Bill Maher Spells It Out

[SteelCurtain]

Curious if you'd rather read what I actually wrote rather than pulling something out of it that is not there.

What I said had nothing whatsoever to do with persecution by Christians in the past. It was all about the ignorance and hypocrisy in telling an atheist about how hard it is being a Christian in public.

Whoa, easy there MetalMembrane, you said "end times" and that your mom is afraid she won't be able to worship freely in her lifetime...and I'm sure you know the 5th seal of the Alpacalips is some serious Christian persecution.....so you can understand why I might make the inference?

Not really. The end times comment was entirely tongue in cheek. Context makes that pretty clear.

Context, as it turns out, makes the other comment clear as well.

[vorlon13]

While society is much less religious here in Germany, the big media outlets are still completely used to osculating the rump of faith, as they say. I always find it enfuriating, that when there's a discussion about the role of the church in society today and why they lose memebers constantly, what they will discuss is what the church can "offer" people today, how their message can stay "relevant" in the 21st century. The thing that will not come out of any religion editors' mouth ever is that maybe it's because their bullshit simply is not true on a fundamental level, and people realize it. I usually end up screaming at the radio, or the newspaper.

Hmm, maybe it's that the style of the Emperor's shirt sleeves is somewhat oldfashioned that has people turning away. That's probably it!

Well, why isn't banning menstruating women from church relevant today ?  At least have the discussion, after all, it was important enough to God to put in the bible.  This sweeping the hole issue under the rug as it were, isn't befitting the faith.

[abaris]

While society is much less religious here in Germany, the big media outlets are still completely used to osculating the rump of faith, as they say.

But you face the same problem we are facing. People just rally behind another exclusive flag for shelter or to find some confirmation in their prejudices.

It's what I always keep saying. In removing religion doesn't lie the secret of pink elephants and fairies flying from everyone's asshole. People will seek the next game in town, someone waving a flag or presenting some scapegoat to rally.

As long as humanity doesn't evolve from being territorial chimps, there won't be peace on earth, to use the religious phrase.

[Thumpalumpacus]

While society is much less religious here in Germany, the big media outlets are still completely used to osculating the rump of faith, as they say.

Thanks, Al -- you taught me a new word today!

[Minimalist]

If I become a Christian tomorrow, do I have to apologize for the Inquisition?

Yes.

[John V]

... not to mention the fact that as numbers of nonbelieving parents grow, the number of indoctrinated children shrinks.

Time and demographics are working against religion.

Only if nonbelievers produce enough children. If they don't, then you'll just be swapping out Christianity for Islam.

[abaris]

If they don't, then you'll just be swapping out Christianity for Islam.

What an idiotic thing to say. Someone always comes up with that kind of bullshit. Lurking in the shadows and jumping everyone else when they think they're safe.

Oh there's always the big and bad invasion on the horizon. The fifth columns preparing for it and suddenly everyone will fall for Islam because it's oh so appealing.

You don't even see the irony in it. With talking about indoctrination and all someone comes up with the perfect example of being indoctrinated and conditioned to be afraid, be very afraid.

[John V]

Idiotic? How so? It follows directly from the argument I quoted. Are you saying that argument was idiotic?

[abaris]

Idiotic? How so? It follows directly from the argument I quoted. Are you saying that argument was idiotic?

In a manner of speaking, since I don't subscribe to the argument anyway. Your conclusion however was the cherry on top really painting it into the moron's corner.

As I always keep saying, remove religion and people will flock to other ideologies. Resentments and the sense of belonging to an exclusive group are already served by all kinds of people in a totally secular way. People you seem to listen to also without giving up your own kind of indoctrination. You're just adding that little xenophobic bit about the competing franchise.

Yeah, I said, absence of religion doesn't create pink elephants and fairies and everyone going for the group hug. They would just find other common causes to hate over, to exclude what's strange to them and to find scapegoats for what they perceive to be wrong with their lives.

[John V]

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/201...ous-group/

Interestingly, they make the same claim, but in favor of Islam: "The main reasons for Islam’s growth ultimately involve simple demographics."