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PhDreamer
SFN Regular
USA
925 Posts |
 Posted - 10/22/2001 : 19:52:09
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We seem to have more than our share of loudmouthed fundamentalists here in the Bible Belt (Gulf Coast of Florida for me) who just can't stand to be silently bigoted. Not a day passes without a blame-filled mini-rant in the letters to the editor in the local paper. Lately, the trend has been to fault the hedonistic trappings of modern industrial society. You know, the evils of rap music, 'non-family' TV programming and movies, the stuff that really pisses God off; never mind those silly commandments. I was feeling slightly smart-alecky, so I dashed off this:
quote:
See, this is the problem with a mystical creator who is either unwilling or unable to communicate directly with its creations. We end up with these horrific, attention-grabbing events that so many conclude are warnings or precursors, yet even the most pious among us are unable to agree on what the events mean or what we are supposed to do to prevent them. Falwell and Robertson blame the ACLU and homosexuals for everything else, why not this too? Well, the ACLU takes up as many ‘freedom of religion' issues as it does ‘freedom from religion' issues. And does anyone really still think humans have complete conscious control over the directions of their individual sexuality? The general citizenry tends to be less extreme; our problems are things like pornography, rap music, capitalism (at least the kind that produces pornography and rap music). So who's right? I would just as soon wait for George Burns to show up and tell everyone in no uncertain terms but I understand he's not much up to traveling these days. Perhaps we could consult the infallible written word of God? Ok, great. Old Testament, New Testament, Revised Standard, King James, Gideon, Qu'ran, Torah? ....Nevermind.
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Donnie B.
Skeptic Friend
417 Posts |
Posted - 10/22/2001 : 20:30:26 [Permalink]
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Excellent. Anyone care to lay odds on its getting published?
-- Donnie B.
Brian: "No, no! You have to think for yourselves!" Crowd: "Yes! We have to think for ourselves!" |
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James
SFN Regular
USA
754 Posts |
Posted - 10/23/2001 : 09:17:35 [Permalink]
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1,000,000 to 1
I know I ain't laying odds on it not getting published, though.
Prayer is nothing more than "spiritual masturbation". -theatheistknight
Edited by - James on 10/23/2001 09:18:24 |
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theweirdirishman
New Member
8 Posts |
Posted - 10/25/2001 : 19:32:15 [Permalink]
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haha i love radical christians, the amuse me
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@tomic
Administrator
USA
4607 Posts |
Posted - 10/25/2001 : 19:42:22 [Permalink]
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"theweirdirishman"
You mean they aren't all weird???
Ohhhh just kidding! I couldn't resist.
@tomic
Gravity, not just a good idea...it's the law! |
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PhDreamer
SFN Regular
USA
925 Posts |
Posted - 10/30/2001 : 14:00:39 [Permalink]
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No end in sight...
My response to the continuous bleating in the local paper for the posting of the Ten Commandments in every public restroom  :
I'm starting to take umbrage at those who would insist, without much thought, that the United States is a nation of Christians, by Christians and for Christians. Foremost, the suggestions that posting the Ten Commandments on every street corner, because they are somehow the foundations for our lawful government, are ignorant at best. I can't post them all here, but I have a copy in front of me and if anyone cares to explain how, other than the obvious two, maybe three, these are involved in our Constitutional/common law, I will gladly give my full attention.
Now, given that so many revere the Commandments as God's dicta, and given that there are numerous other actions which apparently are considered greivous sins (homosexuality, civil rights, excessive capitalism, etc), I must ask why there are only ten Commandments, and why do the majority of these Commandments seem so petty?
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Slater
SFN Regular
USA
1668 Posts |
Posted - 10/30/2001 : 15:39:43 [Permalink]
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quote:
"theweirdirishman"
You mean they aren't all weird???
AHEM...cough, cough {one eyebrow raises, as I sternly look over my glasses}
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The brain that was stolen from my laboratory was a criminal brain. Only evil will come from it. |
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Lisa
SFN Regular
USA
1223 Posts |
Posted - 10/30/2001 : 17:37:07 [Permalink]
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quote:
quote:
"theweirdirishman"
You mean they aren't all weird???
AHEM...cough, cough {one eyebrow raises, as I sternly look over my glasses}
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The brain that was stolen from my laboratory was a criminal brain. Only evil will come from it.
Grandma Cronin is spinning, I'm sure of it.
Lisa
If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room. |
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ljbrs
SFN Regular
USA
842 Posts |
Posted - 10/30/2001 : 19:54:32 [Permalink]
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I think that religious women are imbeciles. To put themselves in this second class position that seems to be the plight for women in all religions, they have to be pretty stupid, pretty ignorant, possibly pretty scared and most definitely scarred for life. I saw through this stupidity in my childhood. I sometimes got into trouble for it, but came out on top in the long run. I have avoided male chauvinists all of my life (even as friends, because they do not know how to be friends with women). My life has been just wonderful, because I did not have to carry all that negative baggage that comes from and goes with religion. My late husband was a doll (and also not religious), and we had marvelous conversations throughout his life. Settling for anything less means throwing away one's life.
ljbrs  
*Nothing is more damaging to a new truth than an old error.* Goethe |
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Tim
SFN Regular
USA
775 Posts |
Posted - 10/31/2001 : 05:32:41 [Permalink]
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I am new to this post, and do hope that I don't step on anyone's toes, or post improperly, but I felt I should agree with PhDreamer, and add my own two cents right along with this run on sentence. I have often been offended by letters to the editor extolling the virtues of our nation which is apparently founded in christianity, and constantly assaulted by the latest perceived immorality. So, like any concerned citizen, I write a letter to the same editor attempting to explain as clearly, and as respectfully as I can the meaning of the Establishment Clause of the First Ammendment. Of course, for my efforts I receive only a form letter in my mailbox explaining how there is not enough room to publish my letter. Now, I am left with a dismal feeling, because I simply cannot understand why anyone could believe that a group of people still reeling from religous persecution, could found a nation in a religion responsible for that very same persecution. Someone needs to tell the Fundies that the words 'Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion' means just that. Someone should tell our president, our chief justice, and Rush that nowhere in this clause do the words state, national or federal appear. The word is 'religion' with no qualifiers. With a little more reading of the Constitution, we will, also, find that the words God, Jesus, Christianity, or Judeo-Christian do not appear anywhere. I tried to tell them, but they wouldn't listen. Perhaps, I should pose as an evangelist, and then tell them. They do seem to listen steadfastly to whatever their 'shepherds' say. Just ask anyone who has attended a Creation - Evolution debate.
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Mespo_man
Skeptic Friend
USA
312 Posts |
Posted - 10/31/2001 : 06:09:23 [Permalink]
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quote:
I must ask why there are only ten Commandments, and why do the majority of these Commandments seem so petty?
[PhDreamer]
WHAT????? You never saw Mel Brook's "History of the World: Part I"? Moses originally had 3 tablets with 15 commandments and he dropped one. Remember now? 
(:raig |
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PhDreamer
SFN Regular
USA
925 Posts |
Posted - 10/31/2001 : 07:51:18 [Permalink]
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quote:
I think that religious women are imbeciles. To put themselves in this second class position that seems to be the plight for women in all religions, they have to be pretty stupid, pretty ignorant, possibly pretty scared and most definitely scarred for life. I saw through this stupidity in my childhood. I sometimes got into trouble for it, but came out on top in the long run. I have avoided male chauvinists all of my life (even as friends, because they do not know how to be friends with women). My life has been just wonderful, because I did not have to carry all that negative baggage that comes from and goes with religion. My late husband was a doll (and also not religious), and we had marvelous conversations throughout his life. Settling for anything less means throwing away one's life.
It is frustrating, from a relatively enlightened position as ours, to watch others seemingly throw their lives away on supersition. But I think some of the frustration is related our misrepresentation of these issues as pervasively psychological. It is important to understand that the sociological component of this kind of behavior is equally valid. I think the most useful way to look at it is that any person has a range of psychological responses to situations that are defined by the sociological framework. Obviously, the range of possible responses will differ by individual, and a few individuals are capable of operating outside the framework, but to expect that the 'average' person should be able to observe the gross inequities of oppressive frameworks and then make decisions based solely on reason and courage is, IMO, unrealistic.
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PhDreamer
SFN Regular
USA
925 Posts |
Posted - 10/31/2001 : 08:56:33 [Permalink]
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quote:
quote:
I must ask why there are only ten Commandments, and why do the majority of these Commandments seem so petty?
[PhDreamer]
WHAT????? You never saw Mel Brook's "History of the World: Part I"? Moses originally had 3 tablets with 15 commandments and he dropped one. Remember now?
Rats! How could I have forgotten? Does this mean I have to retract my rant?
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