stephan huller

http://www.nycreligion.info/?p=6589

sotto voce

Sieg Heil.

Toto

There are lots of corporate executives who hold strange religious beliefs.

I am more concerned about his idea that blasphemy is just like grotesque child pornography.

Jaybees

Oh well! It's worth a try. The Thompson is well aware that printed newspapers (including NYT) are doomed. Maybe his public confession will get him a few new Xtian readers or keep some that were about to jump ship.

sotto voce

No, no, Toto. Thompson believes in the pope like he believes in Bugs Bunny. People like that only say they believe, because they want to set an example for their workforces, so they will be kept in mental subjection. Moonies, Mormons and Mary-adorers, all are dupes who keep dodgy people rich. This is particularly a US phenomenon, of course (and also in Japan). Not in Europe.

In the UK, people are mostly very glad to see the back of Thompson, who kept his religion very quiet, and few knew that he was a Catholic (like his boss, who likewise has never said anything remotely like this bit of perverse falsehood). So Thompson may seem to have emigrated to a country where his particular form of political 'dementia' will be acceptable.

However, it looks as though he may have escaped before the mud hit the fan, due to police investigations (concerning another rich Catholic), so he may not be in post long.

Perspicuo

Well in fact we do. We know that certain people will think, and others, who choose not to, will feel offended. Anxiety signals the existence of the repressed. Therefore it isn't the words that creates pain, but the effort to keep unaware of the thought.

Take for example this:



The implication is simple, straightforward, immediate. The idea is absurd. But instead of doing the reasonable thing, which is admit it is absurd, the person feels the pain of ridicule... but nothing happens, from the cognitive standpoint. Only affect.

Perspicuo

I just hope the new CEO is capable of mental compartmentalization at some functional degree so that it does not compromise his objectivity and commitment to the search for truth. It isn't impossible, no matter how many impressive examples to the contrary one has seen over the last few years.

sotto voce

We do? How do we know this? Or is it merely hoped that people will be offended?

Exactly who is dreaming, here? The heavily loaded language of the definition is enough to convince anyone that its author believes in Christ, and finds that belief a great irritation.

Let's analyse it. Just four words let the reader know he's wasting his time reading further.

'some cosmic Jewish Zombie'

First, 'some'. Pejorative, without justification. Suicidal, already! 'Some cosmic Jewish Zombie'; like you meet them every day. It's not like, 'some rowdy drunk kept us awake'. The claim is for a unique agent. Just perverse and childish, this.

Next, 'cosmic'. Circularity, here. The supernatural is irrationally bellowed out of existence by people terrified of it!

'Jewish'. Is there something wrong with being Jewish? Is there anti-Semitism here? :constern01:

'Zombie'. Note the capitalisation, that demonstrates the mendacity of the author, who needs to bolster his false argument with a capital. But note that he/she is cheating. If the person described is a zombie, he cannot be cosmic. And if cosmic, cannot be a zombie.

It's so pathetic that you are not surprised by 'telepathic' and the fundie lunacy that follows.

Some people shoot themselves in the foot. Others have a higher aim.

:huh:

Sheshbazzar

A zombie is a dead person that comes back to a semblance of life, and again walks among the living.
A dead person that comes back to a semblance of life and again walks among the living is known as a zombie.

Why should any otherwise sane, rational person believe in the existence of a 2000 year old living dead zombie?

Does this living dead zombie, as they are prone to claim, actually whisper in their ear?
Or are they just hearing things and suffering from religious delusions?

J842P

Come now. He isn't really comparing the two. He's trying to get secular people to understand what blasphemy feels like to a religious person.