Death is release. The manner in which you die can be hell.
Religion, what's the point?
- Thread starter TheRedFlag
- Start date
Death is release. The manner in which you die can be hell.
Any budding scientists willing to test this out?
Last edited:
Release from what ?
My point is purely theoretical but I think many would see it as the final escape from the unpredictability and the shackles of life in all shapes and forms, physical or mental.
I now believe in Mosquito God. Those guys will survive longer than us.
Cockroach God.
He doesn't exist. Mine does.
How you know it's not she?
He has a cock.
I disagree with this but my views are based on my own convictions. There is no evidence of his existence anyway.
There definitely is evidence. Not proof, of course but a good few people at the time with no direct connection to Christianity wrote about Jesus.
EDIT - Nice one on the thread change. I couldn't remember what this one was called.
I've scoured through that before. Most believers direct me to the ancient Jewish historian Titus Flavius Josephus who was born in 37 AD and mentioned Jesus in his account of Jewish history Antiquities of the Jews (circa 94 AD). My problem is how he basically repeats stories of creation based on the Hebrew bible, including the Adam and Eve fairy tale among others and passes them off as historical fact in the opening volumes. He mentions Jesus twice and John the baptist once in books 18 and 20. His early christian references have been subject to Christian interpolation and has divided scholars. This stuff is widely considered by christian scholars to be some of, if not the best evidence of his existence. Iffy at best.
I think we may be talking about different things.
If you're recalling what believers say, I wonder if you're thinking I am claiming there is evidence for the biblical account of Jesus. I am not. I am claiming there was a bloke called Jesus, around that time, who gained quite a following and who was subsequently written about a lot.
We're talking about the same thing. I didn't assume you were a believer and was actually going to ask if you were but that's not the main point. I don't think he existed whether we're basing this on a deity or a mortal charlatan/lunatic. I think he was merely fabricated.
I see. I'm not a historian myself, so don't have a strong view, but I find it very unlikely he didn't exist, given the weight of historians who believe he did. There is, after all, very little that is at all hard to believe, if we start from the position that he wasn't actually magic but just charismatic enough for people to buy in to his stories.
Like an ancient Paul Daniels.
"Thou'll liketh this, not a loteth, but thou'll liketh it."
"Thou'll liketh this, not a loteth, but thou'll liketh it."
Less Tory than Daniels.
He might've existed, who knows? I just don't think historians know anything more than you and I do when there's zero proof and their findings are based on sketchy ancient writings who's authenticity cannot be verified and thus are still up for debate. I think the divine Jesus is a fabricated amalgamation of other mythic deities that pre-dated him. To me he's no more real than King Arthur and Robin Hood were. These are stories that people wanted or needed to be real for one reason or another. Christianity needed people to believe that story to grow as a religion obviously.
I must say, I've seen the reasoning for a few of these claims that Jesus is basically Horus etc. and it's always been hugely (I suspect wilfully) ignorant of ancient religious belief. I've seen some utter nonsense regarding Egyptian/Norse/Greek religion, invented or forced just to try and fit the narrative.
He (or multiple hes) could have existed and the biblical Jesus fabricated. The two things aren't mutually exclusive.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christ_myth_theory
I agree that there's a lot of nonsense out there and that most of the comparisons are embellished/made up but they do not invalidate the actual parallels that some scholars have drawn. That's the problem with humanity. We like to make shit up and muddy the waters of truth. With that said, its hard for me to wrap my head around the lack of hard core evidence for a man who was supposedly as significant as he was made out to be when scores of others who predated him have been proven to have existed.
I agree. I've stated above that im open to the theory of Jesus the mortal charlatan but I remain very skeptical and im not conflating the two
Absolutely. I mean, the Council of Rome decided in 300 and something which bits should be included and which shouldn't. Unless we are believers and accept they were guided by God then biblical Jesus was the result of decisions centuries after the death of historical Jesus.
I can see you're a very brave man who surely wouldn't have had any problems to joke about it in front of Lukaku let's say
So do you specifically have a problem with jokes about Christianity or religion in general?
All of them. Was brought up not to ridicule someone's belief/financial status/disability and not to be shit-scared when I'm against the majority. basically not to be this Billy big bollocks type. Off to put my little 'un to sleep so if you have further questions, should be back in an hour's time.
What do you make of people who believe the earth is flat?
Love this OP from 2008. I thought I was the only one that finds it incomprehensible that we (on mass) still believe in these fairy stories!
It really is is mad, especially when you add the killing in the name of whichever God they believe in.
Brainwashing on a mass scale.
Kids shouldn not be taught about religion until they are old enough to make an informed decision.
It really is is mad, especially when you add the killing in the name of whichever God they believe in.
Brainwashing on a mass scale.
Kids shouldn not be taught about religion until they are old enough to make an informed decision.
10 years later and we've solved feck all in here.
Lol very true, in fact it’s probably got worse...
And spawned a separate thread where believers can actually discuss nonsense.
Think of the other thread as going to church. You don't discuss the absurdity of religion there.
This is an interesting point. I think everyone has a right to believe whatever they want, no matter how silly. I also think that we should be allowed to take the piss about it.
I rarely see anyone criticizing flat earthers for instance, because we all agree, believing that is just silly. To me personally some girl telling her husband gee I dunno I was suddenly pregnant and her child telling people he’s the son of God is easily as silly. Imagine me claiming the same thing now? Surely I can at least joke about it.
If it turns in to persecution it’s another story. Not hiring someone because he is christian or not allowing people in my bakery because they’re muslim, that’s not okay. Hell, as long as people cite a book that says homosexuality is a sin I will laugh at em as hard as I can. I’ll even point while doing it. It’s like religious people are somehow above mockery. No one is above mockery, but there’s a limit. And if you’re not an insane person, that limit is not that hard to see.
I still hope when I die that Im greeted by Zeus standing there saying: surprise motherfeckers to all those monotheists.
I heard recently that there is a host of Saudi Arabia Imams and sheiks who think so as otherwise, planes would crash all the time. Does it mean that I think all Muslims think so? I see a pack of Protestants being pretty adamant to the same idea. Does it mean all of them think so? It's up to them, anyway. Freedom of speech anyone?
I actually think that the whole concept of open-mindedness is actually ill-directed. If you can't bring yourself to read stuff about places like Medjugorje (with your mind actually open), the adamant atheist Ryan Sullivan's story. Or Host 5 years ago, which renowned sceptists from forensic medicine unequivocally confirmed to have contained heart tissue . Well I'm sure you're looking for miracles so you can find them in the literature, maybe doctors who converted after seeing inexplainable things as they're seen as those intelligent ones.
Most important things happen in your life, though, if you're open to it that is. You either feel it or not. I don't go around screaming things like atheists are miserable gits or anything cause I don't like my time to be wasted, esp. nowadays. Must admit it hurt me in the past when the atheists were calling everyone else a numpty. These days, I literally couldn't give a feck and actually have this laugh in the face attitude. Which I think happens when you've experienced enough and are sure.
Yesterday (and today) I raised the issue as I believe was depicting double standards. That is, from what I gather Christians are being attacked (cause they tend do be more relaxed about it)more often than Muslims (see Charlie Hebdo and compare the reaction to the ridiculing Jesus Christ and Muhammad) that's why I see the jokers as hypocritical and cowardly sometimes, only choosing one direction to vent their uneplainable frustration (?) Even now, you surely, being on this forum for a long time, know some believers of non-Christian religion. Why won't you invite everyone? Discussion is always good.
I like to speak up my mind and my take is: tolerance breeds intolerance. Then people tend to attach names like 'fascist' (Stalin's tactics) to anyone who doesn't agree with your outlook to discredit him.
I actually think that the whole concept of open-mindedness is actually ill-directed. If you can't bring yourself to read stuff about places like Medjugorje (with your mind actually open), the adamant atheist Ryan Sullivan's story. Or Host 5 years ago, which renowned sceptists from forensic medicine unequivocally confirmed to have contained heart tissue . Well I'm sure you're looking for miracles so you can find them in the literature, maybe doctors who converted after seeing inexplainable things as they're seen as those intelligent ones.
Most important things happen in your life, though, if you're open to it that is. You either feel it or not. I don't go around screaming things like atheists are miserable gits or anything cause I don't like my time to be wasted, esp. nowadays. Must admit it hurt me in the past when the atheists were calling everyone else a numpty. These days, I literally couldn't give a feck and actually have this laugh in the face attitude. Which I think happens when you've experienced enough and are sure.
Yesterday (and today) I raised the issue as I believe was depicting double standards. That is, from what I gather Christians are being attacked (cause they tend do be more relaxed about it)more often than Muslims (see Charlie Hebdo and compare the reaction to the ridiculing Jesus Christ and Muhammad) that's why I see the jokers as hypocritical and cowardly sometimes, only choosing one direction to vent their uneplainable frustration (?) Even now, you surely, being on this forum for a long time, know some believers of non-Christian religion. Why won't you invite everyone?
Discussion is always good.I like to speak up my mind and my take is: tolerance breeds intolerance. Then people tend to attach names like 'fascist' (Stalin's tactics) to anyone who doesn't agree with your outlook to discredit him.
Do you mean on this forum or more generally?
According to Open Doors and The Center for Studies - generally. On here, too but it's just observation. I'm yet to notice a joke on non-Christian religion I think. Maybe Buddhist a couple of times. I find it funny and heart-warming that actually Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus live here peacefully with each other with no attacks or digs whatsoever but it's the atheists who seemingly have a problem
According to Open Doors and The Center for Studies - generally. On here, too but it's just observation. I'm yet to notice a joke on non-Christian religion I think. Maybe Buddhist a couple of times. I find it funny and heart-warming that actually Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus live here peacefully with each other with no attacks or digs whatsoever but it's the atheists who seemingly have a problem
Maybe not jokes, but then again I'd guess a majority of posters on this forum come from a Christian background or heritage and are probably more comfortable poking fun at something which they're more familiar with and which has impacted on them one way or another.
But Islam takes an awful lot of shit on this forum whenever there's a high profile terror attack in the news (in some cases even when the perpetrator is not a Muslim). Fortunately we have a good many thick-skinned Muslim posters on here who patiently, politely and painstakingly attempt to engage with those types of comments.
Anyway, here's a refuge from the athiest crew - https://www.redcafe.net/threads/religion-discussion.424322/
Last edited:
According to Open Doors and The Center for Studies - generally. On here, too but it's just observation. I'm yet to notice a joke on non-Christian religion I think. Maybe Buddhist a couple of times. I find it funny and heart-warming that actually Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus live here peacefully with each other with no attacks or digs whatsoever but it's the atheists who seemingly have a problem
I don't see many jokes about religion in general here. This thread for instance is more of a critique of all religions.