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He seems to be under the illusion that he can let in or keep out poster in any thread he starts. That is precious, Bless his dear heart.
I should probably leave this "confusion" for Phet to address, but I think he already tried. I didn't detect any effort to keep out a poster in any case...
In fact I read Phet's comment to mean that he was inviting anyone to post whatever "good, bad or ugly" aspect of religion anyone would like to share in this thread. What's wrong with that and/or why all this insult and push-back about initiating such a thread even if out of disappointment about yours? Lots of threads are started for the same reasons and/or inspired in one way or another by another thread.
Out of objection over my Ten Truths thread, for example, I had someone start another thread about the same topic for the express purpose of being critical about my thread. Why not be critical in the thread I started (as I always invite anyone to do), I still don't really know. In any case, I find all this insult and objection to starting this thread rather "unbalanced." Contrary to what I think Phet was going for.
Where does the religion followed by those of Jonestown or Heavan's Gate fall intona category? I am not speaking about theisism or Christianity or even of the leaders of those cults but the religion/cults members themselves. Or did hundreds of individuals decide independently of their religion to commit suicide all at the same time?
Where does the religion followed by those of Jonestown or Heavan's Gate fall intona category? I am not speaking about theisism or Christianity or even of the leaders of those cults but the religion/cults members themselves. Or did hundreds of individuals decide independently of their religion to commit suicide all at the same time?
They were also drugged. Did you forget that? Their choice was drugged out of them. This has nothing to do with choice or religion. An anomaly.
Yet Atheists actions never smear Atheism according to you. Neither does religion gets smeared because of what people do.
Where does the religion followed by those of Jonestown or Heavan's Gate fall intona category? I am not speaking about theisism or Christianity or even of the leaders of those cults but the religion/cults members themselves. Or did hundreds of individuals decide independently of their religion to commit suicide all at the same time?
Well, aren't the Heaven's Gate people all on that spaceship that was at the tail of the comet? I imagine they are pretty far out of the galaxy by now, but of course there is no way of knowing what the speed capacity of the spaceship is.
As far as Jonestown goes, that's solidly in the "Ugly" category.
They were also drugged. Did you forget that? Their choice was drugged out of them. This has nothing to do with choice or religion. An anomaly.
Yet Atheists actions never smear Atheism according to you. Neither does religion gets smeared because of what people do.
I'd have to agree, yet again today! Is the world coming to an end?
The Jim Jones example is something of an anomaly, and I've seen it held up as an example of how people can do crazy things in the name of religion. Somewhat unfairly, but for sake of balance here, it is also somewhat interesting to consider the dynamic that had these people follow Jim Jones to Guyana. Can't explain all that away with just drugs after all.
What has always struck me about this story is what can and does compel people to follow so many religious leaders like they do, and/or religion. Considering that dynamic in light of this story is no anomaly and something to consider quite seriously if you ask me. Look at the same dynamic and results for the followers of Joseph Smith for example. There are differences, but plenty of parallels. Common influences that are all worthy of some consideration and objective scrutiny...
I'd have to agree, yet again today! Is the world coming to an end?
The Jim Jones example is something of an anomaly, and I've seen it held up as an example of how people can do crazy things in the name of religion. Somewhat unfairly, but for sake of balance here, it is also somewhat interesting to consider the dynamic that had these people follow Jim Jones to Guyana. Can't explain all that away with just drugs after all.
What has always struck me about this story is what can and does compel people to follow so many religious leaders like they do, and/or religion. Considering that dynamic in light of this story is no anomaly and something to consider quite seriously if you ask me. Look at the same dynamic and results for the followers of Joseph Smith for example. There are differences, but plenty of parallels. Common influences that are all worthy of some consideration and objective scrutiny...
How do you explain the Dead Head groupies that follow them wherever they go? The Star Trek groupies?
Rajneesh followers? The last group were mostly white people, very few Indian Hindus. The way they occupied the city of Pune and changed it was resented by the locals.
They were also drugged. Did you forget that? Their choice was drugged out of them. This has nothing to do with choice or religion. An anomaly.
Yet Atheists actions never smear Atheism according to you. Neither does religion gets smeared because of what people do.
You equate atheism with theism religion and cults All three as if theism religiin and cults are all the same.. Are there any atheist cults like there are religious cults? So no cults are good bad or ugly because theism is not?
When I was young I had a summer job at a anti cult organization ran by a very religious woman. However I do not think you would accept what I say about a cult but would accept the exact same thing from her because she was a theist.
And Jonestown was a murder suicide event where they practiced committing suicide. And was it not a cult where barbaric practices were caried out on members who were not drugged. It is not a simple case where the folowers were all drugged hence without choice.
So cults ars all completely harmlese or if they are harmful have nothing to do with religion? I do not know of any atheistic cult hosever if there are ones like Jonestown or Heaven's gate I would denounce them in the thread on atheism you started. Send me some links so that I can investigate and then maybe denounce.
And I do not believe that NAZI Germany or the Belgium Congo atrogoties (spelling) were the result of religion.
They were also drugged. Did you forget that? Their choice was drugged out of them. This has nothing to do with choice or religion. An anomaly.
Jonestown, yes, but not for Heavens gate. To pretend religion had nothing to do with this is to allow this to happen again, one of the bad things about religion.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cb2008
Yet Atheists actions never smear Atheism according to you. Neither does religion gets smeared because of what people do.
Because (once again) there is nothing in atheism to make people do things. The closest you could argue is the number of religious persecuted in the Soviet union (small compared to the other groups killed), but that was because atheism was used as a group identifier, a problem with all groups.
You equate atheism with theism religion and cults All three as if theism religiin and cults are all the same.. Are there any atheist cults like there are religious cults? So no cults are good bad or ugly because theism is not?
When I was young I had a summer job at a anti cult organization ran by a very religious woman. However I do not think you would accept what I say about a cult but would accept the exact same thing from her because she was a theist.
And Jonestown was a murder suicide event where they practiced committing suicide. And was it not a cult where barbaric practices were caried out on members who were not drugged. It is not a simple case where the folowers were all drugged hence without choice.
So cults ars all completely harmlese or if they are harmful have nothing to do with religion? I do not know of any atheistic cult hosever if there are ones like Jonestown or Heaven's gate I would denounce them in the thread on atheism you started. Send me some links so that I can investigate and then maybe denounce.
And I do not believe that NAZI Germany or the Belgium Congo atrogoties (spelling) were the result of religion.
I look at atheists as culties. My opinion, and i hold it.
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