Interesting piece in today's Guardian:
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/guy_dammann/2008/03/good_god_why.html
Maybe God is Goood...
;D
Quote from: Operahaven on March 21, 2008, 06:09:31 PM
Interesting piece in today's Guardian:
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/guy_dammann/2008/03/good_god_why.html
Why do we assume God is good? I don't. He's a sonofabitch.
Okiay, I don't really know His origin, whether He was legitimate or not ;D but any god who invents birth defects, miscarriages, hurricanes, lingering disease, death, isn't good in my book...unless, on the off chance, Mahler's Resurrection is right and we're all going to have a non-judgmental happy end. But I kinda doubt that. Still, I'll keep listening to the music with a certain amount of hope.
Sarge
Don't know if God is good, but Goode is God.
That egghead's dismissal of free will is not that compelling or thought out. In fact that whole article is a waste of time-- old ideas reiterated poorly. Meh.
Quote from: Sergeant Rock on March 21, 2008, 06:22:52 PM
Why do we assume God is good? I don't. He's a sonofabitch.
Okiay, I don't really know His origin, whether He was legitimate or not ;D but any god who invents birth defects, miscarriages, hurricanes, lingering disease, death, isn't good in my book...unless, on the off chance, Mahler's Resurrection is right and we're all going to have a non-judgmental happy end. But I kinda doubt that. Still, I'll keep listening to the music with a certain amount of hope.
Sarge
I absolutely agree with Sarge - but thought that article was just about worthless. The author's argument that God isn't necessarily good is about as compelling as a dead fish. They should have asked Sarge or me to write the dang piece. And the last paragraph is where his simple-mindedness really shows - compare his declaration that Jesus "was a good egg" to Bertrand Russell's far more thoughtful consideration of why we assume that Jesus is good. I guess for this author, God is a problem but Jesus untouchable.
Instead of that article, you'd better read:
God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything by Christopher Hitchens
http://www.amazon.com/God-Not-Great-Religion-Everything/dp/0446579807 (http://www.amazon.com/God-Not-Great-Religion-Everything/dp/0446579807)
Quote from: Sergeant Rock on March 21, 2008, 06:22:52 PM
Why do we assume God is good? I don't. He's a sonofabitch.
Okiay, I don't really know His origin, whether He was legitimate or not ;D but any god who invents birth defects, miscarriages, hurricanes, lingering disease, death, isn't good in my book...unless, on the off chance, Mahler's Resurrection is right and we're all going to have a non-judgmental happy end. But I kinda doubt that. Still, I'll keep listening to the music with a certain amount of hope.
Sarge
i believe you misunderstand. He 'invented' nature & all that comes with it. what is in the universe where we exist is what must exist. if it were different, we would be something else.
God can not put a 5-dimensional creature into a 3-dimensional universe. He creates what can be created.
the place He created where the tragedies never occur is somewhere else.
you can go there if you wish, but He will not force you.
dj
Which god is he talking about?
Mars (or Aris in Greek), the god of war wasn't supposed to be good 0:)
Why do we assume that Satan is evil?
Quote from: Dm on March 22, 2008, 03:09:23 AM
Why do we assume that Satan is evil?
Something tells me if hell and heaven exist, hell would be much more fun, or better 'craic' as us Irish say. I even think Satan might have a pretty good sense of humour. Dry though....very dry.
>:D
Quote from: erato on March 22, 2008, 12:39:16 AM
God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything by Christopher Hitchens
http://www.amazon.com/God-Not-Great-Religion-Everything/dp/0446579807 (http://www.amazon.com/God-Not-Great-Religion-Everything/dp/0446579807)
Proof that religion
doesn't poison anything: Johann Sebastian Bach.
Hitchens sounds like a smart chap but that axe is surely being ground to a fine point. His words are barely audible over the noise.
Quote from: Josquin des Prez on March 22, 2008, 07:17:13 AM
Proof that religion doesn't poison anything: Johann Sebastian Bach.
True true. Though the title of the book is probably more to get a point across. Similarly, Richard Dawkins' BBC programme - The Root of all Evil - is an intentionally provocative title, and it should be said that Dawkins himself disapproved of it.
Words....
Quote from: erato on March 22, 2008, 12:39:16 AM
Instead of that article, you'd better read:
God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything by Christopher Hitchens
http://www.amazon.com/God-Not-Great-Religion-Everything/dp/0446579807 (http://www.amazon.com/God-Not-Great-Religion-Everything/dp/0446579807)
Instead of that book, you'd better read:
Why I Am Not a Christian by Bertrand Russell
:)
Quote from: Norbeone on March 22, 2008, 06:42:04 AM
Something tells me if hell and heaven exist, hell would be much more fun, or better 'craic' as us Irish say. I even think Satan might have a pretty good sense of humour. Dry though....very dry.
>:D
"Heaven for the climate, hell for the company." - Mark Twain
Quote from: Josquin des Prez on March 22, 2008, 07:17:13 AM
Proof that religion doesn't poison anything: Johann Sebastian Bach.
I think that all that proves is that it didn't poison J S Bach. Not that it didn't poison
anything.
Quote from: erato on March 22, 2008, 08:20:33 AM
I think that all that proves is that it didn't poison J S Bach. Not that it didn't poison anything.
It proves that it doesn't poison
everything, which is the word used in the title of the book.
Quote from: Norbeone on March 22, 2008, 08:35:48 AM
It proves that it doesn't poison everything, which is the word used in the title of the book.
"God Is Not Great: Why Religion Poisons A Lot of Stuff, but Not Everything, Because Some Things Are Still Really Nice" by Christopher Hitchens.
Not very catchy ... :D
God is prettyy pretttyyyy pretttyyyy Good. ;D
Actually i don't know, never met him.
Quote from: Brian on March 22, 2008, 08:37:21 AM
"God Is Not Great: Why Religion Poisons A Lot of Stuff, but Not Everything, Because Some Things Are Still Really Nice" by Christopher Hitchens.
Not very catchy ... :D
For sure, as an earlier post points out. ;D
I must stop been facetious so often, I think. ;)
Quote from: Norbeone on March 22, 2008, 08:35:48 AM
It proves that it doesn't poison everything, which is the word used in the title of the book.
Which is also the word i meant to use, but my brain crapped out at the last second. Time to re-fill that coffee pot.
Well, He's not good if he chooses to put our spirits in our bodies without asking for our permission. That's extremely rude, and I doubt anyone would agree to that knowing they could spend an eternity in hell if they make a wrong choice.
Quote from: GGGGRRREEG on March 22, 2008, 02:36:27 PM
Well, He's not good if he chooses to put our spirits in our bodies without asking for our permission. That's extremely rude, and I doubt anyone would agree to that knowing they could spend an eternity in hell if they make a wrong choice.
That's awesome, brought a smile to my face. :)
Quote from: DavidW on March 22, 2008, 02:45:16 PM
That's awesome, brought a smile to my face. :)
wow, really? :)
Quote from: GGGGRRREEG on March 22, 2008, 02:48:33 PM
wow, really? :)
You're highly gifted, Greg ....... it's time you realize that! :D
Quote from: Dm on March 22, 2008, 02:59:43 PM
You're highly gifted, Greg ....... it's time you realize that! :D
oh, please, not nearly as much as other people on this forum 0:)
Quote from: GGGGRRREEG on March 22, 2008, 02:36:27 PM
Well, He's not good if he chooses to put our spirits in our bodies without asking for our permission. That's extremely rude, and I doubt anyone would agree to that knowing they could spend an eternity in hell if they make a wrong choice.
If I ever write a philosophy book, I might quote you. This is a novel sentiment expressed in an elegantly simple way.
(I'll attribute it to "GGGGRRREEG" of course. :D )
Quote from: Brian on March 22, 2008, 03:07:45 PM
If I ever write a philosophy book, I might quote you. This is a novel sentiment expressed in an elegantly simple way.
(I'll attribute it to "GGGGRRREEG" of course. :D )
holy %&$*
you mean all you people have never heard or thought of that before!?
man, i'm sure there has to be other people out there who were miserable enough to think of such a thing. Has to be in a book somewhere, right?
oh, my name: "Greg Cook"......
btw, i'm flattered :) ;D
Quote from: Josquin des Prez on March 22, 2008, 09:02:10 AM
Which is also the word i meant to use, but my brain crapped out at the last second. Time to re-fill that coffee pot.
Then mine did, too, now that you point it out. I didn't realize you used the word 'anything'. Had I realised, my reply to it would have been somewhat different. ;D
Yeah, I wasn't impressed by this article, either. But maybe I'm just biased. :P
Quote from: david johnson on March 22, 2008, 01:28:33 AM
i believe you misunderstand. He 'invented' nature & all that comes with it. what is in the universe where we exist is what must exist. if it were different, we would be something else.
God can not put a 5-dimensional creature into a 3-dimensional universe. He creates what can be created.
the place He created where the tragedies never occur is somewhere else.
you can go there if you wish, but He will not force you.
dj
Are you on drugs?
Quote from: Sergeant Rock on March 21, 2008, 06:22:52 PM
isn't good in my book...
You must have some book then.. huh?
What its called?
Leaving aside the question of who/what God actually is, if we just take him as the character described in the Bible, I think it's hard to convincingly argue that he's good. Satan's supposedly the villain of the Book, but if you tally up the body count of deaths caused by each of them, God comes out ahead, and not by a small margin. Of course, this is justified by the claim that God only killed evil people who deserved to die, but we only have His word for it, and the book is an authorized biography, so its objectivity can't be taken as a given. It does claim that Satan is responsible for all the evil in the first place, but again that only makes sense if you assume God is the good guy and the advice he gave Adam about that tree was reliable. God was certainly pissed off by Adam's disobedience and punished all mankind as a result, but again that can only be seen as "good" is you make the a priori assumption that God is good. If you're objective about it, God just comes off as a vindictive, vengeful control freak who dispenses justice based on his arbitrary whims.
All this is just meant tongue in cheek, sort of....
Quote from: Shrunk on March 23, 2008, 02:36:22 AM
God just comes off as a vindictive, vengeful control freak who dispenses justice based on his arbitrary whims.
:D Yeah, definitely a control freak .........
Quote from: M forever on March 22, 2008, 06:21:19 PM
Are you on drugs?
I particularly liked the line:
QuoteGod can not put a 5-dimensional creature into a 3-dimensional universe
because if he can't do something, surely he isn't God?
Quote from: lukeottevanger on March 23, 2008, 03:09:29 AM
because if he can't do something, surely he isn't God?
Well, there're the classic demonstrations of incoherence, like creating a weight you can't lift, or changing your mind. Gods can't be assigned infinite powers without running into these. Without them they can't control or even monitor everything. The problem is imagining everything as being under central control in the first place. No atoms, molecules, or galaxies need instruction from someplace else to be what they are. That's a good thing, since it means we humans really are in control of our fate, to the extent that anyone can be said to be in control.
Quote from: drogulus on March 23, 2008, 07:52:45 AM
Well, there're the classic demonstrations of incoherence, like creating a weight you can't lift, or changing your mind. Gods can't be assigned infinite powers without running into these. Without them they can't control or even monitor everything. The problem is imagining everything as being under central control in the first place. No atoms, molecules, or galaxies need instruction from someplace else to be what they are. That's a good thing, since it means we humans really are in control of our fate, to the extent that anyone can be said to be in control.
"Could God microwave a burrito so hot that He Himself could not eat it?" - Homer Simpson
The creating a rock thing really I think just shows the limitation of language, and it's not what you would call deep or insightful.
Quote from: Brian on March 23, 2008, 07:56:45 AM
"Could God microwave a burrito so hot that He Himself could not eat it?" - Homer Simpson
Gods, like Homer Simpson, are really just funny ideas which betray their source.
Quote from: DavidW on March 23, 2008, 08:45:58 AM
The creating a rock thing really I think just shows the limitation of language, and it's not what you would call deep or insightful.
Language is very powerful. It can lead us to think that what it says is real just because it can be said. I guess you could say that's a weakness of language, but it seems like a weakness of analysis, which Homer gets right. To see the problem is to understand this is not a description of anything.
Quote from: drogulus on March 23, 2008, 09:09:13 AM
Language is very powerful. It can lead us to think that what it says is real just because it can be said. I guess you could say that's a weakness of language, but it seems like a weakness of analysis, which Homer gets right. To see the problem is to understand this is not a description of anything.
That's well put, and I think that is indeed the problem.
God is overrated.
Quote from: Dm on March 22, 2008, 02:59:43 PM
You're highly gifted, Greg ....... it's time you realize that! :D
Quote from: GGGGRRREEG on March 22, 2008, 03:02:23 PM
oh, please, not nearly as much as other people on this forum 0:)
True.
:P (http://forums.mozillazine.org/images/smiles/icon_twisted.gif)
The Christian God - if he exists - may perhaps be well-meaning, but he is quite obviously incompetent, since his work of creation leaves much to be desired. Forgive him as you would forgive your neighbour.
Quote from: premont on March 23, 2008, 01:30:21 PM
The Christian God - if he exists - may perhaps be well-meaning, but he is quite obviously incompetent, since his work of creation leaves much to be desired. Forgive him as you would forgive your neighbour.
Good point. I'd be willing to forgive God, though not so much to worship him.
"I understand, of course, what an upheaval of the universe it will be when everything in heaven and earth blends in one hymn of praise and everything that lives and has lived cries aloud: 'Thou art just, O Lord, for Thy ways are revealed.' When the mother embraces the fiend who threw her child to the dogs, and all three cry aloud with tears, 'Thou art just, O Lord!' then, of course, the crown of knowledge will be reached and all will be made clear. But what pulls me up here is that I can't accept that harmony. And while I am on earth, I make haste to take my own measures. You see, Alyosha, perhaps it really may happen that if I live to that moment, or rise again to see it, I, too, perhaps, may cry aloud with the rest, looking at the mother embracing the child's torturer, 'Thou art just, O Lord!' but I don't want to cry aloud then. While there is still time, I hasten to protect myself, and so I renounce the higher harmony altogether. It's not worth the tears of that one tortured child who beat itself on the breast with its little fist and prayed in its stinking outhouse, with its unexpiated tears to 'dear, kind God'! It's not worth it, because those tears are unatoned for. They must be atoned for, or there can be no harmony. But how? How are you going to atone for them? Is it possible? By their being avenged? But what do I care for avenging them? What do I care for a hell for oppressors? What good can hell do, since those children have already been tortured? And what becomes of harmony, if there is hell? I want to forgive. I want to embrace. I don't want more suffering. And if the sufferings of children go to swell the sum of sufferings which was necessary to pay for truth, then I protest that the truth is not worth such a price. I don't want the mother to embrace the oppressor who threw her son to the dogs! She dare not forgive him! Let her forgive him for herself, if she will, let her forgive the torturer for the immeasurable suffering of her mother's heart. But the sufferings of her tortured child she has no right to forgive; she dare not forgive the torturer, even if the child were to forgive him! And if that is so, if they dare not forgive, what becomes of harmony? Is there in the whole world a being who would have the right to forgive and could forgive? I don't want harmony. From love for humanity I don't want it. I would rather be left with the unavenged suffering. I would rather remain with my unavenged suffering and unsatisfied indignation, even if I were wrong. Besides, too high a price is asked for harmony; it's beyond our means to pay so much to enter on it. And so I hasten to give back my entrance ticket, and if I am an honest man I am bound to give it back as soon as possible. And that I am doing. It's not God that I don't accept, Alyosha, only I most respectfully return him the ticket."
~ Ivan Karamazov, from The Brothers Karamazov, Fyodor Dostoevsky
http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/d/dostoyevsky/d72b/chapter35.html (http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/d/dostoyevsky/d72b/chapter35.html)
Quote from: lukeottevanger on March 23, 2008, 03:09:29 AM
because if he can't do something, surely he isn't God?
To suggest that God should be able to do the logically impossible doesn't sound too logical, does it?
Quote from: Al Moritz on March 23, 2008, 01:50:54 PM
To suggest that God should be able to do the logically impossible doesn't sound too logical, does it?
But what is logic in your sense other than a human way of thinking? Maybe there exists a "higher" logic, which we don´t understand.
Quote from: premont on March 23, 2008, 02:03:47 PM
But what is logic in your sense other than a human way of thinking? Maybe there exists a "higher" logic, which we don´t understand.
obviously, because God sure doesn't make a bit of sense (neither does anything else).
Quote from: Al Moritz on March 23, 2008, 01:50:54 PM
To suggest that God should be able to do the logically impossible doesn't sound too logical, does it?
I don't think that any suggestion is actually being made. The point of the demonstration is that some things that are said are sterile word combinations. Suppose you say you believe something but can't say what it is. Are you believing anything? Perhaps the power of words to mean something on their own without you having to participate is really what you believe.
If there's a god or gravity or neutrinos or multiverses they will do just fine without us. And what if they don't? What if they start feeling all
non-existenty if we ignore them? I think there's not much we can do, and our crazy obsession with belief is not likely to help them anyway. After you have tried your best to discover what is true about all these things your job is done. The universe is not sustained by your belief in it. That's taking the placebo effect just a bit too far.
:D Why would anyone think it's a good idea to write good and evil into the structure of the universe when it's pretty obvious that these judgments come in with us, to serve our own point of view? They make sense from a human perspective. A god can't be moral, because morality is a feature of our life in a social system. Morality doesn't have an independant existence outside the human context that gives it meaning. It's how people behave with other people that matters, and no one knows more about this than the people who do it.
Quote from: GGGGRRREEG on March 22, 2008, 02:36:27 PM
Well, He's not good if he chooses to put our spirits in our bodies without asking for our permission. That's extremely rude, and I doubt anyone would agree to that knowing they could spend an eternity in hell if they make a wrong choice.
you assume your spirit exists before you are conceived.
dj
Quote from: Perfect FIFTH on March 23, 2008, 11:54:55 AM
God is overrated.
nah...just human attempts to underrate Him are overrated. ;)
dj
Quote from: M forever on March 22, 2008, 06:21:19 PM
Are you on drugs?
no. :)
what do you not understand?
dj
Quote from: david johnson on March 25, 2008, 11:42:02 AM
no. :)
what do you not understand?
dj
He asked Lis the Mod the same question; it is just a random drugs test thing.
Mike
Depending on the manner of answer, the next stage is the breathalyzer.
How many stages until the leg-irons kick in?
Mike
Quote from: karlhenning on March 25, 2008, 11:55:44 AM
Depending on the manner of answer, the next stage is the breathalyzer.
"Pneumalyzer" you mean. ;)
Quote from: knight on March 25, 2008, 11:57:26 AM
How many stages until the leg-irons kick in?
After a few twists of the cancrizans . . . .
Why do I assume God is a fruitcake?
Quote from: knight on March 25, 2008, 11:53:47 AM
He asked Lis the Mod the same question; it is just a random drugs test thing.
Mike
Is M forever my old Wal-Mart manager? ;D
Quote from: MN Dave on March 25, 2008, 12:32:37 PM
Why do I assume God is a fruitcake?
Because he is a special treat for Christmas? ;D
Quote from: david johnson on March 25, 2008, 11:42:02 AM
no. :)
what do you not understand?
dj
Lots and lots of things... 0:)
Quote from: DavidW on March 25, 2008, 12:41:16 PM
Because he is a special treat for Christmas? ;D
(http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/images/smilies/rofl2.gif)
Quote from: DavidW on March 25, 2008, 12:41:16 PM
Because he is a special treat for Christmas? ;D
You're gonna burn in hell for that. $:)
Quote from: david johnson on March 25, 2008, 11:37:31 AM
you assume your spirit exists before you are conceived.
dj
if it wasn't, unfortunately there was no choice involved...... :P
Quote from: MN Dave on March 25, 2008, 12:32:37 PM
Why do I assume God is a fruitcake?
Thinking with fruitcake? Fruitcake with assent?
some of you nonbelievers think your spirit exists before conception? ...or are you tilting at your perceived windmill? i would not have thought many of you granted credence to the idea of a spirit.
dj
Quote from: david johnson on March 25, 2008, 02:28:04 PM
some of you nonbelievers think your spirit exists before conception? ...or are you tilting at your perceived windmill? i would not have thought many of you granted credence to the idea of a spirit.
dj
if you're referring to me..... well, i'm a believer, though it's mainly because it seems like the least non-sensical (however you spell that, if it's even a word) belief out there (being Baptist).
nothing makes complete sense, and i don't have the desire to spend my time studying stuff like Theology or the Bible, extensively...... (i need to stop wasting time posting here, too) :P
BUT i think i have heard people referring to the spirit existing before conception...... though that may just be a myth nowhere in the Bible.
Quote from: david johnson on March 25, 2008, 02:28:04 PM
some of you nonbelievers think your spirit exists before conception? ...or are you tilting at your perceived windmill? i would not have thought many of you granted credence to the idea of a spirit.
dj
You can make something meaningful out of it. A materialist understands that ideas like spirit and soul are not unmotivated. Such ideas can just as easily be interpreted in nonsupernatural ways. You start by understanding what they actually refer to, so you ask people what they mean when they use the words. They will tell you that they are terms for the higher functions of the self, including self-awareness, moral and aesthetic intuitions, and judgments about the causes of these.
So people have some vague theories about such things, mostly of a dualist (and therefore hopeless) nature. For reasons that aren't easy for me to understand, materialist theories of consciousness and higher function aren't popular. People are natural dualists, seeing a mind-body problem where there should be none, and all the time being blind to the problem of interaction between this world and a hypothesized "other" one where rules don't apply (these are the nonrules we don't know about, remember?).
All of these contortions are an attempt to avoid a rather obvious solution: Everything that exists is made out of the materials at hand. Instead of saying "it can't happen", figure out how it did. Wow, what a radical notion! It's called reverse-engineering, and it works.
yeah yeah God is good, yeah yeah God is Great,
What if God were one of us?
Quote from: MN Dave on March 25, 2008, 12:32:37 PM
Why do I assume God is a fruitcake?
Well having no brains can be a good reason for starters...
;D ;D ;D :D ;D ;)
Quote from: GGGGRRREEG on March 25, 2008, 03:33:26 PM
if you're referring to me..... well, i'm a believer, though it's mainly because it seems like the least non-sensical (however you spell that, if it's even a word) belief out there (being Baptist).
nothing makes complete sense, and i don't have the desire to spend my time studying stuff like Theology or the Bible, extensively...... (i need to stop wasting time posting here, too) :P
BUT i think i have heard people referring to the spirit existing before conception...... though that may just be a myth nowhere in the Bible.
the pre-existing soul is an assumption/belief many have.
the study of theology is ok in that it helps a little to understand where others are based. i can't see it as a requirement, though.
a baptist that views bible study as not desirable is odd in my 'neck of the woods'.
you're not wasting time here :)
dj
Quote from: drogulus on March 25, 2008, 01:48:38 PM
Thinking with fruitcake? Fruitcake with assent?
Wiseguy.
It's astonishing to see how atheists --- who supposedly value reason --- can waste their time in endless, useless and pointless verbosity assorted with kindergarten-level humour.
Quote from: Florestan on March 26, 2008, 01:13:52 AM
It's astonishing to see how atheists --- who supposedly value reason --- can waste their time in endless, useless and pointless verbosity assorted with kindergarten-level humour.
We know how to have a good time.
Quote from: Florestan on March 26, 2008, 01:13:52 AM
It's astonishing to see how atheists --- who supposedly value reason --- can waste their time in endless, useless and pointless verbosity assorted with kindergarten-level humour.
There is nothing unreasonable about humor at any level. There is however something unacceptable about not accepting and tolerating it. :)
I believe this forum should be changed to the "Good Music and God Guide".
Not to say i don't like these discussions, because i really do. I just came in too late on this one.
Quote from: MN Dave on March 26, 2008, 04:32:48 AM
We know how to have a good time.
Indeed.
Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the Western Spiral arm of the Galaxy lies a small unregarded yellow sun. Orbiting this at a distance of roughly ninety-eight million miles is an utterly insignificant little blue-green planet whose ape-descended life forms are so amazingly primitive that they still think digital watches are a pretty neat idea...
Quote from: c#minor on March 26, 2008, 05:57:28 AM
Not to say i don't like these discussions, because i really do. I just came in too late on this one.
They're a huge waste of time, but I guess that's why we're here.
Quote from: MN Dave on March 26, 2008, 05:58:56 AM
but I guess that's why we're here.
hahaha precisely!
Quote from: david johnson on March 25, 2008, 05:12:16 PM
the pre-existing soul is an assumption/belief many have.
i suppose that'd just be my argument against that...... ;D
Quote from: david johnson on March 25, 2008, 05:12:16 PM
a baptist that views bible study as not desirable is odd in my 'neck of the woods'.
yep..... i try to keep that to myself.
Quote from: GGGGRRREEG on March 22, 2008, 03:11:33 PM
holy %&$*
you mean all you people have never heard or thought of that before!?
man, i'm sure there has to be other people out there who were miserable enough to think of such a thing. Has to be in a book somewhere, right?
oh, my name: "Greg Cook"......
btw, i'm flattered :) ;D
Just a note, your quote from earlier in this thread appears on the back of our student magazine this month, attributed to you. :D (Our back page is all good/thought-provoking quotes from books, famous people, or random sources.)
Quote from: david johnson on March 25, 2008, 05:12:16 PM
a baptist that views bible study as not desirable is odd in my 'neck of the woods'.
dj
It's certainly interesting in a different way.
Quote from: Brian on April 13, 2008, 04:05:54 PM
Just a note, your quote from earlier in this thread appears on the back of our student magazine this month, attributed to you. :D (Our back page is all good/thought-provoking quotes from books, famous people, or random sources.)
Wow ;D
I hope, too, that people simply use this to rule out the thought of preconceived creation- us being created and then "invited to come to earth" as souls to inhabit a human body, instead of any other possibility. :)
Quote from: Florestan on March 26, 2008, 01:13:52 AM
It's astonishing to see how atheists --- who supposedly value reason --- can waste their time in endless, useless and pointless verbosity assorted with kindergarten-level humour.
Thinking things are funny is a good use of reason. Much of it is about incongruities, how things are different from what some poor bastard thinks. The more reasonable you are the funnier it is. Python humor works that way. It's stupid and smart at the same time.
Quote from: Florestan on March 26, 2008, 01:13:52 AM
It's astonishing to see how atheists --- who supposedly value reason --- can waste their time in endless, useless and pointless verbosity assorted with kindergarten-level humour.
I'm astonished at the above statement. It doesn't apply to me or any atheist I personally know.
As for general verbosity of the subject on this board, the Religion Thread shows that there are folks on both sides who love to yap.
Quote from: Don on April 14, 2008, 01:35:33 PM
I'm astonished at the above statement. It doesn't apply to me or any atheist I personally know.
Well, I for one quite enjoy watching "A Bit of Fry and Laurie", which is often primarily concerned with endless verbosity associated with silly humor ("Where's the Lid?" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkZ-Cogr-rM), the word "gay" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HcbOMqvK2M)), but as drogulus pointed out, videos like that and things like Monty Python are stupid, yes - but they're also quite smart! (Incidentally, Stephen Fry is an atheist and Laurie plays one on TV. :D )
Quote from: Brian on April 14, 2008, 01:43:02 PM
but as drogulus pointed out, videos like that and things like Monty Python are stupid, yes - but they're also quite smart!
well, after all, you don't see Monty Python on MTV, you see it on BBC. ;D
Quote from: GGGGRRREEG on April 14, 2008, 03:22:46 PM
well, after all, you don't see Monty Python on MTV, you see it on BBC. ;D
Ah, the joys of the BBC!
(http://www.blogdecine.com/images/2006/11/mr_bean.jpg)
(http://timesonline.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/young_mr_grace_1.jpg)
(http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/2249/onslowhi7.jpg) (http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/2249/onslowhi7.jpg)
(click to see a full-size screenshot of the ACTUAL Answers.com article on George Onslow)
Quote from: Brian on April 13, 2008, 04:05:54 PM
Just a note, your quote from earlier in this thread appears on the back of our student magazine this month, attributed to you. :D (Our back page is all good/thought-provoking quotes from books, famous people, or random sources.)
Well, if I ever ran across a random source in my time, Greg is it. :)
Here at God-Music-Guide, it takes all kinds, and we have them. Florestan, please tell me, why do you denigrate humor, and also, why do you associate it with atheists? I haven't noted any correlation between irreligious people and levity. I would like to though... ;)
8)
----------------
Listening to:
Brahms Serenades - Scottish CO / Mackerras - Brahms Serenade #1 in D for Orchestra Op 11 6th mvmt
Quote from: Gurn Blanston on April 14, 2008, 05:15:09 PMI haven't noted any correlation between irreligious people and levity. I would like to though... ;)
Here's a start. (http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/86) :)
Here's another funny atheist (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCljFYn3zTY), and another (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrxlfvI17oY), two more funny atheists (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5-VUNXl9D4), and another (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41DN05VRSZL._SS500_.jpg). EDIT: Not that any of them are actually being funny ABOUT being atheists, though George Carlin has a good skit about praying to Joe Pesci.
Yes, they are all most amusing. I hadn't actually thought of them as being funny atheists though, rather, they are funny people. I happen to find religious people quite amusing too... :)
8)
----------------
Listening to:
Brahms Symphony #3 in F Op 90 - Scottish CO / Mackerras - Symphony #3 in F Op 90 2nd mvmt - Andante
Quote from: Gurn Blanston on April 14, 2008, 06:09:34 PM
Yes, they are all most amusing. I hadn't actually thought of them as being funny atheists though, rather, they are funny people. I happen to find religious people quite amusing too... :)
8)
----------------
Listening to:
Brahms Symphony #3 in F Op 90 - Scottish CO / Mackerras - Symphony #3 in F Op 90 2nd mvmt - Andante
Me too! :) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thj9RdU9wMM)
Okay, here's Carlin actually talking about religion. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCz0-HY1TLU) (His Two Commandments skit.)
A lightweight snippet of the King...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSwG9Tojg9I
8)
----------------
Listening to:
Brahms Variations on a Theme of Haydn Op 56a - Scottish CO / Mackerras - Variations on a Theme of Haydn Op 56a pt 08 - Grazioso
Quote from: Gurn Blanston on April 14, 2008, 06:44:52 PM
A lightweight snippet of the King...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSwG9Tojg9I
8)
----------------
Listening to:
Brahms Variations on a Theme of Haydn Op 56a - Scottish CO / Mackerras - Variations on a Theme of Haydn Op 56a pt 08 - Grazioso
:D :D :D That's hilarious!!
Quote from: Brian on April 14, 2008, 06:51:37 PM
:D :D :D That's hilarious!!
Glad you enjoyed. He was a revival preacher from the time he was 7 years old until he, um, saw the light. I saw him "live" twice before he wasn't any more. Now, SAM was irreverent! :D
8)
----------------
Listening to:
Brahms Piano & Wind Trios - Sebok / Grumiaux / Orval - Brahms Trio in Eb for Piano, Violin & Horn Op 40 1st mvmt
Quote from: Gurn Blanston on April 14, 2008, 06:55:56 PM
Glad you enjoyed. He was a revival preacher from the time he was 7 years old until he, um, saw the light. I saw him "live" twice before he wasn't any more. Now, SAM was irreverent! :D
8)
Based on his style I'd say he would have made one hell of a revival preacher :D ! Will be looking for more of him.
Quote from: Gurn Blanston on April 14, 2008, 05:15:09 PM
Florestan, please tell me, why do you denigrate humor, and also, why do you associate it with atheists?
I associated kinder-garten humour with some atheists here based on their posts. I don't denigrate intelligent and witty humour. Actually I love it. And If you show me something like that in this thread prior to my post I'll gladly stand corrected.
Quote from: Florestan on April 15, 2008, 12:15:25 AM
I associated kinder-garten humour with some atheists here based on their posts. I don't denigrate intelligent and witty humour. Actually I love it. And If you show me something like that in this thread prior to my post I'll gladly stand corrected.
Oh, well, if you are limiting it to this thread, then by all means, you are right as rain. Bunch of humorless bastards hang out here. You gotta figure: they haunt a classical music forum and formulate anti-god arguments all day. How much fun can they be? ;)
8)
Quote from: Florestan on April 15, 2008, 12:15:25 AM
I associated kinder-garten humour with some atheists here based on their posts.
Bigot. ;D
Quote from: Gurn Blanston on April 15, 2008, 04:26:54 AM
Oh, well, if you are limiting it to this thread, then by all means, you are right as rain. Bunch of humorless bastards hang out here. You gotta figure: they haunt a classical music forum and formulate anti-god arguments all day. How much fun can they be? ;)
8)
Florestan, it this met your criteria I would nominate it.
Quote from: MN Dave on April 15, 2008, 04:29:56 AM
Bigot. ;D
Poophead. ;) ;D ;D
Quote from: MN Dave on April 15, 2008, 09:32:29 AM
:'(
Aww, I'm sorry. :'( I'll go sit in the corner for ten minutes. $:)
Quote from: Brian on April 15, 2008, 11:34:23 AM
Aww, I'm sorry. :'( I'll go sit in the corner for ten minutes. $:)
You made Dr. Doom cry, you big meanie!
Quote from: MN Dave on April 15, 2008, 11:36:37 AM
You made Dr. Doom cry, you big meanie!
I'm a pretty bad kindergartener; I don't know my comic book heroes. ;D The only ones I ever read were Calvin and Hobbes.
Quote from: Gurn Blanston on April 15, 2008, 04:26:54 AM
Oh, well, if you are limiting it to this thread, then by all means, you are right as rain. Bunch of humorless bastards hang out here. You gotta figure: they haunt a classical music forum and formulate anti-god arguments all day. How much fun can they be? ;)
8)
I think there should be something for everybody.
:P
Quote from: drogulus on April 15, 2008, 01:30:30 PM
I think there should be something for everybody.
:P
What is there for the Flying Poopy Monkey?
>:D
Quote from: GGGGRRREEG on April 15, 2008, 02:25:15 PM
What is there for the Flying Poopy Monkey?
>:D
Lots of bananas.
(http://mocoloco.com/art/archives/nyc_bananas_mar_05.jpg)
I'm sorry, but unfortunately that won't help.
Quote from: MN Doom on April 15, 2008, 11:36:37 AM
You made Dr. Doom cry, you big meanie!
Beware the Rust-Fest 2008!
Quote from: Brian on April 15, 2008, 09:29:45 AM
Florestan, it this met your criteria I would nominate it.
It meets all criteria but one: it was written
after, not
before, my first post. :)
Quote from: GGGGRRREEG on April 15, 2008, 02:25:15 PM
What is there for the Flying Poopy Monkey?
>:D
The Religion Thread (http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,5919.0.html)
Quote from: drogulus on April 17, 2008, 01:15:13 PM
The Religion Thread (http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,5919.0.html)
Gee, Greg, tell us about the cool porn site you covered up. :D
You need a new monitor, too. (1024 x 768....that's so '90s)
Quote from: drogulus on April 17, 2008, 04:54:43 PM
Gee, Greg, tell us about the cool porn site you covered up. :D
You need a new monitor, too. (1024 x 768....that's so '90s)
lol! Actually, I was just covering up other stuff...... addresses and such. "Cool" would be a strange word to use for a porn site, in my opinion....
Quote from: GGGGRRREEG on April 18, 2008, 08:25:08 AM
lol! Actually, I was just covering up other stuff...... addresses and such. "Cool" would be a strange word to use for a porn site, in my opinion....
Would you rather use 'hot'? :D
Quote from: Brian on April 18, 2008, 08:42:43 AM
Would you rather use 'hot'? :D
That might make more sense.
Haffner, every time I see one of your posts my mind wanders.....
(http://www.thebeatalls.com/Instruments/Instruments%202/Hofner02%20-%20comp.jpg)
;D
That looks like McCartney's, but I think he played left-handed bass.
Quote from: drogulus on April 19, 2008, 01:55:05 PM
Haffner, every time I see one of your posts my mind wanders.....
(http://www.thebeatalls.com/Instruments/Instruments%202/Hofner02%20-%20comp.jpg)
;D
Sigh. Collector's Dreams....
That's a new one (2004). I had an old one, but I didn't really like it much as a functional instrument. It didn't have much bottom end. I just bought it because everything was cheap then (early '70s).
Quote from: drogulus on April 20, 2008, 07:39:21 AM
That's a new one (2004). I had an old one, but I didn't really like it much as a functional instrument. It didn't have much bottom end. I just bought it because everything was cheap then (early '70s).
So, in other words, the above instrument is not "only" beautiful but playable/good sounding as well!
Now
that's a dream come true!
They're very easy to play because they have a short scale and the neck is thin.
Quote from: drogulus on April 20, 2008, 10:49:04 AM
They're very easy to play because they have a short scale and the neck is thin.
oooOO!
My collection is stalled for now (I've been more busy working on my cd, book and dvd collection). I have three Fender Stratocasters, one Japanese with a scalloped neck, one Mexican '70's custom, and one other Mexican. Plus my Ibanez RG (good for supa-heavy stuff).
So, I need more guitars, right ;)?
Quote from: Haffner on April 20, 2008, 11:19:21 AM
So, I need more guitars, right ;)?
Only if you want to get into Heaven. Otherwise, naah.
:)
I have a Mexican strat.
Uh...guys? Guys?
:P
Quote from: MN Dave on April 20, 2008, 11:42:36 AM
I have a Mexican strat.
Uh...guys? Guys?
:P
Raaahht next to mah Mexican Radio!!! (
WHOA-oh!)
Celtic Frost, dudes!