gowlerk

It's more that I am seeking answers for why religion is so successful in history despite it's many flaws. I like to choose my battles with a little care. I know I can't beat them into stopping with all the phony worship. Personally I'm pretty sure almost all of them are already full of doubt, but they are culturally committed to pretend to believe.

You have a two party system. Neither party has a platform of racism. But still, there are only two, so the racists have to go somewhere. They go to the party which is more willing to cater to them. At this time, that is the GOP. Until Johnson and the Civil Rights Act pissed them off it was the Democrats. History is interesting, but it is not the study of the present. It is the study of the past. As far as I know we are trying to move forward, not backward. Although sometimes it seems like parts of the US do actually want to move backwards in time. Tribalism and racism are powerful. They are part of who we are. But they are not all-powerful. Times can change. They did once in my lifetime and they can do it again. Even the R party can change, and someday it will. But right now the racists have a pretty strong influence on it.

The man seems to be unable to fathom how a person or a society can function without the god of Abraham to be it's foundation. In the meantime we are the result of millions of years of evolution and only a few centuries of monotheism. And of that only in what we call western society. There are literally billions of different ways we could have gone. The religions which he loves so much are nothing but accidents of history. Important culturally, but accidents none the less. We don't need them at all to be successful. But we do need organization, and religion is a great organizer.

Mostly as a defense mechanism. The whole "snowflake" thing was started as a way to insult liberals. Almost like the "cuck" nonsense. I use it as a form of turnabout.

Ron will tell you he is not racist. No one admits to being racist. The dotard claims not to be racist. Ron has said things in the past that have racist overtones, as has Trump. But more to the point is that he supports people who clearly are and he supports ideas and positions that racists also support. Mama always said "racist is as racist does".

Now to be clear and for one more time. I have no problem with anyone's beliefs except for when they think those beliefs make it okay to trample upon the rights of others. When I use the term "snowflake Christians" I am speaking of those who are offended by another person beliefs, or even worse, another person lack of beliefs creating a situation where they must accept. Some Christians in the US seem to be having a hard time accepting that not everyone who holds power is the same as them culturally. I know that it is even worse in many countries for non-believers, but that is not where we are speaking of. I am tolerant of all religious beliefs. I am not and will not become tolerant of bigotry. I am understanding of bigots. I understand both the motivation and the effects of bigotry. Just because I understand does not mean that I will quietly accept. Let me just add that I am VERY grateful to live in a society that allows me to speak out. I am fully aware that there are many places in this vale of tears that holds us all where I would be quickly killed if I were foolish enough to speak my mind.

It was never a science. Prophets are and have always been freeloading scammers.

The whole left right social thing has become so toxic that it no longer makes sense. Democrats are NOT socialist. Corporate America has just spent enough money on politics to convince some people that they are. Fiscal conservatism is just plain common sense.

Then why in the hell do you keep going on about your precious beliefs being suppressed? Of course it is not "the whole". If it was the whole then we would be in open warfare. I am not creating a stereotype, I know these people are a small minority. Militant atheists who kill are a non-existent group. YOU are the one complaining about the fate of YOUR beliefs in the modern world. Frankly, I'm sick and fucking tired of the way you go on about the changes you are having a hard time coping with. I have cited events that are happening. In our world. Not hypothetical complaining about some past slights like you do. I am talking about reality, not the fantasy of poor Cooreeeeeece or however many vowels you are using this week to get around your many bannings, having to cope with his feeling of powerlessness. I really have no problem with your fight for what you believe. It is the way you seem to over and over again express a demand that you have a right to live in a world that thinks as you do that I object to. Not that you are the only one, but you are the one who is here in this forum at this time. Christianity is not downtrodden and forlorn. It must merely learn that it can no longer dominate the conversation. It will not do this willingly, so it needs to be guarded against. No one and no organization gives up power voluntarily.

I'm not going to get into a pointless argument on the history and the score. The point is that right now there are no Christian killing atheists and there is no movement for religion to be banned. You have no legitimate grievance where you live and worship. There have been in my lifetime religious extremists with sniper rifles taking out doctors for serving their patients against the perceived fantastical wishes of the god of bigots. There are shootings at Mosques and at Churches, and at Synagogues being done by offended believers. In our time and in our cities. There are no atheists killing in the name of freedom from religion. It is a very short distance for people with the kind of anger I see in you and in Ron talking about how godless Democrats need to be taken care of to more outrages. We will not stand by and allow evil people with evil in their hearts to prevail. Believe whatever you want, but understand that the time when your faith can dominate my society is over and I will not ever allow it to return.

I for one do not dream of a world where everyone believes the same thing. I dream of a world where all accept the right of everyone to their beliefs. There has never been and never will be a utopia. You may call me a dreamer but I'm not the only one.

I hope you are having fun. And seeing and considering new concepts. You often come across as merely angry, but I know there must be more going on than just that. Because if that were all why the hell would you keep coming back here? I have seen a definite change for the better in the tone and content of your posts in the time that we have interacted here. I still find your automatic defense of anything you find offensive toward the Christian religion to be quite reactionary. Let me just say that atheists have far more reason to fear the religious than the other way around. Yes, I know that there have been certain ideologies that have suppressed your religion in the world. But history shows that the violence has been mostly in the other direction. Far too many people have decided that killing in God's name is the way to go. Belief encourages extremism.

He did not. You just chose to see an attack when what was being opened was a conversation on starting a new tradition.

So, it is your belief that society can not thrive without an Abrahamic religion to guide and drive it? How do you explain Chinese, Japanese, and Indian societies? Hindus, Buddists and Shintos have all managed somehow and I believe that unless the Christian nations who control the real weapons of mass destruction decide that God wants them used to destroy Her creation they will continue to do so. Your innate and self-consuming fear of atheism is making you blind to basic truths of human nature.

So, this is the exact and complete text of his OP: "As athiests and being interested in the universe etc, my partner and I decided we are no longer celebrating Christmas, but rather returning to older pagan based celebrations and dates. Its been fun and opened our eyes to a few things. We are no longer lying to children about mythical beings, no focus on material goods (toys and presents etc) and teaching them about how the universe works" You have him pegged? After he posted this you immediately attacked him for how he is raising his family. A fact that I pointed out before and you ignored. It is hard to ignore your hypocrisy, but that is a common trait among religious persons that is brought about by the inherent conflict between the high ideals they proclaim and the actual practices they exhibit. You certainly are doing a fine job of confirming that here.

No haters here.....none at all.

Huh? Hater? Has he even once advocated burning them at the stake? Has he molested children entrusted in his care? Hate is a strong term. Christianity, founded on a message of love, has been largely corrupted by hate.

It's great when God is patient and waits for the "trickle down" to reach Her donors.

There is on mine, but I had to take a knife and cut the padding some. It may depend on your head size. The shells are all the same and you custom fit your padding.

Go up to the black board and write out 100 times in your best cursive, "I will not be mean to Christians". Stay after school until you are finished young man!

I'm not sure what to make of your free form prose. Or how you can think the the dotards past leverage of power and a little cash to buy rewards somehow can erase his long and well known history of overt racism and the use of other people's racism to curry political favour. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/06/trump-racism-comments/588067/ And I would point out to you that Trudeau's cabinet reflects at least some of the ethnic and much of the gender diversity of Canada. Racist is as racist does. Policy is what matters in politics. Trump's policy is to do as much as he can to limit immigration to the US to a lily white as possible and to deny as many refugee claims as possible while Canada is expanding ours. Money talks and bullshit walks.

Don't we all? I'm not advocating anyone buy that stock. I am seriously considering taking a "flyer" on a little bit of Boeing.

Well, I have been to Peguis. They have both Ojibway and Cree languages there I believe.

Not in my understanding of English.

There is an "ilk" ban? FWIW here is the definition: ilk /ilk/ noun noun: ilk a type of people or things similar to those already referred to. I believe you may be a person of a similar ilk to myself. I have the exact same notation applied to my file. Also by billvon. I will not repeat the infraction that got me the warning point. But I will tell you that it was for saying something mean to billyvance of all people!