Jonathan H. B. Lobl

Interesting. We will see if that statue gets complains. Or damaged. My loose observation, is that Christian norms don't protect Non-Christians from Christians.

I understood the original question, to be about therapeutic Psychology. If we are widening the question to include predatory Psychology -- there's the whole Damnation doctrine. The process by which the Hell is scared into people.

Yes. Let's not forget -- "The Devil made me do it".

Merry and healthy Christmas to you also.

Thank you. Not at this time. I do appreciate the thought.

Thank you. I think it is urgent that I know my limitations and not pretend competence. When I am capable, it means that I can be trusted.

I am not trained in psychology or social work. I state simply that I am out of my depth and suggest consulting a professional.

Seriously?

Empiricism is a striving for objectivity. Interpretation may be poisoned by the subjective, but the goal is still objective evidence.

Von: A few more thoughts before I drop it. At this point, I largely use Atheist and Agnostic interchangeably. I don't care about the semantics the way I used too. It's mostly about my mood. I mostly use Agnostic when I don't feel like arguing. Agnostic drags me into fewer silly arguments. I enjoy talking. I've come to hate arguing. There are times when I need to take a stand. I will be nice for now and not say when those times are. That's when I say Atheist. More and more, I use Apatheist. People do get hot over their labels and definitions. Most of the time, I don't care any more. Most of the time. Now and then -- someone finds the deep buttons. And they press them. Then, I care, for a brief time. Such is life.

People do get hot over labels. And definitions.

Empirical evidence is just that. Empirical. It can not be different for anybody.

Again, do you mean Atheism? Psalm 14 [Full Chapter] The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one. ... I prefer to say it out loud.

Do you mean the Bible? Atheism is still an option.

The old gods have changes in name and form, but they never quite go away. Mother Nature looks a lot like the Old Earth Goddess. Look around. Lady Luck, Old Man Winter, Father Time, Death -- plenty of others -- still with us. Some of them don't change at all. Cupid is still Cupid. Look at the new gods being taught to children. Look at Santa. "He's making a list, checking it twice, he always knows who's naughty and nice........." "He knows when you are sleeping. He knows when you're awake.........." Not just a scary old man with a big beard, flying around the sky. Much like old Yaweh, rewarding good children and punishing the bad. Ho Ho Ho.

Comforting? Maybe you don't know the story of Ragnorock. As I recall it........... In the first year, it never stops snowing. There is famine. In the second year, it's still snowing. Famine has been joined by plague. In the third year, it starts getting bad. The last pitiful remnants of Humanity are surviving by eating each other. There is no other food. In the fourth year, the Frost Giants attack. The heroes in Valhalla are sent into the battle. Thor and the Mitgard Serpent kill each other. Most of the gods die. I'm vague about how long this continues. When it's over, the cycle begins anew with two people, a man and a woman, that Father Odhin had stashed away for just such an emergency. Comfort you say? The old gods were not always comforting. When you're ready, I must tell you about the ancient and venerable Sekhment of Egypt. The lion headed goddess. Now, that's one scary deity.

Norse, Greek, Egyptian, etc mythology is complex stuff. Of course the gods talk with each other. They have whole, complex cultures of their own. Of course, the gods in these mythologies interact with the Human world. That does not mean that they are intent on controlling or changing us. Only that they interact. In Norse mythology, they are gathering the Human heroes to Valhalla, where they are in reserve for the final battle at Ragnorock. The end of the world. Thor and Loki have adventures in the Human realm -- and other places. None of them are trying to control us. They have their own lives and their own concerns. The Norse gods are much more concerned with the Frost Giants than they are with us.

Here's a thought for you. Maybe the "offense" had nothing at all to do with the Santa hat. Maybe the entire offense had to do with displaying a Buddhist statue, at Christmas time. Or any non-Christian artifact at Christmas time. Such is the nature of Christian cultural dominance. -- and Christian intolerance for others. All others. The thing that causes many Christians to hate Atheists. And Jews. As in -- "How dare you not believe in our God." The time has come to grow a spine and not swallow their crap. If need be -- to flip them off.

Amusing, but there is more to it than that. Great wealth means that instruction is available. Martial arts, race car driving, scuba diving, gymnastics, advanced chemistry, escape arts and all the rest of it. He still had to master everything. EVERYTHING. This is the fantasy part.

Yes. I think that sums up Batman.

I didn't say that they were a problem. I said that they stink the place up.

How about if that cat dies on your porch? It's not dangerous, but it will stink the place up. In other words, it's disgusting and hard to ignore.

A less extreme example: Can you look upon a Fundamentalist street preacher with equanimity? Notice, I did not specify what type of Fundamentalist.

To a point, yes. But only to a point. I can not look upon the KKK or Nazi's with equanimity. Neither do I want to.