Freethought & Rationalism Archive

EssEff · 08-02-2007, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deadman_932

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scifinerdgrl

Tedious isn't it?

Exceedingly. I was thinking about that earlier, when I first posted: about how the Qu'ran and Bible differ so much from the fun of reading Greek, Norse, Slavic myths, the Mabinogion, Amerind stuff, etc.

There's something about Middle Eastern material that's just BORING to me.

Edit: I should qualify this by saying the Sumerian, Egyptian, later Persian stuff isn't that bad, or at least what I've read of it, but on the whole, it's a region that doesn't interest me on a personal level.

All those genealogies. *yawn* I'm not even that interested in the genealogy of my own family. Why is it necessary to prove that all these biblical figures are genetically linked? If god chooses to talk to someone doesn't that automatically make them special? Who cares who their mom collected sperm from? :huh:

Calilasseia · 08-02-2007, 09:21 PM

Actually my personal view with respect to the Greeks is that they were a seriously sophisticated lot. Having erected a mythology containing a pantheon of reprobate gods who were in several cases up to no good (Zeus constantly cheating on his wife and trying to shag beautiful women left, right and centre being a prime example - plus all those transmogrifications into animal forms on a temporary basis in the thrust and parry of deceit and counter-deceit) and who were probably a right pain in the a**e as far as mere mortals were concerned, the Greeks seem to have adopted the approach of "let's brown nose the worthless bunch of so-and-so's for a while at the temple, then get back to the serious drinking and shagging". You also have to admire a culture that dreams up a religious ritual which involves watching a beautiful, naked woman getting high on volcanic fumes before writhing about making quasi-orgasmic noises. Religion would be so much more fun if it involved intoxicated naked priestesses these days instead of what some of our American cousins have to put up with - dough-faced gits in dog collars ranting on about homosexuals, televangelists engaged in sanctimonious panhandling between commercials saying "you too can have eternal salvation for $99 plus postage", and whiny nasal inbreeds spewing crap about how life in Noah's day was just like an episode of The Flintstones.

No wonder someone once put up a picture on the Internet with a map of the world printed on a pair of buttocks, with the Middle East right in the bum crack. It's given us three religions, all of which are either boring, creepy or downright psychotic, complete with enough hangups about sex to keep an army of Freudian psychologists permanently employed for millennia, and at least two holy books that would be banned for their graphic violence and perverted sex if they weren't religious texts. Why couldn't we have ended up with a religion which made sex - and enjoying sex at that - a fundamental part of worship? A god who wants his creatures to shag like rabbits has to be better than the sociopathic old duffer the fundies are so fond of.

Tigers! · 08-03-2007, 06:14 AM

I've read it cover to cover and read bits (books) selectively mant times. Read them again etc:

Lucretius · 08-03-2007, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calilasseia

You also have to admire a culture that dreams up a religious ritual which involves watching a beautiful, naked woman getting high on volcanic fumes before writhing about making quasi-orgasmic noises. Religion would be so much more fun if it involved intoxicated naked priestesses these days instead of what some of our American cousins have to put up with

Lap dancing bars as churches
Interesting concept, sign me up for it

Sorry to have cut the rest of your post so dramatically but I do have to say I couldn't find a single thing I disagreed with

Magdlyn · 08-03-2007, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calilasseia

Actually my personal view with respect to the Greeks is that they were a seriously sophisticated lot. Having erected a mythology containing a pantheon of reprobate gods who were in several cases up to no good (Zeus constantly cheating on his wife and trying to shag beautiful women left, right and centre being a prime example - plus all those transmogrifications into animal forms on a temporary basis in the thrust and parry of deceit and counter-deceit) and who were probably a right pain in the a**e as far as mere mortals were concerned, the Greeks seem to have adopted the approach of "let's brown nose the worthless bunch of so-and-so's for a while at the temple, then get back to the serious drinking and shagging". You also have to admire a culture that dreams up a religious ritual which involves watching a beautiful, naked woman getting high on volcanic fumes before writhing about making quasi-orgasmic noises. Religion would be so much more fun if it involved intoxicated naked priestesses these days instead of what some of our American cousins have to put up with - dough-faced gits in dog collars ranting on about homosexuals, televangelists engaged in sanctimonious panhandling between commercials saying "you too can have eternal salvation for $99 plus postage", and whiny nasal inbreeds spewing crap about how life in Noah's day was just like an episode of The Flintstones.

No wonder someone once put up a picture on the Internet with a map of the world printed on a pair of buttocks, with the Middle East right in the bum crack. It's given us three religions, all of which are either boring, creepy or downright psychotic, complete with enough hangups about sex to keep an army of Freudian psychologists permanently employed for millennia, and at least two holy books that would be banned for their graphic violence and perverted sex if they weren't religious texts. Why couldn't we have ended up with a religion which made sex - and enjoying sex at that - a fundamental part of worship? A god who wants his creatures to shag like rabbits has to be better than the sociopathic old duffer the fundies are so fond of.

Hear hear. I enjoy reading lit of the Hebrews and xians just b/c it's so repressed and fuddy duddy. I think it can all be symbolized/crystallized by the differing Greek and Jewish attitudes to the male foreskin. When I have really quizzed orthodox Jews online, they admit it may well be "G-d's" intention to deliberately make sex feel less fulfulling for men, by ordering the cutting off so much of the penis' nerves, so they will concentrate more on G-d instead! Ew. At least that is one of the ways the Talmud has rationalized it.

motorhead · 08-03-2007, 07:07 AM

I've read all of it and it's extremely boring. Not to mention, most parts are very difficult to understand without the aid of a decent commentary.

Deus Ex · 08-03-2007, 07:14 AM

Yep. Read it cover to cover.

khalimirov · 08-03-2007, 07:50 AM

Unfortunately, reading the thing doesn't really do much. It's understanding that counts. That's the tough part, jumping into the mind of an ancient author, understanding the context in which it was written and the purpose for which it was written.

Magdlyn · 08-03-2007, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by khalimirov

Unfortunately, reading the thing doesn't really do much. It's understanding that counts. That's the tough part, jumping into the mind of an ancient author, understanding the context in which it was written and the purpose for which it was written.

The New Oxford Annotate Bible is good for this. Lots of explanatory essays and notes on history, culture, literature styles, other religions in the area that Judaism and xianity borrowed from/grew out of, etc.

Comparative religion study is so important.

MadMez · 08-03-2007, 09:58 AM

I read it over some 5 years of Sunday school. Someone should make a movie.

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08-02-2007, 09:21 PM	#12
Calilasseia Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Liverpool, UK Posts: 1,072	Actually my personal view with respect to the Greeks is that they were a seriously sophisticated lot. Having erected a mythology containing a pantheon of reprobate gods who were in several cases up to no good (Zeus constantly cheating on his wife and trying to shag beautiful women left, right and centre being a prime example - plus all those transmogrifications into animal forms on a temporary basis in the thrust and parry of deceit and counter-deceit) and who were probably a right pain in the a*e as far as mere mortals were concerned, the Greeks seem to have adopted the approach of "let's brown nose the worthless bunch of so-and-so's for a while at the temple, then get back to the serious drinking and shagging". You also have to admire a culture that dreams up a religious ritual which involves watching a beautiful, naked woman getting high on volcanic fumes before writhing about making quasi-orgasmic noises. Religion would be so much more fun if it involved intoxicated naked priestesses these days instead of what some of our American cousins have to put up with - dough-faced gits in dog collars ranting on about homosexuals, televangelists engaged in sanctimonious panhandling between commercials saying "you too can have eternal salvation for $99 plus postage", and whiny nasal inbreeds spewing crap about how life in Noah's day was just like an episode of The Flintstones. No wonder someone once put up a picture on the Internet with a map of the world printed on a pair of buttocks, with the Middle East right in the bum crack. It's given us three religions, all of which are either boring, creepy or downright psychotic, complete with enough hangups about sex to keep an army of Freudian psychologists permanently employed for millennia, and at least two holy books that would be banned for their graphic violence and perverted sex if they weren't religious texts. Why couldn't we have ended up with a religion which made sex - and enjoying sex* at that - a fundamental part of worship? A god who wants his creatures to shag like rabbits has to be better than the sociopathic old duffer the fundies are so fond of.

08-03-2007, 06:14 AM	#13
Tigers! Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: On the wing, waiting for a kick Posts: 2,558	I've read it cover to cover and read bits (books) selectively mant times. Read them again etc:

08-03-2007, 07:07 AM	#16
motorhead Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Land of Make Believe Posts: 781	I've read all of it and it's extremely boring. Not to mention, most parts are very difficult to understand without the aid of a decent commentary.

08-03-2007, 07:14 AM	#17
Deus Ex Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,348	Yep. Read it cover to cover.

08-03-2007, 07:50 AM	#18
khalimirov Regular Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 203	Unfortunately, reading the thing doesn't really do much. It's understanding that counts. That's the tough part, jumping into the mind of an ancient author, understanding the context in which it was written and the purpose for which it was written.

08-03-2007, 09:58 AM	#20
MadMez Regular Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Bend, OR, USA Posts: 360	I read it over some 5 years of Sunday school. Someone should make a movie.

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