The Political Thread

[IndigoPrime]

I'm not suggesting other religions don't do things along the same lines, but the default stance of the organisations today is a long way from the position of Scientology, which keeps its 'scripture' under lock and key (the key being lots and lots of money), drip-feeding you the more you pay, and actively attempts to force people apart.

If someone wants to personally believe our ills are caused by the spirits of dead aliens (killed with nuclear weapons dropped on volcanos) clinging to us, so be it. But paying tens or hundreds of thousands to be provided with information about the very 'science' you're investigating is insane (verses popping into a bookshop and buying the book of whatever holy thing you subscribe to). I suppose religion has always had a business side; the difference I see with Scientology is that the business is pretty much the entire thing.

[Tjm86]

very true.  P T Barnum had it pretty much spot on didn't he.

BTW - I thought this was supposed to be the 'political thread.'  We seem to have morphed / jacked it to the 'religious thread'.

(and kept it fairly civil which is some kind of miracle considering the subject matter).

[Dandontdare]

Mark Thomas talks about how he loves going on anti-war demos with Quakers - police know how to deal with stone throwing students, but really can't cope when they've kettled a bunch of little old ladies with a heart condition.

[Professor Bear]

If you're a Londoner, (1) I'm terribly sorry, and (2) be safe.  Hot weather and an angry crowd gathered outside the door of the country's least popular Prime Minister can't be a good mix.

[Steve Green]

I'm not optimistic.

[Professor Bear]

There's already a major protest scheduled for the capital tomorrow against the Con/DUP deal.  This feels like a powder keg.

[Steve Green]

With Osborne on the sidelines with a 'me in government?' attitude and the world champ of misjudging public mood for 20 years losing out to the previous winner, it's not going to take much.

[The Legendary Shark]

...I thought this was supposed to be the 'political thread.'  We seem to have morphed / jacked it to the 'religious thread'.

In my view, statism is also a religion: "government" being the invisible and all powerful god and MPs its intermediary priests who interpret and enforce the divine will. Voters are the faithful who are promised "paradise" and worthy of praise and non-voters are the heretics who deserve Hell and derision.

[TordelBack]

I'm not suggesting other religions don't do things along the same lines, but the default stance of the organisations today is a long way from the position of Scientology...[...] ...I suppose religion has always had a business side; the difference I see with Scientology is that the business is pretty much the entire thing.

I take your point re: the main religions today, but I suspect that all religions have business (or power and wealth, which amount to the same thing) at their true core - that's what makes them religions, and not just systems of belief.  That isn't to dismiss the huge amount excellent work that is carried out by, through or in the name of various religious organisations.  One could say the same about many modern charities.

[The Legendary Shark]

Religions are all very well when organising people to do good through charitable works, for example. The danger, of course, is that they can also be used to justify and organise horrible things. Just like governments, religions can be easily hi-jacked by the rich and powerful to be used as instruments of social control.

"I was just obeying God's will" is as poor an excuse as "I was just following orders."

[Mikey]

I see the DUP have successfully got you all talking about religion and politics. Add walking about dressed like Mr Ben and wearing a sash then you've the set. 

WELCOME TO YOUR FUTURE.

[Prodigal2]

I was about to say 'some of my best friends are Christians!', but then I realised that ALL my closest friends are Christians, in various flavours and strengths. By default they put up with my evangelical atheism and I reciprocate. Although now I suspect I'm some kind of charitable/missionary outreach project. There may be a spiritual bounty posted in an ecclesiastical Doghouse* somewhere.


*The Godhouse?

The "Godhouse"-genuine LOL and some bizarre mental imagery of such a place.

[Prodigal2]

Spare a thought for socialist Christians who read 2000AD, who believe faith is a personal thing, have no desire to batter anyone with what they believe

I have no problem with any of that. For me, the last bit is the most important. I have a kid who will start school soon. My options in the local area are Christian schools. That's it. I see no place for worship inside of a school, but there's no escape from it. Similarly, any notion any level of government should be directed by 'god' is anathema to me.

I recall Baroness Warsi arguing a while back that any religion was better than no religion. That's just bullshit. If you have faith in a religion, that's fine. But that doesn't make you 'better' than someone who does not. (By the same token, secularists should dial down on the ridicule of people who are religious, because there's no place in a liberal society for that either.)

This.

[Rately]

I see the DUP have successfully got you all talking about religion and politics. Add walking about dressed like Mr Ben and wearing a sash then you've the set. 

WELCOME TO YOUR FUTURE.

Boris Johnson, wearing the sash his erm, well...somebody's Father wore, delivering a letter of complaint to a Police cordon in middle of London after him and his brethren aren't allowed to march the road home?

I can just imagine the little caravan encampment. Gove and Johnson sat with Sammy and Edwin, tea and biscuits, surrounded by Union Jacks.

[sheridan]

I'm not suggesting other religions don't do things along the same lines, but the default stance of the organisations today is a long way from the position of Scientology...[...] ...I suppose religion has always had a business side; the difference I see with Scientology is that the business is pretty much the entire thing.

I take your point re: the main religions today, but I suspect that all religions have business (or power and wealth, which amount to the same thing) at their true core - that's what makes them religions, and not just systems of belief.  That isn't to dismiss the huge amount excellent work that is carried out by, through or in the name of various religious organisations.  One could say the same about many modern charities.

Brings to mind induglences, as satyrised in Nemesis the Warlock (book V or so, Vengeance of Thoth or Torquemurder/Time Wastes).