OOT: FSM Pastafarian minister, was sworn into office. - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: phamuc
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2014, 09:24:12 pm
content: Hey Dave,Just letting you know that, a FSM Pastafarian minister, was sworn into office.http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/week-god-90-Paul

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2014, 05:32:49 pm
content: That flying spaghetti monster does not sound credible to me but if this is what you believe in, I respect it.

author: N2IXK
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2014, 06:24:13 pm
content: Does a Flying Spaghetti Monster sound any less credible than a cosmic Jewish zombie who was his own father who can make you live forever if you symbolically eat his flesh, drink his blood, and telepathically tell him you accept him as your master, so he can remove an evil force from your soul that is present in humanity because a rib-woman was convinced by a talking snake to eat from a magic apple tree?

author: daqq
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2014, 07:28:45 pm
content: Ramen!

author: codeboy2k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 09:24:05 am
content: Quote from: N2IXK on January 15, 2014, 06:24:13 pmblew my coffee

author: colotron
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 10:53:03 am
content: Congratulations!!!

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 11:47:57 am
content: May you be touched by His Noodly Appendage!

author: phamuc
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 01:39:45 pm
content: Quote from: zapta on January 15, 2014, 05:32:49 pmHey you may be right. It is hard to believe that any politician could be credible.PS: I respect the individual's right, that they can believe in any bullshit they want to.

author: Corporate666
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 01:54:02 pm
content: Quote from: N2IXK on January 15, 2014, 06:24:13 pmSounds legit.

author: smashedProton
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 02:07:11 pm
content: Where is mechatrommer?

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 02:21:47 pm
content: Still recovering from the shock of the forum's favicon, no doubt

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2014, 05:47:11 pm
content: Quote from: N2IXK on January 15, 2014, 06:24:13 pmI am not into religions but if you believe in a flying spaghetti monster it is just fine with me.

author: Galenbo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2014, 06:22:26 pm
content: Quote from: zapta on January 15, 2014, 05:32:49 pmDoes not sound credible compared towhat?

author: Tinkerer
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2014, 09:07:14 pm
content: So maybe hes lost on the fact that the flying spahgetti monster was meant as a kind of arguement against religion? The point is that you believe in one thing, then it is equally valid to believe in something different.

author: N2IXK
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2014, 10:52:38 pm
content: Also makes the point that if you carve out a special place for any religions beliefs in public life, equal accommodation must be made for ALL religious beliefs, no matter how "ridiculous" they may appear to non-believers. Either we let anything and everything be considered a "legitimate" religious belief and give it the same treatment, or we exclude ALL religious observances from public life. Swearing on Bibles in courtrooms, "in God we trust" on money, prayers at public school sports events and graduation ceremonies, exceptions for religious headgear/face coverings in drivers license photos, etc.Whole FSM thing originated with the Kansas school board wanting to incorporate "Intelligent Design" (according to the Xtian creation mythology, anyway) into public school science curriculum, as a "competing theory" to Darwinian evolution. Pastafarianism was dreamed up by a couple college kids, who wrote a letter to the Kansas school board, and launched a little website. The rest is history...http://www.venganza.orgMore power to them! While a few aspects of FSM creation mythology seem a bit backward or sexist (no more than most religions, actually), their analog to the 10 commandments (the 8 "I'd Really Rather you Didnt's") is quite easy to get behind:QuoterAmen!

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2014, 10:58:57 pm
content: Prediction: Religious argument thread forms within the next 10 posts.

author: MacAttak
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 20, 2014, 05:28:32 am
content: OMG the closed captioning on that video is better than the video itselfQuote from: colotron on January 16, 2014, 10:53:03 am

author: Galenbo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2014, 08:41:31 pm
content: Quote from: tom66 on January 19, 2014, 10:58:57 pmRemark removed.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2014, 09:16:24 pm
content: Quote from: tom66 on January 19, 2014, 10:58:57 pmYou can prevent it by posting 10 empty posts.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2014, 09:18:38 pm
content: Quote from: Galenbo on January 19, 2014, 06:22:26 pmDoes not sound credible period. I did not say 'less' credible. This is not a comparison. However, if this is your belief its fine with me.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2014, 09:26:09 pm
content: Quote from: zapta on January 20, 2014, 09:18:38 pmDo you really not get it... or is this a dry joke that's going over my head?

author: nitro2k01
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2014, 10:39:07 pm
content: I don't know about you, but I'm conscious about the various denominations of Pastafarianism. As a an Italopastafarian, I'm frankly not very pleased eating the body of his Noodly Appendage with a sack of beef seasoning. It comes across as all starch and no protein. Now, I'm not trying to offend my fellow believers, but I just can't think that that way of worshipping is appropriate.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 20, 2014, 10:46:34 pm
content: Quote from: Tinkerer on January 19, 2014, 09:07:14 pmOnly if they both have the same amount of evidence. Which in the case of any religion, the evidence is almost precisely the same as the FSM, and that's the point.

author: apelly
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 21, 2014, 12:14:29 am
content: No evidence?Blasphemy!Pastafarianism is, in fact, theonlyreligion based on evidence. Our religious dress is full pirate regalia for a reason. His Noodliness likes pirates and punishes us by raising the global temperature in inverse proportion to their population.

author: Phaedrus
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2014, 01:29:09 am
content: The rise of piracy in Somalia has actually led to a decrease in global temperature. Heathen scientists are just suppressing this information to push their non-delicious agenda.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2014, 02:51:47 am
content: Quote from: c4757p on January 20, 2014, 09:26:09 pmMocking other people religions is a bad form of atheism. We need separation of church and state, not a my-value-system-is-better-than-yours pissing competition.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2014, 02:56:23 am
content: Quote from: zaptaWe've been arguing for it for a tediously long time, and all they do is insist that their particular violation thereof is in factnota violation. Because Bible, usually. Because Bible. So showing them the problem from what must be an outsider perspective seems to me rather constructive. And for the few incredibly thick ones who just get upset over it, at least we can get some cheap entertainment...

author: codeboy2k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2014, 06:35:16 am
content: Quote from: nitro2k01 on January 20, 2014, 10:39:07 pmI belong to the Church of the Pestopastafarians and I believe His Noodly Appendage should always be eaten free of meat, to enjoy Him in all His glorybehold my God!

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2014, 04:56:55 pm
content: Quote from: zapta on January 21, 2014, 04:51:30 pm...They're not trying to get anyone to adopt their axioms. It's tongue-in-cheek for god's sake. They just don't say so because that defeats the whole purpose.Is humor verboten in the neighborhood of faith? I bet many of these people actuallydoproperly contribute to the cause as well.

author: nuhamind2
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2014, 06:22:05 pm
content: I don't believe on spaghetti. They are just noodle acting straight.

author: GeoffS
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 21, 2014, 07:59:54 pm
content: A number of posts have been removed.This thread is meant to be a bit tongue in cheek, not a discussion of religion.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 02:01:58 am
content: Quote from: GeoffS on January 21, 2014, 07:59:54 pmThe entire FSM thing is an expression of a certain opinion about religions. If you think otherwise you are naive.

author: denelec
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 02:32:49 am
content: Religions should help people live better lives by giving them good values.They should also reconfort people in distress by giving them hope.Unfortunately, religions are often used to justify and promote hate and war.They are also used by certain groups of people to gain power and money.Terrible things have been made in the name of a religion or another.And terrible things also have been made in the name of atheism.The real problem is not religion, it's human nature.

author: N2IXK
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 02:36:13 am
content: QuoteYes, and that opinion would be that religious observances or customs should not be incorporated into our government or legal systems IN ANY WAY.Because if we allow one religion (or group of religions) to be represented, then we need to allow all the rest to be represented on an equal basis. And we simply don't have room on our currency to list every god/goddess/deity that somebody may put their trust in. Or time to swear witnesses on copies of every holy book and scripture ever written. Or time for hundreds of prayers, offerings, and rituals at school graduations. Or time in public school biology classes to teach myths about a 6000 year old Earth created from nothing in 6 days by the god of the Bible, OR a Flying Spaghetti Monster creating a mountain, some trees, and a midget...

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 02:59:52 am
content: Quote from: denelec link=topic=25232.msg372883#msg372883 date=13903ism57969Please provide examples where something terrible has been done "in the name of atheism".That's not how atheism works, it's a lack of belief in a god(s), nothing more, nothing is done "in the name" of it.But yes, there are secular groups who collectively organise and do things under the banner of atheism, but I challenge you to find one thing that's "terrible".No one goes around killing or doing other evil things directly because of their disbelief in imaginary gods.If religions went away, or stopped intruding into society and politics etc, then there wouldn't be any athiest groups, just like there are no "non-UFO believer" groups etc.

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 03:31:10 am
content: Quote from: denelec on January 22, 2014, 02:32:49 amdont waste your time on this. how many time i've told them they dont ever get it, not now not 1000 years to come. when someone posted about "real" religion they deleted it, they have much fun mocking about it, this "tongue and cheek thread" i guess. FSM is much more acceptable.Quote from: EEVblog on January 22, 2014, 02:59:52 amby hiding behind science? afaik, atheism dont have anything to hold to (lack of obedience to rules and regulations thereof, in the heart at least), but during the "war" they need to hold on to something, its science(and probabilistic?) duh i hate to say this again and again. you'll call me stupid and you are... "rationale". science will not back atheism, not does religion.edit: killing you say? read the history of Joseph Stalin (here i found for youhttp://hollowverse.com/joseph-stalin/). and to GeoffS just a friendly reminder... the ban of "a quite serious religious" discussion is not in R&R section, and i only have done it as lightly as i can and you make the rule of deleting it? i think you need to advice dave to put it in R&R section so its pretty clear. letting this useless thread goes for pages also indicates that it is not clear, so dont fully blame me on this

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 03:45:59 am
content: Quote from: rolandpenplotter on January 22, 2014, 03:38:49 amThis is not a claim made by any atheist with two neurons to rub together. We don't know where they came from. But neither do you.Quotes/ATOMS.*particles/God/QuoteScience is supposed to be "wrong". Scientists try to disprove ideas, and assign more trust to those which last longer. We're not interested in the untestable.QuoteAnother untestable idea, so... not interested.

author: rolandpenplotter
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 03:49:42 am
content: Quote from: c4757p on January 22, 2014, 03:45:59 amYou may have noticed that since posting, I decided to delete it and opt out of this inane "debate". As such, you may also wish to remove the response you posted, in answer to my comments. I made an error of judgement by joining a faux "debate"; I'm out.Take it easy

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 03:55:58 am
content: Quoteagain dont waste your time on this i've stayed here longer than most of us. what they believe is we can find and kill God (if He even exist), the delusion came from Greekan era of the God Zeus, now its FSM and unicorn, they try to equate God with those, they believe God is a separate entity to nature, thats all they know... and they prefer to stick to the mindframe. o well, should i put the blame on the Hollywood?no offense just an "intelligent" discussion

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 03:59:49 am
content: I didn't know oz had a pastafarian lobby group.http://apl.org.au/

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 04:04:25 am
content: Quote from: rolandpenplotter on January 22, 2014, 03:49:42 amOK, I agree. We're not getting anywhere. Just chasing each other in circles.I'm not going to delete my post. As a general policy I do not like to delete things I have said after people have seen them. But I will STFU.

author: rolandpenplotter
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 04:11:04 am
content: Quote from: c4757p on January 22, 2014, 04:04:25 amCheers. Take it easy mate - have a lovely day

author: Wytnucls
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 04:47:06 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on January 22, 2014, 03:59:49 amYou've been lucky. The Carbonara Witnesses haven't knocked on your door yet!

author: HackedFridgeMagnet
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 05:55:08 am
content: Having read this thread, I now hunger for something a bit tastier than holy wafers.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 06:55:09 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on January 22, 2014, 02:59:52 amThe three top killers of the 20'th century were non religious so eliminating religions will not eliminate violence and extremism, if this is what you are trying to imply.Religions and other dogmatic disciplines tend to get the worst or the best out of people, kind of an amplifier of one's character. Here is one examplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_TeresaI am more concerned about separation of state and church and my personal liberties than what beliefs other free people chose to adopt, be it religion X, the healing power of crystals or apocalyptic global warming prophecies.

author: GK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 07:31:39 am
content: Quote from: zapta on January 22, 2014, 06:55:09 amThere was hardly anything irreligious in the overall ideology and behavior of those "three top killers" you have in mind.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 09:47:47 am
content: Quote from: zapta on January 22, 2014, 06:55:09 amNot really, and certainly not atheists. That is one of the biggest misapprehensions and is always (wrongly) bought up by the religious.http://www.examiner.com/article/refuting-the-myth-that-hitler-stalin-and-pol-pot-were-atheists-1But paying devils advocate, even if they were atheists, they didn't do the things they did in the name of atheism.QuoteNo I was not, but it will help a great deal I think.QuoteBingo, that's one of the major problems.QuoteSame here. I've said it before and I'll say say it again, I will march in the street for your right to believe any batshit crazy thing you want, in return just:1) Don't expect me to respect your silly beliefs2) Don't expect me not to laugh at youand3) Keep it out of politics, out of our schools, and out of our tax system.

author: daqq
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 10:02:58 am
content: QuoteIf your philosophy is live-and-let-live, you'll get along very nicely with other live-and-let-live users. However, when a my-imaginary-friend-is-better-than-yours,-worship-him-NOW (or enforced atheism) enters the game, then the live-and-let-live users have a problem. Be it serious commies, who didn't exactly look kindly towards church goers, christian nutters who bomb clinics, or advise the state to adopt a state religion, or Islam nutters, who know one size fits all AND MUST FIT ALL (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharia4Belgiumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam4UK...), because they are super-right and have a book to prove it.The problem is making sure that neither side's radical offshoot get too much power and everything stays in a sort of balance. That's where convincing others throughdebaterather than shows of perceived power and devotion comes into play for any group.As fordebate, that's the whole point of the Pastafarian church - to provide an example, a bent mirror, and a good debate point.The best way to please as many groups as possible is a state and public services that are completely separate from religion.QuoteIf you don't have a problem with something as complex as god(s) managing just existing, being forever, suddenly appearing, or just generally NOT being created by a higher power, why do you have a problem with atoms and a few simple physical laws?QuoteThe point of science is trying to get as close to right as possible through observation, experimentation, analysis, debate and knowledge. In religion you're given a book and are supposed to accept that THIS IS THE WHOLE AND ONLY TRUTH and there's no need to peek behind the curtain. Given the religion/local culture/attitude you might get lynched/stoned if you try. The worst you get in science community for preaching a flat Earth is a bunch of people smirking at you. Given enough evidence though, they stop smirking and accept the new version of the current closest approximation of the Truth available. Given enough evidence, religion tells you either to shut up, that it was a metaphore or that their faith is just being tested.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 10:15:41 am
content: Quote from: daqq on January 22, 2014, 10:02:58 amIndeed.And that is something the religious fail to grasp.Athiests don't want to take away your religion, in fact the majority of atheists (and all athiest groups AFAIK), like me, will support your right to have and practice your religion.Just don't expect to get any special privilege for it, don't expect tax breaks, don't ask for the right to have it taught at school, and don't expect the law to treat you any differently for it.Just like any other idea or belief you have a right to hold, go and hold your UFO meetings, flat earth meetings, anti-global warming meetings etc etcWant to teach it to your kids, well ok, their your kids, but do it on your own time in your own non-taxpayer funded or non-tax concession church.

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 10:41:30 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on January 22, 2014, 03:59:49 amnow i'm at lost again. after reading the link, for so long this entire thread, i thought "Flying Spaghetty Monster" was a total joke! but in fact this is the core content about this thread all about? :facepalm: i guess the AU should be the host? well i dont know.Quote from: EEVblog on January 22, 2014, 09:47:47 amsame thing happened from atheists to religion, in so obvious manner seen by religious side, though i guess its not that obvious to athestic side. due to the "mindframe" i stated above and mostly i believe, due to media. and "human nature" is one thing very difficult for scientists to find the equation from.though i agree with you that some religious fanatics made bad things in the name of religion, but from the good religious point of view, thats not religion at all, thats a blatant lie actually in the name of "power". christians made bad things in the past and now, we religious side all know too well why, something real bad going on in Syria right this moment we all know too well why. buddhist with their ethnic cleasing and killing muslims in Burma we also know why. but the simple conclusion made by atheists is... "they with their stupid religion" atheist wont be able to differentiate that since they only live in one side of the world, a good and complete religion will tell from both side, and tell about everything. one can tell you the "equation", the equation of everthing, but how it came to be, the derivation and origin one cant tell or show you how, that way your ear a shutted and wont give a damn penny, because the way you a taught on how to derive a thing. the said equation is not a mathematical equation in numbers and algebra though, just a simple rules in words, but will take a great deal of "radical" or "brainwashing" set of mindframebut lest not forget it happened in "atheists in power" mentioned above too, but since they dont have anything to hold strong to, they hold on to anything what ther delusion says. what is said, that is what to be blamed, i sometime think thats funny. i'm wasting my time here for the sake of spaghetty monster.Quote from: EEVblog on January 22, 2014, 09:47:47 amand what if your government, with their infinite wisdom choose to enforce this? what are you gonna do? rant in forum?

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 12:15:42 pm
content: Quote from: mojo-chan on January 22, 2014, 10:42:50 amYes, I'm of the same opinion, but actually solving that problem is a MUCH bigger and more slippery issue, so I'm happy to generally draw the line at the privacy of your own home for practical reasons. I think most atheist groups are of the same opinion, because the line between public/society issues and private issues is an easy line to draw and fight for.QuoteSure. But there are countless thing like that that parents can teach their children that lead to all kinds of mental, societal, and health problems. Lying, cheating, smoking, bad eating, violence/bullying, etc etcQuoteCorrect. But trying to pass laws that say they can't teach their kids that something that is clearly false as a fact (insert topic here - religion, UFO's, global warming, evolution etc) is next to impossible.It's also next to impossible to pass laws about teaching your kids that *insert thing here* (gay for example) is wrong.

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 12:52:32 pm
content: simply put, what you've learnt as bad things and saw the effect, you accept it as a bad thing. and ironically you think you are "allowed" to teach your kid about that, no objection there actually in fact its a good thing, do by knowledge and rationale. but what is so subtle, such as hypothetically "what if gay is a norm? and everybody is a gay due to mate influence? etc"its your dream comes true you are number one and safe for the next generation propaganda", you are interested at seeing the effect? we have no objection, go make the "experiment" so long dont impose the rule here, we are 3rd world would loved to learn from you. and thinking that forcing or mutilating the kid is what is taught in religion, thats a pure "blind faith" and ignorance from an atheist. the people who did that forcing and mutilating, or even convert to atheism are just as ignorance about what their religion is all about, they dont read the book they dont look and think too deeply enough, they prefer to follow by their desire. thats it, that simple.

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 01:15:01 pm
content: firewall back on, peace everybody! dave need not to worry again for "a period of time"

author: daqq
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 03:27:42 pm
content: QuoteQuoteNope, no contradictions here, move along... apply your free will in THIS PARTICULAR WAY... or else I'll sentence you to unspeakable torture, horror and such... with a lot of love ofcourse...

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 04:12:07 pm
content: Quote from: daqq on January 22, 2014, 10:02:58 amWrite down the four combinations the booleans LIVE and LET_LIVE and see which one you like the best.Part of 'live' is making sure that others letting you. Separation of church and state, not taking my own money for their pet causes, personal liberties and the likes. Mocking other people does not help, serious organizations like ffrf.org and pacificlegal.org do.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 04:25:43 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on January 22, 2014, 10:15:41 amThat's sound reasonable. I would add audiophile conferences.Around here churches get tax breaks because they are not-for-profit organizations (don't know the exact term) like other non religions organizations.It's typical though that you want tax breaks for your won pet causes (referring to another thread) but not for other people pet causes. Thats why the governments should not be in the business of redistributing people money.

author: dfmischler
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 04:42:02 pm
content: Quote from: zapta on January 22, 2014, 04:25:43 pmIt is section501(c)(3)of the US tax code.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 04:53:50 pm
content: Quote from: rolandpenplotter on January 22, 2014, 03:39:12 pmThis "you send yourselves to Hell" argument isn't even rightaccording to the Bible!John 3:36: "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them."Matthew 13:41-42: "The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."Matthew 13:49-50: "This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."Revelation 20:15: "Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire."NIV."God's wrath". "They will throw them into the blazing furnace". "The angels .... throw them into the blazing furnace." "thrown into the lake of fire."God isn't helpless against some law of nature saying anyone who doesn't worship him will roast. He or his angels are putting them there. And he's probably a little miffed that you're misrepresenting him as a milquetoast.

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 05:51:32 pm
content: Quote from: dfmischler on January 22, 2014, 04:42:02 pmThat's it. Thanks.And here is an example of a non religious organization that uses it:http://www.sierraclub.org/giftplanning/family/default.aspx

author: N2IXK
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 06:04:34 pm
content: I actually don't have a problem with non-profit religious organizations and churches being exempted from federal taxes via 501(c)3 status, as many secular non-profit orgs (like the Sierra Club as mentioned) enjoy the same protection. The IRS does need to drop the automatic assumption they give only to churches, though, and require all the same paperwork and backup that secular orgs need to PROVE their non-profit status. A full accounting of where all the money from the collection plates and diocese funds for starters...On a LOCAL level, though, churches should be subject to things like property taxes, etc. that they are currently exempt from. They reap the benefits of maintained roads, traffic cops, utility infrastructure, and everything else that allows their members to jam up the streets coming and going every Sunday morning, so why the hell shouldn't they have to pay for those things the same way everyone else in their neighborhood does?And yes, the "acceptable" anti-religionists at the FFRF have a few things to say on this subject, as well:http://ffrf.org/faq/state-church/item/12601-tax-exemption-of-churches

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 07:28:32 pm
content: Quote from: mojo-chan on January 22, 2014, 02:43:17 pmSo you want to require me to go through mandatory education on why being gay isn't wrong? Sorry, to me, it is. The Bible tells me it is. This is God's word and ultimately, I answer to His authority. His laws, the ten commandments, do coincide with governmental laws, so that works for me. I am not a Bible thumping "religious nutter", standing on the street corner screaming that you are going to hell. I simply just try to live right and live by example. I have always believe that actions speak louder than words. When I do things for people and help them when not expected and they thank me, I just say don't thank me, I am just doing what God wants me to do. God gave us all free will and He stepped back to see what we would do with it. For the most part, boy, did we screw that up. I believe in eternity and I know I am spending a very short time of it here on earth. My belief is that the gay activists are no different than environmental terrorists. Gay activists, in my eyes, are even more intolerant than the "religious intolerant" they rant about. They don't accept my beliefs but try to ram theirs down my throat. Mandatory education, really? Even if you could manage to get that passed and force me into that class, it won't change what I impart to my 5 year old granddaughter that lives with us. Have a blessed day.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 07:37:50 pm
content: Quote from: GreyWoolfe on January 22, 2014, 07:28:32 pmSerious question: If she grows up a lesbian, how will you feel about that? How will youtell heryou feel?

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 07:51:01 pm
content: Just another view here.....Might have some bearing on this.

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 08:58:21 pm
content: Quote from: c4757p on January 22, 2014, 07:37:50 pmI will tell her how I feel calmly and rationally. I never yelled or hit my son or step children. Yelling and spanking is pointless. We would discuss the behavior problem and the consequences for said behavior. I found punishment far more effective. My son told me, after he was grown up, that there were times that he would have preferred the spanking over the discussion. I will also tell her that I still love her and I am proud to have her as my (step)granddaughter, but I disagree with her choices and will pray she finds her way back to God so we can be in Heaven together. Calm and reasoned discussion/debate is always more effective than yelling, screaming and trying to force one's views on another, even if, at the end of the day, we simply agree to disagree.

author: A Hellene
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 09:03:42 pm
content: What does the term 'God' really mean?In my language (the language which most of the modern Romance languages,Latin itself included, emerged from and has documented three cataclysms: The floods of Ogyges at ~15,000 BCE, of Deucalion at ~10,000 BCE and of Dardanus at ~4,000 BCE) the epithet 'Theós' is the Hellenic term for 'God.' And the term Theos comes from the verbthéo, meaningto run or move really fast, not because I have to but becauseI can outrun or outperform myself; because I choose to domorethan I usually do; because I can act as a god when I choose to. For example,apotheosis, meaning 'deification' literally and 'glorification' metaphorically because the recipient of the title did more that they usually do, comes from the prepositionapo-plus the adjectivetheosand it is the personal elevation to a higher state or status.Regarding the entity the religion institutions call 'The God,' let me state thatwe ARE god. All of us. Each of us. Every single bloody one of us. Even the retarded and indolent.Yet we are indoctrinated from the very beginning to seek our answers externally and to suppress and ignore our inner voice, until it eventually withers and dies...Of course, we can break free from the bondage of theAbrahamic Delusionswhen we understand that,we can only be kept in the cages we refuse to see...-George

author: N2IXK
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 09:30:02 pm
content: As Stewart Brand put it:Quote

author: denelec
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 09:44:07 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on January 22, 2014, 02:59:52 amhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecution_of_Christians_in_the_Soviet_Unionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_atheismBut I agree that atheist extremists are much rarer than religious extremists.Religions were persecuted in communist countries because they were perceived as a threat to the state's absolute power.People should be allowed to believe what they want but they should not be allowed to impose their beliefs, morality, dress code, etc to other people.

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 10:20:21 pm
content: QuoteHow do you square that insanity in your electronics world? Do you cut all cables and resolder "proper" M/F connectors every time instead of using a simple Gender Changer? I have to admit plugging to M/Ms into a F/F changer or vice-versa is a bit risque, but I think I can live with it. What about using a BNC splitter? Of course you could be from Utah or Saudi and so that's acceptable.You are only spreading poison to your 5 year old granddaughter, and I hope her parents temper that insanity. (I know because I loved my grandad, the atheist he was, but he was also a Nazi - we had many, many debates. I realised he was just a real life contrarian troll and loved a good argument over a few pints. He did serve under Monty in the Desert Rats 8th Army as a wartime engineer after all).

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 10:55:53 pm
content: Quote from: N2IXK on January 22, 2014, 06:04:34 pmI don't think people should pay the government for the right to gather but if churches get special benefits, they shouldn't, and so many other recipients of government subsidies and special interest tax breaks. Government redistributing people assets infringes on their personal liberty.Edit: I suggest to stay focused. If your goal is separation of church and state and personal liberty, promote it directly. This is something that people with other view can relate to and join the effort. Mocking other people believes is counter productive.Another edit: just saw this on Drudge. The NFL is a 501c organizationhttp://www.showbiz411.com/2014/01/21/nfl-commish-makes-29-5-mil-a-year-15-times-more-than-tax-free-org-gives-to-charity-more-than-ceos-of-ford-heinz-fedex

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 11:46:06 pm
content: Quote from: mojo-chan on January 22, 2014, 02:43:17 pmFor sure. Totally in agreement. Kids need to learn this stuff in school, so regardless of how stupid their parents are, they at least get exposed to what's right.