$cientology scum set up in Brixton

[wurlycurly]

They were outside Tower Hill tube station all week, doing a roaring trade with tourists unaware of their Fully-Fledged Loon status. They were getting people to grasp Vacuum flask-shaped silver steel rods (no, not vacuum flasks) connected to a meter-reading needle thing. What the hell is that all about???

 

[Jonti]

And Badgers, you think the millions killed in Europe during the Witch Hunts were killed because they could actually do magic.

 

[Badgers]

I think that you are quite possibly preaching to the converted on this site mate.

 

[Jonti]

You seem unable to answer a straight question.

Can you not just say what you think and feel?

 

[Badgers]

Can you not just say what you think and feel?

Tell me what I should say and think

 

[cesare]

So, cesare, you really think religion is as strong now as it was at the time of the Witch Hunts?

It just takes a different form.

As an analogy, nowadays the NF aren't marching with their skinhead & bovver boy boots as they were in the 70s/80s. Today, it's presented differently - politically, acceptably.

Religion's similar. No, of course I'm not drawing a parallel of the times of the Witch Hunts. And even suggesting that I'm doing that kicks yourself in the foot, cos it seems to me that I'm the only one supporting you at all in this misbegotten thread (Misbegotten, hah, got that one in )

Yes, I do think religion is as strong as it always was. Absolutely I do.

 

[Jonti]

OK, you think religion is as strong as it always was. Absolutely.

I had begun to wonder about your grasp on reality; so thanks for clarifying the point.

 

[cesare]

OK, you think religion is as strong as it always was. Absolutely.

I had begun to wonder about your grasp on reality; so thanks for clarifying the point.

I'm not particularly bothered if you think I have a grasp upon reality or not tbh

 

[Jonti]

Tell me what I should say and think

I asked Can you not just say what you think and feel?

I guess you've given your answer. You cannot.

But I bet you could once, eh? Back in the day, before the cult.

 

[Crispy]

Are you having a grumpy day, Jonti? I think we're all on the same side here.

 

[goldenecitrone]

So, cesare, you really think religion is as strong now as it was at the time of the Witch Hunts?

Seems pretty strong in the US. And the Vatican and Mecca don't seem short of visitors. I think personal belief is probably more widespread now than it ever was before.

 

[Jonti]

I'm not particularly bothered if you think I have a grasp upon reality or not tbh

Well, no, I don't suppose it does matter much to you. But it's not just about you, is it?

Others may be interested as well.

 

[cesare]

Well, no, I don't suppose it does matter much to you. But it's not just about you, is it?

Others may be interested as well.

I've been interested about this sort of thing for a while. It's entirely up to you whether or not to draw a conclusion that it doesn't matter much to me.

If I could be bothered, I'd insert a Catherine Tate pic.

 

[Jonti]

Seems pretty strong in the US. And the Vatican and Mecca don't seem short of visitors. I think personal belief is probably more widespread now than it ever was before.

I'm staggered by claim that religion had no stronger hold over our national life in the past.

Church attendance is well down; and religion has a smaller and smaller say in the framing of our laws. The civil rights we have gained -- in terms of reproductive freedoms, perhaps most strongly -- are undeniable. There were strong religious objections to contraception, homosexuality, abortion, sex outside of marriage, sexual freedom in general.

In terms of the UK, I don't really see how one can pretend that the influence of religion has not declined very significantly over the last century or three.

 

[Badgers]

I asked Can you not just say what you think and feel?

I guess you've given your answer. You cannot.

But I bet you could once, eh? Back in the day, before the cult.

You sound loopy
Almost like a religious nutter

 

[cesare]

Seems pretty strong in the US. And the Vatican and Mecca don't seem short of visitors. I think personal belief is probably more widespread now than it ever was before.

There's a point. I don't think that people get less political. Or less religious. They just lose confidence & faith with the people that used to represent them in the past. And try out new stuff.

 

[Jonti]

But I'm not trying to tell you anything, or convince you of anything.

I only tried to get you to just say what you think and feel.

That may be loopy in your world, but no, it's hardly cause to try to slur a person as some kind of nutter.

Is it?

 

[Jonti]

There's a point. I don't think that people get less political. Or less religious. They just lose confidence & faith with the people that used to represent them in the past. And try out new stuff.

The idea that past religion, Medieval witch-hunters, for one obvious example, "represented" people seems a very unfortunate way of charactarising things.

It wasn't really like that, was it?

 

[Badgers]

But I'm not trying to tell you anything, or convince you of anything.

I only tried to get you to just say what you think and feel.

That may be loopy in your world, but no, it's hardly cause to try to slur a person as some kind of nutter.

Is it?

I am on the fence regarding this

 

[cesare]

The idea that past religion, Medieval witch-hunters, for one obvious example, "represented" people seems a very unfortunate way of charactarising things.

It wasn't really like that, was it?

You introduced the theme of the Witch Hunters, not me.

I'm still fucking confused where you dragged that one up from

 

[Jonti]

You are on the fence about what?

That wanting to know how a person feels and thinks is loopy?

Or that encouraging a person to articulate their feelings and thoughts is nuts?

 

[Jonti]

You introduced the theme of the Witch Hunters, not me.

I'm still fucking confused where you dragged that one up from

It was just the obvious response to your evidence-free claim that religion has as big a hold as it ever did.

 

[cesare]

It was just the obvious response to your evidence-free claim that religion has as big a hold as it ever did.

If you don't think that religion still has as big a hold as it ever did (in whatever format) - why are you throwing your toys out the pram re the Scientologists?

 

[Badgers]

That wanting to know how a person feels and thinks is loopy?

Or that encouraging a person to articulate their feelings and thoughts is nuts?

Either or really

 

[krtek a houby]

Is Socialist Workers Monkey a cult?

 

[Jonti]

@ cesare: Just put away that kind of prejudicial language where the sun don't shine

You seem to be saying that religion has as big a hold as it ever did, so opposing cults and the like is pointless.

You would also argue that, if I think the hold of religion has been weakened, I should not be concerned by the activities of suchlike mind-control rackets.

Either way, you seem to say "let 'em get on with conning the public and deluding their followers"

But neither argument really pans out logically does it? One could regard any "religious" influence as socially immicable (mind you, as religions tend to disagree with each other, they are no great help anyway) so continued opposition is justified.

And although I am happy that Bishops and their acolytes have less influence over public life, I can still be concerned about the activities of the new pretenders, frauds and pseuds; some of whom may be altoghether of a more cynical stripe.

 

[Fruitloop]

Is Socialist Workers Monkey a cult?

Indubitably.

 

[cesare]

@ cesare: Just put away that kind of prejudicial language where the sun don't shine

You seem to be saying that religion has as big a hold as it ever did, so opposing cults and the like is pointless.

You would also argue that, if I think the hold of religion has been weakened, I should not be concerned by the activities of suchlike mind-control rackets.

Either way, you seem to say "let 'em get on with conning the public and deluding their followers"

But neither argument really pans out logically does it? One could regard any "religious" influence as socially immicable (mind you, as religions tend to disagree with each other, they are no great help anyway) so continued opposition is justified.

And although I am happy that Bishops and their acolytes have less influence over public life, I can still be concerned about the activities of the new pretenders, frauds and pseuds; some of whom may be altoghether of a more cynical stripe.

You've fucking lost it if you can extrapolate this ^ shit from what I've said.

 

[Jonti]

Do you suspect that you or someone you know may b involved with a cultic group? Several checklists and readings give you a quick overview of the cult phenomenon and how it relates to you and your loved ones.

Cults 101 has more

 

[Badgers]

Is it okay if I go home now?