mig_killer2 wrote:

the fact that you think you can draw an inference to the status of the world at large from the calibre of theists who post here on the Rational Response Squad forum frighten's me TBH. The reason so few Theists post here is because they either A: Have not actually done their homework on the subject of natural theology or New Testament studies and for some strange reason are compelled by the "arguments" of your lot, or B: you (the general population of this forum) are extremely insensitive, profane, blasphemous, and have massive emotional axes to grind against religion. Not all of us are willing to tolerate this sort of BS.

Good God. I just finished fucking my blow-up Jesus doll through His stigmata ("Authentic Bleeding Action!" ) I was "arguing" with him the whole time ("Who's real now, Bitch?!" ), until I kinda broke Him at the seam. Now I've gotta get some Krazy Glue or something to patch him up.

I'm kinda wasted right now, but I thought I'd say: I'm really fuckin' enjoying life. I know this is the only one I've got, and by Grapthar's Hammer, I'm gonna enjoy the fuck out of it. 'Cause when you're dead, you're fuckin' dead. No do-overs (take that, reincarnationist Buddhists!), no afterlife (which is not like afterbirth, as I've discovered, much to my chagrin), and no heaven nor hell.

Religion can piss off. I've no axe to grind, no anger, no real enmity. There are some Christians I rather loathe (yeah, I'm looking at you, Pat Boone), but there are some Christians of whom I am very fond. So it all works out in the wash, except the whites keep coming out pink, thanks to that Realistic Blood of the Lamb.

Aaaanyway, I just thought I'd say, if Christians can't take a little bit of mockery, then they should stop talking fucking smack about atheists. Because we're smarter, we're more directed, and we don't get all passive-aggressive. We go straight for "aggressive."

Oh, and Jesus is a pussy. Thor'd kick his ass in a barfight, and Loki'd curb-stomp him in a spelling bee.

For many heathens, the tradition that we are trying to reestablish is the funeral pyre. A lawyer(who happens to be Asatru) has determined that we can legally have a funeral pyre, we'd have to get certain permits though. Also, some heathens(who can afford it I guess), would like their funeral pyre to be on a ship which is more traditional. I don't know if that can be done legally though, at least in the US.

From wikipedia:

"Lightning is an atmospheric discharge of electricity, which typically occurs during thunderstorms, and sometimes during volcanic eruptions or dust storms."

There are several hypotheses on how lightning forms. One is polarization mechanism hypothesis, another is electrostatic inducition hypothesis.

Lightning comes from any electrical field that is strong enough to discharge.

butterbattle wrote:

What happens after we die?

I don't know what happens after you die. Unless you have a will stating otherwise, you could be buried, cremated, etc. For many heathens, the tradition that we are trying to reestablish is the funeral pyre. A lawyer(who happens to be Asatru) has determined that we can legally have a funeral pyre, we'd have to get certain permits though. Also, some heathens(who can afford it I guess), would like their funeral pyre to be on a ship which is more traditional. I don't know if that can be done legally though, at least in the US.

But since modern heathenry is so new, I don't think anyone has done the funeral pyre yet. So mostly I think we just get buried or cremated.

Quote:

What is lightning, how is it produced, and where does it come from?

From wikipedia:

"Lightning is an atmospheric discharge of electricity, which typically occurs during thunderstorms, and sometimes during volcanic eruptions or dust storms."

There are several hypotheses on how lightning forms. One is polarization mechanism hypothesis, another is electrostatic inducition hypothesis.

Lightning comes from any electrical field that is strong enough to discharge.

It's strange that you think it's strange. I did pay attention in science class. Being polytheist doesn't mean I disregard scientific evidence.

Yes, I really believe in those gods. Not as metaphors ro arcehtypes, but actual sentient beings.

nigelTheBold wrote:

Just a question from idle curiousity: have you read Gaiman's American Gods? If so, what did you think of it?

No but I've heard f it. Have you read it?

 ID no longer popular? Have you lost your mind? This is the science of the 21st century. Evolution is dying and being replaced.

Ciarin wrote:

daedalus wrote:

How does someone become a Theist without a religious text?

 

I don't know, maybe they're deist?

The religious texts we use are the eddas, bede's writings, and the sagas.

i don't think those are religious texts.  although, I suppose you could look at them that way.  i suppose one could consider the Dictionary or Bible a religious text, too....  (My slip may be showing - I don't believe in gods, therefore there is no such thing as a religious text - only mythological tales that are treated with varying degrees of reverence or veracity.)

BTW, wasn't Bede a Catholic?

 

But, let's say that they are religious text by the fact that they are considered to be by various people.  What do they convey?  (Don't get me wrong - I've read some of the eddas and snorri's writings).  What I mean is: what do they convey that isn't something Earthly?  Or, is that not your contention?

often, the gods are attributed with something in this world: words or wisdom, warnings; or Good or evil events.

 

while I appreciate a good laugh, and personal religions, I just wonder if you can tell me why I might want to believe as you do?  Is there a reason you believe it, and would that reason convince me?

I.e., what do you believe, why and should I care?

Low-Key Smith

Would you stop correcting me?

You are right. It was Low-Key Lyesmith. *sigh*

 

[Edit: addendum] I suck with proper nouns. They hate me, and so I keep a respectful distance.

daedalus wrote:

Ciarin wrote:

daedalus wrote:

How does someone become a Theist without a religious text?

 

I don't know, maybe they're deist?

The religious texts we use are the eddas, bede's writings, and the sagas.

i don't think those are religious texts.  although, I suppose you could look at them that way.  i suppose one could consider the Dictionary or Bible a religious text, too....  (My slip may be showing - I don't believe in gods, therefore there is no such thing as a religious text - only mythological tales that are treated with varying degrees of reverence or veracity.)

 

I guess you think of religious text differently than I do. To me, a religious text is a text about a religion. We don't consider them to be the word of the gods.

 

Quote:

BTW, wasn't Bede a Catholic?

 

Yep, and so was Snorri Sturluson.

Quote:

But, let's say that they are religious text by the fact that they are considered to be by various people.  What do they convey?  (Don't get me wrong - I've read some of the eddas and snorri's writings).  What I mean is: what do they convey that isn't something Earthly?  Or, is that not your contention?

It gives us an idea of the beliefs of the ancient Northern European Peoples. Before christians wrote down the sagas and Eddas, it was passed down as an oral tradition. If historians like Snorri and Bede hadn't written them down, I'm pretty sure we have almost no idea what they believed back then and the religion would be lost.

 

Quote:

often, the gods are attributed with something in this world: words or wisdom, warnings; or Good or evil events.

 

while I appreciate a good laugh, and personal religions, I just wonder if you can tell me why I might want to believe as you do?  Is there a reason you believe it, and would that reason convince me?

 You might want to believe if you have an interest in your heritage, and you wish to honor the gods of your ancestors before christianity came along(if your ancestors believed in the Germanic Gods). Or maybe you just like the sagas and eddas.  Since I don't know you, I don't know what reason would convince you.

Quote:

I.e., what do you believe, why and should I care?

I believe you should care about whatever interests you. I don't know you so how am I supposed to know why you should care about something?

As per the original question...

Maybe they got raptured?

butterbattle wrote:

Well, that's strange......................

Do you really believe in those Gods or is it more like a Star Trek type obsession? 

It's strange that you think it's strange. I did pay attention in science class. Being polytheist doesn't mean I disregard scientific evidence.

Yes, I really believe in those gods. Not as metaphors ro arcehtypes, but actual sentient beings.