mr_the_valerie said:

Society must have been a lot more interesting, certainly culturally richer, pre-Christianity, when the pantheon of Greco-Roman gods formed the daily background of worship and belief. Aesthetically pleasing and narratively interesting, they beat a tortured man on a cross any day, in terms of explanation, inspiration and personal identification.

I can only presume the reason the crucified Christ became so prevalent as an icon was as a warning that "this is what happens to those who buck the system", ie. promulgated by Christianty's enemies.

Give me Artemis and her nine breasts any day.

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the pagan world was filled with dread and fear. The masses had to toil for the elite few. Christianity elevated the dignity of the working man and woman.

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And because, people have a natural tendency to like thinking of themselves as victimized - "crucified" for their beliefs.

When you're an oppressed victim, you're the paragon of virtue, and not responsible for anything. You get to whine endlessly, then demand special privileges.

The principle applies to everything from black culture, to feminists, to Christians. It's organized self-pity. Modern Christianity is 1 part humility and service to others (the things Jesus prosetylized), to 100 parts whining and demanding special privileges (the things political lobbies thrive on).

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I am a total athiest. I look around at the money and energy put into religion and churches and think it is just such a colossal waste.

As opposed to what?

Scientific research, going to the stars and various other worthy R&D projects.

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Sorry. I thought it was obvious. I think it was to the rest of us.

The part that you added about your gods throwing stuff together just to piss each other off.

You hadn't said that before, so you weren't saying it again.

Re-read the chain of quotes. You'll see it.

I did reread the chain of quotes. If you had, you wouldn't have gotten all butthurt about the "not necessarily" point, since the quote you responded to BEGAN with it.
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Culturally richer!
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I don't know what you might mean by that, but it's great to get your opinion.

Forces of nature were seen as personal attributes of various Gods, around which were woven a complex cultural labyrinth of tales and myths; many were converted into poetry, songs and art - and formed a colourful, dynamic center of everyday life and rituals.

We can't even imagine this.

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How do you know YOUR God is the real one, and not the tens of thousands of other gods humanity has come up with?

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It's not as though NASA is underfunded because dollars are being diverted to the Protestant church.

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the pagan world was filled with dread and fear. The masses had to toil for the elite few. Christianity elevated the dignity of the working man and woman.

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Cool down, there, angryboi. I didn't get butthurt about anything you posted.

I was reminding you of what you posted, and what you didn't.

You said "again" and then posted for the first time something about gods creating things to piss each other off.

That was the first time you said it. You weren't saying it again.

Re-read the thread if you'd like.

And calm down.

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It's not as though NASA is underfunded because dollars are being diverted to the Protestant church.

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It's not as though NASA is underfunded because dollars are being diverted to the Protestant church.

No, it's underfunded because of bible thumpers wanting war for Israel's sake and believing in the whole revelation and anti christ shit.

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It's not as though NASA is underfunded because dollars are being diverted to the Protestant church.

No, it's underfunded because of bible thumpers wanting war for Israel's sake and believing in the whole revelation and anti christ shit.

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the pagan world was filled with dread and fear. The masses had to toil for the elite few. Christianity elevated the dignity of the working man and woman.

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It's not as though NASA is underfunded because dollars are being diverted to the Protestant church.

The tax exemption subsidizes the Protestant church to the tune of billions. So yes, it's quite possible NASA is underfunded because of the Protestant church, and thousands of other churches.

Why are churches tax exempt again?

I personally feel they should be taxed, perhaps at a reduced rate than businesses, which means they will hardly pay anything at all

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Cool down, there, angryboi. I didn't get butthurt about anything you posted.

I was reminding you of what you posted, and what you didn't.

You said "again" and then posted for the first time something about gods creating things to piss each other off.

That was the first time you said it. You weren't saying it again.

Re-read the thread if you'd like.

And calm down.

Why does someone politely asking about your beliefs get you so defensive?

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I wasn't defensive, and you weren't polite.

It's okay if you're angry and rude, but it's not okay to say, "not necessarily, maybe ... ", then say something for the first time, and then become disagreeable with the person who points out that you were then suggesting something new, something you hadn't before.

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You mean three collaborators?

Not necessarily. They could be three gods of creation who all hate each other.

I didn't ask you whether or not they liked each other.

I asked if you think of them as collaborating on the creation of everything.

Again, not necessarily. Maybe the universe is the result of a bunch of crap each one created, just to piss off the others.

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Why are churches tax exempt again?

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Why are churches tax exempt again?

Because GOD doesnt pay tax, thats why.... Fool.

Thanks for clearing that up for me

mr_the_valerie said:

Society must have been a lot more interesting, certainly culturally richer, pre-Christianity, when the pantheon of Greco-Roman gods formed the daily background of worship and belief. Aesthetically pleasing and narratively interesting, they beat a tortured man on a cross any day, in terms of explanation, inspiration and personal identification.

I can only presume the reason the crucified Christ became so prevalent as an icon was as a warning that "this is what happens to those who buck the system", ie. promulgated by Christianty's enemies.

Give me Artemis and her nine breasts any day.

. said:

And because, people have a natural tendency to like thinking of themselves as victimized - "crucified" for their beliefs.

When you're an oppressed victim, you're the paragon of virtue, and not responsible for anything. You get to whine endlessly, then demand special privileges.

The principle applies to everything from black culture, to feminists, to Christians. It's organized self-pity. Modern Christianity is 1 part humility and service to others (the things Jesus prosetylized), to 100 parts whining and demanding special privileges (the things political lobbies thrive on).

.. said:

How do you know YOUR God is the real one, and not the tens of thousands of other gods humanity has come up with?

mr_the_valerie said:

Society must have been a lot more interesting, certainly culturally richer, pre-Christianity, when the pantheon of Greco-Roman gods formed the daily background of worship and belief. Aesthetically pleasing and narratively interesting, they beat a tortured man on a cross any day, in terms of explanation, inspiration and personal identification.

I can only presume the reason the crucified Christ became so prevalent as an icon was as a warning that "this is what happens to those who buck the system", ie. promulgated by Christianty's enemies.

Give me Artemis and her nine breasts any day.