The Swamp

Jerloma wrote: ↑Mon Mar 13, 2023 8:59 pm It's almost as if they made the whole thing up in an attempt to assert their patriarchal control over you.

I have a buddy that isn't religious but follows the Greek Orthodox Lent menu every year just for the health benefits. As it turns out, eating a lot of fish is a good thing.

L-Jam3 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 13, 2023 9:54 pm

Jerloma wrote: ↑Mon Mar 13, 2023 8:59 pm It's almost as if they made the whole thing up in an attempt to assert their patriarchal control over you.

I have a buddy that isn't religious but follows the Greek Orthodox Lent menu every year just for the health benefits. As it turns out, eating a lot of fish is a good thing.

I remember hearing once, and this could be completely apocryphal , that the no meat on Fridays rule comes from a Jewish tradition. In ancient times, meat was expensive. But anybody could’ve gotten a rod and a lure and catch a fish (think how in Colonial times lobster was food for inmates). So the whole idea wasn’t not eating flesh as much as it was for those who were of the privileged class to experience just for a day a week to eat as a commoner.

Of course, taking that to its logical conclusion now would be on Fridays Catholics should eat Kraft Mac & Cheese, hot dogs, and Chef Boyardee.

Johnnie wrote: ↑Sat Mar 25, 2023 7:45 pm

Jerloma wrote: ↑Thu May 04, 2023 10:48 pm In a rational society, the utter idiocy of the concept of prayer would warrant more of a social stigma than people who think they were examined by alien proctologists.

Jerloma wrote: ↑Thu May 04, 2023 10:48 pm In a rational society, the utter idiocy of the concept of prayer would warrant more of a social stigma than people who think they were examined by alien proctologists.

Johnnie wrote: ↑Thu May 04, 2023 11:15 pmI've always looked at prayer as faith-based meditation.

rass wrote: ↑Tue Jun 27, 2023 8:15 am We've Given Religion Too Much Respect

What I mean is that religion has to be challenged, not respectfully welcomed, whenever it sticks its head into politics. Why is every presidential candidate able to proclaim their belief in Jesus with no subsequent pushback? Why do you believe in him? Do you believe in virgin birth? Do you believe in resurrection after death? Do you believe in miracles? Do you believe in science? You can’t believe in both. Whenever a politician nods to the Bible as their inspiration, they should be interrogated. What’s so great about the Bible? Lots of shit in there that seems clearly impossible. Why do you believe it? What else do you believe that could not possibly be true? How do we know you can assess information properly? Why should non-Christians have any confidence that you can serve them when you operate according to a book they do not embrace? Why should any of us have confidence in you as a rational adult if you abandon your reason to this Book of Myths?

DSafetyGuy wrote: ↑Mon Feb 12, 2024 4:47 pm I noticed when it was running last night that all the people washing the feet were white. Those having their feet washed were not.

I'm sure there's a "cleanse the sinner" thing going on there somewhere.

Jerloma wrote: ↑Mon Feb 12, 2024 7:34 pm

DSafetyGuy wrote: ↑Mon Feb 12, 2024 4:47 pm I noticed when it was running last night that all the people washing the feet were white. Those having their feet washed were not.

I'm sure there's a "cleanse the sinner" thing going on there somewhere.

Nothing to do with theology. Young people are leaving the church in droves mainly due to the religious right's treatment of the underprivileged. It's just an attempt to stop them by making Jesus more relatable. Because you know...young people like to wash other people's feet.

My church used to have a huge potluck on Holy Thursdays to celebrate the last supper, and they made all us CCD kids wash one of the elder parishioner's feet after dinner. It couldn't even be your parents either...like someone you don't know. Fucking nightmare of my childhood.

mister d wrote: ↑Mon Feb 12, 2024 10:44 pm What if it’s retention and not conversion?

The Sybian wrote: ↑Mon Feb 12, 2024 10:23 pm What's the o/u on people inspired to convert based a creepy 30 second ad of washing people's feet? I'd love to know their thought process on creating this campaign.

P.D.X. wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2024 9:07 am It’s not about faith, it’s a political play.

Shirley wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2024 9:36 amI will say this, when I saw the ad live, I automatically looked for overt bigotry and was pleasantly surprised to see them including folks that are more obvious targets of Christian hate - minorities, immigrants, drug users, queers, etc. It was only after thinking about it a bit more - particularly about how much money they spent - that made it more negative in my view.

But I suspect to the vast majority of people who saw it, it was a positive and surprisingly progressive view of Christianity.