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pluralreligion
was developed
by man
[regardless of]
[its origin]
[religion modified]
[and developed]
[by men]
with the primary
purpose of
controlling other
men
now
in most cases although
there are several notable
exceptions
people i.e.
clergy attempted
to execute this control
in order to provide
a sense of order
and a common
foundation with which
to build a civilization
From religion
was developed
law
taxes
public sanitation
health codes
and a
variety of other
standards of civilization
over thousands of years
the leaders of the various
faiths have attempted
to steer their followers
in a righteous path and help them
deal with the myriad of changes
and inventions of the modern world.
You see effective policing
is primarily impossible
even up to the common day
the vast percentage of
crimes go unsolved
which is why
the idea of an
all seeing
all knowing god
was/is required
so even if
no-one saw you
do it
and no one could
catch you
you would still
be punished by
an almighty figure
Religion
was and to a point
still is necessary
to promote equality
in fear of prosecution
as
people can
be corrupted
[but]
[at least not]
[since the catholics]
[stopped selling]
[indulgences]
[has God been]
[on the take.]
No matter how
wealthy and powerful
you are
god will punish
you
you may escape justice
from man but not from god
this also protected the
masses from feeling utterly
disenfranchised and
from engaging in
unrest
The peasants could
simple comfort themselves
that while the were being exploited
raped, murdered and beaten
left eating cold scraps
of moldy bread in rotting
tents
those lords of the manor
who lived
high upon their backs
feasting and reveling
in drunken states of bliss
would be forever
punished in the
worst depths of hell
the concept
of eternity allows
man to justify his current suffering
as it shows him the
indefinite smallness of
his time on earth
If you are good now
and suffer in this
so very short
life
then you will be
rewarded with bliss
and joy for ever after.
You want to know my opinion
[probably not but I will tell you anyway]
The reason we are seeing a
decline in religion's sway is
not because of the speed of life
or modern tools
or
a decay of values
people have
the same values today
they have always had
People do
what seems most
immediate to them
at the particular moment
always have
always will.
Advertising and Marketing
is responsible for the
downfall of religion
not however
because of sexy ads
with girls in bikinis
convincing you that
if you drink X beer
that other girls
in bikinis will want to
fuck you.
Instead it is a
question of manpower.
Fewer and fewer
people enter the clergy
than in the past
and
more often than not
people who would have
be relegated to
the role of sequestered monks
are now in front of congregations.
You see
the clergy have
been the snake-oil salesmen
of history.
In the past
those with the gift
became priests
selling the people
their snake oil
but being a priest
has one major drawback
you have
to at least appear
to be following your
own commandments
where as
Salesmen
can lie through their
teeth
smile and admit it
and we still just accept it
We don't care if the
guy selling us our car
gratifies himself on
a camel in the backroom
as long as we get a good deal
basically
religion is being
strangled by
a shortage of quality
people
all those who
are truly capable of
selling ice to Eskimos
are off doing that
and making their millions
and that
charisma charm
and weasel logic
is what is required
to keep religion in
peoples minds
and fear in their
hearts...
or not
you decide.
was developed
by man
[regardless of]
[its origin]
[religion modified]
[and developed]
[by men]
with the primary
purpose of
controlling other
men
now
in most cases although
there are several notable
exceptions
people i.e.
clergy attempted
to execute this control
in order to provide
a sense of order
and a common
foundation with which
to build a civilization
From religion
was developed
law
taxes
public sanitation
health codes
and a
variety of other
standards of civilization
over thousands of years
the leaders of the various
faiths have attempted
to steer their followers
in a righteous path and help them
deal with the myriad of changes
and inventions of the modern world.
You see effective policing
is primarily impossible
even up to the common day
the vast percentage of
crimes go unsolved
which is why
the idea of an
all seeing
all knowing god
was/is required
so even if
no-one saw you
do it
and no one could
catch you
you would still
be punished by
an almighty figure
Religion
was and to a point
still is necessary
to promote equality
in fear of prosecution
as
people can
be corrupted
[but]
[at least not]
[since the catholics]
[stopped selling]
[indulgences]
[has God been]
[on the take.]
No matter how
wealthy and powerful
you are
god will punish
you
you may escape justice
from man but not from god
this also protected the
masses from feeling utterly
disenfranchised and
from engaging in
unrest
The peasants could
simple comfort themselves
that while the were being exploited
raped, murdered and beaten
left eating cold scraps
of moldy bread in rotting
tents
those lords of the manor
who lived
high upon their backs
feasting and reveling
in drunken states of bliss
would be forever
punished in the
worst depths of hell
the concept
of eternity allows
man to justify his current suffering
as it shows him the
indefinite smallness of
his time on earth
If you are good now
and suffer in this
so very short
life
then you will be
rewarded with bliss
and joy for ever after.
You want to know my opinion
[probably not but I will tell you anyway]
The reason we are seeing a
decline in religion's sway is
not because of the speed of life
or modern tools
or
a decay of values
people have
the same values today
they have always had
People do
what seems most
immediate to them
at the particular moment
always have
always will.
Advertising and Marketing
is responsible for the
downfall of religion
not however
because of sexy ads
with girls in bikinis
convincing you that
if you drink X beer
that other girls
in bikinis will want to
fuck you.
Instead it is a
question of manpower.
Fewer and fewer
people enter the clergy
than in the past
and
more often than not
people who would have
be relegated to
the role of sequestered monks
are now in front of congregations.
You see
the clergy have
been the snake-oil salesmen
of history.
In the past
those with the gift
became priests
selling the people
their snake oil
but being a priest
has one major drawback
you have
to at least appear
to be following your
own commandments
where as
Salesmen
can lie through their
teeth
smile and admit it
and we still just accept it
We don't care if the
guy selling us our car
gratifies himself on
a camel in the backroom
as long as we get a good deal
basically
religion is being
strangled by
a shortage of quality
people
all those who
are truly capable of
selling ice to Eskimos
are off doing that
and making their millions
and that
charisma charm
and weasel logic
is what is required
to keep religion in
peoples minds
and fear in their
hearts...
or not
you decide.
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question
Date: 2001-06-28 09:35 pm (UTC)is there something in your life that has driven you to the recent cynicism,
or do you simply find it humorous being devil's advocate or upsetting the masses?
it just doesn't jive with me, that's all...
a sincere response to a sincere question
Date: 2001-06-29 02:31 am (UTC)completely honest
it is both
I am incredibly
jaded and cynical
and
I enjoy playing the
devils advocate
although not
for the purpose
of upsetting people
but
instead in the hope
that perhaps
I could find
an intelligent discussion
or debate on a subject
more meaningful than
the latest episode
of survivor.
i believe
although one
should never be too sure
that in all such
discussion i have
an equally open mind
to a persuasive argument
from another party
as I hope they will
to my arguments.
if in the course
of discussion
one of us
is able to see
things from the others
point of view
and perhaps even
think of something
in a new way
that its
my ultimate goal.
of course
being merely a
simple man
and
perhaps a
poor one at that
I often fail
at even my own
lofty goals
while you may find
some of this to
be more than you wish
to know and much of it
is far from pleasant
I have provided the
links below as an
opportunity to
glance into my
somewhat fractured
psyche
do not worry
I do not expect you
to read even a fraction of
what I have linked below
however it is the
easiest way I could
think to answer your
question.
how I became cynical
to plunder from hamlet
things I would like to forgive, forget, or otherwise come to terms with
ghosts of friends past
needful things
conversation with god ... or a response to the ten commandments
bitter baggage
our merry band of fallen angels
something shorter
Re: a sincere response to a sincere question
Date: 2001-07-16 06:45 pm (UTC)it makes a lot more sense now. thank you for taking my question as the genuine wonderment that it was meant to be.
~gina~
*smiles softly*
Date: 2001-07-16 07:55 pm (UTC)I wouldnt expect anyone
to put forth the actual effort
but I suppose
you caught me in the
right mood for an extended
babbling.
I do hope you
were not excessively
suffering or bored.
and I am glad
that I was able
to answer your question
to your satisfaction
Re: *smiles softly*
Date: 2001-07-16 08:08 pm (UTC)i was not bored
i was honored really
death tears at faith
til there can be no more
sometimes
til there is bearly
anything left
of us
somehow
you and i still remain
i question why
i am here
at all
but am happy
for you
that you are able
to
survive
thank you
for sharing
and again
i promise
i was
most definitely
not
bored.
*grin*
Date: 2001-07-17 10:58 am (UTC)is instinct
we
only fail to
survive by
overriding that
instinct
unfortunately for me
my instinct is
stronger
than my will
that is all
no great secret
or strength to it
Re: *grin*
Date: 2001-07-22 09:33 pm (UTC)could have been a survival instinct, though i think it was a fear of death, or more importantly my unbearable love of my bf. caring about what i will or am doing to him is sometimes all that seems to keep me sane or alive. sometimes both, sometimes only one of the two.
i don't know what keeps me put on this earth, as self-destructive as i have been for the past three years, but here i am anyway.
i don't know what keeps my bf from leaving or hating or not forgiving me, but he is still there-- loving me, telling me that he forgives me, determined yet to marry me.
survival instinct? i think i lost mine. i have this destructive instinct that amazingly enough has yet to lead me to the bright white light or the fiery inferno (depending on how much of a decent person you think i am, or i think i am)...
~gina~
no subject
Date: 2001-06-28 10:51 pm (UTC)tis my fatal flaw
Date: 2001-06-29 02:33 am (UTC)I can not
bear to see my words
in large unshapen
blocks of text