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Keith

Keith

Oklahoma City, OK
August 2002

AUG 06, 2007 05:24 PM

Towelly said:
I don't see this as a bad thing, and if it's the useful myths that bring men to believe they should be courteous, considerate, and compassionate, then I for one think the world could do with more useful myths.



That's a big "if", and seemingly a concession to the Christians who believe that morality comes from the Bible. I believe that modern morality clearly does NOT come from the Bible, for even the most ardent fundamentalist finds actions depicted as moral in the Bible that even they would find repulsive -- slavery, human sacrifice, genocide, the death penalty for trivial sins even for children. Clearly, we judge these parts of the Bible by the standards of a different set of moral precepts. Where did they come from? I don't know, but they obviously didn't come from the Bible.

I believe that to even suggest that humanity would not be moral without imposing the fear of divine retribution on them is incredibly cynical, and also against the best evidence we have for that hypothesis.

sick

sick

Minneapolis, MN
June 2003

AUG 06, 2007 05:32 PM

Keith said:

bald_eagle said:

Keith said:
There's no such thing as moderate religion. You can't "moderately" believe in the Tooth Fairy. It's the ability to believe in obviously false ideas without (or even despite) evidence that makes religion dangerous.


I would have to disagree. I think it's when your religion gives you an excuse to assert control over the actions of others that the trouble starts.


OK, and I still believe that when you allow yourself to believe absolutely in things for which you have no evidence -- or even things that contradict the evidence you actually do have -- is when the trouble starts.

If you can make someone believe that the Son of the Invisible Omnipotent Omniscient Man Who Lives in the Sky was born as a human in an immaculate conception, was killed and brought back to life, then went back to A Magical Kingdom in Space to be with his Father -- who is also Himself -- in order to redeem humanity's sins in the eyes of his Father/Himself, thus sacrificing himself to redeem us from... himself... you can make them do anything. And this is what all Christians believe, including so-called "moderates".



Simply for the sake of accuracy, the Immaculate Conception refers to the Roman Catholic belief that Mary was conceived without the taint of original sin.

The Son of the Invisible Omnipotent Omniscient Man Who Lives in the Sky was born by virgin birth.

And, to address a post further back, isn't Jesus supposed to rebuild the temple?

Chainlink

Chainlink

Key West, FL
August 2005

AUG 07, 2007 09:09 AM

It all seems kind of surreal considering Christ repeatedly stated that Armageddon would happen within a generation.
He didn't show up. Story over, The End, right ?

WTF

sick

sick

Minneapolis, MN
June 2003

AUG 07, 2007 04:46 PM

Keith said:

Towelly said:
I don't see this as a bad thing, and if it's the useful myths that bring men to believe they should be courteous, considerate, and compassionate, then I for one think the world could do with more useful myths.



That's a big "if", and seemingly a concession to the Christians who believe that morality comes from the Bible. I believe that modern morality clearly does NOT come from the Bible, for even the most ardent fundamentalist finds actions depicted as moral in the Bible that even they would find repulsive -- slavery, human sacrifice, genocide, the death penalty for trivial sins even for children. Clearly, we judge these parts of the Bible by the standards of a different set of moral precepts. Where did they come from? I don't know, but they obviously didn't come from the Bible.

I believe that to even suggest that humanity would not be moral without imposing the fear of divine retribution on them is incredibly cynical, and also against the best evidence we have for that hypothesis.



You mean they obviously didn't come from the Old Testament? Because the New Testament contains lessons such as

But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.


Could someone have possibly used these lessons to re-evaluate the old morality, abandon those parts that didn't fit, and form a new set of moral precepts?

_kungfoo_

_kungfoo_

Los Angeles, CA
April 2005

SEP 15, 2007 01:33 PM

And here's Crazy Joe Liberman making a thinly veiled attempt to get us into Iran.

Get Flash player


Thanks a lot Connecticut. Ned Lamont was too much to ask for eh?

Zarth

zarth

Seattle, WA
December 2004

SEP 15, 2007 01:39 PM

KUNGFOO said:
And here's Crazy Joe Liberman making a thinly veiled attempt to get us into Iran.

Get Flash player


Thanks a lot Connecticut. Ned Lamont was too much to ask for eh?


I actually really appreciated the way Petraeus shut him down, though.

JoeatSG

JoeatSG

Philadelphia, PA
April 2006

SEP 16, 2007 11:00 AM

Keith said:
There's no such thing as moderate religion. You can't "moderately" believe in the Tooth Fairy. It's the ability to believe in obviously false ideas without (or even despite) evidence that makes religion dangerous.




"obviously false ideas"

All hail Keith the new omniscient Lord of the Universe.
I hereby declare Keithanity open for business.

JoeatSG

JoeatSG

Philadelphia, PA
April 2006

SEP 16, 2007 11:07 AM

chainlink said:
It all seems kind of surreal considering Christ repeatedly stated that Armageddon would happen within a generation.
He didn't show up. Story over, The End, right ?

WTF



That story belongs to a guy named St John, not Christ.
Christ was like, "Armani, Giorgio Armani - yeah love his suits."

JoeatSG

JoeatSG

Philadelphia, PA
April 2006

SEP 16, 2007 11:18 AM

Very funny people in the world, I especially like the undercover interviewer, "May I call you the Hammer?" haha. That's good sh!t, man. But as long as they can't dance and are all EX- Representative, EX-Senator and EX-President then I still feel safe. I'm kind of glad St John had that "vision", this end of the world stuff has generated a lot of entertaining books, TV and movies. If we can leave the WOW people alone with their universe I'm sure we can leave the eschatology crowd alone in their universe. Let them enjoy themselves waiting for the end of the world and then when it doesn't come they can drink the kool-aid and be happy.

Pip

Pip

Framingham, MA
OLD SKOOL

SEP 17, 2007 04:59 AM

Can I side track on the whole Israel thing:
The fundamentalists want the THIRD Temple of Jerusalem built, so Jesus can come back, AND SEND THE JEWS TO HELL FOR MURDERING HIM. Really, this is what they BELIEVE. Most Jews, and Israelis do not realize this. They do not raelize these wingnuts are trying to MAKE apocolypse happen. They want the end of the world, and they want the Jews to suffer for eternity, for murdering and denying Christ.

Pip

Pip

Framingham, MA
OLD SKOOL

SEP 17, 2007 05:40 AM

They'll quote the 2nd law of thermodynamics in an attempt to debunk evolution?!?!?!


"One of the most basic laws in the universe is the Second Law of Thermodynamics. This states that as time goes by, entropy in an environment will increase. Evolution argues differently against a law that is accepted EVERYWHERE BY EVERYONE. Evolution says that we started out simple, and over time became more complex. That just isn't possible: UNLESS there is a giant outside source of energy supplying the Earth with huge amounts of energy. If there were such a source, scientists would certainly know about it. [emphasis added]"



It's called the Sun.

I am now in love with FSTDT!!!

_kungfoo_

_kungfoo_

Los Angeles, CA
April 2005

SEP 17, 2007 08:27 AM

Pip said:
Can I side track on the whole Israel thing:
The fundamentalists want the THIRD Temple of Jerusalem built, so Jesus can come back, AND SEND THE JEWS TO HELL FOR MURDERING HIM. Really, this is what they BELIEVE. Most Jews, and Israelis do not realize this. They do not raelize these wingnuts are trying to MAKE apocolypse happen. They want the end of the world, and they want the Jews to suffer for eternity, for murdering and denying Christ.



I doubt there are a lot of Israelis that realize this organization/lobby even exists, or even the majority of Jews in general either. And there are certainly those right wing Christian fundamentalists that believe all Jews will go to hell for crucifying Christ. But this sect of the Christian fundamentalists seems to, at least, preach to their followers, that the Jews will accept accept Christ as a nation and go to heaven with them...

That's not to say the religious leaders of this sect may just being 'using' Jews/Israel to bring on, in their minds at least, the rapture.

Zarth said:

KUNGFOO said:
And here's Crazy Joe Liberman making a thinly veiled attempt to get us into Iran.

SPOILERS! (Click to view)
Get Flash player



Thanks a lot Connecticut. Ned Lamont was too much to ask for eh?


I actually really appreciated the way Petraeus shut him down, though.



I agree. Petraeus might be loyal to the Bush Administration, but at least he's seemingly drawn a line somewhere between loyalty and reality, unlike some earlier Bush Administration appointees.

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