Freethought & Rationalism Archive

American Humanist · 01-25-2005, 12:40 AM

As Albert Einstien once said: "I know of two things which are infinite: human stupidity and the universe and I'm not sure about the second." :rolling:

Bright Life · 01-25-2005, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbernier

Are you so sure that you have not seen the demonic? Don't get me wrong: There is no question that Pat Robertson and ilk trivialize the demonic. A wonderful example is the one cited by Nightshade, in which Dougie says "Also, I have 'confronted' demons a few times, once causing walking sounds on a roof to cease, through prayer."

I think that demon and Satan beliefs, as articulated in Second Temple Jewish literature, New Testament texts and early Christian writings (i.e. the materials that I study), are not about things that go bump in the night but, rather, about principalities and powers. Looking back at the century that has passed so recently, one might be forgiven for thinking that evil has a life of its own. Some human acts and institutions (such as the Holocaust and Nazi Germany) seem so inhuman that one cannot help but think that there were, in fact, non-human powers involved. I think that early Christians had this same experience when facing the power of the Roman empire and, specifically, the Roman imperial cult.

Demon beliefs also seem to include the idea that the demonic is not only that force which resides behind principalities and powers but also that force which drives people outside the principalities entirely, through the act of possession. These ideas are not really that different, as the idea that the institutions which govern human lives are also the institutions that place some people in the centre of society and others on the margin or outside the pale completely.

I would suggest that we all see the demonic all the time. Whenever we see principalities and powers using their authority to compel assent and expel dissenters, we see the demonic.

Wouldn't it be nice if we could say that such evil is demonic? Wouldn't it be a relief to know that our fellow human beings would never, alone, commit such atrocities? What a pleasant thought to imagine that through some sort of divine intervention, this capability for such horror could be removed from the human spirit. Sadly, I'm afraid that people can be completely evil with no assistance at all from the supernatural.

Karalora · 01-25-2005, 06:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KnightTemplar

I am sure there was a The Ugly too but noone could ever find that :Cheeky:

You ever looked at some of those Mayan carvings? I think they were all The Ugly.

y-chromo kid · 01-25-2005, 06:50 AM

Morons. The more I learn about humanity, the dumber humans become. I'm sorry, but if you believe in demons in this day and age, I am forced to conclude that you are [i]fucking retarded

I agree, it's all very depressing. I frequently encounter people who are able to accept all kinds of religious/pseudo religious nonsense. When I think about the ignorance (some of it willfull) of these people it makes me want to cry.

Answerer · 01-25-2005, 09:01 AM

Demons come from our mind and thought. Just like angels and spirits.

Agemegos · 01-25-2005, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aravnah Ornan

Don't you just love the way in which one Christian's teaching necessary for salvation is another Christian's damnable heresy?

Yep, it is one of two things that convince me that the 'religious way of knowing' is vacuous, and that religion has no magisterium.

There are at least 33,830 different denominations of Christianity active today. John Kerry is better at conveying a consistent message than God is.

quester · 02-02-2005, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crucifiction

What... the... hell?

If demons were originally angels before they fell, it makes NO FUCKING SENSE WHATSOEVER for them not to understand the language of angels.

Maybe the angels and demons were trying to build a tower to reach Earth.

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01-25-2005, 12:40 AM	#31
American Humanist Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: LA, CA, USA Posts: 86	As Albert Einstien once said: "I know of two things which are infinite: human stupidity and the universe and I'm not sure about the second." :rolling:

01-25-2005, 06:50 AM	#34
y-chromo kid Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: A slimy mudhole Posts: 26	Morons. The more I learn about humanity, the dumber humans become. I'm sorry, but if you believe in demons in this day and age, I am forced to conclude that you are [i]fucking retarded I agree, it's all very depressing. I frequently encounter people who are able to accept all kinds of religious/pseudo religious nonsense. When I think about the ignorance (some of it willfull) of these people it makes me want to cry.

01-25-2005, 09:01 AM	#35
Answerer Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Singapore Posts: 3,956	Demons come from our mind and thought. Just like angels and spirits.

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