various compost streams consist of fresh and aged, organic, non organic, and composts with manures in them. My problem is with the non-organic and processed foods that guests often leave behind. I don’t really want that stuff in my compost, but its better there than in the garbage.

Right now – July 26 2023

There has been very little smoke and there are no wildfires near here at this time. As this is a dry pine forest, this campground has far fewer mosquitoes (virtually none) than other areas of the valley. The campground is green and has been running smoothly with great guests who have virtually all expressed that they like it here. At first I thought it was because of the extreme quiet (when its totally quiet), but I later realized its because of the big tall, shade providing trees. There are so many things to do right now. One needs to deal with FOMO. When I am not hanging around the campground (ideally in a hammock) I choose to go to ecstatic dance events or open water swimming in one of the rivers or at Red Sands (nude) beach. I really enjoy just wandering around Baker Street at this time of year. There are the markets, Artwalks (next one is Saturday, August 5th) and best of all are the Marketfests, where they close the street and put live entertainment stage at either end. This years market festivals are Market Night July 28 2023, and the harvest Market Festival September 23 2023.

Things to do

in the Slocan Valley

The Slocan Valley offers a variety of activities and attractions for visitors to enjoy. Here are some of the top things to do:

  • Float down the Slocan River, canoe on Slocan Lake, hike into the alpine in Valhalla Provincial Park
  • Explore the beauty of Valhalla Provincial Park, with its hiking trails, camping areas, and stunning mountain views.
  • Spend a day at Slocan Lake, where you can swim, paddleboard, kayak, or simply relax on the sandy beach.
  • Visit the historic towns of New Denver, Silverton, and Slocan City, known for their charming small-town atmosphere and rich mining heritage.
  • Take a scenic drive along Highway 6, which winds through the picturesque Slocan Valley, offering stunning views of mountains, rivers, and forests.
  • Experience the vibrant arts and culture scene in the valley, with numerous galleries, studios, and live music events.
  • Go fishing in the Slocan River, known for its abundance of trout and beautiful surroundings.
  • Embark on a mountain biking adventure on the trails that crisscross the valley, offering an adrenaline-filled experience for riders of all levels.
  • Visit the Slocan Valley Rail Trail, a scenic 50-kilometer trail that follows the historic railbed, perfect for walking, jogging, or cycling.
  • Indulge in locally grown and produced food and drink, with numerous farm markets, wineries, and craft breweries in the area.
  • Take in the stunning fall colours during the autumn months, as the valley transforms into a kaleidoscope of red, orange, and yellow hues.

in Nelson, BC

  • Visit the historic Baker Street, known for its charming shops, restaurants, and galleries.
  • Explore the beautiful Lakeside Park, perfect for picnics, swimming, and enjoying the scenic views.
  • Take a stroll along the Nelson Riverfront Walk, and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and stunning views.
  • Visit the Nelson & District Museum to learn about the region’s history and culture.
  • Go hiking or mountain biking on the numerous trails in the surrounding mountains and forests.
  • Visit the Kootenay Co-op grocery store, known for its organic and local products.
  • Enjoy a scenic drive along the Kootenay Lake and revel in the breathtaking views.
  • Visit the Oso Negro Coffee House, a local favourite for its delicious coffee and baked goods.
  • Explore the ArtWalk, a self-guided tour showcasing local art throughout the town. Nelson is known for its vibrant arts community, with numerous art galleries and theatres to explore.
  • Go fishing or kayaking on the Kootenay Lake or nearby rivers.
  • Attend a live performance at the Capitol Theatre, a historic venue known for its diverse shows.
  • Visit the Nelson Farmers’ Market to shop for fresh local produce, crafts, and more.
  • Go on a scenic hike to the iconic Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park.
  • Explore the shops and galleries in the vibrant downtown area.
  • Take a dip in one of the many nearby hot springs for a relaxing experience.