The Religion Thread

[Vrede too]

Thanks, Happy Foolish Supernaturalism season to you!

... I didn't know this! ...

You still don't. It's at least a 12 year old hoax.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/atheist.asp

In other words, he was just joking.

Great minds . . . but I was going to wait for him to claim that.

Yes, I knew that ...

... mundane existence....

Hmmm, fast paced saving lives and easing suffering vs. being retired after a career of tabloid writing about other people that were actually doing things. Seth Milner fails English, again.

[Seth Milner]

Hmmm, fast paced saving lives and easing suffering vs. being retired after a career of tabloid writing about other people that were actually doing things. Seth Milner fails English, again.

Vrede too failed; from the beginning. I was no writer, per se, nor did I work for a supermarket rag. I won't go into detail other than to say I sought out evidence against shysters, hucksters, frauds, etc. I was referring to your mundane existence here in this forum; I know how depressed you get having to agree with everyone all the time, so I help you by easing your suffering.

[Vrede too]

... your otherwise mundane existence....

... I was referring to your mundane existence here in this forum ...

Schrodinger's Douchbag: A guy who says offensive or stupid things and then decides whether he was joking based upon the reaction of people around him.

Anyhow, if my existence here in this forum is mundane, what does that say about a poster whose prime reason for existence here in this forum is to whine about me?

[Seth Milner]

Anyhow, if my existence here in this forum is mundane, what does that say about a poster whose prime reason for existence here in this forum is to whine about me?

Or you about me and homerfobe? My/our whining about you is merely your fantasy; a venue to attempt to bolster your narcissistic pride.

[Seth Milner]

Anyhow, if my existence here in this forum is mundane, what does that say about a poster whose prime reason for existence here in this forum is to whine about me?

Or you about me and homerfobe? My/our whining about you is merely your fantasy; a venue to attempt to bolster your narcissistic pride.
Everybody here knows that we're secretly in cahoots; we're only going at each other to keep them entertained. (Opps! secret's out!)

[rstrong]

Yes, I knew that, and I didn't post it as a joke; and deep down, it's really not a hoax; It's message is still valid.

Except that no, it isn't valid.

First, the judge quoted his religion's scripture to "prove" the validity of his religion, to declare everyone else fools. Essentially "My holy book is right and I know this because my holy book says so." But most EVERY religion has it's own holy book with similar claims of being the One True Religion. If the judge's point were valid, then it's equally valid to declare you a fool for not following Judaism, Islam, Pastafarianism and more.

The non-religious can play the same game too: Just point to a book declaring it foolish to believe in ancient prehistoric claims of an invisible sky fairy - claims that few agree on and that have changed radically over the years - without evidence.

Second, atheists asking for atheism-based holidays is in itself a religious fantasy. One usually based on wingnutty claims that atheism is somehow also a religion. Here in reality the non-religious merely expect that since they do the same work for the same pay, if Bob gets next Thursday off, then they should too. And that's how it's always worked on modern times; non-Christians get December 25th off too.

Third, the judge's diatribe goes against America's separation of church and state. Against America's founding principle of complete neutrality towards religion. He was using his government position to force his personal religion on others. (He could instead have made the same point I made in the previous paragraph.)

Yes, it's a hoax. No, the message is not valid.

[Vrede too]

Nice try with your "narcissistic" double posting, Seth Milner, but everyone here knows which of us posts in a far, far greater proportion of his posts about the other. Project much?

... I was no writer ...

It shows. For example, rstrong's schooling you on the meanings of even simple words like "hoax" and "valid".

[O Really]

The newspaper is real, and the author (Gary Connor) is real, and the article did appear.
http://www.palestineherald.com/opinion/ ... b7cd5.html
Unfortunately those who pass it along as a real case conveniently delete the opening paragraph, "EDITOR'S NOTE: Behind the Pine Curtains is a series of anecdotes compiled and edited by Herald-Press Publisher Gary Connor" It was never reported as a real event, and as rstrong pointed out, doesn't make sense in any sense other than humour in pretty much the same category as "a priest, a rabbi, and a minister..."

[JTA]

[Seth Milner]

Hmmm, fast paced saving lives and easing suffering vs. being retired after a career of tabloid writing about other people that were actually doing things.

Whine: I find it difficult to believe that someone who claims to so compassionate about others' sufferings, ridicule over labels given to other races, and earthly climate issues can be so different in personality when it comes to conversing with others in a forum or blog. Perhaps you should speak with homerfobe and ask to share his avatar; you two have the same social issues and skills. You're welcome.

[Vrede too]

Whine:

Wussy projection in lieu of dealing with all of your factual and semantic flubs detailed above, as usual.

I find it difficult to believe

Your separation from reality has been well established here.

that someone who claims to so compassionate about others' sufferings,

Though true - it's also respect, duty, service and the satisfaction of positive achievement - and something I've lived for decades, I don't recall ever making that claim. Lot's of people are compassionate, I wouldn't bother bragging about it. Are you hallucinating again or just making stuff up when you're floundering?

ridicule over labels given to other races,

Racists get ridiculed, surely you're used to it by now.

and earthly climate issues can be so different in personality when it comes to conversing with others in a forum or blog.

I have never claimed to be a woo-woo, hearts and flowers kind of activist.

Perhaps you should speak with homerfobe and ask to share his avatar; you two have the same social issues and skills. You're welcome.

Ummm, you're the one defending him and then running away when challenged on it.
http://www.blueridgedebate.com/viewtopi ... hed#p55808
This has been your pansy projection ever since you were busted on it.

[Vrede too]

Officials Order ‘Zombie Nativity Scene’ Removal (Again)



Details and more pics at the link.

To be fair, it's invention. Jesus wasn't really one of the undead until 30-some years later.

[Seth Milner]

. . . that someone who claims to so compassionate about others' sufferings,

I don't recall ever making that claim. Lot's of people are compassionate, I wouldn't bother bragging about it.

I would never suspect so anyway. Apparently you're saying you really don't give a damn and you're only in it for the money.

[Vrede too]

. . . that someone who claims to so compassionate about others' sufferings,

I don't recall ever making that claim. Lot's of people are compassionate, I wouldn't bother bragging about it.

I would never suspect so anyway. Apparently you're saying you really don't give a damn and you're only in it for the money.

Once again, Seth Milner makes a childish moronic ass out of himself by deleting part of my post when he's busted lying. The full paragraph was:

"Though true - it's also respect, duty, service and the satisfaction of positive achievement - and something I've lived for decades, I don't recall ever making that claim. Lot's of people are compassionate, I wouldn't bother bragging about it. Are you hallucinating again or just making stuff up when you're floundering?"

Even "true" has too many syllables for "him", poor illiterate thing.

Fwiw, I do plenty of volunteer healthcare and would do my job for lots less, but the pay is what it is if I want to operate at the high intensity, high reward level that I do.

Here's the rest of the post the coward ran away from:

Whine:

Wussy projection in lieu of dealing with all of your factual and semantic flubs detailed above, as usual.

I find it difficult to believe

Your separation from reality has been well established here.

that someone who claims to so compassionate about others' sufferings,

Though true - it's also respect, duty, service and the satisfaction of positive achievement - and something I've lived for decades, I don't recall ever making that claim. Lot's of people are compassionate, I wouldn't bother bragging about it. Are you hallucinating again or just making stuff up when you're floundering?

ridicule over labels given to other races,

Racists get ridiculed, surely you're used to it by now.

and earthly climate issues can be so different in personality when it comes to conversing with others in a forum or blog.

I have never claimed to be a woo-woo, hearts and flowers kind of activist.

Perhaps you should speak with homerfobe and ask to share his avatar; you two have the same social issues and skills. You're welcome.

Ummm, you're the one defending him and then running away when challenged on it.
http://www.blueridgedebate.com/viewtopi ... hed#p55808
This has been your pansy projection ever since you were busted on it.

[Vrede too]

Muslim Sixth Grader Allegedly Attacked by Schoolmates Who Called her ISIS, Tore at Her Hijab

If Trump had three sons . . .

[Vrede too]

Most U.S. Christian groups grow more accepting of homosexuality

[billy.pilgrim]

Muslim tradition generally regards him as a prophet like his father, and the one who continued teaching mankind the laws of God after the death of Adam.[10] Islamic lore gives Seth an exalted position among the Antediluvian Patriarchs of the Generations of Adam, and some sources even cite Seth as the receiver of a scripture.[11]

Islamic literature holds that Seth was born when Adam was past 100 and that, by the time Adam died, Adam had already made Seth the heir to him in guiding his people. Muslims hold that Seth was given wisdom in several different aspects of life, including knowledge of time, a prophetic vision of the future Great Flood, and inspiration on the methods of night prayer. Islam, like Judaism and Christianity, traces the genealogy of mankind back to Seth, since Abel did not leave any heirs and Cain's heirs, according to tradition, were destroyed by the Great Flood.[12] In Muslim tradition, many of the traditional Islamic crafts[13] are also traced back to Seth, such as the making of horn combs.[14] Seth has also played a role in Islamic mysticism, known as Sufism, and Ibn Arabi included a chapter in his 'Bezels of Wisdom' on Seth, titled "The Wisdom of Expiration in the Word of Seth".[15]

[Seth Milner]

(graphs)

Most U.S. Christian groups grow more accepting of homosexuality

I have no real opinion on homosexuality one way or the other, but in looking at those graphs, I see mostly churches that are members of associations or conventions or whatever they're called. No fundamental or independent religions or denominations are listed. The closet I see in that chart that would be considered fundamental is the Church of God of Cleveland, TN who show only a 22% increase, the lowest of all. The ones listed with the highest percentages are those churches who are more liberal in their theologies, church doctrine, and personal attitudes. Fundamentalists (fundacongelicals according to Boatrocker) can be overly zealous and extreme in their beliefs; hence accepting homosexuality into their churches or fellowship will probably never happen; and as long as it's in their church by-laws, it's legal.
(my source has a protected site, I can't post a working link.)

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/08/24/ch ... ing-bylaws...

[rstrong]

I see mostly churches that are members of associations or conventions or whatever they're called. No fundamental or independent religions or denominations are listed.

That's would be a pair point - if you only looked at the second graph. The first graph DOES include Catholics and other major denominations. The story is the same; acceptance of homosexuality has risen dramatically over a mere seven years.

That matches data from other sources too. Here in Canada the single largest Protestant denomination, the United Church, has endorsed and performed same-sex marriages since even before the starting date on those graphs. The increase in acceptance is the same in most if not all other western countries. Ireland for example, an almost entirely Catholic country, which recently approved same-sex marriage in a country-wide referendum.

It's generally believed that the question regarding one's religion was a major reason the right-wing religious backed Conservative Party here in Canada did away with the extended census questionnaire. Not because they thought it was a privacy issue, but because they didn't like the long-term trend. It's harder to get politicians to heed the wishes of the fundamentalists when polls show them disappearing. (The Liberals are bringing the extended census questionnaire back.)

The closet I see in that chart that would be considered fundamental is the Church of God of Cleveland, TN who show only a 22% increase, the lowest of all.

There will always be outliers. There will always be those who cling to old bigotries. The Mormon church still considered blacks to be subhuman even when Mitt Romney was preaching for it.

and as long as it's in their church by-laws, it's legal.

Well sure. No-one argues against it being legal. They're free to preach whatever they want, just like some Christian organizations still preach white supremacy and many (including the Church of God of Cleveland) don't allow women in higher church positions.

It's only a problem when they try to use government positions to dictate their policies to others, or their companies that deal with the general public to refuse services to women, non-whites, etc.

[Vrede too]

The closet I see ...

I see another "closet". Freudian slip?

... in that chart that would be considered fundamental is the Church of God of Cleveland, TN who show only a 22% increase, the lowest of all.

Ummm, there are two charts, "Evangelical Protestant" is listed in the 1st chart, there are several fundamentalist churches listed in the 2nd chart and the Church of God of Cleveland, TN increase in acceptance of homosexuality is 3%, not your "22%". You fail simple arithmetic, honesty, religion and accuracy, again.