Bible-beater pilots

Brian,

and that most of the rest of the western world is significantly
less religious that the USA.

Didn't someone quote research in this thread that the US is the most
religious country in the world? Wonder how to measure that...


shrug In any case, it was an interesting thread.


I think so, too. Of course, many (including myself) expressed their views
in an extreme way for the benefit of the discussion (I like to think, at
least). But it was/is a very interesting thread, I think.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

On Fri, 28 Nov 2003 09:00:52 +0100, Thomas Borchert
wrote:

Didn't someone quote research in this thread that the US is the most
religious country in the world? Wonder how to measure that...

I don't think you can. Noone seems to have a good definition of
"religious".

shrug In any case, it was an interesting thread.
I think so, too. Of course, many (including myself) expressed their views
in an extreme way for the benefit of the discussion (I like to think, at
least). But it was/is a very interesting thread, I think.

Agreed.

Rob

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:Hqrxb.128107$Dw6.561599@attbi_s02...
However, I believe some posters have been trying to state the obvious,
which
is: Religion is a powerful force for both good and evil. Gullible people
can be misled easily with the whole "fear of eternal damnation" threat.

Yes, a belief system is a very powerful motivator. It is worse than
unfortunate that there are those who exploit this for their own ends and to
the detriment of humanity. Perhaps in the future there will need to be
stricter limits on religious freedoms, who knows.

I think this thread has played itself out. Have a happy Thanksgiving
everyone!

On Thu, 27 Nov 2003 21:45:58 +0000, Peter Gottlieb wrote:

I think this thread has played itself out. Have a happy Thanksgiving
everyone!

See this is where I have a problem. People who claim to not be religious
celebrate holidays such as Christmas, Easter, and yes Thanksgiving.

Do some research into the origins of Thanksgiving, and also that of our
Country and you'll see a religious connection.

As for me, I do not observe those holidays since they have been corrupted
by the Catholics trying to sway the belief system of pagans. For those
that care to check it out most of our current religions holidays have been
based on dates the pagans observed their festivals. There is a lot of
crap organized religion has shoved down our throats and until recently
most held it as true. Now they say we know what it means, but we don't
celebrate it like that so it's ok. It's NOT OK!

For my biggest gripe with organized religion look at Halloween, why would a
Church allow it's members to observe a pagan ritual, and actively
encourage it's members to observe it in their sanctuary when it's
expressly forbidden to partake of evil? Something is mighty screwed up
there and should be fixed, yet the attitude of we've always done it this
way and it's not hurt anybody is what keeps it going and is also why it's
wrong.

See this is where I have a problem. People who claim to not be religious
celebrate holidays such as Christmas, Easter, and yes Thanksgiving.

Oh, come on. On the one hand you say that these holidays pre-date their
current religious overtones, in some cases by thousands of years. Then, in
the next breath, you wonder why the religions allow their members to
celebrate them.

Well, it's pretty obvious to me -- people LIKE to celebrate. Even the
harshest religion probably learned long ago that you tamper with people's
traditional holidays at your own peril.

Christmas is a good example. Jesus' birthday was almost certainly NOT in
December -- but there was a pagan Winter Solstice holiday that needed to be
co-opted. Bingo! -- just add Jesus!

It's also eminently practical to add a celebration at the deepest, darkest,
coldest time of year. Most humans are naturally in a funk -- some
seriously -- at this time of years, and need a "pick-me-up" to get through
the long winter. Christmas and New Years Eve fit the bill perfectly.

Halloween is an even better example. Even the Catholic church knows not to
screw with a pagan holiday that allows little kids to get free candy! You
think their ranks are dwindling NOW -- just watch what happens to them if
they try to take away free candy! ;-)

Religions must be pragmatic to a certain degree or they will cease to
exist -- and their leaders know it.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

On Fri, 28 Nov 2003 05:05:14 +0000, Jay Honeck wrote:

Religions must be pragmatic to a certain degree or they will cease to
exist -- and their leaders know it.

You see, that's my point. Why bother to go through the charade of being
pius if you're going to ignore what the scripture says anyhow? Doesn't
that make it a bit hard to stomach?

I mean, it's like getting married and continuing to sleep with other
women, I mean why even bother getting married if you're not going to abide
by the covenant?

That's what I have against many organized religions, they allow the
membership to break their own covenants and continue on as if nothing ever
happened.

"Matthew P. Cummings" wrote in message
news
On Thu, 27 Nov 2003 21:45:58 +0000, Peter Gottlieb wrote:

I think this thread has played itself out. Have a happy Thanksgiving
everyone!

See this is where I have a problem. People who claim to not be religious
celebrate holidays such as Christmas, Easter, and yes Thanksgiving.


Just as an earlier poster said he would spend money with religious symbols,
I will certainly take a day off for whatever reason. I think in the
interest of fairness we need at least a holiday a month from each of the
categories (Christian, Islam, Judisim, Agnostic, Athiestism, Satanism,
Buddism, Beerism, Lazyism, anything else).

Earl G.

And a Happy Thanksgiving to you, too, Jay.
H.
N502TB

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:Hqrxb.128107$Dw6.561599@attbi_s02...
I guess I should cancel my plans to deliver Thanksgiving dinner to the
needy
tomorrow. Since it's on behalf of my church.

I guess you better. After all, according to the atheists here, if your
motivation is religious, you must not be moral.

Jeez, I turn my attention away from this thread for a day or two, and look
what happens! Talk about bitter dissension!

I am thankful that there are those who deliver dinner to the needy --
whatever their motivation. If your religion commands you to help the
hungry, house the homeless, and generally help humanity, I certainly will
not argue with you. In fact, I thank you.

However, I believe some posters have been trying to state the obvious,
which
is: Religion is a powerful force for both good and evil. Gullible people
can be misled easily with the whole "fear of eternal damnation" threat.

And it works the other way, too! Just look how many fools have been
recruited by the fundamentalist, radical "Islamo-Fascists" in the Middle
East! These dupes are lured into doing the ultimate evil, simply by
having
"eternity in paradise" promised to them. How many more children and
innocents must be blown to smithereens so that this sick, parasitic
version
of Islam can flourish?

Does anyone honestly think there would be suicide attacks WITHOUT religion
assuring them of "eternal life"? THAT is the evil side of religion,
ladies
and gentlemen -- and it must be addressed in any serious discussion of
religion.

Anyhow, I only meant to comment on the rudeness of the religious zealots
Mary and I ran into, and on the interesting way in which they were
apparently able to self-justify their bizarre, unseemly behavior. I did
not
mean for this thread to pick on any particular religion, as these guys
could
just have easily have been Muslims, Hare Krishnas, or Believers in the
Force.

It's sad that this thread -- probably the longest I've ever seen -- ended
up
the way it did. I guess pilots are no different than the rest of the
world
in this regard...

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay Honeck wrote:

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

It certainly was!

George Patterson
Some people think they hear a call to the priesthood when what they really
hear is a tiny voice whispering "It's indoor work with no heavy lifting".

G.R. Patterson III wrote:



Jay Honeck wrote:

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

It certainly was!

Bah!

100' VV at my destination airport.

- Andrew