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I don't think this phenomenon is limited to religion. I've known people who are indifferent to religion but just as unthinking regarding political or social positions. They'd rather let a political party or other organization (appear to) do the heavy lifting and provide justification / cover for their prejudices -- even if it's not a religious organization. Sometimes one's extended family even fills that office. But, the same sort of personality will tend to be drawn to fundamentalist religion of some sort, too. Admittedly it's not that often you see regressive unfounded political or social positions in the absence of regressive unfounded religious ideation.
As for examples of non-religious organizations that have a fundamentalist One True Viewpoint, think Tea Party, the NRA, the KKK, etc.
Well stated, mordant, and sadly, probably true, esp. the vastly disappointing NRA, of which I used to belong, but now I don't go for the truly stubborn, incapable thinking they have so recently demo'd!
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Originally Posted by Grandstander
Christianity in the middle ages was a hyper superstitious, relic happy religion. Every town of any size had as a tourist attraction, some absolutely authentic sacred relic. Here's the village with the Three True Nails from the crucifixion, up the road...
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Originally Posted by rflmn™
(etc., etc., edited for brevity, but well stated, GS!)
...and there were enough places with pieces from the True Ark to build a fleet of them.
These were all great money makers, the vast majority of "vacation" traveling done by Europeans in the middle ages was a visit to some sacred relic site.
To wit: the greatest concern of the administration of all things religious now is likely the loss of funding they used to depend on so heavily. Now they are witnessing teh last rites of another phase of secularism en-route to it's particular hell.
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Originally Posted by mordant
The point regarding the NRA for example is not that they aren't simpatico with and loaded with religious people, but that it's a doctrinaire organization with its rigid views about gun rights and the purpose of guns in society, for which there is no religious litmus test to belong.
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Originally Posted by rflmn™
(again, edited for brevity, but well stated, mordant, as ususal!!)
In fact I'd go so far as to say that most people subcontract their thinking to others, whether one of those compartments happens to be religious or not. You only have to watch TV for a few minutes to see that. "What do most people wear / think / believe? I'll just go with that". Safety in numbers I guess.
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Originally Posted by 20yrsinBranson
I did not read all the responses, so please forgive me if this has already been addressed.
There has been a postulation put out there, that the "Noah's Ark" parable is simply a dumbed down explanation for an event whereby DNA of a vast selection of animal life was preserved and subsequently cloned during an extraterrestially induced event intended to wipe the failed experimentation of humanity off the face of the earth.
In fact, this explanation is considerably more plausible.
20yrsinBranson
I agree: this is possible!
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Originally Posted by logline
Um, ok.
That topic was definitely not addressed in the thread.
That topic was definitely not addressed in the thread.
(slowly taking a step away from 20yrsinBranson)
There is a lot of speculation that during the course of prehistory, humanity was tinkered with genetically to produce homeo sapiens. (This has been one explanation for the dramatic leap from more primitive models i.e. Neanderthal to Cro Magnon). There is a very real possibility that somewhere along the line things went very, very wrong and they decided to start over. I am not making this theory up, logline, do a little googleing and you will discover that it is generally an accepted theory.
There is a lot of speculation that during the course of prehistory, humanity was tinkered with genetically to produce homeo sapiens.
By who or what? Gods? Aliens?
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(This has been one explanation for the dramatic leap from more primitive models i.e. Neanderthal to Cro Magnon). There is a very real possibility that somewhere along the line things went very, very wrong and they decided to start over.
Who are the proponents of this "explanation?" How widely accepted do you claim it to be?
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I am not making this theory up, logline, do a little googleing and you will discover that it is generally an accepted theory.
Who are the proponents of this "explanation?" How widely accepted do you claim it to be?
"Generally accepted?"
1. Entities from other planets. They might have been considered Gods (which could be the source of a lot of religious belief), or they might have been considered aliens. It's pretty subjective.
2. You can google the other information for yourself. There are many, many, MANY books on the subject. You just have to get out of your comfort zone, open your mind, and look for them.
1. Entities from other planets. They might have been considered Gods (which could be the source of a lot of religious belief), or they might have been considered aliens. It's pretty subjective.
2. You can google the other information for yourself. There are many, many, MANY books on the subject. You just have to get out of your comfort zone, open your mind, and look for them.
Where is the proof for von Däniken's claims? Some of it was fraudulent. For example, he produced photographs of pottery that he claimed had been found in an archaeological dig. The pottery depicts flying saucers and was said to have been dated from Biblical times. However, investigators from Nova (the fine public-television science program) found the potter who had made the allegedly ancient pots. They confronted von Däniken with evidence of his fraud. His reply was that his deception was justified because some people would only believe if they saw proof
The Space Gods Revealed remains an excellent, clear, and compelling refutation to the "von Daniken Phenomenon." Written in a factual and direct manner, the book starts with a short description of the scientific method, theory and evidence - and how von Daniken's ideas fall short when examined in detail.
Soif Noah's Ark is still an issue it has not only long been discovered but an entire expedition team video'd the hull (which
is split in two. ) Its been rediscovered many times partly buried in snow partly extended seasonally on Mt Araratin
Turkey. You have to have special permission to climb ,but anyone even suggesting that Noah's ArK is a myth is a fool.
Soif Noah's Ark is still an issue it has not only long been discovered but an entire expedition team video'd the hull (which
is split in two. ) Its been rediscovered many times partly buried in snow partly extended seasonally on Mt Araratin
Turkey. You have to have special permission to climb ,but anyone even suggesting that Noah's ArK is a myth is a fool.
You need to catch up. This has been debunked long ago.
I belive that Mr. Von Daniken was the first person to gain wide-spread notariety with a similar HYPOTHESIS. There are, however, legions more who have delved into it in greater detail, effectively taking up where Von Daniken left off decades ago.
As for refuting his HYPOTHESIS, alas, their's is simply a hypothesis too and carries no more weight, in fact, considering the facts which were made the basis for the "ancient astronaughts" hypothesis, I would think that anyone would be hard-pressed to refute it. After all, nobody living was there, so it is just one of those he said/she said kind of deals.
I do know, however,, that throughout my life I have relied on my instinct to guide me based upon what I 'felt" was right and true. I know it's damn unscientific, but it has never lead me astray yet. THe "ancient astronaughts" school of thought have nothing to gain (other than selling books, I guess). My heart says it is right, and that is good enough for me.
I do know, however,, that throughout my life I have relied on my instinct to guide me based upon what I 'felt" was right and true. I know it's damn unscientific, but it has never lead me astray yet.
Oh indeed it already has. Aliens from another planet certainly did not seed earth with DNA (or whatever such nonsense the hypothesis claims). Your instincts definitely led you astray from the truth of how we came to be.
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Originally Posted by 20yrsinBranson
THe "ancient astronaughts" school of thought have nothing to gain (other than selling books, I guess). My heart says it is right, and that is good enough for me.
20yrsinBranson
If you applied that logic (or more approportiately, the lack thereof) to everything in your life, you would not survive very long. Trusting your gut and going with whatever "feels right" is not how we humans were able to achieve so much: tall buildings, the internet, medical breakthroughs, advanced math, space travel, etc. Gut instincts are shortcuts for lazy thinkers who don't like to do the hard stuff.
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