The Religion Thread

[Meadmaker]

I read an article about him today saying nuclear weapons were invented by demons. I assumed at first that he was using a rhetorical device, calling them "demonic" and saying Satan is behind them and all that, but as I read the quote, I realized he was talking literally.

He said you couldn't point to a date when nuclear science got started. That proved that it just suddenly appeared by the influence of demons.


I wish that this recent demon talk would be enough to convince people that most of what he says is equally absurd, but I think there will be a different message taken by his fans.

[arthwollipot]

Belief in literal demons is part of the Evangelical Christian canon. It's hard to believe people believe in demons here in the 21st century, but I assure you they do.

[Meadmaker]

Belief in literal demons is part of the Evangelical Christian canon. It's hard to believe people believe in demons here in the 21st century, but I assure you they do.

During my time at JREF/ISF my attitude toward religion hardened a lot. I'm still not completely anti-religious. I think it does some good in addition to doing some harm. When it comes to belief in angels or demon or, for that matter, gods and goddesses, djinni or ghosts, I don't think that it makes you crazy to believe that they exist.

If I think back to my days, decades ago, when I believed in God, and as a result I believed in angels and demons as well, we mostly believed that they were these spiritual entities that influenced our lives, but through psychological pressure. Like the scene in "Animal House" where the angel is on one shoulder telling the kid to be virtuous, while the demon was encouraging him to give in to his sinful urges. That sort of thing, which many people still believe, is ok by me. On an historical level, showing Satan telling Hitler what to do next, or cackling with glee at Wermacht victories, is ok.

But Tucker is at a whole different level with this latest stuff. When you start saying out loud that demons are scratching you, or giving secrets to scientists, that's just nuts.

And I've taken a much dimmer view of religion in general because it encourages that brand of insanity, or at the very least refuses to confront it. Preachers aren't going to stand up and say, "Tucker, you need to see a psychiatrist. That's not what demons do"

[President Bush]

Started thinking "fuck you Jesus" when I was around eleven or twelve.

[sparks]

Raised a Cathoholic here which made it easy to break away intellectually. But there are emotional pieces of the indoctrination that are tougher to flush down the toilet where they belong.

As for religion in general: It's all shit and does no good at all. Ever. It sets people up for magical, delusional thinking every fucking time and that is never good or productive.

Now, you don't have to be religious to indulge in magical and delusional thinking. But show me a person who has a certain devotion to faith and I'll show you one poor fucked up plebe with serious thinking issues.

Let's not forget the definition of 'faith'. Buying into shit without the least little bit of evidence.

"But sparks, if only your faith was strong enough!"

No. That's bullshit. I've been working slowly and methodically all my adult life to eradicate faith from my life. I much prefer Reason. Because it bloody well works. Bitches.

[stanky]

Ahh..

The old "Faith in Reason" school...