Our modern perception of the Roman Catholic Church as the janitor of old buildings and the provider of a different geriatric every few years to amuse us with his favourite tricks whilst hiding behind bullet proof glass, is in itself a testament of the degree to which we have separated ourselves from the theocratic oversight of this institution. None of the twenty thousand who were slaughtered at the Massacre of Béziers by Papal instruction could have dreamed of a time when the Holy See’s authority would be reduced to a symbolic figment of an ignorant past. Yet the indoctrination and violent imposition that shaped dark age Europe and resisted the development of our secular modern societies so violently still retains much of its grotesque authority.
"Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor." (Matthew 4:8) The view from the top of Everest, 29,000 feet, is a bit...
Countless Christians believe what Paul had to say, but would very unlikely believe the same things coming from someone in this day and age. There is something about being far removed in time that...
Of course. And I take your point. I was using that answer as an example of the light in which apologists will paint the claim, that Paul was up his own hole. AI says:- While the term...
His ego moved out of the way?? That's a good one ! Paul comes across as so full of himself he even boasts about not boasting. That depends on how you interpret it though....
I read the link in your other comment, "Psychedelics, the Bible and the Divine", and it took me a while to be sure the author talked from the viewpoint of a Christian believer. He made me...
I do not think this is an exception in the world until recent times. Maybe the opposite. I am not sure how things would have been in the Ancient Roman world, but if Paul indulged in...
In my old country, the use of hashish and kif was not considered a problem at all until the French conquered the country and imposed their law. Up to the early 20th century, only people of a...
If Paul lived among us today and said and did the things reported in the NT, then yes, he would be crazy. But he lived in a different context. Within his cultural context, I think he was perfectly...
Right, because nothing says 'universal truth' like a series of unverifiable conversations between invisible sky beings and guys who then conveniently founded religions.
But for the trend to continue, there must not be any countervailing factors that increase in intensity as the inequality gets worse. Such as, for example, the Christian moron marks...
Every time? Really? Hmmmm! You have an invisible leash? Color me skeptic. And you do everything you are told Daniel? Waoh...the US is well and truly fucked. Capitulation of the rational. Nah, you...
Is China a "communist" country? Hardly. I would call it "state-controlled capitalism" or simply state capitalism. North Korea is a crazy dictatorship, no economic system at all....
In the USSR, we (my friends and I) got the distinct feeling that there was no system at all in the USSR. Even the people in charge of it did not truly believe in it. And that is why I...
It has taken me 30 minutes to respond, then I lost my longer comment. You were "asked" not to respond. I would appreciate it if everyone sticks to the issues posted.