Mississippi High School Sued Over Forced Religious Assembly

[Big Jim P]

I get what he's saying (I love Oswalt, by the way, almost as much as Carlin), but my main opposition to religion is in the modern era.

I mean, if religion was completely useless forever and ever, then it would've never been invented. It's like a square wheel - why invent something that doesn't improve your quality of life?

My point is that religion in the modern era is like a chariot racing around on a highway alongside Chevy's and Toyota's and Benz's. It's just not right, not today when we have sufficiently evolved both scientifically and culturally to be able to rise above it.

Just because we ourselves don't need religion doesn't mean that no one else does. Even if we're all driving flying cars and living on Mars, people are still going to wonder what is their purpose in the world. Some of us are going to conclude "we have no defined purpose", others "I need to define my own", and still others will look towards divine reasons. As long as a religion doesn't inhibit scientific progress or deny others civil rights, there's no problems with having one.

Well said.

[Resora]

Yeah, you didn't get it.

Yeah, I did.

Perhaps instead of your one-liners, you could add something worthwhile to the discussion? Your drive-bys aren't helping.

Worthwhile? You're desperately defending an antiquated system that at its most inert is still superstitious and anti-progress and opens its adherents to manipulation, and at its most vile is a catalyst for the very worst of society.

I mean hell, if people still claimed spontaneous generation was a thing, belief in that dead hypothesis might not drive people to victimize others, but it's still worthwhile to oppose it, especially if people are trying to present it to others as scientific fact. And face it, believing that rags turn into rats is more harmless than religion could ever attempt to be.

[Greater Pokarnia]

True, but my point is more that I think the threat of eternal hellfire is more of a driving factor than the promise of paradise, and so punishing those who do these kinds of things should work just as well.

Except even considering the moral developments are true, once the basic stuff is met, the tribes might decide to group up and have a nice plate of rape for dinner.

Okay, good point.

Nonetheless, religions get twisted into a way to justify having rape as part of a healthy diet- burn the heretics and sinners, group x is better than y, etc.

[Greed and Death]

Oh Christ. I don't know what's worse. A clear constitutional violation or the typical cadre of insufferable internet atheists.

Religion is slavery? For fuck's sake people lay off the overblown melodrama, you sound like an angsty 14 year old.

You know because of the sequester summer has started early.
They are likely angsty 14 year olds.

[New Sapienta]

Yeah, I did.

Perhaps instead of your one-liners, you could add something worthwhile to the discussion? Your drive-bys aren't helping.

Worthwhile? You're desperately defending an antiquated system that at its most inert is still superstitious and anti-progress and opens its adherents to manipulation, and at its most vile is a catalyst for the very worst of society.

I mean hell, if people still claimed spontaneous generation was a thing, belief in that dead hypothesis might not drive people to victimize others, but it's still worthwhile to oppose it, especially if people are trying to present it to others as scientific fact. And face it, believing that rags turn into rats is more harmless than religion could ever attempt to be.

Yeah, you Communist motto isn't really going to convince me of anything. I do not encourage the more harmful aspect of religion, such as the humongous power of the Church on what it shouldn't have power on and the fact that it contains radical members.

I mean really, Communists of all people so know what happens when an honest attempt to improve life is hijacked by assholes. You have yet to provide a source where religious fundamentalists were not also raised as close-minded.

[Neo Arcad]

Except even considering the moral developments are true, once the basic stuff is met, the tribes might decide to group up and have a nice plate of rape for dinner.

Okay, good point.

Nonetheless, religions get twisted into a way to justify having rape as part of a healthy diet- burn the heretics and sinners, group x is better than y, etc.

So does Marxism, or atheism, or any belief system or political system out there. There's murder porn of Sesame Street. Anything can be twisted into something else, something evil.

[New Sapienta]

Except even considering the moral developments are true, once the basic stuff is met, the tribes might decide to group up and have a nice plate of rape for dinner.

Okay, good point.

Nonetheless, religions get twisted into a way to justify having rape as part of a healthy diet- burn the heretics and sinners, group x is better than y, etc.

Yes, religions can be hijacked, just like countries.

And communes too, for the communist guy.

[Big Jim P]

Oh Christ. I don't know what's worse. A clear constitutional violation or the typical cadre of insufferable internet atheists.

Religion is slavery? For fuck's sake people lay off the overblown melodrama, you sound like an angsty 14 year old.

You know because of the sequester summer has started early.
They are likely angsty 14 year olds.

Yes I am.

[Neo Arcad]

You know because of the sequester summer has started early.
They are likely angsty 14 year olds.

Yes I am.

You're not an atheist, Jim, go sit in the corner with the other monotheists.

[New Sapienta]

Yes I am.

You're not an atheist, Jim, go sit in the corner with the other monotheists.

He is an atheist with wizard stuff thrown in.

[Yumyumsuppertime]

Except even considering the moral developments are true, once the basic stuff is met, the tribes might decide to group up and have a nice plate of rape for dinner.

Okay, good point.

Nonetheless, religions get twisted into a way to justify having rape as part of a healthy diet- burn the heretics and sinners, group x is better than y, etc.

True, which is why I'd advise people to concentrate more on attacking specific religious approaches, and perhaps less on attacking religion as a whole. When atheists see something like this and say "Religion sucks!", the nice guy who goes to a U.C.C. church and wouldn't dream of proselytizing at a school is going to get annoyed at being lumped in with them. When you look at it and say "These people suck!", he's likely to take your side on the matter.

[Resora]

Worthwhile? You're desperately defending an antiquated system that at its most inert is still superstitious and anti-progress and opens its adherents to manipulation, and at its most vile is a catalyst for the very worst of society.

I mean hell, if people still claimed spontaneous generation was a thing, belief in that dead hypothesis might not drive people to victimize others, but it's still worthwhile to oppose it, especially if people are trying to present it to others as scientific fact. And face it, believing that rags turn into rats is more harmless than religion could ever attempt to be.

Yeah, you Communist motto isn't really going to convince me of anything.

...What?

I mean really, Communists of all people so know what happens when an honest attempt to improve life is hijacked by assholes. You have yet to provide a source where religious fundamentalists were not also raised as close-minded.

And we have yet to find a case of drunken spousal abuse that didn't involve an abusive partner that had problems that go way beyond alcoholism. That doesn't mean it's not a good idea to get them off the hooch.

[Big Jim P]

Yes I am.

You're not an atheist, Jim, go sit in the corner with the other monotheists.

So now I am a monotheist and an angsty 14 year old. Hell I'll take it.

[Yumyumsuppertime]

You're not an atheist, Jim, go sit in the corner with the other monotheists.

So now I am a monotheist and an angsty 14 year old. Hell I'll take it.

Oh, Jesus, an angsty 14 year old monotheist. Isn't this how Pat Robertson got started?

[Greater Pokarnia]

So does Marxism, or atheism,

Yeah, but Marxism doesn't advocate a slice of rape with your cereal, and lack of spirituality doesn't have anything to do with putting rapesauce on your hotdog. That's personal beliefs one holds separate from the other ideological beliefs. On the other hand, religion, being a very broad thing, can totally state that rape is an essential nutrient.

Anyways, I have no problems with religions when they don't discriminate against others or advocate violence, so as a whole I'm apathetic to most religions and religious people.

[New Sapienta]

Yeah, you Communist motto isn't really going to convince me of anything.

...What?

I mean really, Communists of all people so know what happens when an honest attempt to improve life is hijacked by assholes. You have yet to provide a source where religious fundamentalists were not also raised as close-minded.

And we have yet to find a case of drunken spousal abuse that didn't involve an abusive partner that had problems that go way beyond alcoholism. That doesn't mean it's not a good idea to get them off the hooch.

Difference is though, religion is not comparable to alcohol. Yes, at the surface they can have some similarities, but alcohol is at best a drug that can make you slightly happier, while religion, when led by the right people, can cause good for many.

And of course, I don't think you would advise banning alcohol, considering they both offer people happiness with a life they might otherwise be unhappy with.

[Greed and Death]

You're not an atheist, Jim, go sit in the corner with the other monotheists.

So now I am a monotheist and an angsty 14 year old. Hell I'll take it.

This whole not quoting people thing has got to go.
There needs to be a rule on this.
It is ruining my ability to spread fear and chaos.

[Neo Arcad]

You're not an atheist, Jim, go sit in the corner with the other monotheists.

He is an atheist with wizard stuff thrown in.

Satanism is basically the result of trying to make Catholics angry and play Magic: The Gathering at the same time.

[New Sapienta]

He is an atheist with wizard stuff thrown in.

Satanism is basically the result of trying to make Catholics angry and play Magic: The Gathering at the same time.

Theist Satanists, but he is LaVeyan, which some weird atheist school.

[Neo Arcad]

Satanism is basically the result of trying to make Catholics angry and play Magic: The Gathering at the same time.

Theist Satanists, but he is LaVeyan, which some weird atheist school.

Fucking magnets, how do they work?

[Yumyumsuppertime]

Satanism is basically the result of trying to make Catholics angry and play Magic: The Gathering at the same time.

Theist Satanists, but he is LaVeyan, which some weird atheist school.

LaVeyan Satanism is equal parts Ayn Rand and bits cribbed from pulp novels and horror movies.

[New Sapienta]

Theist Satanists, but he is LaVeyan, which some weird atheist school.

Fucking magnets, how do they work?

I don't know, the poles switched.

[New Sapienta]

Theist Satanists, but he is LaVeyan, which some weird atheist school.

LaVeyan Satanism is equal parts Ayn Rand and bits cribbed from pulp novels and horror movies.

Yes, that.

[Big Jim P]

He is an atheist with wizard stuff thrown in.

Satanism is basically the result of trying to make Catholics angry and play Magic: The Gathering at the same time.

Satanism predates MTG and considers the other irrelevant.

Try again.
You are funny.

[The Orson Empire]

I'm Christian and all, but no one should be forced to have a religion. I do not think that is what Jesus wanted.