The Atheism Thread - Part 6

[Marvolo]

I'd like to think it goes without saying that most if not all of these people depicted fall under the category of extremists and do not represent Christians as a whole.

I know. I just thought the video was a good demonstration of indoctrination and crazy extremists. Not all Christianity or churches are this way.

Tho the idea of God's will and "mysterious ways", and martyr mentality is pretty common among fundamentalists. And speaking in tongues is common among a few denominations of Protestantism.

 

[enterthemadness]

I actually have respect for people who truly hold to the best aspects of their faith ETM, especially when it comes to compassion or seeking some kind of moral justice in this world. But... I do worry that in the event of some kind of mass disaster we could see a very shocked and weary populous turn to a very extremist and dogmatic form of religion, which would not, in my opinion, be good for the whole of society.

Look at what happened to the Library at Alexandria. Think of the vast knowledge we would have today of the ancient world, think of what the West and Near East lost when it was destroyed by zealots. I worry that we are not yet at a place where that slide into irrationalism is not something that could easily transpire.

I just know that as a Ancient Rome or Greek thing. And yeah, that sucks cause we only know so much.

 

[Marvolo]

I just know that as a Ancient Rome or Greek thing. And yeah, that sucks cause we only know so much.

The Library at Alexandria was one of the largest if not the largest repository of ancient history, art, and knowledge. The permanent loss of knowledge has been called incalculable. The Library was burnt a few times before it's total destruction in 391 AD by order of Emperor Theodosius 1 who outlawed paganism and demanded all pagan temples be burned.

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

The Library at Alexandria was one of the largest if not the largest repository of ancient history, art, and knowledge. The permanent loss of knowledge has been called incalculable. The Library was burnt a few times before it's total destruction in 391 AD by order of Emperor Theodosius 1 who outlawed paganism and demanded all pagan temples be burned.

Such a shame. Forget about any fantasies of "Atlantean tech" or the like. Just having a better understanding of current events of the ancient world which could have be passed on would have benefitted the West's understanding of it's own history.

 

[Flint Marko]

I know. I just thought the video was a good demonstration of indoctrination and crazy extremists. Not all Christianity or churches are this way.

Tho the idea of God's will and "mysterious ways", and martyr mentality is pretty common among fundamentalists. And speaking in tongues is common among a few denominations of Protestantism.

Thought so, just makin sure we're all on the same page here The posters and discussion I've seen in this thread seem reasonable so I figured as much.
I'm a presbyterian born and raised in the bible belt and I pretty much disagree with everything in that video. There's only one church that I know of that practices speaking tongues, and most people in my city view them as a little bit looney.
The whole tongues thing is really a whole discussion in and of itself because the way most christians 'practice' it nowadays is completely off base from what is described in the bible.

 

[Marvolo]

Such a shame. Forget about any fantasies of "Atlantean tech" or the like. Just having a better understanding of current events of the ancient world which could have be passed on would have benefitted the West's understanding of it's own history.

No doubt. It's one of those moments in history that makes me damn near sick to think about.

If society ever does suffer a catastrophic event in my lifetime I'm gonna gather, store, and hide whatever books I can. Wouldn't be a bad idea to also retrieve and maintain some Amazon and Google servers if at all possible. They have thousands of important books and lots of knowledge stored on those things. Even without electricity the servers will retain that data.

 

[enterthemadness]

The Library at Alexandria was one of the largest if not the largest repository of ancient history, art, and knowledge. The permanent loss of knowledge has been called incalculable. The Library was burnt a few times before it's total destruction in 391 AD by order of Emperor Theodosius 1 who outlawed paganism and demanded all pagan temples be burned.

That reminds me of when I talked to two people. They are both religious and denied and didn't know about that happening to Pagans.

 

[Marvolo]

Thought so, just makin sure we're all on the same page here The posters and discussion I've seen in this thread seem reasonable so I figured as much.
I'm a presbyterian born and raised in the bible belt and I pretty much disagree with everything in that video. There's only one church that I know of that practices speaking tongues, and most people in my city view them as a little bit looney.
The whole tongues thing is really a whole discussion in and of itself because the way most christians 'practice' it nowadays is completely off base from what is described in the bible.

I've got a few churches in my area who speak in tongues. Some Pentecostal and some who follow the teachings of the faith healer and prophet William M Branham. Branham's followers have a unique brand of Protestantism. I went to school with a few of Branham's followers and know a pastor that preaches his message. The women in those churches can not cut their hair so it reaches insane lengths. The women must wear ankle length skirts which are usually made of denim material. They don't wear makeup or jewelry. Usually a Branham follower can be easily spotted by the way the women dress and carry themselves. Also strangely enough for whatever reason the women in this denomination seems to suffer from obesity. And no I'm not making this up. It's an observation I've made from interacting with them the past 10 years. They tend to have lots of kids and the women tend to stay home and raise the kids so that could be it.

They more serious followers dont marry people of other protestant denominations. They consider Branham a prophet of the seventh and final church age that precedes the rapture. According to them he was sent from God and his visions and healing powers came from God. Protestants who know of him consider him a false witness which doesn't go over well with Branham's followers.

 

[Flint Marko]

I've got a few churches in my area who speak in tongues. Some Pentecostal and some who follow the teachings of the faith healer and prophet William M Branham. Branham's followers have a unique brand of Protestantism. I went to school with a few of Branham's followers and know a pastor that preaches his message. The women in those churches can not cut their hair so it reaches insane lengths. The women must wear ankle length skirts which are usually made of denim material. They don't wear makeup or jewelry. Usually a Branham follower can be easily spotted by the way the women dress and carry themselves. Also strangely enough for whatever reason the women in this denomination seems to suffer from obesity. And no I'm not making this up. It's an observation I've made from interacting with them the past 10 years.

I don't know a ton about them, but from my understanding they believe that the 'trinity' is more or less just God changing forms, like three different sides to the same being. I've never met anyone who ascribed to this specific belief system, as most christians down here are pretty much all right-wing fundamentalists. I'm a little bit of a "heretic" to some people down here as I believe in evolution, have no problem with gay marriage, etc.
That being said I noticed you have some Neil deGrasse Tyson links in your signature, are you planning on watching Cosmos tomorrow night?

 

[Marvolo]

I don't know a ton about them, but from my understanding they believe that the 'trinity' is more or less just God changing forms, like three different sides to the same being. I've never met anyone who ascribed to this specific belief system, as most christians down here are pretty much all right-wing fundamentalists. I'm a little bit of a "heretic" to some people down here as I believe in evolution, have no problem with gay marriage, etc.
That being said I noticed you have some Neil deGrasse Tyson links in your signature, are you planning on watching Cosmos tomorrow night?

My friend's mother who follows Branham explained their view of the trinity to me years ago. The memory is hazy, but I remember her saying something about the trinity being different masks of the same God or some such thing. It all sounded pretty heretical at the time. Then again their whole dogma and doctrine is extremely heretical in the eyes of almost all other denominations.

And yep I will definitely be watching Cosmos tomorrow! I'm a fellow heretic lol.

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

I have a feeling that COSMOS being on is going to throw many of the threads dealing with either Atheism and Christianity and the issues involving both into overdrive.

 

[enterthemadness]

I have a feeling that COSMOS being on is going to throw many of the threads dealing with either Atheism and Christianity and the issues involving both into overdrive.

Can't people just watch the series and go 'Awww, so ****ing beautiful''. What is COSMOS anyway? Just ya know, about the universe and stuff?

 

[Flint Marko]

My friend's mother who follows Branham explained their view of the trinity to me years ago. The memory is hazy, but I remember her saying something about the trinity being different masks of the same God or some such thing. It all sounded pretty heretical at the time. Then again their whole dogma and doctrine is extremely heretical in the eyes of almost all other denominations.

And yep I will definitely be watching Cosmos tomorrow! I'm a fellow heretic lol.

That's interesting. I really don't know a lot about them, but it amazes me how many offshoots of christianity there are and how so many of them differ from one another.
And same here, I'm really excited about it.

I have a feeling that COSMOS being on is going to throw many of the threads dealing with either Atheism and Christianity and the issues involving both into overdrive.

Agreed, it'll definitely heat this place up a little bit haha.

 

[Marvolo]

Can't people just watch the series and go 'Awww, so ****ing beautiful''. What is COSMOS anyway? Just ya know, about the universe and stuff?

Yep. It's an updated version of the Carl Sagan series that came on in the 80s. Least I think it was the 80s may have been the 70s. Anyways, that series came on before we had even discovered the first exoplanet so like Neil DeGrasse Tyson says, it is completely out of date and was due for an update.

It's a miniseries that will talk about the cosmos. From its birth to its death in the future and deal with various topics. It will discuss humans and earth and nebulae and galaxies and probably string theory and dimensions and who knows what else. Definitely something no one should miss.

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

Can't people just watch the series and go 'Awww, so ****ing beautiful''. What is COSMOS anyway? Just ya know, about the universe and stuff?

Many years ago, the famed Astronomer Carl Sagan had a series called COSMOS. It was both a trip through time and space. It was about the nature of the universe now, it's past and according to the scientific understanding of the time it was made, it's future. The second you go into the idea of a mechanistic universe that has NO NEED for a creator being, well, religion and those that are religious will want to interject.

The current series will have Neil Degrasse Tyson in place of Sagan, and is being produced by FAMILY GUY creator Seth Macfarlane.

 

[enterthemadness]

Yep. It's an updated version of the Carl Sagan series that came on in the 80s. Least I think it was the 80s may have been the 70s. Anyways, that series came on before we had even discovered the first exoplanet so like Neil DeGrasse Tyson says, it is completely out of date and was due for an update.

It's a miniseries that will talk about the cosmos. From its birth to its death in the future e and deal with various topics. It will discuss humans and earth and nebulae and galaxies and probably string theory and dimensions and who knows what else.

Even Neil has no idea why he is so popular. hasn't he seem the 'Looks like we had a bad ass over here' meme.

Seriosuly though, I'm DVR'ing it. Should really be beauitful to look at in very lest.

 

[enterthemadness]

Many years ago, the famed Astronomer Carl Sagan had a series called COSMOS. It was both a trip through time and space. It was about the nature of the universe now, it's past and according to the scientific understanding of the time it was made, it's future. The second you go into the idea of a mechanistic universe that has NO NEED for a creator being, well, religion and those that are religious will want to interject.

The current series will have Neil Degrasse Tyson in place of Sagan, and is being produced by FAMILY GUY creator Seth Macfarlane.

Always could be a Neo-Pagan that worships the Earth. That's what I do, sometimes a couple Greek Gods, but my faith is weak cause I let **** get in the way, but sometimes when I do pray as of late, I just pray to Mother Earth. Just less complicated and easier I guess. I'm not expecting anything to be real, I just do it to feel good.

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

Always could be a Neo-Pagan that worships the Earth. That's what I do, sometimes a couple Greek Gods, but my faith is weak cause I let **** get in the way, but sometimes when I do pray as of late, I just pray to Mother Earth. Just less complicated and easier I guess. I'm not expecting anything to be real, I just do it to feel good.

Your approach is to see what your religious outlook, what ever the specifics are, as a metaphorical illustration. You do not ACTUALLY believe there is an Earth Goddess or pagan deities as an objective reality outside of your own mind then?

 

[enterthemadness]

Your approach is to see what your religious outlook, what ever the specifics are, as a metaphorical illustration. You do not ACTUALLY believe there is an Earth Goddess or pagan deities as an objective reality outside of your own mind then?

Could be for all I know. But, I am a man that flip flops still with religion. I just know, when I started out it was Mother Earth, thinking of the planet, rivers, trees, physical stuff I know, and pray to that. Then I did some research, and got into the actual Gaia and Eros of Greek God fame. But well, that didn't stick. I hardly ever think of religion, in terms of thinking of myself as a Neo-Pagan. But I still identify as that. I have no idea if I will be one years from now and I don't pray that often, maybe few times a month as of late, stopped for a while it seems like. But when I do, it's Pagan related. I don't see anything wrong with it. I don't have much of a interest talking to other Pagans online either. I cannot recall that good, but I think worshipping the planet without the gods/goddesses is uncommon/rare.


I've been over this before in 2012 in a earlier version of this thread. I'm probably nothing more than a atheist who puts his fingers/finger tips into the Pagan Pool. I don't really believe in a afterlife. I guess if I had to choose, Purgatory type place and my spirit would get reincarnated or like go into the earth or the stars.

or if I'm joking around or being a ass, choose to go to hell and like the song title, build a ''stairway to heaven''.

 

[Dr.]

I have a feeling that COSMOS being on is going to throw many of the threads dealing with either Atheism and Christianity and the issues involving both into overdrive.

The original Cosmos was about the natural world as revealed by science. Consequently, there wasn’t much attention paid to supernaturalism (except when certain specific examples of pseudo-science [e.g. astrology] were being debunked). The closest Cosmos got to addressing gods and atheism was in this brief section:



I’d be surprised if the “new Cosmos” was any more explicit. (Though, I don’t expect them to shy away from materialism, naturalism, evolution, a 14 billion year-old Universe, etc.)

 

[Gr0oT]

Now that Cosmos has aired, what were your thoughts?

 

[Hal_Jordan]

Now that Cosmos has aired, what were your thoughts?

I wish Neil would have debated Ken Ham instead of Bill Nye.

But he's too smart for such nonsense.

 

[enterthemadness]

I wish Neil would have debated Ken Ham instead of Bill Nye.

But he's too smart for such nonsense.

Might be mean to say or wrong, but Neil could debate Ken Ham and say 'Stop hamming it up, Ham, gosh' Get it... -_- it's a pun joke.

 

[DarkSovereignty]

Don't ever do that again.

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

The original Cosmos was about the natural world as revealed by science. Consequently, there wasn’t much attention paid to supernaturalism (except when certain specific examples of pseudo-science [e.g. astrology] were being debunked). The closest Cosmos got to addressing gods and atheism was in this brief section:


I’d be surprised if the “new Cosmos” was any more explicit. (Though, I don’t expect them to shy away from materialism, naturalism, evolution, a 14 billion year-old Universe, etc.)

Well.... That's what I said in a post not much later.