The great Church debate!

Off to play with the fairies at the bottom of the garden.

Just got back.

They weren't there!!!

quote:

They weren't there!!!

...errr... you have to TRUELY believe in order to see!!!!

Even then, it isn't guaranteed.

Cheers

Don

quote:

Originally posted by Don Atkinson:

quote:

They weren't there!!!

...errr... you have to TRUELY believe in order to see!!!!

Even then, it isn't guaranteed.

Cheers

Don

I can't see them, but I have faith in them being there.

I tried weeeelly hard! Had faith and everything.

No evidence at all?

They may have been hiding under the snow.

Clearly i'm not trying hard enough.

Never mind that, I was waiting on Lesbos with a six pack (oo-er ),where were you?

As one true fairy I can assure you that I am frequently seen at the bottom of my garden!

quote:

Originally posted by Howlinhounddog:
Never mind that, I was waiting on Lesbos with a six pack (oo-er ),where were you?

Ah. You must have been late. We started without you.

The thing is, the Dionysus Festival was more than just orgies. You mustn't forget the sacrifice, sometimes human, as Aelian relates:

"...Imitating their father’s sacrificial ritual they approached the family altar while the offerings were still burning. The younger exposed his neck, the elder found a knife lying unused and killed his brother as a sacrificial offering..." Aelian, Historical Miscellany 13. 2 (trans. Wilson)

Any volunteers from among the Forum's would-be adherents of Dionysus? Hic.

quote:

Originally posted by Clay Bingham:
Listen to the wife Jonathan. Once a year won't kill you and might well remind you how fortunate you are.

What patronising garbage. I actually wake up every morning and remind myself that we are very fortunate to live in a reasonably secular democracy in which nobody - apart from kids brainwashed by their parents/schools - is forced to attend religious services; nor is anyone prosecuted/persecuted for not believing a particular brand of religious nonsense. Praise be!

On another note, I can't quite understand why so much of this (interesting) thread has been taken up with discussions over the existence (or not) of an historical Jesus. Surely his existence isn't the point for Christians. Surely the only thing that matters is that he rose from the dead - if you believe that, then I guess you must be a Christian.

As an atheist, I'm perfectly happy to accept the existence of an historical person called Jesus. It makes no difference to my position, as far as I'm concerned it's a minor detail in the grand scheme of things.

What I don't accept was that he was resurrected. Or that anyone was, or could be. I suppose if I did I would be a Christian.

quote:

Originally posted by
The thing is, the Dionysus Festival was more than just orgies. You mustn't forget the sacrifice, sometimes human, as Aelian relates:

"...Imitating their father’s sacrificial ritual they approached the family altar while the offerings were still burning. The younger exposed his neck, the elder found a knife lying unused and killed his brother as a sacrificial offering..." Aelian, Historical Miscellany 13. 2 (trans. Wilson)

Any volunteers from among the Forum's would-be adherents of Dionysus? Hic.

It would appear that the trick then, is to be the elder one

This part of the forum is really living up to its name by the looks of this thread; padded cell indeed.
We appear to have plumbed new depths of crass ignorance when an ex-holder of the Simonyi Professorship - aimed at furthering the public understanding of science - is accused by an ill-informed and delusional forum member of peddling "pseudo-science".

An interesting response to the new blasphemy laws in Ireland.

Are these quotes blaspemous - then prosecute us.

It just goes to show there are a lot of barking mad people out there.

quote:

Originally posted by FlyMe:
An interesting response to the new blasphemy laws in Ireland.

Are these quotes blaspemous - then prosecute us.

Blasphemy laws?

What monstrous insanity is this?

Is my watch six centuries fast?

quote:

an ill-informed and delusional forum member

i normally ignore prattish, personal remarks such as yours, but as a concession, on this occasion...

You obviously haven't watched the Dork on tv or watched the effect he has on others. So you don't know what you are talking about. Probably best if you just fade away, prat.

Cheers

Don

Getting back to the OP's question (ahem...) I didn't go to church on Christmas Day but I went to a lovely candle-light carol service on Christmas Eve where a large percentage of our small local community gathered, sang some nice songs to great tunes, had a good chat & all went home with peace in our hearts.

Lovely!

I agree that kind of thing can leave a warm glow.
Does it have to be carols to achieve it?

What other kind of thing did you have in mind?

quote:

Originally posted by Don Atkinson:

quote:

an ill-informed and delusional forum member

i normally ignore prattish, personal remarks such as yours, but as a concession, on this occasion...

You obviously haven't watched the Dork on tv or watched the effect he has on others. So you don't know what you are talking about. Probably best if you just fade away, prat.

Cheers

Don

Effect on SOME others, perhaps. Most certainly not ALL others. To me he is simply a sane man who argues cogently and well. His only fault is that he appears to believe that rationality may persuade those who have forsaken it.

A serious error of judgment to be sure, but hardly call for such a derogatory term.

Dork for Dawk. Such elevated wit.

quote:

Originally posted by tonym:
What other kind of thing did you have in mind?

That is a little problem, granted . There is very little in our world able to do so except Xmas and the carols are largely religious and therefore imo lamentable.

quote:

Originally posted by mongo:
..and the carols are largely religious and therefore imo lamentable.

How sad. Does this mean you regard anything religious as lamentable?

It certainly does. Anything and everything.

In the same way that i find astrology, voodoo, magic crystals, and other entirely irrational human preoccupations lamentable.

As a species we are not sane enough to be able to afford such absurdities in our outlook on the world and it's magnificence.

What will kill us all off will be a head in the sand approach to our ailments engendered by the mental state such superstitions require.

Deeply sadly, there appears nothing to be done. The problem is intractable, the rationalists and apologists are deluding themselves. Once irrationality takes a firm grip,... that's all she wrote....