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

To 'Loony Tunes Debates R Us'

I am a Christian. So far I have not mentioned this fact in any of my postings, nor have I given any 'religious' view in any of my postings, as I do not feel it is right to force my views down anyone's throat. However I do take offence at your posting about the bible.

Here is what I pray for

'They will beat their swords into ploughshares
and their spears into pruning hooks
Nation will not take up sword against nation
nor will they train for war any more.
Every man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree,
and no-one will make them afraid, for the Lord Almighty has spoken.
All the nations may walk in the name of their gods;
We will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever.
(From The Bible)

How about quoting the bit about stoning adulterers?

I've been posting about what's been happening and emailing people for the past 2 days about what happened. in total I've had a couple of hundred emails with people talking about their feelings.

We've all been effected by this, everyone knows someone who's been effected! Even if it's just over h2g2, it wont change the fact that thousands of people have died so a small group can make a point.

What I'd like to know is why? What point is posssibly worth killing so many?

I've watch the news every chance I've had since it happened and tonight after tea I sat watching as the President was practically in tearsm while we saw what happened to the planes and we got told of some of the people inside...No one deserves to die like that.

Religion doesn't matter, we're all going to grieve for these people and we're all going to be effected. That's what we have to remember about this...we also have to remember that people are actually talking of war and that if this did happen we'd lose a lot more people.

I really, really don't want to get into a flaming war about the bible ...

This is not what I feel is appropriate for this time. I do apologise for any offence caused by my previous post.

This is the last I intend to say on this matter.
Jude

"In the City of God there will be a great thunder. Two brothers torn apart by Chaos, while the fortress endures, the great leader will succumb. The third big war will begin when the big city is burning." ~Nostradamus 1654

We are ALL free to believe what we like. However, not all Nations
allow free speach. If yours does, concider yourself blessed/lucky
or whatever lable you like.

THIS is NOT the end...it could be the begining of the end...but so then could have been the start of life on this Planet, however you
want to believe it began. Life is the start of death. Understand?
You live, you die. Why panic? It's just the way of the World. Are you mad at me now? That's okay. Come to my front door & I will invite you in, face to face. If you try to sneek in the back way...I hope you can outrun dobermen & bullets. I, for one will defend my right to defend myself.

Jenny

Thank you for your hope. And thank you for sharing it with us.

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a human called Ben
http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A631261

PS - has anyone actually checked that Nostradamus quote? I have seen it a lot today, but I do not know if it actually is something he wrote.

***B

Pandora,

I hate to bring it up, not to take away from your point but Nostradomus died in 1566.

He didn't write that statement.

Particularly because it is not in the form of a quatriane.


Peace

I think this is not really the time or place for attacking people's religious beliefs. Although I am an atheist myself, I understand the importance and comfort that other people here will find in their faith, and such solace is needed in a time like this. Yes, there are those who are willing to kill others in the name of their faith, and those who are driven by a depraved lust for apocalypse (I personally wish that Revelations had stayed part of the Apocrypha), but there are many decent and good people of faith here, and I think it would be good to respect their beliefs now.

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a human called Ben
http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A631261

In fact, it was written by one Neil Marshall, a Canadian, in the 1990s as an example of a made-up 'prophecy' which could be shoe-horned into a real event. He's probably horrified by how accurate he appears to have been.

I'm an agnostic, but I must admit that the events of the past few days have led me to see more clearly than ever why people believe in a higher power, and why people pray to it/them.

The events of this week have left me with a deep need for reassurance and comfort, and it seems clear to me that some people are finding that in religion. I am not, but don't worry (I know you weren't anyway...) because I'm handling it and starting to climb out of the pit now. I hope that there isn't anybody else still stuck at the bottom.

"There are no atheists in foxholes" as the old saying goes.

Religion of any kind - even, to a certain extent atheism - is a great comfort in moments of crisis. Everyone should have the right to that comfort, and it shouldn't cause conflicts in times like these.



G7

Nostradamus' prediction on WW3:

"In the year of the new century and nine months,
From the sky will come a great King of Terror...
The sky will burn at forty-five degrees.
Fire approaches the great new city..."
"In the city of york there will be a great
collapse, 2 twin brothers torn apart by chaos
while the fortress falls the great leader will
succumb third big war will begin when the
big city is burning"
- NOSTRADAMUS
He said this will be bigger than the previous
two. 2001 is the first year of the new century
and this is the 9th month.
New York is located at the 41st degree Latitude.

Michel de Nostredame (1503 - 1566) now mainly
known as Nostradamus was a real bloke. A
physician in france who was a jew who converted
to christianity when young. Yes he is supposed
to have predicted his own death calling the
preist for the last rites the night before.
The nearest relavent quatrains (and translations
I found at the website as well) are reproduced
below. Now there seems to be nothing about great
leaders succumbing and third great wars in what I
can find. If you have a better translation or know
where the realavent bits of his prophecy can be
found, please share them with us all.

C10, 72
L'an mil neuf cens nonante neuf sept mois,
Du ciel viendra vn grand Roy d'effrayeur:
Resusciter le grand Roy d'Angolmois,
Auant apres Mars regner par bon heur.

TR:
The year 1999, seventh month,
From the sky will come a great King of Terror:
To bring back to life the great King of the Mongols,
Before and after Mars to reign by good luck.

C6, 97
Cinq & quarante degrez ciel bruslera
Feu approcher de la grand cité neuue
Instant grand flamme esparse sautera
Quand on voudra des Normans faire preuue.

TR:
At forty-five degrees the sky will burn,
Fire to approach the great new city:
In an instant a great scattered flame will leap up,
When one will want to demand proof of the Normans.

C1, 87
Ennosigee feu du centre de terre,
Fera trembler autour de cité neuue
Deux grâds rochers long têps feront la guerre,
Puis Arethuse rougira nouueau fleuue.

TR
Earthshaking fire from the centre of the earth
will cause tremors around the New City.
Two great rocks will war for a long time,
then Arethusa will redden a new river

In short, the predictions are a bit like the bible. Pick out the bits that fit your point-of-view and ignore the rest

And remember, even if you don't have a faith in God, it does not follow that you believe in nothing. I have a great faith in humanity, and although it has been shaken somewhat by these atrocities of a few, my faith will be sustained and I find comfort in the way others have responded to this adversity, and the world is coming together. I wish all of you can find comfort in your faiths.

It wasn't Nostradamus, 16th Century Frenchmen, who stated this quote going around, it was one Neil Marshall, 20th Century Canadian cynic proving if you're vague enough, something will fit sooner or later.

You can check out the forum "Nostradamus" (in the same section as this forum) to see where the first quote came from. It is not from Nostradamus.

Thank you Loony that was useful.

Can I suggest you repost in a new thread.

It is important that people are not completely spooked by a spurious and non-existant 'prophecy'.

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a human called Ben
http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A631261

Regarding Nostradamus' and others 'prophecies':

There is actually a great deal of evidence that he was speaking about events of his own time, but was phrasing things in such a way that he would avoid persecution.

This does not diminish whatever aesthetic value may be found in the poetry, but I would hesitate to put much credence in any form of prophecy, from any source, at any time, and in particular in this situation.

Prophets, including Nostradamus, Mother Shipton, and Edgar Cayce have been quite wrong in many, if not most, of the things they have said, or that they are reported to have said. There is a tendency to disregard the false predictions and to exaggerate or misinterpret those that seem accurate.

Read the holy books, if it comforts you. Take a walk in a park if it comforts you. Weep, if it comforts you. But please try to refrain from quoting the 'prophecies', which all seem to end up being negative and depressing, whether or not they turn out to be valid.

Trust in your own feelings, your own intuition, your own heart. Trust in your friends, and your family. Hell, trust your dog or cat, but take the 'ancient wisdom' stuff with a large block of salt.

Peace

Ben I've posted it in the Nostrodamus thread. It was originally sent to an off-site mailing list subscribed to by about 30 h2g2 researchers.