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

There was a message posted on Dec 3, 1999 by Courier the Bold that really bothered me a lot. I'm new to h2g2, and only ran across it while looking around and seeing what it's all about. At first I was really angry at Courier, but now I'm only sad. There are a number of things I need to react to, though.

1. Courier asserts that organized religion has perverted faith. What is faith? Faith wasn't around until the beginnings of organized religion, which was established because the people needed something to explain the world. Besides, if you are faithful but not religious, what are you faithful to? What do you believe in? Yourself? I think Courier needs to do some thinking about his rash words, because if a little time and thought is invested in them, they really don't make any sense.

2. Killing is motivated by religion. Well, yes, that's true. But most are motivated by the hate of religion. Like Courier, for example: I wouldn't be surprised if I learned he murdered two Christians just for their faith. True Christians don't commit murder- if they murder and claim it's because God told them so, they're not Christians. If you research and look into almost every event throughout history, you will find that most murders stem from a nonreligious sect.

3. This one really angers me. Courier tells us that religious people are gullible. I'm a Christian, and I'm very proud of it. That doesn't mean I don't listen to other people or take controversial classes or read unreligious articles. Take the controversy over evolution, for example: I've struggled with that issue, because it goes directly against my faith, so I've spent many hours reading about evolution and its scientific basis. I've come to the conclusion, of my own free will, that evolution could not have happened on its own. Nobody made me believe that. In fact, I have fellow believers who believe that evolution did occur. To say that the religious people are gullible is to be gullible yourself: how can you make a judgement on an entire group of people based on one little prejudice? Talk about discrimination!

4. He mentioned something about 2000 years of greedy, power-hungry politicians. The 2000 years thing makes me think that Courier's referring directly to Jesus Christ, who died approximately 2000 years ago. But to refer to him as a greed, power-hungry politician only shows how narrow-minded Courier is. In every major world religion, except Satanism (which I don't call a religion), Jesus is seen as an important preacher- a good guy, like Moses or Confucious. He preached things like "Love your neighbor as yourself" and "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." If any can find fault with these words, more power to you. Also, consider the sacrifice He made: whether or not you believe it to be significant, it is a fact that Jesus died on the cross, with nails pounded in his hands and feet, and he didn't get any money or power out of it. If Jesus had been out for that stuff, he wouldn't have died for us.

5. According to Courier, the big bang theory has been both proven and accepted by the church. Bull. The beauty about the beginning of earth and life as we know it is that *we *do *not *know. The Big Bang has not been proven, nor is it likely ever to be. Think about it scientifically: science says that matter can not be created or destroyed, right? So, if there was this huge thing floating in space that suddenly exploded, how did it get there in the first place? This is where time becomes a really scary thing, because it's infinite. The piece of rock must have been there a long time. Besides, another rule of science is that matter progresses naturally from order to disorder: it prefers entropy, if you will. What are the chances that a huge explosion in outer space that sends billions of tons of rock spinning off into nowhere would create a world as profoundly beautiful as this one? I won't even venture a guess. Furthermore, the Christian church, while it has been wrong and misguided at times, as only been so because of the people who ran it, not the religion itself. I dare you to find one passage in the Bible that says "Thou shalt believe that the earth is the center of the universe." They just assumed that, and were wrong. But if the church came out and agreed with the Big Bang, I'd be skeptical. The center of the universe is one thing; the question of God's power is quite another.

6. Finally, Courier suggests that we need faith and hope in something positive, but he hates organized religion. I won't bring up the subject of faith again- I think I've made my point. But without something to belive in, what hope is out there? Positive hope, I mean. The world is a nasty place that seems to defy all hope. I, as a Christian, can hope for a better place some day, a place where I can believe in something without being criticized for it, a place full of love and peace with a benevolent God ruling over us. What can you look forward to?

In answer to your last question - A good cup of tea and a chocolate digestive.

But then im a total Cynic who believes in nothing but sods law.

and its gone midnight and i have to be up in 6 hours thus proving that the world is out to get me....

Col

P.S. Just a hint, try arguing their points in their thread, it can lead to lots of fun arguments that make all the time you put aside for work disappear.....

Sorry, I'm new and I didn't realize that it would go out on the whole thing. What do you mean by "use their thread?" I'm confused by this whole h2g2 thing! But thanks for the advise . . .

Rebecca

Hello Rebecca.
Do you remember where you saw the article which so upset you?
If you can, go back there, then you should be able to find a "click here to discuss this" button, or, if you saw the posting in a "thread" {like this one}; then just click "reply" like ~you~ just did to Colbert's post.
Then you can say what you want, directly to the person who wrote it.
Unfortunately, no-one can speak to you, other than in a thread you have joined, as you haven't activated your homepage.
For an example, click on my name, and you'll be taken to my homepage. To return to your homepage, click on "my space" on any page you are on. When I came to your page, I couldn't talk to you directly, as there is no "discuss" button.
What you need to do, is click on "preferences" on the left of your page.
Then type in a title.
Then say a few words about yourself...likes/dislikes, maybe.
For an example, read my page.
Then people will be able to read about ~you~, and you will have a "discuss" button for people to leave you messages. This will only happen when you have "updated" your page...after you have typed in your title & said a few words...OK?
I will pop back with some links for you, but I can only post them here.
If you need any more help, just click "reply" and this thread will be updated on my page & I will see it.
Bye for now.
AGB.

Thanks for all the help, AGB. I can find the article, but it's from last year some time; last December to be exact. So wouldn't it be too late to start up another conversation? Also, on a totally different subject, I was exploring h2g2 and found those pictures you can put in your space, the ones of animals, but I don't know how to use either html or Guideml. The "how to use guideml" wasn't much help, either- they assume you know html! So do you know where I can get some help on that? Thanks for being so nice and everything!
Rebecca

You can join any thread, no matter how old.
If the author is still with h2g2, they should answer!
To convert your page to Guide ML,
click on the Guide ML button.
I have only learned how to do Guide ML, since I joined h2g2.
I had better organize you a Guardian Angel, who knows more about it than me...be back soon!

Hi Rebecca,

Virtually anything you need to know about GuideML can be found at 'An Introduction to GuideML'

http://www.h2g2.com/A155701

At the end of the introduction there is a link to some more detailed GuideML tips. It may seem complicated, but it really isn't; and there's always someone about who will be happy to help if you have problems.

Don't be too put off by your encounter with the offensive forum. There are more than 63,000 Researchers registered with h2g2, who hold all sorts of beliefs. Unfortunately, not all of them are as mindful as they should be of other people's feelings. Rest assured that the vast majority of people you will meet here are more considerate... and more fun.

JTG