1129: Cerebral

[SoFocused]

Originally Posted by rodimusprime

The entire idea of Lent seems silly and cultish to me. Glad I don't have to deal with that shit.

c/s breh

[BrianAlt]

Originally Posted by Bucho

I knew someone would get it. Someone like you Brian.

Sorry, couldn't help myself.

[GMan]

Originally Posted by yoav

- yes i was looking for deeper insight

i wanted to offend you enough to explain yourself without all this time wasted nitpicking about my motivations.

Let me get this straight: you think i did nothing with my life but learning about Catholicism based on one forum post (admittedly a long post) where I provided some correct information about Lent--information that anyone who read the wikipedia article would know.

Then, you decide the best way to gain deep insights on the motivations of the religious is to be offensive. Is it really your experience in life that offending people is the best way to get information? Have you ever tried asking?

To answer your question: I don't feel that I've wasted my life. When you enjoy something, be it Catholicism, or Star Trek, you tend to learn more things about it. The development of Christianity really is the story of Western Civilization for the past 2000 years or so. The calendar you use is based upon it. The idioms you use (blind leading the blind, turn the other cheek, etc.) are based upon it. The classic works of western art and music are based upon it.

On top of that, I have other interests. You wouldn't know it from my original post because that was about a single topic--correcting misinformation about Lent. I could write an equally detailed post about the American Civil War, etiology of tuberculosis, or Korean food, but those topics didn't come up.

I'm sure you have some interest in your life (Phish? Photography?) that other people don't get. Hell, you've made close to a thousand posts on an internet forum for a relatively small group of people devoted to a podcast. To some, that might seem like a waste of time, but if you got something out of it, it's really not anyone else's business.

[Mattman]

Originally Posted by yoav

yes, not knowing anything would have been a huge waste of my life. hence the comment.

it's like people who obsess over star trek or role playing games. all that time you could have spent learning stuff instead of fixating on one random story or subculture. i don't get it, and was hoping for a deeper insight than you just being defensive. sorry for worrying your fucking sensibilities.

Knowing and believing are 2 different things. Knowing about Lent and believing in Catholicism, or Protestant Christianity are different.

I cannot understand why people who do not follow a religion vehemently attack the belief of others on these forums. Is it because our two hosts have decided to be agnostic or atheist?

As others have pointed out in this and other threads, Chemda does not know the detail of other religions but often criticises them for their ridiculousness. Strangely she still gets defensive over Judeism from time to time.

Lessons that should be learned from the forums: Displaying your knowledge to the ignorant is not appreciated by the ignorant. Displaying your ignorance with pride just makes you look pathetic.

[JSZilla]

Originally Posted by rodimusprime

The entire idea of Lent seems silly and cultish to me. Glad I don't have to deal with that shit.

Welcome to the most varied process yet exactly the same basis of practice damn near every religion has. Ritual. Baptism is a rather odd one to me but so is putting ashes on your forehead...What if you sweat?

Theology is fun. Whether you follow it or not. Atleast the subject is to me and I'm an athie....Er...I think I will call myself a Pastafarian. Just cuz.

Originally Posted by yoav

A LOT.

So what your saying is the whole idea of religion is "I'm rich bitch!!"?

[Mattman]

You make some quite good points about the abuse of religion and negative impact of forced "belief". You also draw similarities between KATG and organised religions - this association due to the basic tribal instinct of humans rather than Keith being the new Messiah. Sports supporters enjoy the same feeling of belonging or following.

You will probably find that those who follow organised religions enjoy benefits not always obvious to outsiders, and no amount of mocking will take that away, as they come from the individual's internal value system. This is true whether the individual has thought and understood about their belief or not. I guess the same can be true of following a sports team or podcast.

I appreciate that you are debating this subject rather than blindly bashing.

[nycguitarist]

I'm a pro guitarist just finished with a 8 month tour and new to NYC. I'm staying in Manhattan and want to meet some cool people to party with.

Hit me up KATG people

stevem14@mac.com

facebook.com/stevemathews

[Mattman]

At 9:30 I will be at mass with my family and 500 other Catholics in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. We will have something outsiders do not understand.

Right or wrong. We will have it. No one can take that away. It is a real source of strength for me and my family.

You all may not understand, but that does not matter.

[Junkenstein]

Maybe i'm missing something Yoav but this guy is a dangerous person because he's going to mass? Or because he (or she) said that whatever people say, he will have something that people cannot take away?

If your issue is with the latter statement, let me do a rephrasing:

"On the 15th of april, me and 500 other people will attend a KATG meeting. We will have something that outsiders dont understand. Right or wrong. We will have it. No one can take that away. It is a real source of strength for us"

What a nut, right? But believe me that sentence will go through the head of a lot of people here.

A lot of angry atheists that havent learned enough of the marvel that cold emotionless reason can give, act as their stance against religion is a battle postion and religious people are the enemy. Problem is, a guy who thinks that he will have a community feeling by going to church doesnt do any real harm.

Now if said guy said that he is going to attend a 500 people gathering of the church of the burning nigger, now that would be desputable. But still harmless, as long as it is a gathering (let them gather, who gives a shit)

But if said guy posted, i will meet with other people and we will bash the brains out of all non-believers, he would be dangerous. Hell he would be dangerous even if he was beating up non believers on his own. And he will be at least reprobable if he was pointing his finger and inuslting non believers.

But, see, my idea of atheism is believing in reason and logic and in the absence of absolute truths. So, taking away religion from the equation, you're the one that's attacking him because of his beliefs. You're pointing the finger and accusing. You're labeling him. You're segregatingn him.

You're the one whoi's acting dangerous. So be the atheist person and take the high road and answer like a true atheist:

"I'm going to a gathering of 500 people and we will blablabla"
"Whatever"

[BrianAlt]

What I don't get is, why did he need to post it at all? Who here is stopping him? Will some think he's crazy? Sure! Just as many, if not more, will think he's courageous.

Who really cares which he is. Good for him (or her) for doing what he (or she) wants.