I was reminded of this earlier today. President Trump's spiritual adviser responds to the news that he appears to be losing to Biden in the election by calling upon divine intervention at a special prayer service. November 4th, 2020.
I don't get the logic of that at all. If God does exist, surely he's universal and would never favour one faction over another.
Praying for your team to beat another or for you to win the lottery is ridiculous even if you do believe in God.
Prayer should be about acceptance and the coping skills to be able to cope with whatever life throws at you rather than to ensure life goes in a particular direction.
I have to question this thread's title. I think insanity would be more appropriate. Christianity is basically quite simple. Accept that this man is who he says he is or do something else. The diversity of Christianity has thrown up some behaviours incongruent with the original message. Man's problem, not God's
Less than half of England and Wales population Christian:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-63792408
I'm one of the majority I suppose.
Quote from: dom on November 28, 2022, 10:26:31 PMI don't get the logic of that at all. If God does exist, surely he's universal and would never favour one faction over another.
Why?
Quote from: pxr5 on November 29, 2022, 11:05:41 AMLess than half of England and Wales population Christian:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-63792408
I'm one of the majority I suppose.
And that minority figure is just for nominal Christians (NB. Apparently, for this "optional" Census question (itself badly phrased as a leading question), the response rate was about 95%).
If a "practising" Christian is defined as someone who regularly attends weekly worship, then we're talking more like 5% of the population.
The proportion of those stating, "No religion" (not necessarily all atheists) has rocketed.
So clearly it's high time to re-evaluate the place of the church in state affairs - especially given the CofE remains doctrinally homophobic by any accepted definition.
It's time we taught kids that God isn't real in our schools, seriously.
I believe sadly, that we have subtly but assuredly staggered blindly into the end times. Crank post of the year award probably coming my way. So be it.
Quote from: Slim on November 29, 2022, 05:03:37 PMIt's time we taught kids that God isn't real in our schools, seriously.
I wouldn't go that far, appealing as it intuitively is.
They should be taught how to think about these things, as opposed to
what to think about these things; and I can state from first-hand experience that there are insufficient safeguards against the latter, even in community schools.
I will have more on that very soon, incidentally.
Quote from: The Picnic Wasp on November 29, 2022, 05:34:46 PMI believe sadly, that we have subtly but assuredly staggered blindly into the end times.
It's actually just part of the trend line that originally took us out of the ultra-pious dark ages. Relax! :)
Quote from: The Picnic Wasp on November 29, 2022, 05:34:46 PMI believe sadly, that we have subtly but assuredly staggered blindly into the end times. Crank post of the year award probably coming my way. So be it.
Not so subtly, I might add
Quote from: Matt2112 on November 29, 2022, 05:56:36 PMQuote from: Slim on November 29, 2022, 05:03:37 PMIt's time we taught kids that God isn't real in our schools, seriously.
I wouldn't go that far, appealing as it intuitively is.
They should be taught how to think about these things, as opposed to what to think about these things; and I can state from first-hand experience that there are insufficient safeguards against the latter, even in community schools.
I will have more on that very soon, incidentally.
Surely by the time children start school, their path is already set by their parents in terms of belief and faith. If parents have a strong religious leaning then it's highly likely their children will too. And those kids will likely got to their own faith schools which reinforces their belief. Not so much with CofE though.
My own parents had no faith and neither my sister or I were christened. I was taught RE and attended school religious services but the whole thing was meaningless to me and actually quite confusing. RE was just some stories from the past and that's all they were. Other kids I knew, many catholic, had religion shoved down their throats as soon as they could crawl and grew up to be devout and remained so.
So it matters not what is taught in schools - if belief is already there, not much can change that.
I'm not sure about that. Some kids will have agnostic parents and could still be influenced by religious belief. They can still be helped.
One important reason these old superstitions persist is that rational people turn a blind eye or accommodate them in the name of good will or a misguided sense of kindness. They can and must be overcome by reason but they won't be unless we actually bother to do that.
Quote from: pxr5 on November 29, 2022, 09:24:43 PMSurely by the time children start school, their path is already set by their parents in terms of belief and faith. If parents have a strong religious leaning then it's highly likely their children will too. And those kids will likely got to their own faith schools which reinforces their belief. Not so much with CofE though.
My own parents had no faith and neither my sister or I were christened. I was taught RE and attended school religious services but the whole thing was meaningless to me and actually quite confusing. RE was just some stories from the past and that's all they were. Other kids I knew, many catholic, had religion shoved down their throats as soon as they could crawl and grew up to be devout and remained so.
So it matters not what is taught in schools - if belief is already there, not much can change that.
That seems a very fatalistic way of looking at it and, besides, is only one scenario out of many. And, it strikes me, your last sentence couldn't be more wide of the mark!
Just plot the results on religious belief from the last three census and there is a clear dramatic decline in stated Christianity and an equally dramatic rise for stated "No religion"; yet there has been relatively little change in RE curricula, despite them often being taught sympathetically even in community schools.
I've always said - and this will sound paradoxical, given there should be no such thing as "faith schools" - that if you want to ensure your children are atheists, then send them to a Catholic school. Because that's pretty much my personal experience as someone who went to Catholic primary and secondary schools as an observant, Church-attending Catholic, and came out the other end as a firm and emancipated apostate.
Of course, many schools of all categorisations likely have some kind of organised religious representation trying to ensure their "message" is afforded deferential and privileged access in assemblies and lessons etc - remember that, by law,
all schools, "faith school" or not, are required to have communal worship "of a broadly Christian nature", which is just the open door the likes of the CofE require - because hardly anyone is minded to go and knock on theirs. And that tells you everything.
Well, I wish that 99% of the population were devout Christians, we might get Christmas starting on 25th December then and not in the middle of bloody September >:(
Quote from: Nickslikk2112 on December 01, 2022, 02:47:37 PMWell, I wish that 99% of the population were devout Christians, we might get Christmas starting on 25th December then and not in the middle of bloody September >:(
Yeah, and we would still have the Cadbury's Crème Eggs to look forward to when we fill up the car on Boxing Day.
Quote from: Nickslikk2112 on December 01, 2022, 02:47:37 PMWell, I wish that 99% of the population were devout Christians, we might get Christmas starting on 25th December then and not in the middle of bloody September >:(
Cheer up! It's a dark and miserable time of year. If a few twinkling lights and tinsel can cheer someone up, why not? Even if Christmas is still a few weeks away.
Quote from: dom on December 01, 2022, 06:01:01 PMQuote from: Nickslikk2112 on December 01, 2022, 02:47:37 PMWell, I wish that 99% of the population were devout Christians, we might get Christmas starting on 25th December then and not in the middle of bloody September >:(
Cheer up! It's a dark and miserable time of year. If a few twinkling lights and tinsel can cheer someone up, why not? Even if Christmas is still a few weeks away.
And with the current energy crisis, people shouldn't be putting twinkling lights up >:(
Quote from: Nickslikk2112 on December 01, 2022, 07:09:41 PMQuote from: dom on December 01, 2022, 06:01:01 PMQuote from: Nickslikk2112 on December 01, 2022, 02:47:37 PMWell, I wish that 99% of the population were devout Christians, we might get Christmas starting on 25th December then and not in the middle of bloody September >:(
Cheer up! It's a dark and miserable time of year. If a few twinkling lights and tinsel can cheer someone up, why not? Even if Christmas is still a few weeks away.
And with the current energy crisis, people shouldn't be putting twinkling lights up >:(
And very disrespectful to Ukraine
Twinkling LEDs won't contribute significantly to the cost of living crisis, but caving into peer pressure and buying Nintendo Switch OLEDs, bikes, scooters, VR headsets and a bunch of other "must-haves" on 12 months' tick will. :-\
Quote from: Matt2112 on December 01, 2022, 11:23:43 PMTwinkling LEDs won't contribute significantly to the cost of living crisis, but caving into peer pressure and buying Nintendo Switch OLEDs, bikes, scooters, VR headsets and a bunch of other "must-haves" on 12 months' tick will. :-\
It'll be a tangerine in a stocking for all in the 2112 household again this year then! ;D ;)
Bah humbug!
Quote from: David L on December 02, 2022, 12:19:30 AMQuote from: Matt2112 on December 01, 2022, 11:23:43 PMTwinkling LEDs won't contribute significantly to the cost of living crisis, but caving into peer pressure and buying Nintendo Switch OLEDs, bikes, scooters, VR headsets and a bunch of other "must-haves" on 12 months' tick will. :-\
It'll be a tangerine in a stocking for all in the 2112 household again this year then! ;D ;)
Bah humbug!
:D
We'll be able to get the Little Miss a couple of "nice things" thankfully, but she's certainly not going to be showered with gifts as: 1) it's wasteful; 2) I don't want her to feel disproportionately entitled to it; and 3) I'm a tight Yorkshire get. ;D
Quote from: Matt2112 on December 01, 2022, 11:23:43 PMbikes
Bikes are good. For the environment, for your health and for your spiritual wellbeing :)
(https://wp-media.patheos.com/blogs/sites/719/2018/08/Christ-on-a-bike-768x770.jpg)
Christ on a bike!
No spokes - it's a miracle!!
A nice yellow helmet too - good man.
No helmet either...idiot
At least within Christianity there's the inbuilt premise of turning the other cheek and in fact even welcoming persecution. This pretty much frees up anyone to say whatever they like about people of Christian faith without fear of retaliation, verbal or physical. Can the same be said for other beliefs?
Quote from: The Picnic Wasp on December 02, 2022, 01:53:21 PMAt least within Christianity there's the inbuilt premise of turning the other cheek and in fact even welcoming persecution. This pretty much frees up anyone to say whatever they like about people of Christian faith without fear of retaliation, verbal or physical.
History tells us that position is inversely proportional to how much theocratic power Christianity holds.
See also: pretty much any other major religion.
Quote from: Matt2112 on December 02, 2022, 02:29:05 PMQuote from: The Picnic Wasp on December 02, 2022, 01:53:21 PMAt least within Christianity there's the inbuilt premise of turning the other cheek and in fact even welcoming persecution. This pretty much frees up anyone to say whatever they like about people of Christian faith without fear of retaliation, verbal or physical.
History tells us that position is inversely proportional to how much theocratic power Christianity holds.
See also: pretty much any other major religion.
Sorry Matt, I didn't make it clear that I was talking about the modern day situation, albeit relating to a phrase from the Bible.
You would I imagine, be fairly safe writing a journalistic piece for a national newspaper or well known blogs site, criticising Christianity as strongly as you like, and feel relatively safe. Perhaps if that criticism was directed as forcefully in the direction of another faith, you wouldn't feel as comfortable. I hope that's clearer.
Quote from: The Picnic Wasp on December 02, 2022, 02:48:59 PMQuote from: Matt2112 on December 02, 2022, 02:29:05 PMQuote from: The Picnic Wasp on December 02, 2022, 01:53:21 PMAt least within Christianity there's the inbuilt premise of turning the other cheek and in fact even welcoming persecution. This pretty much frees up anyone to say whatever they like about people of Christian faith without fear of retaliation, verbal or physical.
History tells us that position is inversely proportional to how much theocratic power Christianity holds.
See also: pretty much any other major religion.
Sorry Matt, I didn't make it clear that I was talking about the modern day situation, albeit relating to a phrase from the Bible.
You would I imagine, be fairly safe writing a journalistic piece for a national newspaper or well known blogs site, criticising Christianity as strongly as you like, and feel relatively safe. Perhaps if that criticism was directed as forcefully in the direction of another faith, you wouldn't feel as comfortable. I hope that's clearer.
I get what you are saying. The self-censorship that goes on regarding Islam in particular is effectively a de facto blasphemy law - and this should be firmly resisted.
Isn't it depressingly ironic that those who only very recently wouldn't dare have anyone call the hijab symbolically oppressive are now the first ones to claim solidarity with those women who have been burning them in Iran? ::)
Quote from: GhostWriter on February 23, 2024, 02:44:47 AMI showed up here to read about Slim's conversion after all these years. Can someone point me to where it is? :)
I think it's Page 59 of the What Made You Grumpy Today thread? He's getting a new bathroom.😂
Read this comment this morning in a Facebook group from a Christian:
If God made the universe, then God made all of the universe and it doesn't matter if Earth and Humans are in a particular place, it only matters that they are present in Creation. You are wrong when you say that "if the Earth is just one of billions of planets revolving around billions of stars in billions of galaxies, then the ideas of God, creation, and a specific purpose for Earth and human existence become highly implausible." Your belief and faith must be fragile indeed if something like that is such a challenge to them.
Quite glad to see that in a way because it helped me to crystallise a thought I've had for a long time, about how nonsensical the old religions are in the face of science. I replied:
Think of it this way. The Bible, Christianity and the other ancient religions are extremely Earth-centric. In the story that Christians imagine, the "Son of God" himself comes to Earth, to save humanity. God himself is troubled by the sexual morals of the dominant species on this planet, so much so that He has cruel and unusual punishments prepared for the naughtier among us. That makes a bit of sense in an uneducated, ignorant pre-scientific world where his "creation" is the Earth, and the stars are just a bit of decoration.
But when you consider the reality, that Earth is as a speck of dust in a galaxy teeming with billions of stars and planets, itself a galaxy in a universe teeming with billions of similar galaxies, it looks nonsensical. Comical, even. Or perhaps the Christians imagine that their "God" had a few billion other sons and daughters, each dispatched to go and save an intelligent species on billions of other planets?
This type of thinking occupies my mind at some point most days. It could be argued that it is perhaps unhealthy to allow the mind to drift in this direction. I don't know. I was fortunate to receive a good education, at a strict, private Catholic school. I suppose I would scrape into the low end of the top quarter of the ability level of my year. Even at a tender teen age I was a bit in awe of the more talented individuals. There were brilliant minds on display every day and it was easy to pick up on the masters clearly getting a buzz out of teaching them. Quite a few went on to become the cream of their chosen career choices. Top surgeons, professors, guys at the very top of the legal profession in Europe and beyond. Surprisingly, or perhaps I shouldn't state this, many of them were men of deep faith. Why this gives me comfort is probably an indication of some needy trait in my make up but I do take some solace from it. My tangled mind with its internal struggle with belief, Christianity in particular, does usually end with me taking the path leading to the strong possibility of a designer. It makes more sense to me than another kind of random, pseudo miraculous occurrence. The unfathomable scale of our, or perhaps several universes is probably just a distraction from a definitive purpose for Earth's existence. Who knows? No one.
Quote from: The Picnic Wasp on October 02, 2024, 12:32:58 AMWho knows? No one.
You say that no-one knows, but really that's true only in the strictest, most formal sense. Certainly if someone were to say to me "God's not real", my answer would be "I know". While it may not be provable, I do accept the truth of God's non-existence completely.
Quote from: Slim on October 02, 2024, 03:34:07 PMQuote from: The Picnic Wasp on October 02, 2024, 12:32:58 AMWho knows? No one.
You say that no-one knows, but really that's true only in the strictest, most formal sense. Certainly if someone were to say to me "God's not real", my answer would be "I know". While it may not be provable, I do accept the truth of God's non-existence completely.
Entirely understandable that you should have complete faith in your own method of logic. I tend to float towards what we yet do not know, be it dark matter, other physical mysteries, or the supernatural.
It's not faith. And none of the religions or their deities have much in common with dark matter, which is a phenomenon implied by observation. Odin, Thor, God, Apollo, Zeus and the rest are implied by nothing.
Conversely, I am quite superstitious. This is forbidden by the faith I follow and is probably more of a result of life experiences than any belief that it is anything other than hopeful fear cancelling nonsense. I avoided the recent thread on this subject as I knew I'd likely be ridiculed about it and rightly so. But I view the possibility of God entirely differently. I think there's a whole load of evidence in the scriptures, a lot of which can't very easily be dismissed as false.
Religious faith is categorically a superstition, so it's not surprising that its adherents will be inclined to other beliefs in the same broad category. I'd be interested to know what you consider to be evidence from the scriptures? The scriptures aren't really a very credible source in the first place, they've been written and translated many times and they're mostly stories people have made up.
Ah well, I'll just need to console myself with the knowledge that if it's good enough for Boris, it's good enough for me.
Quote from: The Picnic Wasp on October 02, 2024, 07:37:17 PMAh well, I'll just need to console myself with the knowledge that if it's good enough for Boris, it's good enough for me.
;D
Quote from: The Picnic Wasp on October 02, 2024, 07:37:17 PMAh well, I'll just need to console myself with the knowledge that if it's good enough for Boris, it's good enough for me.
:)
Never suggested he was right about everything.
Nice dissection of tactics used by the delusional to defend an unsupportable worldview.
Quote from: Slim on December 12, 2024, 04:00:14 PM
Nice dissection of tactics used by the delusional to defend an unsupportable worldview.
I always find these debates fascinating, but not when opposing sides are clearly at different intellectual levels. I was pleased that the good doctor dealt with the waffling cleric so politely as it was shooting fish in a barrel stuff. I rightly or wrongly don't pay much heed to the Old Testament. It's clearly of its times and a gathering of tales and symbolism. I always find Richard Dawkins interesting too. He's a superb scientist and I could listen to him all day, but in a debate situation I'd rather see him up against a Stephen Meyer type, from a fairness point of view. Of all the great debaters on the topic I admired Christopher Hitchens the most. He could slice through all that's wrong with religion in seconds but on rare occasions allow just enough room for faith to still be a possibility for those to make a choice. I hated those banners appearing though. Reminded me of those slogans stupid people scrawl on placards made from an old Amazon box. Not even clever enough to be considered propaganda. Are we still allowed to mention that Dr F is very pleasing to watch? Please feel free to redact as necessary. Or perhaps she plays guitar and will appear again in future.
Quote from: The Picnic Wasp on December 12, 2024, 05:30:20 PMAre we still allowed to mention that Dr F is very pleasing to watch? Please feel free to redact as necessary. Or perhaps she plays guitar and will appear again in future.
There's an interesting discussion to be had there about objectification. Actually I was thinking of starting a
University Challenge Totty of the Week thread, but neither Durham nor Open put up a particularly strong candidate this week.
Maybe we can have a discussion about it in NSFW, I do think it's interesting. But briefly - some people of either sex are always going to be eye candy for the opposite sex, or in some cases the same sex. As long as they aren't disrespected for it, I don't personally have a problem with it.
Quote from: Slim on December 12, 2024, 05:53:54 PMQuote from: The Picnic Wasp on December 12, 2024, 05:30:20 PMAre we still allowed to mention that Dr F is very pleasing to watch? Please feel free to redact as necessary. Or perhaps she plays guitar and will appear again in future.
There's an interesting discussion to be had there about objectification. Actually I was thinking of starting a University Challenge Totty of the Week thread, but neither Durham nor Open put up a particularly strong candidate this week.
Maybe we can have a discussion about it in NSFW, I do think it's interesting. But briefly - some people of either sex are always going to be eye candy for the opposite sex, or in some cases the same sex. As long as they aren't disrespected for it, I don't personally have a problem with it.
Are you suggesting the Lord may be leading us into temptation?
No, that's Old Nick's job. Sorry Nick.😂
Quote from: The Picnic Wasp on December 12, 2024, 05:30:20 PMAre we still allowed to mention that Dr F is very pleasing to watch? Please feel free to redact as necessary.
Just bought Dr Stavrakopoulou's book
God, an Anatomy in audiobook form. Quite nice to listen to as well (she reads it herself).
(https://i.ibb.co/9nQJgGG/godanat.jpg)
Three thousand years ago, in the Southwest Asian lands we now call Israel and Palestine, a group of people worshipped a complex pantheon of deities, led by a father god called El. El had 70 children, who were gods in their own right. One of them was a minor storm deity, known as Yahweh. Yahweh had a body, a wife, offspring and colleagues. He fought monsters and mortals. He gorged on food and wine, wrote books and took walks and naps. But he would become something far larger and far more abstract: the God of the great monotheistic religions.But as Professor Francesca Stavrakopoulou reveals, God's cultural DNA stretches back centuries before the Bible was written, and persists in the tics and twitches of our own society, whether we are believers or not.
Can't beat the Greek pantheon.
Plus, they definitely existed - prove me wrong!
I feel quite fortunate in that my greatest areas of interest were recorded and translated many times through the Roman period. I'm prepared to accept some albeit selected texts as quite probable, although I fully understand why this is scoffed at by a the majority in modern society. It pleases me greatly that I live in the most scientifically knowledgable age that there has ever been and I love it when intellects far greater than mine feel that it is worthy of wrestling over. I'm looking forward to reading Return Of The God Hypothesis over the holidays, especially the sections exploring the complexities of single cell life. Recent discoveries have been quite staggering.
There's no hiding place for God now.
Quote from: Slim on December 14, 2024, 11:05:19 PMThere's no hiding place for God now.
I think that's too much to hope for and something which we shall never be able, or be permitted to prove.
Quote from: The Picnic Wasp on December 15, 2024, 12:36:54 AMQuote from: Slim on December 14, 2024, 11:05:19 PMThere's no hiding place for God now.
I think that's too much to hope for and something which we shall never be able, or be permitted to prove.
Just googled
Return of the God Hypothesis. Written by Stephen Meyer, a proponent of the "intelligent design" nonsense; categorically a pseudoscience that no reputable scientist would defend.
Quote from: Slim on December 15, 2024, 01:42:21 PMQuote from: The Picnic Wasp on December 15, 2024, 12:36:54 AMQuote from: Slim on December 14, 2024, 11:05:19 PMThere's no hiding place for God now.
I think that's too much to hope for and something which we shall never be able, or be permitted to prove.
Just googled Return of the God Hypothesis. Written by Stephen Meyer, a proponent of the "intelligent design" nonsense; categorically a pseudoscience that no reputable scientist would defend.
I'll have an opinion on this when I've read it. Until then, perhaps all the scientists, theologians and general intelligentsia could save themselves decades of futile study and head scratching, and just visit this forum for the indisputable answers.
Quote from: The Picnic Wasp on December 15, 2024, 08:50:24 PMI'll have an opinion on this when I've read it. Until then, perhaps all the scientists, theologians and general intelligentsia could save themselves decades of futile study and head scratching, and just visit this forum for the indisputable answers.
I referred to credible science, not this forum. None of the scientists are under an illusion about Intelligent Design, not scientists in a relevant field anyway.
Quote from: The Picnic Wasp on December 15, 2024, 08:50:24 PMI'll have an opinion on this when I've read it. Until then, perhaps all the scientists, theologians and general intelligentsia could save themselves decades of futile study and head scratching, and just visit this forum for the indisputable answers.
Examples of which are..?
Quote from: Matt2112 on December 15, 2024, 10:48:06 PMQuote from: The Picnic Wasp on December 15, 2024, 08:50:24 PMI'll have an opinion on this when I've read it. Until then, perhaps all the scientists, theologians and general intelligentsia could save themselves decades of futile study and head scratching, and just visit this forum for the indisputable answers.
Examples of which are..?
Only individual opinions. Just like mine.
Quote from: The Picnic Wasp on December 16, 2024, 12:05:40 AMQuote from: Matt2112 on December 15, 2024, 10:48:06 PMQuote from: The Picnic Wasp on December 15, 2024, 08:50:24 PMI'll have an opinion on this when I've read it. Until then, perhaps all the scientists, theologians and general intelligentsia could save themselves decades of futile study and head scratching, and just visit this forum for the indisputable answers.
Examples of which are..?
Only individual opinions. Just like mine.
So quote them. :)
Quote from: Matt2112 on December 16, 2024, 09:53:06 AMQuote from: The Picnic Wasp on December 16, 2024, 12:05:40 AMQuote from: Matt2112 on December 15, 2024, 10:48:06 PMQuote from: The Picnic Wasp on December 15, 2024, 08:50:24 PMI'll have an opinion on this when I've read it. Until then, perhaps all the scientists, theologians and general intelligentsia could save themselves decades of futile study and head scratching, and just visit this forum for the indisputable answers.
Examples of which are..?
Only individual opinions. Just like mine.
So quote them. :)
This is where I turn the other cheek and wish you all the best.
Quote from: The Picnic Wasp on December 16, 2024, 11:20:47 AMQuote from: Matt2112 on December 16, 2024, 09:53:06 AMQuote from: The Picnic Wasp on December 16, 2024, 12:05:40 AMQuote from: Matt2112 on December 15, 2024, 10:48:06 PMQuote from: The Picnic Wasp on December 15, 2024, 08:50:24 PMI'll have an opinion on this when I've read it. Until then, perhaps all the scientists, theologians and general intelligentsia could save themselves decades of futile study and head scratching, and just visit this forum for the indisputable answers.
Examples of which are..?
Only individual opinions. Just like mine.
So quote them. :)
This is where I turn the other cheek and wish you all the best.
I only asked for receipts, but fine.
Quote from: The Picnic Wasp on December 14, 2024, 10:53:23 PMI feel quite fortunate in that my greatest areas of interest were recorded and translated many times through the Roman period.
I didn't know the Roman's were into Prog Rock :o
Quote from: pdw1 on December 16, 2024, 06:19:44 PMQuote from: The Picnic Wasp on December 14, 2024, 10:53:23 PMI feel quite fortunate in that my greatest areas of interest were recorded and translated many times through the Roman period.
I didn't know the Roman's were into Prog Rock :o
We all have our favourite periods I suppose, mine's a little earlier, say around Genesis?
This is what Christianity does to dim people. Really, a contemptible cult.
It's what most religion does to people in all fairness. Depending on where your geographic start of life is, you are bound to be influenced by the local belief. It's all the same in essence, which is why it's mostly nonsense. Christianity did a good job on spreading their specific system, crusades and all.
I was in London a few weeks ago and strolled past some wackos giving out leaflets near Oxford Circus. Behind me I overheard two women's voices:
"They're JWs".
"Oh - do they like Jesus?"
"Yes - in a weird way".
Of course that's true for all Christians, isn't it?
Quote from: Slim on October 24, 2025, 12:52:05 PMI was in London a few weeks ago and strolled past some wackos giving out leaflets near Oxford Circus. Behind me I overheard two women's voices:
"They're JWs".
"Oh - do they like Jesus?"
"Yes - in a weird way".
Of course that's true for all Christians, isn't it?
JW's are a
cult though. And that's not just a manner of speaking.
I know of one personal example of someone that had left them and was literally being stalked by the community to the point of making this persons life not just miserable, but downright impossible. Avoid this lot like the plague.
Christianity is categorically a cult, all of it. But some branches of it are worse than others.
Yes, for instance the CofE is cited in the IICSA report about as much as the Catholic Church is, but there's no doubt the latter's ghastly record of failing innocent children - to put it most mildly - is on a much larger scale.
And part of the remedy and reparation for this, by the way, does not and should not include the respective cult leaders getting together to pretend that a joint prayer session will be of any damned use to anything or anyone other than themselves.
Is there a reason to suppose the crucifixion and resurrection are more than made up stories? No.
The other two "Abrahamic" religions broadly agree with that conclusion, funnily enough...
(https://i.ibb.co/FLPDqz6Z/xtian-nutters.png)
https://jonathanlarsen.substack.com/p/us-troops-were-told-iran-war-is-for
Yes, there was a longread in a Dutch newspaper about this and a bit more. Just posted in the Trump thread about it. It is a bit worrying.
Both sides with theocratic lunatics in top positions each convinced they'll prevail because a supernatural deity figure is on their side. Great... :-\
Christianity, shrivelling and dying in the light of Truth.
Quote from: Slim on June 18, 2026, 03:49:10 PMChristianity, shrivelling and dying in the light of Truth.
If ever a man needed to switch to decaf. 😂
Heh. If only something like switching to a different strength of coffee could save the other three poor bastards.
(https://i.ibb.co/fdJK9QpM/jesus-not-real.jpg)