Jureme A.

Sarajena

This is my story…

My story is about losing friendship.

[I used to be a preacher, a missionary of some sort, called to proclaim

“the good news” of Jesus Christ. But today, I digress. I am no longer the
same person I used to be 8 years ago. My friends, in Leyte, both Filipinos
and Americans can’t comprehend how I became an atheist!]
I was surrounded by a lot of friends at Leyte Christian College, (a
prestigious school for those who aspire to become pulpit preacher and
missionary) back in 2012. In hard times and good times, we’re always there
to support each other. I remember a time when we’re like reverting back to
the hunting and gathering era of our history when we run out of food; we
went to the jungle to find something to put on our table, just anything! And
we were all seemed happy even if we starved to death.
But a tragic event occurred in my life that made me sacrificed that
strong bond of friendship to the trash. I decided that I will no longer be a
Christian. I abandoned god for good, forever!
I understand that Utilitarianism could be a very demanding moral
theory that there is. Sometimes you have to make a decision that you must
sacrifice your ego for the good of the group. Even if it will constitute pain in
your part; but if the result is for their happiness, then that you must do.
That means I have to leave the campus and went back to Mindanao.

a. I left because staying there seems like I am a huge pain in the ass
to the believers. My absence is for the greater good. Then you might say,
“that means, you’ve made a wrong decision of your life!” Actually not!
Because according to Bentham and Mill, Utilitarianism is a moral principle that
focuses on the results, or consequences, of your actions and treats
INTENTION as irrelevant.
b. I left because I don’t want them to have a disparaging impression on
science, reason and rationality. If it is our goal to raise the consciousness of
Jureme A. Sarajena

as many people as possible to the wonders of science, the power of reason,

and the virtues of rationality, we must apply science, reason, and rationality
to our actions, not just our ideas. It is irrational to take an angry, hostile,
demeaning, belittling or condescending attitude towards religion. By so doing
we virtually guarantee that religious people will, in response, adopt an angry,
hostile, demeaning, belittling or condescending attitude towards science, reason
and rationality. In other words, our negative actions will have the exact
opposite
effect that we wish them to have, which is what makes them irrational.

c. sometimes you have to take this path of good moral decisions. The
“other-regarding” aspect of this moral theory follows the principle of utility
as Mill maintains, “we should act always so as to produce the greatest good
for the greatest number.” We make moral decisions from the position of a
benevolent, disinterested spectator.

d. I guess this is the sad story of my life that falls under this moral
theory, even though, I am not a huge fan of Utilitarianism.