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Post by amindfarfaraway on Mar 13, 2009 13:45:05 GMT -5
Ya ever get the idea that every single user on RR is just a troll? Maybe RR is just a big circle of trolls trolling each other by pretending to be crazy fundamentalists. That's what we all hope, that the kind of ignorance and stupidity on there is just some big troll orgy. Unfortunately, I don't think that's the case.
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Post by amindfarfaraway on Mar 12, 2009 9:50:21 GMT -5
I've been to hell, and let me tell you, I'm never going back to Tennessee. In all seriousness, I look at all these lists and think, "shit, you guys have it easy, if anything, god's more pissed at me than at you all". Why? Because you guys are the extreme opposite of what god wants. I'm actually in the middle. -I'm a liberal, but I'm just left of center -I would support a ban on abortion except in cases of rape, harm to the mother during childbirth, or there being something terribly wrong with the child, that being born would be more harmful than to terminate it -I do like some of Metallica's stuff after the 'Black Album' -I'm only a moderate drinker (contrary to me calling myself a drunk on here all the time) -I believe Jesus of Nazareth did exist, but that everything written about him in the NT is complete crap -I don't like Harry Potter, but I do like LOTR -I don't get into heavy metal like I used to, but I love 'numetal' (but I hate that term) -I don't play much video games nowadays, but the ones I do play are RPG's -I don't play D&D or V:TM anymore, but I used to -I think that all religions are equal and valid, and can be good things as long as people don't get so worked up about who's right and wrong -I don't really watch TV, and I never go to the movies, but the TV shows that I do watch from time to time all have shootings, shit blowing up, people dying, etc. -I quit smoking, but I started dipping -I believe in the possibility of the existence of a god, but, if one does exist, it's not the abrahamic one I guess the worst things about me are the fact that I can think for myself, so I accept evolution, and that I cuss like a sailor. Damn Asperger's, keeps me from having too much fun. Oh well. But I image god would get pissed more at my just left of center views than an extreme left viewpoint. I can imagine him saying "Pick a side, goddam nmit!" "Quit straddling the fucking fence!" I bet I piss him off good. I'm like the little quiet kid who's always got a smug, mischievous look on is face, but never does anything, but you just know he's planning something. I'm not trying to derail or pick on you (even though you like post black album metallica ) but what makes you say this: -I believe Jesus of Nazareth did exist, but that everything written about him in the NT is complete crapIf need be we can start a new thread. Perhaps on the historicity of jesus. Absolutely no reason whatsoever, except that I find it interesting that a whole religion that has no originality at all bases itself off of this man. I have no reason to think he didn't exist. But like I said, if he did, then nothing written about him is accurate. Xtians added a bunch of Greek and Roman mythology, some Zoroastrian doctrines, a little bit of Buddhist mysticism, and applied that to a supposed Jewish messiah. That's just interesting to me, and I'm of the opinion that there probably was some sage or rabbi who taught a mystical philosophy based on different teachings of many different religions, who was the basis for the xtian belief. There's no proof that he existed, and therefore no proof of what he taught if he did exist. It's just interesting to me.
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Post by amindfarfaraway on Mar 12, 2009 4:01:17 GMT -5
["If we allow him to do this, then what if a group of wiccans wants to put a monument out there for devil worship?" Collins says.] I AM SO FUCKIN TIRED OF HEARING THIS RETARDED-ASS SHIT I literally facepalmed when I read that. What a complete load of fucking nonsense. Remind me never to go to Oklahoma.
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Post by amindfarfaraway on Mar 12, 2009 3:53:01 GMT -5
I've been to hell, and let me tell you, I'm never going back to Tennessee. In all seriousness, I look at all these lists and think, "shit, you guys have it easy, if anything, god's more pissed at me than at you all". Why? Because you guys are the extreme opposite of what god wants. I'm actually in the middle.
-I'm a liberal, but I'm just left of center -I would support a ban on abortion except in cases of rape, harm to the mother during childbirth, or there being something terribly wrong with the child, that being born would be more harmful than to terminate it -I do like some of Metallica's stuff after the 'Black Album' -I'm only a moderate drinker (contrary to me calling myself a drunk on here all the time) -I believe Jesus of Nazareth did exist, but that everything written about him in the NT is complete crap -I don't like Harry Potter, but I do like LOTR -I don't get into heavy metal like I used to, but I love 'numetal' (but I hate that term) -I don't play much video games nowadays, but the ones I do play are RPG's -I don't play D&D or V:TM anymore, but I used to -I think that all religions are equal and valid, and can be good things as long as people don't get so worked up about who's right and wrong -I don't really watch TV, and I never go to the movies, but the TV shows that I do watch from time to time all have shootings, shit blowing up, people dying, etc. -I quit smoking, but I started dipping -I believe in the possibility of the existence of a god, but, if one does exist, it's not the abrahamic one
I guess the worst things about me are the fact that I can think for myself, so I accept evolution, and that I cuss like a sailor. Damn Asperger's, keeps me from having too much fun. Oh well. But I image god would get pissed more at my just left of center views than an extreme left viewpoint. I can imagine him saying "Pick a side, goddamnmit!" "Quit straddling the fucking fence!" I bet I piss him off good. I'm like the little quiet kid who's always got a smug, mischievous look on is face, but never does anything, but you just know he's planning something.
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Post by amindfarfaraway on Mar 11, 2009 16:42:24 GMT -5
Many evangelical and fundamentalist xtian leaders are noting how evangelicalism is already slowly dying. The problem with evangelicalism is that it was a "bible-based" socio-political and cultural movement. As that culture is slowly evolving, evangelicalism will slowly die. It's a movement that had a particular social outlook, which was based on what students of philosophy might call modernism. And just as modernism has died out, so too will evangelicalism. Other xtian movements that were based more on a particular theological outlook are the ones that have survived longer than 100-200 years. Evangelicalism was not a theological outlook, but a social and cultural one. It was doomed to fail from the beginning. Now, about fundamentalism, I think you are right, ironbite, that it will continue on. However, it will have to change, at least superficially, if it hopes to survive and not go down the same path of evangelicalism. Fundamentalism was more of a theological movement to combat the perceived liberalism entering the churches back during the Enlightenment. It has survived this long, and probably will continue to, like you said. And yes, I think it will lose influence, and it will also lose membership. Most xtians are either becoming liberal, or if not liberal, then at least postmodern (which is another movement in xtianity that will eventually die out, but I feel might last a little bit longer than evangelicalism will), conservative traditionalist, in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches, or, as can be seen by the growth of Mormonism, part of some restorationist movement. Pentecostalism has been defined as both fundamentalist and evangelical, and if the latter is correct, then it's the only evangelical group that will survive. But evangelicalism will die off, and, going back to the original topic, the rapture belief will decline, although I don't think it will entirely disappear.
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Post by amindfarfaraway on Mar 11, 2009 9:59:30 GMT -5
Discordianism isn't on the list? Eris is going to be pissed, and we know what happened last time she got pissed.
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Post by amindfarfaraway on Mar 11, 2009 9:54:58 GMT -5
Well, as a straight married male, I would have to say that I'd turn to the other side for Brad Pitt. And I'm also fond of Hugh Laurie. Now, as far as women go, I just want to say that Jessica Biel is a goddess. Mmmm...House.... Damn right.
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Post by amindfarfaraway on Mar 11, 2009 9:50:34 GMT -5
Since I pretty much consider myself one of the resident xtian theologians, I have an interesting answer to this. Evangelicalism itself, probably won't last another 20-30 years. Even their own leaders have been coming to this realization. They note that most xtians are either, if wanting to stay protestant, going to the more liberal churches, or, if wanting to stay conservative, are going to the traditionalist catholic and eastern orthodox churches. The only remnants we'll see that far down the road are those in the pentecostal and nondenominational megachurches, and even the pentecostals will probably be dying out. There more than likely won't be anymore evangelicalism or fundamentalism. It will be mostly liberalism and traditionalism, with maybe a few disparate remnant churches here and there. This would be wonderful if it happens. I've seen this espoused before, but honestly, I'm not that confident it will happen this quickly. I certainly hope I'm wrong, though, as I would love to see it happen in my lifetime. Since I'm now in my early 50's, that timetable may be pushing it a little bit for me, but, as the saying goes, hope springs eternal. Yeah, I know what you mean. And if you'll study the history of the protestant churches, movements come and go about every 75-100 years or so, and since the rapture has been in effect for about 140 years, it is it's time to go.
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Post by amindfarfaraway on Mar 11, 2009 4:59:13 GMT -5
Since I pretty much consider myself one of the resident xtian theologians, I have an interesting answer to this. Evangelicalism itself, probably won't last another 20-30 years. Even their own leaders have been coming to this realization. They note that most xtians are either, if wanting to stay protestant, going to the more liberal churches, or, if wanting to stay conservative, are going to the traditionalist catholic and eastern orthodox churches. The only remnants we'll see that far down the road are those in the pentecostal and nondenominational megachurches, and even the pentecostals will probably be dying out. There more than likely won't be anymore evangelicalism or fundamentalism. It will be mostly liberalism and traditionalism, with maybe a few disparate remnant churches here and there.
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Post by amindfarfaraway on Mar 11, 2009 4:53:42 GMT -5
The belief in the rapture started in the 18th century with those like C.I. Scofield and J.N.Darby. It's basically an evangelical and fundamentalist belief. It's found predominantly in the Baptist and Pentecostal churches, as well as the so-called "nondenominational" churches, and I think some Methodist churches as well. The majority of xtians, however, reject the idea. It's just that the loudest xtians in America are of the rapture believing kind, so those are the ones we have to hear the most and put up with the most.
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Post by amindfarfaraway on Mar 11, 2009 4:46:43 GMT -5
Predominantly agnostic. But I guess I'm what you might call a weak agnostic, in that, I believe that no god as yet has been proven to exist, but there might actually be one out there that we're not aware of, and the world's religions have just got it all wrong so far. But I also believe that, if there is a god, since it hasn't tried reaching down to us, then there's no real point in reaching up to it, or speculating about it, it's nature and attributes. Most of my beliefs follow a long line of philosophers, from Plato, the Stoics, Plotinus, to the empiricists, Immanuel Kant, the continental philosophies, to existentialism. Most who know me would say a nihilistic existentialism, due to my extreme pessimism, cynicism, and belief in fate. I think I just need to drink more. Who know. I also believe my Asperger's is due to the next step in evolution. At least that's what I tell myself. I hate religion, don't accept any particular view of god, or even if a god exists, but I have a love for mysticism. As such, I also like to study the Traditionalist school and the Perennial Philosophy. Now that I think about it, I guess that mostly makes me a Neoplatonist. Go me!
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Post by amindfarfaraway on Mar 11, 2009 4:30:00 GMT -5
Philosopher/Scientist. I'm actually more the philosopher. But there's no real surprise there.
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Post by amindfarfaraway on Mar 11, 2009 4:22:55 GMT -5
First, I would like to admit to the world wide web that I am wrong. Jessica Biel is not the most beautiful woman in the world. Cat is. Second, as far as super powers go, I pretty much have the entire bible memorized. Is that a super power? For most people, it would be pathetic, but I'm an Aspie and had spent most of my life as a xtian, so it just kind of happened. Then there's also the numbers thing. I memorize debit card PIN numbers and phone numbers by weird mathematical formulas and visualizing the numbers on number pads forming pictures and symbols. Somehow, though, I doubt these are real super powers. OH; I can pee on command. Really. That might help.
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Post by amindfarfaraway on Mar 11, 2009 4:05:20 GMT -5
Well, as a straight married male, I would have to say that I'd turn to the other side for Brad Pitt. And I'm also fond of Hugh Laurie. Now, as far as women go, I just want to say that Jessica Biel is a goddess.
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Post by amindfarfaraway on Mar 11, 2009 4:00:25 GMT -5
I third the antifundy title for Distind. I also like the idea of of the new window opening in a new tab.
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