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

Aaarrrgghhh! I got the wrong date! 1878 was when his son, my grandfather was born. JMF himself, was born circa 1832. How embarassing for me... of course, JMF lived to be a very scary looking old man!

That's sad, Mystrunner, are you in the USA? Regarding Christianity as rebellion, I remember back in the 1970s, hearing a preacher say that Christians were always persecuted if they were doing their job... I looked at the complacent people in the churches around me and thought "they obviously are not doing their job, then". Too comfortable.
Things have changed since them days. It may not be persecution as such, but the ridicule anywhere from high schools to TV soaps is *huge*. (Especially on NZ's soap Shortland Street. I think the head writer has a particular problem, though I don't know what... But just as he's had every crime of violence, especially murder, committed by the statistically least likely person, i.e., a middle class white woman, he's had every Christian being a psycho who commits arson, child abuse or just common fraud.) He hasn't been too kind to the other adherents either.. in 10 years, one Hindu (a violent schizophrenic) and two Jews, (one bi-polar and the other, her non-observant father.)
This is all by way of saying, yes, it is rebellion to be a Christian, and the apathetic or the angry, will get you for it! Here, anyway...

Mandragora, I wanted to say to Mystrunner what you said to her about people on death row, and I am glad you did! Mystrunner, , you might not be aware that many people on death row, are found to be innocent of the crimes that sent them there, and as for those who are not, I *still* oppose the death penalty! Mandragora, you may or may not know that some of the most vocal opponents of capital punishment are Christians, especially Catholics! (The Bishops of the USA, for instance..)

Oh bother. I can't be arsed to read the backlog. What's the current debate?

er, christian denominations, death row inmates and rebellion, I think.

[Mystrunner] Sorry, I'm sprucing things up, and I don't want to log out of this ID...

I'm not in favor of the death penalty. As I said, everyone can change. Killing someone, well, that's the end. From my religious standpoint, well, if they haven't been saved, the game's over for me too. No chance to gain them back.
That's the big trouble for being Christian. You can always lose your faith, just from letting your own flawed nature take over, by letting the whispers of doubt persuade you; it isn't natural to become Christian, overnight.

Ah. I see. Any particular reason why death row inmates and rebellion got caught up in this?

I think Mystrunner compared them (unfavourably) to Martyrs, saying something about throat slitting or similar. I'll see if I can find the appropriate post.

Post 422.

Oh. I can't be bothered to look. Martyr stories are usually blown out of proportion. Like that blokey who was used as a figurehead for workers in Communist Russia. Stolypin? Was that his name?

Death row inmates though.

My particular point was that a guilty death row inmate would not be a very good martyr. An innocent one, provided they took up a cause that people could pertain to, would be very effective.

Nowadays, the only way to really get martyred is by trying to. Which doesn't count, 'cause then you're getting snuffed for being annoying.

Doesn't it depend on the audience who the inmate would be a martyr to, and the crime that they committed?

Hmm?

What about hunger strikers? There were some Irish ones weren't there, who claimed they were political prisoners & starved themselves to death - would they count as martyrs?

PS Did you see Paxman v Blair this evening 'Do you & Bush pray together?'

They are considered Martyrs by Nationalists around the country, just ask the Wolfe Tones

>>PS Did you see Paxman v Blair this evening 'Do you & Bush pray together?' <<

Wow! No, we're outside the UK. Wish we had been able to see it... Teasswill, what was the answer?

The answer was no answer. Blair took this as a cheap shot, and so did I. It was the cheapest thing Paxman did all show.

Sorry. I've not been keeping up with this thread. Is it still OK for me to say that Christians are nutters who need to drink more?

I think that'd be some of the protestants - the Catholics are way ahead of you on the booze front.

At least Catholics have communion wine...

What with transsubstantiation (sp?) and all, with the wine turning to blood as you drink it, wouldn't a good empirical test of faith be for them to down a couple of bottles without raising their blood alcohol level...? /

I watched it...didn't pay much attention to it, but the LOOK on Blah's face when Paxman asked him that question! Priceless!!