Jonathan H. B. Lobl

The videos were parodies of modern church services. I found them amusing. There was no sarcasm.

Ken Ham with Answers In Genesis. AKA Ham and A.I.G. It's old news and it's pure mind rot.

Valid Practice I'm not Pagan. I don't have a horse in this race. Still, I thought it was an interesting, thought provoking, blog entry. Enjoy. https://www.patheos.com/blogs/starlight/2020/02/your-witchcraft-practice-is-valid/?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Pagan+News+and+Views&utm_content=37

Yes. Keep reading Dan's comments.

America has for profit prisons. People who should be released on parole, are kept imprisoned, due to contractual obligation.

You must have noticed. Dan "denigrates" every belief, religion, philosophy and opinion that he doesn't share. You still care what Dan says. In time, you won't.

I used to enjoy the Planet of the Apes movies. It was fun picking out the landmarks from New York City. The Statue of Liberty -- old posters in the subway stations -- Grand Central Station....... The Ghostbusters movies had scenes in New York City. So did the Men in Black. So did Spider Man. Batman roams Gotham. A nickname for New York. It's all fantasy and fiction. Nobody was confused. Move the action to the Middle East -- and watch the lines between reality and fantasy blur.

1. Dan has already said -- in so many words -- that no part of the Bible has ever been proven wrong. Nor can any part of the Bible be proven wrong. So, yes. Arguing with Dan is futile and useless. 2. Not really. You wouldn't ask a man with advanced arthritis, to do gymnastics. Dan has a stiff, rigid mind. He's not evil. There are some things -- like rational thought -- that are beyond him. In keeping with this thread on the death penalty -- Just because Dan is reality impaired -- does not mean that he deserves to die. I know. He's irritating to the point of being an affliction. Dan still has not earned the death penalty. One thing more. I don't know who said it. Never try to teach a pig to sing. The attempt is doomed to fail, and it annoys the pig.

No. Even in fantasy, Dan's faith is impossible to change. He will never change. It is absurd, even to contemplate. You will find that Dan has gone to great length, to protect his mind from us. Below, is the Scripture that Dan would choose, if we had put the question to him. I say this with great confidence. Dan is so very predictable. Ephesians 6:10-18 Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV) 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; Dan thinks that we don't understand him. He is not complicated.

The God of infinite mercy and compassion, chose to not interfere.

In time to come, I expect that there will be a backlash to the dominant cultural religion -- and it's culture of enforced public prayer -- and supposed moral superiority and smugness. Both Christianity and Islam What I have in mind, is in the nature of a reality shift. I'm sure we all remember when smoking was cool. When a smoker could simply light up, any where, any time, with impunity. Anyone who asked the smoker to stop, would likely get smoke blown in their face by way of response. There has been a reality shift. Largely in response to the smug, self righteousness of smokers. Even more than objections to the actual smoke -- there was resentment against the smoker. As in -- How dare they stink everything up. We have gone from smoking being cool -- to smoking being disgusting. Even where smoking is legal -- there is now the common glare of disgust. This is the future I see for culturally dominant religion. It should never be outlawed. The religions which have been the most dominant -- the most oppressive -- the most intrusive -- the most abusive -- will discover the meaning of resentment. Their religion will be legal. It won't be tolerated. Or respected. This is physics. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. The religions which have never made enemies -- won't have any.

Christopher Hitchens is one of the greatest intellectual Atheists, the world has ever seen. He always insisted that governments should be Secular, rather than Atheist. He was clear on this. He didn't want an Atheist government, that would persecute religion. He wanted Secular government, that would neither help nor hinder religion. He was right and I fully agree.

I can't speak for other Atheists. Speaking for myself -- I have never -- not even once -- felt put upon, coerced or abused -- by any variety of Polytheist, Pagan or Heathen. My loose observation, has always been, that Polytheists are a mellow, easy going lot. They never tell anybody what to believe. What they should pray to or reverence. What they should or shouldn't do. They never impose public ceremony or ritual. There is nothing to resent. Yes, there are Atheists who lack discernment. My expectation, is that the majority of Atheists -- who have thought about it at all -- recognize Polytheists as allies, who have put up with the same crap, from the same fundamentalists. It's not as though the money says -- "In gods we trust." Consider this board. I have never seen an Atheist or Agnostic, have a single unkind word, for our Polythistic minded bretheren.

I'm not big on religious persecution. Still, the urge to revenge might be hard to ignore.

Just so. When the changing demographics hit a critical mass -- things will change. They will have to change. The now, culturally dominant, Fundamentalists, had best hope that the new Secular majority -- are more tolerant than they have been. Maybe. Maybe not.

People like Dan, forget the original meaning of prisons -- Penns -- was Pennetenceries. Places of Pennence. Then again, Dan has no use for nuance. Any focus, other than punishment, is pacifism. Also, "bleeding heart" liberals. Of course, the original "bleeding heart" was Jesus. You remember Jesus. The man who would dine with sinners and the other despised of society. The man that Dan takes for his example. The man who could forgive.

Traditional Judaism has long recognized, that the Hebrew Scriptures can be a problem. That is why they soften it, with Talmudic interpretation. Dan drinks his poison straight. You can see the results. Some poisons need diluting. Such is the Bible. It's bad for the brain and bad for the heart. At least, when taken straight.

It's just Dan, being Dan. You will find that neither reason nor facts will penetrate. Also, that his double standard is many layered. If you attack his beliefs, it is because you are closed minded. Or you hate God -- Scripture -- etc. When he attacks your position -- it's because he's right. It's useless to engage. You will find that Dan is reality impaired. Also, the his mind is rigid, beyond what I thought was possible.

Over the years, you have had much to say about Atheists, Agnostics, Humanists and Apatheists. Much of it nasty and provocative. You can dish it out with joy, but you can't take it. When you don't respect the Secular, the Secular don't respect you. You are concerned with the Universal in ULC? You? How many times have you announced that your religion is right -- and all the other religions are wrong?

Creationism vs. Science

The future of Artificial Intelligence. This is a complex and subtle subject. It should have it's own thread. At least one. I would like to begin with a simple thought. When true general A.I.arrives -- and it is self aware -- I suspect it won't be religious. Will we even know it, when we see it?

In matters of ethics and morality -- the Bible continues to influence the thinking of many. Not you. Not me. Not Pete. But many. For better or worse, the Bible -- The goat herder's guide to the Galaxy -- is not going to go away. If we debate ethics while ignoring the Bible -- we are ignoring the Bible's lingering cultural influence. I don't like it either -- but the Bible is a major cultural influence. We have to confront the Bible, if we are to deal with invisible assumptions. Of course, when arguing with believers.