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

Referring back to the Colonel's question 4 days ago about the state of Christianity in Britain, newspapers are currently reporting that 70% of the UK population count themselves as beleivers in God, and presumably most of them are some form of Christian.
However, I suspect that for the majority, it's a pretty token kind of faith. I doubt that many of that 70% actually attend church, except for christenings, marriages and funerals, and I suspect that few non-churchgoers do much bible study or praying at home.
Thinking about the neighbours who *did* attend church when I was younger, I suspect many of them didn't really believe with much intensity even then, but I suppose they're probably the ones who stopped attending over the last few decades.
I guess many of them don't think or care too much about religion unless provoked, so I can't see too many of them going out of their way to pile into discussions about theology.

1) Although I don't mean to go against the grain here, I really don't think all Christians have a problem. That is, some of them are no more delusional than the rest of the population. However, those who take their beliefs far too seriously are unfortunately the noisy ones that you always hear about. I especially get tired of the "Christians are a minority" group and the "We know what's best for everyone else" group in America. I can't think of any other faction whose members claim at once to have a right to govern the rest of us, and simultaneously a right to brandish a victimized minority status. You would think one would preclude the other, but this is apparently not the case.

2) Be nice, and be honest. Think a lot. Leave something interesting behind when you leave.

As for the universe, I don't believe there are any axioms. There are only self-defined limits.

3) It obviously matters to everyone here which concepts I/you/others follow. If it didn't, why would we be here? These concepts serve as a frame of reference through which we view life. I think a large part of our concern here is that we feel much of society has chosen a very limiting point of view.

4) What do you do with the beliefs and feelings you want to share with humanity? Share them through example. Following your own ideals should keep you suitably busy. If you have enough spare time to preach to other people, you're doing something wrong.

5) Is that a question?

6) I still like John Lennon's "Imagine." I prefer non-religious beliefs when they are expressed in a positive manner.

Fragilis
Nihil curo de ista tua stulta superstitione

There´s a lot for me to think about, then. I look at "axioms of life" as the question of basic outlines to leading life, and of course they are individual.

Nice point to think about are the answers to question No. 3.

Would you be so kind, Fragilis, to give my a translation of that last sentance? Didn´t get that one.

Had a lovely day today and little reason to go looking at the concept of enjoing life instead of enjoying it.

Anyone in for a virtual beer? I´ve been brewing today! So come around in three weeks time, I´ll be opening the "Ye olde Hoopoe" then.

'Nothing is cured by foolish superstition'. (?)

Sorry, I didn't take Latin classes. That was just a guess...

On safer ground...

Potholer, I agree, I think 'belief' in God among the great British public basically amounts to a Pascalian hedging of the bets just in case - on the condition that one can do pretty much whatever one pleases for the rest of the time...

My tentative view is that Christian faith in Britain has (happily ) never been weaker among the majority and, perhaps, (unhappily if so ) never stronger among a small minority of fundamentalist types. I have to say the latter phenomenon concerns me a little - what seems to be an increase in (dare I say it, American-style? - we get everything a few decades late over here) fundamentalist religion. I see odd snatches of evidence for this in north London, for example, where I live. I've even been accosted myself, from time to time, in the name of the great saviour. Honestly, folks should know an incurable case when they see one...

I would be quite interested to hear if this fundamentalism is just a London thing, or if such is the case in other inner-city areas around the country. Or if it's just a figment of my (occasionally rabid) imagination, hopefully. But I say from the outset, I'm a born pessimist...


My motto, as inspired by something upstairs, expressed here in a comradely manner - Leave nothing at all behind when you leave...

Which is an apt enough time to ask for a new thread. It took me twenty minutes to get here. Colonel. Pleeeeeeeeease...

PS - When I say 'as inspired by something upstairs', I'm referring to a forum posting one or two spaces above this one. I am certainly *not* making an oblique reference to God. Thank you very much for reading this. Yours, Lear

Isn't that odd? The US first acquired fundamentalist zealotry from the UK, and now it is going full circle back to there. I think the Indians would have done history a favor if they'd just cannibalized the entire Plymouth colony when they had the chance.

Lear: this forum has exceeded my three-click minimum rule, and so the next forum is due to arrive. I must admit to being reluctant to do so, if only because things are getting quite spirited in here again after a bit of a lull, and I'm half afraid to interrupt that. But rules is rules...

Alright, everyone, all the necessary updates have been made to the main page, and the new forum is open, so I declare this meeting officially adjourned.

Yes, I understand what you mean by that comment about the Plymouth colony. I have a tendency to support the underdog myself. Anyway, I'm not quite sure whether or not you want to argue the toss about the relative merits of Britain and America, or if I've totally misunderstood the vibes I've been getting from you here. Suffice to say, hopefully, that I admire the learning of the people on this forum and I continue to learn from this, wherever they come from. I have a scholarly interest in American society and culture, not to mention a healthy regard for your (rather superior - no irony) democratic system, and I don't want to get involved in a nasty dispute about it thank you very much. I'm sorry if I seem to have indicated otherwise, or if I seem to have misunderstood your above comments.

I also apologise if the above paragraph sounds like gibberish to you. I just got the impression I'd done something to cause offence somewhere along the line. If so, I'd rather clear the air...

Anyway, I don't expect a reply, because I just killed this forum off (apparently). Sorry again...

The comment was not meant to demean either country, but is just a historical observation. Britain had the good sense to boot out their zealots, and they managed to survive in the US. Had the zealots been kicked out 200 years later, they would likely have found little welcome in the States, and inflicted themselves on Australia or New Zealand. But that accident of history did not occur, and zealotry is now so deeply ingrained in the American character that it will take eons to purge it. I am truly sorry to see the British people suffer a reinfestation of this plague. That leaves me with one less place to flee to, so I suppose my plan of holing up in the Sierras with an arsenal of firearms and a bit of livestock is still my only option.

And now, if you have anything further to say, say it in the other #$%^(* forum!!