In the future-- no more than 30 years though-- there will exist The Brain Card. The Brain Card will make it possible to live infinitely long. All of the information, senses, feelings, what have you, will be able to be put onto a "card", and you can use up bodies (from cloning), and spare parts that are as good as the real thing, and then when you're done with an old body, you simply take your brain card and insert it into another body. There may be some trouble in the future with rich vs. poor: what do the poor do? I don't concern myself with this aspect as I am not poor. There will be outcries from all the religious leaders and fanatics and followers. But people will not be fooled by those myths when given the opportunity to choose between the definite possibility of "eternal" life here on earth, over the dreamy "maybeness" of a "heaven" or what have you.

What Life Is Really All About

Whoa, hold it partner! I don't know. I certainly do not mean to suggest that I have the answers. Just ideas. If ideas scare you, you might want to stop reading and head over to the Ebay site.

You know, when I'm on the street, or at seminars, a lot of times I get: "What is tedstrong.com?" from people who haven't been to the site. I'm always stumped, because it's so much. It's so many things, really.

I guess I offer ideas and thoughts, many on pop culture related issues. I like to think that we here at tedstrong.com also offer a lot of love and hope for our future and yours. The cyberfuture.

Except for the Irish, we embrace all cultures, backgrounds, etc. Until those cultures and backgrounds cramp our style or freedoms. For instance, if you want to eat a cheeseburger on the Sabbath or whatever, fine. If you want an abortion on the Sabbath, fine. If Sabath is spelled with one b, fine.

Is religion divisive, stupid and mythical? Of course. Am I gonna burn your house down if you are religious? Of course not. Am I going to tell you that what you are doing is superstitious nonsense and dangerous? Of course.

Things that various religions condemn:
Eating certain foods
Touching parts of your own body
Thinking certain thoughts
Speaking certain words

What do most religions preach? That you are living your life, not for you, but for a mythological being. Why? It's a way to keep creative thoughts, new ideas, youth and growth down. What do your parents and grandparents like best? When their children and grandchildren turn out like them. Boring, old, slow, tired, empty. "Oh, Johnny's a good Christian, and he married a young girl and they have a house and are on their way to money, retirement and a satisfying death."

Quiz: How much money should be spent on your funeral? Answer: Zero dollars. Why? Because you are dead. Toss your corpse in a hole or a ditch or the ocean. That's a couple thousand dollars right there, that you could have used for something fun: trip to Cortina, cocaine, an Armani suit. Or if not you, your friends or lovers, after you're dead!

Is what you are reading upsetting you? Think about why that is. Is it because you were living a boring, boring, sad life with fantastical hopes that one day when "this" life is over, you can go on to a better, wonderful, peaceful life/existence for ever and ever in God's kingdom? That's what I thought.

First, when I say "most religions" I mean Christianity (Catholic and Protestant faiths), Judaism, Buddhism, etc. I am cynical about religion, because I think it is very divisive. If you are a Christian, you are one of us, you are going to Heaven. If you are a Jew, you are one of us. Religions don't like intermarriage.

I am not, and this is important, anti-"spirituality". But at the same time it is laughable when somebody says that Christianity is dumb but Buddhism is where it's at. I so believe in that culture. Nonsense. It's every bit as lame-brained as any other religion. Just because Americans have found out about it from Richard Gere, doesn't make it the answer.

I am opposed to the organized religions, who take power and money and preach and use fear tactics (ie "you're going to hell") to control and monopolize.

I hope I'm not coming off as angry. But I really do believe in what I am saying, and I really think it's sad that so many people put so much energy into these myths, and then don't really try to learn about other people and ideas. They don't really think about what their religion is about or saying, they just get caught up in rules and stories and characters (bible).

Spirituality is one thing, blind faith another. Of course there's something else out there. But it's got to be so much more than what people think. Our (humans) "souls" and memories residing in a strange white, fluffy happiness for ever?

There's something else out there -- if it's one force then you can call it God if you want, or the whole superstructure is God or we are part of God, that's all speculation.

Also, I do believe that on this earth humans are more important, and their lives more valuable than any other animal. Frankly they are lesser beings (in all matters) and I approve of medical research on them. Your dog cannot think the thoughts you've given it to think. That's simply you fantasizing about being a dog, and what you would do if you were you, but in the body of a dog.

People used to think that the world was flat. Now that notion is laughed at. People used to believe in Zeus; now we believe that is ridiculous. I think that all of today's religions are outmoded. They are things that people hang onto out of fear of the unknown. I believe in truth. I believe in progress of the mind. Something's out there surely. Where does the universe end, where does it begin? These are the most mind crashing questions their are. And the answers aren't to be found in any ancient text. And the answers aren't to be found by reciting words and fairy tales and keeping your mind closed to everything else. -- 1999.