Freethought & Rationalism Archive

epepke · 03-26-2005, 09:50 PM

People forget the reasons for the Treaty of Tripoly as well.

Jehanne · 03-27-2005, 04:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astreja

I know the snake-torture story, but aren't you confusing Christian Hell (bad place) with Hel's realm Niflheim in the Eddas?

Niflheim wasn't originally a place of punishment... It was a somewhat dull afterlife-world similar to Hades. It's where everyday people (non-heroes) went, and there was no torture. The nasty stuff got introduced to the mythos after the Christianization of the northern lands.

Olaf and his henchmen were sadistic, greedy bastards. Olaf's conversion to Christianity had more to do with a large payment of silver than with actual faith. He chose to line his own pockets rather than defend his people from the southern invaders.

I assume that he got his “theology�? from somewhere (and Saint Augustine wrote of a “torturous hell�?). Religion, of course, can be used to justify all sorts of atrocities in the name of “Jesus�?, and so it comes as no surprise that Olaf & Friends took “advantage�? of this! (“Happy Easter,�? by the way!)

Agemegos · 03-27-2005, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hclincha

One torture method was to introduce a venomous snake into the stomach of a person, through the mouth, and then let it eat its way out. Now, THAT's a good way of leading someone towards a loving god.

I don't know where you got this idea from, but I think you ought to check your sources. Snakes can't eat like that: they have to swallow food whole. Besides which a snake in a stomach would quickly be smothered.

Agemegos · 03-27-2005, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Huon

One invasion of England by France ?

At least one, yes. The one I am thinking of occurred during the reign of King John.

Note well: invasion is not the same as conquest.

J-D · 03-28-2005, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Agemegos

At least one, yes. The one I am thinking of occurred during the reign of King John.

Note well: invasion is not the same as conquest.

I don't think you can count that one as a Crusade.

Earlier in his reign John had indeed been excommunicated by the Pope and England placed under Papal interdict, but by the time the French Prince Louis brought an invading army to join with the rebellious English barons, John and the Pope had been reconciled and it was Louis whom the Pope excommunicated for invading a Papal fief (the status John had accepted for England as the price of the reconciliation).

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03-26-2005, 09:50 PM	#21
epepke Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Anywhere but Colorado, including non-profits Posts: 8,787	People forget the reasons for the Treaty of Tripoly as well.

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