Team: Maya Becker, senior projectleider
My
name is Maya Becker, currently I live in Greece, and I am initiator of the
following projects: KidsLinkin’Cultures, FirstLinkConnecting, LetsEatTogether and ArtAbleExplosion
in DisabilityCulture, furthermore I’m truly
honored to be senior project manager of RelizappInCultures.
I have always been attracted to and passionate about the aspects of diversity and above all the wondrous diversity of people. Last year I attended ReliZapp and was stirred about the tremendous sense of bond and cohesion of the various participants and the aspiration of this project. I knew I wanted to contribute, to give voice to cultures/individuals with different views in whatever sense, who are quiet often oppressed by dominant societies, and who, in my opinion, rule with unnecessary harsh values and norms.
I was a Christian-orthodox, but now I am an avowed Atheist, a happy one who cares about people and other life forms, one who looks up at the sky at night and is awed by the splendor of stars in our solar system, with a profound knowledge of the infinity of our universe, and who does not see or need a deity creator behind it all. I do respect and have open-mindedness for the various beliefs, life philosophies other than my own. However, we are facing the sad facts today: the majority of war, hate, discrimination, prejudice, bigotry and segregation is instigated by rigid driven religions and cultures, and we have recorded given facts throughout the history of mankind.
I do say it is Earthly time to value our diversity, open up towards the other, different from ourselves, and trust in our similarities. Not force our beliefs upon our fellow men. We owe it to humankind and its children of the future, to create a happier place to live in. We ought to motivate our children to think for themselves, educate them about universal good morals. And of course, it’s not bad to pass on customs from within a religion/culture, on the other hand it is utterly absurd when kids are taught that religions/cultures other than their own are less, or evil.
I live life with a “Sense and Goodness Without a God” (quote taken from the title of the book by Richard Carrier). I consider my one and only life precious and do not want to spend any time working towards securing a place in a hereafter, which I do not accept as true. What I will do is carry as many stones as I can and assist to build a bridge of as much tolerance among people in my life time. For me, it is what RelizappInCultures represents. Therefore I am unassumingly participating and advocating: however different, in the true sense we are all but the same, let’s live accordingly so.
