Politics is the new Religion
 

Promising two alternate realities, one heaven the other hell, based on whom you worship

True believers hanging on long speeches from on high explaining what they should think

Supporters spreading the good word and writing checks for the collection plate

Does that make an abstaining voter a political atheist or agnostic?

there's not enough information to determine. some abstain because they don't believe, your atheists. henry quirk is a good example we both "know". some believe, yet still abstain because they believe, but know better. Griff's an example of this kind of believer, he believes in the reality of the system, but not in one, true, path.

Whom you worship is almost always a product of your friends and family, and where you live, and what culture you grew up in.

Or, one can be quite spiritual and still dislike Religion, or the official Religions, for what they have done to systems of belief.

Maybe those who abstain are mostly the agnostics and those who mock the system by casting a protest vote (e.g. writing in "Mickey Mouse") are the atheists. Possibly more parallels there.

I am a believer, for me it was a physical experience. I cannot deny it

Seems to me, to be a political atheist is to say 'I don't believe in politics', which is dumb cuz politics is just a kind of human interaction, and humans interacting is demonstrably real.

I like 'heretic' better but that carries (to me) a sense of active rebellion, and I just ain't the time, energy, or interest for that.

Non serviam, as declaration, works, but isn't easy to label.

Indifferent (with a clinched fist)?

Apolitical (but knowing)?

*shrug*

In the OP scenario of politics is the new religion promising two alternate realities, one heaven the other hell, based on whom you worship, I'll go with the political atheists being the ones who don't worship anyone and demonstrate it by casting protest votes as opposed to the agnostics who don't vote 'cause they don't think they have reach.

Just another way of looking at it.

New? You're behind, UT. ;)

There are always people that are going to blindly worship at the altar of the donkey or the elephant. Me? I hang with the donkeys, but I have my glasses or contacts on. Fortunately, my state Democratic party seems cool with that.

Faith.

Have faith. We will tell you what to believe. Have faith that we are informed and honest.

Westboro Baptist Church also has faith. Do I really want what they have?

Speaking as someone to whom WBC is local...I don't think they are offering faith.

WBC has faith. Faith that if they keep walking around talking in public like they do, they'll be rewarded by an assault, an act like a mustard seed which would let them move mountains of lawsuits.

For those that don't know, this place is across the street from WBC. Good people.

http://www.plantingpeace.org/equality/

Outstanding.

Upwind or downwind?

Apparently upwind. That paint has not pealed from the walls.

Depends on the wind...the houses are east of the church.

Supreme Religion - bow down by voting
 

What is the supreme religion on this planet?

Catholicism, Protestantism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Communism, Agnosticism, Liberal, Conservative, and all the others are just subsets of the one supreme religion: The Cult of the Omnipotent State!

"Infidel" seems to be an appropriate, if negatively charged, label for one who refuses to accept the precepts of any "faith". It literally means, "one without faith", and infidels were actively hunted down and killed in the dark ages (because they tended to shed light on things that the authorities preferred to keep in the dark).

I don't take offense at being called an "infidel" because I know its real meaning. Likewise with a lot of other good words that have developed negative stereotypes over the years.

One such term is "apathetic". It literally means "not pathetic". Now, how can it be better to be "pathetic" than to be "not pathetic"?

El Veto-Voter
www.HaltVote.com

Science. Science explains god's laws better than anything else. Even terrorists worship it 'teachings' - ie big guns and bombs. God did not stop sending disciples after Christ died. We all know them as Einstein, Gandhi, Newton, Mandella, Higgs, Gauss, Bardeen and Brattain.

Welcome to the cellar, El Veto-Voter!

I'll answer your question. It's better when the correct understanding of the word in your context is used, meaning feeling or passion or motivation. Being apathetic is to be without those qualities. And you don't strike me as apathetic. :)

Show your feeling to others.

Greek pathos meaning suffering. Greek Pathetikos meaning sensitive. Pathetic means affecting the emotions. Apathetic means not affecting the emotions. But, really, who cares?

I like those theater masks: pathos and laughos.

I like what you did there.

ditto

regular-freakin-joe is back!

LAUGHOS, from pure happiness! Welcome back!!!!!

Apathetic Joe says, "But, really, who cares?"

Now he is gone. Since we are all apathetic (adults who are not children), then we also do not care?

What is the supreme religion on this planet?

Catholicism, Protestantism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Communism, Agnosticism, Liberal, Conservative, and all the others are just subsets of the one supreme religion: The Cult of the Omnipotent State!

Science. Also explains why organized religion have a long history of trying to subvert all science - the competition. Even in early 1950s when first organ transplants were attempted. And with stem cell research today. Worst case examples include wahhabism that hates and attacks the advancement of mankind - in the name of their religious beliefs.

An ironic exception is astronomy performed by the Catholic Church in, I believe, New Mexico or Arizona.

You would think great religions were searching for the God Particle. Only science went looking for it.

Einstein once believed "God does not play dice with the universe." One would think religious leaders would have chimed in or at least do research. Nope. Only science keeps addressing that religious question.

I see what you're doing.

Isn't this why Totalitarian governments seek to abolish religion? Or so "they" say.

That's the North Korean approach: "Your God is the State now, and I am its Lord and Savior."

But there's also the "authority derived from God" approach, as in all the kingdoms... "No need to vote or anything, our family was already hand-picked by God! Lucky for us! Bless His Wonderment! And by Wonderment I mean ME!"

Have you noticed how the politically religious ignore information contrary to their chosen narrative from sources once trustworthy like say Wikileaks.

Examples?

Maybe politics is the new religion because it is religion?

https://www.npr.org/2020/07/08/88410...nder-obamacare

Because we all want more unwanted children and or abortions.

Religions want as many children created as possible because they all believe those children will eventually support their religion. The Republican party has jumped onto that bandwagon.

Religions also want as many existing children imported as possible because they all believe those children will eventually support their religion. The Democratic party has jumped onto that bandwagon.

Religions have to go after both to get enough since there are many religions. There are fewer political parties; so, they don't have to go after both to get enough, only one or the other.

So the purpose is to dominate mankind; not advance it?

Advancement is in the eye of the beholder. Different accomplishments make different people happy.

Not dominate just firmly control.

So Hitler advanced mankind? Where did mankind advance to?

Across France and part-way through Russia?

That's always been obvious.

Religion is and has always been a means of gathering secular power. Only this and nothing more.

You can think that if you want to.

Tw misses the obvious.

Purpose of mankind was to dominate others only when one is, for example, a slave trader, a despot, Donald Trump, or others who crave power for egotistical or pathological reasons. Sexobon has just admitred he agrees with them.

You're the one who introduced the concept. I'm only acknowledging that you are free think that if you want to. You wouldn't be speculating about it unless you believed in it. That's not a reflection on what I believe. Reading comprehension tw.

You again acquiesce to your belief: dominating others is the purpose of mankind. You cannot defend it. It is your belief - and Hitler's.

That misguided belief underlies extremist philosophies. To impose those beliefs on all others. To dominate. Also explains why extremists love Trump. And want to 'wreck shit'.

The good people (moderates), instead, advocate and work for the advancement of mankind. Examples include 'team play' and protecting the right of others.

It is your right to also harm others? You believe it; don't deny it; so it must be true. Now refuse to defend it. Or retract that mistake. Extremism says the purpose of life is to dominate others. It is the religion - as even demonstrated in Charlottesville. Sexobon does not deny it.

You're delusional with fear. You see extremists everywhere. Your paranoia gives rise to Stockholm Syndrome and you become the extremist. Then you engage in psychological projection secondary to your emotional defects and accuse others of being what you've become.

It's so obvious; but, you never get the obvious and end up being the only one believing what you say. It's not your fault tw. You've articulated how your father tried to kill Americans and that messed up your mind. TW, YOU ARE NOT YOUR FATHER. Alas, the damage is done and you shall remain forever impaired. Be consoled by the fact that here you are understood and we appreciate the entertainment you provide.

PS: You'd be happier if you'd stop being so defensive. Defensiveness is for losers.

Gas lighting ain't what it used to be.

I know, right? It used to be all one word.

You are not everywhere. Lying but again.

Am not, I'm sitting up.

Always up and moving? You must be a progressive.

Is that also a religion?

https://www.psypost.org/2020/07/new-...pandemic-57514


A little more surprising, we found that Americans who are more religious (attend service more often, pray more often, feel religion is more important) seemed to engage in precautionary behaviors more frequently. In fact, once we accounted for Christian nationalist ideology in our models, being more religious was the leading predictor that someone frequently engaged in precautionary behaviors.

This suggests to us that polls are getting it wrong if they show Americans who are “more religious” are behaving incautiously regarding COVID-19. It’s not “religiousness” per se that’s leading Americans to resist expert recommendations to curb the spread of disease. It’s Christian nationalist ideology and all that’s associated with it.

Christian nationalism was a new term to me. No idea what it meant.
From the article, "Christian nationalism by definition includes the idea that God has a special place in his heart for America, his New Israel."

So it's a patriotism, 'Merica, kind of attitude. USA, USA, USA, God bless the USA! kind of thing.

Not so much of a Christian "love your neighbor" kind of thing.

Yeah, it's tribal. That would explain why things we take for granted as Christian values are not represented by these folks. It must be particularly distressing for actual practicing Christians to share a pew with folks who seem to relish otherizing and hate.

It is maybe unfair to call out groups of Christians when it is a vocal minority who've lost their way.

That tribal attitude is a threat to everyone else. Just like Jenny McCarthy types, their religion (or whatever that tribalism should be called) means they become a threat to all others.

If a vaccine is available, everyone must take it within a prescribed time; for that vaccine will be effective. Anyone using a tribal attitude (refusing vaccines due to some emotionally inspired belief) puts all others back at risk when the vaccine's protective features expire.

For the same reason Jenny McCarthy also advocated the killing of so many other children (and a few at risk adults). Her tribal like emotions also justified her contempt for others.

If we had real leaders, where necessary (not narcissists), then a discussion of how a vaccine will be 'distributed fast enough' should already be in planning.

Ironically much of this was already done and planned for in the National Security Council. The Pandemic Playbook was completed in 2018. And completely disbanded and trashed in 2018 by Trump people - using cost controls (actually a tribal mentality) as an excuse.

Why is this vaccine's protection going to expire?

I think tw is hoping enough folks get vaccinated to create the condition of herd immunity soon. If folks choose to vaccinate too slowly the body count goes up.

I get that, but he's making it sound like the protection will diminish for the vaccinated people.