Challenging Religion!

[nomadpete]

Now, don't call me a parasite!

 

And that's when the fight started....

 

 

[Bruce]

Wow that Seattle letter was wise. And more scientifically correct than you might think. Thanks for posting it.

 

 

[nomadpete]

As Rowan Atkinson put it, Hell has no toilets - eternal damnation without relief.

Humour:

 

I think I have learnt a lot from humour.

 

For me, whilst I'm laughing at a joke that revolves around preconceived notions, my mind is using the joke to challenge the preconceived notion. It is a process that helps me refine my beliefs. And to discard stuff that really doesn't stand up to rational analysis.

 

Unfortunately some people, probably those most in need of spending time reconsidering their unchallenged beliefs, only find such jokes to be painful.

 

 

[facthunter]

IF you unquestioningly accept things you may end up driving over a bridge which isn't there. A false sense of security can mean YOU get eaten. or the shiny car you just bought is a Lemon... Imagine the frustration of the suicide bomber IF there is no paradise after all..Nev

 

 

[Old Koreelah]

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[spacesailor]

I Like that One, No More Virgins,

 

 

[Litespeed]

As an aside, years ago I went to a Rotaract ( young rotary) party which was themed P&P.

 

Naturally I took along some friends and on account it been the Hills district- Sydney's god fearing bible belt. We dressed appropriately.......

 

I was Father Hymen:pope: and came with two of the Sisters of Perpetual Penetration. :babe:We were a absolute hit of the party.

 

When they stopped hitting us we were very relieved.

 

 

[facthunter]

IF you are NOT permitted to challenge religion, get out of the place fast. Not suitable for human occupation...Nev

 

 

[Old Koreelah]

We hear that once great beacon of religious freedom, the USofA, is about to force kids in public schools to attend religious instruction sessions. With the Supreme Court now stacked with conservatives for a generation, good luck to anyone mounting a challenge.

 

 

[facthunter]

Make America GET again? Despise them, for they DO know what they do. Nev

 

 

[Old Koreelah]

I fixed my spelling error Nev. Over to u.

 

 

[facthunter]

"Getting" things is what they think will make them "GRATE" again.. Nev

 

 

[pmccarthy]

You do know, I suppose, that "e yank e doodle" was originally a British taunt that meant "wanker".

 

 

[Litespeed]

Yes I did.

 

Did you know the what Pajero means in Spanish? Wanker.

 

That's why they don't use that name in Europe.

 

 

[Jerry_Atrick]

Ahhh Now I know why I got a slap in the face when after being handed the keys to a Jimmy, I asked for for a Pajero - rental office was in Spain

 

 

[Bruce]

Why is there nobody on this forum who will stick up for religion? I want to make fun of them.

 

 

[old man emu]

Just 'cause you want to stick it up religion.

 

 

[facthunter]

Naughty, Naughty. .Can't have people free to think. There will be less profits for the prophets.. who get the best of both worlds (if it is true). Since there are so many who claim that their "one" is the only one then a lot are going to be disappointed or WRONG even.. On balance it would seem possible none of them are the answer. Meanwhile they fight amongst themselves and commit abominations upon each other. Leave me out if you don't mind.. Pass. It wasn't always so... Nev

 

 

[spacesailor]

Perhaps ONE DAY !.

 

religion willbe outlawed, Because of All the atrosities already committed.

 

Unless the power's that govern. Decree. The POLLIES religion is best.

 

Change every four years. LoL

 

spacesailor

 

 

[nomadpete]

Nev, it has always been so. Human beasts all seem to need some mechanism to exclude others from their particular group/team/tribe

 

Religious grouping provides a simple method for discrimination against the masses of others (call them heathens or infidels, etc). We as individuals, cannot relate to large numbers of others so we require some way to reduce the 'group'

 

 

[Marty_d]

Why is there nobody on this forum who will stick up for religion? I want to make fun of them.

I could pretend, but given past history, I don't reckon anyone would believe me.

 

 

[Jerry_Atrick]

In all honesty, I was gravitating towards embracing religion about 2 years ago - and it lasted about a year. I didin't attend any ceremonies or ritualistic endeavours, but, for whatever reason, I was looking for some spiritual fulfilment. While I was part of this church - work that out!!

 

I had a pre-conceived notion to settle with my father's handed-down religion - it's not important which one it is.. My partner was starting to get a bit worried as, although we live in an old rectory - nect to the village chuch and we help out (although I have yet to go to a service), we see it as part of binding the community rather than any spiritual - I am not even sure the part time pastor/reverend/priest/whatever actually believes. She (yes, she) does the minimum mandatory stuff apparently and then they have an interactive chin-wag, or so I am told.

 

But religion has, for some people, become a sanctuary. My ex-Fiancee's mother (in Aus) was a devout catholic. It took me a little while to realise, but she was also a battered wife. We all thought she never left her "husband" because the catholic church forbade separation/divorce. The church, however, provided her with a precious daily hour or so of sanctuary and, dare I say, salvation. Eventually, her husband went a bit too far, and I agreed my finacee's mother could stay with us and we would support her in her divorce proceedings. It was a strain on our relationship - not because I resented her or found she was cramping my style, but I think it was destabilising my fiancee. My fiancee's mother continued her daily service (somethimes they were in solititude, sometimes they are as part of a mass). I went along once and quizzed the priest, father, or wha'ever and, without being accusatory, asked why a church's stance is to prohibit divorce, even in this woman's circumstance..

 

His answer was candid - "We have been consistently asked by <her name> about how god would see her should she separate and divorce from <his name>; we have consistently said that god has no tolerance of violence imparted by a loved one to another" And, if it is not a direct quote, it is darned not far off. Now, of course, we can argue to the tiss about whether or not any church lives by that at a macro level, as most historical wars, genocides or even acts of terrorism throughout the ages, have been waged in the name of religion. But the point is, for whatever reason, ex-fiancee's mother was hanging in there despite the church effectively saying, wtf - get the gubbins out of there.. But throughout what I thin was about 25 years of marriage (5 kids from memory), the church provided her the time and space and spiritual fulfilment to get through...

 

I think, for some odd reason, maybe that's what I was looking for. There were a couple of reasons I could put onto it now.. but at the time, I just knew I needed something that wan't there. Of course, I read the scriptures of that particular religion (no, it wasn't dianetics) and after about the thrid paragraph, I knew it was a croc of excrement. I am happy to say, to Bruce's chagrin, I am over trying to find spiritual nirvarna through religion - so you will have to look to someone else to mock. I found my spiritual fulfilment through a good freindof mine, Wolfie Blass (and Johnnie Walker)..

 

Juyst kidding - I really don't drink that much...

 

 

[facthunter]

To think "your" life is SO important it MUST have some real MEANING and PURPOSE is sort of self aggrandizement and total lack of humility. The fight for survival instinct applies beyond the grave (In our minds).. It's NATURAL to desire/want/need it, but that doesn't make it a fact. Gaze into the universe as we can NOW in a way we never could. We are the inhabitants of a tiny blue planet that is but a speck of dust in the enormity of the universe, incomprehensible to our earth bound minds. ALL THIS and we make ourselves the centre of it? Nev

 

 

[octave]

I don't really believe (and have never believed) that life has a grand purpose. In the absence of a grand purpose for me at least is the purpose I give it. I feel a great sense of privilege for just existing in the first place. I have the privilege of being born at a time in history when my odds of surviving into old age are better than in days gone by. I can understand that in a time or place when/where 5 of your 8 children would probably die at a young age and if you were lucky you might reach the grand age of 50, the idea of a grand plan or benevolent overseer was an attractive idea.

 

I have always enjoyed walking around old cemeteries. I often see ornate and large structures, many of the more recent ones are obviously well visited and looked after but other older ones are often in disrepair. Obviously, anyone who knew or cared for that person is also gone. For some reason I actually find this to be quite comforting. I do not want to be remembered by people I have never met or interacted with.

 

Now for the life advice. I say be grateful for all the good things in life, realize that for us middle-class folks in the 1st world the problems we whinge about are minuscule compared to 3rd world or in days gone by. Create meaning and a purpose but realize that this is your personal thing and may be of interest to others but probably not. Lastly don't be a dick i.e. be kind.

 

 

[Old Koreelah]

To think "your" life is SO important it MUST have some real MEANING and PURPOSE is sort of self aggrandizement and total lack of humility. The fight for survival instinct applies beyond the grave (In our minds).. It's NATURAL to desire/want/need it, but that doesn't make it a fact. Gaze into the universe as we can NOW in a way we never could. We are the inhabitants of a tiny blue planet that is but a speck of dust in the enormity of the universe, incomprehensible to our earth bound minds. ALL THIS and we make ourselves the centre of it? Nev