Thoughts and questions from God Delusion

[pocaracas]

Pocaracas is Portuguese so he didn't know what "cheers" meant in England. But "cheerio" is an old-fashioned way of saying goodbye. We still use it but most people say "cheers" for "bye" in England now. I have a theory we are desperately looking for the European "Ciao" and "Cheers" might just fit the bill. Everyone in Europe says "Ciao" and it's used not just as "goodbye" but also as "Hi". Sorry, by "everyone" I mean the non-Germanic people. I was in the Czech Republic and everyone used "Ciao" too as both a greeting and goodbye. I mean Czech is so different from Italian but it's widely used all over the Czech Republic. The time will come when we in England will use "cheers" for that same function. See if I'm right.

Hmm, interesting notion regarding cheers and ciao; may even prove to be correct. It's true that cheerio is a bit Mary Poppins, as you say still in use but rather old hat. That said, I've not come across the use of the word "cheers" in place of "bye" myself.

In any case there's only room for one resident prophet and the vacancy is already filled.

Last time I was in the UK, just for holding a door open for someone, they'd say "cheers". Yes, also for bye and I know of the beer ritual; I still remember a certain bar called Cheers on TV.
I used it in the sense of "let's drink to that"
In Portugal, tchau (our version of ciao, the sound is almost the same) is only used as 'bye', only in very informal environments.

Back on topic... Dawkins is, to me, a bit too aggressive. I understand his point, but he exaggerates.
Live and let live. Parents are the caregivers, feeders and principle-givers for most children. It's natural that they will pass on their impression on the divine and whatever other topic they are passionate about.... my kids will know much more about nuclear fusion by the time they reach 10yo than I knew when I was 20!!
They'll also know they can think by themselves and choose not to believe in the country's major religion (catholic).... That's all they need. The nature of the teenage brain will handle the rest.

[Cyberman]

Last time I was in the UK, just for holding a door open for someone, they'd say "cheers". Yes, also for bye and I know of the beer ritual; I still remember a certain bar called Cheers on TV.
I used it in the sense of "let's drink to that"
In Portugal, tchau (our version of ciao, the sound is almost the same) is only used as 'bye', only in very informal environments.

The first is an example of the word as a synonym for "thanks, mate". I've never come across the word being used as a goodbye, not saying it's never used as such but it would be an affectation, not a mainstream derivation. I like the way you phrased the beer ritual, that's a perfect definition. I'll drink to that!

Back on topic... Dawkins is, to me, a bit too aggressive. I understand his point, but he exaggerates.
Live and let live. Parents are the caregivers, feeders and principle-givers for most children. It's natural that they will pass on their impression on the divine and whatever other topic they are passionate about.... my kids will know much more about nuclear fusion by the time they reach 10yo than I knew when I was 20!!
They'll also know they can think by themselves and choose not to believe in the country's major religion (catholic).... That's all they need. The nature of the teenage brain will handle the rest.

Not sure about exaggeration, so much. I appreciate that if you were to lay out every case of child-rearing in religious homes along a graph, those cases in which no mental scarring is caused as a direct consequence would in all probability match if not outstrip the cases of severe indoctrination-induced mental trauma; with the vast majority falling somewhere inbetween. Sadly, we'd still be left with those more severe cases which in all likelihood will go on to propogate their own indoctrination into subsequent generations - unless they grow out of it in their teen years, as you say.

This is somwhat of an extreme example - at least, I hope - but it is still an example nonetheless; unfortunately it is not an isolated example (why can't I stop saying example?). This demonstrates perfectly the sort of thing Prof Dawkins was tryind to address:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRPAaImd9Xc?rel=0

[pocaracas]

I've been trying to get this pic in here for quite some time.... now is the right time!




About the "son of a preacher man"... It was half way through when I noticed the lyrics are not the original! nice touch!
Poor kid, but fortunately that's not the usual situation.

[Cyberman]

Hopefully you're right, however I know it's certainly not an isolated case, as I mentioned. Phelps Family, anyone?

[Cato]

I don't understand your complaint. I bring up my altarboy status as my CREDENTIAL as a Christian. People in forums usually think I'm an atheist because they're usually American and they only understand the fundy version of religion. So it's important I establish that I'm a Christian before I proceed to explain my thoughts.

They tried to get me blacklisted as an atheist in Christian Forums because in CF, if you're not a Christian, you can't post in many sections including the debate section. Hence, the importance of my credentials. Nobody says you've got to believe in rubbish in order to be a Christian. At least my church doesn't. We used to have a very important prelate who was Archbishop of York who denied that Jesus ever existed and nobody said he wasn't a Christian. At least I believe Jesus was an apocalyptic zealot, a real flesh-and-blood human although I don't accept him to be some bogeyman with magic.

So please understand whenever I talk about my position as an altar boy - I'm bringing up my credentials as a Christian.

I'm just being gruff. I simply long for the day when you will no longer find it necessary to tell us your an alter boy in every thread. This somehow reminds me of the hideous 'and I'm a Mormon' commercials we have in the U.S.

[Minimalist]

I simply long for the day when you will no longer find it necessary to tell us your an alter boy in every thread.

Lucky for him that he isn't catholic....

[Red Celt]

You should start selling yourself as the world's first atheist Christian. Atheist means lack of belief in god, and clearly your church thinks you're a Christian. Viola, atheist Christian.

Viola?

[Faith No More]

Oh, bite me.

---

Here's a little food for thought for the whole "abuse" idea.

[Red Celt]

Oh, bite me.

Et voila!

[Cyberman]

I see you lack grave stress. Voilà!