On Basic Religion Test, Many Doth Not Pass

[JimC]

I am sure this has already been said, but following my own 'conversion' in my late teens I studied the bible in groups of fellow zealots in great detail. I know its internal inconsistencies inside out. I know how it simply does not hang together in any kind of coherent sense. I know how fucking mad the thing is once one drops the idea of 'divine' inspiration.

FFS it is pure bonkers.

We had bible studies at school, which was done in a reasonably non-fanatical way. Dawkins himself said that religion should be studied, for a variety of reasons. Knowledge is always a good thing...

[GenesForLife]

15/15 , all hail the...atheist?!

Even more impressive since you come from a non judeocretin background

You tend to pick it up when you run into said cretins on various fora, and to add to that my parents attempted to raise me Hindu, I went to a Cretin school where I received secular education (Catchecism was only for Catholic cretins) and I've studied Buddhism in the past, I've also had muslim friends to complete the set so to speak.

[Rum]

I love Hinduism (aside from the Indian Nationalist brand). It is so fucking bonkers and pretty harmless for the most part it seems to me.

[Pappa]

I love Hinduism (aside from the Indian Nationalist brand). It is so fucking bonkers and pretty harmless for the most part it seems to me.

Well, except for the caste system.... of course.

And utter wooishness.

[GenesForLife]

I love Hinduism (aside from the Indian Nationalist brand). It is so fucking bonkers and pretty harmless for the most part it seems to me.

It is bonkers to the point of ritualistic stupidity, as if prostrating before one imaginary friend wasn't enough... , the indoctrination can be pretty bad too, that and the pathetic rationalization of shit happening in the name of Karma (my hinny) and the blind acceptance of all kinds of miracles backed up by self delusory mental wankery.

I nearly ended up slapping a relative when eating out at a restaurant for stupidity when she argued from personal incredulity and committed fallacy after fallacy (some things cannot be explained, therefore god, therefore woo is legitimate), she asked me for my email so that she could "make her case" , moron has never written to me, worse thing is that her son is indoctrinated too, and he carries around a Krishna doll everywhere (at the age of 4!)

The caste system itself isn't a part of Hinduism, Pappa, it is just an extremely illogical social construct that developed from guilds and stuff to the point that there was somehow the idea that what someone can do is imposed by birth, and hence the children of people who did very vital but nonetheless menial jobs were condemned to the same, and so on and so forth.

It is also misogynistic , by the way, for instance when women are untouchable until they take a bath following a period, ditto with hair and barbers, mum won't touch me until I've had a bath after I've had a haircut, the stupid irrationality filled epitome of what it takes to be an ignoramus that she is. , Dad is better because he's dumped religion for natural beauty, he just puts on a show during religious festivals just to blend in with relatives et cetera.

I don't , and I won't , the god botherers can screw themselves.

[Tigger]

There's no "harmless" religion, really.

[klr]

I love Hinduism (aside from the Indian Nationalist brand). It is so fucking bonkers and pretty harmless for the most part it seems to me.

It is bonkers to the point of ritualistic stupidity, as if prostrating before one imaginary friend wasn't enough... , the indoctrination can be pretty bad too, that and the pathetic rationalization of shit happening in the name of Karma (my hinny) and the blind acceptance of all kinds of miracles backed up by self delusory mental wankery.

I nearly ended up slapping a relative when eating out at a restaurant for stupidity when she argued from personal incredulity and committed fallacy after fallacy (some things cannot be explained, therefore god, therefore woo is legitimate), she asked me for my email so that she could "make her case" , moron has never written to me, worse thing is that her son is indoctrinated too, and he carries around a Krishna doll everywhere (at the age of 4!)

The caste system itself isn't a part of Hinduism, Pappa, it is just an extremely illogical social construct that developed from guilds and stuff to the point that there was somehow the idea that what someone can do is imposed by birth, and hence the children of people who did very vital but nonetheless menial jobs were condemned to the same, and so on and so forth.

It is also misogynistic , by the way, for instance when women are untouchable until they take a bath following a period, ditto with hair and barbers, mum won't touch me until I've had a bath after I've had a haircut, the stupid irrationality filled epitome of what it takes to be an ignoramus that she is. , Dad is better because he's dumped religion for natural beauty, he just puts on a show during religious festivals just to blend in with relatives et cetera.

I don't , and I won't , the god botherers can screw themselves.

Oh boy. It makes the brand of Catholicism I grew up with seem like a walk in the park.

Re the caste system: You wonder why such a religious culture tolerates such gross inequity. The God-botherers would have us believe that religion and morality go hand in hand. Yet some of the worst forms of social injustice have occurred under the major religions. A religious apologist can't accuse slavery, the caste system or rampant misogyny on the grounds that "hey, it's nothing to do with us".

[Rum]

There's no "harmless" religion, really.

I agree. I spoke hastily. I suppose what I was trying to say was that Hinduism is so diverse, so patently superstitious, full of utter woo and so bizarre, that it is actually bonkers in a fun way.

Perhaps it isn't really.

[Tigger]

There's no "harmless" religion, really.

I agree. I spoke hastily. I suppose what I was trying to say was that Hinduism is so diverse, so patently superstitious, full of utter woo and so bizarre, that it is actually bonkers in a fun way.

Perhaps it isn't really.

I wasn't referring to your post, Rum. It's just a perception that some have that some of our belief systems are less harmful than others. I was actually thinking of Buddhism too, but once again, due to my overwhelming dearth of knowledge about specific and general woo, I can't make any valid points. Nor can I remember anything I've read!

[Pappa]

The caste system itself isn't a part of Hinduism, Pappa, it is just an extremely illogical social construct that developed from guilds and stuff to the point that there was somehow the idea that what someone can do is imposed by birth, and hence the children of people who did very vital but nonetheless menial jobs were condemned to the same, and so on and so forth.

Do you think a widespread/universal belief in karma and the ideas it supports about being born into a hierarchy of lives (demi-god, prince, noble, tradesman, peasant, etc.) justifies the caste system though?

I mean, the caste system couldn't exists without Hinduism's ideas of karma and rebirth.

[Santa_Claus]

I love Hinduism (aside from the Indian Nationalist brand). It is so fucking bonkers and pretty harmless for the most part it seems to me.

Unless you're a Muslim. on a Train.

My pet hate are Budhists. the western religion of choice for those who like Crystals and wind chimes - but aren't quite yet ready to worship trees.

[JimC]

The caste system itself isn't a part of Hinduism, Pappa, it is just an extremely illogical social construct that developed from guilds and stuff to the point that there was somehow the idea that what someone can do is imposed by birth, and hence the children of people who did very vital but nonetheless menial jobs were condemned to the same, and so on and so forth.

Do you think a widespread/universal belief in karma and the ideas it supports about being born into a hierarchy of lives (demi-god, prince, noble, tradesman, peasant, etc.) justifies the caste system though?

I mean, the caste system couldn't exists without Hinduism's ideas of karma and rebirth.

Hinduism could exist without a caste system, however...

And perhaps a caste system of some kind could exist without Hinduism, although the current Indian caste system certainly seems co-adapted with Hinduism...

[Svartalf]

I love Hinduism (aside from the Indian Nationalist brand). It is so fucking bonkers and pretty harmless for the most part it seems to me.

Well, except for the caste system.... of course.

And utter wooishness.

What's wrong with the caste system? As a blue blood/kshatriya equivalent, I feel I've been slighted by the dropping of traditional privileges.

[Rob]

Hey, I'm proud that the only bible my kid has read is the Lolcat Bible.

That is also a book on my bookshelf.

[Bella Fortuna]

Hey, I'm proud that the only bible my kid has read is the Lolcat Bible.

That is also a book on my bookshelf.

That's because you are