Posted                      

quote:

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(And by the way, it's marriage, not gay marriage. I also just park my car, and don't expect gay people to gay park.

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Originally posted by RuthW:

quote:

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Originally posted by St. Punk the Pious:
Well. I'm glad I haven't posted in a while.

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I so rarely agree with you that I wanted to mark the occasion.

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If the pope had informed SoF of his resignation in advance, we might perhaps have been able to reschedule but sadly he didn't.

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Many men have wanted to fuck her brains out, and somebody apparently succeeded.

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--------------------
Evil Dragon Lady, Breaker of Men's Constitutions

"It's hard to be religious when certain people are never incinerated by bolts of lightning.” -Calvin

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quote:

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We live in an age where every bit of cosmology that has actual support in real observations and experimental data accords smoothly with traditional Christian views, whereas alternate hypothesis (like the "multiverse") are so incredibly anti-parsimonious as to lead to an Ockhamian splatter-fest as soon as the protective layer of pure ideology is removed.

We live in an age where the physical theory with the undoubtedly best experimental confirmation, quantum theory, has relied for many decades and fundamentally on an complete ad hoc mechanism ("the collapse of the wavefunction") that nobody really understands, but which seems to be tied annoyingly to the presence of very special entities, "observers", us. This, and the general structure of quantum theory, provides ample room for speculations, including religiously motivated ones.

We live in an age where biology is taking over as the lead science from physics. Biologists still can't write a paper without invoking some kind of teleology somewhere, and that's not going to change either. It is hence just a question of time until the ideology of rejecting final causality, which was tied to the mechanistic views from physics, is overcome. Once final causality is back, intellectual atheism will be deprived of its oxygen.

We live in an age where the rapid advances of neuroscience increasingly make Descartes' points about doubting evidence relevant. While Cartesian dualism is dubious (though not proven wrong, as many assume), the gap between the measurements of brain function and the core experiential truth of mental life is if at all growing wider and deeper. Already a honest materialist must declare himself to be an illusion, at which point really only two reactions are possible: point at him and ROTFL, or throw him into a lunatic asylum. Unsurprisingly, the hylemorphic dualism of traditional Christianity fits perfectly fine with all available evidence.

We live in an age where the original Darwinism has died a death of thousand cuts, and the current theory of evolution (if there is anything deserving the name) is some hodgepodge of punctuated equilibria, cross-species genetic vectors, group evolution and distinctly Lamarckian noises about epigenetics. Anyway, whatever the fate of "evolution", it does not actually threaten classical theism. Whether Christianity will get more support from this than the Y-chromosomal Adam and Mitochondrial Eve remains to be seen.

We live in an age where Thomism has made a comeback through analytical philosophy and essentialism is becoming increasingly popular again. Furthermore, it has been centuries since proofs of God have been last so vigorously and competently defended. Not only has there been a new lease of life for classical arguments, new ones have emerged as well (probabilistic, grammar based, ...). Finally, post-modernism, where not busy eating itself, has made some valid points about knowledge and interpretation that make it difficult to keep a straight face when listening to scientism-ists. It is to be expected that we will progress beyond Popperian and even Kuhninan simplifications in describing what real scientists actually do.

This is going to be a golden age for Christians, intellectually at least. Atheism is so 20thC.

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Originally posted by Sergius-Melli:
Nor do I require an essay, . . .

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Originally posted by Crœsos:
Which is good. I've rarely had anyone say to me "Hey Crœsos, why don't you make your posts longer?"

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quote:
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Originally posted by Gextvedde:
I'm confident she'd make you do as you're told in the sack.
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Been trying to form a mental picture on this one at work today.
I wonder, at what point during the proceedings maggie would say, "The lady's not for turning" ?

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I think if Jesus had less apologists, he would have a whole lot less to apologise for.

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The default position of humans is wonder. From this develops everything else.

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Originally posted by Doublethink:
Typical Martin, communicating like a magic 8 ball for no good reason.

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You cannot bulldoze over people with your love. You cannot hand out your love like candy. You cannot run advertisement campaigns for your love. Love is intimate, love is personal, love is poetic. Love cannot be shouted into existence. Love cannot be rubbed into people's faces. Love is easier shown than spoken, and where it is spoken it must be precious or it will turn cheap.

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Originally posted by Crœsos:
Deciding who is and isn't an evangelical is a lot like Calvinball.

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Originally posted by George Spigot:

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Originally posted by Bob Two-Owls:
It's a safety thing...women are terrible drivers <ducks>

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I think you'll find men are worse at putting because they will insist five inches are actually nine.

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Originally posted by Stejjie:
With regards Eutychus' point: it may be that CL is not bitter, or angry or hateful. It may be that he is none of those things. It may be that he feels nothing but joy and gladness all day and every morning skips and gambols through the fields like a little lamb, free from care and singing songs of joy like Julie Andrews at the beginning of "The Sound of Music".

You never know.

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A "meh" on both their houses...

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Originally posted by The Rhythm Methodist:
TICTH those 'worship leaders' who think it's OK to drown out every attempt at conversation before the service, by practising with the amp turned up. Those worship leaders whose egos are so large, they have their own gravitational fields. Those who - in their arrogance - presume to intersperse their vacuous, quasi-musical offerings, with equally vacuous verbal dross. Those who can't tell the difference between self-indulgence, and the Spirit of God. Those that substitute hype for spirituality.... and those who will only sing songs which are so new, the ink hasn't dried on the page.

It is as well for you, that these aren't the "days of Elijah": He'd kick your asses off the stage, and garrotte you with your own guitar strings.

May you spend eternity listening to the sound of your own voice....through other people's ears.

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Originally posted by comet:

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Originally posted by Molopata The Rebel:
Is this really worth a hell call?

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We keep our standards low and pass the savings on to you.

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Originally posted by lilBuddha:
Originally posted by Karl, Liberal Backslider:

do you know what "irony" is? Hint - it's nothing like "bronzy" or "tinny".

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Originally posted by Firenze:

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Originally posted by Porridge:

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Originally posted by Gee D:

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Originally posted by Porridge:
*sigh*

I just ate an "artisanal" peanut-butter sandwich for supper. Unfortunately, I'm still hungry, and the fridge contents are far from inspiring.

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What is an artisanal peanut butter sandwich please?

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Well, Kelly took this to a level I hadn't imagined,[I made a wisecrack about $7 jars of peanut butter] but what I meant in my ironic fashion was a peanut butter sandwich made by hand.

You know, like all of them.

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I was with Kelly. I was imagining peanut butter for which each individual peanut had been hand-crushed by yeoman Nutters using hammers dating back to Agincourt, before being gloopified in cauldrons over fires of Patagonian birch twigs and packed in recycled WW II jam pots before being sent over the mountains by mule train.

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Originally posted by Firenze:

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Originally posted by North East Quine:
And, unlike sex, you can listen to something interesting on Radio 4 at the same time.

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Why ever not? You'll be saying next you ought to put your book down.

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I may not be on an island any more, but I'm still an islander.
alto n a soprano who can read music

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Originally posted by Adeodatus:
I don't buy this 'relationship' stuff - and for much the same reason that John Macquarrie dismisses the idea of prayer-as-communication in Principles of Christian Theology. To put it in basic terms, and as I've said here before, if it's a relationship, it wouldn't kill him to pick up the phone once in a while.

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Originally posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider:
From the thread about the usefulness or otherwise of the word "religion":

quote:

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Originally posted by Adeodatus:
I don't buy this 'relationship' stuff - and for much the same reason that John Macquarrie dismisses the idea of prayer-as-communication in Principles of Christian Theology. To put it in basic terms, and as I've said here before, if it's a relationship, it wouldn't kill him to pick up the phone once in a while.

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You know where I said, "as I've said here before"? Well ... I've got an uncomfortable hunch I've actually been quoted on that before!

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"What is broken, repair with gold."

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Originally posted by Kelly Alves:
See, to you guys this is a joke, to a Northern Californian this is a brillaint venture idea:

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Originally posted by Ricardus:

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Originally posted by Porridge:
Well, as noted upthread, my ordinary meals tend to be glop, spodge, or goo, as described by various posters above. Perfectly serviceable in terms of nutrition and taste, but low on presentability.

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Sounds like my cooking, but this is why clear labelling is so important.

Glop with spices + rice = curry
Glop with herbs + pasta = pasta
Glop with herbs + rice = risotto
Glop with spices + pasta = fusion
Glop with mashed potato on top = some variant on shepherd's pie
Glop in a tortilla wrap = Mexican
Glop with paprika + rice (or dumplings*) = goulash
Pepper stuffed with glop = stuffed pepper
Aubergine stuffed with glop = there is a Turkish name for this but I've forgotten it
Foul-tasting glop + tamarind paste + rice = tamarind curry (tamarind is excellent for hiding an experiment that went wrong)

FWIW I take the line that anyone who doesn't like the appearance of my food hasn't quite grasped the point of eating.

* Dumplings are basically bread converted into glop.

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Originally posted by passer:

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Originally posted by Palimpsest:

I notice this thread is mutating as people find a thread that is Betts free.

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All part of the natural process. As it ages, it starts to sleep more and more - up to 18 hours a day. It responds to occasional feeding, and sometimes engages in light exploratory exercise. At this point a vet will often intervene and it will be put to sleep. The timing of that action can appear arbitrary, and dependent on the personal skill and judgement of the vet. The owner may be consulted, but is a bystander when the coup de grace is delivered.

Oh - no, that's cats, not threads.

All part of the natural process. It becomes less and less active, gradually drifting into a semi-aware state called pauk, before its life force is returned to the Original Beholder. A recently demised thread, or gossie, will migrate to the intermediate location known as Oblivion, where it can still be contacted, though finding it can be difficult. Trying to engage with it while it’s in pauk can have unpredictable consequences. Memorable gossies will end up in Limbo, while those whose existence left a stain on the conscious world may end up in the cave marked with an X.

Oh - no, that's Helliconia, not Hell.

Mark has had his attention-jag, and appears to have departed, sated. His self-esteem will have been boosted by his performance, so for him it's not all bad.

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An atheist who shows love for all is more Godly than a Christian who shows hate for some. If that's the kind of atheism you decry, I say lets have more of it.

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Originally posted by Adeodatus:

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Originally posted by Indifferently:
... We are called to embrace sinners...

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Speaking as a sinner, I prefer not to have my personal space invaded, thanks.

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Originally posted by lilBuddha:
Apologies for a non-pope related thread.

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Originally posted by orfeo:

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Originally posted by IngoB:
There is not much Pope Francis can add theologically, if you ask me.

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Well, after a couple of millennia and no new Scriptures, I'd say all the theologians can pack up and go home. It's all sorted.

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And here abouts Purg can be wholly devoted to secular politics and sociology.

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"Dear God, whose name I do not know - thank you for my life. I forgot how BIG... thank you. Thank you for my life." ~from Joe Vs the Volcano

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Originally posted by mdijon:
We are going to have a honeymoon period - singing "Hosanna to the Sons of Durham and Argentina" and laying cloaks and leaves before them.... followed by whipping, scourging, and a hasty crucifixion.

The only thing not clear is who we will crucify between them.

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Posted by mousethief:
If he had said "bloody cunts of all genders" would that not be sexist because he mentioned all genders? No, it's sexist because it's using a part of the female anatomy as an insult.

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quote:

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posted by Sine Nomine:
Where does that leave 'dickhead'?

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posted by passer:
Alongside twat, I imagine.

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quote:

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posted by mousethief:
You're doing it wrong.

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Originally posted by Organ Builder:
At this point I've posted enough fluff on this thread that it only seems fair I try to make a more substantive contribution.

I was born and raised in the US. I've lived in the West, the Midwest, New England, Mid-Atlantic, and Southern regions. My education is thoroughly American, reflecting its strengths and weaknesses. Whether I like it or not, my brain is thoroughly wired as an American--my sense of humor, my understanding and usage of language, my tastes and culture...

I will never be "at home" anywhere else on earth in the manner that I am here.

I love the US--it is far from perfect, but my life and my friends are here. Does it embarrass me sometimes? Yes. Does it make me proud sometimes? Yes. I could say the same about my favorite relatives.

So I will continue to stumble along, trying to make the country a little bit better when I see something that needs to be fixed, trying to preserve things of which I feel we should be justifiably proud and trying to keep myself informed so I can tell the difference until the day when my ashes become part of the landscape here.

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Originally posted by orfeo:
Breaks down and starts sobbing uncontrollably on account of having agreed to read all Hell threads.

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Originally posted by orfeo:
It's okay, I've hatched an escape plan.

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Originally posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider:

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Originally posted by orfeo:
It's okay, I've hatched an escape plan.

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I expect though it depends on the bodies being buried where you think they are.

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Originally posted by Kelly Alves:
Organ Grinder says it well, and says it for a lot of us...

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I probably need to get a life, but there is nothing that will make my day like discovering someone quoted me on this thread! Thanks, Kelly.


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How desperately difficult it is to be honest with oneself. It is much easier to be honest with other people.--E.F. Benson

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originally posted by Mere Nick:
It was Italians who killed Jesus, wasn't it?

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quote:

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originally posted by Lamb Chopped:
Nope, it was me.

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If you want an animal that loves you then there are these things called dogs, I understand, that will assume that you created God.

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Originally posted by orfeo:

quote:

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Originally posted by Evensong:
Or perhaps he decided Hell was boring these days and thought he'd post something stupid to see how many stupid people would respond.

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The way things are going, we're going to have to post an 11th Commandment soon: thou shalt not post utterly pointless shit in Hell just because you're bored.

Since when did the Ship become the only source of excitement for you people anyway? Can't you go play in traffic or something? Teach lambada at the local nursing home? Become a graffiti artist? Perfect your juggling?

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Originally posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider:

quote:

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Originally posted by Ad Orientem:
And, quite naturally, I would argue that it's right to insist that one must confess the Orthodox faith and have been received into the Orthodox Church to receive holy communion in the Orthodox Church.

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Ikea meatballs tonight.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Ad Orientem:
Eh?

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Originally posted by FCB:
What else can you make out of a dead horse? Certainly not a productive argument.

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There was a 'children's sermon' though of such buttock-clenching cringeworthiness I remember it to this day.

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