h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi Della

So we are now denigrating the shoe-making industry huh?

"This is my last word on the subject - but I'd just like to say that I well remember being yikesed every five minutes for 'sexism/racism/homophobia and saying mean things about dolphins... "

You may remember being yikes'd but you will also remember I have never yikes'd you, or anyone else for that matter. So your point, however heartfelt, is irrelevant. it also contravenes the Golden Rule - do unto others etc...

"1. Telling you what I yikesed would be missing the point of yikesing it in the first place."

No, it would be actually engaging in intellectual debate - which is somewhat the whole point of these fora. A yikes closes down debate and prevents others being able to make their own mind up about what seems to offend you so much.

There again, if you think your opinions are indefensible, then I can see you taking the least courageuos option of engaging the unthinking censorship of the BBC.

"2. I gave Alfster what he wasnted - he must be thrilled to bits."

And that was your original intention then? To reinforce prejudice against yourself amongst your fellow researchers and thus increase your 'necessary' sense of persecution. As you well know most evangelical churches hold that Jesus told his disciples that they would be persecuted, and these evangelicals now hold it a necessary badge of honour to get themselves persecuted, anyway they can, so they can feel like 'real' Christians.

"3. What would you know about what failing as a Christian means?"

You forget that I was brought up Catholic and have had an avid interest in theology ever since. I have seen Christians fail close up and personal.

I tend to judge a Christian on how well they meet the teachings of the Mabon Jesus. By your actions you have shown that you are not exemplifying his teachings very well at all.

And no, I don't find it amusing.

Matholwch .

Oh hardy-ha-ha Eddie

I see we are now seeing the source of your real knowledge about religion and spirituality - you are a closet D&D-er. It all makes sense now.

The truth will out...

Blessings,
Matholwch .

I'll have you know I was active in the Rock Against D&D movement.

Actually, Della has a damned good point, I'm afraid, with:

>>"3. What would you know about what failing as a Christian means?"

You might not like Della's actions. You might not like what you understand about Christianity. But who the divvil are you to pronounce on what it is or isn't? Non-members don't usually have a say in a club's rules.

Anyway, there's a fine old Christian tradition of volunteering for martyrhood, dating back to Roman times.

<>

Martyrdom... not hood..

When did this come about me being persecuted? I thought that's what Alfster the anonymous wanted! (To feel persecuted.)



Vicky

>>"You might not like what you understand about Christianity. But who the divvil are you to pronounce on what it is or isn't? Non-members don't usually have a say in a club's rules."

Heck, even the various members don't exactly speak with a single voice, even just looking at the ones who believe they are divinely guided.

I wonder, how often have two strands of Christianty ever unified, and how often has that happened without some subgroup or other boycotting the merger or splitting off again afterwards?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A3771443

>>I wonder, how often have two strands of Christianty ever unified, and how often has that happened without some subgroup or other boycotting the merger or splitting off again afterwards?

Ah, now...you need to look into the history of Scottish Protestantism. More schisms and reformations than you could shake a stick at (so long as you don't shake it on a Sunday). There's the Wee Frees, the Wee Wee Frees. It's hard to keep track, but the last one I heard of was the Free Presbyterian Church (Continuing) (cf The Continuity IRA. On second thoughts...perhaps not). However...they do from time to time re-coalesce.

If you're ever near Gairloch, up in Wester Ross (turn left at Inverness and keep going...and going), pop by the museum. They have a leaflet on all the branches. It resembles a Rock Family Tree for The Fall.

And apologies to Della. You're quite right...the early Christians volunteered for Martyrdom. Practically begged for it, sometimes.

Ed:

<>>"3. What would you know about what failing as a Christian means?"

You might not like Della's actions. You might not like what you understand about Christianity. But who the divvil are you to pronounce on what it is or isn't? Non-members don't usually have a say in a club's rules.>

Correct, however when the members are telling the non-members what to do then they open themselves up to a non-members returning the compliment.

What with all the name changes, maybe we should be saying 'The Continuity Della'

Hi Eddie

According to at least half-a-dozen members of the Sons of Justin the Preacher - I am the "divvil", and even the AntiChrist himself. Ho hum all in a day's work.

My analogy on her failing as a Christian is based on a lifetime of either being within the Church or studying theology as a 'hobby'. I certainly seem better read on the Bible than she is, as has been seen in numerous conversations we have had.

All I have done is hold up C-Della's actions against the teachings of Jesus and found her to be wanting.

Anyhoo, since when was C-Della your squeeze?

Blessings,
Matholwch .

Wouldn't the pagans just keep arguing about whose turn it was to throw the twenty-sided dice?

Is this supposed to mean something to me? Because it doesn't...

--

Jez

Ah well. It amused Math. I'll not explain for fear of offending.

Hmm, Math. I wonder how you'd react if an outsider presumed to know more about Druidry than you? Ah well,,you've obviously done well, managing a lifetime's theological study, along with the obod-y stuff and the social psychology.

However, I come to bury Della, not to praise her. It's simply a very weak argument. It doesn't work. The comeback is just too easy.

Hi Eddie

Mention OBOD again and ye'll be waking up with a crowd around you. I have nothing to do with Philip Carr-Gomm's bunch, which probably suits them fine

If an outsider said he knew more about druidry than me I'd not be in the least bit surprised. I am what is known in the trade as a 'feral' practitioner - in other words relatively uneducated (i.e. I make it up as I go along).

Blessings,
Matholwch .

Oh, right. Then I must have been hallucinating that time way back when I thought you'd suggested that I might like to engage in a lifetime's study with them before presuming to comment on druidry.

A bonobo never forgets




Now...where did my car keys go...?

Hi Eddie

No, you weren't hallucinating, I did. They are the best organised druid group and provide one of the most challenging and widely read druid courses. Their ways are not mine but I do give them the respect they are due.

Blessings,
Matholwch .

Just to give non-North Americans a hint of the flavour of American Christianity:

'An emergent scandal over a Texas Republican Party politician's distribution of a memo citing a "fixed Earth" website alleging the Earth to be non-rotating and at the center of the universe has raised the question; where do such eccentric views as Rep. Chisum's, that the Copernican model of the Solar System is wrong and derives from a Jewish Kabbalistic Conspiracy, come from ? Until recently, it's been generally assumed that the debate over heliocentric vs. geocentric models of the universe, that raged up until the advent of Copernicus, had been well resolved. Lately though, an American movement has sought to restore the Earth to a central position in the grand cosmological scheme...'

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/48148/

I found particularly amusing the bit about all the galaxies of the universe revolving about the earth once a day. Not only are they dismissing Copernicus, they are dismissing Einstein as well. All those galaxies travelling billions of light-years in a single day. Warp-drive deluxe.

What is not amusing is that these are the people who are getting elected to all levels of government, these are the people who are setting policy and writing the science curriculla that are taught in the schools.

Wal, thet good ol' boy hails frum Texas, whar y'all c'n see the world is flat.

And it's turtles all the way down, boy!

" these are the people who are setting policy and writing the science curriculla that are taught in the schools."

Not quite.

http://bobpark.physics.umd.edu/WN07/wn021607.html

The Kansas school board that instituted teaching creationism was immediately voted out of office.

The Dover school board that did the same was immediately voted out of office.

Basically, no one cares about these minor post elections until the minor officials do something controversial. Then they're removed from office. And these are the officials who actually set the curriculum.

The house of reps just sets funding, and really even in their hay-day of crazy republican fundamentalism they didn't do anything to affect curriculum.

"Eppur se muove."

It's good to see that good, old-fashioned American common sense has prevailed in Kansas. Lest we Yukanians adopt a sniffy air of superiority, at least 10% of us appear to believe in nonsense of this sort:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/britain/article/0,,2016118,00.html

Mind you...10% is probably more than would believe that a survey by The Sci-Fi Channel is likely to be credible.