According to this reporter, this sign is controversial. Really?

[sybarite]

Unfortunately the most extreme of the the Anti-Theist are still with us. Or shall we dredge up the genocide(s) of Stalin, Mao, and Pol-Pot? Those atrocities were committed in the last century yet they do not get mention from you in your historical listing. These murderers out committed the worthies (including if you wish to go back to the Crusades) of your list by about a score of 100 to 1.

Your premise is built of course in the belief that humanity is evolving to utopia. Genocides, murders, and atrocities are still with us and seem to be increasing in number not decreasing. The poor are still with us, racism it seems is still in play, and the human condition seems to be as static as it was 4000 years ago or so. What has been done is being repeated, it has not disappeared.

As a further historical note: the demise of slavery in the west was initiated by the worthy William Wilburforce, the noted British abolitionist and PM who also was an evangelical Christian. His work was mimicked by the American abolitionist(s) who were in the main American evangelicals who ran the underground railroad to Mary Beecher Stowe (who also advocated for emancipation for women). Your caricature withstanding, believers have been in the forefront of righting wrongs for good.

RAS

Lets talk about football okay?

I don't think that I specified religion as the only source of extremism. Was it the inclusion of witchcraft and the inquisition that led to this conclusion? Horror can be incubated in the womb of any form of extremism whether it be in the name of theism, deism, communism, fascism, or capitalism.

Yes, civilization does evolve, just as does the biology of those who establish it. And, yes, with each generation, we discard some of the shackles that have resulted from the tyrannies of the past. Sometimes, we have reversions in which those whose ideas face rejection try to build dams across the currents of progress. It only provides a temporary lake that results in more rapid resolution once the dam breaks, often in the form of revolutions which could have been prevented had the attempts to reinforce the dam not been so visible.

 

[RASooner]

i would rather quote Thomas Jefferson.... History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government. This marks the lowest grade of ignorance of which their civil as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves for their own purposes.

Indeed - that is why we have separation of church and state. The American experiment recognizes this fundamental truth. However this is a non-sequitur and really means nothing at all in this discussion for I am not advocating for a theocracy - just to be left alone. So again - what is the real problem here?

RAS

 

[Section22Sooner]

Planet Earth to religion debaters.
Planet Earth to religion debaters.
The Oklahoma Sooners are playing for a conference title today.
Repeat.
The Oklahoma Sooners are playing for a conference title today.
And if they win, a good chance to get into the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP playoffs.
Over.

 

[RASooner]

I don't think that I specified religion as the only source of extremism. Was it the inclusion of witchcraft and the inquisition that led to this conclusion? Horror can be incubated in the womb of any form of extremism whether it be in the name of theism, deism, communism, fascism, or capitalism.

Yes, civilization does evolve, just as does the biology of those who establish it. And, yes, with each generation, we discard some of the shackles that have resulted from the tyrannies of the past. Sometimes, we have reversions in which those whose ideas face rejection try to build dams across the currents of progress. It only provides a temporary lake that results in more rapid resolution once the dam breaks, often in the form of revolutions which could have been prevented had the attempts to reinforce the dam not been so visible.

A bit of prose that does not seem to hold to the reality of the streams of history nor physics. As law of entropy states that items of high organization tend to devolve to a state of lower organization. True in physics as well as human history. Civilizations aspiring to the pinnacle of their greatness to then devolve into chaos - often dripped in blood. Barbarities long forgotten revived in modern times often in a more brutal manner - see ISIS. One step forward - two steps back. Singing Kumbaya and "we will study war no more" does not get us to peace nor safety only heartache and despair.

Your solution sounds more like what we told women in rape scenarios "just sit back and relax and take it." Sorry = not going to do that.

RAS

 

[gsxrace01]

Indeed - that is why we have separation of church and state. The American experiment recognizes this fundamental truth. However this is a non-sequitur and really means nothing at all in this discussion for I am not advocating for a theocracy - just to be left alone. So again - what is the real problem here?

RAS

right,separation of church and state,something plaino just can't seem to understand,.btw,he always starts these religious and political threads,he just can't help it.

 

[RASooner]

right,separation of church and state,something plaino just can't seem to understand,.btw,he always starts these religious and political threads,he just can't help it.

And you can't help replying. So he has your number. Okay.

You still have not answered the question. But that is okay. I prefer to talk football now.

RAS

 

[gsxrace01]

And you can't help replying. So he has your number. Okay.

You still have not answered the question. But that is okay. I prefer to talk football now.

RAS

the only number plaino has is dial a prayer.

 

[fortworth4ou2]

i would rather quote Thomas Jefferson.... History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government. This marks the lowest grade of ignorance of which their civil as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves for their own purposes.

Would I be correct in posting that TJ is your new flavor of the week deity or Supreme Authority?

Go Sooners!!!!!

Boomer Sooner

 

[SoonerTulsan]

Would I be correct in posting that TJ is your new flavor of the week deity or Supreme Authority?

Go Sooners!!!!!

Boomer Sooner

Interesting how this thread has evolved. I'm not a big fan of Deists, but I'll defend their rights to express their opinions. I am, however, a big fan of the Sooners!!!!

 

[sybarite]

One of the reasons that life is a rarity in the universe is that it defies the principles of entropy, as does evolution. Rather than remaining the simplest form of life, evolution creates more intricate creatures. Life and society also become more involved. Ultimately, entropy wins only upon the death of an individual. It is a temporary suspension of the energy proceeds to energy principle.

 

[fortworth4ou2]

One of the reasons that life is a rarity in the universe is that it defies the principles of entropy, as does evolution. Rather than remaining the simplest form of life, evolution creates more intricate creatures. Life and society also become more involved. Ultimately, entropy wins only upon the death of an individual. It is a temporary suspension of the energy proceeds to energy principle.

I'm glad you believe in something - kind of your own faith - even though it is limited in scope and always will be.

Dream on.

Boomer Sooner

 

[RASooner]

One of the reasons that life is a rarity in the universe is that it defies the principles of entropy, as does evolution. Rather than remaining the simplest form of life, evolution creates more intricate creatures. Life and society also become more involved. Ultimately, entropy wins only upon the death of an individual. It is a temporary suspension of the energy proceeds to energy principle.

Wow what a faith you have! The pure epitome of not seeing yet believing! With no empirical evidence to augment your thesis, wow! Welcome to the world of religious believers!

RAS

 

[iasooner1]

RA

Welcome to the jungle; your insights are refreshing. Don't pay much attention to Syb, he is our resident 'neo puritan' and/or 'neo orwellian'...